| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08020438B2 |
Scan lock and track fluid characterization and level sensor apparatus and method
A liquid characterization and level sensor with a coaxial probe attached to a closed loop servo circuitry combined with a DSP and novel algorithms to scan, lock and track signals to ascertain the level and purity of fluid in a container. |
| US08020434B1 |
Engine misfire detection probe
A probe and method for sensing pressure variations in the exhaust stream of an engine for detecting cylinder misfires. The probe includes a Venturi tube placed in the exhaust stream. The Venturi tube has a sensing tube with an aperture, and the sensing tube is coupled to a pressure sensor for monitoring the pressure of the exhaust stream within the Venturi tube at the point of the aperture. The pressure sensor then generates a voltage signal based on the pressure, and this voltage signal is viewed on an oscilloscope or processed by a microprocessor to generate a waveform readable by a technician. The waveform will indicate the presence of a misfiring cylinder(s), and more specifically, which cylinder(s) is misfiring. |
| US08020430B2 |
Passive leak detection devices and systems for detecting gas leaks
A passive leak detection device may include a pressure switch, a check valve and a balance valve. The pressure switch may include an electric input lead, an electric output lead, a balance chamber and an inlet chamber. A pressure differential between the balance chamber and the inlet chamber may be operable to couple the electric input lead to the electric output lead. The inlet chamber may be fluidly coupled to a fluid port. The balance chamber may be fluidly coupled to the fluid port with a check valve disposed there between. The balance chamber may be fluidly coupled to a balance valve. When the balance valve is closed and fluid is flowing out of the fluid port, the pressure differential from the inlet chamber to the balance chamber is operable to couple the electric output lead to the electric input lead thereby indicating of a leak. |
| US08020429B2 |
Device and method for determining knocking of internal combustion engine
An engine ECU executes a program including calculating a correlation coefficient by dividing the sum of respective absolute values, which are each a difference between a magnitude in an engine vibration waveform and a magnitude in a knock waveform model for every crank angle, by an area corresponding to magnitudes equal to or larger than a positive reference value in the knock waveform model, and determining whether or not knocking has occurred based on the correlation coefficient. |
| US08020428B2 |
System for and method of monitoring properties of a fluid flowing through a pipe
A system and method for determining a fluid property for a fluid flowing in a pipe may include sensing baseline vibrations when test fluids with known values for a fluid property (e.g., fluid density or fluid viscosity) flow through the pipe, or computer modeling the baseline vibrations. The baseline vibrations are analyzed via cross-correlation and/or deconvolution to separate the fluid filled pipe's baseline combined structural response from excitation and base coupling effects. During field or other operations, sensors may take vibrational readings along the pipe when an operational fluid (e.g., drilling fluid) flows through the pipe. The operational vibrations may be analyzed via cross-correlation and/or deconvolution to separate the operational combined structural response of the fluid filled pipe from excitation and base coupling effects. The baseline and operational structural responses may compared. Similarities or differences in the structural responses may be used to determine fluid properties of the operational fluid. |
| US08020427B2 |
Methods and apparatus for insitu analysis of gases in electronic device fabrication systems
Systems and methods are disclosed that include adjusting a pressure level of a sample gas in a testing chamber, for example, using a pressurized inert reference gas, and determining a composition of the adjusted sample gas. By adjusting the pressure level of the sample gas, the composition of the sample gas may be determined more accurately than otherwise possible. Numerous other aspects are disclosed. |
| US08020425B2 |
Locating device, and method for calibrating a locating device
A locating device, in particular a handheld locating device, for detecting objects enclosed in a medium, includes a first device for detecting objects enclosed in a medium, and having a control and evaluation unit for measurement signals of the locating device. The device has a second detection device that makes it possible to detect a predeterminable distance d of the locating device from a surface of a medium. In addition, a method for calibrating a measurement device, in particular for calibrating a handheld locating device for detecting objects enclosed in a medium, a reference measurement for calibrating the measurement device is carried out only after at least one measurement has been carried out of a distance d of the measurement device from a surface of a medium. |
| US08020422B2 |
Tubular product and manufacturing method and manufacturing device thereof
A tubular product comprises a side section having outer surfaces disposed along a parallelogram and a bottom section formed on one end of the side section. The outer surfaces of the side section are pressure formed by a roller. The tubular product preferably is manufactured from a tubular material by a process comprising the use of a device having a roller that is configured to engage with a side section of the tubular material. The device also comprises a mandrel configured to position the tubular material so that the roller can apply pressure against at least a portion of the outer surfaces of the side section and can extend the side section of the tubular material to form the product. |
| US08020420B2 |
Apparatus for continuously performing localized and/or extended deformation on metallic conainers
Apparatus (10) for continuously performing localized and/or extended deformations on metallic containers constituted by extruded or drawn and solid-drawn tubular bodies including: —A) interface module (1); —B) at least one work module (2, 2′, 2″) and —C) possibly one inversion module (3), wherein said modules are arranged so that they form a closed path and said interface module (1) includes a feeding station or drum (12), an unload drum (16) and at least one selective dispatch element for re-feeding the containers to the work modules (2, 2′, 2″) or the unload drum (16), depending on the number of predetermined operations. |
| US08020419B2 |
Hydroforming die adjustable for springback correction
The invention provides a hydroforming apparatus for forming a length of tube. A hydroforming press includes an upper platen and a lower plate. A first die set is provided for forming a first lengthwise portion of the tube and a second die set provided adjacent the first die set which forms a second lengthwise portion of the tube. A first pivot acts between a first and second upper die so that the second upper die can be pivotally adjusted on the upper platen relative to the first upper die. A second pivot acts between a first and second lower die so that the second lower die can be pivotally adjusted on the lower platen relative to the first lower die. A die insert is provided having an upper die insert and a lower die insert that define upper and lower insert cavities that connect together the first and second cavity portions of the upper die set and the lower die set. This die insert is removably mounted as needed to accommodate the pivotal adjustment between the first and second die sets. |
| US08020417B2 |
Method and device for controlling a rolled product thickness at a tandem rolling mill exit
A method and device for controlling the final thickness of a rolled product at a tandem rolling mill exit which make it possible to remove the cyclic defects of the product thickness variation. The method includes using at least one rolling stand provided with hydraulic adjustment devices located on the tandem rolling mill exit and in compensating the cyclic defects of the product thickness variation generated upstream through the entire rolling mill on the stand with the aid of an adjuster (R) coordinated with the frequency of defects. The method and device are suitable for tandem cold rolling mills producing metal strips. The thickness defects are detectable by a thickness sensor. |
| US08020413B2 |
Foreign materials filtering apparatus and washing machine having the same
In a foreign materials filtering apparatus and a washing machine having the same, owing to a detachable mounting structure between a handle and a front filter and between a rear filter and the front filter, foreign materials collected in a foreign materials filtering space can be easily cleaned. Accordingly, can be solved the conventional problem that a net filter has to be kept inside out at the time of a cleaning process, resulting in causing a user's hands to become dirty. Also, can be solved the conventional problem that there is a difficulty in removing foreign materials from the net filter due to a fibrous characteristic of the net filter. |
| US08020407B2 |
Closed and open loop cryogenic refrigeration system
A temperature-controlled vehicle including a cascade refrigeration system having a booster cooling line configured to supplement the cooling capacity of the cascade refrigeration system by expanding and venting a portion of a cryogenic refrigerant to the atmosphere during peak demands while the cascade refrigeration system continues to operate. |
| US08020406B2 |
Method and system for the small-scale production of liquified natural gas (LNG) from low-pressure gas
A method and system for the small-scale production of LNG. The method comprising: configuring a prime mover to be operable communication with a multi-stage compressor; configuring the prime mover to be in fluid communication with an ammonia absorption chiller; configuring the ammonia absorption chiller to be in fluid communication with the multi-stage compressor; operating the ammonia absorption chiller using waste heat from a prime mover; pre-cooling a first stream of natural gas using cooled fluid from the ammonia absorption chiller; cooling a first portion of the first stream of natural gas, using an expansion valve, into a two-phase stream; cooling a second portion of the first stream to liquefied natural gas, using the two-phase stream as a cooling fluid; delivering the second portion of the first stream as LNG to a low-pressure LNG tank; cooling a third portion of the first stream of natural gas in a turbo-expander; separating liquid heavies out of the third portion of the first stream of natural gas; and delivering the liquid heavies to a pressure tank. |
| US08020405B2 |
Air conditioning apparatus
An air conditioning apparatus includes a supercooling heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between a high-pressure refrigerant and a low-pressure refrigerant. A high-pressure liquid refrigerant pipe is wound around an external periphery of a low-pressure refrigerant suction pipe. Preferably, the supercooling heat exchanger is disposed inside the indoor unit at a position below an evaporator. Drain water from the evaporator is dispersed over the supercooling heat exchanger or a drain pipe leading from a drain pan of the evaporator is wound together with the high-pressure liquid refrigerant pipe around the low-pressure refrigerant suction pipe. In either case, cold energy of the drain water effectively acts on the high-pressure liquid refrigerant pipe to exchange heat. The supercooling heat exchanger operates with improved efficiency without any increase in the volume of the heat exchanger so that the evaporator can be made as small and compact as possible. |
| US08020401B2 |
Configurable refrigerator
A configurable refrigerator comprises a control box provided with a compressor and a fan, a plurality of cooling units that are mutually connected and are connected to the control box through fastening devices, gas tubes connected between the control box and the cooling units to allow a low-temperature gas generated by the control box to enter the cooling units and return to the control box after circulation in the cooling units, and a control panel of the control box, settled on the control box or any of the cooling units. Therein, the control box can be assembled with an adjustable number of the cooling unit. Thus, the number of the cooling units can be increased or decreased as needed, thereby achieving easy assembly, disassembly and reconfiguration of the configurable refrigerator and the control panel. |
| US08020399B2 |
High pressure mister fan cooling system
A high pressure mister cooling system having an electric fan, a high pressure pump mounted on the fan, an eccentric on the fan motor shaft, and mister nozzles mounted on the fan guard. A pump shaft is reciprocated by the eccentric when the fan is operated. A pump body includes a pump piston and bore, an inlet valve that opens when supply pressure exceeds 20 psi, a pump outlet valve that opens when pump pressure exceeds 120 pounds, and a pressure limiting valve that opens when pump pressure exceeds 1000 pounds. Water flows only when an inlet supply is attached and the fan is operating, and outlet pressure to the mister nozzles is controlled at about 1000 psi. |
| US08020397B2 |
Reduction of diluent nitrogen compressor power using vapor absorption chiller
A diluent nitrogen compressor inlet cooling system comprises a bottoming cycle heat source; a vapor absorption chiller powered by the bottoming cycle heat source, the vapor absorption chiller being configured to cool diluent nitrogen; and a diluent nitrogen compressor that receives the cooled diluent nitrogen from the vapor absorption chiller. A method for cooling an inlet of a diluent nitrogen compressor comprises powering a vapor absorption chiller using a bottoming cycle heat source from the integrated gasification combined cycle system; indirectly cooling diluent nitrogen by the vapor absorption chiller; and sending the cooled diluent nitrogen to a diluent nitrogen compressor inlet. |
| US08020395B2 |
Air conditioning apparatus
An air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit and an operation control section. The operation control section is capable of performing a refrigeration cycle for causing an outdoor heat exchanger to function as a refrigerant condenser and an indoor heat exchanger to function as a refrigerant evaporator, while performing superheat degree control for controlling the aperture of an indoor expansion valve so that the degree of superheat of the refrigerant at the outlet from the indoor heat exchanger is constant. The operation control section means sets a lower aperture limit for the indoor expansion valve to perform the superheat degree control, and reduces the lower aperture limit when the refrigerant at the outlet from the indoor heat exchanger is detected to be wet. |
| US08020393B2 |
Heat pump type hot water supply outdoor apparatus
A heat pump type hot water supply outdoor apparatus, in a compressor, a water heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, a medium pressure receiver, a second expansion valve, and an air heat exchanger are connected circularly, has an injection circuit, which is a bypass for a part of the refrigerant between the medium pressure receiver and the second pressure reduction unit, to inject the part of refrigerant into a compression chamber of the compressor, and has a third expansion valve and an internal heat exchanger for carrying out heat exchange between the refrigerant whose pressure is reduced by the third expansion valve and the refrigerant between the medium pressure receiver and the second expansion valve, a pressure detection sensor for detecting a condensing pressure, and a controller for starting an injection control by the third expansion valve at the time when the condensing pressure detected by the pressure sensor or the condensing temperature calculated from the condensing pressure becomes a first predetermined value or more and stopping the injection control at the time when the condensing pressure or the condensing temperature becomes a second predetermined value which is smaller than the first predetermined value, or less. With this arrangement, an appropriate injection control can be realized and a high hot water supply/heating capability operation can be carried out. |
| US08020391B2 |
Refrigeration device control system
A refrigeration device includes a control device and a multiple cooling elements. A supply header delivers refrigerant to the cooling elements and a return header returns refrigerant from the cooling elements. A single pressure sensor provides a signal representative of a pressure of the refrigerant in the return header to the control device, and a single temperature sensor provides a signal representative of a temperature of the refrigerant in the return header to the control device. The control device provides an output signal to control each of the cooling elements, in response to the signals from the single temperature sensor and the single pressure sensor. |
| US08020388B2 |
Method for increasing the efficiency of a combined gas/steam power station with integrated gasification combined cycle
The invention relates to a method for increasing the efficiency of a combined gas/steam power station (10) with integrated gasification combined cycle. Said power station comprises a gas turbine compressor (14) and an air-separation unit (18) having a defined working pressure. Compressed air is removed from the gas turbine compressor (14) at a pressure level that is adapted to the working pressure of the air-separation unit (18). The removed air is then supplied to the air-separation unit (18) where the air is broken down into its individual constituents, especially oxygen and nitrogen. The nitrogen produced in the air-separation unit (18) is removed from the air-separation unit and at least a part of the removed nitrogen quantity is used as a coolant in the gas/steam power station in order to improve its efficiency. |
| US08020387B2 |
Method of operating a burner, including a combustion chamber with a low nitrous oxide emission
There is described a method for operation of a burner, whereby a fuel is supplied to the burner, sprayed into the combustion air, mixed with the combustion air to give a fuel/air mixture and burnt in a combustion chamber. With regard to a combustion particularly low in pollutants and, in order to reduce the nitrogen oxide emissions with relation to achieving a given nitrogen oxide emission level, a change in parameters characterizing the fuel is determined. Such a parameter may, for example, be the Wobbe index. There is further described a device for carrying out said method, comprising a fuel treatment device, with an analytical device for the analysis of the current fuel composition and a monitoring and control system. |
| US08020382B1 |
Closed loop, hot dry rock heat recovery process
The present invention is a closed loop system of heat recovery in hot dry rock or in water-containing formations for generation of electrical power. Recovery of heat from such formations is accomplished by way of multiple horizontal levels of generally radially drilled bores from a central shaft. Heat transfer is accomplished either by way of terminal end heat exchangers or by way of heat transfer to conduits extending from the central shaft. |
| US08020378B2 |
Exhaust manifold comprising aluminide
An exhaust manifold includes an exhaust conduit having an inner surface, and an aluminide layer disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the manifold. The exhaust manifold is made by applying aluminum on an inner surface of the manifold and oxidizing to form the aluminide layer. |
| US08020377B2 |
Apparatus/method for producing hot gas and diesel particulate filter system
The invention relates to an apparatus for producing hot gas with a first combustion chamber (2) to burn fuel (17). The first combustion chamber features an open (5) and a closed end (36), and the first combustion chamber has a fuel inlet (13) arranged at its closed end. A second combustion chamber (35) encloses the first combustion chamber, with the second combustion chamber featuring a discharge outlet (37) for the hot gas, and the second combustion chamber featuring a closed end at which an inlet for combustion air (39) is arranged. |
| US08020373B2 |
Engine system and method for purge gas regeneration of an exhaust gas treatment device in such a system
A method and a system for regenerating an exhaust gas treatment device for an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder are presented. The system comprises an exhaust gas treatment device, a fuel storage means, a fuel vapor retainer, and an engine control unit adapted to selectively allow fuel vapors from the fuel vapor retainer to reach the engine. The method comprises regenerating an exhaust gas treatment by allowing fuel vapors from the fuel vapor retainer into at least one of the engine cylinders, and inhibiting combustion in at least one of the cylinders into which fuel vapors are to allowed. |
| US08020372B2 |
Apparatus and method for optimizing exhaust temperature control in a vehicle during particulate filter regneration
A method controls an exhaust gas temperature from a vehicle engine during regeneration of particulate filter (PF) in a vehicle having an oxidation catalyst (OC) and a selective catalytic reduction catalyst (SCR). The method ensures that a final OC temperature does not exceed a maximum of the target OC outlet temperature and a calibrated maximum OC outlet temperature. An apparatus for controlling a temperature of the exhaust gas includes sensors for measuring a temperature within the exhaust system and a controller having an algorithm, an OC temperature lookup table, and a PF temperature lookup table. The algorithm calculates a target OC outlet temperature using the lookup tables and a delayed error value that compensates for a thermal mass of the SCR. Actual OC outlet temperature is limited during regeneration of the PF to the lesser of the target OC outlet temperature and a calibrated maximum OC outlet temperature. |
| US08020367B2 |
Nozzle with yaw vectoring vane
An exhaust vane disposed in a divergent section of an aircraft gas turbine engine exhaust nozzle is sideways pivotable about a vane pivot axis. The nozzle vane pivot axis may be centrally located at an unvectored nozzle throat. Transversely spaced apart upper and lower tips of the exhaust vane may be incorporated to sealingly engage a nozzle outer wall along upper and lower surfaces of the outer wall of the nozzle. The exhaust vane has flat or contoured vane sidewalls and contoured vane sidewalls may be concave. The exhaust vane may have transversely biased apart upper and lower vane sections extending transversely inwardly from the upper and lower tips of the exhaust vane respectively. The exhaust vane may be articulated having upstream and downstream sections separately sideways pivotable about the vane pivot axis and a second pivot axis downstream of and parallel to the vane pivot axis respectively. |
| US08020366B2 |
Turbine engine combustor
A gas turbine engine is piloted with a pilot flow of fuel delivered to a combustor as a liquid. A first additional flow of the fuel is also delivered to the combustor as a liquid. A second additional flow of the fuel is vaporized and delivered to the combustor as a vapor. A fuel injector may have passageways associated with each of the three flows. |
| US08020361B2 |
Machine for transferring blanks for cartonboard boxes
The transfer machine extends between the die-cut blank erecting station and the discharge conveyor on which the resulting boxes are carried away. It has a carriage that moves lengthwise underneath the sole plate of the various stations over which the box blank progresses. The carriage carries a system of clamps having movable upstream and downstream arms for gripping the blanks and a pusher. Together, the clamps and the pusher are used to move the blanks along the sole plate and push the box onto the discharge conveyor. The arms and the pusher are situated on a plate which is vertically movable relative to the carriage and the height of the projecting part of the upstream arms is greater than the height of the downstream arms and than that of the pushers. The upstream arm couple is hinged to the plate and pivots to allow it to retract upstream relative to the machine and beneath the sole plate. This pivoting of the arm couple is combined with the up-down movement of the plate. |
| US08020360B2 |
Device to produce a modified atmosphere for food preservation
An appliance system including a module removably mounted to an appliance, one or more removable gas canisters operably connected to the module, and a food retaining enclosed space operably connected to the module. The one or more gas canisters supply a modified atmosphere in the food retaining enclosed space to produce a modified atmosphere that enhances preservation of the food contained in the food retaining enclosed space. A method of modifying the atmosphere in a food storage space for food includes the steps of: providing a module capable of being removably engaged to an appliance and typically receiving power from the appliance and at least one removable gas canister; operatively connecting or otherwise engaging the module with the appliance; operatively connecting or otherwise engaging the module to a food storage area having an existing atmosphere; and removing at least a portion of the existing atmosphere from the food storage space and replacing it with a modified food storage atmosphere using at least one of the at least one removable gas canisters to supply the modified atmosphere to the food storage area. |
| US08020358B2 |
Apparatus and method for forming inflated containers
An apparatus for forming inflated containers from a film web having two juxtaposed film plies includes: a. a mechanism that conveys the film web along a path of travel; b. a first sealing device for producing one or more seals that bond the film plies together to form a container having at least one opening; c. an inflation assembly for inflating the container by directing a stream of gas into the opening thereof; and d. a second sealing device for sealing closed the opening of the inflated container. |
| US08020356B2 |
Medicine packaging apparatus and method of packaging medicine
There is provided a medicine packaging apparatus, which is capable of rapidly coping with errors occurring during processes. The medicine packaging apparatus includes: a medicine supply means 1 for supplying a medicine according to prescription data; a medicine standby means 11 for temporarily holding the medicine supplied by the medicine supply means 1 and having the medicine stand by; a printing means 2 for printing relevant data on a packaging paper according to the prescription data; a packaging paper conveyance means for conveying a packaging paper 15; a medicine packaging means 3 for packaging the medicine supplied by the medicine supply means 1 into the packaging paper 15 in a packaging position; and a control means 4 for allowing the packaging paper conveyance means to convey a relevant portion of the packaging paper 15, on which the relevant data is printed by the printing means 2, to the packaging position and allowing the medicine packaging means to package the corresponding medicine standing by in the medicine standby means 11. |
| US08020355B2 |
Process for the manufacture of a crossbeam for motor vehicles and the respective crossbeam
The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a crossbeam and the respective crossbeam (1), intended to reinforce the instrument panel of a motor vehicle, guarantee its rigidity and support various devices, the said process being characterised by an alignment between only one main hollow metal body (2) with an elliptical cross-section and one secondary body (3) which is also metal and hollow and has an elliptical or circular cross-section, in that in this alignment the longitudinal axes of the said bodies are coaxial or parallel, in that also in this alignment the contour line of the outer wall of the secondary body is confined by the contour line of the inner wall of the main body, in that prior to this alignment the main body is conformed so as to adapt to the secondary body and in that, in the final phase, the two bodies are connected. |
| US08020353B2 |
Polymer building products
In polymer building products, such as polymer siding, polymer roofing, j-blocks, gable vents, etc., characterized by fastener apertures each comprising an elongate slot bounded by a peripheral wall defining the slot, the peripheral wall having a height, a fastener centering-guide comprising a layer of material extending into the elongate slot from the peripheral wall thereof, the layer of material having defined therein (a) an elongate opening that is generally parallel to, but of smaller transverse dimensions than, the elongate slot, and (b) a predetermined location, defined intermediate the length of the elongate opening, for receiving a fastener therethrough, and wherein further the layer of material is characterized by a thickness that is less than the height of the peripheral wall and sufficiently thin so as to permit relative movement between a fastener extending through the centering guide and the polymer building product. |
| US08020351B2 |
Framework and method for retrofitting a small basement window with an egress window
A structural frame typically comprised of steel metallic material that is utilized in retrofitting a small basement window in an older residence with an egress window is described that comprises pieces of linear L-channel that has been formed into a rectangular frame. The thickness of the channel is relatively thin permitting an installer to retrofit the smaller window with a larger one that is only marginally less wide without having to cut an opening within the foundation wall that is wider than the original window's steel buck. Excepting the bottom side of the original window's buck, it can be left in place during retrofit. Accordingly, a substantial portion of the foundation wall's load carrying capacity around the window opening is maintained during retrofit eliminating the need for additional reinforcement. |
| US08020339B1 |
Fishing lure release system
A fishing lure release apparatus is a quick release system that allows rapid interchanging of fishing lures on a fishing. An closed wire loop eyelet opposite a posterior open end clasp are opposed along a linearly elongated wire form. The posterior open end clasp forms an attachable hook element that is impinged by a spring urged closure. The hook element is inserted into a inner tubular cavity of the closure causing an impingement of the hook opening for securely holding and maintaining a mechanical coupling to anything attached thereto, while at the same time providing easy removal by sliding the closure upward along the body of the wire form. |
| US08020335B2 |
Mount for mounting accessories on a weapon
A mount for mounting an accessory (19) on a weapon comprises a base plate (12) with an upper surface and a lower surface, to be connected with the accessory. The base plate (12) is clamped to a rail (10) on the weapon with the lower surface engaging the rail. Two aligned first grooves (23) in the upper surface extend in the longitudinal direction of the rail and a third groove (24) in the upper surface of the base plate, extends transversely of the first grooves. First protrusions (25) on the lower surface of the accessory guidingly engage the first grooves, and a third protrusion (26) on the lower surface of the accessory located between the first protrusions engages the third groove (24) to prevent displacement of the accessory along the first grooves. |
| US08020333B2 |
Cylinder with polycrystalline diamond interior
A rigid composite structure includes a tubular body made from a metallic material and having a first bore formed therein along a longitudinal axis, and one or more segments formed from a super hard material disposed within the first bore. Each segment has a hole formed in the center thereof, and the segments may be positioned end-to-end and adjacent to one another to align the center holes about the longitudinal axis and form a second bore. The segments can be held under compression within the first bore of the tubular body. The segments may be made of super hard materials such as natural diamond, synthetic diamond, polycrystalline diamond, single crystalline 10 diamond, cubic boron nitrate or other superhard composite materials which exhibit low thermal expansion rates and are generally chemically inert. The resultant rigid composite structure may possess higher tolerances to high pressures and high temperatures within the second bore. |
| US08020330B2 |
Accessory for a display screen
The present invention provides an accessory (10) for a display screen. The accessory (10) includes a first member (12) having a window (18) or a cut out portion, the window or the cut out portion being adapted to provide visual access to at least a portion of the display screen; a second member (14); said first and second members (12, 14) being adapted to be disposed in an overlapping relationship to each other; and attachment means (35) for selectively attaching the first member (12) to the second member (14) whereby a position of the window (18) or the cut out can be adjusted with respect to said display screen. |
| US08020326B2 |
Magneto-optical display elements
Composite magneto-optical elements with unique shapes and architectures comprising a magnetic component and a colored component. These magneto-optical elements can also be manufactured by a small variety of low-cost processes resulting in their use in a variety of applications including low-cost, large-format, reflective display devices. |
| US08020325B2 |
Pop-up article
A method for manufacturing a pop-up article from one or more continuous webs of material using an inline printing press. The article comprises a curved or generally semi-cylindrical pop-up device enclosed within a base piece, such that when the base piece is in a closed position, the pop-up device lies flat therein, but when the base piece is moved to an open position, the pop-up device is forced outwardly from the base piece to form a curved or generally semi-cylindrical shape. The method comprises processing a first web or ribbon to define a base piece having a front and back cover, processing a second web or ribbon to define a pop-up device, separating the pop-up device from the second web or ribbon, adhering a tab of the pop-up device to the front cover, adhering a front flap of the pop-up device to the rear cover, and separating the article from the first web or ribbon. |
| US08020321B2 |
Snowshoe footbed pivot system
A snowshoe having a pivot axle for pitch rotation of the footbed platform relative to the snowshoe frame is supported from the frame in a manner that provides for significant lateral flexing, i.e. pivoting on the roll axis, to accommodate use of snowshoes on side hill terrain. Instead of a relatively rigid support from the snowshoe frame, the footbed platform is supported by left and right tension bands that are connected to the snowshoe frame and to left and right ends of the transverse pivot rod that provides pitch rotation. Preferably the connection to each end of the pivot rod is with a rotatable spindle over which the tension band engages, such rollers being connected at right angles to the two ends of the pivot rod. A rotation limiter can be included to limit free rotation of the binding in the pitch direction to a selected arc. The footbed support system can be employed on any type of snowshoe, whether a tubular frame, non-tubular frame or molded composite snowshoe. |
| US08020319B1 |
Shoe with elastic bindings to receive interchangeable straps
An interchangeable shoe strap system that permits the user to customize the fit and aesthetics of her footwear. The shoe includes a sole member 22 with an upper surface 24 to support a wearer's foot and a lower surface 26 to contact a support surface. An elastic binding 28 is affixed to a sole member 22 with a series of knots 36 and mounting studs 30, thusly creating loops in the elastic binding 28. An equal number of loops, of a substantially equal size, are aligned transversely along the side edges of the forward region of the shoe sole member 22. The shoe is completed when the wearer laces a strap 34 through the elastic bindings 28. |
| US08020316B2 |
Washing household device, in particular a clothes dryer
The invention relates to a washing household device, in particular to a clothes dryer, that includes an air-supply device which is arranged on a rear side area thereof and is provided with a closed self-contained cross-section flow channel. |
| US08020315B2 |
Substrate processing method, substrate processing apparatus, and program storage medium
A substrate processing method which can reduce the number of particles to be left on each substrate is provided. In the substrate processing method, substrates W to be processed are dried, by using a fluid heated by a heating apparatus having one or more heating mechanisms. The substrate processing method comprises a first step of supplying a mixed fluid containing a gas and a processing liquid and heated by the heating apparatus, into a processing chamber in which the substrates to be processed are placed, and a second step of supplying the heated gas into the processing chamber. The output of at least one of the heating mechanisms is kept at a preset constant value for a period of time during which a predetermined time passes after the start of the first step. In the second step, the output of the heating mechanism is determined under a feed back control. |
| US08020314B2 |
Methods and apparatus for drying ceramic green bodies with microwaves
Methods and apparatus for drying ceramic green bodies include providing one or more ceramic green bodies in a microwave heating chamber operatively connected to a microwave source and a PLC. The total mass of the ceramic green bodies present in the microwave heating chamber is determined. Microwave energy is generated with the microwave source and transmitted from the microwave source to the microwave heating chamber. A transmitted power of the microwave energy transmitted from the microwave source to the microwave heating chamber is measured with power sensors. The reflected power of reflected microwave energy reflected back from the microwave heating chamber is also measured. The power of the microwave energy transmitted from the microwave source to the microwave heating chamber is adjusted based on the total mass of ceramic green bodies present in the microwave heating chamber, the measured transmitted power and the measured reflected power. |
| US08020312B1 |
Universal tape and drywall scoring apparatus
A universal tape and drywall scoring apparatus for use with a tape measure that includes a tape measure encasement for encasing a portion of the tape measure housing, a clip assembly connected to the distal end of the measuring tape, the clip assembly comprising a hollow housing having a top wall provided with a slot and a pair of spaced apart side walls each having a cavity formed therein, and a cutting assembly connected to the clip assembly, the cutting assembly comprising a scoring blade receivable within the slot in the top wall of the hollow housing of the clip assembly and a pair of spaced apart connector clips having end portions receivable the cavities formed in the side walls of the clip assembly. |
| US08020309B2 |
Circularity measuring apparatus
A circularity measuring apparatus includes: a rotary table on which a measured object is loaded; a contact-type stylus configured to contact a substantially circular measured surface of the measured object with an inclination; a holder configured to hold the stylus within a predetermined stroke range so that an inclination angle of the stylus is changeable; a displacement detector configured to detect a displacement of the inclination angle of the stylus, which is caused due to a contact between the stylus and the measured surface; and a controller configured to: estimate a position of a top end of the stylus based on an output of the displacement detector; and instruct the holder in an optimal stroke range in the position. |
| US08020307B2 |
Alignment system and method for vehicle-mounted devices
A system for aligning a device on a body of a vehicle relative to a drive axis of the vehicle defined by a pair of rear wheels. A bar is configured to be wedged against the pair of rear wheels to assume an orientation perpendicular to the vehicle drive axis. A target is configured to be positioned in the line of sight of the device to be oriented. Two substantially equal length elongated members are coupled between the bar and the target such that a parallelogram is created by the bar, the target, and the two elongated members, regardless of the position of the target relative to the vehicle and the bar. Multiple alignment methods are capable of being carried out with the alignment system. |
| US08020305B2 |
Microscope slide marking apparatus and method
A detachable microscope pen mount for marking a microscope slide includes an attachment collar configured to secure to an objective lens, a lever secured to the attachment collar, a pen holder secured to the lever, and a pen secured to the pen holder and having a pen tip, where activating the lever moves the pen tip into a field of view and lowers the pen tip onto the microscope slide. Also disclosed is a method of marking a microscope slide includes identifying an object of interest in a field of view, positioning the object of interest in a center of the field of view, inserting a pen having a pen tip along a trough into a center of the trough, lowering the pen tip onto the microscope slide, and marking the microscope slide by tracing the inside of the center of the trough. Another method of marking a microscope slide includes identifying an object of interest in a field of view, positioning the object of interest in a center of the field of view, inserting a pen having a pen tip along a trough until it reaches an outside surface of a tube in the trough, lowering the pen tip onto the microscope slide, and marking the microscope slide by tracing the outside of tube. |
| US08020303B1 |
Infant feeding device
A infant feeding device includes a tube that has a first end, a second end and a peripheral wall extending between the first and second ends. Each of the first and second ends is open. A conduit is fluidly coupled to the second end. A spoon head is attached to a distal end of the conduit with respect to the second end of the tube. The spoon head is positioned to receive food material transferred through the conduit from the tube. A container containing food material is couplable to the first end of the perimeter wall to supply the tube with the food material so that the food material can be fed to an infant with the spoon head. |
| US08020302B2 |
Folding knife having a poking element
A folding knife includes a handle, a blade, a resilient element and a poking element. The blade can be turned into or out from the handle. The resilient element has an end fixed to the handle and another end extended to a position of connecting the handle and the blade. If the blade is stored in the handle, the resilient element produces a torque to turn the blade into the handle. When a force is applied to turn the blade out from the handle, the resilient element produces a torque to pop the blade out from the handle automatically. The poking element is provided for turning the blade. When the blade is in the handle, the poking element presses against the blade, such that if a user pokes an end of the poking element, another end of the poking element turns the blade out from the handle. |
| US08020296B2 |
Method for the production of secondary fluid ducts
A method for the production of secondary fluid ducts for a turbomachine, especially for fluid supply or fluid removal to/from a flow-wetted surface of the turbomachine, with the secondary fluid ducts being produced by an electrochemical machining process. |
| US08020295B2 |
Methods for dimensionally restoring a fastener for a gas turbine engine
Gas turbine engines systems and related methods involving dimensionally restored fasteners are provided. In this regard, a representative method for dimensionally restoring a mechanical fastener for a gas turbine engine includes: providing a mechanical fastener; and relocating existing material of the fastener such that a dimension of the fastener is restored. |
| US08020291B2 |
Method of manufacturing a printed wiring board
The present invention has for its object to provide a multilayer printed circuit board which is very satisfactory in facture toughness, dielectric constant, adhesion and processability, among other characteristics. The present invention is directed to a multilayer printed circuit board comprising a substrate board, a resin insulating layer formed on said board and a conductor circuit constructed on said resin insulating layer, wherein said resin insulating layer comprises a polyolefin resin. |
| US08020289B2 |
Method of producing electronic device
A method of producing an electronic device includes a molding of a first casing to seal a first face of a circuit board and electronic parts mounted on the first face. The producing method further includes a mounting of electronic parts on a second face of the circuit board opposite from the first face, after the molding of the first casing is finished. The producing method further includes a molding of a second casing to seal the second face of the circuit board and the electronic parts mounted on the second face. The molding of the second casing integrates the first casing and the second casing with each other. |
| US08020288B2 |
Method for producing an electronic subassembly
In a method for producing an electronic subassembly, at least one electronic component is fixed in place on an insulating layer of a conductive foil in a first step, the conductive foil with the electronic component is laminated onto a circuit board substrate, and a circuit track structure is then developed by structuring the conductive foil. The expansion coefficient of the insulating layer lies between the expansion coefficient of the circuit board substrate and the expansion coefficient of the circuit track structure, and/or electronic components that require small passages for contacting with the circuit track structure are pressed deeper into the insulating layer than electronic components that require larger passages in the insulating layer. |
| US08020287B2 |
Changing method for separation facilitation head in chip mounting apparatus
In a chip mounting apparatus, a structure is employed that a separation facilitation head keeping part is provided for detachably keeping a plurality kinds of separation facilitation heads in a wafer ring holding part and a chip separation facilitation unit is allowed to access to the separation facilitation head keeping part by a moving mechanism to automatically carry out a changing operation for changing the separation facilitation head between the separation facilitation head keeping part and a separation facilitation head attaching part provided in the chip separation facilitation unit without annoying operator's hands. Thus, the separation facilitation head can be automatically changed to improve the operation rate of the apparatus. |
| US08020276B2 |
System and method for custom-orienting a medical mask to an oral appliance
In one embodiment, a medical mask includes a body and an orientation structure. The body includes a first polymer, is configured to cover portions of a user's face comprising the user's mouth and at least portions of the user's nose comprising the nostrils, and is further configured to contact the user's face surrounding the covered portions of the user's face to substantially prevent gas from escaping between the body and the contacted portions of the user's face. The orientation structure is configured to receive an oral appliance post to establish and maintain a custom orientation between the medical mask and the oral appliance post and the orientation structure includes a deformable material which includes a second polymer capable of transitioning between deformable and non-deformable states. |
| US08020274B2 |
Method for marking a socket
A method is disclosed for marking a socket. The method includes the steps of providing a socket, pressing the socket to make an indented mark, executing thermal treatment on the socket, coloring a portion of the socket near the indented mark to form a printed layer, vibrating and grinding the socket to remove the printed layer from the socket except the indented mark, and electroplating the socket to form a coating on an external side and an internal side of the socket. |
| US08020267B2 |
Precision roll turning lathe
A roll turning lathe is provided herein which can not only machine with high precision circumferential transverse grooves in the peripheral surface of a roll but can also machine with high precision longitudinal grooves in the peripheral surface. The precision roll turning lathe includes a fly cutter spindle device and a tool post having a plurality of cutting tools that are mounted on a tool swivel. By selectively using the tool post and the fly cutter spindle device, high-precision machining of transverse grooves and longitudinal grooves on a roll-shaped workpiece. |
| US08020263B2 |
Automated system for cutting tissue retainers on a suture
An automated system for manufacturing self-retaining suture is disclosed. The system includes a cutting bed to which a suture is mounted. A power-operated cutting arm moves a cutting device through the suture along a preselected path and at a preselected angle to create a tissue retainer having a desired geometry. An indexing mechanism moves the suture relative to the cutting device. The operation of the cutting arm in conjunction with the geometry of the cutting device and movement of the suture thread allows for creating a plurality of tissue retainers having a desired geometry distributed along the length of the suture thread. |
| US08020257B2 |
Engine pull start handle
An apparatus and a method relating to a handle having a neck portion having a throat extending along an axis and having a reduced axial opening and a slit extending along the throat and alongside the axial opening are disclosed. |
| US08020254B2 |
Hinge assembly
A hinge assembly has a pintle, a rotating bracket, a sliding bracket, a mounting bracket, a compression assembly and an elastic member. The rotating bracket is mounted rotatably around the shaft and has a latching portion. The sliding bracket is attached securely to the pintle and has a track. The mounting bracket and a latching arm. The latching arm selectively presses against the latching portion to hold the hinge closed. The compression assembly is mounted around and expands when the pintle is rotated to close. The elastic member is compressed by expansion of the compression assembly so automatically rotates the pintle to open. Therefore, with the hinge mounted in an electronic device, when the latching portion is slid out of the latching arm, the hinge is forced to open by the elastic member and compression assembly so a cover pops up and is opened easily. |
| US08020244B2 |
Toothbrush
A toothbrush having a compact toothbrush head, which contributes to the economy, cost reduction, and saving of resources, includes a brush base which is provided with consumable brush bundles and which is attachable to and detachable from the toothbrush head. The brush base of the toothbrush is an elastic member in order to absorb excessive pressure added to the brush bundles and secure stable elasticity and a substantial elastic amount for those brush bundles in contact with recessed and projected portions of teeth or those brush bundles entered into space between teeth to enable user to gently clean the teeth and gum. Even when excessive pressure is added to brush bundles, the inventive toothbrush effectively functions for the teeth brushing process. A hole penetrates perpendicularly the toothbrush head, and a slit is formed therein. Further, the inner surface of the slit is formed with recesses and projections. |
| US08020243B2 |
Adjustable handle toothbrush
In a preferred embodiment, this invention provides an easy-to-use, adjustable-head toothbrush that provides two or more locking angles for brushing. |
| US08020242B2 |
Human torso scrubbing apparatus
A human torso scrubbing apparatus including an elongated handle having a grasping portion toward one end thereof. A scrubbing element is secured to a second end of the handle. The grasping portion of the handle is offset at an angle ranging between about 75° and about 115° relative to a portion of the handle extending from the scrubbing element so as to facilitate scrubbing of a human's back while the angular offset of said grasping portion allows said apparatus to freely hang when not in use. |
| US08020229B2 |
Pillow
A pillow for enabling a patient with whiplash syndrome to sleep peacefully including a deformable pillow body having an upper surface cloth and a lower surface cloth with an edge cloth as a boundary, a depression part including a bottom surface at a position depressed from the upper surface cloth to the lower surface cloth of the pillow body and a grooved part extending from the depression part to the edge cloth of the pillow body and being formed by joining the upper surface cloth to the lower surface cloth. |
| US08020223B2 |
Bag dispensing receptacle for plunging apparatus
The field of the invention relates generally to a plunging system including, inter alia, a plunger having a handle and a plunger member, the handle having first and second opposed ends with the plunger member being coupled to the second end of the handle; and a receptacle, having a top portion coupled to a body portion, the body portion including a recess defining support regions cincturing the recess, and a body portion coupled to a neck portion, the neck portion including a second recess defining a second supporting region cincturing the second recess, with a segment of the top portion in superimposition with the recess of the body portion defining a chamber, with the receptacle being coupled to the first end of the handle such that the handle is positioned within the recess of the neck portion, with the chamber comprising a plurality of bags positioned therein that may be dispensed from the receptacle. |
| US08020220B2 |
Customizable military helmet system
A helmet system that enables a user of the helmet system to customize the helmet system according to personal taste, a task at hand, responsibilities within a tactical group (e.g., communications, command, etc.), and/or according to other parameters. The customization of the helmet system may include a customization of electronics modules carried on the helmet system that optionally provide communications, environment detection, health or biometrics monitoring, power, information transmission/reception, information processing, and/or other functionalities. The customization of the helmet system may include a customization of structural components that enable the user to balance the structural protection provided to the user against other considerations. The other considerations may include, for example, weight, form factor, comfort, and/or other considerations. |
| US08020219B2 |
Strap anchor system and method
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a strap anchor system and method are provided. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a helmet body, a support structure substantially disposed within the helmet body, and a strap anchor housing coupled to the support structure and substantially disposed within the helmet body. The strap anchor housing is operable to receive a strap anchor after formation of the helmet body. The strap anchor is operable to couple a strap to the strap anchor housing so that a load on the strap is transferred to the support structure before being transferred to the helmet body. |
| US08020218B2 |
Baseball cap with neck protection visor
The head covering includes a skull portion, a visor and an expandable section for connecting the visor and the skull portion. The expandable section is moveable between an expanded position and a retracted position to move the visor between a generally horizontal position to shade the eyes and a generally vertical position to protect the back of the neck. The expandable section is interposed between and connects the skull portion and the visor. The expandable section is formed of flexible material that is easily folded. |
| US08024809B2 |
System and method for deleting confidential information
A system includes a first wireless-enabled device that transparently stores confidential information and a second wireless-enabled device that stores the same confidential information. The confidential information is to be used to secure a wireless communication link between the first device and the second device. One or both of the first device and the second device is to delete the confidential information upon fulfillment of one or more conditions related to the communication link. |
| US08024808B1 |
Arrangement for controlling content distribution by dynamically controlling bandwidth for transfer of the content based on content authorization
A broadband network device is configured, in a broadband network, for dynamically controlling an upstream link bandwidth of a user node configured for downloading content via a downstream link having a prescribed bandwidth and uploading content through the broadband network via an upstream link according to the upstream link bandwidth. The broadband network device sets the upstream link bandwidth to a bandwidth value optimized for minimal-size data (e.g., message-based) transfers and that substantially restricts transfers of media-based (e.g., digital video or audio) data transfers to substantially long time intervals. The broadband network device is configured for dynamically increasing the upstream link bandwidth to an increased bandwidth value optimized for media-based data transfers, based on an identified authorization. The authorization may be supplied externally, for example, by a content provider, or based on a verification supplied by an authorization server that the user node is authorized to redistribute the content. Hence, content distribution can be controlled based on dynamically controlling the upstream link bandwidth according to content authorization, substantially minimizing the occurrences of unauthorized content redistribution. |
| US08024802B1 |
Methods and systems for using state ranges for processing regular expressions in intrusion-prevention systems
Methods and systems are provided for using state ranges for processing regular expressions in intrusion-prevention systems. In an embodiment, in an intrusion-prevention system for examining network traffic and identifying therein the presence of signature data patterns, a state-transition table is provided. The state-transition table is representative of a predetermined data pattern, and includes states each having one or more egress events defining transitions to other states. A subject is received for evaluation for the presence of the predetermined data pattern. While using the state-transition table for said evaluation, the presence of a first egress event of a first state is detected in the subject, resulting in a transition from the first state to a second state. A second-state range in the subject is calculated, and the second-state range is searched for the presence of at least one of the second state's egress events. |
| US08024798B2 |
Method and apparatus for protecting against buffer overrun attacks
A method and an apparatus are disclosed for monitoring and protecting a program system against buffer overrun attacks. The method includes identification of whether there is an unsafe combination of rights for a loaded memory segment; a check to determine whether an unsafe combination of rights is permissible as an exception, and a defense measure, through deletion of the right if there is an unsafe combination of rights and this combination of rights is not permissible. The method also may include a repair measure which repairs the damage which has been caused by the deletion of the right. |
| US08024795B2 |
Network intelligence system
A network security system takes an active approach to network security. This is accomplished by providing intelligence about other networks. A master network intelligence database is established that uses a plurality of network information agents for gathering information about networks and providing the information to the master network intelligence database. A customer network security system is then able to secure the customer network in dependence upon information received from the master network intelligence. Security information includes at least one of hostility level on the Internet, collected from numerous sites; security event history; spam levels; hosted services; public wireless; organization type; organization associations; peer ISPs; bandwidth connection to the Internet; active security measures; number of users on the network; age of the network; inappropriate content served; industry; geographic placement; open proxy servers; and contact information. |
| US08024794B1 |
Dynamic role based authorization system and method
A system, method and computer program product are provided for role based authorization. Included is a plurality of resources and roles associated with an authorization domain. In use, access to the resources is controlled utilizing expressions that operate as a function of the roles and the resources. |
| US08024791B2 |
Providing hints while entering protected information
One or more hints can be presented during the entry of protected information. Traditionally, for security reasons, the protected information is displayed as ambiguous characters, hindering the ability to determine if there was an error inputting the information. A hash can be calculated from some or all of the protected information already input, and the resulting hash value can be used to select a hint. The hints can be selected from a relatively small number of easily distinguishable hints, including visual, auditory and sensory hints, or any combination thereof. The hints are not a globally unique identifier of the protected information and can, instead, be used to detect a deviation from the correct entry of the protected information. |
| US08024787B2 |
Packet firewalls of particular use in packet switching devices
One or more firewalls are used to perform firewall functionality on packets based on the entry and exit accesses of each of the one or more firewalls being applied to a packet. For example, when firewalls are included in a router, the interfaces of the router are typically mapped to virtual firewalls and access thereof. Based on the determined routing of a particular packet, the firewalls to apply and their corresponding entry and exit accesses are identified. In order to decouple the application by the firewall itself of the security policies from the network topology and routing architecture (e.g., the network routing address information which is typically relied upon by current firewalls), the firewall functionality is defined based on the identified entry and exit accesses of a firewall, rather than based on network defined addresses, for example. |
| US08024784B1 |
Method and system for providing remote secure access to a peer computer
A method and system for allowing a user to access a peer from a remote system are described. The method and system include authenticating the user for the peer using an authentication server and providing a token for the peer and the user based on the authenticating. The user is authenticated from the remote system. The method and system also include allowing the user to access the peer from the remote system through a proxy server and using the token, if the user is authenticated. |
| US08024778B2 |
System and method for defining attributes, decision rules, or both, for remote execution, claim set I
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. |
| US08024774B2 |
System and method for crawl policy management utilizing IP address and IP address range
The present invention relates to a method for configuring a policy management protocol for a web crawler, the method further comprising the steps of determining a web space that is to be crawled by a web crawler, wherein the web space is comprised of an IP address and/or a range of IP addresses, and determining additional hostnames that are associated with the IP address and/range of IP addresses. The method further comprises the steps of configuring the web crawler to crawl the IP address and/range of IP addresses, and determine additional hostnames that are associated with the IP address or range of IP addresses, and performing a web crawling function upon the determined additional hostnames by the web crawler. |
| US08024769B2 |
Identity-based encryption system for secure data distribution
A system is provided that allows encrypted content to be distributed to users over a communications network. A policy enforcement service may use an identity-based encryption algorithm to generate public parameter information and private keys. Data content may be encrypted prior to distribution using an identity-based encryption engine. The encryption engine may use the public parameter information from the policy service and public key information to encrypt the data. The public key information may be based on policy information that specifies which types of users are allowed to access the data that is encrypted using that public key. A user may obtain a private key for unlocking particular encrypted data by providing a key request to the policy enforcement service that contains the public key. The policy enforcement service may enforce the policies given by the policy information and may provide private keys only to authorized users. |
| US08024764B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing multimedia signals
A method and apparatus for processing multimedia signals is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an adjunct device coupled between a Set-Top Box (STB) and a media device. The adjunct device can have a controller element that receives a telephony signal from a communication system and an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) multimedia signal supplied by the STB, monitors call origination activities in the telephony signal, and presents at the media device in whole or in part the telephony and the IPTV multimedia signal according to the call origination activities monitored. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08024762B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing virtual content over a network
Methods and apparatus for selecting, purchasing and delivering content to users of a network so that the user has “virtual” ownership of and access to the content, thereby obviating the need for physical media (e.g., DVDs or CDs). In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network, and on-demand (OD) sessions or broadcast modes are used to deliver the virtual content stored at the head-end (or hub site) to the requesting owner. The purchased content is associated with one or more users when stored, thereby providing the owner(s) unlimited access thereto, without the costs and effort associated with renting/purchasing and maintaining DVDs. The content may also comprise new release content, which would otherwise not be available over the network at that time but for the purchase and delivery mechanisms of the invention. Various other complementary features for enhancing the user's virtual ownership experience are also disclosed. |
| US08024761B1 |
Method and apparatus of load sharing and fault tolerance in an interactive video distribution system
A method and apparatus for load sharing and increasing fault tolerance at a head-end of an interactive information distribution system during a subscriber's video session. A primary head-end controller processes video session data to manage the distribution of streamed video information to a subscriber. In the event of a failure at the primary head-end controller, a secondary head-end controller continues to process session-state data, with minimal interruption to the subscriber's video session. |
| US08024760B2 |
Video switch
There is provided video switching circuitry for use in a KVM switch and similar devices. Video signal switching circuitry can supply video signals from a one of a plurality of video sources connected to the circuit to a display device connected to the circuit. The high data signalling rate signals are converted into a greater number of lower data signalling rate signals for switching by a bus architecture. Also provided are video display systems in which analogue and digital video signals are switched synchronously to allow them to be displayed on common or separate display devices. Also described is a high-resolution monitor digital video data switching device. |
| US08024752B2 |
Method and apparatus for permitting unconfirmed viewing time with addressable pay TV
A method for managing access to a signal representative of an event of a service provider by permitting a subscriber of the service provider to view an event for which the subscriber is not authorized for a specified time period; and transmitting at least one authorization code for the event to the subscriber during the specified time period. |
| US08024748B1 |
Method and system for coupling a laser with a slider in an energy assisted magnetic recording disk drive
A method and system for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) disk drive are described. The EAMR disk drive includes a slider, at least one EAMR transducer on the slider, and at least one laser coupled with the slider. The slider has a slider back side, a trailing face, and an intersection. The trailing face and the slider back side meet at the intersection. The trailing face makes an angle different from ninety degrees with the slider back side at the intersection. The laser(s) have an optical axis and are optically coupled with the trailing face of the slider. The optical axis is substantially perpendicular to the intersection and parallel to the slider back side. |
| US08024746B2 |
Common handler framework
A common handler framework can allow handlers for multiple different types of web services programming models to be used in a single handler chain. |
| US08024745B2 |
Communication mechanism between disconnected applications in a web browser
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to enable communication between disconnected applications in a computer system. A bridge object is created in a secondary application. Further, an interface for the bridge object enables communication with the secondary application through the bridge object. The interface for the bridge object is registered in a global interface table (GIT). A cookie is retrieved from the GIT in response to the registration. Such a cookie comprises information for utilizing the interface for the bridge object. The cookie is then stored in an environment variable. The environment variable is accessible to a disconnected application (e.g., ActiveX control) such that the cookie may be retrieved to enable use of the interface. |
| US08024743B2 |
Connection of clients for management of systems
A system and method for connection of clients for management of systems. According to an embodiment of the invention, a method includes generating an instance of a program object for a client system, the client system being of a computer platform type, the program object being compatible with a plurality of different computer platform types; connecting the instance of the program object with an interface of a server; and managing an application on the server using the instance of the program object. |
| US08024733B2 |
Component model for batch computing in a distributed object environment
A batch component model is provided within a distributed object environment. The batch component is designed to capture the iterative logic of a batch program as it reads from one or more input streams, invokes operations on other business component functions, and generates output to one or more output streams. Deployment descriptors express declarative policies for the component that will influence how the component is managed including the streams it uses, business components it depends on, how processing costs are accounted, and the resource demands the job will put on the system. Input streams and output streams are encapsulated in objects that hide the actual source of input and output data so that the component can be redeployed in different execution environments to different physical data sources without requiring the program to be changed. A batch container enforces the deployment policies declared for the batch component. |
| US08024727B2 |
Enhancing or replacing host operating system functionality by leveraging guest operating system functionality
Techniques for enhancing or replacing host operating system functionality by leveraging guest operating system functionality are disclosed. Incoming data is received from a computing resource of a host operating system, and, before the incoming data is transmitted to a higher-level module in the host operating system, the incoming data is intercepted by a set of one or more leveraged guest modules in a guest operating system. After intercepting the incoming data, the leveraged guest modules perform one or more operations on the incoming data. The leveraged guest modules may provide more advanced support and capabilities to perform these operations than any counterpart functionality in the host operating system. In addition to performing these operations, the leveraged guest modules also determine whether or not to return the incoming data to the host operating system. |
| US08024718B2 |
System and method for optimizing source code
One aspect of the invention includes a method of address expression optimization of source-level code. The source-level code describes the functionality of an application to be executed on a digital device. The method comprises first inputting first source-level code that describes the functionality of the application into optimization system. The optimization system then transforms the first source-level into a second source level that has fewer nonlinear operations than the first source-level code. |
| US08024716B2 |
Method and apparatus for code optimization
A system comprising a compiler that compiles source-level code to generate an intermediate-level instruction comprising a predetermined component. The intermediate-level instruction is an at least partially optimized version of the source-level code. Execution of the predetermined component triggers the execution of a series of instructions that, when executed, generates previously-unavailable data that is used to re-generate the intermediate-level instruction. The re-generated intermediate-level instruction has a length less than or equal to that of the intermediate-level instruction. |
| US08024713B2 |
Using ghost agents in an environment supported by customer service providers
A method for supporting an application can include the step of receiving a problem indication relating to the application. The method can also identify a host within a grid environment, wherein a host can be a software object used by said application. A ghost agent can be associated with the host. The actions of the host can be replicated for use by the ghost agent. Data relating to the replicated actions can be recorded using the ghost agent. The indicated problem can be responded to, where the response can be based at least in part upon the recorded data. |
| US08024711B2 |
Software analysis tool
A tool for analyzing software. The tool identifies calls to framework components made from within one or more application programs. The information may be processed to indicate usage of framework components. This usage information may be aggregated over a pool of application programs to derive statistical usage information for each component in the framework, allowing components to be selected for inclusion in a compact framework. Usage information may also be used for scheduling development tasks so that the most widely used framework components are developed first or to estimate the amount of development required to modify an application program for execution against a target framework. |
| US08024708B2 |
Systems and methods for debugging an application running on a parallel-processing computer system
A runtime system implemented in accordance with the present invention provides an application platform for parallel-processing computer systems. Such a runtime system enables users to leverage the computational power of parallel-processing computer systems to accelerate/optimize numeric and array-intensive computations in their application programs. This enables greatly increased performance of high-performance computing (HPC) applications. |
| US08024706B1 |
Techniques for embedding testing or debugging features within a service
Techniques are presented for embedding testing and debugging features within a service. A user service is modified to include record and playback features. When a record feature is activated, actions and state transitions, which occur within the user service, are monitored and recorded. These actions and transitions are represented within a script. During playback, the actions and state transitions are automatically replayed within the user service by accessing operations of the user service that are represented or mapped within the script. |
| US08024703B2 |
Building an open model driven architecture pattern based on exemplars
View templates for use in generating application content are created by analyzing and categorizing existing application examples to derive reusable abstractions of application artifacts. Example application artifacts or source modules are categorized by role and function. Based on the categorized artifacts, a generalized, abstract view for the role and function is defined. View templates are created for each abstract view and contain static content and dynamic content that varies for each instance of the template. The view templates are stored in a template library for use in a model driven application generator. |
| US08024701B2 |
Visual creation of object/relational constructs
Visual controls such as drag and drop are utilized to create object-oriented constructs from corresponding relational constructs, for instance. Similarly, an object-relational map can be generated between the relational constructs and the created object-oriented constructs to facilitate interaction across disparate programmatic models. |
| US08024697B2 |
Various methods and apparatuses for estimating characteristics of an electronic systems design
Methods and apparatuses are described for an Intellectual Property (IP) Generator for estimating timing, area, and power characteristics of an electronic system design. The IP Generator receives a user-supplied file having data describing a configuration of an IP design having multiple levels of hierarchy. The IP Generator also receives user-supplied technology parameters and data-flow information. The IP generator correlates estimated timing, area, and power characteristics for each IP sub component based on the user supplied technology parameters, data-flow information and configuration parameters. The IP generator reports the timing, area, and power estimates to a user via a graphic user interface prior to a transformation of a Register Transfer Level (RTL) design into the gate-level circuit design. |
| US08024696B1 |
Clock speed for a digital circuit
Various approaches for improving clock speed for a circuit design. In one embodiment, a graph having nodes and edges that represent the circuit design is generated. The nodes represent flip-flops of the design, the edges represent couplings of data inputs and outputs of the flip-flops, and the edges have associated delay values for respective durations of signal delays of the couplings. A smallest period is determined for which subtracting each delay value from the smallest period and associating the difference with the associated edge does not create a negative cycle in the graph. A path in the graph is selected, the path including selected flip-flops and connecting edges. The circuit design is modified by replacing the selected flip-flops with latches, and the smallest period is output. |
| US08024693B2 |
Congestion optimization during synthesis
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that optimizes a circuit design during a logic design stage to reduce routing congestion during a placement and routing stage. During operation, this system identifies a first circuit structure in the circuit design which is expected to cause routing congestion during the placement and routing stage. Next, the system generates a second circuit structure which is functionally equivalent to the first circuit structure, and is not expected to cause routing congestion during the placement and routing stage. The system then replaces the first circuit structure in the circuit design with the second circuit structure, thereby mitigating routing congestion during the placement and routing stage. |
| US08024691B2 |
Automata unit, a tool for designing checker circuitry and a method of manufacturing hardware circuitry incorporating checker circuitry
The present invention relates to an automata unit, a tool for designing circuitry and/or checker circuitry, and a method for manufacturing hardware circuitry. The automata unit includes an input unit for receiving assertions using Boolean expressions, an automata generator for translating the assertions into automata, and an automata adaptor. The automata generator uses a dual layer symbolic alphabet for representing the assertions, and the automata adaptor adapts automata algorithms so as to support the symbolic alphabet in the generated automata. The tools for designing circuitry and checker circuitry rely on the automata unit, and further include an assertion unit and either a circuit generator or a checker generator. |
| US08024686B2 |
Retiming of multirate system
Methods and apparatuses for retiming of multirate system for clock period minimization with a polynomial time without sub-optimality. In an embodiment, a normalized factor vector for the nodes of multirate graph is introduced, allowing the formulation of the multirate graph retiming constraints to a form similar to a single rate graph. In an aspect, the retiming constraints are formulated to allowed the usage of linear programming methodology instead of integer linear programming, thus significantly reducing the complexity of the solving algorithm. The present methodology also uses multirate constraints, avoiding unfolding to single rate equivalent, thus avoiding graph size increase. In a preferred embodiment, the parameters of the multirate system are normalized to the normalized factor vector, providing efficient algorithm in term of computational time and memory usage, without any sub-optimality. |
| US08024684B2 |
Apparatus, method, and computer product for estimating power consumption of LSI
Design data of a cell group is copied to obtain design data of an antecedent cell group and of a subsequent cell group. Design data of a combinational circuit is copied to generate the combinational circuits in plural corresponding to a given number of cycles n (n=2, 3, 4 . . . , where n=3 in FIG. 4). The design data of the combinational circuits are connected in series between the design data of the antecedent cell group and the design data of the subsequent cell group. As a result, design data of an input constraint circuit representing an input constraint(s) of the circuit can be generated. |
| US08024682B2 |
Global statistical optimization, characterization, and design
For application to analog, mixed-signal, and custom digital circuits, a system and method to do: global statistical optimization (GSO), global statistical characterization (GSC), global statistical design (GSD), and block-specific design. GSO can perform global yield optimization on hundreds of variables, with no simplifying assumptions. GSC can capture and display mappings from design variables to performance, across the whole design space. GSC can handle hundreds of design variables in a reasonable time frame, e.g., in less than a day, for a reasonable number of simulations, e.g., less than 100,000. GSC can capture design variable interactions and other possible nonlinearities, explicitly capture uncertainties, and intuitively display them. GSD can support the user's exploration of design-to-performance mappings with fast feedback, thoroughly capturing design variable interactions in the whole space, and allow for more efficiently created, more optimal designs. Block-specific design should make it simple to design small circuit blocks, in less time and with lower overhead than optimization through optimization. |
| US08024680B2 |
Minimal leakage-power standard cell library
A minimal leakage power Standard Cell Library is provided. The minimal leakage power Standard Cell Library provides minimal leakage power cells with improved speed characteristics. The minimal leakage power Standard Cell Library includes cells from an existing Standard Cell Library and a set of minimal leakage power cells for a selected set of logic functions. The minimal leakage power Standard Cell Library is formed by identifying a set of logic functions. For each logic function in the identified set, a base case for an unfolded implementation of the logic function is determined. Widths for transistors in a transistor topology used in the unfolded implementation of the logic function are determined based on the non-linear leakage power characteristics for the transistor topology to achieve minimal leakage power. The determined widths are then assigned to the transistors and the minimal leakage cell is added to the library. |
| US08024675B1 |
Method and system for wafer topography-aware integrated circuit design analysis and optimization
A method and system for designing an optimized specification of an integrated circuit (IC) is provided. The IC comprises a plurality of cells, and each of the cells comprises a plurality of transistors. The method includes preparing a linewidth map of at least one device of the plurality of devices, performing a topography-aware analysis of the at least one device based on the linewidth map, and designing the optimized specification of the IC based on the topography-aware analysis. In another embodiment, a method for estimating a leakage power of at least one device in an IC is provided. The method includes determining a defocus and a pitch value, determining a linewidth value based on the defocus and pitch value, and estimating the leakage current and/or leakage power based on the linewidth value. |
| US08024673B2 |
Layout evaluation apparatus and method
An apparatus that evaluates a layout of a semiconductor integrated circuit by estimating a result of planarization in manufacturing the circuit includes a unit that divides the layout into partial areas, a unit that calculates, for each partial area, at least one of a wiring density in the partial area, a total perimeter length of wirings in the partial area, and a maximum value of differences of wiring densities in adjacent partial areas adjacent to the partial area from the wiring density in the partial area as partial area data, a unit that sets ranges of the wiring density, the total perimeter length, and the maximum value from which a height variation larger than an upper limit value is expected as critical regions based on an equation corresponding to a type of the layout, and a unit that plots the critical regions and the partial area data on a same map. |
| US08024672B1 |
System and method for generating presentations
A system and method allows a user to specify a presentation by arranging content into a hierarchical arrangement. The presentation is generated in response to the content and the hierarchical arrangement. |
| US08024671B2 |
Three-dimensional graphic user interface, and apparatus and method of providing the same
An apparatus and method for providing a three-dimensional graphic user interface includes a control module which creates a three-dimensional interface space having a predetermined plane and an axis perpendicular to the plane, and a plurality of objects presented in the space, and a user interface module which presents a plurality of object groups including the plurality of objects in the space, and moves an object group including a selected object among the plurality of presented object groups along the axis. |
| US08024668B2 |
Receiving and reporting page-specific user feedback concerning one or more particular web pages of a website
A method for receiving page-specific user feedback concerning a particular web page of a website includes using a comment icon viewable on the page to solicit one or more page-specific open-ended comments concerning the page from a user. In one embodiment, the method includes using software associated with the comment icon to automatically communicate a request for a comment window to a remote computer system that is separate from a computer system hosting the website in response to the user selecting the comment icon, receive the comment window from the remote computer system, present the comment window to the user, and receive one or more or more page-specific open-ended comments concerning the page from the user provided using the comment window for reporting to a website owner. In another embodiment, the method includes using software associated with the icon and incorporated into a computer system of the user for purposes of research concerning one or more particular web pages to determine a page identifier of the page in response to the user accessing the page and receive the page-specific user feedback concerning the page from the user for reporting in association with the determined page identifier of the page to an entity sponsoring the research. |
| US08024666B2 |
Apparatus and method for visualizing data
A computer implemented method includes selecting a portion of a data set in a first visualization. A list of visualizations relevant to the context inferred from the selection of the portion of the data set in the first visualization is generated. A second visualization from the list of visualizations is rendered. |
| US08024664B1 |
Co-brands for user interface in travel booking
Co-brands, virtual wrappers for web sites that allow clients to expand client inventories across different web sites, are disclosed. Different types of travel inventory can be provided across these web sites. A client can create different URLs, domains, look and feel, product filters, pricing rules, business logic, payment methods, languages, currencies, etc. off a single instance. A client can create a co-brand and, using an administrator application, configure its settings to target specific geographic locations, targets markets or even themes. Additionally, co-brands are used to allow third party vendors to direct traffic to client sites. Co-brand tools are designed to make items such as navigation, images, buttons, domain names, colors, fonts, languages and currencies. Co-brands make it easier for travel companies to have sites based on demographics, destination, and events that can lead to greater adoption and conversion. |
| US08024661B2 |
Collaboration framework
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture enables users to collaborate on an actual stored drawing document across a network. A single document is stored on a server who establishes a collaboration session with multiple users that collaborate in real time and dynamically view modifications executed by the users. Users maintain simultaneous write access to the document. Asynchronous commands are received from users, that have a delay of a defined time period, include any modifications made in real time by the user transmitting the asynchronous command, and cause the server to transmit any modifications to all of the multiple users in the collaboration session. The server also maintains a history of all modifications to the actual stored drawing document. The history can be used by a user to undo any user's modifications. |
| US08024656B2 |
Data analysis using facet attributes
A method, computer program product, and system for analyzing data using a data warehouse application are provided. The method, computer program product, and system provide for displaying a facet in a user interface of the data warehouse application, the facet classifying a plurality of documents, and displaying a facet attribute of the facet in the user interface of the data warehouse application, the facet attribute corresponding to a characteristic associated with each of the plurality of documents classified by the facet. |
| US08024655B2 |
Compressing page descriptions while preserving high quality
A method (100) is disclosed for generating a page description from a list of items (201 to 204) to be rendered to the page. At least one of the items in the list belongs to a class of key items (201). Such key items may for example be text items. The method (100) traverses (601) the list, and classifies items (202, 203) not designated as key items that would when rendered overlie at least one key item (201). At least one other non-key item is then rendered to image data (104, 105), and the page description is generated (107) from page description commands which describe the key items (201), page description commands describing the classified items (202, 203), and rendered image data of the remaining items (200). Including certain items (201, 202 and 203) in the page description using page description commands ensures that the quality of such items is retained. Also, including the remainder of the items (200) using image data provides for high compression. |
| US08024653B2 |
Techniques for creating computer generated notes
Text is extracted from and information resource such as documents, emails, relational database tables and other digitized information sources. The extracted text is processed using a decomposition function to create. Nodes are a particular data structure that stores elemental units of information. The nodes can convey meaning because they relate a subject term or phrase to an attribute term or phrase. Removed from the node data structure, the node contents are or can become a text fragment which conveys meaning, i.e., a note. The notes generated from each digital resource are associated with the digital resource from which they are captured. The notes are then stored, organized and presented in several ways which facilitate knowledge acquisition and utilization by a user. |
| US08024648B2 |
Planar mapping of graphical elements
Planar rendering is described. In an implementation, a method includes approximating a shape that corresponds to an overlapping portion of at least one graphical element that is translucent with another graphical element. A color is computed for the approximated shape from respective colors of each of the graphical elements and the translucence of the at least one graphical element. The approximated shape having the computed color is formed into a communication for output to a printer. |
| US08024643B2 |
Error correction for disk storage media
Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for improving the reliability of data stored on disk media. Logical redundancy is introduced into the data, and the data within a logical storage unit is divided into sectors that are spatially separated by interleaving them with sectors of other logical storage units. The logical redundancy and spatial separation reduce or minimize the effects of localized damage to the storage disk, such as the damage caused by a scratch or fingerprint. Thus, the data is stored on the disk in a layout that improves the likelihood that the data can be recovered despite the presence of an error that prevents one sector from being read correctly. |
| US08024642B2 |
System and method for providing constrained transmission and storage in a random access memory
A system and method for providing constrained transmission and storage in a random access memory. A system includes a memory device for providing constrained transmission and storage. The memory device includes an interface to a data bus, the data bus having a previous state. The memory device also includes an interface to an address and command bus for receiving a request to read data at an address, and a mechanism for initiating a programmable mode. The programmable mode facilitates retrieving data at the address, and executing an exclusive or (XOR) using the retrieved data and the previous state of the data bus as input. The result of the XOR operation is transmitted to the requester via the data bus. |
| US08024641B2 |
Structured low-density parity-check (LDPC) code
A method for constructing a low-density parity-check (LDPC) code using a structured base parity check matrix with permutation matrix, pseudo-permutation matrix, or zero matrix as constituent sub-matrices; and expanding the structured base parity check matrix into an expanded parity check matrix. A method for constructing a LDPC code using a structured base parity check matrix H=[Hd|Hp], Hd is the data portion, and Hp is the parity portion of the parity check matrix; the parity portion of the structured base parity check matrix is such so that when expanded, an inverse of the parity portion of the expanded parity check matrix is sparse; and expanding the structured base parity check matrix into an expanded parity check matrix. A method for encoding variable sized data by using the expanded LDPC code; and applying shortening, puncturing. |
| US08024638B2 |
Apparatus and method for memory read-refresh, scrubbing and variable-rate refresh
A memory controller and method that provide a read-refresh (also called “distributed-refresh”) mode of operation, in which every row of memory is read within the refresh-rate requirements of the memory parts, with data from different columns within the rows being read on subsequent read-refresh cycles until all rows for each and every column address have been read, scrubbing errors if found, thus providing a scrubbing function that is integrated into the read-refresh operation, rather than being an independent operation. For scrubbing, an atomic read-correct-write operation is scheduled. A variable-priority, variable-timing refresh interval is described. An integrated card self-tester and/or card reciprocal-tester is described. A memory bit-swapping-within-address-range circuit, and a method and apparatus for bit swapping on the fly and testing are described. |
| US08024637B2 |
Super block error correction code (ECC) adaptable to communication systems including hard disk drives (HDDs) and other memory storage devices
Super block error correction code (ECC) adaptable to communication systems including hard disk drives (HDDs) and other memory storage devices. A means is presented by which a number of blocks of information can be organized, with a degree of ECC provided thereto, and transmitted via a signal into a communication channel. In some instances, the communication channel is coupled to a storage media as in the context of an HDD, and information is written to and read from the storage media via this communication channel (e.g., “read channel”). This means is particularly well suited to applications that provide large amounts of data via any one transmission (e.g., DVR/PVR (Digital/Personal Video Recorder)). A redundant block is generated using the information of each of a number of information blocks thereby provided extra ECC on a large portion of data, and that redundant block also undergoes ECC encoding. |
| US08024635B2 |
Wireless communications system
Wireless transmission of data is effected across a communications channel defined by a communications medium by means of an encoder, operable to apply a low density parity check (LDPC) code to data for transmission. The LDPC code is irregular with respect to the degree of variable nodes, and so the transmitter further comprises means for sorting encoded data with respect to the corresponding variable node degree, and modulation and distribution means for allocating encoded and sorted data onto the communications medium. The distribution of the data onto the communications medium is carried out with respect to a prior established pre-coding algorithm, such as SVD. |
| US08024633B2 |
Method and apparatus for combined packet retransmission and soft decoding of combined packets in a wireless communication network
In a wireless communication network using point-to-point or point-to-multipoint communications, this disclosure teaches the use of combined packets for retransmission and corresponding soft value processing at a receiver, wherein combined packets are formed as the logical combination of two or more previously transmitted packets and allow the receiver to use a single combined packet to correct one or more failed packets. For example, with the combined packet retransmission and corresponding soft value receiver processing as taught herein, a given receiver can use a given combined packet to correct bit errors in all (failed) packets comprising the combined packet as long as the bit errors in a failed packet do not overlap (or align) with bit errors in the other failed packets comprising the combined packet. |
| US08024631B1 |
Scan testing system and method
A scan test circuit includes a plurality of tester inputs that receive scan test data for performance of a scan test of a circuit under test. The scan test circuit also includes first and second sets of scan chains that include first and second sets of state variable devices, respectively. The first and second sets of scan chains communicate with the plurality of tester inputs. The scan test circuit also includes first and second compressors that receive a first clock signal and an inversion of the first clock signal, respectively. The compressors compress data output from the first and second sets of state variable devices, respectively. The compressors also generate first and second compressor output data, respectively, based on the compression. The scan test circuit also includes a plurality of tester outputs that provide output test data based on the first and second compressor output data. |
| US08024619B2 |
Method for recovering from PCI bus fault, recording medium and computer
A bus fault detecting unit 21 detects a closed PCI bus, and outputs to an OS 1, a PCI card disconnection instructing signal that requires the OS 1 to disconnect PCI cards connected to the closed PCI bus and PCI buses downstream of this PCI bus. The OS 1 disconnects the designated PCI cards from its control, and outputs to a BIOS 2, a power-off instructing signal that instructs to turn off the power of the disconnected PCI cards. In response to this, a PCI card disconnection handling unit 23 activates a bus diagnosing unit 24, and the bus diagnosing unit 24 diagnoses whether the closed PCI bus functions normally or not. In a case where the closed PCI bus functions normally, a bus opening unit 25 opens the closed PCI bus. |
| US08024616B2 |
Pseudo random process state register for fast random process test generation
A method, system and computer program product are presented for providing pseudo-random input test data to a test program. A seed value is generated and stored in a seed register. Using the seed value as an input, a pseudo-random input test value is generated by a Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR), and stored in a GPR within a processor core. Using the pseudo-random input test value from the GPR, a test program is executed within the processor core. |
| US08024613B2 |
Method and system for managing apparatus performance
The method comprises and executes constitutional information collection processing of collecting constitutional information of the apparatus, constitutional information of a logical unit which is a logical existence obtained by abstracting the apparatus, constitutional information of the application and constitutional information of the dependency relation of the performance established among the apparatus, the logical unit and the application; performance information collection processing of collecting each performance information of the apparatus, the logical unit and the application; and saturation indication detection processing of analyzing a correlation between a change value with time of the performance information of the apparatus and a change value with time of the performance information of the logical unit having the dependency relation of the performance with respect to the apparatus for a predetermined period, and detecting that the apparatus has the saturation indication, when a correlation coefficient obtained by the correlation analysis is a predetermined threshold value or more. |
| US08024609B2 |
Failure analysis based on time-varying failure rates
Failure analysis method and apparatus using failure rate data in coordination with the power on hours to more efficiently resolve computer system failures without occupying system memory or processor bandwidth. In response to a system failure, a baseboard management controller (BMC) notes the time of failure and the elapsed operating time of system components. In response to a failure of the computer system, the BMC accesses industry standard failure rate data correlating the elapsed operating time with the probability of failure for each component. By cross-referencing the time of failure with the failure rate data, the BMC automatically determines the probability of failure of each component at the time of failure of the computer system. The BMC generates a component replacement list identifying the component that currently has the highest probability of failure. |
| US08024607B2 |
Methods and apparatus for event logging in an information network
Methods and apparatus for logging, analysis, and reporting of events such as reboots in a client device (e.g., consumer premises equipment in a cable network) using applications. In one aspect, an improved event logging and monitoring system is provided within the device with which the application(s) can interface to record event or error data. In one exemplary embodiment, the client device comprises a digital set-top box having Java-enabled middleware adapted to implement the various functional aspects of the event logging system, which registers to receive event notifications (including resource exhaustion data) from other applications running on the device. The network operator can also optionally control the operation of the logging system remotely via a network agent. Improved client device and network configurations, as well as methods of operating these systems, are also disclosed. |
| US08024606B2 |
Power restoration to blade servers
Power restoration to blade servers including maintaining a list of blade server identifications and a value of power saving for each capped blade server; identifying losing power to the capped blade servers; restoring power to the previously capped blade servers in order of the values of power savings. |
| US08024602B2 |
Multipath redundant storage system architecture and method
Disclosed is a storage system and method that provides multi-path bus and component interconnection and isolation in a data storage system. A plurality of data storage devices in a removable assembly are connected to a fabric that is configurable to connect some or all of the data storage devices (or “drives”) to a drive controller and configurable to isolate one or more data storage devices from the drive controller. Multiple controllers, fabrics, and interconnecting buses may be employed to provide redundancy in the event of a connector, bus, or controller failure. Computer program code operating in a host, interface controller, and/or drive controller configures the fabric to isolate failed devices and may be employed to optimize data transfer rates. Data storage devices may be multi-ported. The fabric may comprise any device or devices capable of configurably interconnecting data storage devices to one or more controllers and may comprise multiplexers, cross point switches, port bypass controllers. Fabrics may also provide translation or conversion of one bus or interface format to another format. |
| US08024601B2 |
Restarting method using a snapshot
The active server A101 notifies its own operating status to the administration server 106, and the administration server 106 acquires a snapshot and copies a disk according to the policy established by a user. When the active server A101 or the active disk 113 fails, the administration server 106 chooses a backup server A104 and a status storage disk A114 to be booted and restarts them by using the snapshot according to the policy. |
| US08024600B2 |
Fail-over cluster with load-balancing capability
A solution for distributing the workload across the servers (105) in a fail-over cluster (for example, based on the MSCS) is proposed. A fail-over cluster is aimed at providing high availability; for this purpose, a resource service (205) automatically moves each resource (220) that exhibits some sort of failure to another server in the cluster. The proposed solution adds a monitor (240) that periodically measures a responsiveness of each resource. If the responsiveness of a resource is lower than a threshold value, the monitor inquiries a metrics provider (245) for determining the workload of all the servers in the cluster. The monitor then causes the resource service to move that resource to the server having the lowest workload in the cluster. |
| US08024599B2 |
Bias and random delay cancellation
A system and method for digital communication wherein a host provides a host clock and a clockless device transmits to the host a bit stream synchronized according to the clock at a data rate that is an integer multiple of the clock rate. A training mechanism using training data detects time skew between host clock and bit stream, and a digital skew compensation mechanism compensates, substantially in real time, for the skew and for variations in the skew that may occur with the passage of time, in accordance with a vote among at least three samples of a bit of the bit stream, subsequent sampling being retarded or advanced if, respectively, an early or late sample is in disagreement with the vote. Preferably, the compensation value is selected from at least four possible compensation values, and can be stored in a memory to hasten subsequent restarts of the system. |
| US08024598B2 |
Apparatus and method for clock generation with piecewise linear modulation
An apparatus and method for generating a clock using piecewise linear modulation are provided. The apparatus includes: a modulation profile generator for outputting an M-bit digital profile obtained by quantizing a piecewise linear modulation profile consisting of two or more linear signals; a delta-sigma modulator for receiving the M-bit digital profile and outputting a K-bit profile obtained by delta-sigma modulating the M-bit digital profile, K being a smaller number than M; a phase-frequency comparator for outputting up and down pulses having the same phase difference as that between a reference clock and a feedback clock; a charge pump for outputting a predetermined current for a time corresponding to the phase difference between the up and down pulses; a loop filter for outputting a control voltage corresponding to the predetermined current; a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) for outputting a multi-phase clock having a frequency corresponding to a level of the control voltage; and a fractional divider for receiving the multi-phase clock of the VCO, selecting a divider according to the K-bit profile, and outputting a divided clock as the feedback clock. Therefore, it is possible to minimize electromagnetic interference (EMI) using piecewise linear modulation, and to readily implement the apparatus and method on a chip due to the modulation profile consisting of two or more linear signals. In addition, the delicate fractional divider using a multi-phase clock of the VCO and a phase interpolator allows precise frequency interpolation. Furthermore, unnecessary power consumption can be reduced by preventing application of a clock to an unused block. |
| US08024592B2 |
Data processing device, and control method of data processing device
A multifunctional device shifts the states of plural reception units from a state that the device operates in a power saving state to a state that the device operates in an operating state, according to which of the plural reception units a reception request of data is input to. The multifunctional device can shorten a time from the reception of the reception request of the data to the reception unit to a start of a data process of the data. |
| US08024590B2 |
Predicting future power level states for processor cores
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for providing power state change information from a plurality of cores of a processor package to a predictor at a periodic interval and generating a prediction to indicate a predicted operation level of the cores during a next operating period. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08024587B2 |
Computer apparatus, storage apparatus, system management apparatus, and hard disk unit power supply controlling method
To provide a storage system capable of minimizing a performance deterioration, saving power consumption, and realizing a high reliability. A storage system according to the present invention includes a computer, a storage apparatus 1 connected with the computer, and a storage management apparatus connected to the storage apparatus, the storage apparatus including a hard disk unit to control a data write operation and a data read operation between the computer and the hard disk unit, and control on/off states of power supply of the hard disk unit on a group basis, and the system management apparatus collecting running information about the computer and computer execution job information for each computer, and determining an on/off time of the power supply of the hard disk unit on the group basis to record the collected information and the on/off time of the power supply on the group basis. |
| US08024584B2 |
Remote connection system capable of generating a wake-up command and method thereof
A remote connection system capable of generating a wake-up command and method thereof include a remote connector with a power supply input receiver capable of being connected to a power source and further capable of receiving a power supply for the purpose of powering the remote connector. The remote connector further includes a plurality of input ports allowing the coupling of a connector thereto and providing for the transmission of information thereacross. The remote connector further includes a wireless receiver capable of wirelessly receiving a wireless command and a transmitter capable of generating the wake-up command in response to the wireless command. The remote connector further includes a remote device capable of receiving a user input command, generating the wireless command and thereupon wirelessly transmitting the command to the wireless receiver of the remote connector. |
| US08024583B2 |
Confidential information processing host device and confidential information processing method
In the case where a target device stores: m keys {Ka1, . . . , Kam} (m is a natural number) in a manner that the Kai (i is a natural number satisfying 1≦i≦m) is encrypted with the Ka (i−1); and n keys {Kb1, . . . , Kbn} (n is a natural number) in a manner that the Kbj (j is a natural number satisfying 1≦j≦n) is encrypted with the Kb (j−1), a confidential information processing unit is caused to perform a processing of re-encrypting the encrypted key Enc (Kai, Ka (i−1)), which has been encrypted with the Ka (i−1), by using the Kb (j−1) and outputting as an encrypted key Enc (Kai, Kb (j−1)). |
| US08024581B2 |
Computer readable storage medium for generating a pseudonym, computer implemented method and computing device
The invention relates to a method of generating a pseudonym, the method including accessing an input value and calculating a pseudonym by applying a cryptographic one-way function to the input value, where the cryptographic one-way function is an injective function. In alternative embodiments, the cryptographic one-way function is an embedding and/or randomizing function. |
| US08024579B2 |
Authenticating suspect data using key tables
A system and method for authenticating suspect code includes steps of: receiving the suspect code for a first instance of a trusted platform module; loading the suspect code into a trusted platform module device operatively associated with a processor, wherein the suspect code is loaded outside of a shielded location within the trusted platform module device; retrieving a validation public key from a table and storing it in a register in the trusted platform module device, the validation public key indexed by the suspect code; and retrieving a hash algorithm from the table, the hash algorithm indexed by the suspect code. The hash algorithm is run to derive a first hash value; then, using the validation public key, the second hash value is decrypted to derive a second decrypted hash value. The two hash values are compared; and upon determining a match, the suspect code is loaded into the shielded location of the processor for execution by the processor. |
| US08024577B2 |
Password recovery system
The present invention provides a password recovery system that re-supplies a password to only the legitimate user of the password. The password recovery system includes a memory card with CPU and a mobile phone. When a password needs to be recovered, a phone call is made, to the mobile phone, from a telephone connected to a phone line whose phone number is registered in advance into the memory card with CPU. The mobile phone then obtains the telephone number of the phone line via a caller's telephone number notifying service. It is judged whether the obtained telephone number and the registered phone number are the same, and when they are the same, the password stored in the memory card with CPU will be re-supplied so that the user can recover it. |
| US08024574B2 |
Unidirectional message masking and validation system and method
A system for secure communication is provided. A random value generator is configured to generate a random value. A message validation code generator is coupled to the random value generator and configured to generate a message validation code based on a predetermined key, a message, and the random value. A one-time pad generator is coupled to the random number generator and configured to generate a one-time pad based on the random value and the predetermined key. And a masked message generator is coupled to the one-time pad generator and configured to generate a masked message based on the one-time pad and the message. A protected message envelope generator is coupled to the random value generator, the message validation code generator, and the masked message generator, and is configured to generate a protected message envelope based on the random value, the message validation code, and the masked message. |
| US08024572B2 |
Data storage and removal
A system and method for data storage and removal includes providing databases and providing encryption keys. Each database is associated with a database time period and each encryption key is associated with an encryption time period. Data items are received and each data item is encrypted using the encryption key associated with the encryption time period that corresponds to a time associated with the data item. Each encrypted data item is stored in the database associated with the database time period that corresponds to the time associated with the data item. Each encryption key is deactivated at a predetermined time after the associated encryption time period ends. Each database is made irretrievable upon a determination that all of the encryption keys associated with the data items stored in that database have been deactivated. |
| US08024570B2 |
Method and system for communication via a computer network
A method and apparatus for communication via a computer network (102) including registering a plurality of users (206, 222, 224) with a trusted body (110, 210). The trusted body (110, 210) verifies the identity of each user (206, 222, 224) and generates a random identifier (216) for each user (206, 222, 224). A plurality of users (206, 222, 224) can enter into a dialogue with the other users by means of messages sent over the computer network (102) via the trusted body (110, 210). A user (206, 222, 224) remains anonymous through use of its random identifier (216) until such time as the user (206, 222, 224) reveals its true identity. Due to the registration of the users (206, 222, 224) with the trusted body (110, 210) a means of non-repudiation of the dialogue by the users (206, 222, 224) is provided. |
| US08024569B2 |
Method for secure remote backup
The present invention is directed to an architecture and mechanism for securely backing up files and directories on a local machine onto untrusted servers over an insecure network. |
| US08024568B2 |
Method and system for verification of an endpoint security scan
A method of granting access to resources includes the step of receiving a request from a node to access a resource. A scanning agent is generated to gather information about the node. A key is generated and embedded in the scanning agent. The scanning agent is transmitted to the node and gathers information regarding the node. The scanning agent encrypts the gathered information using the at least one generated key. The encrypted gathered information is received from the scanning agent and decrypted. |
| US08024566B2 |
Persistent storage implementations for session data within a multi-tiered enterprise network
A system is described in which similar session objects are managed within session domains. In addition, in one embodiment, a persistence storage interface is employed which maps each session domain to a table within a relational database or other persistent storage implementation. For example, one embodiment of the invention is a system comprising: an object-oriented application server generating a plurality of session objects in response to client requests, the session objects storing session data defining a state of interaction with each of a respective plurality of clients; a hierarchy of session object storage units, the session object storage units configured to store session objects having one or more related characteristics, the session manager to group the session objects within the session object storage units based on the one or more related characteristics of each of the session objects; and a persistence management layer to provide a persistent representation of the hierarchy of session object storage units, the persistent representation of the session object storage units mapping each session storage object unit and each individual session object within each session object storage unit to different persistent data structures within a persistent storage device. |
| US08024565B2 |
Authorizing information flows
Authorizing information flows between devices of a data processing system is provided. In one illustrative embodiment, an information flow request is received from a first device to authorize an information flow from the first device to a second device. The information flow request includes an identifier of the second device. Based on an identifier of the first device and the second device, security information identifying an authorization level of the first device and second device is retrieved. A sensitivity of an information object that is to be transferred in the information flow is determined and the information flow is authorized or denied based only on the sensitivity of the information object and the authorization level of the first and second devices irregardless of the particular action being performed on the information object as part of the information flow. |
| US08024564B2 |
Automating configuration of software applications
A solution is proposed for populating a policy file in a Java environment automatically. For this purpose, there is provided a wrapper for a security manager in charge of controlling any access to protected resources. A generic Java application is run in a test environment. Whenever a specific operation must be executed on a secured resource, the Java application submits a corresponding permission request to the wrapper. The wrapper forwards the permission request to the security manager, which verifies whether the required permission is available in the policy file. The wrapper logs any denied permission. In any case, the wrapper always grants the required permission to the Java application, so that its operation can continue without any problem. At the end of the running of the Java application, the logged missing permissions are added to the policy file. |
| US08024563B1 |
Programming interface for a kernel level SSL proxy
A system for processing encrypted SSL sessions includes a web application, a secure sockets layer socket, a TCP/IP stack network layer device. The secure sockets layer socket is coupled between the web application and the TCP/IP stack network layer device. The system also includes an Ethernet device. The TCP/IP stack network layer device is coupled to the Ethernet device. The system also includes a SSL kernel, a kernel SSL interface coupled between the kernel SSL module and the TCP/IP stack network layer device and a crypto subsystem coupled to the kernel SSL module. A method for processing encrypted SSL sessions is also described. |
| US08024562B2 |
Revocation of cryptographic digital certificates
In the setup phase, the certification authority (CA 120) generates validation proof data structures for greater time than the maximum validity period of any digital certificate. Therefore, new certificates can be added to the existing data structures after the setup phase. |
| US08024559B2 |
Security authentication system and method
Authentication system and method are provided. The authentication system includes: a server configured to provide at least two security levels and configured to transmit one of at least two security modules corresponding to the security level of a user terminal, via communications network, to the user terminal based, at least in part, upon an environment of the user terminal; and an authentication server communicatively linked with the server and configured to perform a user authentication in response to a user authentication request from the user terminal. Accordingly, various hackings can be prevented and the user authentication can be accomplished with user's convenience and security. |
| US08024553B2 |
Data exchange and communication between execution units in a parallel processor
A method of operation within an integrated-circuit processing device having a plurality of execution lanes. Upon receiving an instruction to exchange data between the execution lanes, respective requests from the execution lanes are examined to determine a set of the execution lanes that may send data to one or more others of the execution lanes during a first interval. Each execution lane within the set of the execution lanes is signaled to indicate that the execution lane may send data to the one or others of the execution lanes. |
| US08024552B2 |
Performing variable and/or bitwise shift operation for a shift instruction that does not provide a variable or bitwise shift option
Some embodiments present a method of performing a variable shift operation. This method can be used by a microprocessor that does not allow variable shift operation for certain operand sizes. The method simulates a shift instruction that shifts an operand by a shift count. The method identifies a first shift command and a second shift command. The method computes a mask value. The mask value depends on whether the shift count is less than half of the operand size or greater than or equal to half of the operand size. The method uses the mask value to cause one of the first shift command and the second shift command to produce no shift. In some embodiments, the method allows for the shift count to be specified in bytes or in bits. |
| US08024550B2 |
SIMD processor with each processing element receiving buffered control signal from clocked register positioned in the middle of the group
Disclosed is an SIMD-type microprocessor comprising a processor element group, plural processor elements with an operation part and a register file being arranged therein and a processor element control signal generator configured to output a processor element control signal controlling an operation of the processor element, wherein a feed part configured to feed a processor element control signal output from the processor element control signal generator to the processor element is provided at a center of the processor element group. |
| US08024546B2 |
Opportunistic page largification
Page tables in the last level of a hierarchical page table system are scanned for candidate page tables. Candidate page tables are converted to large pages, having a page table entry in a level before the last level of the hierarchical page table system adjusted to be associated with the newly created large page. Upon receiving a notification that a large page is to be converted into a page table, a new page table is created. Each entry in the new page table is associated with a small segment of memory in the large page and an entry in a page table one level before the last level in a hierarchical page table system is adjusted to be associated with the new page table. |
| US08024545B2 |
Efficient prefetching and asynchronous writing for flash memory
Disclosed herein are a flash file system and an address translation method. The flash file system includes a file system, a Flash Translation Layer (FTL), and flash memory. The FTL receives Local Block Addresses (LBAs) from the file system, and translates the LBAs into Physical Block Address (PBAs. The flash memory receives the resulting PBAs. The FTL includes a memory block in which a multi-stage clustered hash table for mapping the LBAs to the PBAs is stored, and performs the address translation using the clustered hash table. |
| US08024542B1 |
Allocating background workflows in a data storage system using historical data
Technologies are described for implementing a system that schedules background workflows in a storage system. The background workflows may be automated maintenance tasks that require data movement, or any other tasks that would otherwise compete with normal input/output operations. Historical load statistics can be analyzed to estimate the preferred times in the future during which to schedule background workflows. After collecting data access statistics and usage patterns for several days or weeks, a number of averages can be calculated from the statistics at various natural periods of system utilization. For example, daily, weekly, or other periods. A weighted average can be established where weighting can place more emphasis on recent data. Such averages can serve as predictors of future loads having similar periodic relationships to the historical load data. Predicting future loads can improve the scheduling of background operations by avoiding conflicts with normal system operations. |
| US08024540B2 |
Integrated memory control apparatus
An integrated memory control apparatus including a first interface decoder, a second interface decoder and an interface controller is provided. Wherein, the first interface decoder is coupled to a control chip through a first serial peripheral interface (SPI), the second interface decoder is coupled to a micro-processor unit through a general transmission interface, and the interface controller is coupled to a memory through a second SPI. When the interface controller receives the request signals from the control chip and the micro-processor unit, the control chip may correctly read data from the memory through the first and second SPI. On the other hand, the micro-processor unit may stop reading data from the memory through the general transmission interface. Therefore, the control chip and the micro-processor unit may share the same memory. |
| US08024539B2 |
Virtual processor based security for on-chip memory, and applications thereof
A processor-based method, system and apparatus to comprise a method, system and apparatus to access a memory location in an on-chip memory based on a virtual processing element identification associated with an instruction. The system comprises multiple virtual processing elements, an access list and a comparator coupled to the memory and the access list. In response to an instruction from a virtual processing element to access a memory location in the memory, the comparator compares a first virtual processing identification associated with the instruction to a second virtual processing identification stored in the access list and grants access to the virtual processing element that generated the instruction to read from or write to the memory location if the first virtual processing element identification is equal to the second virtual processing element identification. The data in the memory is allocated and de-allocated by software. |
| US08024535B2 |
Techniques for producing a consistent copy of source data at a target
Described area system and computer program product for producing a point in time copy of source data. A set of records corresponding to a time ordered series of recorded file operations as applied to said source data is received. The set of records includes one or more consistency point markers, each consistency point marker indicating a point in time at which said source data is in a consistent state when a portion of said recorded file operations occurring up to said point in time is applied to said source data. The recorded file operations corresponding to said set of records are applied to said copy of the source data until a marker record corresponding to a consistency point marker is determined. Also described is a target system for producing a point in time copy of source data including a data storage device including said copy of source data and a replication service. |
| US08024534B2 |
Replication engine communicating with a splitter to split writes between a storage controller and replication engine
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for a replication engine communicating with a splitter to split writes between a storage controller and replication engine. Communication is initiated with the splitter implemented in a storage controller managing access to primary volumes. A command is sent to the splitter to copy writes to one primary volume to the replication engine. Write data is received from the splitter to one of the primary volumes following the splitter receiving the command to copy the writes to the replication engine. A determination is made of a copy services function to use for the received data. The determined copy services function is invoked to transfer the received data to a secondary storage volume. |
| US08024531B2 |
Information processing system and information processing method
An ascending ordered list without duplication is generated based on a value list divided and held by multiple memory modules. An information processing system has multiple PMMs (Processor Memory Modules), and the PMMs are interconnected via a data transmission path. The memory in the PMM has a list of values, which are ordered in ascending or descending order without duplication. The PMM determines, for a storage value in the value list (LOCAL_LIST) held by the PMM, whether or not the memory module is a representative module representing one or more memory modules holding the storage value based on rankings determined for the individual PMMs and the value lists received from the other PMMs, and if the memory module is determined to be the representative module (RV-0 . . . RV-7), associates to the storage value and stores information indicating that the memory module is the representative module. |
| US08024522B1 |
Memory ordering queue/versioning cache circuit
A processor includes a circuit for tracking memory operations with trace-based execution. Each trace includes a sequence of operations that includes zero or more of the memory operations. The memory operations being executed form a set of active memory operations that have a predefined program order among them. At least some of the active memory operations access the memory in an execution order that is different from the program order. During the operation of the circuit, none of the operations of a given trace has any effect on the execution unit's architectural state prior to committing that trace. Each trace becomes eligible for commitment after all operations in the trace complete executing. The circuit also includes a sub-circuit that holds memory operation ordering information corresponding to the active memory operations. The sub-circuit detects violations of ordering constraints. After each trace is committed, the sub-circuit invalidates all of the memory operation ordering information associated with the trace. |
| US08024521B2 |
Atomic operation on non-standard sized data using external cache
Atomic operation may be implemented in a processor system comprising a main memory and a power processor element (PPE) including a power processor unit (PPU) coupled to an external cache. The PPE may atomically load data from a lock-line in the main memory into a first location X in the external cache. A size of the data and the lock line may be larger than a data size for the standard atomic operations that may be performed with the PPE. The data may be reserved in a second location Y in the external cache. |
| US08024519B2 |
Catalog recovery through system management facilities reverse transversal
A method for forward recovery of a catalog of a data storage system, comprising providing a recovery catalog and SMF records. In reverse chronological order, the (i)th entry of the record is checked for a data set change command. If none, the next entry is examined. Otherwise, the (j)th data set is identified and checked for inclusion in the recovery catalog. If it already is, the next entry is selected. If not, a data set location record is added. This process is repeated for each entry in the SMF record. Next, a (h)th data set on the (k)th volume is selected and checked for inclusion in the recovery catalog. If that (h)th data set has been added to the recovery catalog, a next data set is selected. Otherwise, a data set location record for the (h)th data set is added. The process is repeated for each data set on each volume. |
| US08024512B2 |
Memory controller and data processing system
A memory controller and data processor have their operation mode switched from the page-on mode for high-speed access to a same page to the page-off mode in response to consecutive events of access to different pages, so that the memory access is performed at a high speed and low power consumption. |
| US08024503B2 |
System and method for accessing internet via TV and a PC connecting set and a TV connecting set
A system and method of television internet and interactive entertainment, as well as a computer PC box and a television TV box for realizing the television internet and interactive entertainment are provided. Via the computer interface module in the computer PC box and the television interface module in the television TV box, the computer and the television are connected, and the television internet and the interactive entertainment are realized. |
| US08024501B2 |
Serial data interface system and method using a selectively accessed tone pattern generator
A system and method performs speed and connection handshaking between Beta signal ports and/or Bilingual ports in a serial data interface system. A tone pattern generator (e.g., a flip-flop) can be used to generate a tone pattern signal representing approximately 49 MHz to approximately 62 MHz. A selecting system (e.g., a multiplexer, a digital multiplexer, or the like) selectively transmits either the tone pattern signal or a data input signal. These signals include a driver control signal. A serializer serializes either the tone pattern signal or the data input signal. A clock device (e.g., a clock divider) drives the tone pattern generator and the serializer. A driver receives and differentially transmits, along a twister-wire pair, either the serialized tone pattern signal or the serialized data input signal. |
| US08024499B1 |
Systems and methods for automated sensor polling
A device may include polling logic configured to store a table of received addresses, sequentially receive sensor data from each address in the table via a serial data bus, store the sensor data in a memory, receive an address from a processor via a high speed data bus, and provide stored sensor data from the memory to the processor via a parallel data bus. |
| US08024495B2 |
Communication data controller
A communication data controller is provided which is capable of correctly retransmitting transmission data even if a block of the transmission data exceeding a FIFO (First-In First-Out) memory is written in an overwriting manner to the FIFO memory. The memory stores transmission data to be transmitted to a communication device. Transmission data stored in the memory is written and read to and from the FIFO memory by a CPU (Central Processing Unit). A DMAC (Direct Memory Access Controller) driver, when a request for retransmission of a block is made in the case where the block of transmission data exceeding a capacity of the FIFO memory is written to the FIFO memory, drives the DMAC and transfers the block being stored in the memory to the communication data controller. |
| US08024493B2 |
Stand-alone personal portable device for transmitting and receiving a computer file between two mobile physical people
A system configured to transfer an electronic file includes a non-volatile storage memory; an autonomous power supply; a transfer system comprising a transmitter configured to transmit a file to be transmitted, the transmitter comprising a first contact connection port configured to enable mechanical fitting to a contact connection port of a second system, a receiver configured to receive a file, the receiver comprising a second contact connection port configured to enable mechanical fitting to another contact connection port of the second system, and a transmission control system configured to authorize or prohibit a transmission of an electronic file to the second system, the transmission control system including a system configured to recognize mechanical fitting to the second system. The non volatile storage memory is compartmentalized into a transmission memory zone configured to store a file to be transmitted, and a reception zone configured only for the reception or the storage of files; the receiver is configured to perform the reception into the reception memory zone; the transmitter of a file is configured to transmit a file contained in the transmission memory zone; and the transmission control system is configured to automatically start, at the recognition of mechanical fitting to the second system, the transmission of a copy of the file stored in the transmission memory zone, to a reception memory zone of the second system, a file stored in the reception zone of the second system being unable to be transmitted via the transmission system, thereby effecting a security function. |
| US08024490B2 |
Method and system for generic data transfer interface
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a data storage device comprises a generic host interface and a media controller. The host interface has a channel select bit encoder to assert one or more channel select bits to be decoded by the media controller to indicate one or more virtual channels through which the host interface will communicate with the media controller over a data bus. A virtual channel controller in the host interface establishes a peer-to-peer connection with a virtual channel controller in the media controller based on the virtual channel indicated by the one or more channel select bits. A communication controller in the host interface implements a communication protocol for communication with a host and transfers data to and from the media controller via the peer-to-peer connection based on the communication with the host. |
| US08024485B2 |
Cooperative coexistence of multiple time synchronization applications
The invention relates to systems and or methodologies for enabling cooperative coexistence of multiple time synchronization applications in handheld devices. More particularly, a time component that maintains a time value for a computing device, and a time synchronization component that interfaces with one or more communication entities, and selects one of the communication entities to set the time value in the computing device based on a set of criteria. |
| US08024483B1 |
Selective compression for network connections
A system, apparatus, and method selectively provides content compression to a client based, in part, on whether the network connection from the client is determined to be a high latency, low-bandwidth connection. The present invention gathers one or more network metrics associated with the connection from the client. In one embodiment, the metrics include estimated TCP metrics, including smoothed round trip time, maximum segment size (MSS), and bandwidth delay product (BWDP). These estimated network metrics are employed to make an application layer decision of whether the client connection is a high latency, low-bandwidth connection. If it is, then content may be selectively compressed virtually on the fly for transfer over the network connection. In one embodiment, the selective compression uses a content encoding compression feature of the HTTP protocol standard. |
| US08024482B2 |
Dynamic firewall configuration
A method is disclosed that includes detecting a network entity and determining a type of the detected network entity. The method includes retrieving firewall configuration information based on at least the type of the network entity. Based on the firewall configuration information, a configuration of a firewall at a host is automatically and dynamically modified. |
| US08024480B2 |
Complex event processing cloud
A distributed system of CEP Services hosted by a CEP Cloud where the CEP Cloud is composed of a network of CEP Engines connected by an IPC Protocol is provided. CEP Services interact with each other via a series of Event Streams transported by an IPC protocol between one or multiple CEP Services. CEP Services have no theoretical limit to the number of CEP Engines that compose said services. |
| US08024477B2 |
System and method to establish a peer-to-peer IT backbone
A peer-to-peer IT (Information Technology) backbone. The system includes at least one IT server and a plurality of client computers arranged in a peer-to-peer IT backbone. Each of the client computers includes an in-band processor, an out-of-band (OOB) microcontroller, and a storage device coupled to the in-band processor and OOB microcontroller. The storage device includes a reserved area for the OOB microcontroller to enable an IT-administration to push IT payloads from the at least one IT server onto the reserved area of at least one of the plurality of client computers. The IT payloads are disseminated throughout the peer-to-peer IT backbone by the OOB microcontroller of the client computers. |
| US08024476B2 |
Efficient message routing when using server pools
Approaches for efficiently routing messages using a server pool are provided. In an embodiment, the system attempts to ensure high availability of servers by enabling clients to specify a domain name for the server pool even though the server pool comprises multiple servers, each having a distinct name. When a client initiates a session by using the server pool's domain name, the system may select an available server with a different name, and will route the request and subsequent messages during the session to the selected server. The system may select a server from the pool having the lowest load. The system may also indicate servers that subsequent messages in the session are to transit. Subsequent messages may then be routed to indicated servers to enable application services on the indicated servers to take actions based on the messages and the direction of the messages. |
| US08024468B2 |
Domain name service resolver
Embodiments include a domain name service (DNS) resolver for returning Internet protocol (IP) addresses. The DNS resolver includes a connection with an Internet application or device. The connection receives a domain name resolution request that originates outside of the Internet. A DNS resolver includes a direct DNS resolver that processes domain name resolutions for a predetermined list of domain names without referring to the Internet after receiving a domain name resolution request. The DNS resolver also includes a cache of domain names different from the predetermined list of domain names. The DNS resolver also includes an address store comprising the predetermined list of domain names and corresponding IP addresses that are specified from a point remote to the DNS resolver. |
| US08024466B2 |
System and method for providing security backup services to a home network
Methods and systems of providing security backup services to a home network are described. In one embodiment, the gateway for a home network is registered with a service provider. A network device is enrolled with the home network, and periodically reenrolls. The device detects whether the gateway has been replaced between enrolling and reenrolling, and if it has been replaced, determines whether the new network gateway has been endorsed by the service provider. |
| US08024465B2 |
Managing uneven authorizations in a computer data exchange
Techniques are provided to integrate applications having different data structures. Data from the application having a less restrictive data structure is provided to the application with a more restrictive data structure as the application is capable of storing the data. Data from the application having a less restrictive data structure may be stored. |
| US08024462B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for preventing communication of unwanted network traffic by holding only a last portion of the network traffic
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for preventing communication of unwanted network traffic by holding only a last portion of the network traffic. In use, network traffic associated with a file transfer is received. Additionally, only a last portion of the network traffic associated with the file transfer is held for determining whether the file is unwanted. Further, the last portion of the network traffic associated with the file transfer is conditionally forwarded to a destination device, based on the determination. |
| US08024461B1 |
Communication assets survey and mapping tool
A Communication Assets Survey and Mapping Tool. The method includes collecting and storing agency, communication asset and interoperability data in a database, receiving a request for a display of agency, communication asset and interoperability of a geographic area, retrieving data regarding agency, communication asset and interoperability information from the database, determining interoperability between agencies based on their communication assets data and displaying interoperability information. Features include prioritizing interoperability solutions (a need vs ability analysis), data entry graphical user interface, data export, and community forum. |
| US08024460B2 |
Performance management system, information processing system, and information collecting method in performance management system
Provided is a performance management system 10 collecting management information which is used for performance management of a storage system 5 including a server 2 on which applications operate, a storage apparatus 3, and a switch 4 which couples the server 2 with the storage apparatus 3. The performance management system collects the management information from multiple resources existing on input-output paths that couple the respective applications with the storage, sets a method of collecting the management information from the resources, monitors occurrence of congestion which is attributable to input-output between the performance management system and the resources for collecting the management information, and collects the management information in accordance with the set collecting method. The collecting method is set in accordance with a processing method of using different timings to collect the management information for the respective input-output paths. |
| US08024456B2 |
Interactive DNS for controlling party
A Hosting Entity or another entity may provide a framework for collecting DNS Business Information from a Controlling Party of a domain name and entering it into DNS. The framework may include a website, webpage, web service, web resource, software, API, or another technological solution suitable for collecting DNS Business Information from Controlling Party. The website, webpage, web service, or the web resource may be located at URL associated with a Controlling Party's domain name, e.g. an active or a parked page for the domain name. DNS Business Information will be typically available for viewing to everyone along with the traditional DNS information. |
| US08024454B2 |
System and method for associating a geographic location with an internet protocol address
The present application is directed to systems and methods for associating a geographic location with an IP address. Generally, an IP address from which each of a plurality of users accesses a network is recorded. A geo tag is associated with each of the plurality of users and a subset of the plurality of users is identified, the subset including users associated with a first IP address. The subset of the plurality of users is clustered into a spatial cluster including users associated with geo tags located with a defined distance of a geo tag of at least one other user of the cluster. A geographic location associated with a geographic center of the cluster is then associated with the first IP address. |
| US08024453B2 |
Monitoring performance of dynamic web content applications
Monitoring performance of dynamic web content applications, including receiving, at run time, by a monitor agent, data corresponding to each one of a previous verification point and a current verification point; determining, by the monitor agent, whether decision criteria are satisfied, wherein the determining includes comparing the data corresponding to the previous verification point and the data corresponding to the current verification point; and if the decision criteria are satisfied replacing, by the monitor agent, the data corresponding to the previous verification point with the data corresponding to the current verification point. |
| US08024447B1 |
Traffic estimation
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture of the present invention may assist in planning, execution, and evaluation of advertising campaigns on the Internet. Particularly, methods, systems, and articles of manufacture of the present invention may help evaluate and/or predict traffic volume on the Internet. An exemplary method for predicting traffic may comprise receiving historical traffic data for a location, and computing a prediction of traffic volume for a particular time at the location using the historical traffic data and at least one prediction algorithm. |
| US08024445B2 |
Socket management device and socket management method
In order to properly allocates a limited number of sockets to applications (202, 202, . . . ) in a computer system so as to improve the system network performance, an application management module (300) memorizes the total number of sockets which OS (100) can supply to the applications (202, 202, . . . ), and a target number of sockets for each application. When an application (202) wants to obtain a socket, the application management module (300) recalculates the target number of sockets which can be allocated to the application (202), using a predetermined scheduling algorithm (312), based on the number of sockets presently unallocated and the priority revel of the application (202), and notifies the recalculated target number to the application (202). The application (202) judges from the notified target number whether a socket can be obtained or not, and based on the judgment determines whether or not to actually obtain a socket from the OS (100). |
| US08024443B1 |
Methods for applying a user defined operation on data relating to a network and devices thereof
Methods, computer-readable storage media, and systems for applying a user defined operation on collected network data include defining a user defined operation (UDO). A network device is monitored for data relating to the UDO and data relating to the UDO is collected from the network device. The UDO is applied to the collected network data and a result is produced. |
| US08024442B1 |
Centralized storage management for multiple heterogeneous host-side servers
Centralized management of both host-side storage objects on multiple heterogeneous host-side servers and logical data containers on a storage system is performed by a management server. In one embodiment, the management server automatically provisions a logical data container on the storage server according to the storage virtualization strategy without administrator interaction at the storage system. In another embodiment, the management server automatically performs a snapshot operation on logical data containers on the storage system according to the storage virtualization strategy without administrator interaction at the storage system. In another embodiment, the management server centrally monitors for out-of-space events in the storage system and automatically correlates the out-of-space events in the storage system to out-of-space events for the host-side file systems. |
| US08024441B2 |
Global server load balancing
A global server load-balancing (GSLB) switch serves as a proxy to an authoritative DNS and communicates with numerous site switches that are coupled to host servers serving specific applications. The GSLB switch receives from site switches operational information regarding host servers within the site switches neighborhood. When a client program requests a resolution of a host name, the GSLB switch, acting as a proxy of an authoritative DNS, returns one or more ordered IP addresses for the host name. The IP addresses are ordered using metrics that include the information collected from the site switches. In one instance, the GSLB switch places the address that is deemed “best” at the top of the list. |
| US08024439B2 |
Server session management application program interface and schema
Application program interfaces (APIs), schemas and procedures manage multiple sessions within a server system has a create session request call for establishing a session between a client and a server within the server system. Each of plurality of sessions among the servers is persisted within a database operatively coupled to the servers. Each session is associated with a unique session identification which uniquely identifies the session among the plurality of sessions. A management request call for managing one of the sessions is performed according to the unique session identification. |
| US08024437B2 |
Autodiscovery for virtual networks
The present invention facilitates automatic discovery of VPN-related information, which relates to the existence or association of VPNs as supported by provider edge devices in a core network. In particular, the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is used to facilitate the automatic discovery, and the provider edge devices are capable of subsequently and automatically triggering Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) processes to facilitate signaling over LDP sessions within the core network. |
| US08024436B2 |
Communication device for obtaining an application image or configuration from a service provider
A DSL customer premises equipment modem (DCPE) avoids the requirement of a flash or other static memory for storing an application image or configuration on the modem. The modem instead stores microcode used to boot its chipset and obtain the application image and/or configuration from a remote site, such as the central office (CO). In one possible startup procedure, this microcode initializes the modem's chipset, starts the DSL driver, establishes a data link with the service provider's CO equipment, and downloads the application image and/or the configuration from the CO. Other types of communications devices, such as cellular phones or other portable devices, can perform a similar procedure to obtain an application image from a remote source, such as a base station. |
| US08024432B1 |
Method and apparatus for partitioning a computer cluster through coordination point devices
A method and apparatus for partitioning a computer cluster through coordination point devices that provide enhanced split brain arbitration during I/O fencing. In one embodiment, a method for using coordination point devices to support Input/Output fencing in a computer cluster comprises processing at least one arbitration request from at least one client computer upon an occurrence of a split brain within a computer cluster, wherein each arbitration request indicates at least one established connection between at least one coordination point device and each client computer of the at least one client computer and each client sub-cluster membership, wherein the at least one coordination point device form a coordination point cluster membership and selecting a client computer of the at least one client computer to continue to be a portion of the computer cluster based on the arbitration request. |
| US08024428B2 |
Methods for updating WHOIS with information collected from non-controlling party
A Registering Entity or another entity may provide a framework for collecting WHOIS Business Information from a Non-Controlling Party of a domain name and entering it into WHOIS. The framework may include a website, webpage, web service, web resource, software, API, or another technological solution suitable for collecting WHOIS Business Information from Non-Controlling Party. The website, webpage, web service, or the web resource may be located at URL associated with a Controlling Party's domain name, e.g. an active or a parked page for the domain name. WHOIS Business Information will be typically available for viewing to everyone along with the traditional WHOIS information. |
| US08024427B2 |
Dynamic storage of documents
Various systems and techniques are disclosed relating to dynamic storage of documents. According to one or more exemplary systems and techniques, a location may be dynamically determined from a group of locations to store a state associated with a document based on one or more criteria. |
| US08024421B2 |
Device data sheets and data dictionaries for a dynamic medical object information base
Methods and systems are provided for communicating between network devices. A data dictionary may be derived from a device data sheet. The data dictionary may include one or more data definitions specific to the network device and a global unique identifier for the network device. The data dictionary and data are received from the network device. Data definitions from the data dictionary are used to extract and process information from the data. The data dictionary may include a hierarchal classification scheme for data including a first level, a second level and a third level, wherein the first level defines a type of data, wherein the second level defines a type of action, and wherein the third level defines an object of the action. |
| US08024420B2 |
Content delivery apparatus and system
A mental and physical condition analyzer analyzes the mental and physical condition of a user based upon measurement data transmitted in association with a delivery request from a terminal and related to the mental and physical of the user of the terminal. A content selector selects content adapted to the mental and physical condition of the user. An output unit outputs the content selected by the content selector. |
| US08024419B2 |
Method and system for remote access of personal music
In one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for storing audio files. The method includes: (a) receiving electronic files at a central location from a first device, those electronic files representing audio signals; (b) associating the audio files with identification information; (c) storing the audio files at the central location on at least a portion of a storage media, that portion being uniquely associated with the identification information; (d) receiving the identification information from a second device; and (e) transmitting the audio files to the second device upon receipt of the identification information. |
| US08024418B1 |
Reserve release proxy
A method, system, apparatus, and signal-bearing media for finding a logical unit data structure associated with a command and a logical unit of a device, selecting a command table based on the logical unit data structure and a host that issued the command, indexing the command into the command table, and performing a routine indicated by the command table in response to the indexing. The command table may be a normal command table if no other host has reserved the logical unit or a reserved command table if another host has reserved the logical unit. |
| US08024417B2 |
Simple flow control protocol over RDMA
A method and system for directing data transfers between applications residing on different computers or devices using a simplified flow control protocol. The protocol eliminates the need for and use of flow control modes and supports all possible data transfer mechanisms. The protocol also allows source and sink applications to independently set their own local memory threshold over which data transfers are made using remote direct memory access (RDMA) or zero-copy transfers. Through adjusting its threshold value or size, a sink or receiving application or component adapts its behavior to the behavior of a sending or source application or component. |
| US08024415B2 |
Priorities generation and management
The present invention relates to a system (10, 200) and methodology (74) to enable a plurality of information associated with electronic messages, for example, to be automatically prioritized by a priorities system (12, 230) for transmittal to a user or system. The priorities system (12,230) can employ classifiers (20) that can be explicitly and/or implicitly trained to prioritize one or more received messages (14) according to a learned importance to the user. As an example, messages (14) can be classified as high, medium, low or other degrees of importance via a training set of examples (30) or types of messages having similar degrees of importance. A background monitor (34) can be provided to monitor a user's activities regarding message processing to further refine or tune the classifier (20) according to the user's personal decisions relating to message importance. Other priorities classifications can involve determinations relating to a loss associated with a time for delayed review or processing of the message. |
| US08024413B1 |
Reliability measure for a classifier
In one aspect, a data item is input into a scoring classifier such that the scoring classifier indicates that the data item belongs to a first class. A determination is made as to the amount of retraining of the scoring classifier, based on the data item, that is required to cause the scoring classifier to indicate that the data item belongs to a second class. A reliability measure is determined based on the required amount of retraining and a class of the data item is determined based, at least in part, on the reliability measure. |
| US08024408B1 |
System and method for managing a computer-mediated discussion forum
A forum monitoring device allows an agent to monitor the traffic in a computer-mediated discussion. When the agent determines that there is a significant degree of traffic on a particular topic, or other predetermined rules are satisfied, the agent proposes to the contributors of messages on that topic that a new discussion forum, for example, a new discussion list, be created. If any of the contributors agrees to this suggestion, a new discussion forum, or child forum, is created by the agent. The agent and the contributors are then automatically subscribed to the child forum, and an invitation to join the new forum is sent optionally to the full membership of the parent forum plus any other recipients of postings on the topic. |
| US08024407B2 |
Methods and systems for providing access, from within a virtual world, to an external resource
In a method for providing access to resources, a virtual world application executing on a first server transmits, to a client, data representative of at least one virtual world object. The virtual world application receives, from the client, a request to access a resource executed on a second server. The virtual world application requests access to the requested resource and, in response, receives output data generated by the resource. The virtual world application transmits, to the client, the received output data and data representative of a second virtual world object. In some aspects, the virtual world application receives a request to render, on a virtual world object, output data generated by a resource executed on the client. An agent intercepts the output data generated by the resource executed on the client. A virtual world client applies the intercepted output data as a texture to a virtual world object. |
| US08024403B2 |
Top of hour presence and calendar state interaction
In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a critical time when a current presence state associated with a first client is scheduled to change to a timed presence state. The method also includes generating a first presence document before the critical time, and providing the first presence document to at least a second client. The first presence document has an indication of the current presence state and the timed presence state, and is provided to the second client before the critical time. |
| US08024400B2 |
Method and system for transferring content from the web to mobile devices
A web page architecture is provided for enabling a user browse the web within an inline frame embedded in a web page and drag and drop content rendered in the inline frame into a receiving panel in the web page for transmission to the user's mobile device. The delivery mechanism to receive such content on the user's mobile device may be either through SMS messaging or through communicating with a client application on the user's mobile device. |
| US08024398B2 |
Output management system and method for enabling printing via wireless devices
A system and method for managing output such as printing, faxing, and e-mail over various types of computer networks. In one aspect, the method provides for printing via a wireless device. The system provides renderable data to the wireless device by which a user-interface (UI) may be rendered. The UI enables users to select source data and an output device on which the source data are to be printed. The source data are then retrieved from a local or remote store and forwarded to a print service, which renders output image data corresponding to the source data and the output device that was selected. The output image data are then submitted to the output device to be physically rendered. The user-interfaces enable wired and wireless devices to access the system. The system enables documents to be printed by reference, and enables access to resources behind firewalls. |
| US08024390B2 |
Automated data alignment based upon indirect device relationships
A noisy data alignment algorithm for determining cycle count offsets for noisy pairs of n monitoring devices. A direct cycle count offset matrix is determined based upon the highest correlation coefficients produced by correlating frequency variation data from each device pair Dij. For each direct cycle count offset Mij, indirect cycle count offsets are calculated as a function of at least Mk, where k≠i≠j, to produce indirect cycle count offsets. The statistical mode of these indirect offsets is compared with the corresponding Mij in the matrix. When they differ, Mij in the direct matrix is adjusted to be equal to the statistical mode. All indirect cycle count offsets for all other unique device pairs, Mij, are calculated to iterate to a single solution in which all indirect cycle count offsets are equal to the corresponding direct cycle count offset. An optional verification algorithm is also provided. |
| US08024388B2 |
DVI link with parallel test data
An embodiment includes encoding parallel digital data into encoded and parallel digital data in an encoder and generating parallel test data in a pseudo-random binary sequence generator circuit. The encoded and parallel digital data is coupled through a multiplexer to be serialized in a serializer in a normal mode of operation and the parallel test data is coupled through the multiplexer to be serialized in the serializer in a test mode of operation. Encoded and serial digital data are transmitted to a transmission medium in the normal mode, and serial test data are transmitted to the transmission medium in the test mode. The encoder, the serializer, the sequence generator circuit, and the multiplexer may be fabricated in a single integrated circuit chip. The parallel test data may be parallel pseudo-random binary sequence data. The parallel digital data may include data to generate colors in a visual image. |
| US08024387B2 |
Method for synthesizing linear finite state machines
Method and apparatus for synthesizing high-performance linear finite state machines (LFSMs) such as linear feedback shift registers (LFSRs) or cellular automata (CA). Given a characteristic polynomial for the circuit, the method obtains an original LFSM circuit such as a type I or type II LFSR. Feedback connections within the original circuit are then determined. Subsequently, a number of transformations that shift the feedback connections can be applied in such a way that properties of the original circuit are preserved in a modified LFSM circuit. In particular, if the original circuit is represented by a primitive characteristic polynomial, the method preserves the maximum-length property of the original circuit in the modified circuit and enables the modified circuit to produce the same m-sequence as the original circuit. Through the various transformations, a modified LFSM circuit can be created that provides higher performance through shorter feedback connection lines, fewer levels of logic, and lower internal fan-out. |
| US08024386B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating random number and data interaction system thereof
Embodiments of the present invention provide a random number generating apparatus, including a first level sampling module and a second level sampling module. The first level sampling module includes a first oscillator, a second oscillator and a first sampler capable of sampling the first oscillating signal with the second oscillating signal to generate a first output signal. The second level sampling module includes a voltage-controlled oscillator capable of generating a voltage-controlled oscillating signal by using the first output signal as a control voltage, a third oscillator capable of generating a third oscillating signal, and a second sampler, capable of sampling the third oscillating signal with the voltage-controlled oscillating signal and generating random numbers. The first level oscillator sampling provides a random control voltage for the second level oscillator sampling, therefore improving the randomicity of the second level oscillator sampling as well as the random number generating rate. |
| US08024383B2 |
Fat directory structure for use in transaction safe file
Directories in a file system are defined with a dummy cluster in a file allocation table as the initial entry. Subsequent clusters in a directory's definition may define any data for the directory that can be changed in a transaction-safe mode. A directory may be modified in a transaction-safe mode by modifying any of the subsequent clusters while tracking changes in a second file allocation table. When the changes have been made to the directory, a pointer to the second file allocation table may be switched to indicate that the second file allocation table is now last known good. The first file allocation table may then be synchronized with the second. |
| US08024382B2 |
Dynamic manipulation of archive files
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to edit in-place a ZIP™ archive file. A file and a first file block (FFB) in a first block location are opened and modified. If the first block location can accommodate the modified FFB, the modified FFB is saved, in-place, in the first block location without rewriting the entire archive. However, if the first block location cannot accommodate the modified FFB, a second file block is copied from a second block location to a third block location located at an end of a file data section of the archive. A portion of the second block location is marked as a free block and the modified FFB is saved without rewriting the entire ZIP™ archive. The archive is then saved by updating and saving both the central directory and end of central directory. |
| US08024381B2 |
Recording apparatus, file management method, program for file management method, and recording medium having program for file management method recorded thereon
A recording apparatus such as an optical disk and a file management method are disclosed by which wastefulness caused by free slots in an index file can be reduced. To each slot of a property entry of the index file, valid/invalid information representative of whether the slot is valid or invalid is set. Further, to the header of the property entry, a last valid slot number indicative of a last one of those slots which are set to valid with the valid/invalid information is set. |
| US08024379B2 |
Locality with parallel hierarchical copying garbage collection
A garbage collection algorithm that achieves hierarchical copy order with parallel garbage collection threads. More specifically, the present invention provides a garbage collection method and system for copying objects from a from-space to a to-space. The method comprises the steps of (a) having multiple threads that simultaneously perform work for garbage collection (GC), (b) examining the placement of objects on blocks, and (c) changing the placement of objects on blocks based on step (b). Preferably, the method includes the additional step of calculating a placement of object(s) based on step (b), and using the result of the calculation for step (c). For example, the calculation may be used to increase the frequency of intra-block pointers and/or to increase the frequency of siblings on the same block. |
| US08024372B2 |
Method and apparatus for learning a probabilistic generative model for text
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that learns a generative model for textual documents. During operation, the system receives a current model, which contains terminal nodes representing random variables for words and cluster nodes representing clusters of conceptually related words. Within the current model, nodes are coupled together by weighted links, so that if a cluster node in the probabilistic model fires, a weighted link from the cluster node to another node causes the other node to fire with a probability proportionate to the link weight. The system also receives a set of training documents, wherein each training document contains a set of words. Next, the system applies the set of training documents to the current model to produce a new model. |
| US08024369B2 |
System and method for automating ETL application
Novel tools for development and operation of ETL (Extract Transform Load) systems for populating databases. An embodiment uses metadata tables to describe relationships between jobs to run for processing data. These relationships can include parent-child job relation, and priority. These tools create a DataStage Service Architecture (DSA) that helps automate and control the ETL process. Other tools allow developers to easily view and update the ETL process. |
| US08024362B2 |
System and method for erasing and writing desktop management interface data under a linux system
A method for erasing and writing desktop management interface (DMI) data under a Linux system is provided. The method constructs a virtual 8086 mode in the Linux system for executes a PnP calling routine. The method then erase and/or write the DMI data from a management information format database (MIFD) of a basic input/output system (BIOS) in a computer using the PnP calling routine. |
| US08024361B2 |
Method and system for allowing multiple users to access and unlock shared electronic documents in a computer system
A system for allowing multiple users to access and unlock shared electronic documents in a computer system. A group of users are defined as potential “lock-breaker” users for a document, such that they are automatically contacted in the event that a user wishes to unlock the document after it has been locked by another user. The lock-breaker users defined for a document are given access rights to the document that allow them to break a current lock on the document, so that it can be opened for editing, and accordingly re-locked. The lock-breaker users for a document may be organized in a hierarchy, such as a hierarchy matching the relationships of employees of an organization. The lock-breaker hierarchy may define the order in which the lock-breaker users are automatically contacted when a user wishes to access a locked document (e.g. an LDAP directory tree or social network). |
| US08024358B2 |
Consistent browser file download
According to the invention, a system for downloading audio or video to a browser is disclosed. The system includes a media server, a content database and a web page. The content database includes the content object, and the content database is linked to the media server. The web page presented to the browser and includes a link to the content object. The link avoids activating an autoplay feature of the browsers should the link be activated. |
| US08024356B2 |
Database-managed image processing
A method, apparatus, system, and article of manufacture provide the ability to track the processing of image data in a collaborative environment. A dependency graph that represents an image composition is obtained. Metadata for each element of the dependency graph are stored in a database that is accessible across a network to multiple users. Access to the database is controlled to allow the multiple users to access the dependency graph via the database simultaneously. |
| US08024354B2 |
System and method for managing data using a hierarchical metadata management system
A system and associated method for managing data. Each pointer of at least one pointer is stored in a metadata object. The pointer resides in a first repository, each unique file resides in a second repository, and the metadata object resides in third repository. Each pointer is deleted from the first repository. Upon receipt from the first repository of an event indicating both a unique file and a pointer no longer resides in the first repository, the pointer is searched for in each metadata object residing in the third repository pertaining to a hierarchical metadata management system (HMMS). After searching and locating the pointer in a metadata object in the third repository, the pointer is restored to the first repository. A hierarchical storage management system (HSM) is notified that the pointer currently resides in the first repository thus allowing the HSM to retrieve the unique file from the second repository. |
| US08024350B2 |
Stream data processing control method, stream data processing apparatus, and stream data processing control program
Provided is a stream data processing control method of controlling a stream data processing apparatus for receiving data added with time information in time series, and processing the data with a registered query therein, the stream data processing apparatus including the query for processing the data, a window in which the received data is stored, and control management information including a control code for identifying the content of the controlling, the method including the steps of: creating data including the control code based on the control management information; determining whether or not the data stored in the window includes the control code in a case where the received data is stored in the window; and controlling the stream data processing apparatus based on the control code included in the data if the data stored in the window includes the control code. |
| US08024342B2 |
Systems and methods for determining a tag match ratio
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for determining a tag match ratio. The method according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises selecting a content item, identifying one or more tags that are associated with the content item and determining a weight for each of the one or more tags associated with the content item. The method further comprises extracting one or more keywords from the content item. A tag match ratio for the one or more tags associated with the content item is then calculated and stored. |
| US08024341B1 |
Query expansion
An expanded queries data structure is described. The data structure is produced on the basis of a set of seed queries, and consists of entries each specifying an expanded query submitted by a user that has been determined to have a high degree of relatedness to at least a plurality of the seed queries of the set. The expanded queries specified by the entries of the expanded queries data structure can be used to define a segment of users expected to have interests characterized by the seed queries. |
| US08024331B2 |
Construction of trainable semantic vectors and clustering, classification, and searching using trainable semantic vectors
An apparatus and method are disclosed for producing a semantic representation of information in a semantic space. The information is first represented in a table that stores values which indicate a relationship with predetermined categories. The categories correspond to dimensions in the semantic space. The significance of the information with respect to the predetermined categories is then determined. A trainable semantic vector (TSV) is constructed to provide a semantic representation of the information. The TSV has dimensions equal to the number of predetermined categories and represents the significance of the information relative to each of the predetermined categories. Various types of manipulation and analysis, such as searching, classification, and clustering, can subsequently be performed on a semantic level. |
| US08024329B1 |
Using inverted indexes for contextual personalized information retrieval
Information retrieval systems face challenging problems with delivering highly relevant and highly inclusive search results in response to a user's query. Contextual personalized information retrieval uses a set of integrated methodologies that can combine automatic concept extraction/matching from text, a powerful fuzzy search engine, and a collaborative user preference learning engine to provide accurate and personalized search results. The system can include constructing a search query to execute a search of a database. The system can parse an input query from a user conducting the search of the database into sub-strings, and can match the sub-strings to concepts in a semantic concept network of a knowledge base. The system can further map the matched concepts to criteria and criteria values that specify a set of constraints on and scoring parameters for the matched concepts. |
| US08024327B2 |
System and method for measuring the quality of document sets
Systems and methods are described that calculate the interestingness of a set of one or more records in a database, either absolutely (i.e., compared to an overall collection of records) or relative to some other set of records. In one embodiment, the measure is a relative entropy value that has been normalized. Various applications of the measure are described in the context of an information retrieval system. These applications include, for example, guiding query interpretation, guiding view selection and summarization, intelligent ranges, event detection, concept triggers and interpreting user actions, hierarchy discovery, and adaptive data mining. |
| US08024321B2 |
Dynamic look ahead predicate generation
An apparatus, program product and method that employ a dynamic use of Look Ahead Predicate Generation that will enable the database, database engine, and/or query optimizer to alter the processing of a query, and react to sub-optimal access plan selection and additional factors arising after processing has begun, to heal many poor performing queries. Conventional use of LPG requires the query optimizer to decide whether or not to use LPG before the processing of a query begins. As a result, the query optimizer may not only make sub-optimal decisions, but the query optimizer may not consider additional factors that may arise as the query is processing. However, the dynamic use of LPG allows predicates to be built after processing of the query has started and the ability to alter the query's processing to improve query performance. |
| US08024320B1 |
Query language
Novel methods for expressing paths contained in queries are provided. The path expressions are composed from tokens selected from the group consisting of object identifiers, attribute identifiers, a relationship operator, and path qualifiers. Path expressions can be more easily created than by creating the path expressions directly in SQL. The path expressions can easily be incorporated into queries for querying data structured according to an object model. Examples of such queries include queries for implementing rules for checking data corresponding to IT infrastructures to see if the IT infrastructure is compliant with policies created for the IT infrastructure. |
| US08024319B2 |
Finite-state model for processing web queries
A method of creating an index of web queries is discussed. The method includes receiving a first query representative of one or more symbolic characters and assigning the first query to a first data structure. A first text string representative of the first query is created and assigned to a second data structure. The first and second data structures are stored on a tangible computer readable medium. |
| US08024316B2 |
Providing content using stored query information
Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method relating to providing content on a page includes receiving information for providing content for an access device in response to a navigation from a first page to a second page. The content is to be included in the second page. The method includes accessing query information stored on the access device, the query information based on a first query that was submitted from the access device to a search provider before navigating to the first page. The method includes providing the content for inclusion in the second page, the content selected using at least the received information and the accessed query information. A computer-implemented method can include recording search query information for a user; retrieving the search query information; and using the search query information to determine content for display to the user. |
| US08024315B2 |
Method of dynamically providing a compound object's source information during its development
A method and system for dynamically providing a composite source information report whenever source information of a composite object is updated. The system includes a subscription handler for receiving a subscription request and generating a subscription query, a means for determining whether source information of an element in a composite object has been edited (added, deleted and/or modified), a source information determining handler for automatically determining source information of an element in a composite object and a composite source information report generation handler for generating a composite source information report and providing the report to users. The system further comprises an authentication handler, an editing handler, an editing monitor, a source information recording handler, subscription source information retrieving handler and a server database. |
| US08024313B2 |
System and method for enhanced direction of automated content identification in a distributed environment
The successful development of digital production content within a development organization requires that the intellectual property rights of the multiple elements of digital content introduced into the digital production content. According to the invention there is provided a means of automatically identifying the source, licenses and other associated intellectual property information associated with the digital content introduced. The invention providing for the direction of a dynamic search engine according to metadata relating to the digital content produced, wherein the digital content introduced is not identified within existing databases of intellectual properties indexed according to digital content. Further the invention provides for interfacing the dynamic search engine with a web crawler to data mine a region of the World Wide Web around the location of the digital content introduced determined by the dynamic search engine. |
| US08024312B2 |
Characteristic tagging
Embodiments are provided to enable a user to easily and conveniently assign, share, and/or locate characteristic and other information associated with others. In an embodiment, a user can assign, share, and use one or more characterizing tags. A user can use the one or more characterizing tags to characterize a person of interest and/or a relationship or association between the user and the person of interest. A user can also perform searches using one or more characterizing tags to locate others who may be associated with the one or more characterizing tags. Users can also view user profiles including any characterizing tags and/or communicate with others based in part on a characterizing tag. The various embodiments provide a forum for social tagging, allowing a user to apply and use one or more characterizing tags that are associated with a person of interest. |
| US08024311B2 |
Identifying media assets from contextual information
Contextual information is received, and a chosen event is identified based at least upon an analysis of the contextual information. A set of media assets is then identified based at least upon an analysis of the identified event. At least some of the contextual information is associated in a processor-accessible memory system with the chosen event, at least one asset in the set of media assets, or both the chosen event and at least one asset in the set of media assets. By using an event to identify media assets to which contextual information is associated, fewer and more relevant media assets may be retrieved and annotated as compared to conventional techniques. |
| US08024310B2 |
Information processing apparatus and computer-readable medium
A computer-readable medium stores a program causing a computer to execute information processing. The information processing includes: reading user information of a user who requests to provide first document information; generating second document information, based on (i) concealment region information associated with the first document information and (ii) the read user information relating to the user; and outputting the second document information. The concealment region information includes (i) information, for specifying a region that is to be concealed when the associated first document information is provided and (ii) concealment condition information used to determine as to whether or not the concealment region is concealed. In the second document information, a region in the first document information that is to be concealed from the user is concealed. |
| US08024309B1 |
Storage resource management across multiple paths
According to an embodiment of the invention, a filer or other storage server is coupled to a network to store files for users of the network. Agents are coupled to the filer, and performs a scan or file walk for a Multi-Appliance Management Application (MMA) which is coupled to the filer and can monitor and manage the filer. A directory structure of the filer may be divided into two or more paths, each of which may be scanned by an independent agent. The results of the scan, or file walk, are saved to a database server. In this way, multiple agents may be used to scan a single storage server, and the amount of time required for the scan is reduced. |
| US08024306B2 |
Hash-based access to resources in a data processing network
Provided are methods, apparatus and computer programs for enhanced access to resources within a network, including for controlling use of bandwidth-sensitive connections within a network and/or for automated recovery. Hash values are used as ‘unique’ identifiers for resources distributed across a network, and each one of a set of pool servers store the hash values for a set of computers within a LAN. When a resource is required, a hash value representing the resource can be retrieved and compared with hash values stored at a pool server to determine whether the pool server holds a matching hash value. Any such matching hash value found on the pool server represents an identification of a local copy of the required resource, because of the uniqueness property of secure ash values. The information within the pool server can be used to access the required resource. If a large resource such as a BLOB or new version of a computer program can be obtained from another computer within a LAN, a reduction in reliance on bandwidth-sensitive Internet connections and reduced load on remote servers becomes possible. |
| US08024304B2 |
Document classification toolbar
Electronic document classification is disclosed. A toolbar adds the ability to classify documents based on specific properties such as security classification, information type, document type, document retention, document caveats, and the like associated. The toolbar through dropdown selections allows users to select the appropriate classification and properties based upon the content of the document and have appropriate classifiers added to the document. Document classification properties are generated that are associated with the document in the document properties and by inserting visual markings that allow users to quickly identify the security, sensitivity, intended distribution or retention. By utilizing the classification toolbar a user can classify an document by one or more classification levels and be ensured that the classification will be visible to any person viewing the document. |
| US08024301B2 |
Automatic database diagnostic usage models
One or more usage models are provided for a database. Each usage model includes a set of rules that are used to analyze database performance. A usage model in one or more usage models is determined. Database information is determined based on the usage model. The database information is then analyzed based on rules associated with the usage model. One or more performance problems are determined based on the analysis. |
| US08024296B1 |
Method and apparatus for agent-less auditing of server
A method and apparatus for agent-less auditing of a server, wherein the apparatus processes data for auditing a server. One or more portions of audit information (e.g., transaction log, trace log, or both) are coupled from a target server to an information server. The one or more portions of the audit information are processed at the information server to create audit data. The audit data is stored in an audit data repository. |
| US08024294B2 |
Systems and methods for performing replication copy storage operations
A system and method are provided for performing storage operations relating to a first secondary copy of electronic data. A storage policy or storage preferences may dictate that a replication copy should be used in storage operations performed to a particular client, sub-client, data, media or other item. Based on the storage policy, when a new client, sub-client, data, media or other item is received, a media agent determines whether there is a replication copy of the item. In the absence of a replication copy, one may be created. The replication copy may be provided by a third party application, or created by the client or a storage management system component. Information regarding the replication copy and its corresponding first secondary copy may be stored in a database. To optimize use of system resources, storage operations relating to the first secondary copy may be performed using the replication copy instead of the first secondary copy. |
| US08024293B2 |
Method for spooling experimental data
Methods and system for efficient collection and storage of experimental data allow experimental data from high-throughput, feature-rich data collection systems, such as high-throughput cell data collection systems to be efficiently collected, stored, managed and displayed. The methods and system can be used, for example, for storing, managing, and displaying cell image data and cell feature data collected from microplates including multiple wells and a variety of bio-chips in which an experimental compound has been applied to a population of cells. The methods and system provide a flexible and scalable repository of experimental data including multiple databases at multiple locations including pass-through databases that can be easily managed and allows cell data to be analyzed, manipulated and archived. The methods and system may improve the identification, selection, validation and screening of new drug compounds that have been applied to populations of cells. |
| US08024286B2 |
Independent column detection in selectivity estimation
Techniques for independent column detection in selectivity estimations are provided. Values for database statistics are sampled and two independent tests are performed against the values for a first column and a second column. When each test determines that the first and second columns are independent, the first and second columns are said to be independent columns for selectivity estimation. |
| US08024285B2 |
Determining quality of tier assignments
Described herein is a method that includes receiving user history data and generating an indication of quality of a tier assignment used to store searchable digital items in a tiered storage system, wherein the indication is based at least in part upon a subset of the user history data. Also described herein is a system that includes a receiver component that receives user history data. The system further includes a quality indicator component that determines an indication of quality of a tier assignment used to store digital items that are retrievable by way of querying, wherein the quality indicator component generates the indication based at least in part upon a subset of the user history data and the tier assignment indicates where digital items are to be stored in a tiered storage system. |
| US08024284B2 |
Accurately inferring physical variable values associated with operation of a computer system
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that monitors a physical variable associated with an electronic component within a computer system. During operation, the system receives telemetry signals of the physical variable which are collected by one or more physical sensors associated with the electronic component. The system also collects electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals generated by the electronic component. Next, the system builds an inferential model for the physical variable by correlating the EMI signals with the telemetry signals. The system then uses the inferential model to infer values for the physical variable from the EMI signals. |
| US08024283B2 |
Enforcing rule selection on user inboxes
Rule selection is enforced on user email inboxes using an inbox monitor and administrative rules at an email server. The inbox monitor includes a first agent for identifying inactive user inboxes from email messages stored at the email database, and a second agent for identifying, from the inactive user inboxes identified by the first agent, user inboxes without appropriate user rules activated. For each user inbox identified by the second agent, administrative rules are applied to the user inbox if the user inbox has been inactive for at least a predetermined period of time. If the user inbox has not been inactive for at least the predetermined period of time, a notification message is sent to a user associated with the user inbox. The notification message informs the user that administrative rules will be applied to the user inbox if appropriate user rules are not activated. |
| US08024281B2 |
Alpha node hashing in a rule engine
Some embodiments of alpha node hashing in an exemplary rule engine have been presented. In one embodiment, constraints are added into a constraint set in response to requests from one or more users of a rule engine. The rule engine then determines which constraints within the constraint set are mutually exclusive. Furthermore, the rule engine dynamically enables hashing of facts asserted into a working memory of the rule engine in response to a current number of the mutually exclusive constraints. |
| US08024280B2 |
Academic filter
Techniques are described herein for analyzing textual responses to questions by evaluating the responses according to varying sets of rules. The text of a response is analyzed against the sets of rules and a series of values are generated as a result of, and based upon, the analysis. These values are calculated to determine a score value for the response, which is compared to a threshold value and/or to the scores of other responses to the same or a different question. The score value of the response is used to determine the likelihood of the response containing useful information in response to the question. Also, based on the third numerical value, the text of the response is displayed on a web page according to a specified format or order. |
| US08024279B2 |
Resonator
At least one resonator is disclosed having a plurality of nanoscale resonator elements, the at least one resonator having at least two, different resonant frequencies and configured to provide at least two signals in response to an input signal and at least two adders configured to weight the signals with respective weights and to add weighted signals so as to produce an output signal. |
| US08024277B2 |
Reconstruction of gene networks and calculating joint probability density using time-series microarray, and a downhill simplex method
Gene regulation network is reconstructed using time series microarray data under the method of the Bayesian network. Particular power-law function is used to calculate the joint probabilities among genes across time points. This invention discloses the use of the downhill simplex algorithm to find global maxima of interrelational likelihood. Arcs with higher frequencies are selected to establish the gene regulation network. Prior knowledge may be included into candidate gene networks to accelerate search for best networks. |
| US08024274B2 |
Practical secrecy-preserving, verifiably correct and trustworthy auctions
A system and method for conducting verifiably correct auctions that preserves the secrecy of the bids while providing for verifiable correctness and trustworthiness of the auction is disclosed. Some of the elements of the method and apparatus are that the auction operator accepts all bids submitted and follows the published rules of the auction. In one embodiment, the bids are maintained secret from the auctioneer and all bidders until the auction closes and no bidder is able to change or repudiate her bid. In another embodiment, the auction operator computes the auction results and publishes proofs of the results' correctness. In yet another embodiment, any party can check these proofs of correctness via publicly verifiable computations on encrypted bids. |
| US08024271B2 |
Purchasing alert methods and apparatus
Systems and techniques for receiving transaction information at an authentication system. The transaction information may be processed using different rule sets, based on the financial instrument used for the transaction (for example, a particular credit card, debit card, bank account, brokerage account, and the like). One or more alerts may be generated and communicated to the user. The alerts may be formatted based on user device configuration information, such as a cell phone type, email type, and the like. |
| US08024269B1 |
Remote image capture with centralized processing and storage
A system for remote data acquisition and centralized processing and storage is disclosed called the DataTreasury™ System. The DataTreasury™ System provides comprehensive support for the processing of documents and electronic data associated with different applications including sale, business, banking and general consumer transactions. The system retrieves transaction data such as credit card receipts checks in either electronic or paper form at one or more remote locations, encrypts the data, transmits the encrypted data to a central location, transforms the data to a usable form, performs identification verification using signature data and biometric data, generates informative reports from the data and transmits the informative reports to the remote location(s). The DataTreasury™ System has many advantageous features which work together to provide high performance, security, reliability, fault tolerance and low cost. First, the network architecture facilitates secure communication between the remote location(s) and the central processing facility. A dynamic address assignment algorithm performs load balancing among the system's servers for faster performance and higher utilization. Finally, a partitioning scheme improves the error correction process. |
| US08024266B1 |
Method for secure, closed-loop money transfer via electronic mail
A method of providing for a money transfer over a network by providing a stamp having a face value and a lifespan both indicated on the stamp, the stamp being a string that is a concatenation of two or more fields including the face value and the lifespan, with at least one of the fields calculated according to a prescription involving a hashing or encryption of a concatenation of others of the fields or of some other field not part of the stamp; affixing the stamp to an e-mail; and allowing the recipient of the e-mail to obtain value for the stamp if the stamp is presented to a predetermined entity (such as a stamp issuer) for the stamp value within the lifespan indicated on the stamp. |
| US08024262B2 |
System and method for deal management of syndicated loans by multiple bookrunners
Systems, and programming for improved arrangement and administration of syndicated loans using computer networks. Each of a plurality of bookrunners is authorized to invite any number of other bookrunners, as well as any number of loan participants, or underwriters (i.e. investors or lenders), to participate in offering and administering a loan, typically by providing various forms of information describing the proposed loan, including the borrower, the proposed terms, and possibly any potential participants in making the loan. Invitees who accept such invitations may be associated with the inviting bookrunner, and upon being accepted as participants may be granted by the bookrunner access to various sets of communications, documents, and other information concerning the proposed loan. |
| US08024261B2 |
Method and system for loan closing
A method and system for electronically facilitating loan closing transactions that include sub-transactions involving third parties. The method and system provide functionality to quickly and easily order a sub-transaction and bill the respective party, or pay for the sub-transaction directly from various payment systems. An interactive closing document updates automatically as different services and sub-transactions are ordered. Designated parties to the transaction make and approve changes and updates to the interactive document as sub-transactions are completed and billed. The interactive document receives information from the earlier stages of the loan or mortgage transaction, and incorporates the information into the interactive closing document. Upon approval by all parties, at the closing of the transaction, the interactive closing document is generated as a hard copy for signature. |
| US08024259B1 |
Method and apparatus for agreement netting
A system, method, apparatus, computer program code and means for performing a netting analysis of an agreement is provided. Pursuant to some embodiments, the netting analysis is performed by receiving agreement information, the agreement information identifying a party and a counterparty. The agreement information is compared with a netting rule. A netting determination for the agreement is generated based at least in part on a result of the comparing. |
| US08024258B2 |
Exchange trading of mutual funds or other portfolio basket products
A system for determining a basket of financial instruments for hedging investment risk in actively managed exchange traded funds is described. The system uses a trusted computer system and includes a computer storage medium storing a computer program product. The product determines the basket of hedging instruments by extracting factor information from a portfolio of the actively managed exchange traded fund and determining factors that affect the price of the exchange traded fund. The program can select a portfolio of instruments with similar behavior with respect to the determined factors to produce a hedging portfolio that tracks the price of the exchange traded fund. |
| US08024256B2 |
Method to prioritize product requirements
A method for prioritizing features that can be incorporated into a product, the method including: issuing a weighting factor to each stakeholder having an economic interest in the product, a size of the weighting factor being proportional to a size of a budget for each stakeholder; bidding an amount of the weighting factor for each feature by each stakeholder, a total amount bid by each stakeholder is not to exceed the size of the weighting factor issued to each stakeholder; summing the amounts bid for each feature to provide a total feature bid for each feature; and prioritizing the features in order from highest total feature bid to lowest total feature bid. |
| US08024255B2 |
Factorization of interest rate swap variation
Methods are described for processing and clearing derivative products such as interest rate swaps (IRSs). A swap value factor (SVF) may be generated to calculate the mark-to-market value of an IRS. The SVF may be a function of interest rates derived from a yield curve. Cash flow may be generated between the buyer and the seller to reflect the change in the market price of the derivative, i.e., the mark-to-market process. The results of a cleared swap may be used to determine or alter the margin deposit required by the buyer or seller. |
| US08024253B2 |
Inter-market smart-routing for combination spread order trading
Techniques for creating a complex order and routing the complex order to one or more exchanges to achieve optimal pricing without exposing the customer to the conventional legging risks associated with the trading of complex orders are provided. The trading system of the present disclosure provides this mechanism by routing the order to obtain the best possible price (see FIG. 4) and by accepting the risk of a partially executed order where one leg is executed and the other is not (see FIG. 5). |
| US08024252B2 |
Vocalisation of trading data in trading systems
A trading system such as an anonymous trading system for trading financial and other instruments can vocalize trading data to trader workstations as well as display it on a screen. Where a trader selects to receive vocal announcements, a trading floor identifier unique to his trading floor is also announced at random intervals. |
| US08024251B2 |
Bond issue risk management
The present invention provides an auction system that allows bond issue sales to be offered in an open and transparent manner, wherein, a certain percentage (up to 100%) of bonds in a bond issue can be offered to qualified bidders at a “buy now” pre-auction price, set by an issuer and/or lead manager. Investors can be allowed to “bid some bonds out of the auction process” and thus guarantee their allocation and also allow bidders to participate in an open auction for other bonds. Bonds to be offered in a bond issue can include a subset of pre-auction price bonds and a subset of auction price bonds. The pre-auction price bonds are offered to pre-auction bidders at a pre-auction price, and auction bonds are generally sold to the highest bidder. Pre-auction sales can serve as a catalyst for generating enthusiasm for an associated bond issue auction. |
| US08024249B2 |
Issuing machine and issuing system
An issuing system for issuing unmodifiable and/or unforgeable hardcopy documents or securities includes a server and a plurality of issuing machines connected to the server via a network. Each of the issuing machines receives an ID recording medium provided by a potential purchaser, retrieves an identification recoded in the received ID recording medium, requests the potential purchaser to input request for a transaction of the security or fixed rate financing instrument, processes the requested transaction by retrieving information via a network from the server, and prints out on demand a hardcopy of the security or fixed rate financing instrument as purchased by the potential purchaser and a checksum thereon. A method for forming a new market with the issuing system. |
| US08024248B2 |
System and method for imbedding a defined benefit in a defined contribution plan
A system and method for providing a user with a portable benefit based on a formula the result of which indicates the exact guaranteed minimum periodic income that the user will receive no matter how long the user lives and the potential for an increase in the periodic income. The system comprises a defined contribution module for periodically receiving at least one of a sponsor contribution and a participant contribution and for accumulating value over a period of time by investing at least one of the sponsor contribution and the participant contribution or any portion(s) thereof in any number of select investment options, the accumulated value being capable of being withdrawn at any time and reinvested in any other select investment options being paid out after a predetermined period of time The guaranteed minimum income payment may be based on a retirement income formula. |
| US08024244B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a personalized exchange market
The present invention relates to systems and methods for providing a personalized exchange market, and more specifically, to systems and methods for establishing personalized pledge agreements for uncertain future events or occurrences. In one embodiment, the invention includes a method including the steps of facilitating a pledge offer via a network, the pledge offer specifying an outcome of an uncertain future occurrence, the uncertain future occurrence being independently definable; facilitating an acceptance of the pledge offer over via the network, the acceptance forming a pledge agreement; determining the outcome; and facilitating performance of the pledge agreement based on the outcome. |
| US08024237B1 |
Method and apparatus for automated bill of materials refactoring
A method and apparatus for automated bill of materials refactoring includes a computing system implemented process for automated bill of materials refactoring whereby historical bill of materials, inventory and sales data is scanned/searched to identify potential refactored sub-assemblies. |
| US08024234B1 |
System and methods for mapping price and location of tickets in an event venue
A system and methods for mapping price and location of tickets in an event venue are described. An interactive event venue seat map is provided by a network-based system that implements an online marketplace for tickets for upcoming events. The interactive event venue seat map enables sellers to view pricing information and transaction information for both sold and current event listings for any section or zone in an event venue. The interactive event venue seat map allows sellers to browse and click on sections to see sold and listed data for any section and zone in the event venue and to compare a proposed sale price to available pricing information of sold and current event listings in comparable sections. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08024227B2 |
Limited-use browser and security system
A limited-use browser and related security system control access to content stored on a server computer linked to a network. The security system secures the content on the server and only permits it to be downloaded to a client computer running the limited-use browser or a general purpose browser executing an add-in security module providing the same functions as the limited-user browser. The limited-use browser or module secures the downloaded content on the client computer and displays it in a “view-only” mode. While the secured content is being displayed, menu selections, key combination, or pointing device commands initiated on the client computer that would modify the content or create a copy of another medium are either disabled as a default or monitored to determine if the action is permitted. |
| US08024226B2 |
Product exchange system
An exchange system for facilitating the purchase of products is described. The system is coupled, in one embodiment, to a communications link. Potential product purchasers and sellers may access the exchange system via the network, and submit offers and/or pricing requests to such system. In response to the requests, the system processor retrieves the stored data from the respective databases, and causes such data to be transmitted to the local site for display. The exchange systems also executes certain functions in response to commands and data transmitted from buyer sites, seller sites and institution sites. |
| US08024224B2 |
Method and apparatus to provide pay-per-call advertising and billing
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for pay-per-call advertising and billing. A method, comprises generating a web page listing a plurality of merchant entries; and providing a option to reveal a phone number of at least one merchant entry of the plurality of merchant entries. |
| US08024222B2 |
Computer processes for identifying related items and generating personalized item recommendations
A computer-implemented service analyzes purchase histories and/or other types of behavioral data of users on an aggregated basis to detect and quantify associations between particular items represented in an electronic catalog. The detected associations are stored in a mapping structure that maps items to related items, and is used to recommend items to users of the electronic catalog. |
| US08024221B2 |
System and method for delivering payloads such as ads
A data structure defines a target profile for each ad which target profile specifies characteristics of a request to which the ad may be provided in response. An ad server delivers one or more of the plurality of payloads in response to a request from a target. A payload priority is assigned for each of the payloads as a function of a delivery goal of the payload and as a function of the number of times the payload has been delivered to a target. A particular payload is selected for delivery to the particular target as a function of the particular characteristics and as a function of the payload priorities. |
| US08024215B2 |
Managing sales and/or competition within an industry
The present invention provides systems and methods for improving overall profitability, and/or longevity of one or more businesses within an industry, by analyzing their position(s) within one or more market segment. In doing so, it is contemplated that the systems or methods may include managing sales (e.g. competition and/or volume, or otherwise) within one or more market segments of an industry. Of the many available applications, the present invention may be particularly suited for the automotive industry, or other similar types of industries. |
| US08024212B1 |
Implementation of hands on proactive strategy
HOPS™, which stands for “Hands On Proactive Strategy” is software and a business management method about making routine things happen routinely, and about having everyone be able to find the information they need, when they need it, to do the job they need to do. The solution to information sharing (and other closely related process) problems is an elegant set of software combined with behaviors that help the organization share information. |
| US08024211B1 |
Automatically generating assessments of qualification relevance and qualification issuer credibility
A method, system, and computer-readable medium is described for generating assessments of relevance of qualifications and of credibility of qualification issuers, such as in an automatic manner and for use by users in an electronic marketplace that facilitates interactions between task requesters who have tasks that are available to be performed and task performers who are available to perform tasks. Such assessments may in some situations be provided to users in various manners and for various purposes, such as to allow task requester users to identify appropriate qualifications to associate with their tasks and/or to allow task performer users to identify appropriate qualifications to acquire to assist in future performance of tasks. The assessments may be generated in various manners, including based on analyzing usage data related to the use of qualifications by task performers and task requesters and based on feedback provided by human users. |
| US08024199B2 |
System and method for improving reliability of distributed electronic transactions
A system and method are disclosed that separate control functionality from the management functionality for conducting electronic transactions. The control functions are performed by a third party resulting in a low overhead since significant overhead is incurred in response to an anomalous event, thus facilitating high throughput electronic transactions when anomalous events are infrequent. Further, the third party does not need to have access to confidential information since it only controls by observing, validating and certifying the observed communications in a specified manner to prevent confidential information from leaving the context of the transaction. Management of the transactions based on consideration of substantive information is provided by the participants. A preferred system of the invention comprises a validation authority, a logical boundary at which validation authority undertakes control of communications, and validation rules specifying parameters for observation and the nature of comparisons. |
| US08024197B2 |
Sampling rate conversion apparatus and method thereof
A sampling rate conversion apparatus and a method thereof are provided which increase the sampling rate of a discrete audio signal sampled at a predetermined sampling rate by using a fractal interpolation function (FIF). An audio signal portion formed by a predetermined number of sampling data items is divided into a plurality of interpolation intervals. On the audio signal portion, mapping points are determined. The number of the mapping points is in accordance with the degree of increase in the sampling rate. For the respective interpolation intervals, mapping parameters for performing mapping using the FIF on the mapping points are calculated. In all of the interpolation intervals, the mapping using the FIF is performed on the mapping points with the use of the mapping parameters according to the respective interpolation intervals. Thereby, new sampling data items are generated. |
| US08024194B2 |
Dynamic switching between local and remote speech rendering
A multimodal browser for rendering a multimodal document on an end system defining a host can include a visual browser component for rendering visual content, if any, of the multimodal document, and a voice browser component for rendering voice-based content, if any, of the multimodal document. The voice browser component can determine which of a plurality of speech processing configuration is used by the host in rendering the voice-based content. The determination can be based upon the resources of the host running the application. The determination also can be based upon a processing instruction contained in the application. |
| US08024189B2 |
Identification of people using multiple types of input
Systems and methods for detecting people or speakers in an automated fashion are disclosed. A pool of features including more than one type of input (like audio input and video input) may be identified and used with a learning algorithm to generate a classifier that identifies people or speakers. The resulting classifier may be evaluated to detect people or speakers. |
| US08024180B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding envelopes of harmonic signals and method and apparatus for decoding envelopes of harmonic signals
Provided are a methods and apparatuses for encoding/decoding an audio signal to efficiently encode/decode a harmonic envelope. The method of encoding an audio signal includes performing harmonic analysis with respect to an input signal to determine harmonic parameters with respect to harmonic signals; correlating the amplitudes of the harmonic signals to signals in a time domain instead of signals in a frequency domain; applying a time-frequency transformation operation to the amplitudes in the time domain to generate time-frequency transformed values in the frequency domain; and encoding the time-frequency transformed values. When expressing a harmonic envelope, the amplitudes of the harmonic signals are regarded as signals in the time domain so as to perform a time-frequency transformation and only a part from among the transformed values is selected to be encoded. Therefore, sound quality is not affected and coding efficiency greatly improves. |
| US08024179B2 |
System and method for improving interaction with a user through a dynamically alterable spoken dialog system
Disclosed are systems and methods for dynamically interacting with a user through a spoken dialogue system. A method includes the steps of (1) receiving a user utterance, (2) analyzing the user utterance for a threshold determination of dialect, (3) generating a response that reflects an incremental implementation of the dialect, (4) further varying the perceived implementation of the dialect in subsequent responses by a process of: (a) receiving a subsequent user utterance, (b) determining a modified level of confidence in the dialect based at least in part from the subsequent utterance, (c) generating a subsequent response that implements an incremental variation according to the modified level of confidence. |
| US08024177B2 |
Method of transforming natural language expression into formal language representation
This invention comprises a series of steps which transforms one or more natural language expressions into a single, well-formed formal language representation. Each natural language expression is partially parsed into simple fragments, each of which is then associated with one or more short formal expressions. Each formal expression is constructed in such a way as to contain one or more placeholder variables, each of which is associated with one or more attributes to constrain the types of entities that each variable can potentially represent. The resulting plurality of formal expressions is then filtered for relevance within a given context, and the surviving expressions manipulated based upon a plurality of rules, which are cognizant of the attributes associated with each variable contained therein. A user is then presented with the resulting plurality of formal expressions, whereupon the user optionally selects, rejects, adds to, logically connects and otherwise manipulates each member of said plurality. When the user is satisfied that the plurality represents an intended meaning, the formal expressions are combined into a single, formal representation. |
| US08024171B1 |
Managed resource simulator for storage area networks
Methods and systems for a managed resource simulator for storage area networks are disclosed. To simulate a managed resource, a first template of generic communication information is executed. The execution of the first template establishes communications between an agent and a server of a storage area network, wherein the agent is a type of agent that manages the managed resource to be simulated. A second template is then populated with data specific to the managed resource to be simulated. The second template further includes generic communication information used to establish communications between an agent and a store process. This generic communication information corresponds to the managed resource to be simulated. The managed resource is then simulated by executing the second template. This allows the simulated managed resource to be tested, and any causes of failed transactions may be corrected, without having access to the actual physical managed resource. |
| US08024169B2 |
Storage area network management modeling simulation
A method, system and computer program product are disclosed for simulating a storage area network including a set of correlated devices, each of the devices having a device agent. The method comprises the step of forming a set of simulation agents representing said device agents, including the steps of, (i) for each of the simulation agents, obtaining a set of agent profiles, and storing said agent profiles in a data store, and (ii) obtaining files describing class definitions for the simulation agents, and storing said files in the data store. With this information and data, a Visual Workbench is used to generate a display of said simulation agents. The preferred embodiment provides a framework and implementation that simulates the CIM agent of any SAN device. Each individual device CIM agent can be simulated in this framework based on the specification defined in an XML file and/or through snapshot mechanism. |
| US08024160B2 |
System and method for fuel procurement planning
A procurement system may include a dual solution computation unit that creates a qualification problem limited to a delivery schedule and computes a dual solution for a qualification problem. The system includes a schedule search unit that creates a function that constrains a dual solution of constraint equations for a linear relaxation problem of the delivery schedules and searches for a delivery schedule exhibiting constraints that violate the dual solution of the qualification problem. The system further includes a schedule adding unit that creates a new qualification problem by adding and setting a delivery schedule and computes a dual solution to a new qualification problem using the dual solution computation. The system further includes an integer solution computation unit that outputs the number of delivery means and the amount of commodity to be purchased. |
| US08024156B2 |
Using statistics to locate signals in noise
Computation of variance or variance of the autocorrelation over a moving window of various sizes of a signal containing noise and possibly a small digital signal provides a sensitive, frequency independent indication of the likelihood of the presence of a small pulse, chirp or even spread spectrum digital signal possibly obscured by noise or larger signals in the signal to much lower signal-to-noise ratios than previously possible. Large signals in the signal which may also obscure any small signal are removed to a different signal path from the noise and small signals by subtraction after compression and reconstruction of the large signal. The compression noise thus added to the signal may also increase sensitivity of the variance of the autocorrelation to small signals obscured by the large signals. Controlling storage in response to the computed variance or variance of the autocorrelation allows substantial avoidance or limitation of storage of signals which contain only noise. |
| US08024150B2 |
Information equipment for detecting fall
Acceleration is detected by an acceleration sensor in information equipment and information of detected acceleration is compared with a threshold value. Then, if the information of the detected acceleration is equal to or less than the threshold value, it is determined that the information equipment is in a weightless condition. |
| US08024148B2 |
End-of-life disabling of a diagnostic test system
Systems and methods for end-of-life disabling of a diagnostic test system are described. In one aspect, a diagnostic test system that includes a test unit and a disabling unit. The test unit performs at least one diagnostic test on a diagnostic assay to determine whether at least one analyte is present within a sample. The disabling unit determines a measure of current lifetime of the test unit and disables the test unit in response to a determination that the current lifetime measure meets an end-of-life threshold. In a diagnostic test method, at least one diagnostic test is performed on a diagnostic assay to determine whether at least one analyte is present within a sample. A measure of current lifetime of the test unit is determined. The test unit is disabled in response to a determination that the current lifetime measure meets an end-of-life threshold. |
| US08024143B2 |
Method for ascertaining a mains frequency in a voltage signal, and mains analyzer
A method for ascertaining a mains frequency from a voltage signal which has a particularly high proportion of harmonics includes stipulating a sample frequency for a sample collection, polling a voltage signal at equidistant times during periods of the sample oscillation. A discrete Fourier transform may be used to calculate two phases, and a phase interval between these two phases is used to infer the mains frequency. |
| US08024141B2 |
Test and measurement instrument and method for providing post-acquisition trigger control and presentation
A test and measurement instrument and method for providing post-acquisition trigger control and presentation of associated waveforms on a display. An electrical signal under test is sampled and digitized, and stored in an acquisition memory as a data record. A display device draws a waveform associated with the signal under test. After the acquisition of the digital samples is stopped, a user selects trigger criteria using trigger controls such as a trigger level control. A trigger circuit detects a post-acquisition trigger event in the data record based on the trigger criteria causing an automatic adjustment of the waveform to conform to a time of the post-acquisition trigger event. One or more configurable trigger controls can be used to adjust a display of post-acquisition trigger events and waveforms. Upon resumption of the live-acquisition of data, the live waveform conforms to the newly selected trigger criteria as previewed during the post-acquisition mode. |
| US08024134B2 |
Gas sensor and output processing method thereof
A gas sensor which includes: a plurality of gas detectors, each detects a target gas; an error detector which detects the occurrence of an error on each of gas sensors; an output selector which selects one output from among outputs entered from each gas sensor, the output selected by the output selector is the output from the gas detector in which no error exists; and an output unit which generate a normal output based on the output selected by the output selector and outputs the normal output to an external electrical device through a single output system, the output unit generates an abnormal output based on the output from the gas detector, in which the error exists, when the gas detector, in which an error exists, is detected, and outputs alternately the normal output and the abnormal output. |
| US08024130B2 |
Pattern discovery techniques for determining maximal irredundant and redundant motifs
Basis motifs are determined from an input sequence through an iterative technique that begins by creating small solid motifs and continues to create larger motifs that include “don't care” characters and that can include flexible portions. The small solid motifs, including don't care characters and flexible portions, are concatenated to create larger motifs. During each iteration, motifs are trimmed to remove redundant motifs and other motifs that do not meet certain criteria. The process is continued until no new motifs are determined. At this point, the basis set of motifs has been determined. The basis motifs are used to construct redundant motifs. The redundant motifs are formed by determining a number of sets for selected basis motifs. From these sets, unique intersection sets are determined. The redundant motifs are determined from the unique intersection sets and the basis motifs. This process continues, by selecting additional basis motifs, until all basis motifs have been selected. |
| US08024128B2 |
System and method for improving clinical decisions by aggregating, validating and analysing genetic and phenotypic data
The information management system disclosed enables caregivers to make better decisions by using aggregated data. The system enables the integration, validation and analysis of genetic, phenotypic and clinical data from multiple subjects. A standardized data model stores a range of patient data in standardized data classes comprising patient profile, genetic, symptomatic, treatment and diagnostic information. Data is converted into standardized data classes using a data parser specifically tailored to the source system. Relationships exist between standardized data classes, based on expert rules and statistical models, and are used to validate new data and predict phenotypic outcomes. The prediction may comprise a clinical outcome in response to a proposed intervention. The statistical models and methods for training those models may be input according to a standardized template. Methods are described for selecting, creating and training the statistical models to operate on genetic, phenotypic, clinical and undetermined data sets. |
| US08024126B2 |
Moment analysis of tertiary protein structures
Techniques for analyzing protein structures, such as a tertiary protein structure, are provided. A centroid of the residue centroids is calculated. The centroid of the residue centroids is used as a spatial origin of a global linear hydrophobic moment. The correlation between residue centroid magnitude and residue solvent accessibility is enhanced. The global linear hydrophobic moment is defined, wherein each of the residue centroids contributes a magnitude and direction to the global linear hydrophobic moment. A method for comparing at least two tertiary protein structures is also disclosed. |
| US08024121B2 |
Data compression method for use in downhole applications
Borehole image data is compressed and transmitted to the surface one pixilated trace at a time. The compression methodology typically includes transform, quantization, and entropy encoding steps. The invention advantageously provides for sufficient data compression to enable conventional telemetry techniques (e.g., mud pulse telemetry) to be utilized for transmitting borehole images to the surface. By compressing and transmitting sensor data trace by trace the invention also tends to significantly reduce latency. |
| US08024120B2 |
Complex phase locked loop
A method of estimating an instantaneous frequency of a component of interest in a complex primary signal via a complex Phase Locked Loop (PLL). A complex incident signal including a complex exponential evaluated at a synthesis frequency is calculated according to a complex Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) function. A complex mixed signal is calculated according to a function that includes multiplying the complex primary signal by a representation of the complex incident signal. A complex baseband signal is calculated according to a function that includes filtering the complex mixed signal such that the bandwidth of the complex baseband signal is less than or equal to the bandwidth of the complex mixed signal. A residual frequency of the complex baseband signal is calculated via a complex Phase Discriminator (PD). The synthesis frequency is modified according to a function that includes the synthesis frequency and the residual frequency, such that the residual frequency is minimized. The instantaneous frequency is calculated according to a function that includes a representation of the synthesis frequency and stored. |
| US08024119B2 |
Systems and methods for gyrocompass alignment using dynamically calibrated sensor data and an iterated extended kalman filter within a navigation system
A navigation system and method for gyrocompass alignment in a mobile object. The system includes an inertial measurement device configured to provide a first set of sensor data and a positioning unit configured to provide a second set of data. In an example embodiment, the navigation system includes a processing device configured to receive the data sets provided by the inertial measurement device and the positioning device, and the processing device is configured to dynamically calibrate the received first data set the processing device includes a Kalman filter, and the processing device is further configured to generate a gyrocompass alignment using the first dynamically calibrated first data set, the second data set, and the Kalman filter. The method includes receiving sensor data from a plurality of sensors, dynamically calibrating at least a portion of the sensor data, and generating gyrocompass alignment information based on the dynamically calibrated sensor data. |
| US08024118B2 |
Engine idle control using GPS telematics
A vehicle reporting its position, typically derived from a global positioning or other navigation system, implements idle time limitation protocols based on its position. The particular protocol can be derived from a central, updated location using a telematics link. |
| US08024113B2 |
Navigation system
In a navigation system, e.g., for a motor vehicle, for determining the route from a location of the navigation system to a destination point, the navigation system includes an output device for outputting the route and/or a direction indication that corresponds to the route, and an input device for inputting the destination point, graphics or images of selectable destination points being representable for the input of a destination point. |
| US08024111B1 |
Travel route system and method
A method of recommending a travel route includes receiving an indication of a start location and a destination location, and a desired arrival time at the destination location. One or more road segments included in possible routes are identified. Traffic data, event data, and weather data from at least one traffic data source, event data source, and weather data source, are received for the one or more road segments corresponding to a desired time of travel between the start location and destination location. At least one suggested travel route from the start location to the destination location for arriving at the destination by the desired arrival time is created based on analyzing the impact of the traffic data, the event data, and the weather data on the one or more road segments during the desired time of travel between the start location and destination location. |
| US08024110B2 |
Method of estimation of traffic information, device of estimation of traffic information and car navigation device
There is provided a method and a device for accurately estimating traffic information of a link having no traffic information even if different types of roads are mixed. The device finds a parameter characterizing a damping curve of a quantity of change of relative speed based on stored traffic information for links on a city center side on a minimum-time cost route connecting the city center and suburbs, finds a quantity of change of relative speed of the link having no observed traffic information and estimates its traffic information based on the damping curve. The device also calculates a ratio of quantities of change of relative speed of two links whose road types change as a speed change similarity ratio and estimates traffic information of the link of a second road type from known traffic information of the link of a first road type by using that ratio. |
| US08024108B2 |
Method for monitoring the secondary air system in an exhaust-gas purification system
The individual cylinders of the internal combustion engine are divided into at least two cylinder banks wherein each is assigned a separate exhaust-gas channel. Secondary air is conveyed by a compressor. The flow of the secondary-air mass flow is set independently by an electrically controllable throughflow control. A value for the entire secondary-air mass flow is determined from the signal of a secondary-air mass sensor. The throughflow control is controlled into an open position, the value for the entire secondary-air mass flow is detected and subsequently the throughflow control is controlled into a closed position, the values for the secondary-air mass flows are detected before and after closure, and these values are compared with a plurality of different threshold values and, as a function of the result of the comparisons, a determination is made of the fault location with regard to the respective cylinder bank. |
| US08024107B2 |
Ignition timing control system for internal combustion engine
An ignition timing control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of ensuring both stability of control in a steady operating condition of the engine, and an excellent follow-up property of a controlled variable to a target value in a transient operating condition of the engine, even when the controlled variable contains a lot of high-frequency noise components. In the ignition timing control system, a maximum pressure angle-calculating section calculates a maximum pressure angle based on an in-cylinder pressure and a crank angle position. A target angle-calculating section calculates a target angle. A maximum pressure angle controller calculates a maximum pressure angle correction term with a control algorithm to which is applied a sliding mode control algorithm, using a value obtained by performing ε-filtering on a switching function, such that the maximum pressure angle converges to the target angle. The ignition timing is calculated by adding corrected ignition timing to the value. |
| US08024105B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting abnormal air-fuel ratio variation among cylinders of multi-cylinder internal combustion engine
An apparatus and a method for detecting abnormal air-fuel ratio variation among cylinders of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine are provided. The apparatus includes: a catalyst that is provided in an exhaust passage of the multi-cylinder internal combustion engine; a catalyst temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of the catalyst; a catalyst temperature estimation unit that estimates a temperature of the catalyst based on an engine operating state; and an abnormality detection unit that determines whether abnormal air-fuel ratio variation among the cylinders has occurred based on the detected temperature of the catalyst and the estimated temperature of the catalyst. |
| US08024104B2 |
Method for controlling a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine
In a method for controlling a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine with at least one combustion chamber, wherein the fuel injection system comprises a high pressure pump, whose flow rate is controllable, a control parameter of the high pressure pump is evaluated during the operation of the internal combustion engine. Said control parameter makes a detection of a bottleneck with the high pressure pump with respect to fuel quantity possible. |
| US08024100B2 |
Method of controlling the path of a vehicle
Method for determining the gradient on which a motor vehicle is traveling, comprising a step (44) of detecting disengagement of the clutch, a step (46) of measuring the variation in speed of the vehicle on the gradient when the clutch is disengaged, a step (48) of estimating the vehicle load, and a comparison (50) with calibration curves stored in memory and providing deceleration values for various gradients and various vehicle loads at various vehicle speeds. |
| US08024099B2 |
Deceleration controller for vehicle
A deceleration control apparatus and method for controlling deceleration of a vehicle where a controller is operable to set a target vehicular speed calculated based on a turning condition of the vehicle and a lateral acceleration limitation value. The controller is also operable to apply deceleration to the vehicle based on the actual vehicular speed and the target vehicular speed and to correct the deceleration used when the vehicle is traveling along a detected curve. Correcting the deceleration can be done by, for example, correcting the lateral acceleration limitation value. |
| US08024095B2 |
Adaptive work cycle control system
A control system for an excavation machine is disclosed. The control system may have a work tool movable to perform an excavation work cycle, at least one sensor configured to monitor a speed of the work tool and generate a signal indicative of the monitored speed, and a controller in communication with the at least one sensor. The controller may be configured to record the monitored speed of the work tool during each excavation work cycle, and compare the signal currently being generated to a maximum speed recorded for a previous excavation work cycle. The controller may be further configured to partition a current excavation work cycle into a plurality of segments based on the comparison. |
| US08024094B2 |
Maintenance history information management system for construction machine
The present invention provides a maintenance history information management system for a construction machine that is capable of enhancing the reliability of temporal information about maintenance history data. A data recording device 30 is incorporated in a hydraulic excavator 1 or other construction machine to process operating time or date and time. A mobile terminal 34 includes a CPU 36 for displaying construction machine maintenance items on a monitor 38. A worker can input data for the maintenance items as the maintenance history data. The mobile terminal 34 inputs the operating time or date and time from the data recording device 30 via a communication cable and a communication connector and stores the input operating time or date and time in a storage device 35 in association with the maintenance history data. |
| US08024089B2 |
Device for a child seat
Disclosed is a device for a child seat in a vehicle including a switch-over between comfort and safety mode of the child seat, depending on information suitable to predict an accident. |
| US08024086B2 |
Determining a relative movement of a chassis and a body of a wheeled vehicle
For determination of a relative movement of a chassis and a body of a wheeled vehicle, which is movably joined to the chassis, three linear accelerations of the wheeled vehicle, which extend perpendicular to each other, respectively, as well as at least two rotational speeds of one respective rotational movement or a component of a rotational movement about a coordinate axis of the wheeled vehicle are measured (in measuring device 1), the at least two coordinate axes running perpendicular to each other, respectively. A momentary position of the relative movement is determined (in evaluation unit 9) using the three linear accelerations and the at least two rotational rates. |
| US08024085B2 |
Driving support system
The navigation apparatus in a vehicle receives physical condition data regarding user's condition from a measurement instrument through a power line when the vehicle is connected to the power line. The navigation apparatus determines whether a travel condition of the vehicle that is driven by using the sensors disposed in the vehicle, in terms of the driving operation concerning the fuel consumption rate of the vehicle. If the driving operation is not determined as fuel-consumption-conscious, an advice for the driving operation is output from the navigation apparatus according to the physical condition of the user. The user thus can have an appropriate advice for the driving operation that improves the fuel consumption rate of the vehicle at an appropriate timing that takes into consideration of the physical condition of the user under measurement outside of the vehicle. |
| US08024080B2 |
Automated throttle control system
A throttle control system that is compensated for mountain wave conditions includes an auto throttle computer and a detector for detecting the pitch or pitch angle of the aircraft. The computer is used for determining the rate of change of pitch i.e. the first derivative of pitch angle and the rate of change of the rate of change of pitch i.e. the second derivative for generating a signal indicative of the rate of change of the rate of change of pitch. The signal from the auto throttle computer is combined with the signal from the signal indicative of the second derivative to produce a combined signal which is fed to a servo assemble and motor for adjusting the throttle of an aircraft. |
| US08024075B2 |
System and method for wireless irrigation utilizing a centralized control server and field module matrix
The invention is a centralized server-based system containing a database with relevant information regarding features, parameters, and characteristics of a particular irrigation system, which utilizes proprietary irrigation software to control a plurality of field modules, at one or more remote locations, via a network bridge adapter. An irrigation system may comprise a single server, or multiple servers that may be configured so that control of the entire system is centralized, and control of one or multiple irrigation locations may be accomplished remotely by wirelessly accessing, monitoring and controlling a location's field module matrix. |
| US08024073B2 |
Energy management system
According to an aspect of the disclosure, a home energy management system and method includes a network device disposed at a residence and a wireless home energy network capable of establishing communication with the network device. A server is disposed remotely from the residence and capable of generating a control action report to control the network devices. A controller is located at the residence and in communication with the server and configured to establish the wireless home energy network; initiate a plurality of operating status requests of the network device; receive device data in response to at least one of the operating status requests; generate a site report including the device data; initiate a communication of the site report to the remote server; and detect an availability of the control action report at the remote server in conjunction with the communication of the site report. |
| US08024070B2 |
Passive walking legged robot
The present disclosure provides a fixed point stabilization device for a legged mobile body having a generating mechanism for generating a fixed point. The present disclosure also provides a fixed point stabilization device for a legged mobile body comprising a stabilizing device for stabilizing the fixed point in accordance with a leg grounding position of the legged mobile body. The fixed point is generated by inputting a predetermined constant torque to a joint of a leg of the legged mobile body on the basis of the energy balance in the legged mobile body, leg switching, and a leg swinging motion. The fixed point is stabilized globally by keeping the leg grounding position of the legged mobile body constant using a stopper. |
| US08024068B2 |
Machine tool control system
The present disclosure includes a generalized kinematics library which may be used to control the motion of a machine tool system and to process data for other applications, such as simulation graphics. Methods are disclosed to interpolate the movement of various axes of a machine tool system through a machine singularity point. |
| US08024066B2 |
Autonomous inspector mobile platform
An autonomous inspector mobile platform robot that is used to inspect a pipe or network of pipes. The robot includes a locomotion device that enables the device to autonomously progress through the pipe and accurately track its pose and odometry during movement. At the same time, image data is autonomously captured to detail the interior portions of the pipe. Images are taken at periodic intervals using a wide angle lens, and additional video images may be captured at locations of interest. Either onboard or offboard the device, each captured image is unwarped (if necessary) and combined with images of adjacent pipe sections to create a complete image of the interior features of the inspected pipe. Optional features include additional sensors and measurement devices, various communications systems to communicate with an end node or the surface, and/or image compression software. |
| US08024064B1 |
Placement of inventory in a materials handling facility
In various embodiments, approaches for the placement of inbound inventory in a materials handling facility are described. A product identifier is input from inbound inventory into a computer system, where the inbound inventory is to be stocked in a materials handling facility. At least one available inventory location is identified in the computer system that presents a lowest cost for storage of the inbound inventory in the materials handling facility. The inbound inventory is stocked in the at least one available inventory location contemporaneously with the determination of the at least one available inventory location in the computer system that presents the lowest cost for storage of the inbound inventory in the materials handling facility. |
| US08024061B2 |
Method and device to generate position profile in motion controller
A method of and apparatus to generate a position profile using lower-order polynomials. The device includes a pattern coefficient generator to generate pattern and time coefficients of a position pattern that is classified by velocity change, a contour generator to generate a pattern polynomial to define a contour of each section of the position pattern using the generated pattern and time coefficients, and a dual filter for generating a position profile by selectively activating one of a plurality of filters, which receive the pattern polynomial generated by the contour generator. The device uses lower-order polynomials and a small number of coefficients, thereby reducing the number of calculations required in the procedure to generate the position profile. The device generates a seamless and smooth position profile by preventing switching errors due to the difference between filter sizes. |
| US08024058B2 |
Handheld electronic pen with recording and playback modes
A handheld electronic pen having an audio recording mode and an audio playback mode. In the audio recording mode, the pen is configured to activate a microphone for recording audio, determine a position on an encoded substrate during interaction with the substrate associate said the position with the recorded audio. In the audio playback mode, the pen is configured to: determine a position on the encoded substrate, retrieve recorded audio associated with the position, and playback the recorded audio via an audio output device. |
| US08024057B2 |
Audio recording and playback system
A handheld electronic pen having an audio recording mode and an audio playback mode. In the audio recording mode, the pen is configured to activate a microphone for recording audio, determine a position on an encoded substrate during interaction with the substrate associate said the position with the recorded audio. In the audio playback mode, the pen is configured to: determine a position on the encoded substrate, retrieve recorded audio associated with the position, and playback the recorded audio via an audio output device. |
| US08024056B2 |
External amplifier and noise removing method thereof
An external amplifier and a noise removing method thereof are disclosed. When an audio output inputted to the external amplifier is changed from a first mode to a second mode, channel status information is set to the second mode and no data of the audio output is outputted in the second mode for a predetermined period of time. Therefore, it is possible to remove noise that is generated in the external amplifier when the audio output mode is changed, thereby preventing speaker damage. |
| US08024053B2 |
Safety instrumentation system and plant safety system
An instruction converting unit converts the data form of an instruction of an operation received by a receiving unit to the data form of a safety instrumentation system from the data form of a plant control system. An operation carrying out unit receives the instruction of the operation obtained by the instruction converting unit and an original instruction of the safety instrumentation system to carry out the operations, and preferentially carries out the operation of the original instruction of the safety instrumentation system when both the instructions compete with each other. |
| US08024052B1 |
Adaptive mapping of device output change to amounts of control effort
Systems and methods for controlling and monitoring equipment in control systems. Adaptive mapping of system output change to amounts of applied control effort. Methods are disclosed to define, initialize, and tune a particularly efficient, log-spaced mapping. Self-tuning update methods cause the control map to improve with use and provides excellent convergence to the actual nonlinear relationship between control input and device output. As the mapping converges to the actual relationship, system performance is optimized when used for purposes of control. Methods pertaining to the specific instance of adaptive impulse control are disclosed. As the mapping converges and tracks what may be a time-varying relationship due to equipment wear or changing operating conditions, drift from baseline conditions can be detected. |
| US08024047B2 |
Alignment indication for transcutaneous energy transfer
System for transcutaneous energy transfer. An implantable medical device, adapted to be implanted in a patient, has componentry for providing a therapeutic output. The implantable medical device has an internal power source and a secondary coil operatively coupled to the internal power source. An external power source, having a primary coil, provides energy to the implantable medical device when the primary coil of the external power source is placed in proximity of the secondary coil of the implantable medical device and thereby generates a current in the internal power source. An alignment indicator reports the alignment as a function of the current generated in the internal power source with a predetermined value associated with an expected alignment between the primary coil and secondary coil. |
| US08024046B2 |
Systems for fitting a cochlear implant to a patient
Systems for fitting an implantable cochlear stimulator to a patient include an interface unit configured to display a graphical representation of an implant fitting line as part of a graphical user interface. The implant fitting line has a slope and a horizontal position and represents a mapping relationship between a plurality of audio frequencies and a plurality of stimulation sites within a cochlea of the patient. The interface unit is further configured to facilitate adjustment of the slope and/or horizontal position of the fitting line. |
| US08024044B2 |
Method and apparatus for hypoglossal nerve stimulation
A method of treating sleep disordered breathing in a patient includes the steps of monitoring the patient for a pre-inspiratory drive signal indicative of the breathing cycle by sensing electroneurogram activity of a hypoglossal nerve of the patient; and electrically stimulating the hypoglossal nerve of the patient following each detection of the pre-inspiratory drive signal. An implantable apparatus for stimulating a hypoglossal nerve of a patient for the treatment of sleep disordered breathing includes an electrode positioned at least partially around the hypoglossal nerve with a monitoring contact and a stimulation contact and a controller operatively coupled to the monitoring contact and the stimulation contact. The monitoring contact monitors the electroneurogram activity of the hypoglossal nerve for a pre-inspiratory drive signal indicative of the onset of inspiration and sends a signal to the controller which in turn causes the stimulating electrode to electrically stimulate the hypoglossal nerve. |
| US08024040B2 |
Method and system for treatment of neurocardiogenic syncope
A method and apparatus for treating or preventing neurocardiogenic syncope is disclosed. Upon detection of bradycardia or a drop in blood pressure indicating the onset of syncope, electrostimulation pulses are delivered during the heart's refractory period. The pulses are non-excitatory but increase myocardial contractility and thereby increase cardiac output. |
| US08024033B2 |
Iontophoretic electrode
An electrode for an iontophoretic drug delivery system includes a retainer having a malleable characteristic. The retainer and a conductor are connected to a platform. The conductor and a dose controller are electrically coupled to the iontophoretic drug delivery system. A drug delivery matrix is operably connected to the platform and proximate the conductor wherein the conductor, the drug delivery matrix, and the dose controller cooperate to deliver a drug to a user when the electrode is affixed to the user and operably connected to the iontophoretic drug delivery system. |
| US08024032B1 |
Method and system for the prediction, rapid detection, warning, prevention, or control of changes in the brain states of a subject using hurst parameter estimation
A system for analyzing signals representative of a subject's brain activity in a signal processor for information indicating the subject's current activity state and for detecting or predicting a change in the activity state. One preferred embodiment uses a method for estimating the Hurst parameter to perform real-time analysis of the electroencephalogram (EEG) or electrocorticogram (ECoG) signals from a subject patient for information indicative of or predictive of a seizure, and to complete the needed analysis at least before clinical seizure onset. The preferred system then performs an output task for prevention or abatement of the seizure, or for recording pertinent data. |
| US08024030B2 |
System and method for analyzing an electrocardiogram signal
A system for analyzing an ECG signal is provided. The system comprises an interface that receives an ECG waveform associated with heart beat cycle of a patient. The system includes signal processor that determines a first isoelectric portion lying between a T-wave of a first heart beat cycle and a P-wave of a successive heart beat cycle, and a second isoelectric portion lying between a P-wave and a QRS complex of the first heart beat cycle. The signal processor determines a stability measure for each of said first and second portions and adaptively selects the first or the second portion as a baseline for the first heart beat cycle based on the stability measures. The signal processor determines a point of reference on an ST segment associated with the first heart beat cycle and evaluates a deviation of the point of reference on the ST segment from the selected baseline. |
| US08024028B2 |
Cardiac event detection over varying time scale
Disclosed is a “tracker system” that includes implanted electrical leads which are part of an implanted cardiotracker plus external equipment that includes external alarm means and a physician's programmer. The tracker system is designed to monitor the degradation of a patient's cardiovascular condition from one or more causes. These causes include the rejection of a transplanted heart and/or the progression of a stenosis in a coronary artery. As one or more stenoses in a coronary artery become progressively more narrow thereby causing reduced blood flow to the heart muscle coronary circulation, the tracker system can alert the patient by either or both internal and/or external alarm means to take the appropriate medical action. The physician's programmer can be used to display histograms of key heart signal parameters that are indicative of the patient's cardiovascular condition. |
| US08024027B2 |
Infrared endoscopic balloon probes
Balloon probes, adapted for use in endoscopy and other medical procedures, are useful to obtain spectroscopic information reflected or emitted from a tissue of interest in the infrared spectral region. The information collected by the probe is useful in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. The invention also relates to methods utilizing these probes to analyze a surface of interest, in a minimally invasive manner, in connection with the diagnosis and treatment of disease. |
| US08024024B2 |
Remote control of medical devices using real time location data
A method of determining the quality of contact between a remotely navigated medical device and a cyclically moving anatomical structure includes measuring movement of the device, and processing the measured movement of the device to determine the contact between the device and the moving anatomical structure. |
| US08024023B2 |
Sensory for measuring of signals on the surface of the skin and method for producing of the sensory
The present invention relates to sensory for measuring signals on the surface of the skin and for producing sensory. In the sensory in accordance with the invention, the electrode surfaces required for measuring of a signal and/or conductors required for transmitting of a signal have been fastened to the textile material of an outfit or accessory used on the body. In the method in accordance with the invention, the electrode surfaces required for the sensory and/or conductors are added to the textile material of an outfit or accessory used on the body. |
| US08024012B2 |
Intelligent wireless power charging system
A system and methodology for intelligent power management of wirelessly networked devices. The system provides for reliable wireless communication via a wireless power charging method and, a method to maintain power capacity of batteries in a wireless device. The batteries are charged via an RF harvesting unit embedded inside the wireless device. An intelligent wireless power charging system further comprises at least two batteries and at least two RF adaptor devices coupled to an AC power line. The first adaptor is set for data communication while the second adaptor is used to transmit the power. In addition, when a first battery is in use during active mode, the second battery is subjected to wireless charging. |
| US08023999B2 |
Base station architecture using decentralized duplexers
Disclosed is a base station comprising an antenna and a plurality of integrated transceiver modules. Each integrated transceiver module includes a radio and a decentral duplexer connected to the radio and the antenna for transmission of and reception of communication signals. The integrated transceiver module therefore modularizes the base station so that all of the components of a base station can be located on a single module (e.g., one printed circuit board (PCB)). The base station can be upgraded by inserting additional integrated transceiver modules into the base station. |
| US08023998B2 |
Wireless enabled memory module
A wireless-enabled memory module provides host devices access to a memory via a standard memory expansion interface and further incorporates embedded processing capability and a wireless network capability. The wireless-enabled memory module can be used in any host device providing a compatible memory card controller and interface. Host devices so equipped become wireless-memory enabled devices and can provide memory access to any other remote device enabled for compatible wireless communications. It is thereby possible for a remote device to access the memory content of the memory module, and cause transfers of either full-size or scaled versions of the content to the remote device through a first network, and optionally further transfer the content from the remote device through a second network to the Internet in the form of an e-mail message or MMS attachment. |
| US08023997B2 |
Network interface wireless router
There is provided an apparatus and methodology for providing selective wired and/or wireless transmission of communications signals to and/or within a subscriber premises. A network interface device includes a wireless router within the housing of the network interface device to selectively provide one or more of wireless and wired communications services to a subscriber. The network interface device may be mounted externally of a subscriber premises. The provision of a wireless router within a network interface device offers a service provider the ability to provide wireless service to a subscriber as well as to new subscribers in close proximity to a subscriber. |
| US08023995B2 |
Radio frequency device and mobile communication terminal using the same
There is provided a radio frequency circuit device for multi-band and multi-mode which is low in a circuit loss, and a mobile communication terminal using the radio frequency circuit device. The radio frequency circuit device has a first path 110 that includes an amplifier 10a that amplifies signals of at least two modulation techniques in power, a matching network 20 that is connected to the amplifier and a duplexer 50 and allows the matching network to be coupled with an antenna, and a second path 111 that does not include the duplexer and allows the matching network to be coupled with the antenna. The first path is selected when the amplifier amplifies one of the signals of at least two modulation techniques, and the second path is selected when the amplifier amplifies another signal. An output impedance of the amplifier is matched with an impedance when viewing the antenna side from the amplifier in the first path and the second path. |
| US08023994B2 |
Provisioning methods and apparatus with use of a provisioning ESSID derived from both predetermined criteria and network-specific criteria
Methods and apparatus for use in provisioning mobile communication devices in wireless local area networks (WLANs) are described. In one illustrative example, a provisioning network identifier (“provisioning ESSID”) is derived based on both predetermined provisioning criteria (e.g. a fixed alphanumeric string) and network-specific criteria associated with a WLAN (eg a network domain name). The mobile device associates with a wireless access point of a provisioning virtual local area network (VLAN) of the network with use of the provisioning network identifier. After associating with the wireless access point with the provisioning network identifier, a primary network identifier (“primary ESSID”) associated with a primary VLAN of the network is received from the WLAN in a provisioning procedure and stored in memory of the mobile device after authentication. For subsequent communications with the WLAN, the mobile device associates with a wireless access point of the primary VLAN of the network with use of the primary network identifier. The technique of deriving an ESSID may alternatively be utilized in producing a primary ESSID of the WLAN. |
| US08023992B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device providing pattern/frequency control features and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, a wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing, and a plurality of antennas also carried by the portable housing. Each antenna may have a different gain pattern at a different respective operating frequency, and the antennas may have different shapes to define different gain patterns at a given operating frequency. The mobile wireless communications device may further include a frequency/pattern diversity controller for controlling the wireless transceiver to preferentially operate with the plurality of antennas. |
| US08023990B2 |
Uplink scheduling in a cellular system
A method for use in a wireless cellular access system, according to which users in a cell in the system receive one or more transmission power control commands on a control channel, where the transmission power control commands comprise an identifier for the intended user or users, said identifier being either an identifier for a specific user or for a group of users. A user disregards one or more predefined control commands if the identifier of the control command is for a group of users in which said user is included. |
| US08023981B2 |
Method and apparatus for adaptive dynamic call setup based on real-time network resource availability
An apparatus and method for adaptively enabling a PTT communication with efficient resource allocation in a radio access network. After a user uses a mobile device to activate a PTT call, the mobile device checks the network condition before transmitting a PTT call origination request to a PTT server. The mobile device monitors the network condition by tracking the failure rate of prior network resource requests. If the failure rate is below a threshold, the PTT call origination request is sent to a network server before or at the same time with a quality-of-service (QoS) network resource request. |
| US08023980B2 |
Phone terminal, server, and talking system having phone terminals and the server
The present invention aims at providing a phone terminal over which the user who is attending the PoC talking can talk at a desired timing, a server, and a talking system having the phone terminals and the server. A talking system of the present invention is constructed such that a cellular phone A 10a transmits voice data to a server 20 while a floor is not granted by the server 20, and the server 20 has a storing portion for storing the voice data from a cellular phone to which the floor is not granted and transmits voice data read from the storing portion to a cellular phone B 10b after the cellular phone B 10b released the floor. |
| US08023979B2 |
Method and system for splitting terminals in push-to-talk over cellular network
A method establishes a PoC multimedia session for making a PoC multimedia call according to a support attribute of a PoC terminal and sets media for each session. In the method, a message for setting a session management server to split arbitrary PoC user terminals according to an attribute of media to establish the session is transmitted from the arbitrary PoC user terminals to the session management server. An INVITE message according to the media attribute is transmitted from the session management server to each of the terminals based on the setting. |
| US08023967B2 |
Consolidating online privacy preferences
User privacy preferences are consolidated for location-based services. A mobile user is able to control the service providers to which the mobile user's location is transmitted as well as control the service providers from which the user wishes to receive content. Service providers and other online vendors request the location and network identifiers of mobile users in order to provide the mobile users with content. The user's privacy preferences are described in a document that includes the location format being used by the user, a link to the user's preference data, and the current location of the user's mobile device. The privacy preference file includes global privacy preferences that apply when the user is outside of established privacy locations and one or more privacy locations defined by geographical boundaries. These preferences apply while the user is inside the defined privacy location. |
| US08023966B2 |
Systems, devices, methods and computer program products for downloading content to mobile devices in a roaming environment
Systems, devices and methods are presented for downloading content to a mobile terminal, during periods when the mobile terminal is outside of the home network; i.e. when the terminal is roaming. The invention provides for downloading of the content without utilizing the cellular network, thereby, circumventing the additional surcharges that may be associated with providing for downloading outside of the home network environment. In addition, the invention provides for methods and systems that may be implemented automatically, without the user having to interface with the device or system to implement the change in download techniques. Also, the content can be downloaded during normal download schedules so that the user is not adversely affected by their travel schedule and can be assured scheduled program downloads throughout the travel period. |
| US08023965B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for locating a mobile communications device
A system, method and apparatus for locating a mobile communication device are provided. A data set is received, the data set comprising strengths of signals received at the mobile communication device from a plurality of wireless access points. The data set further comprises identifiers of wireless access points from which each signal was received. Scaled signal strengths are determined from the strengths of signals. The scaled signal strengths are compared with a record of signal strengths of wireless access points at given locations. Based on the comparing, a location of the mobile communication device is determined. |
| US08023963B2 |
Mobile communication device and method for linking communications with location data
An electronic device includes a communication component; a location-determining component; a display; and a computing device all housed within a portable, handheld housing or other enclosure. The communications component transmits and receives mobile communications over a wireless communication network or path and provides identification information to the computing device. The location determining component determines locations of the electronic device as it is carried or driven from place to place and provides corresponding location data to the computing device. The computing device links the identification information with the location data to indicate the location of the device when a communication was made or received. The identification information and location data may be linked by adding a geocode or geotag to the identification information or by cross-referencing the information and data in a database. The computing device may also display a representation of the location data alongside a representation of the communication on a cartographic map and then display some of the identification information for the communication when a user scrolls over or otherwise selects either of the representations. |
| US08023961B2 |
Method and a system for location estimation using location estimated
In a system for location estimation, information necessary for location estimation is acquired from a wireless signal. The first estimated location of each of target terminals is found out on the basis of the acquired information necessary for location estimation, and the locations of reference terminals. The second estimated location of each target terminal is found out on the basis of the information necessary for location estimation, the first estimated locations of the target terminals other than that target terminal of which the location estimation is being carried out, and on the locations of the reference terminals. Thus, the system for location estimation avoids the problem associated with an increased sphere of location estimation and with an increased communication traffic attendant on an increased number of target terminals, and achieves location estimation of high accuracy. |
| US08023960B2 |
Positioning system, terminal apparatus, control method of terminal apparatus
The terminal apparatus has: base station and terminal error information generating means for generating base station and terminal error information indicating a rate of the base station and terminal frequency difference with respect to the official frequency; geostationary satellite and terminal difference information generating means for generating geostationary satellite and terminal difference information indicating a geostationary satellite and terminal frequency difference; geostationary satellite and terminal error information generating means for generating geostationary satellite and terminal error information indicating a rate of the geostationary satellite and terminal frequency difference with respect to the geostationary satellite frequency; base station frequency error information generating means for generating base station frequency error information indicating a frequency error of a transmitting radio wave from the communication base station based on the base station and terminal error. |
| US08023958B2 |
User plane-based location services (LCS) system, method and apparatus
A system, method and apparatus for providing location services whereby location determination and location disclosure are treated as separate and independent processes. Location determination may be performed (as necessary) via a first set of network entities to obtain location information for a mobile station. The location information may be cached for subsequent disclosure to any number of applications. Location disclosure may be performed (when requested) via a second set of network entities to provide the location information. Location determination may utilize a first security procedure for authentication and authorization and to obtain a first session key used for location determination. Location disclosure may utilize a second security procedure for authentication and authorization and to obtain a second session key used for location disclosure. For a roaming mobile station, location determination may be performed via a serving network and location disclosure may be performed via a home network. |
| US08023956B2 |
Scheduling methods for connection-based, over-the-air, inter-system communications for wireless networks
A method for communications between neighboring wireless cells such as wireless regional area networks operating according to IEEE 802.22 specifications. The method involves scheduling inter-base station communications for over-the-air connections to allow neighboring base stations to communicate in environments where a single available channel is shared between the neighboring cells or where two or more channels used by two or more neighboring cells. In some embodiments, a bridge system, such as a bridge consumer premise equipment (CPE), positioned in an area of coverage overlap between two cells is used for inter-base station communications, and allocation and scheduling of bandwidth on the utilized channels is performed to provide interference free communications between the base stations. Existence announcements are provided in coexistence time slots and requests for bandwidth such as reserved and additional time slots are transmitted between the base stations using the coexistence time slots. |
| US08023954B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling a cellular communications system responsive to a power level associated with a wireless transmitter
A cellular communications system includes a wireless transmitter that is configured to transmit over a set of frequencies that is assigned to a given cell of the cellular communications system from a band of frequencies that is assigned to the cellular communications system. A controller is configured to identify a power level to be used by the wireless transmitter and to determine a subset of frequencies in the set of frequencies that is assigned to the given cell of the cellular communications system, the subset of frequencies to be assigned to the wireless transmitter responsive to the power level that was identified. Related methods are also described. |
| US08023953B2 |
Mapping wireless proximity identificator to subscriber identity for hotspot based wireless services for mobile terminals
A hotspot access point enables a mobile wireless device to resume a service with a network server when service is interrupted by the mobile device moving out of the coverage area of the access point. A short-range communication link is established by the access point with the mobile device based on a local identification of the device. The access point requests additional information from the wireless device. The additional information relates to a wide area network identification of the device. The mobile device transmits additional information to the access point which stores the local area identification and additional identification. The access point transmits to the mobile device a coded identificator of the wireless device based upon the local area identification and a network identification of the device. The access point determines whether service with the mobile device is open and establishes a wide area connection with the mobile device. |
| US08023952B2 |
Location updating in communications networks
This disclosure concerns methods and systems for network communications. In one example of such a method, respective groups of cells are first allocated to respective location regions. Next, respective indicators are received from various devices, indicating the identity of the cell occupied by the corresponding device. Additionally, a database is maintained that includes information concerning the location region occupied by each device. In operation, when a device switches from a radio access network to another access network, the other access network receives the indicator of the identity of the cell occupied by the device and, in dependence thereon, selects the location region which the device is deemed to occupy by a core network. |
| US08023946B2 |
Methods of performing a binding in a telecommunications system
The present invention relates to apparatus for and methods of performing a binding procedure in respect of a mobile node in a foreign packet data network, the mobile node having roamed from a an home packet data network and having a home packet data protocol address, the method comprising the steps of: the mobile node sending its home packet data protocol address to a node of the network responsible for allocating packet data protocol address to mobile nodes for use in the foreign network (the allocating node); the allocating node allocating or participating in the allocation of a packet data protocol address to the mobile node; the allocating node receiving a packet data protocol address of a receiving node; and in dependence on the received home packet data protocol address, the receiving node packet data protocol address, and the allocated packet data protocol address, the allocating node sending or arranging for another network node to send a message to the receiving node, the message indicating a binding between the allocated packet data protocol and the home packet data protocol address of the mobile node. |
| US08023943B2 |
Cellular communications system providing mobile cellular device battery saving features while accommodating user access requests and related methods
A cellular communications system may include at least one base station and at least one mobile cellular communications device. More particularly, the at least one mobile cellular communications device may include a controller, at least one user input device connected to the controller, and a wireless transceiver cooperating with the controller for attempting to establish a wireless communications link with at least one base station, and if the wireless communications link cannot be established, then continuing to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a first attempt rate. Moreover, if a user provides a request to access the at least one base station via the at least one user input device, then the controller may continue to attempt to establish the wireless communications link based upon a second attempt rate greater than the first attempt rate. |
| US08023940B2 |
Connecting ad hoc piconets to wide area networks and/or grid computing networks
A hyper-scatternet includes a first ad hoc piconet, a second ad hoc piconet and a wide area network, wherein the first and second ad hoc piconets are configured to communicate with one another via the wide area network. Each ad hoc piconet can include an application server that includes an ad hoc piconet interface that is configured to communicate with an ad hoc piconet using an ad hoc piconet protocol, and a wide area network interface that is configured to communicate with a wide area network using a wide area network protocol. The application server also includes a service manifest that is configured to determine ad hoc piconet services that are available from the ad hoc piconet via the ad hoc piconet interface, and to advertise the ad hoc piconet services to the wide area network as wide area network services via the wide area network interface. |
| US08023935B2 |
Printing a list on a print medium
A system for printing a list on a print medium includes a device and a server. The device which has a sensor module for sensing a print media identifier coded on a surface of the print medium, and a printer module for printing the list on the print medium. The server stores the list in association with the print medium identifier in a database. The list is retrievable from the database using the print media identifier. |
| US08023931B2 |
Call rerouting
A device and method for rerouting a communication from a first communication device to a second communication device includes a rerouting circuit. The rerouting circuit is operative to reroute a communication intended for the first communication device to the second communication device. Rerouting of the communication may be initiated by sending a rerouting request from the device not intended to receive the communication. |
| US08023930B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling locking function using direction sensor in portable terminal
A mobile terminal includes an apparatus for controlling a locking function using a direction sensor. The apparatus includes an input element that receives a locking signal. The apparatus can detect direction information of the portable terminal, and set the lock of the portable terminal by storing the input locking signal and the detected direction information in a memory, or unset the lock of the portable terminal by comparing the input locking signal and the detected direction information with locking signal and direction information pre-stored in the memory. Accordingly, even if the locking signal is exposed, the locking signal is not authenticated if a terminal direction value is not correct, thereby maintaining security of the locking signal in a further improved manner without having to add another complex functions. |
| US08023927B1 |
Abuse-resistant method of registering user accounts with an online service
A computer implemented method for registering user accounts that includes sending a first request to an online service wherein the first request includes a telephone number, sending a second request to the online service wherein the second request includes an invitation code received via a telephone associated with the telephone number, and upon acceptance of the invitation code by the online service, receiving an invitation from the online service, to register a user account. |
| US08023924B2 |
Method for reducing power consumption in a multi-user digital communication system and mobile station employing the method
A method for reducing power consumption in a multi-user digital communication system and mobile station employing the method adjusts receive and transmit mode durations of the mobile device using downlink and uplink allocations from a base station of the system, as well as other factors. |
| US08023922B2 |
Receiver for simultaneously receiving different standards
Receivers (5) for simultaneously receiving different radio frequency signals according to different standards are provided with first frequency translating stages (1) for converting the radio frequency signals into first intermediate frequency signals and second frequency translating stages (2) for converting the first intermediate frequency signals into second intermediate frequency signals and processing stages (3) for retrieving first information from the first intermediate frequency signals and second information from the second intermediate signals. As a result, such receivers (5) have relatively low power consumption. The first frequency translating stages (1) comprise first oscillators (19) and first mixers (11) and further first mixers (12). The second frequency translating stages (2) comprise second oscillators (29) and second mixers (21) and further second mixers (22) and third mixers (23) and further third mixers (24). The processing stages (3) comprise filters (31) for filtering the first intermediate frequency signals for removing the second information and further filters (32) for filtering the second intermediate frequency signals for removing the first information. |
| US08023921B2 |
Quadratic amplitude control circuit for cosite interference cancellation
A quadratic amplitude matching system and associated method with an associated tuning control system is provided for continuously and automatically tuning a quadratic amplitude matching filter (QAMF) to a band center of an interfering signal to provide improved rejection of an interfering signal coupled from a transmission antenna into a local receive antenna in the presence of local multi-path, thereby providing improved interference cancellation system performance. The matching control system is provided as an element of an interference cancellation system. |
| US08023919B2 |
Receiver dynamically switching to pseudo differential mode for SOC spur reduction
A low noise amplifier in an integrated circuit, the circuit having a digital portion and an analog portion on a common substrate, the digital portion having at least one clocking frequency, includes an input configured to receive a signal at a tuned frequency and an output circuit. The output circuit is configurable to operate in either a single-ended mode or a pseudo differential-ended mode, wherein the output circuit is configured in the pseudo differential-ended mode when the tuned frequency is substantially similar to the at least one clocking frequency or one of its harmonics and otherwise configured in the single-ended mode. |
| US08023916B2 |
Onboard reception device, and noise cancellation method for onboard reception device
This onboard reception device includes: a first receiver; a second receiver which is tuned to a second frequency which is different from a first frequency to which the first receiver is tuned, and whose reception level is low; a noise cancellation means which cancels noise included in a first demodulated received signal which is demodulated by the first receiver, based upon a second demodulated received signal which is observed by the second receiver; and an output means which outputs the first demodulated received signal in which noise has been cancelled, in a manner in which it can be appreciated by a user. |
| US08023914B2 |
Method for determining region where broadcasting receiver is located
The invention discloses a method for determining a region where a broadcasting receiver is located by detecting the signal strength of a plurality of channels. When a user takes the broadcasting receiver from region A to region B, the broadcasting receiver provides a list of regions including region B when the broadcasting receiver is turned on. When the user chooses to change the current region to region B, and after the channel scan is performed, the user can effortlessly view the broadcast programs of region B. |
| US08023910B2 |
Communication apparatus and method, and functional module
A communication apparatus includes: a casing into which liquid is injected; two metal plates disposed so as to come into contact with the liquid within the casing; and a transmission/reception unit configured to transmit/receive an electric signal with the two metal plates as antennas, and with the liquid as a medium; with the antennas transmitting/receiving the electric signal to/from a functional module mounted into the casing so as to come into contact with the liquid; and with the functional module being mounted such that the liquid can flow from one of the two metal plates to the other. |
| US08023909B2 |
Data conversion using a serial interface clock in a power amplifier module
In a mobile wireless telecommunication device, a bidirectional serial interface is used to transfer a digital representation of an analog value from a first chip associated with a power amplifier module to a second chip. In an exemplary embodiment, circuitry on the first chip receives this clock signal from the second chip during the address portion of a read operation and uses this clock signal to generate a conversion clock signal. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) on the first chip operates in response to the conversion clock signal to convert an analog value to a digital output. Circuitry on the first chip then transfers the digital output of the ADC from the first chip to the second chip via the serial interface. |
| US08023908B2 |
Intermodulation signal generator of power amplifier and pre-distortion linearizer having the same
Provided are an intermodulation signal generator of a power amplifier and a pre-distortion linearizer having the same. The intermodulation signal generator of the power amplifier includes: a circulator for outputting a radio-frequency (RF) input signal input via a first port to a second port and outputting an intermodulation signal input via the second port to a third port; a directional coupler for shifting phases of the input signals input via the second port of the circulator to divide or couple the phase-shifted signals; first and second Schottky diodes, disposed symmetrically, for receiving the signals divided by the directional coupler to generate intermodulation signal components; first and second phase adjusters, disposed symmetrically, for controlling phases of the intermodulation signal components gene rated by the first and second Schottky diodes by means of first and second bias voltages; and first and second scalers, disposed symmetrically, for controlling magnitudes of the intermodulation signal components generated by the first and second Schottky diodes by means of third and fourth bias voltages. The above-described intermodulation signal generator can be applied to a power amplifier of a high-performance downscaled communication system. |
| US08023907B2 |
Method and system for diversity processing including using dedicated pilot method for open loop
Diversity processing for closed loops may include combining a plurality of received multipath signals to estimate at least one processed diversity signal based on information from at one or more common channels. The common channels may include a dedicated pilot channel transmitted by each diversity antenna. The received multipath signals may originate from diversity transmit antennas at a base station, which may be transmitting information via a closed loop diversity transmission mode. The closed loop diversity transmission mode may be WCDMA/HSDPA closed loop 1 or closed loop 2. Estimations may be made of the closed loop transmit weights used by the base station for transmission of the symbols. Closed loop symbols transmitted by the diversity transmit antennas may then be estimated based on received diversity signals and at least one dedicated pilot channel. At least a portion of the at least one processed diversity signal may be despread. |
| US08023903B2 |
Communication device for rock climbing and other activities
A communication system for rock climbing and other activities is provided. The communication system comprises a first communication device having a first front surface. A first faceplate is mounted on the first front surface of the first communication device with the first faceplate preferably having three columns. A plurality of depressible status command buttons are mounted on the first front surface of the first communication device outside the first faceplate. A plurality of depressible action command buttons are mounted on the first front surface of the first communication device outside the first faceplate. A depressible variable command button is mounted on the first front surface of the first communication device outside the first faceplate. A depressible confirmation button is mounted on the first front surface of the communication device outside the columns. |
| US08023902B2 |
Adaptive radio transceiver with an antenna matching circuit
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings is a transceiver with a receiver, a transmitter, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a controller, and a self-testing unit. All of these components can be packaged for integration into a single IC including components such as filters and inductors. The controller for adaptive programming and calibration of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. The self-testing unit generates is used to determine the gain, frequency characteristics, selectivity, noise floor, and distortion behavior of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims. |
| US08023900B2 |
Mobile radio terminal and mobile communication system
Each of a mobile station and a base station stores a Wideband CQI table and a Subband CQI table. At the mobile station, a control unit transmits a CQI report value indicating Wideband CQI, and an index (Index S) indicating a differential value of a Diff reference value based on the CQI report value and Subband CQI, on the basis of the tables. In addition, the control unit makes the Diff reference value variable to prevent an expression amount of the index from being damaged if the Wideband CQI report value is in a range close to an upper lit or a lower limit of the Wideband CQI table. |
| US08023899B2 |
Approach for selecting communications channels in communication systems to avoid interference
An approach for selecting communications channels to be used by a communication system includes evaluating for the presence of one or more signals both a particular communications channel currently being used by the communication system and one or more other communications channels. For the particular communications channel currently being used by the communication system, signals that use a different communications protocol than the communication system are evaluated. For the one or more other communications channels, both signals that use the same communications protocol as the communication system and signals that use a different communications protocol than the communication system are evaluated. The approach may include the use of metrics and classification of device types to determine one or more communications channels to be used by the communication system. |
| US08023895B2 |
Location system for Bluetooth® enabled devices
A method, apparatus, and system for tracking and locating Bluetooth enabled devices is described. A network of Bluetooth sniffers can be used to rapidly locate lost devices and their owners. Wearable child devices maintain low power contact with parent devices until such time as a signal limit is reached, at which point the parent devices alarm. An optional network of fixed sniffing devices can be used to coordinate a search for lost child devices once an alert is issued to the system. |
| US08023893B2 |
Method and system for wireless communication among integrated circuits within an enclosure
A method and apparatus are disclosed for wireless communication among integrated circuit devices within a single enclosure. Each of a plurality of integrated circuit devices within a single enclosure has one or more antennas that permit wireless communication. A signal destined for one or more integrated circuit devices within the same enclosure is transmitted by the transmitting integrated circuit device using an associated antenna. The transmitted signal is received by the antennas of each destination integrated circuit device. The present invention provides for pin to pin wireless transmission and reception among at least two integrated circuit devices. A plurality of channels may be achieved using known multiplexing techniques, such as time division multiplexing or the transmission of multiple signals at different carrier frequencies or on different antennas. |
| US08023892B2 |
Wafer mobile phone platform system
The wafer mobile phone platform system provides a minimalist mobile telephone that can be used alone as a wireless communication device or utilized to transfer its mobile telephone functions from one peripheral device to another. A transceiver unit having telephone circuitry and componentry is mounted on a mobile phone wafer having a battery, memory storage device, display screen and an on/off switch. A short range radio frequency device, such as a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi enabled module, provides short range communication to an earpiece, headset, or other peripheral devices. The wafer can have an antenna, headphone jack and be adapted for use with wired communication devices, such as USB, serial, parallel or firewire cables. The wafer can be used with a vehicle stereo, a health monitoring device to monitor health statistics of the user or a console having a telephone to combine the functions of the wafer with the peripheral device. |
| US08023890B2 |
Communication system, communication apparatus, and electric-field-coupling antenna
A communication system includes the following elements: a transmitter including a transmission circuit unit configured to generate an RF signal for transmitting data and an EFC antenna configured to transmit the RF signal as an electrostatic field or an induced electric field; a receiver including an EFC antenna and a reception circuit unit configured to receive and process the RF signal received by the EFC antenna; and an impedance snatching unit configured to make an impedance of the EFC antenna of the transmitter equal to an impedance of the EFC antenna of the receiver. The RF signal is transmitted by electric-field coupling between the EFC antennas, facing each other, of the transmitter and the receiver. |
| US08023889B2 |
Intelligent device integration using RFID technology
A method of integrating devices using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology can include receiving a notification, from a communication system, of an incoming communication directed to a first communication address. An intended recipient of the communication can be identified according to the first communication address, wherein the intended recipient is associated with an RFID tag. An alternate communication device and a communication address for the alternate communication device can be determined. The communication system can be instructed to route the communication to the communication address for the alternate communication device. |
| US08023886B2 |
Method and system for repeater with gain control and isolation via polarization
A repeater device may be utilized to enable forwarding extreme high frequency (EHF) communication between EHF-enabled wireless devices. The repeater device may utilize polarization isolation to prevent and/or reduce interference between received and transmitted EHF RF signals in the repeater device. The repeater device may utilize signal gain control to maximize the transmit signal strength while forwarding EHF RF signals to enhance and/or enable polarization isolation between received and transmitted EHF RF signals. Received Signal Strength Indicators (RSSI) may be utilize to measure signal strength of transmit and/or received EHF RF signals to enable performing signal gain control. The repeater device may utilize control connections to enable communicating with the EHF-enabled wireless devices to facilitate performing signal gain control at the repeater device. Non-EHF interfaces, for example Bluetooth, may be utilized to establish the control connections. |
| US08023884B2 |
System and method for radio frequency audio recorder
A user is provided with the ability to request the re-transmission of a content selection that is determined to not be locally stored, while the same content is currently being broadcasted. A system and method for replaying content is provided, where a receiver (e.g., car radio) initially receives a command from a user to replay a content selection. A determination may be made as to whether the content selection is locally stored. If it is determined that the content selection is not locally stored, a request is re-communicated for the content selection to be communicated from a service provider. The requested content selection may be received and/or played. |
| US08023882B2 |
Portable audience measurement architectures and methods for portable audience measurement
Portable audience measurement architectures and methods for portable audience measurement are disclosed. A disclosed system contains a plurality of portable measurement devices configured to collect audience measurement data from media devices, a plurality of data collection servers configured to collect audience measurement data from the plurality of portable measurement devices, and a central data processing server. A portable measurement device establishes a communication link with a data collection server in a peer-to-peer manner and transfers the collected audience measurement data to the data collection server. Because the portable measurement device is not dedicated to a particular local data collection server, the portable measurement device periodically or a periodically broadcasts a message attempting to find a data collection server with which to establish a communication link. |
| US08023881B2 |
Sheet finisher and image forming system provided therewith
A sheet finisher having a post-processing section that conducts post-processing on a sheet on which an image has been formed by an image forming apparatus, the sheet finisher comprising: an intermediate storing section in which a plurality of sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus are superposed to be stored temporarily; a pair of conveyance rollers that convey the plurality of sheets stored in the intermediate storing section to the post-processing section while the plurality of sheets are superposed; each of two drive motors which drives one of the pair of conveyance rollers that comes in contact with one sheet of the plurality of sheets and the other of the pair of conveyance rollers that comes in contact with the other sheet of the plurality of sheets, separately; and a correction controller that controls a rotation speed of at least one of the two drive motors. |
| US08023876B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
According to an aspect of the invention, a fixing device includes, a fixing member that fixes an image onto a sheet, a satellite member arranged parallel to the fixing member with respect to an axial direction and having a smaller heat capacity than the fixing member, an endless belt laid over the fixing member and the satellite member, and a pressurizing member facing the fixing member and forming a nip via the endless belt. |
| US08023871B2 |
Image forming apparatus with improved color calibration
A controlling section controls an image forming section to form a calibration pattern on an object. The calibration pattern includes a plurality of marks in first and second groups. The marks in the second group are formed at a different position in the second direction from the marks in the first group. The marks in each of the first and second groups are arranged in the first direction over a predetermined range on the object. Each mark has shape and color. The detecting section detects the calibration pattern formed on the object, thereby obtaining detection results. The correcting section corrects, based on the detection results, an image forming position at which the image forming section forms an image. The marks belonging to different groups and having a same color are formed at different positions with respect to the first direction in at least part of the predetermined range. |
| US08023870B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a control section which corrects deviation of a belt
An image forming apparatus includes: a rotating belt which rotates around a roller; a drive section which rotates the belt; a detection section which detects a position of the belt in a width direction; a moving section which moves the belt in the width direction; a control section which corrects a deviation of the belt by controlling the moving section. The control section conducts a preparatory operation in which the control section changes an amount of control to be given to the moving section under the condition where the belt is rotated to obtain a correction data showing a relation between the amount of control and a change of a position of the belt in the width direction detected by the detection section, stores the correction data in a memory section, and then corrects the deviation based on the correction data stored in the memory section. |
| US08023865B2 |
Developing apparatus and image forming apparatus
A developing apparatus includes a developing roller, a first shaft, a second shaft, a belt, and a power supply. The developing roller is in contact with an image forming body. The first shaft is driven in rotation by an external drive source. The belt is entrained about the first and second shafts, and is partially at first and second portions in a wrapping contact with the developing roller. The power supply applies voltages to the first and second shafts such that a voltage drop appears in the belt in a direction of travel of the belt. The power supply applies a voltage to the developing roller such that a first electric field is developed across the developing roller and the first portion, and such that a second electric field in the opposite direction to the first electric field is developed across the developing roller and the second portion. |
| US08023862B2 |
Belt transfer type image forming apparatus
An unit is provided with a friction member which is disposed at a position that is on a downstream side of a drive roller driving a belt and is on an immediate upstream side of a position sensor. The friction member wipes off contaminants adhering to a rear surface of the running belt, thereby constantly keeping the rear surface clean, and therefore, no toner scatters to the sensor. Further, the friction member gives a moderate tension to the belt, so that the posture of the belt is stabilized at a position where it passes the sensor, resulting in enhanced detection accuracy of the sensor. |
| US08023857B2 |
Transfer device and image forming apparatus with sealing member in contact with transfer belt
A transfer device includes: a transfer belt hung around a roller; and a transfer belt sealing member in contact with a transfer surface and a circumferential end surface of the transfer belt and in contact with the circumferential end surface of the transfer belt diagonally relative to a thickness direction of the transfer belt. |
| US08023854B2 |
Image forming apparatus having power supplying path
An image forming apparatus comprises: a housing that is fixedly placed in the image forming apparatus and integrally accommodates an imaging portion that includes at least an image holding member; a transferring unit that is disposed against the image holding member so that the transferring unit is capable of pressing and separating the image holding member; and a high-voltage power supplying unit that supplies a high voltage, wherein a power supplying path that is formed on an outer surface of the housing so that the high voltage is supplied from the high-voltage power supplying unit to the imaging portion and the transferring unit via the power supplying path. |
| US08023853B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of functions including a function of executing an operation involving use of a consumable, a selecting unit that selects one function from the plurality of functions, a detector that detects a remaining level of the consumable and a controller. The controller is operable to switch displayed contents to information corresponding to the one function when the one function is selected, instruct execution of an operation corresponding to the changed displayed information, display a warning indication when the remaining level of the consumable is not more than a predetermined level, determine whether the selected one function is the function of executing the operation involving use of the consumable, and inhibit the switching the displayed contents when one function is selected and is determined to be the function of executing the operation involving use of the consumable while the warning indication is displayed. |
| US08023851B2 |
Method and printer assembly for consistent power control in fuser assembly of electrophotographic printer
A method for setting a heater element of a fuser assembly to a consistent starting condition to achieve consistency in heating power measurement is provided. The heater element is heated to a first predefined temperature when the temperature of the heater element is less than the first predefined temperature. The temperature of the heater element is maintained within a predefined range for a predefined period of time. This sets the temperature of the heater element in the fuser assembly to a consistent starting condition. Thereafter, the heating power estimation measurement is made and heating power supplied to the fuser assembly is estimated. This controls the heating power delivered to the fuser assembly in a consistent manner. |
| US08023850B2 |
Image forming apparatus capable of stably applying oil for fixing
An image forming apparatus includes an oil input device and a fixing device including a fixing member, a pressing member, and an oil applier. In the oil applier, an oil application member applies oil supplied from an oil supply mechanism to one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In the oil supply mechanism, an oil supply member provided adjacent to an oil storage member supplies oil sent from the oil storage member to the oil application member. When the fixing device is reattached to the image forming apparatus after the fixing device is detached from the image forming apparatus, oil sent from the oil input device through an oil inlet overflows the oil storage member, and is supplied to one of the oil supply member and the oil application member provided adjacent to the oil storage member before an image forming operation starts. |
| US08023849B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus, including: an image carrier for carrying an image; a transfer roller including a holder member that holds a transfer material, a groove portion in which the holder member is disposed, and an elastic member disposed over the transfer roller except a portion where the groove portion is disposed, the elastic member of the transfer roller is pressed onto the image carrier to transfer an image from the image carrier onto the transfer material; and a gate roller for transporting the transfer material to the holder member, wherein a circumferential velocity v1 (mm/sec) of the elastic member of the transfer roller is lower than a moving speed v2 (mm/sec) of the transfer material transported by the gate roller. |
| US08023846B2 |
Segmented roller for flood coating system
An electrostatographic apparatus and method of forming a toner image on a receiver using a segmented roller in order to improve transfer of a pigmented toner image to a receiver. The pigmented toner image is applied using the segmented roller and is then transferred to a receiver sheet. |
| US08023845B2 |
Image forming apparatus with a control unit that controls a charging bias voltage
An image forming apparatus includes a movable image bearing member; charging means for electrically charging the image bearing member; voltage applying means for applying to the charging means an oscillating voltage including an oscillating component and a constant component in one cycle; discharging means for selectively discharging an electrically charged surface of the image bearing member to form an electrostatic latent image; and changing means for changing an application time of the constant component during the one cycle depending on a spatial frequency, with respect to a movement direction of the image bearing member, of the electrostatic latent image to be formed. |
| US08023843B2 |
Method and apparatus for media thickness measurement in an image production device
A method and apparatus for media thickness measurement in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving images of a media stack from an imaging device, measuring one or more sheet-to-sheet interfaces in the media stack from the received images, determining the media thickness based on the sheet-to-sheet interface measurements, and adjusting at least one image production device parameter based on the determined media thickness. |
| US08023838B2 |
Control device and method for controlling an electrophotographic printer or copier
In a method or system for controlling an electrophotographic printer or copier that has at least one developer station, a toner discharge from the developer station is detected during the print operation and a developer regeneration process is started when the detected toner discharge fulfills a predetermined first regeneration criterion. A charge image is generated on the photoconductor, the charge image is developed by the developer station, and the developed image is removed by a cleaning device without being transferred as printed onto a recording medium. New toner is introduced into the developer station. Also in accordance with the method or system for controlling an electrophotographic printer or copier that has at least two developer stations, during a print operation the print data is used to determine which developer stations are needed for printing of the data. In the event it is established that a developer station was not needed or will not be needed, the developer station is shifted into a standby state in which at least one part of mechanical actuators of the developer station is stopped. |
| US08023834B2 |
Adaptive polarization tracking and equalization in coherent optical receivers
A method for operating an optical receiver includes at each of a sequence of sampling times, producing a first 2D complex digital signal vector whose first component is indicative of a phase and amplitude of one polarization component of a modulated optical carrier and whose second component is indicative of a phase and amplitude of another polarization component of the carrier. For each one of the sampling times, the method includes constructing a second 2D complex digital signal vector that is a rotation of the first 2D complex digital vector for the one of sampling times. The rotation compensates a polarization rotation produced by transmission of the modulated optical carrier between an optical transmitter and the optical receiver. |
| US08023828B2 |
Quantum information conversion between matter and light representations
Structures and methods allow: transfer of quantum information represented using the states of light to a representation using the states of matter systems; transfer of quantum information represented by the states of matter systems to a representation using the states of light; and error resistant encoding of quantum information using entangled states of matter and light to minimize errors. |
| US08023825B2 |
Optical switching architectures for nodes in WDM mesh and ring networks
Switching architectures for WDM mesh and ring network nodes are presented. In mesh networks, the switching architectures have multiple levels—a network level having wavelength routers for add, drop and pass-through functions, an intermediate level having device units which handle add and drop signals, and a local level having port units for receiving signals dropped from the network and transmitting signals to be added to the network. The intermediate level device units are selected and arranged for performance and cost considerations. The multilevel architecture also permits the design of reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers for ring network nodes, the easy expansion of ring networks into mesh networks, and the accommodation of protection mechanisms in ring networks. |
| US08023823B2 |
System and method for transmitting upstream traffic in an optical network
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for transmitting upstream traffic in an optical network is provided. In a particular embodiment, the method includes transmitting upstream traffic at a first wavelength from a first downstream terminal to a distribution node and transmitting upstream traffic at a second wavelength from a second downstream terminal to the distribution node. The method also includes combining the upstream traffic in the first wavelength and the upstream traffic in the second wavelength at a coupler in the distribution node without multiplexing the upstream traffic in the first wavelength and the upstream traffic in the second wavelength. The method also includes forwarding the combined traffic from the distribution node to a single upstream terminal. |
| US08023822B2 |
Optical band splitter/combiner device comprising a three-arms interferometer
A three-arm-Mach-Zehnder interferometer for splitting/combining a first and a second wavelength band, wherein the optical device includes: a first and second optical splitting/combining element; a differential optical delay device comprising a first, a second and a third optical path; each of the first and second optical splitting/combining elements, is of the (25-50-25%)λx(0-0-100%)λy type, wherein λx is a wavelength with the first optical band and λy is a wavelength with the second optical band, and the first, second and third optical paths of the differential optical delay device are configured to introduce, at a wavelength λz within the first optical band, a phase delay Δφ of 2πm. |
| US08023818B2 |
Articulating infrared window
An articulating infrared window to be installed into a panel of a cabinet is disclosed. The window includes a window housing and an infrared transparent pane. The infrared transparent pane is installed within the window housing. Embodiments of the window housing can include various articulation mechanisms including individually or in combination a double gimbal assembly, a single gimbal and rotary stage, a ball and socket joint, and an extension joint (such as a bellows) for articulating the infrared transparent pane. |
| US08023815B2 |
Camera lens assembly and autofocusing method therefor
Provided is a method for focusing a camera lens assembly, the focusing method including assembling a lens and a camera device; measuring an actual distance between the lens and the camera device in an assembled position; inputting a difference of the actual distance from a focal length of the lens; and when power is applied to the camera lens assembly, adjusting a distance between the lens and the camera device according to the offset value, such that the distance between the lens and the camera device becomes equal to the focal length of the lens. |
| US08023810B2 |
Photographic apparatus
A photographic apparatus comprises a movable platform and a controller.The movable platform has an imager that captures an optical image through a taking lens, and is movable and rotatable on an xy plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the taking lens.The controller calculates an inclination angle of the photographic apparatus, which is formed by rotation of the photographic apparatus around the optical axis, as measured with respect to a level plane perpendicular to the direction of gravitational force, and performs a controlled movement of the movable platform for an inclination correction based on the inclination angle.The controller calculates an elevation/depression angle that represents an angle at which the optical axis intersects the level plane, and determines whether the controlled movement of the movable platform for the inclination correction is performed on the basis of the elevation/depression angle. |
| US08023809B2 |
Image stabilization control apparatus and imaging apparatus
An apparatus includes a vibration correction unit configured to correct an image shake occurring due to vibration, a first detection unit configured to detect an angular velocity of the vibration, a second detection unit configured to detect an acceleration of the vibration, a calculation unit configured to calculate a correction value based on the output of the first detection unit and the output of the second detection unit, an output correction unit configured to correct an output of the first detection unit based on the correction value and to change a frequency characteristic of a signal based on the output of the first detection unit to apply an apparent frequency-dependent characteristic to the correction value, and a driving unit configured to drive the vibration correction unit based on an output of the first detection unit, an output of the output correction unit, or a combined output thereof. |
| US08023808B2 |
Heat transfer device
A device for transferring heat to a fluid with a heat generator comprising an electric resistance inserted in a first pipe integrally connected to a second pipe in which the fluid flows. The second pipe may comprise a steel tube coaxially inserted inside. First and second pipes are obtained inside a single block by means of an extrusion process. |
| US08023807B2 |
Resistor anode assembly
A sacrificial anode assembly. The sacrificial anode assembly includes a sacrificial anode, an insulator positioned around an end of the anode, an electric coupler positioned around the insulator and extending beyond the end of the anode, the electric coupler electrically isolated from the anode, a resistor having a first lead and a second lead, the first lead electrically connected to the anode and the second lead electrically connected to the electric coupler, and a cap positioned around the electric coupler, the cap electrically connected to the electric coupler and electrically isolated from the anode. The cap complete encapsulates the resistor, the first lead, and the second lead. |
| US08023804B2 |
Moving image coding method, moving image coding device, moving image recording method, recording medium, moving image playback method, moving image playback device, and moving image playback system
A moving image coding method that can prevent playback discontinuity without an increase in processing load during playback is provided.The moving image coding method codes a video stream that includes a first moving image and a second moving image to be overlaid on the first moving image. The moving image coding method includes: a step of determining a continuous playback section that is a group of partial sections and is subject to continuous playback, in the video stream (S5301 to S5303); a step of coding the first and second moving images in the partial sections constituting the continuous playback section, under a constraint that prevents a threshold from being changed in the continuous playback section, the threshold being used for a transparency process by a luminance key in the overlaying (S5304); and a step of generating management information including flag information which indicates that the threshold is fixed in the continuous playback section (S5305). |
| US08023801B2 |
Video recording/reproducing apparatus and video recording/reproducing method
A video recording/reproducing apparatus includes a first recording unit that records video information on a first recording medium, a second recording unit that records video information on a second recording medium, a remaining capacity detecting unit that detects a remaining capacity of the first recording medium, a recording controlling unit that controls transferring of the video information on the first recording medium to the second recording medium when the remaining capacity of the first recording medium is not greater than a first reference value (α), and a reproducing unit that reproduces the video information from the second and first recording media when it is recorded on the second and first recording media, respectively, and that sequentially reproduces the video information on the second and first recording media when part of the video information is recorded on the second recording medium and the rest is recorded on the first one. |
| US08023797B2 |
Information record medium, information record apparatus and method, information reproduction apparatus and method, information record reproduction apparatus and method, computer program for record or reproduction control, and data structure containing control signal
A series of content information; menu information, which is to be displayed with the content information during reproduction of the content information; and play list information for defining reproduction sequence of the content information by a unit of item, which constitutes the content information and which is accessible upon reproducing, are recorded on the information record medium. The play list information includes: item information for specifying each item which constitutes the content information; and slave item information for specifying the menu information corresponding to the each item as a slave item. |
| US08023792B2 |
System for the distribution of optical fibers
A system for the distribution of optical fibers is disclosed. The system has a first furcation area, which is associated with a first fiber optic cable, to tap off a subset of the optical fibers of the first fiber optic cable in the form of a tether cable. The first fiber optic cable may be a riser cable. The tether cable is supplied to a spool device to store any excess length of the tether cable while complying with the minimum permissible bending radius of the optical fibers. The system has a second furcation area, which is associated with the spool device, to separate the optical fibers of the tether cable. The separated optical fibers of the tether cable can each be supplied to an individual splice storage device in which, in each case, one spliced joint can be placed between a separated optical fiber of the tether cable and an optical fiber of a second fiber optic cable, which may be a drop cable. |
| US08023790B2 |
Optical waveguide film with mark for positioning and method for producing the same
An optical waveguide film includes: an optical waveguide film main body including an optical waveguide core through which light travels and a cladding portion that encloses the optical waveguide core and has a lower refractive index than that of the optical waveguide core; and a marking member that is disposed at least at a portion of a principal surface of the optical waveguide film main body so as to protrude from the principal surface and that includes, at a surface thereof, a groove-shaped mark for positioning. |
| US08023786B2 |
Cable
In order to improve a cable, comprising an inner cable body, in which at least one conductor strand of an optical and/or electrical conductor runs in the longitudinal direction of the cable, an outer cable sheath, enclosing the inner cable body and lying between an outer sheath surface of the cable and the inner cable body, and at least one information carrier unit, disposed within the outer sheath surface of the cable such that the cable also comprises a shielding, the invention proposes that the information carrier unit having an antenna unit lying in an antenna surface running approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cable, by the antenna surface running at a distance from an electrical shielding of the cable and by providing, between the antenna surface and the shielding, a spacing layer, in which the electromagnetic field that couples to the antenna unit and passes through the antenna surface can extend between the antenna unit and the shielding. |
| US08023784B1 |
Optical subassembly package configuration
An optical subassembly package configuration for monitoring a fiber, the configuration includes a container, an optical subassembly, an optical fiber, and a ferrule. The container has a face, and the optical subassembly is disposed within the container. The optical fiber communicates with the subassembly. The ferrule is attached to the face of the container, the fiber being monitored terminates inside the ferrule. |
| US08023780B2 |
Touch panel
A touch panel 30 of the present invention comprises: a light-emitting sided-optical waveguide 33; a light-receiving sided-optical waveguide 34; and an electromagnetic induction-type digitizer 36. In the touch panel of the present invention, a position coordinate is recognized using an electronic pen by an electromagnetic induction-type digitizer 36 when high resolution is required. A position coordinate is recognized using a finger by the optical waveguides 33 and 34 when high resolution is not required. This makes it possible to materialize the touch panel 30 having a high resolution and a lower power consumption regardless of its narrow frame. |
| US08023775B2 |
Super flat optical frequency comb signal generator
An optical frequency COM generator generating an optical frequency COM having flat spectrum characteristics using a single modulator. The optical frequency COM generator has a drive signal system (11) and a bias signal system (14) which drive a first drive signal (9), a second drive signal (10) and bias signals (12, 13) to satisfy the following expression (I). ΔA+Δθ=π/2 (I). (where, ΔA and Δθ are defined as ΔA≡(A1−A2)/2 and Δθ≡(θ1−θ2)/2, respectively, A1 and A2 represent the amplitudes of the first and second drive signals when they are inputted to the electrodes of the first and second drive signals, respectively, and θ1 and θ2 represent the phases of bias voltages applied to first and second waveguides, respectively.) |
| US08023770B2 |
Methods and systems for identifying the orientation of a digital image
Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for determining the orientation of an electronic document image. |
| US08023765B2 |
Block noise removal device
A block noise removal device classifies interpixel differential values by using a block size N of the decoded video signal. The block noise removal device accumulates the interpixel differential values in the pixels disposed in the nth position. The results of the accumulation provide first to Nth block noise values. A block boundary position signal is produced that represents the pixel position in the pixel group that corresponds with the largest block noise value. The larger of two block noise values of the adjacent pixels on both sides of the pixel having the largest block noise value is taken as the phase error block noise value. A phase error signal is generated on the basis of the ratio between the phase error block noise value and the largest block noise value, block noise removal processing is effected, and the phase correction pixel sample value is obtained. |
| US08023763B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhancing image, and image-processing system using the same
Provided is an apparatus and method for enhancing an image by optimizing exposure and grayscale. The apparatus includes a component-extracting unit separating luminance signals and color signals from input image signals; a luminance-enhancing unit enhancing the luminance of the luminance signals; and a contrast-enhancing unit dividing the luminance signal having the enhanced luminance into one or more local areas, and enhancing the contrast of the luminance signal having the enhanced luminance for each local area. |
| US08023758B2 |
Surface mesh matching for lens roll-off correction
A two-dimensional (2D) mesh is applied over a distortion surface to approximate a lens roll-off distortion pattern. The process to apply the 2D mesh distributes a plurality of grid points among the distortion pattern and sub-samples the distortion pattern to derive corrected digital gains at each grid location. Non-grid pixels underlying grid blocks having a grid point at each corner are adjusted based on the approximation of the lens roll-off for the grid points of the grid block. In one example, bilinear interpolation is used. The techniques universally correct lens roll-off distortion irregardless of the distortion pattern shape or type. The technique may also correct for green channel imbalance. |
| US08023756B2 |
Image encoding apparatus and method of controlling same
This invention encodes an image mixed of a character or line-drawing image and a natural image. An extraction unit extracts the color of a pixel, which constitutes a high-frequency component, from the input image data as an extracted color and generates identification information indicating whether each pixel in the image data is a pixel of an extracted color or non-extracted color. A replacement unit replaces a pixel value of an extracted color with an average value of non-extracted colors. Using a window having a size of 2×2 pixels, a reducing unit generates one pixel from the window after replacement. If even one non-extracted-color pixel exists in the window, the average value of non-extracted colors within the window is determined to be a pixel value of the reduced image. A packing unit concatenates the extracted color, the result of lossless-encoded identification information and lossy-encoded data of the reduced image. |
| US08023752B1 |
Decompression of 16 bit data using predictor values
Systems and methods compress and decompress 16 bit data. The 16 bit data may be signed or unsigned and represented in a fixed point or floating point format. A fixed block size of data is compressed into a fixed length format. Data compressed using a medium quality compression scheme may be efficiently decompressed in hardware. Data may be efficiently compressed and decompressed in hardware using a high quality compression scheme. The high quality compression scheme has a lower compression ratio compared with the medium quality compression scheme, but is near lossless in terms of quality. |
| US08023733B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, image processing program, and integrated circuit
The grayscale of an input signal is converted without amplifying noise components thereof. A grayscale conversion portion performs grayscale conversion on an input signal IS to create a converted signal TS, a noise reduction degree determining portion determines a noise reduction degree NR that expresses a strength of noise reduction processing to be applied to the converted signal based on the input signal IS and the converted signal TS, and a noise reducing portion executes noise reduction processing on the converted signal TS based on the noise reduction degree NR. By doing this, it is possible to convert the grayscale of the input signal without enhancing the noise. |
| US08023732B2 |
Accelerated image registration by means of parallel processors
A method is provided for accelerating non-rigid image registration, using parallel processors. To that end, on a commercially available graphics card, a block-matching algorithm is implemented, which, by histogram-based similarity standards, calculates the motion vectors for individual blocks. All the blocks are processed simultaneously and individually. The complete motion vector field is obtained by bilinear interpolation. Optimized search methods, such as conjugate direction searching, are employed. The algorithm terminates once the optimal displacement has been found for all the blocks. The registration is done completely on the graphics card. The algorithm is fully automatic, precise, and fast. The program may be employed for instance in registration for digital subtraction angiography. |
| US08023730B2 |
Method that improves human interpretation of color images with limited spectral content
The present invention relates to image processing in general and more specifically to methods and means facilitating the human detection of physical object representations in colour images with a wide range of applications such as aviation and air transport, land transportation, shipping, submarine work, underwater inspections, medical investigations, marine archaeology, land archaeology, agriculture, surveillance and security, food safety, energy systems and forestry. The invention achieves this by providing an image processing method for a colour image representation, Ic, formed by at least two distinct colour pixel matrixes, Mi, by carrying out a histogram equalization processing step (250), which is carried out separately for each colour pixel matrix. Different pre-washing steps may be applied prior to the histogram equalization processing step (250). The invention also provides a number of apparatuses adapted for different applications using the method according to the invention. |
| US08023729B2 |
Apparatus and method of reducing color smearing artifacts in a low resolution picture
A method of reducing color smearing or color artifacts in a low resolution picture that is subjected to chrominance downsampling prior to display on a display device first upsamples the pixels in each row of the picture to double the picture width, then downsamples the chrominance values to produce a compressed data stream for transmission to the display device, and finally decompresses the compressed data stream for display. In order to maintain the aspect ration of the original picture, each doubled row may be repeated prior to transmission to the display device. |
| US08023728B2 |
Display apparatus and method
In a method of displaying an image from an image store to a display device, each pixel has a color represented by pixel values which define a position within color space. A plurality of regions are defined within the color space, and each pixel value used within the image is allocated to one of these regions within the color space. Then, one or more areas of the image are selected, and for each of the selected areas, one of the defined regions within the color space is selected. For each selected area of the image, pixels which have been allocated to the selected region within the color space are identified and added to the image store. Different areas of the image and regions of the color space are selected in succession until all pixels of the image have been added to the image store for display. |
| US08023724B2 |
Apparatus and method of information extraction from electromagnetic energy based upon multi-characteristic spatial geometry processing
An apparatus for information extraction from electromagnetic energy via multi-characteristic spatial geometry processing to determine three-dimensional aspects of an object from which the electromagnetic energy is proceeding. The apparatus receives the electromagnetic energy. The received electromagnetic energy has a plurality of spatial phase characteristics. The apparatus separates the plurality of spatial phase characteristics of the received electromagnetic energy. The apparatus r identifies spatially segregated portions of each spatial phase characteristic, with each spatially segregated portion of each spatial phase characteristic corresponding to a spatially segregated portion of each of the other spatial phase characteristics in a group. The apparatus quantifies each segregated portion to provide a spatial phase metric of each segregated portion for providing a data map of the spatial phase metric of each separated spatial phase characteristic. The apparatus processes the spatial phase metrics to determine surface contour information for each segregated portion of the data map. |
| US08023721B2 |
Panel inspection device and inspection method of panel
A panel inspection device and inspection method is provided. At least an image capturing element is disposed above or below a spacing between a first conveyer and a second conveyer. During a panel is conveyed from the first conveyer to the second conveyer, the image capturing element captures the image of the panel as the panel passes through the spacing. |
| US08023719B2 |
MICR reader using phase angle extracted from frequency domain analysis
A system and method for implementing phase angle based magnetic ink character recognition (MICR). A system is provided that includes: a segmentation system for segmenting inputted MICR data into sets of temporal data for inputted characters; a Fourier system for generating a set of phase angle components from temporal data for each inputted character; and a matching system for comparing the normalized set of phase angle components with each of a set of reference waveforms to determine an identity of the inputted character. |
| US08023713B2 |
Method and system for reducing artifact due to time delay in data acquisition system in computer tomography
The CT imaging system optimizes its image generation by substantially reducing artifacts caused by a known amount of readout time lag in the X-ray detectors or data acquisition system. Although each detector row takes the same amount of time to read out the signals, the time lag cumulates over the rows as each row is sequentially read out. The back-projection coordinates are correspondingly corrected based upon the above described delay. |
| US08023705B2 |
Method for reconstructing image from echo planar imaging sequence
In a method for reconstructing an image from an echo planar imaging sequence, the echo planar imaging sequence is used to obtain multi-line k-space data from a subject and the multi-line k-space data are divided into odd line data and even line data. Fourier transform is performed on the odd line data and on the even line data separately to obtain corresponding amplitude images. The amplitude images obtained is this manner are added to produce the final image. The method effectively eliminates N/2 artifacts by over-sampling in the phase direction. By image reconstruction being carried out separately on the odd line data and even line data of k-space data and then integrating the images, the method effectively avoids the problem of the image signal loss caused by the mutual cancellation of the odd line data and even line data. |
| US08023702B2 |
Information processing apparatus and content display method
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a temporary storage module configured to extract performer names from a program information corresponding to a video content data, collate a extracted performer names with a names stored in a storage module, collate collation face images corresponding to the names that match the performer names with a plurality of face images, and temporarily store, out of the plurality of face images, coincident face images that match the collation face images, and a display module configured to, when displaying a list of video content data, display the program name and the coincident face images corresponding to each video content data together with the video content data. |
| US08023701B2 |
Method, apparatus, and program for human figure region extraction
Upon extraction of a human figure region in an image, a face or facial part is detected in the image, and a candidate region that is deemed to include the human figure region is determined from position information of the detected face or facial part. Judgment is made as to whether each unit region having 2 pixels or more and comprising the candidate region represents the human figure region, and a set of the unit regions having been judged to represent the human figure region is determined as an estimated region which is estimated to include the human figure region. The human figure region is then extracted in the determined estimated region. |
| US08023698B2 |
Information device operation apparatus
An information device operation apparatus includes an image capturing device, an illumination device, a controller, image storage device, operation object extracting device, detection device, and signal output device. The image storage device stores a plurality of images that are acquired by the image capturing device under a plurality of illumination intensity conditions. The operation object extracting device extracts the operation object by comparing the plurality of images. The detection device detects at least one of a predetermined shape and a movement of the operation object that is extracted by the operation object extracting device. The signal output device outputs a signal to the target device, the signal corresponding to the at least one of the predetermined shape and the movement of the operation object detected by the detection device. |
| US08023695B2 |
Methods for analyzing electronic media including video and audio
The present disclosure includes methods and apparatus for analyzing audio and video. One claim recites: a method including at a network access point, and using a programmed electronic processor, analyzing data representing audio or video to extract identifying information therefrom, the analyzing operates on data representing audible portions of the audio or operates on data representing picture elements of the video; using the identifying information, determining whether to allow the audio or video to be communicated through the network access point; and providing details associated with said act of determining. Of course, other combinations are provided and claimed as well. |
| US08023687B2 |
Loudspeaker
A loudspeaker includes a diaphragm and an edge having an inner periphery end portion thereof connected with an outer periphery of the diaphragm, in which an outer end portion of the edge is attached to a speaker frame. The diaphragm has a bent portion in the vicinity of a border at the inner periphery side of a connecting portion connecting the diaphragm with the edge. A reinforcing portion is formed on the bent portion in order to reinforce the bent portion. It is, therefore, possible to disperse or reduce various forces applied to the bent portion, and to prevent strength deterioration or damage of the diaphragm even when sound signals having large amplitude are applied to the loudspeaker. As a result, it is also possible to prevent deterioration of acoustic characteristics. |
| US08023683B2 |
Tweeter sound source angle adjustment arrangement
A tweeter sound source angle adjustment arrangement is disclosed to include a holder member fastened to a T-iron of a speaker assembly and having a top recess and a through hole cut through the top recess, a face panel fastened to the holder member to secure a tweeter to the top recess of the holder member, a hub, which has a top round cup portion and a tubular bottom shank downwardly extending from the top round cup portion, a cushion ring set between the face panel and the hollow hub, and a sliding ring set in the top round cup portion of the hub and freely rotatable in the top round cup portion of the hub. |
| US08023681B2 |
Electronic device with a speaker
An electronic device (100) having a speaker (30) located in a sealed and separate speaker enclosure is described. The electronic device includes a housing (20) having a cavity (22) receiving the speaker with at least one conductive post (342), a circuit board (70), and a cover (60) with at least one through hole (622). The cover is disposed between the housing and the circuit board. One end of the conductive post passes through the through holes and electronically connects the speaker to the circuit board. |
| US08023679B2 |
Wireless earphone with an indicating light
A wireless earphone with an indicating light includes a cover, a hanger connected to the cover, a housing, a microphone, an indicating light and a PCB. An outer hole is opened in the cover. The housing is accepted in the cover. An inner hole is opened in the housing and corresponding to the outer hole. The microphone and the indicating light are arranged in the housing and connect to the PCB, the indicating light protrudes into the inner hole. An escutcheon is arranged between the outer hole and the inner hole to resist dust into the inner hole. The light from the indicating light is delivered via the inner hole and the outer hole to the outside. |
| US08023678B2 |
Hearing device with on/off switch and associated method
A hearing device and an associated method are provided. The hearing device includes a behind-the-ear part and an in-the-ear part that are connected to one another by a connecting element. The behind-the-ear part has a switching element arranged to be functionally connected to the connecting element such that at least two switching positions of the switching element can be engaged by a movement of the connecting element. |
| US08023677B2 |
In the ear auxiliary microphone system for behind the ear hearing prosthetic
An In The Ear (ITE) microphone improves the acoustic response of a Behind The Ear (BTE) Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system during telephone use. An acoustic seal provided by holding a telephone earpiece against the ear provides improved coupling of low frequency (up to about 1 KHz) sound waves, sufficient to overcome losses due to the near field acoustic characteristics common to telephones. In an exemplary embodiment, the ITE microphone is connected to a removable ear hook of the BTE ICS system by a short bendable stalk. |
| US08023674B2 |
Connector for hearing assistance device having reduced mechanical feedback
An electronic hearing aid apparatus comprises a first component, a second component and a cable assembly for electrically connecting the first component to the second component. The first component includes a vibration sensor generating a vibration signal based on sensed acoustic vibrations, electronics for processing and amplifying the vibration signal and an output port for providing access to the amplified vibration signal. The second component includes an input port for receiving the amplified vibration signal and a vibration generator for generating vibrations based on the amplified vibration signal. The cable assembly conducts the amplified vibration signal from the output port of the first component to the input port of the second component. The cable assembly includes a first connector for connecting to the first component, a second connector for connecting to the second component and a flexible cable portion for electrically connecting the first connector to the second connector. The first and second connectors each comprise an inner connector housing and an outer connector shell. The inner connector housing includes a rear cavity in which solder joints are disposed that provide electrical connection between the connector's contacts and the wires of the flexible cable portion. Potting material encases the solder joints within the rear cavity. The outer connector shell, which may be over-molded onto the inner connector housing in an injection molding process, encloses most of the inner connector housing and a portion of the flexible cable where the flexible cable connects to the inner connector housing. |
| US08023672B2 |
Easy-to-assemble one-piece surround speaker structure
The present invention discloses an easy-to-assemble one-piece surround speaker structure, wherein a plurality of integrable speaker housings realizes a size-adjustable audio structure, and whereby an user can self-adjust the length of a surround speaker in accordance to the size of television or available space The speaker housings can contain various types of speakers, including: a main speaker, a center speaker, a surround speaker, a subwoofer speaker, etc. Thereby, an user can organize speakers to achieve the audio effect he desires. Each speaker has a plurality of I/O terminals for mutual signal and power connection. Thus, no matter what type of speaker combination is arranged or what number of speaker housings is integrated, the present invention can perform perfectly. |
| US08023669B2 |
Shielded communication transducer
A system and method for detecting a sound originating from a body and enhancing signal-to-noise ratio with respect to noise originated outside the body is disclosed. The system comprises a light source for producing a quasi-monochromatic, spatially-coherent light beam; and interferometer for interfering alight beam originated from the source, incident upon the body and reflected from it, with a reference beam, which also originates from the light source; and a detector for detecting changes caused by motion of a least one interference fringe across the detector, and for generation a corresponding electric signal. |
| US08023665B2 |
Microphone-tailored equalizing system
A method and system is described to improve the reproduction of sound of an acoustic musical instrument. According to one embodiment, a first microphone is placed at a proximate location to the musical instrument to pick up the sound of the musical instrument. The sound as picked up by the first microphone is compared to a reference sound of the instrument (e.g., the sound of the instrument as perceived at a normal listening position). Based on this comparison, a tailor-made equalizer is designed to compensate for the differences between the sounds as picked up by the first microphone and the reference sounds of the musical instrument. Accordingly, using the tailor-made equalizer allows the reproduction of sound from the first microphone to have a quality similar to that of the reference sound of the musical instrument. In an implementation of the above system, a filter arrangement is provided having a low-pass and a high-pass filter that allows separate control of the frequency and/or gain for each filter. |
| US08023664B2 |
Rapid installation and detachment device for flush mounting speaker on ceiling or wall
A rapid installation and detachment device for flush mounting speaker on ceiling or wall is composed of a hinge bracket, coil springs, gaiters, press fits, cushion springs and stop blocks. The above mechanisms are driven by the coil springs to rapidly and efficiently install a speaker on the hinge bracket. The detachment of the speaker never damages the surrounding surface material of the ceiling or wall. The device is applicable to all kinds of surface materials with different thickness. |
| US08023659B2 |
Mixing system, method and program
In a situation where a plurality of virtual sound sources are fixedly located, a mixing system allows a listener to increase or decrease the sound volumes of the virtual sound sources with a simple operation. Directional angle difference detection means 24 detects a directional angle difference between a predetermined reference directional angle and an indicated directional angle which is determined by the listener by pointing with an operation unit 7 a certain direction in a virtual space where the virtual sound sources exist. Mixing means 5 mixes a plurality of audio signals supplied from a plurality of audio channels and outputs a mixed audio signal without adjustment, when the directional angle difference is zero degrees. When the directional angle difference is other than zero degrees, the mixing means 5 creates a situation where the plurality of virtual sound sources are fixedly located with respect to the reference directional angle, and mixed the plurality of audio signals so that the sound volumes of one or more sound sources arranged in a direction of the indicated directional angle may be larger than those of the one or more sound sources at the time that the directional angle difference is zero degrees. |
| US08023658B2 |
Method and apparatus for updating a key in an active state
A method for updating a key in an active state is disclosed according to the embodiments of the present invention. The method includes steps of: initiating a key update by a user equipment in the active state or a network side when a pre-defined condition is met; updating the key by the network side and the user equipment, and negotiating an activation time of the new keys. An apparatus for updating a key in an active state is also disclosed according to the present invention. With the present invention, the user equipment in an active state and the network side may actively initiate the key update procedure in different cases, thereby solving the problem concerning the key update for a session in an active state. |
| US08023656B2 |
Automated key management system and method
A system and method for automatic key and certificate management is disclosed. In particular, a key store in a base computer contains both new and previously viewed cryptographic keys. In one embodiment, for each new key, if a corresponding certificate matches an existing certificate, the new certificate may be automatically downloaded to a mobile communications device without prompting a user. |
| US08023655B2 |
System, method, and service for tracing traitors from content protection circumvention devices
A traitor tracing system generates a hypothesized model of the circumvention device that models a hypothesized set of device keys compromised by the circumvention device. The system iteratively invokes a subset tracing system to identify a compromised device key until substantially all the compromised device keys in the set of compromised device keys are identified so as to disable the circumvention device. A subset tracing system generates a circumvention device model that models behavior of a circumvention device using prior knowledge and The system iteratively selects and applies to the circumvention device a test based on the hypothesized model and the circumvention device model and receives a response from the circumvention device indicating a success of the test in playing protected content on the circumvention device. The system updates the hypothesized model using the received response, the selected test, a current version of the hypothesized model, and a current version of the circumvention device model to focus the test selecting process in determining the device keys obtained from the traitor. |
| US08023651B2 |
Block ciphering system, using permutations to hide the core ciphering function of each encryption round
In a system, a server provides a digital signal processing function ƒ to an executing device in an obfuscated form. The function ƒ includes a function cascade of signal processing functions ƒi, 1≦i≦N (e.g., FC1(x)≡ƒN∘ . . . ∘ƒ1(x)). The server includes a processor for selecting a set of 2N invertible permutations pi, 1≦i≦2N; calculating a set of N functions gi, where gi is functionally equivalent to p2i−1∘ƒi∘p2i−1, for 1≦i≦N; and calculating a set of N−1 functions hi, where hi is functionally equivalent to p2i−1−1∘p2i−2, for 2≦i≦N. The server equips the executing device with an execution device function cascade that includes yN∘hN∘yN−1∘hN−1∘ . . . ∘y1, where y1, . . . , yN are function parameters (e.g., ED1(y1, . . . , yN)≡yN∘hN∘yN−1∘hN−1∘ . . . ∘y1), and provides the functions g1, . . . gN to the executing device. The executing device obtains the functions g1, . . . , gN and a processor for loading the execution device function cascade and applying the loaded execution device function cascade to the functions g1, . . . , gN (e.g., ED1(g1, . . . , gN)). |
| US08023648B2 |
Anonymous telecommunication traffic measurement data associated user identifications
The invention allows anonymization of user identifications associated with telecommunication traffic measurement data that is fast, secure, and easy to use with distributed traffic measurements. Acquired user identification is input as an initialization vector to a block cipher. The block cipher is executed in cipher-block chaining mode to output a ciphertext. The output ciphertext is provided for use as an anonymized user identification in place of the user identification in further processing of the telecommunication traffic measurement data. |
| US08023647B2 |
Password self encryption method and system and encryption by keys generated from personal secret information
A public key cryptographic system and method is provided for a password or any other predefined personal secret information that defeats key factoring and spoofing attacks. The method adopts a new technique of encrypting a password or any predefined secret information by a numeric function of itself, replacing the fixed public key of the conventional RSA encryption. The whole process involving key generation, encryption, decryption and password handling is discussed in detail. Mathematical and cryptanalytical proofs of defeating factoring and spoofing attacks are furnished. |
| US08023646B2 |
Identity-based-encryption extensions formed using multiple instances of an identity based encryption scheme
IBE extensions to IBE schemes may be provided by creating multiple instances of the same IBE scheme, where each instance has an associated IBE master key and corresponding IBE public parameters. During encryption, an IBE extension identity for each instance of the IBE scheme may be mapped to a corresponding component identity. A message may be encrypted using the component identities to create multiple ciphertexts. The ciphertexts can be combined and sent to a recipient. The recipient can request a private key. The private key may be generated by mapping the IBE extension identity into a component identity in each instance, by extracting private keys for each of the component identities, and by combining the private keys into a single IBE extension private key. |
| US08023643B2 |
Encryption/decryption apparatus
A first Exclusive OR circuit operates an Exclusive OR between input data and a predetermined random number. An operation circuit performs one operation of encryption and decryption of output data from the first Exclusive OR circuit. A data register circuit, which has a plurality of data hold units, holds data from the operation circuit in one data hold unit of the plurality of data hold units in response to a selection signal, and supplies the data from the one data hold unit to the operation circuit. A second Exclusive OR circuit performs an Exclusive OR between output data from the data register circuit and the random number. The operation circuit recursively performs the one operation of the data from the data register circuit and outputs next data to the data register circuit. |
| US08023641B2 |
Spectral domain, non-linear echo cancellation method in a hands-free device
Disclosed is a non-linear echo canceller and method for cancelling echo during full duplex communication in a hands free communication system. An input signal from a far-end talker and an input signal from the output from an echo canceller are received. K spectral subbands are created for each input signal. The spectral echo residual power at each subband is estimated and compared to a clean signal power to calculate a signal to echo ratio. Gains are calculated based on each calculated ratio and non-linear echo is cancelled based on the calculated gains. |
| US08023639B2 |
Method and system determining the complexity of a telephonic communication received by a contact center
A method of determining the complexity of a telephonic communication received by a contact center is provided. The method comprises the step of establishing a call rule based on one or more of a call duration threshold, a non-interaction threshold, a distress event threshold, a third party dialog threshold, and a call transfer threshold. A recorded telephonic communication is received and call attributes associated with the telephonic communication are determined. The call attributes include one or more of the following: call duration data, non-interaction data, distress event data, third party dialog data and call transfer data. The established call rule is compared to the call attributes of the telephonic communication, and data indicative of the complexity of the telephonic communication is generated. |
| US08023637B2 |
Method and system for hierarchy based contact routing
Resource allocation in a contact center can be performed using a network of nodes. Such a network of nodes can be organized according into resource nodes, domain nodes, and service nodes, with paths from the domain nodes, through the service nodes, to the resource nodes being used in the allocation. |
| US08023636B2 |
Interactive dialog-based training method
A computer readable medium stores a computer program for interactive training based on a simulated customer interaction. The computer readable medium includes a dialog code segment that provides a predetermined customer portion of a dialog segment from the simulated customer interaction to a trainee. The dialog segment includes the customer portion and at least one predetermined keyword associated with the customer portion. The computer readable medium further includes a response code segment, which receives a response to the customer portion from the trainee, and a determining code segment, which determines whether the response includes the at least one keyword. |
| US08023635B2 |
Systems and methods to redirect audio between callers and voice applications
A call center environment is provided that allows a customer service representative to populate a workstation display screen with data using either keystrokes or voice input. The voice input is provided to the workstation using a voice overlay and voice platform to convert audio into data usable by the workstation to populate the screen. |
| US08023631B2 |
Automated electronic telecommunications order translation and processing
Systems and method for processing orders for telecommunications services are disclosed. Generally a telecommunications transaction set of an electronic data interchange standard is received, the telecommunications transaction set corresponding to a telecommunications product or service for a customer. An order for the telecommunications product or service is then generated based on processing of the telecommunications transaction set. |
| US08023630B2 |
Techniques for voice instant messaging on a telephone set
Techniques for voice instant messaging (VIM) on a programmable telephone set include receiving configuration data that includes VIM ID data that indicates a particular group of telephone sets. A start signal is received that indicates a start of a new message directed to the particular telephone set over a particular communication channel associated with the VIM ID. In response, VIM audio data received over the communication channel is recorded. It is determined whether the particular telephone set is currently in use. If not, then the VIM audio data is played over a speaker on the particular telephone set. These techniques allow instant, persistent audio messages to multiple recipients without a computer. |
| US08023629B2 |
Method for establishing a call
The present invention relates to a method for establishing a call from a calling party to an extension of a PBX. By providing the calling party with a graphical display of information of extension of the PBX the user may easy and fast select a desired extension. |
| US08023625B2 |
Communication system and voice mail apparatus
According to one embodiment, a communication system includes a voice mail apparatus and a communication terminal which is connected to the voice mail apparatus through a data transmission path, wherein the communication terminal includes a creator which creates e-mail data including the voice files and configuration files necessary to set the voice files to the arbitrary mail boxes as attached files, and a transmitter which transmits the e-mail data to the data transmission path toward the voice mail apparatus, and the voice mail apparatus includes, an analyzer which receives the e-mail data transmitted from the communication terminal to analyze contents of the configuration files, when the voice files and the configuration files are attached to the e-mail data, and a controller which sets the voice files to mail boxes specified by the configuration files based on analysis results. |
| US08023624B2 |
Service interfacing for telephony
During a telephone call between a telephone user and an interactive response system, the user is enabled to use only his voice and key presses on a numeric keypad of his telephone to interactively specify information that can be used to control delivery of content to a visual display of, or a storage medium accessible by, a target telephone which may be a land-line phone, a mobile phone, or some other device acting as a telecommunications device. The target telephone has a visual display or a memory to display or store the delivered content, which may include ringtones, text messages, games, wallpapers, ring-back tones, video clips, web pages, applications, or links to information. The user is enabled to engage in an interaction with the response system that is representative of an interaction between the user and a server connected to the Internet. On behalf of the user, a separate interaction is conducted with the server through the Internet based on the representative interaction. Information is received that can be used to identify the user and the target device. Based on the received information, user authentication information is transmitted to the user, the authentication information is received from the user, and the user is allowed to access a service. |
| US08023621B2 |
Dynamic family disaster plan
A database and communications server allow for composure of a family disaster plan that is tailored to the demographic and geographic information provided by a subscriber to the disclosed system. In the event of an emergency, relevant portions of a family disaster plan are communicated to a subscriber and the family members of the subscriber. Each subscribing family member may communicate with the database, which in turn automatically distributes the message to all family members. After the disaster has ended, insurance information is relayed to the subscriber, and the subscriber's insurance companies are notified. |
| US08023619B2 |
Adaptive scanning in an imaging system
An object within a region is exposed to a first beam of penetrating radiation. The first beam of penetrating radiation is sensed on a side opposite the region from a source of the first beam. An attenuation of the first beam caused by passing the first beam through the object is determined, the attenuation is compared to a threshold attenuation. If the attenuation exceeds the threshold attenuation, a parameter of a second of beam of penetrating radiation is adjusted based on the determined attenuation. |
| US08023618B2 |
Methods and apparatus for the identification of molecular and crystalline materials by the doppler broadening of nuclear states bound in molecules, crystals and mixtures using nuclear resonance fluorescence
The broadening of the lines in NRF from an isotope that is part of a material may be due to several causes: the temperature of the material, the molecular structure of the material and the crystalline structure of the material. By measuring the broadening caused by the molecular structure and the crystalline structure the material itself can be identified. The exact energy of the lines in NRF may also depend on the nature of the crystalline and molecular structure of the material. By measuring the changes in the energy of the NRF lines caused by the structure of the material the material itself may be identified. These techniques provide a “fingerprint” of the molecule or crystal that is involved. The fingerprint information may be used to determine a potential threat. |
| US08023604B2 |
Encoded data transfer device and encoded data transferring method
An encoded data transfer device (1) includes a JPEG compressing section (14) that converts image data to encoded data, a data buffer (15) that stores the encoded data from the JPEG compressing section (14), a stored data amount detecting section (19) that detects the stored data amount of the encoded data stored in the data buffer (15) reaching a predetermined amount DC, a data transfer section (16) that transfers the encoded data stored in the data buffer (15) to the outside in response to a result of the stored data amount detecting section (19), and a transfer data amount detecting section (27) that detects the predetermined amount DC of the encoded data being transferred from the data transferring section (16). In the data buffer (15), transfer from the JPEG compressing section (14) is inhibited in response to a result of the stored data amount detecting section (19), and transfer from the JPEG compressing section (14) is started in response to a transfer data amount detecting section (27). |
| US08023603B2 |
Interface circuit including a shift clock generator to generate a shift clock having different cycles according to data sequence of data string
An interface circuit includes a detector to detect a particular pattern from a sequence of output data, a shift clock generator to change a cycle of a shift clock according to the detection result, a shift register section to change a data output width by the shift clock and output it as drive data, and an open-drain output section including an N-channel transistor driven by the drive data and a pull-up resistor. The detector detects a sequence where the current output data is “0” and the next output data is “1”, and the shift clock generator shortens and extends the cycles of the shift clock corresponding to “0” and “1”, respectively. |
| US08023602B2 |
Serial data communication apparatus and methods of using a single line
Serial data communication methods and apparatus using a single line are provided. The data communication methods may include: setting a rising edge of a serial pulse signal so that a cycle of the serial pulse signal begins therefrom; setting a falling edge of the serial pulse signal within the cycle of the serial pulse signal according to a data value recorded within the cycle of the serial pulse signal; and transmitting a packet formed by combining at least one cycle of the serial pulse signal in series via a single line. |
| US08023596B2 |
Doppler tracking method and device for a wide band modem
A system and method for estimating and tracking the frequency offset for a transmission system whose bandwidth is not insignificant with respect to the central frequency, the system transmitting a waveform including fixed carriers whose level is substantially greater than that of the carriers transporting the information, the carriers having frequencies F0 . . . FN-1, and the useful signal carrying the information. The system has N banks (100) of band-pass filters with, each bank having P filters, suitable for covering all of the values that the frequencies F0 . . . FN-1 may take after Doppler offset. A filter output is connected to a quadratic envelope detector. P adders (200) are suitable for adding the corresponding outputs of the N banks of filters. A system (300) detects the position of the two largest maxima from the P sums and validates the position of the largest maximum. A system (400) stores the positions of the two largest maxima and their “weight” and for predicting the current value. A system (500) validates/replaces the position found. A system (600) converts the positions into estimated Doppler and filters the latter through a low-pass filter. |
| US08023595B2 |
Method and system of time-of-arrival estimation for ultra wideband multi-band orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signals
A time-of-arrival (TOA) estimation method for multi-band orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MB-OFDM) signals uses a simple equally-spaced channel model to recover the impulse response of the wireless channel, and locates the delay of the first channel path by minimizing the energy leakage from the first channel path. The TOA is estimated based on the delay. Such a method does not require channel information for TOA estimation at the receiver and does not require modification of the receiver structure. The method also avoids a sub-optimal solution known to occur in maximum likelihood (ML) estimation. |
| US08023590B2 |
NICAM audio signal resampler
A NICAM audio signal re-sampler may include a non-linear interpolator configured to interpolate in a non-linear manner between sequential digital samples that are based on a stream of demodulated NICAM audio samples. A phase differential calculator may be included that compares phase information at different resolutions. |