| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08032891B2 |
Energy-aware scheduling of application execution
A mobile device (10) manages tasks (18) using a scheduler (20) for scheduling tasks on multiple processors (12). To conserve energy, the set of tasks to be scheduled are divided into two (or more) subsets, which are scheduled according to different procedures. In a specific embodiment, the first subset contains tasks with the highest energy consumption deviation based on the processor that executes the task. This subset is scheduled according to a power-aware procedure for scheduling tasks primarily based on energy consumption criteria. If there is no failure, the second subset is scheduled according to a real-time constrained procedure that schedules tasks primarily based on the deadlines associated with the various tasks in the second subset. If there is a failure in either procedure, one or more tasks with the lowest energy consumption deviation are moved from the first subset to the second subset and the scheduling is repeated. |
| US08032890B2 |
Resources managing in isolated plurality of applications context using data slots to access application global data and specification of resources lifetime to access resources
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for application management. Application management may include managing a context of an executing application such that the application is isolated from contexts of other executing applications. Furthermore, application management may include providing methods for accessing resources for the context of the executing application, the resources to process application tasks, and managing the resources. |
| US08032888B2 |
Method and system for scheduling a thread in a multiprocessor system
A method for scheduling a thread on a plurality of processors that includes obtaining a first state of a first processor in the plurality of processors and a second state of a second processor in the plurality of processors, wherein the thread is last executed on the first processor, and wherein the first state of the first processor includes the state of a cache of the first processor, obtaining a first estimated instruction rate to execute the thread on the first processor using an estimated instruction rate function and the first state, obtaining a first estimated global throughput for executing the thread on the first processor using the first estimated instruction rate and the second state, obtaining a second estimated global throughput for executing the thread on the second processor using the second state, comparing the first estimated global throughput with the second estimated global throughput to obtain a comparison result, and executing the thread, based on the comparison result, on one selected from a group consisting of the first processor and the second processor, wherein the thread performs an operation on one of the plurality of processors. |
| US08032885B2 |
Method and medium for combining operation commands into database submission groups
A computer readable medium storing executable instructions includes executable instructions to: receive a continuous stream of database transactions; form batches of database transactions from the continuous stream of database transactions; combine batches of database transactions with similar operations to form submission groups; identify dependencies between submission groups to designate priority submission groups; and apply priority submission groups to a database target substantially synchronously with the receipt of the continuous stream of database transactions. |
| US08032883B2 |
Controlling access from the virtual machine to a file
According to one embodiment, a computer machine includes a client virtual machine and a file server virtual machine configured to simultaneously run, a virtual machine manager configured to control booting of the client and file server virtual machines, a monitoring module configured to monitor whether a communication with an external file server is possible, an access control module configured to access to a duplicate file which is a duplicate of the file and is stored in a part of a local disk or a part of a memory which are managed by the monitoring module when the monitoring module determines that the communication is impossible after determining that the communication is possible, and a file deletion module configured to delete the duplicate file when the monitoring module detects the communication is impossible in a preset time. |
| US08032881B2 |
Method and system for upgrading a plurality of devices
The invention relates to an electronic device and a method for updating firmware in a number of electronic devices connected to a data network. First, a firmware in a first electronic device of said plurality of electronic devices is configured. Then, a firmware update file is generated in said first electronic device, based upon said configured firmware by using a firmware update file generator. Next, the firmware update file is transmitted from the first electronic device to a number of electronic devices via a data network. Finally, the firmware is updated in the number of electronic devices by executing said firmware update file in each of the electronic devices. |
| US08032880B2 |
Multi-branch management for updating software
A system for managing updates of an executable component in accordance with an updating tree with multiple branches is provided. In one implementation, specific updates are provided to users with specific problems while general updates are provided to all users of the executable component. A range of lower version numbers is reserved for the general updates. When a specific update with a version number higher than those in the reserved range has been installed on a computing device, an installer may prevent a new general update with a lower version number to be installed. The installer may determine a new specific update corresponding to the general update and provide an indication to the user to install this new specific update instead of the general update. This multi-branch update delivery system enables users to elect to receive only updates that are necessary. |
| US08032877B2 |
Compiler neutral linking solution for C++ code
The present invention provides a solution where interactions between different C++ modules can be reduced to interactions written in the C programming language. This permits code linking the difference C++ software modules to be written in the C programming language. Because naming conventions for linking symbols are standardized for the C programming language across all compilers, the C++ software modules can be linked to each other in a compiler neutral fashion. This is true even when the linked software modules are complied using different C++ compilers having non-standardized naming conventions for linking symbols. In absence of the disclosed solution, the different C++ compilers would generate code that cannot be linked. |
| US08032875B2 |
Method and apparatus for computing user-specified cost metrics in a data space profiler
A system and method for profiling a software application may include means for defining a custom cost metric that includes a cost metric identifier and a cost function. The cost function may apply a mathematical formula to data extracted from an event set to calculate a respective cost metric value for each of one or more events in the event set. The data extracted from the event set may include one or more respective profiling object identifiers and one or more other respective costs associated with each of the one or more events. A cost associated with an event in the event space may be associated with a function or basic block of instructions. The cost function may include a distribution formula for attributing at least a portion of the cost associated with a function or basic block to each of the instructions comprising the function or basic block. |
| US08032871B2 |
Partitioning processor resources based on memory usage
Processor resources are partitioned based on memory usage. A compiler determines the extent to which a process is memory-bound and accordingly divides the process into a number of threads. When a first thread encounters a prolonged instruction, the compiler inserts a conditional branch to a second thread. When the second thread encounters a prolonged instruction, a conditional branch to a third thread is executed. This continues until the last thread conditionally branches back to the first thread. An indirect segmented register file is used so that the “return to” and “branch to” logical registers within each thread are the same (e.g., R1 and R2) for each thread. These logical registers are mapped to hardware registers that store actual addresses. The indirect mapping is altered to bypass completed threads. When the last thread completes it may signal an external process. |
| US08032870B2 |
Transacting accesses via unmanaged pointers
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for transacting accesses via unmanaged pointers in a transactional memory system. A transactional memory system is provided. Source code is analyzed to identify operations that create unmanaged pointers. Information is tracked about the targets of unmanaged pointer values in pointer variables. The target information is used to determine how accesses through an unmanaged pointer argument are to be transacted. When an unmanaged pointer is created, a descriptor of the target with the resulting pointer value is associated with the location. Within the method that creates the unmanaged pointer, the target can be identified using the descriptor, thereby enabling accesses to be transacted. When an unmanaged pointer is being passed as an argument, a descriptor is also passed as an argument to allow the unmanaged pointer target to be identified. |
| US08032868B2 |
Storing and restoring snapshots of a computer process
A method to trace a variable or other expression through a computer program is disclosed. A user determines the variable and the conditions upon which activity of the variable will be monitored. As a result of the invention, every time that variable is referenced in a memory operation or other activity by the program and the conditions set forth by the user are satisfied, the state of that variable is saved as a snapshot without interrupting or stopping execution of the program. The snapshots are accumulated in a history table. The history table can be retrieved and the state of the variable in any given snapshot can be restored. Other variables and expressions can be attached to the trigger variable and the states of these other variables at the time of the activity of the trigger variable may also be saved in the snapshot. The method may be incorporated into a program as a tracing device or a program product separate from the logical processing device executing the program. |
| US08032865B2 |
System and method for field diagnosis of wireless communications device system software
A system and method are provided for field diagnosing system software in a wireless communications device. The method comprises: executing system software; launching a run-time engine; receiving patch manager run time instructions (PMRTI), including dynamic instruction sets and new code sections, in a file system section nonvolatile memory; and, processing dynamic instruction sets to field diagnose the system software. Processing the dynamic instruction sets includes: executing the diagnosis instruction sets with the system software to collect data; analyzing the collected data; and, in response to analyzing the collected data, operating on system data and system software. The method further comprises: following the operating on the system software and system data, executing the system software. |
| US08032863B2 |
System and method for global group reporting
A system and method for collecting and correlating information about development of a computer software, including software tools reports. The system and method provides overview of entire software development lifecycle, provides decision support engine for project management, allows estimation of project timelines based upon empirical data, allows evaluation of project quality based upon empirical data, and correlates information from previous projects to estimate progress of current project (confidence factors). The system and method for collecting and correlating information about development of a computer software include collecting data from a plurality of software tools during each point in lifecycle of the computer software; storing the collected data in a database; and correlating the stored collected data to monitor the development of the computer software. |
| US08032861B2 |
Extensible object model
An extensible object model enables extending the standard methods and/or properties of an extensible object for an application through an extension object proffered at run time by an extension package Information about the extension package is registered in a database when the package is installed, and the database is used to resolve references to the extended methods and/or properties upon execution of the application. In one aspect of the invention, the extension object is cached when first referenced and subsequent references to the extension while the application is executing are resolved to the cache. |
| US08032860B2 |
Methods for type-independent source code editing
An extensible, data-driven, language independent source code editor is presented, with an embedded, extensible multi-language compiler framework. Such an editor can be tightly integrated with a compiler framework that provides detailed information about the language currently being edited by the user. This information can be provided in a language-neutral way effectively decoupling the editor from the underlying set of languages being edited. In addition, a language-independent editor can expose a set of APIs that makes it easy to customize behavior for specific languages that have characteristics not shared by most languages. This set of APIs can also enable the development of customized views, such as for developing visual editors that represent and allow the user to manipulate aspects of the source code pictorially.This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims. |
| US08032853B2 |
Configuration information writing apparatus, configuration information writing method and computer program product
A configuration information writing apparatus for writing configuration information defining a logical configuration of a logic circuit device into the logic circuit device to change the logical configuration thereof, the apparatus comprising: a difference extracting unit that acquires plural pieces of configuration information and extracts differences between each of the acquired plural pieces of configuration information; a differential relation generating unit that generates a differential relation indicating a relation of the differences between each of the plural pieces of configuration information based on the differences extracted by the difference extracting unit; and an order information generating unit that generates order information specifying an order of writing the configuration information from the relation of the differences indicated by the differential relation generated by the differential relation generating unit. |
| US08032844B2 |
Semiconductor device manufacturing method, data generating apparatus, data generating method and recording medium readable by computer recoded with data generating program
A semiconductor manufacturing method comprising, a data generating process including, acquiring a simulation light pattern that simulates a shape of a light exposure pattern formed on a substrate on the basis of design data of a semiconductor device, acquiring a simulation electron beam exposure pattern that simulates a shape of an electron beam exposure pattern formed by an electron beam exposure on the substrate on the basis of the design data, extracting difference information representing a shape difference portion between the simulation light pattern and the simulation electron beam exposure pattern, acquiring changed design data for modifying shape by changing the design data in accordance with the difference information, conducting the electron beam exposure on the substrate by use of the changed design data for modifying the shape. |
| US08032840B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer program product for generating a thumbnail representation of a video sequence
A system, method and computer program product are provided for generating an image, such as a thumbnail, representation of a video sequence, where the video sequences includes a plurality of frames, at least some of which include an image of a scene that may include one or more objects. The method can include identifying a plurality of objects from the video sequence, and selecting at least some of the identified objects. In addition, the method can include extracting the selected objects from the frames of the video sequence including the respective objects, and combining the selected and extracted objects into an image representation of the video sequence. |
| US08032837B2 |
System and method for controlling user interface features of a web application
A system and method of controlling user interface features of a web application is provided. The system comprises a collection of user interface control elements, a collection of skin templates comprising extensible markup language based markup contained as children of a container element, and a collection of control element instructions for performing actions associated with the control elements. Each control element comprises a namespace, common attributes for defining graphical features of the control element and for associating the control element with the internal state of the core control element, other attributes for defining attributes that affect the intrinsic behavior of the control, and a skin template reference attribute for referencing a skin template. Each instruction is associated with a control element. |
| US08032836B2 |
Configuring a graphical user interface on a multifunction peripheral
A method and apparatus for customizing a graphical user interface on a multifunction peripheral is provided. User interface specification data is transmitted from a device to the multifunction peripheral. User interface specification data defines a desired display and operation behavior for the user interface. Result data is received at the device from the multifunction peripheral. Result data defines whether the user interface was updated to reflect the user interface specification data. Other aspects provide for copying the graphical user interface from a source multifunction peripheral to a destination multifunction peripheral, scheduling a point in time to update one or more graphical user interfaces to reflect the user interface specification data, and establishing a number of uses to apply the user interface specification data to the one or more user interfaces. |
| US08032826B2 |
Structure-position mapping of XML with fixed length data
A method, system and computer program product for mapping and retrieving XML code is presented. Each line of XML code is associated with a node in a node tree. Based on the depth and breadth of the node, the starting and ending positions of the line of XML code are calculated, in order to allow direct access to a particular line of XML code. |
| US08032824B2 |
Systems and methods for comparing documents containing graphic elements
A system and methods for comparing two documents comprising graphic elements is described. Attributes of graphic elements amongst the two documents are examined to identify sufficiently similar graphic elements. A merged document can be automatically produced based on the comparison. The merged document advantageously preserves the investment made in modifying a first document during a production phase. A means for viewing the comparison results and overriding the automatically generated merge actions is provided. |
| US08032819B2 |
CSA 5-3 compressor circuit and carry-save adder circuit using same
At least two Exclusive-OR (EOR) circuits for carry-out which output carry-out bits and the complementary signals thereof are provided in the 5-3 compressor circuits constituted by an Exclusive-OR (EOR) circuit group, and dual lanes are employed at least for carry-out. As a result, the number of inverters required can be reduced, increases in delay time can be suppressed, and fast addition operation can be achieved. |
| US08032817B2 |
Error detection and location circuitry for configuration random-access memory
Error detection and error location determination circuitry is provided for detecting and locating soft errors in random-access-memory arrays on programmable integrated circuits. The random-access-memory arrays contain rows and columns of random-access-memory cells. Some of the cells are loaded with configuration data and produce static output signals that are used to program associated regions of programmable logic. Cyclic redundancy check error correction check bits are computed for each column of each array. The error correction check bits are stored in corresponding columns of cells in the array. During normal operation of an integrated circuit in a system, the cells are subject to soft errors caused by background radiation strikes. The error detection and error location determination circuitry contains linear feedback shift register circuitry that processes columns of array data. The circuitry continuously processes the data to identify the row and column location of each error. |
| US08032816B2 |
Apparatus and method for distinguishing temporary and permanent errors in memory modules
An apparatus and method for distinguishing correctable bit errors in memory. A bit error detection module detects a correctable bit error in a memory in response to a READ operation. The correctable bit error is correctable using error-correcting code. The READ operation is generated during normal operation. A comparison module compares an error location indicator with a stored error location indicator. The error location indicator includes a memory location of the correctable bit error. The stored error location indicator corresponds to a previously stored error location indicator of a previous correctable bit error. A storage module stores the error location indicator if the comparison module determines that the error location indicator differs from a stored error location indicator. An error counter module increases an error counter corresponding to the error location indicator if the comparison module determines that the error location indicator matches a stored error location indicator. |
| US08032810B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor storage device and non-volatile storage system
This memory device comprises a word-line control circuit applying a read voltage and a soft-value read voltage as a word line voltage to a word line to generate soft-values. The soft-value read voltage is between an upper limit and a lower limit of each of plural threshold voltage distributions. A likelihood calculation circuit calculates a likelihood value of data stored in a memory cell based on the soft-value. An error correction circuit executes data error correction for the data read from the memory cell based on the likelihood value. A refresh control circuit controls a timing of a refresh operation for the memory cell based on the soft-value or the likelihood value. |
| US08032805B1 |
Input-output device testing including voltage tests
Integrated circuits may include at least an instruction processor and input-output subsystems. Each input-output subsystem includes a wrapper circuit a wrapper circuit controlled by the instruction processor. The wrapper circuit includes two or more scan registers, where a data value stored in each scan register can be shifted out for analysis. The wrapper circuit also includes two or more update registers to transfer stored data values between itself and an associated scan register. The wrapper circuit also includes a set of combinatorial logic coupled to the scan registers, the update registers and the instruction test processor, wherein at least two I/Os of the plurality of I/Os but less than all of the plurality of I/Os couple to an external tester. |
| US08032803B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and test system thereof
A semiconductor integrated circuit has a memory collar including a memory cell configured to store a written data pattern and read and output the data pattern, and a register configured to store a failed data pattern, and a built-in self test circuit configured to write the data pattern in the memory cell, output expected value data, and decide whether to continue a test or suspend the test to output failure information to outside, based on a comparison result of the data pattern outputted from the memory cell and the expected value data and a comparison result of the data pattern and the failed data pattern. |
| US08032799B2 |
System and method for managing server performance degradation in a virtual universe
A system and method for managing server performance degradation in a virtual universe environment having avatars has a server load detection unit for detecting server load and a failure notification unit for notifying the avatars of imminent server failure. The server load detection unit measures the wall time of the server for determining performance. A memory stores acceptable performance parameters so that if the server is performing unacceptably, the failure notification unit may notify the avatars. |
| US08032797B1 |
Storage of mass data for monitoring
A plurality of data models are generated in a server from a stream of metrics describing a state of at least one system. Each of the data models represents a time grouping of a subset of the metrics. One or more dimensions are associated with each of the metrics. The data models are stored in association with respective ones of the dimensions in a memory. The dimensions with which the data models are associated in the memory are increased based upon an appearance of at least one previously non-existing dimension associated with a metric in the stream. |
| US08032796B2 |
Monitoring apparatus and method of monitoring by a carrier
A monitoring apparatus of a carrier is disclosed that includes a managing part that assigns a related carrier path ID to network configuration information and manages the related carrier path ID, the related carrier path ID uniquely defining a path span between the carrier and a related carrier; a receiving part that receives alarm information from a communications apparatus in the carrier, a selecting part that selects main cause alarm information from the alarm information; a determining part that determines whether the main cause alarm information affects the related carrier by determining whether the related carrier path ID is assigned to corresponding network configuration information in the main cause alarm information; and a transmitting part that transmits the main cause alarm information including the related carrier path ID and a generation location to the related carrier where the main cause alarm information is determined to affect the related carrier. |
| US08032793B2 |
Method of controlling information processing system, information processing system, direct memory access control device and program
In a method of controlling an information processing system in which an information processing device is connected to each of a plurality of input/output ports provided in a routing device and having a first property or a second property, for conducting data transmission among the information processing devices via the routing device, a step of causing all of the information processing devices to halt data transmission, a step of resetting properties and identification information of the input/output ports with the second properties other than the input/output port with the first property which cannot be used, in the routing device, and a step of causing the information processing devices to restart the data transmission after the reset of the identification information are executed. |
| US08032792B2 |
Dynamic discovery algorithm
A method for monitoring exception events generated by a software application including operating the software application to generate exception event data responsive to an exception event, monitoring the software application to identify an occurrence of the exception event and to obtain the exception event data, examining the exception event data to determine type of the exception event and processing the exception event data responsive to the type of the exception event. |
| US08032790B2 |
Testing of a system logging facility using randomized input and iteratively changed log parameters
A method and computer program product for testing a system logger. Randomized input is provided into a logging facility and automated testing of the logging facility is performed in a multi-processing environment. Self-verification of data retrieved from the logging facility is performed to ensure no data loss occurs due to external system events or failures driven by a test tool. Real-time analysis of results received is performed by the test tool based on the randomized input into the logging facility. First failure data is captured and self-verification of results of a data recovery operation of the logging facility is performed in a disaster recovery scenario. Self-verification includes writing log blocks of random sizes to the log stream, iteratively forcing log data to be offloaded from primary storage to secondary storage, iteratively updating log stream attributes, and iteratively swapping duplexing modes. |
| US08032789B2 |
Apparatus maintenance system and method
An apparatus maintenance system and method are provided. The apparatus maintenance system includes an apparatus including a first control part, and a second control part connected to the first control part and a maintenance-data management server managing maintenance data about the apparatus. The second control part downloads the maintenance data from the maintenance-data management server to transfer the downloaded maintenance data to the first control part and transmits a maintenance result transferred from the first control part to the maintenance-data management server. |
| US08032783B2 |
Memory apparatus which provides notification of memory capacity
The service life of memory cards is to be substantially elongated against the occurrence of faulty blocks. A control logic searches blocks in a nonvolatile memory cell array for any acquired fault on the basis of a fault-inviting code in a management information section. If any faulty block is detected, the faulty block will be subjected to write/read comparison of data to judge whether or not the data in the block are normal. Any block determined to be normal will undergo rewriting of its fault-inviting code and registered as a normal block. Further, the registered block is stored into a write management table in the management area as a writable block. This enables an essentially normal block judged faulty on account of an erratic error or some other reason to be restored. |
| US08032778B2 |
Clock distribution apparatus, systems, and methods
Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed that operate to adjust power received by a clock distribution network at least partially based on operating conditions of an integrated circuit. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. |
| US08032773B2 |
Power-saving control apparatus and method for computer system in standby mode
A computer system including at least one wake-up unit to sense whether a wake-up event occurs in a standby mode to decrease power consumption, a power supplying unit to supply power to the at least one wake-up unit, and a controlling unit to control a power supplying unit to the at least one wake-up unit in the standby mode according to predetermined setting corresponding to whether the at least one wake-up unit is operable. |
| US08032766B2 |
Machine boot up protection structure for parallel power supply equipment
A machine boot up protection structure for parallel power supply equipment provides a determination level to set the parallel power supply equipment in an ON condition. It has a control unit to receive a connection signal output by each of power supply units to compare with the determination level. If the comparison matches, all of the power supply units are activated to the ON condition. If the comparison does not match, all of the power supply units are set to an OFF condition. Thereby when the external power is not completely connected, some of the power supply units do not suffer from overloading and damaging. |
| US08032762B2 |
Process, circuits, devices, and systems for encryption and decryption and other purposes, and process making
A wireless communications device (110) has a digital section (800) and a radio frequency section (840). The digital section (800) does setup and execution on a set of data in at least first and second threads concurrently in a series of overlapping iterations by dividing the set of data into at least two different subsets and concurrently reading and writing in both subsets. A state machine (1010, 1100) is shared by the setup and execution iterations. Two or more memory units (930, 940) segregate the set of data, the predetermined size of the set of data in the memories (930, 940) combined comprehending the total number of addresses occupied by the set of data utilized in operation of circuitry (910). Dirty bits (1430) are accessible at addresses corresponding to addresses in the memory. A selector circuit (1412) has a selector output selectively coupled to an address line, and to a data line. The selector circuit (1412) responds to a state on a dirty bit line (db) to couple data bits related to the address bits themselves from the address line (1421) to the selector output (1412). Other circuits and methods of manufacture and operation are also disclosed. |
| US08032761B2 |
Method and system for memory attack protection to achieve a secure interface
Aspects of a method and system for memory attack protection to achieve a secure interface are provided. An integrated memory within a slave device may be configured into a plurality of memory portions or regions by commands from a host device. The memory regions may be utilized during operations associated with authentication of subsequent commands from the host device. A first memory region may enable storage of encrypted host commands and data. A second region may enable storage of decrypted host commands and data. A third region may enable storage of internal variables and/or intermediate results from operations performed by the slave device. Another region may comprise internal registers that enable storage of information only accessible to the slave device. Access to some of the memory regions may be controlled by a bus controller and/or a memory interface integrated within the slave device. |
| US08032760B2 |
Method and system for authentication of a physical object
A system for authenticating a physical object includes an enrolment device, an authentication device, and a storage for storing authentication data. The enrolment device includes an input for receiving a property set Y of the object measured using a measurement procedure. A processor is used for creating a property set I from the measured property set Y that meet a predetermined robustness criterion. It then creating a property set A from the property set I that includes less information on the actual properties than property set Y, and finally generates a control value V in dependence on properties of the property set A. An output is used for supplying the control value to the storage as part of the authentication data. The enrolment device operates in an analogous way. |
| US08032757B1 |
Methods and apparatus for content fingerprinting for information leakage prevention
Processes for fingerprinting a document and for preventing information leakage at a deployment point are disclosed. For fingerprinting a document, a sequence of hash values for a document is generated, a portion of said hash values to be selected as fingerprints for the document. A current window is positioned over a portion of the sequence of hash values. The hash values are examined starting from one end of the current window, and a first-encountered hash value that is 0 modulo P is selected to be a fingerprint for the current window. For information leakage prevention at a deployment point, a rolling hash calculation is performed on a target document, and a determination is made if a hash value is 0 modulo P. A first filter is applied if the hash value is 0 modulo P, and a second filter is otherwise applied. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed. |
| US08032756B2 |
Information processing system
A signature support system includes a local machine, a remote machine, a document management server, and a signature server. The remote machine uses terminal services of the local machine to access the document management server, and correlates document data with a document ID serving as identification information for the document data, to register the document data in the document management server. Similarly, the signature server is accessed, and caused to generate a pair of a signature key and a verification key, and the keys are correlated with biological information read by a biological information reader, and are registered in the signature server. The signature server generates signature data for the document data that is correlated with the document ID received from a user, and is registered in the document management server, by using the signature key correlated with the biological information read by the biological information reader, and registered in the signature server. |
| US08032755B2 |
Request linked digital watermarking
A method for digitally signing information in real-time, based on a user request for the information. In one embodiment, the method is useful in a Web server, and can be implemented using a server-side API filter. One embodiment of the method includes receiving a data request from a user and determining whether the data requested should be marked. If the data should be marked, the method includes marking the data with a signature identifying at least one component of the user request; and storing information identifying the user with the request and the at least one component. Multiple types of marking techniques can be used on a single data file. |
| US08032754B2 |
Systems and methods for embedding media forensic identification markings
The present invention leverages a series of media watermark locations to provide information relating to media ownership and/or distribution source. This provides a forensic means to establish a source of media with a high degree of certainty despite malicious and/or non-malicious attacks. By providing embedded user unique identification, a source of copied media can be determined without the embedded information substantially interfering with the intended purpose of the media itself. In one instance of the present invention, digital media is transformed into an N-dimensional media signal. User unique keys are then utilized along with a master key to determine locations for embedding a watermark signal that possesses substantially similar quantized statistics as the transformed media signal. The watermark signal is then embedded into the media signal, fingerprinting the media. |
| US08032749B2 |
Method for remotely controlling and/or regulating a system
The invention relates to a method for remotely controlling and/or regulating at least one system (1), in particular an industrial system using a communications device (2) which is assigned to the system (1), and at least one receiver device (3), information relating to the system being transmitted from the communications device (2) to the at least one receiver device (3), the information containing a validation code which is generated by the communications device (2), a message being received by the communications device (2), the communications device (2) extracting a check code and instruction information from the message according to a first extraction rule, the communications device (2) validating the message by means of the validation code and check code, and the instruction information being implemented by the system (1) only when the validation is successful. |
| US08032748B2 |
System for allocating a chip card to a network operator
A chip card needs to be allocated in a secured manner to a network operator via a personalization center in order to determine a final authentication key which is attributed to a subscriber of the operator without its being transmitted via a network. The following is loaded into a card by a module: an algorithm and an allocation key; an algorithm for determination of the authentication key and at least one intermediate authentication key. A module transmits an allocation message which includes a final identity number, a random number and an allocation signature from the center to the card. The card authenticates the message by means of the allocation algorithm as a function of the allocation key and the allocation signature, and determines the final authentication key as a function of the intermediate key and the random number. |
| US08032747B2 |
Comparison of documents possessed by two parties
A method of zero-knowledge document comparison between two parties. Each party performs: exchanging a set of random data and a shared hash function, applying the hash function to concatenations of the document and the sets of random data, and comparing the hashes. |
| US08032745B2 |
Authentication of I2C bus transactions
This invention enables authenticated communications (transactions) to take place on a standard I2C bus without requiring modification of existing I2C devices. Read and write transactions occurring on the bus are authenticated using an Authentication Agent and a shared secret key. In addition to allowing verification of the legitimacy of the transactions, the authentication of the I2C transactions enhances the reliability and serviceability of the bus and devices on the bus by allowing the Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) to quickly determine and pinpoint errors. |
| US08032742B2 |
Dynamic updating of trusted certificates and certificate revocation lists in a computing system
This application generally describes techniques for dynamically updating trusted certificates and CRLs, generally referred to herein as certificate information. That is, techniques are described for updating trusted certificates and CRLs without terminating existing communication sessions. An exemplary method includes the steps of receiving an initial configuration that includes a trusted certificate authority, receiving certificate information that includes a certificate revocation list (CRL) and a first certificate from the trusted certificate authority, storing the certificate information in the configuration, initiating a communication session for an application, receiving an update to the certificate information, and updating the configuration to reflect the update to the certificate information without terminating the communication session. A computing device may receive the update to the certificate information from a user, as well as receiving a command from the user to apply the update to the certificate information to current communication sessions. |
| US08032741B2 |
Method and apparatus for virtualization of a multi-context hardware trusted platform module (TPM)
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving a request for a trusted platform module (TPM) operation from a virtual machine, determining whether the request is for a modification of a TPM version, and associating part of a multi-context hardware TPM with a virtual TPM (vTPM) to enable the modification. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08032738B2 |
Method for the start-up of numerical controls of machine tools or production machinery and numerical control for machine tools or production machinery
A method for the start-up of a numerical control of machine tools or production machinery, wherein the numerical control includes a main computer and a follow-up device, which are connected with each other via a data transmission network, wherein the follow-up device is addressable by the main computer via a logical address and a hardware address, with information regarding a physical address of the follow-up device in the data transmission network, is allocated to the logical address. The method includes sequentially requesting in a set-up mode of operation of the main computer allocating information regarding a logical address and a hardware address from an operator for the follow-up device and other follow-up devices to whose logical address no hardware address had been allocated. The method further including storing the logical address and the hardware address in a memory unit after the allocating information has been performed. |
| US08032737B2 |
Methods and apparatus for handling switching among threads within a multithread processor
A system, apparatus and method for handling switching among threads within a multithread processor are described herein. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for multithread handling that includes fetching and issuing one or more instructions, corresponding to a first instruction execution thread, to an execution block for execution during a cycle count associated with the first instruction execution thread and when the instruction execution thread is in an active mode. The method further includes switching a second instruction execution thread to the active mode when the cycle count corresponding to the first instruction execution thread is complete, and fetching and issuing one or more instructions, corresponding to the second instruction execution thread, to the execution block for execution during a cycle count associated with the second instruction execution thread. The method additionally includes resetting the cycle counts when a master instruction execution thread is in the active mode. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08032731B2 |
Virtualization system and area allocation control method
A virtualization system, upon judging that a write operation from a higher-level device is an operation to write in the format of the virtual volume, even when the write position of the write operation is in a virtual area different from a virtual area to which an allocated actual area has been allocated, if there is an unused area in the allocated actual area, writes management information to the unused area according to the write operation, and if there is no unused area in the allocated actual area, newly allocates an unallocated actual area, and writes management information to the newly allocated actual area according to the write operation. |
| US08032730B2 |
Method and apparatus for I/O priority control in storage systems
In exemplary embodiments a storage control unit is able to provide and track priority control among virtual ports created for corresponding physical ports and/or volume groups made up of one or more volumes, and thereby ensure application of priority settings. According to exemplary embodiments, when a virtual port created for a physical port on a first storage control unit is transferred to another physical port, such as in the same storage control unit or on another storage control unit, priority settings on the first physical port and storage control unit are checked and transferred with the virtual port to the other physical port to prevent competition for priority by virtual ports at the destination physical port. Similarly, priority settings assigned to volume groups may also be transferred when a volume group is transferred to another physical port within a storage control unit or to a different storage control unit. |
| US08032723B2 |
Methods and mechanisms for proactive memory management
A proactive, resilient and self-tuning memory management system and method that result in actual and perceived performance improvements in memory management, by loading and maintaining data that is likely to be needed into memory, before the data is actually needed. The system includes mechanisms directed towards historical memory usage monitoring, memory usage analysis, refreshing memory with highly-valued (e.g., highly utilized) pages, I/O pre-fetching efficiency, and aggressive disk management. Based on the memory usage information, pages are prioritized with relative values, and mechanisms work to pre-fetch and/or maintain the more valuable pages in memory. Pages are pre-fetched and maintained in a prioritized standby page set that includes a number of subsets, by which more valuable pages remain in memory over less valuable pages. Valuable data that is paged out may be automatically brought back, in a resilient manner. Benefits include significantly reducing or even eliminating disk I/O due to memory page faults. |
| US08032722B2 |
Information processing apparatus and memory control method
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes memory modules, a measuring module, a determination module, and a controller. The measuring module initializes the memory modules when the apparatus has been booted and an operating system of the information processing apparatus has not yet been started, measures a temperature of the memory modules at a time of the initialization, and measures a maximum temperature of each of the memory modules when the operating system is running. The determination module determines a first memory module, which has the least difference between the temperature at the time of the initialization and the maximum temperature at the time when the operating system is running, and a second memory module which has the lowest temperature at the time of the initialization. The controller maps memory addresses allocated to the first memory module in the second memory module, based on the temperatures. |
| US08032720B2 |
Memory access monitoring apparatus and related method
A memory access controlling apparatus, for monitoring an access of a memory to generate a target watch signal, includes: at least one monitoring circuit, a setting unit and an output circuit. The monitoring circuit corresponds to an address of the memory and holds an access setting value. The monitoring circuit monitors the access of the memory according to the access setting value to generate an initial watch signal. The setting unit holds a setting value for triggering an exception, which is related to a condition for triggering the exception while the memory is accessed. The output circuit is coupled to the monitoring circuit and the setting unit, and is used for generating the target watch signal according to the initial watch signal and the setting value. |
| US08032719B2 |
Method and apparatus for improved memory management in data analysis
A method of managing a memory resource is provided for the storage of a plurality of sequentially received data elements, each data element comprising a plurality of data integers, the method comprising prior to storing a received data element, checking if the available storage capacity of the memory resource is less than a predetermined threshold value and in response to the available storage capacity being less than the predetermined threshold value, deleting at least one data integer from at least one of the data elements stored in the memory resource. |
| US08032714B2 |
Methods and systems for caching data using behavioral event correlations
A method is disclosed including a client accessing a cache for a value of an object based on an object identification (ID), initiating a request to a cache loader if the cache does not include a value for the object, the cache loader performing a lookup in an object table for the object ID corresponding to the object, the cache loader retrieving a vector of execution context IDs, from an execution context table that correspond to the object IDs looked up in the object table and the cache loader performing an execution context lookup in an execution context table for every retrieved execution context ID in the vector to retrieve object IDs from an object vector. |
| US08032712B2 |
Storage system for staging data in random access area
There is provided a storage system accessed by a host computer, comprising: an interface coupled to the host computer; a processor coupled the interface; a memory coupled to the processor; and a storage device for storing the data. The storage device comprises a first storage device in which the stored data is accessed sequentially from a beginning, and a second storage device in which the stored data can be accessed at random. The data stored in the first storage device is replicated to the second storage device, and the replicated data is accessed by the host computer. The processor receives a candidate of the data including a priority of the data from the host computer, and replicates the data included in the candidate of the data, and stored in the first storage device to the second storage device in accordance with the priority before reception of an access request. |
| US08032710B1 |
System and method for ensuring coherency in trace execution
A method and system of ensuring coherency of a sequence of instructions to be executed by a processor having a trace unit and an execution unit includes grouping at least a portion of the sequence of instructions to form at least one trace where a status of the at least one trace is set to a verified status when the at least one trace is formed; holding in the at least one trace a coherency component that includes a pointer to a physical address of the at least one trace; receiving, based on the coherency component, the pointer to the physical address as associated with an invalidating event, and in response thereto, setting the status of the at least one trace to be an unverified status; and preventing the at least one trace from being executed when the status of the at least one trace is the unverified status. |
| US08032709B2 |
System, method and computer program product for handling shared cache lines in a multi-processor environment
A system, method, and computer program product for handling shared cache lines to allow forward progress among processors in a multi-processor environment is provided. A counter and a threshold are provided a processor of the multi-processor environment, such that the counter is incremented for every exclusive cross interrogate (XI) reject that is followed by an instruction completion, and reset on an exclusive XI acknowledgement. If the XI reject counter reaches a preset threshold value, the processor's pipeline is drained by blocking instruction issue and prefetching attempts, creating a window for an exclusive XI from another processor to be honored, after which normal instruction processing is resumed. Configuring the preset threshold value as a programmable value allows for fine-tuning of system performance. |
| US08032708B2 |
Method and system for caching data in a storgae system
A method for caching data in a storage system involves receiving a request for a first datum stored on a storage disk, retrieving the first datum from the storage disk when a copy of the first datum is not stored on an asymmetric cache device (ACD), storing a first copy of the first datum in a main memory, updating a list of data to include the first datum, storing, prior to any data being evicted from the main memory, a second copy of the first datum on the ACD, and evicting the first copy of the first datum from the main memory when a first copy of a second datum is designated for storing in the main memory and the main memory is full and the first datum is at the tail of the list of data. |
| US08032705B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing games and content
In an embodiment of the invention, a dongle is configured for communication with an electronic device. The dongle includes a connector, a controller, a first memory and a second memory. The connector is for interfacing with the electronic device. The controller is for controlling the interface between the connector and the electronic device. The first memory includes a file system. The controller is configured to provide automatic recognition of the dongle and mounting of the file system to the electronic device by using the connector when the dongle interfaces with the electronic device. The second memory has data for automatic navigation to a predetermined location. The dongle is configured for automatic execution of an element of the file system. |
| US08032704B1 |
Data placement technique for striping data containers across volumes of a storage system cluster
A method and apparatus for storing data on a computer data storage system are described. Two or more computers are coupled together to form a cluster of computers. One or more data storage devices are coupled to the two or more computers. One or more volumes of data storage devices are implemented on a plurality of computers of the two or more computers, where each volume is a logical arrangement of the one or more storage devices coupled to a selected computer of the plurality of computers. A data container holds data stored by the data storage system. The data container is striped over a plurality of the one or more volumes of data storage devices, whereby data stored in the data container is striped over a plurality of the volumes of data storage devices. |
| US08032701B1 |
System and method for managing provisioning of storage resources in a network with virtualization of resources in such a network
This invention is a system and method for managing allocation of storage resources in a storage network, the storage network including physical data storage on a plurality of storage arrays that are in the storage network, and the network is in communication with one or more hosts and the network further includes a storage network management system, communicatively coupled to the storage arrays via the network, the storage management system includes a storage virtualizer capable of intercepting and virtualizing an IO stream from the one or more hosts and which storage network management system further includes a storage and switch controller in communication with the storage virtualizer for storage network management. |
| US08032699B2 |
System and method of monitoring data storage activity
Systems and methods of monitoring logical block address (LBA) activity are disclosed. In an embodiment, a pattern of a data storage device may be monitored. An LBA may be detected that is accessed based on the pattern. The LBA may be added to a list of LBAs stored in a memory. |
| US08032694B2 |
Direct logical block addressing flash memory mass storage architecture
A nonvolatile semiconductor mass storage system and architecture can be substituted for a rotating hard disk. The system and architecture avoid an erase cycle each time information stored in the mass storage is changed. Erase cycles are avoided by programming an altered data file into an empty mass storage block rather than over itself as a hard disk would. Periodically, the mass storage will need to be cleaned up. These advantages are achieved through the use of several flags, and a map to correlate a logical block address of a block to a physical address of that block. In particular, flags are provided for defective blocks, used blocks, and old versions of a block. An array of volatile memory is addressable according to the logical address and stores the physical address. |
| US08032691B2 |
Method and system for capacity-balancing cells of a storage system
A plurality of cells forming at least a portion of a hive of a data storage system may be capacity balanced by fragmenting a portion of at least one non-empty tile of one of the plurality of cells and moving the fragmented portion to another one of the plurality of cells. A plurality of cells forming at least a portion of a hive of a fixed content storage system may be capacity balanced by identifying at least one of the plurality of cells from which objects are to be moved, and for each of the at least one of the plurality of cells identified, determining a number of objects to be moved to another one of the plurality of cells, identifying one or more tiles that collectively have approximately the number of objects to be moved, and moving the one or more tiles to the another one of the plurality of cells. |
| US08032690B2 |
Non-volatile memory device, and method of accessing a non-volatile memory device
A non-volatile memory device, and a method for accessing the non-volatile memory device are provided. The non-volatile memory device is connected to a host via a bus. The non-volatile memory device comprises an MCU. By independently processing the particular commands using only the auxiliary circuit, the MCU can cease to operate, thus saving power. By setting the bus into power saving mode when the non-volatile memory device is busy, the host and the non-volatile memory device would not communicate mutually, thus, saving power. |
| US08032683B2 |
Data communication system, cradle apparatus, server apparatus and data communication method
A data communication system includes a server apparatus and a cradle apparatus. The cradle apparatus includes a first communication section, a second communication section, a connection detection section, a notification control section, and a relay control section. The server apparatus includes a communication section, a data preparation section, and a communication control section. |
| US08032681B2 |
Processor selection for an interrupt based on willingness to accept the interrupt and on priority
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes processors, signal storage circuitry, and processor selection logic. The signal storage circuitry is to hold willingness indication signals each indicative of a willingness level of an associated one of the processors to receive an interrupt and to hold priority indication signals each indicative of a processor priority level of an associated one of the processors, wherein there are multiple possible willingness levels and multiple possible processor priority levels. The processor selection logic is to select one of the processors to receive an interrupt based at least on the willingness indication signals. Other embodiments are described. |
| US08032672B2 |
Increased speed of processing of audio samples received over a serial communications link by use of channel map and steering table
A method and apparatus for processing data samples utilizes a channel map populated by device descriptor, or by an application program interface. Packet processing code loops through all of the samples contained in a packet while incrementing through a channel map and steering table without having to look up a table to determine in what audio buffer the sample is to be stored or read. Additionally, the present invention utilizes a stride map, so the audio subsystem knows how many samples to skip in order to reach the next sample frame. The present invention can be used for handling received packets as well as forming packets to send over a bus. |
| US08032671B1 |
Resuming media objects delivered via progressive downloading services upon data loss events
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for resuming a media object presented following a data loss event are provided. A physical disconnection that occurs at a point during the presentation of the media object is detected. The physical disconnection interrupts the presentation of the media object. Upon detecting the physical disconnection, a reestablishment of the physical connection is detected. Subsequently, an option to resume the presentation of the media object at the interrupted point is presented to a user. |
| US08032670B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating DMA transfers to memory
In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a first interface circuit, a direct memory access (DMA) controller coupled to the first interface circuit, and a host coupled to the DMA controller. The first interface circuit is configured to communicate on an interface according to a protocol. The host comprises at least one address space mapped, at least in part, to a plurality of memory locations in a memory system of the host. The DMA controller is configured to perform DMA transfers between the first interface circuit and the address space, and the DMA controller is further configured to perform DMA transfers between a first plurality of the plurality of memory locations and a second plurality of the plurality of memory locations. |
| US08032669B2 |
Universal DMA (direct memory access) architecture
A universal DMA (Direct Memory Access) engine can be dynamically configured to function in either a receive or transmit mode. DMAs are logically assembled and bound as needed, without limitation to a fixed, pre-determined number of receive engines and transmit engines. Because a DMA engine may be dynamically assembled to support the flow of data in either direction, varied usage models are enabled, and components used to assemble a receive DMA engine for one application may be subsequently used to assemble a transmit engine for a different application. An application may request a specific number of each type of engine, depending on the nature of its input/output traffic. The number of receive or transmit engines can be dynamically increased or decreased without suspending or rebooting the host. A universal DMA architecture provides a unified software framework, thereby decreasing the complexity of the software and the hardware gate count cost. |
| US08032668B2 |
Protocol adapter for passing diagnostic messages between a host computer and vehicle networks operating in J1939 or J1708 protocol
A protocol adapter for transferring diagnostic messages between networks within a vehicle and a host computer. The protocol adapter operates as a voltage translator to support J1708 software. The protocol adapter also recognizes when the protocol adapter is connected to a host computer running the J1939 and/or J1708 protocols and automatically switches to that protocol. |
| US08032666B2 |
Location enabled bookmark and profile
Location based profiles are used to modify the configuration of a computing device based on a detected location. The location based profiles allow features such as cameras to be enabled and disabled. Physical and logical data storage partitions can also be mounted and unmounted, and the home screen displayed by a device can be modified. Location bookmarks can be used to further customize the appearance and function of a computing device. |
| US08032662B2 |
Module connecting system
An object of the present invention is to provide a module connecting system that can comply flexibly with the number of expansion modules and has an inexpensive and simple configuration. In the configuration of the module connecting system of the present invention, a basic module transmits a repetitive pulse signal to an expansion module, the repetitive pulse signal whose frequency is divided by a frequency dividing circuit included in the expansion module is output as frequency dividing information to the basic module, and the number of expansion modules is determined based on the frequency dividing information. |
| US08032657B2 |
Preservation of type information between a client and a server
In a distributed computing system containing multiple entities such as servers and clients, an object passed between the entities is attached with metadata identifying the type of the object and/or types and values of properties associated with the object. Before the object is passed to an entity in the distributed computing system, the object may be serialized into a data format that the receiving entity can understand. |
| US08032656B2 |
Fast handover using SIP
A method of handling a data stream during a handover in a communications network comprising a first user agent having a fixed address, a proxy server and a second user agent, said method comprising the steps of: mapping at the proxy server the fixed address with a dynamic network address allocated to the first user agent; sending a request by the first user agent to the second user agent for a data stream; generating by the second user agent in response to the request a plurality of messages each comprising part of the data stream requested and the fixed address of the first user agent, wherein the message is a session initiation protocol message, and sending the messages to the proxy server; receiving the messages at the proxy server and determining the mapped dynamic network address corresponding to the fixed address in the message, and forwarding the messages to the determined dynamic network address; and when the first user agent is allocated a new dynamic network address, replacing by the proxy server the mapped dynamic network address with the new dynamic network address and forwarding the received messages to the new dynamic network address. |
| US08032653B1 |
Guaranteed bandwidth sharing in a traffic shaping system
In one aspect the invention provides a method for allocating bandwidth in a network appliance where the network appliance includes a plurality of guaranteed bandwidth buckets used to evaluate when to pass traffic through the network appliance. The method includes providing a shared bandwidth bucket associated with a plurality of the guaranteed bandwidth buckets, allocating bandwidth to the shared bandwidth bucket based on the underutilization of bandwidth in the plurality of guaranteed bandwidth buckets and sharing excess bandwidth developed from the underutilization of the guaranteed bandwidth allocated to the individual guaranteed bandwidth buckets. The step of sharing includes borrowing bandwidth from the shared bandwidth bucket by a respective guaranteed bandwidth bucket to allow traffic to pass immediately through the network appliance. |
| US08032647B2 |
Device management method using broadcast channel
A device management method using a broadcast channel which is capable of simultaneously initializing services provided to a plurality of terminals, varying set values of the plurality of terminals, or upgrading part of software, the method comprising: receiving bootstrap information including data (content) for connecting to a typical device management server; receiving information related to a terminal provisioning server from the typical device management server, and receiving a device management message via a session of the terminal provisioning server, so as to implement a reliable device management method. |
| US08032640B2 |
PVC switching
The invention provides a PVC switching control method for an ATM communication network which allows high speed changeover of a connection upon occurrence of/release from a trouble and is superior in reliability and maintenance facility and simple in control. A master PVC connection and an OAM connection are set between two ATM exchanges, and a bypassing PVC connection and an OAM connection prepared in advance for bypassing are set between the two ATM exchanges. If occurrence of/release from a trouble with and of the master PVC connection is recognized by the ATM exchanges using an OAM function, then the operative PVC connection is switched between the master PVC connection and the bypassing PVC connection. |
| US08032639B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing data session source device information
A community translation service device for providing a translation service to a community of at least one source device is arranged to receive data traffic from a source device in the community. The traffic includes a native data session identifier and, as a source identifier, a source device identifier. The community translation service device comprises a translation component and a database for storing a pool of assigned data session identifiers associated with the source device. The translation component is arranged to translate the native data session identifier to an assigned data session identifier associated with the source device, the community translation service device further being arranged to forward the data traffic including the assigned data session identifier as data session source device information to a service aggregation device. |
| US08032634B1 |
Approach for allocating resources to an apparatus based on resource requirements
An approach for allocating resources to an apparatus based on resource requirements generally involves a resource allocator receiving a request that specifies resource requirements for the apparatus. A resource allocator determines whether resources are available that satisfy the resource requirements. If resources are available that satisfy a resource requirement, the resource allocator indicates that the resource requirement is fulfilled and the resources are allocated to the apparatus. If resources are not available that satisfy a resource requirement, the resource allocator indicates that the resource requirement is not fulfilled and the resources are not allocated to the apparatus. The apparatus is implemented based on the allocated resources. |
| US08032627B2 |
Enabling and disabling byte code inserted probes based on transaction monitoring tokens
A method of enabling transaction probes used to monitor a transaction or modify a primary application handling the transaction. The method begins with retrieving a token associated with the transaction. The token contains information regarding which transaction probes from a plurality of transaction probes will be enabled with respect to the transaction. The token is then read to determine the set of transaction probes from the plurality of transaction probes that will be enabled. The determined set of transaction probes is then enabled. |
| US08032625B2 |
Method and system for a network management framework with redundant failover methodology
A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product is presented for management of a distributed data processing system. Resources within the distributed data processing system are dynamically discovered, and the discovered resources are adaptively monitored using the network management framework. When the network management framework detects that certain components within the network management framework may have failed, new instances of these components are started. If duplicate components are later determined to be active concurrently, then a duplicate component is shutdown, thereby ensuring that at least one instance of these components is active at any given time. After certain failover events, a resource rediscovery process may occur, and a topology database containing previously stored information about discovered resources is resynchronized with resource information about rediscovered resources. |
| US08032624B2 |
Pluggable contact resolution
Methods, devices, and systems are provided for taking a pluggable extension and applying it to a unique set of a user population to handle their preferred and user-centric alerting relationships. More particularly, the pluggable extension allows a user to have their personalized contact resolution algorithm applied by a server to calls initiated by them or directed toward. The contact resolution algorithm is pluggable to any server and does not need to be built into the server itself. Moreover, multiple users can refer to and use the same pluggable contact resolution algorithm. |
| US08032622B2 |
System and method for social-networking based presence
A telecommunications system includes a network; a social networking service operably coupled to the network and configured to allow registration of users, to allow identification of registered users' interests, and to identify associated users, said associated users being associated with registered users; a presence service operably coupled to the network and configured to determine an availability of associated users responsive to one or more availability criteria; a translation unit configured to convert user information from a social networking service format to a presence service format; and a messaging service operably coupled to the network and configured to send notification messages to associated users determined to be available and having a common interest corresponding to an event responsive to an occurrence of the event and one or more availability criteria. |
| US08032619B2 |
Environment information server
Methods and apparatus implementing techniques for providing network environment information. In one implementation, a environment information server includes: a server controller; a network connection connected to said server controller; an environment information database connected to said server controller for storing data for one or more network environments; and a request handler connected to said server controller for processing requests received through said network connection; wherein said request handler exchanges data with said environment information database in the course of processing a received request. |
| US08032618B2 |
Asynchronous update of virtualized applications
A determination is made as to whether an updated image for an outdated virtualized application is available on a server. If it is determined that the updated image is available, then a background download operation configured to retrieve the updated image from the server is initiated. Another determination is made as to whether the outdated virtualized application is being utilized. After the background download operation is complete, if it is determined that the outdated virtualized application is not being utilized, then the outdated virtualized application is transformed to a current virtualized application by replacing at least a portion of the outdated virtualized application with the updated image. The outdated virtualized application and the current virtualized application are configured to be executed on the computer without installation on a computer. |
| US08032617B2 |
Application settings migration using virtualization
Application setting virtualization for a user. Application settings from a source computer are copied to a user-specific location on a destination computer and layered under corresponding application settings associated with one or more applications installed on the destination computer. In response to receiving a request from an application for an application setting, the requested application setting is retrieved from the layered application settings such that the layers are searched in order for the requested application setting and the first application setting found is retrieved and returned to the requesting application. |
| US08032616B2 |
Method of allocating IP address of image forming apparatus using DHCP, image forming apparatus and system of allocating IP address using DHCP
A method of allocating an IP address of an image forming apparatus using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), and an image forming apparatus and system performing the method, the method including requesting a DHCP server to allocate an IP address to an image forming apparatus having a previously allocated IP address in response to the image forming apparatus being re-connected to a network, responding to the IP address allocation request by the DHCP server, declining to respond to the response of the DHCP server, and providing the previously allocated IP address to the image forming apparatus upon receiving no response from the image forming apparatus after a predetermined time. |
| US08032615B2 |
Dynamic online multi-parameter optimization system and method for autonomic computing systems
A method and system performs dynamic online multi-parameter optimization for autonomic computing systems. A simplex is maintained. The system's performance is measured for the particular setting of configuration parameters associated with each point in the simplex. A new sample point is determined using the geometric transformations of the simplex. A current best point in the simplex can be resampled to determine if the environment has changed. If a sufficiently different utility value is obtained from a previously sampled utility value for the point in the simplex, the simplex is expanded. If the difference is not sufficient enough, then contraction of the simplex is performed. |
| US08032613B2 |
System and method for previewing AV data stored in AV server
A system in which a AV data stored in an AV server is previewed by a plurality of edit terminals includes a recording apparatus which is connected to those edit terminals and which is capable of higher speed access than a recording element in the AV server, and a first processing element which makes a request to transfer AV data from the AV server to the recording apparatus and a second processing element which previews AV data from the recording apparatus are provided for each of the edit terminals. Accordingly, a material stored in the AV server can be previewed by the plurality of edit terminals simultaneously in parallel without being limited to the number of the input and output ports of the AV server, and the waiting time becomes short when the edit terminal previews the material stored in the AV server. |
| US08032612B2 |
Token-based web browsing with visual feedback of disclosure
A data communications network may be browsed using one or more tokens by receiving an input keyword string from a user, determining whether there is a match between the input keyword string and a database of keyword strings, determining a category of the keyword string, rendering to the user at least one service identifier associated with the category, receiving a user-selected service identifier in response to the rendering, substituting at least one variable in a resource locator template associated with the service with a string based at least in part on the keyword string entered by the user and launching the resource locator. According to one aspect, a special rendering of a hyperlink corresponding to the resource locator is used to indicate private data will be disclosed upon launching the resource locator. |
| US08032608B2 |
Methods and systems for imaging device notification access control
Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods and devices for imaging device event notification administration and subscription. Some aspects relate to selective imaging device event notification based on user credentials and/or the occurrence of a specific event. Some aspects may limit notification subscription to authorized credential holders. Some aspects relate to conditional event notification based on the occurrence of a specific event identified in the notification request. |
| US08032607B2 |
Data transfer system capable of selecting a low-cost call type
Each of mobile terminals and base stations in a mobile communication system detects the file size of multimedia data from normal command file and calculates the communication costs based on the file size and unit price of the call type, and selects either a packet switched call or a circuit switched call for transmitting the multimedia data file based on the communication costs involved. |
| US08032604B2 |
Methods and systems for analyzing email messages
Multiple modules are provided, each one of which is configured to analyze email messages in a different manner than other ones of the modules. For a received email message, a plurality of the modules are used to determine one or more module outputs indicative of a level of sameness of the received email message with one or more prior email messages. At least two of the modules being used are each assigned a non-zero weight indicative of the performance level of the module. An overall level of sameness of the received email message with one or more prior email messages is determined by combining the module outputs of at least two of the plurality of modules using the non-zero weights assigned to the modules. |
| US08032603B2 |
Methods for sending an email and distributing an email and an email server
The present application relates to methods for sending an email and distributing an email, and an email server. According to the application, a summary is generated for an email to be sent, with the email stored in a sender side server; the summary of the email is sent to a receiver side server; and the email is sent to the receiver side server in response to receiving, by the sender side server, a request for sending the email, the request being sent by a recipient based on the summary. Thus, the network bandwidth, the storage space of the email server and user terminals may be saved. |
| US08032600B2 |
Treatment of email messages sent to a no-reply destination email address
Auto reply email and auto reply email methods are disclosed. A particular email message includes a no-reply origination address and a message body. Characteristics of the message body are selected based at least partially on a previous email message sent to the no-reply origination address. |
| US08032599B1 |
Display of archived email content in a preview pane
An email archive system and associated techniques are described. Archived emails may be stored locally on a user's client computer in a local archive store. The email archive system and associated techniques may interact with an email message system and an email client application. |
| US08032597B2 |
Enhancement of e-mail client user interfaces and e-mail message formats
An enhancement to e-mail user interfaces and message formats includes a dynamic preview window to view and retrieve attachments and summaries of e-mail messages directly in the e-mail list view or inbox view without opening an e-mail message. The efficient viewing mechanism further allows previews without cluttering the listing of the e-mails in the inbox by allowing the client to detect special preview instructions within an e-mail and run executables within the preview window. The enhancement is applicable to standalone e-mail clients (POP or IMAP based) and to web-based e-mail systems. |
| US08032596B2 |
System and method for managing e-mail messages
A system for managing the download of e-mail messages is disclosed. The system has an e-mail host holding e-mail messages for download to a recipient's e-mail client. Prior to downloading the messages, the e-mail client uses a message manager to evaluate the characteristics of the communication connection between the e-mail client and it's e-mail host server. Also, the evaluation of the communication connection may be continued while the download is proceeding. Responsive to the evaluation, a message rule is defined or selected according to the characteristics of the communication connection. The selected message rule is applied for downloading the e-mail messages. More particularly, the message rule selects messages for download, formats those messages, and provides for download limitations. The appropriately selected, formatted, and limited e-mail messages are then transmitted to the e-mail client. |
| US08032593B2 |
Communications system providing reduced access latency and related methods
A communications system may include data storage devices for storing data files, and mobile wireless communications devices (MWCDs) generating access requests for the data files. The data storage devices and MWCDs may each use one or more different operating protocols. Each data file may be associated with a respective MWCD and have a unique identification (UID) associated therewith. The system may also include a protocol interface device including a protocol converter module for communicating with the MWCDs using respective operating protocols thereof, and a protocol engine module for communicating with the data storage devices using respective operating protocols thereof. The protocol engine module may also poll the data storage devices for UIDs of data files stored thereon, and cooperate with the protocol converter module to provide UIDs for respective data files to the MWCDs upon receiving access requests therefrom. |
| US08032590B2 |
Information distribution system and information distribution method
An information distribution system include a reporting unit that reports guide information to a user, the guide information showing information to be additionally stored in a storing unit, a receiving unit that receives identification information from the user, the identification information being associated with stored information selected by the user from the stored information shown by the guide information, and a transmitting unit that transmits suitable stored information to the user, the suitable stored information being selected from the stored information based on the identification information as to the stored information selected by the user. |
| US08032589B2 |
Methods and systems for resuming, transferring or copying a multimedia session
Methods and systems for resuming, transferring or copying an IMS session associated with a first terminal or user at a second terminal in e.g., a same household are described. If a session is to be transferred, resource reservations associated with establishing a second IMS session for the transfer can be bypassed by informing the IMS system, either explicitly or implicitly, of the relationship between the terminals involved in the transfer. A controller can select a content server to support the resumed session and coordinate session identities associated with the selection. |
| US08032586B2 |
Method and system for caching message fragments using an expansion attribute in a fragment link tag
A method, a system, an apparatus, and a computer program product are presented for a fragment caching methodology. After a message is received at a computing device that contains a cache management unit, a fragment in the message body of the message is cached. Subsequent requests for the fragment at the cache management unit result in a cache hit. A FRAGMENTLINK tag is used to specify the location in a fragment for an included or linked fragment which is to be inserted into the fragment during fragment or page assembly or page rendering. A FRAGMENTLINK tag may include a FOREACH attribute that is interpreted as indicating that the FRAGMENTLINK tag should be replaced with multiple FRAGMENTLINK tags. The FOREACH attribute has an associated parameter that has multiple values that are used in identifying multiple fragments for the multiple FRAGMENTLINK tags. |
| US08032564B2 |
System and method for monitoring and analyzing internet traffic
A system and method for monitoring and analyzing Internet traffic is provided that is efficient, completely automated, and fast enough to handle the busiest websites on the Internet, processing data many times faster than existing systems. The system and method of the present invention processes data by reading log files produced by web servers, or by interfacing with the web server in real time, processing the data as it occurs. The system and method of the present invention can be applied to one website or thousands of websites, whether they reside on one server or multiple servers. The multi-site and sub-reporting capabilities of the system and method of the present invention makes it applicable to servers containing thousands of websites and entire on-line communities. In one embodiment, the system and method of the present invention includes e-commerce analysis and reporting functionality, in which data from standard traffic logs is received and merged with data from e-commerce systems. The system and method of the present invention can produce reports showing detailed “return on investment” information, including identifying which banner ads, referrals, domains, etc. are producing specific dollars. |
| US08032562B2 |
Identity management user experience
Example embodiment of the present invention provide for assisting a user in managing the user's shared persona on a request-by-request basis. Upon requesting to share one or more types of identity information, the user is automatically presented with an interface through which the user can interact in selecting an amount of identity items to share. A subset of the total identity items selected may then be shared with specified entities. In another embodiment, the present invention assists a user in managing identity information that has been shared with others by providing the user with a visual list of entities for which the user has shared specified identity information. Other embodiments of the present invention use shared information about an entity to automatically provide the user with the ability to update identity information that has subsequently been edited. |
| US08032561B1 |
System and method for scheduling and arbitrating events in computing and networking
A method for high-speed scheduling and arbitration of events for computing and networking is disclosed. The method includes the software and hardware implementation of a unique data structure, known as a pile, for scheduling and arbitration of events. According to the method, events are stored in loosely sorted order in piles, with the next event to be processed residing in the root node of the pile. The pipelining of the insertion and removal of events from the piles allows for simultaneous event removal and next event calculation. The method's inherent parallelisms thus allow for the automatic rescheduling of removed events for re-execution at a future time, also known as event swapping. The method executes in O(1) time. |
| US08032560B2 |
Provision of persistence context to program components
A method and apparatus for provision of persistence context to program components. An embodiment of a method includes receiving a call from a persistence engine, the call requesting a persistence context for a program component of a computer application. There is a method call to obtain the persistence context; and the persistence context is provided to the persistence engine. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed. |
| US08032552B2 |
Virtual private supply chain
A generic Internet based system for viewing supply chain data is provided. The system includes an Internet based data viewing engine and a data store that holds both viewable data and metadata associated with the viewable data. The metadata can be employed by the Internet based data viewing engine to control the presentation of the viewable data. The generic Internet based supply chain data viewing engine may be employed in a virtual private supply chain (VPSC). A VPSC includes a data acceptor that can receive supply chain data items from supply chain members, a supply chain data store that can store transformed, validated supply chain data items received from the supply chain members and a data accessor operable to selectively present supply chain data items stored in the supply chain data store to viewing supply chain members. One example of the data accessor is the generic Internet based viewing engine. |
| US08032550B2 |
Federated document search by keywords
A method and system stores search indices across multiple storage locations, and uses the search indices to conduct a document search. In one embodiment, a server receives a search request that includes a keyword. The server hashes the keyword with multiple hash functions to obtain a sequence of hash values, which are used to index a chain of search indices. Each hash value points to an entry of a corresponding search index in the chain. If a search index is not the last index in the chain, the entry provides a reference to the location at which a next search index in the chain can be found. If a search index is the last index in the chain, the entry includes or points to identifiers of documents that contain the keyword in the search request. The documents can be retrieved from document repositories using the identifiers. |
| US08032547B2 |
Methods and apparatus for use in controlling a scan rate for scanning operations in a mobile communication device
Methods and apparatus for use in controlling scanning operations or a scan rate based on call appointments or reminders are disclosed. In one illustrative example, one or more processors of a mobile communication device are operative to identify whether a call appointment or reminder for a communication session to be established during a current time period is stored in the memory, and determine a scan rate for scanning operations of the wireless transceiver which varies based on whether the call appointment or reminder for the communication session to be established is identified. The scan rate may further be determined to vary based on a duration of time over which repeated scanning operations fail to identify a suitable wireless communication network for communication (e.g. as the duration of time increases, the scan rate decreases). |
| US08032545B2 |
Systems and methods for refining identification of clinical study candidates
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for refining the identification of study candidates. In an embodiment, the method may include receiving a plurality of clinical conditions at a user interface. The conditions may generally be tied to codified terms in electronic medical patient records. The method may also include receiving parameters for tailoring a search of electronic medical data for the clinical conditions. For example, the parameters may weight the conditions and may include ranking the conditions, determining whether the conditions are mandatory for the pool, and determining a percentage deviation for numerical ranges. The method may also include executing an optimization function to create a pool according to the specified conditions and parameters. The method may also include displaying the pool in an order from the most optimal results to the least optimal results. |
| US08032543B2 |
Sorting apparatus and method
A sorting apparatus and method for sorting units into a unit storage structure in accordance with a pre-determined order, the sorting apparatus comprising a unit search structure containing a record of units in the unit storage structure, and a unit location pointer structure containing location pointers for units in the unit storage structure, wherein the sorting apparatus receives a unit being sorted, the unit search structure reads the unit being sorted, uses its record of units in the unit storage structure to search for a closest matching unit to the unit being sorted, accesses the unit location pointer structure and retrieves a location pointer for the closest matching unit, and the sorting apparatus uses the location pointer of the closest matching unit to access the unit storage structure and to place the unit being sorted into the unit storage structure in an appropriate position in accordance with the pre-determined order. |
| US08032542B2 |
Creating, verifying, managing, and using original digital files
The present invention provides tools and techniques for distinguishing a file from any or all copies of the file that may exist. One method ascertains (204) the actual physical location of the file (512) and associates (214) that physical location with the file as the claimed physical location (516) of the file. The file's originality status may then be determined (104) by finding (304) the location claim, reading (306) from it the claimed physical location associated with the file, ascertaining (308) the actual physical location of the file, and comparing (310) the locations. If the claimed and actual locations are identical, then the file is the original file it claims to be. If there is disparity between the claimed physical location recited for or by the file and the actual physical location of the file, then it is not the original file it claims to be. |
| US08032540B1 |
Description-based user interface engine for network management applications
A user interface engine may be created that uses a descriptive language to describe the user interface fields, the corresponding device properties, and other layout attributes. This information may be stored in description file. The user interface engine may then read in this description file, render the user interface, and generate device property value payload. Then the payload may be deployed to target devices. This allows a network management application to be modified without requiring user interface code or data structure classes to be written or changed. |
| US08032538B2 |
Information processing device, content title display method, and content title display program
A client terminal displays the titles of downloaded music data such that these titles are classified by albums based on the album identification information associated with each music data and arranged in an order indicated by the recording order information which is associated with each music data. |
| US08032536B2 |
System and method for applying network protocols to telephony
A system and method are provided for enabling telephone users to place information on a network that is accessible by a variety of devices from disparate communication protocols are provided. A telecommunications network provides access to one or more servers to one or more customers. A customer that is provided access to the server is enabled to create a basis of operations called a phonesite. The phonesite is constructed and arranged to allow read, write, and execute privileges to the customer and to those designated by the customer. Files and other information on the phonesite can be accessed and edited from, for example, a standard telephone, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a web cam, an instant message client, and the like. Customers are given a single number with which to access the phonesite, or to allow others to access the phonesite. Other organizations or individuals with phonesites can exchange information in an automated fashion once connection between the two phonesites is authorized and established. |
| US08032528B2 |
Method and system for managing content submission and publication of content
A system and method may include assigning a review request to a queue based on a content subject matter category of content, the review request requesting review of the content, and generating a notification message indicating that the review request is pending in the queue. The system and method may further include providing access to the content via a network for review, processing a response message to the notification message, and determining whether to publish the content based on the response message. |
| US08032524B2 |
Content management system and content management method
A content management system includes a content acquisition device that acquires content; and a management device. The content acquisition device performs the following operations including: transmitting the content; receiving a content ID for identifying the content and a plurality of keyword candidates associated with the content; displaying the keyword candidates; and transmitting a keyword candidate designated from among the displayed keyword candidates with the content ID. The management device performs the following operations including: receiving the content; generating the plurality of keyword candidates based on the content; associating the content with the generated keyword candidates, and generating the content ID for identifying the content; transmitting the content ID and the generated keyword candidates; receiving the designated keyword candidate and the content ID; and registering the designated keyword candidate as a search keyword in the search database in association with content identified by the received content ID. |
| US08032523B2 |
Method and system for data migration
A method and system for migrating source data from one or more databases to a destination database, wherein the destination database is selected based on power consumption of the destination database. A data migration server determines which destination database should be selected by selecting a number of candidates and comparing the power consumed, the available space and the maximum monthly power consumption limit. A user intervention policy is created to evaluate which data should be moved to a destination database. A “payback period” is calculated to determine the amount of time that will elapse before savings are realized. |
| US08032522B2 |
Optimizing parameterized queries in a relational database management system
Parameterized queries are optimized by a transformational optimizer. The optimizer produces a dynamic plan that embeds multiple plan options that may be selected to execute a particular query. Parameter distribution improves query execution efficiency and performance by exploring a sample parameter space representative of the parameter values actually used. The dynamic plans can be simplified while maintaining an acceptable level of optimality by reducing the number of plan options. The reduction is achieved by eliminating switch unions to alternatives that are close in cost. Both approaches of parameter space exploration and dynamic plan generation are deeply integrated into the query optimizer. |
| US08032513B2 |
System for providing multi-variable dynamic search results visualizations
A system are provided for enabling a user to search for documents that the user has previously viewed on its local machine. The system includes three main components: the desktop integration module, the index module, and the graphical user interface module. The desktop integration module is an application which monitors documents with which the user interacts for predetermined events, and obtains content data and metadata from the monitored documents. The index module indexes the content data and metadata received from the desktop integration module. The graphical user interface module then permits a user to utilize the desktop integration module and index module by allowing a user to search for a document. |
| US08032512B1 |
Generating sitemap where last modified time is not available to a network crawler
Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer program products, for generating a sitemap where a last modified time of website content is not available to a network crawler. A sitemap generator determines that a file has a previously stored version number, compares a current version number of the file to the previously stored version number of the file, generates a sitemap having an entry corresponding to the file if the current version number of the file is changed from the previously stored version number, and assigns a new last modified time to a last modified time value for the entry wherein an actual last modified time of the file is not available. A search engine receives the sitemap, determines that the entry was previously indexed at a time before the last modified time value, and accesses file information associated with the file to update an index with the file information. |
| US08032511B1 |
System and method for presenting categorized content on a site using programmatic and manual selection of content items
Embodiments provide for the creation of network pages or presentations that include pages on which programmatically selected/categorized content and manually-identified content from website users may be combined and displayed. |
| US08032509B2 |
Systems and methods for data storage and retrieval using algebraic relations composed from query language statements
Systems and methods for storing and accessing data. A query language statement may reference a plurality of data sets and a plurality of algebraic relations between the data sets may be composed from the query language statement. The algebraic relations may be used to define new data sets and to optimize access to data sets. A store of algebraic relations may be accumulated over time. Alternative collections of algebraic relations may be generated and evaluated to determine an optimized collection of algebraic relations to use in calculating and providing a requested data set. The optimization may be performed using the algebraic relations rather than retrieving underlying data sets from storage. As a result, optimization may be performed at processor speeds to minimize the amount of time required for data to be retrieved from slower storage. |
| US08032505B2 |
Relative document representing system, relative document representing method, and computer readable medium
A relative document representing system includes: a first storage; a receiving unit; a specifying unit; a calculating unit; and a representing unit. |
| US08032504B2 |
Mechanism for enabling new task types to be added to a system for managing distributed nodes
A mechanism is disclosed for enabling new task types to be added to a management server without changing the source code of the management server. To add a new task type, a descriptor file is provided. This descriptor file specifies all of the particulars of the new task type. Any mechanisms referred to in the descriptor file are also provided. At startup time, the management server processes the descriptor file and forms associations between the various aspects of the task type with the mechanisms that are responsible for implementing those various aspects. At runtime, these associations are used to manage the definition and execution of tasks of that task type. By doing so, the management server enables new task types to be added, and enables task instances of the new task types to be defined and executed, without changing the source code of the management server. |
| US08032503B2 |
Deferred maintenance of sparse join indexes
A system and method include defining a snapshot join index using a sparse condition in a join index definition. A new sparse condition of the snapshot join index is compared with an old sparse condition. Rows in a base table are identified as a function of the comparing, and the join index table is updated using the identified rows. |
| US08032499B2 |
Compression of tables based on occurrence of values
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for compression of tables based on occurrence of values. In general, a number representing an amount of occurrences of a frequently occurring value in a group of adjacent rows of a column is generated, a vector representing whether the frequently occurring value exists in a row of the column is generated, and the number and the vector are stored to enable searches of the data represented by the number and the vector. The vector may omit a portion representing the group of adjacent rows. The values may be dictionary-based compression values representing business data such as business objects. The compression may be performed in-memory, in parallel, to improve memory utilization, network bandwidth consumption, and processing performance. |
| US08032492B2 |
Simultaneous activation of virtual devices
Establishing a plurality of storage areas includes associating each of a first plurality of storage areas of a first type that contain sections of data with corresponding ones of second plurality of storage areas of a second type having pointers to alternative sections of data storage areas of the first type, where initially none of the second plurality of storage areas is available for accessing data corresponding thereto, and, after associating all of the first and second plurality of storage areas, activating the second plurality of storage areas to make the second plurality of storage areas available for accessing data. Exclusive access may be enabled for all of the first plurality of storage areas prior to activating the second plurality of storage areas or to each storage area one at a time. |
| US08032490B2 |
Storage system operable to perform LU auditing
A storage system capable of identifying all volumes to be audited is provided.Operation logs 3005 concerning the operations of volumes are associated with a time and stored in storage apparatuses 1400 and 1500, and a management computer 1100 collects information about these operation logs 3005, restores the status history of the operation logs 3005, sets, as an audit range, the operation logs 3005 including volumes with an audit period and audit target data stored therein, extracts the operation logs 3005 belonging to the audit range from the restored status history of the operation logs 3005, and transmits the extracted operation logs 3005 to a computer (requesting computer) 1000. As a result, all the audit target volumes can be identified. |
| US08032489B2 |
Log collection, structuring and processing
The present invention generally relates to log message processing such that events can be detected and alarms can be generated. For example, log messages are generated by a variety of network platforms (e.g., Windows servers, Linux servers, UNIX servers, databases, workstations, etc.). Often, relatively large numbers of logs are generated from these platforms in different formats. A log manager described herein collects such log data using various protocols (e.g., Syslog, SNMP, SMTP, etc.) to determine events. That is, the log manager may communicate with the network platforms using appropriate protocols to collect log messages therefrom. The log manager may then determine events (e.g., unauthorized access, logins, etc.) from the log data and transfer the events to an event manager. The event manager may analyze the events and determine whether alarms should be generated therefrom. |
| US08032487B1 |
System and method for synchronizing data in a networked system
A system and method for synchronizing data in first and second computer servers is provided. The first computer server includes a first plurality of data sets each having a first identifier and a first set of attributes. The second computer server includes second plurality of data sets each having a second identifier and a second set of attributes. The method includes transmitting a second identifier and a second checksum value both associated with one of the second plurality of data sets to the first computer server. The method further includes accessing one of the first plurality of data sets having a first identifier corresponding to the transmitted second identifier to determine a first checksum value associated with the accessed data set. Finally, the method includes transmitting the one of the first plurality of data sets from the first computer server to the second computer server to replace a second set of attributes of the one of the second plurality of data sets with the first set of attributes of the one of the first plurality of data sets. |
| US08032484B2 |
Creation of generic hierarchies
A method and system are disclosed for modeling a relational database. The method comprises the steps of defining a set of data tables to accommodate any number of levels of a business hierarchy and using these tables as a generic data model to handle various levels of requirements of the business hierarchy. This set of tables include a first control table, a second table containing hierarchy nodes in a flattened format, a third table storing unique hierarchy node names, and a fourth table describing the hierarchy nodes in one or more languages. For example, this business hierarchy may be a commodity hierarchy, a geography hierarchy and a client organization hierarchy. Also, in the preferred embodiment, no new tables are needed when a new hierarchy is introduced, and the generic data model supports different numbers of reporting levels from one hierarchy to the next hierarchy. |
| US08032480B2 |
Interactive computing advice facility with learning based on user feedback
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for helping a user make a decision through the use of a computing facility, where the computing facility may be a machine learning facility. The process may begin with an initial question being received by the computing facility from the user. The user may then be provided with a dialogue consisting of questions from the computing facility and the answers provided by the user. The computing facility may then provide a decision to the user based on the dialog and pertaining to the initial question, such as a recommendation, a diagnosis, a conclusion, advice, and the like. In embodiments, future questions and decisions provided by the computing facility may be improved through feedback provided by the user. In embodiments, the present invention may be utilized in conjunction with a third-party application. |
| US08032478B2 |
Modification of relational models
Described herein is a system that facilitates modifying a relational model. The relational model is modified based at least in part upon an identity of a user, and the modified relational model is used to predict queries or advertisements that are of interest to the user. Examples of relational models that are modifiable include a Markov Logic Network, a probabilistic relational model, a BLOG relational model, a structural logistic regression relational model, a relational dependency network, or a probabilistic entity relationship model. |
| US08032477B1 |
Adaptive pattern recognition based controller apparatus and method and human-factored interface therefore
The need for a more-readily usable interface for programmable devices is widely recognized. The present invention relates to programmable sequencing devices, or, more particularly, the remote controls for consumer electronic devices. The present invention provides an enhanced interface for facilitating human input of a desired control sequence in a programmable device by employing specialized visual feedback. The present invention also relates to a new interface and method of interfacing with a programmable device, which is usable as an interface for a programmable video cassette recorder. |
| US08032476B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient indexed storage for unstructured content
A method and apparatus for efficient indexed storage for unstructured content have been disclosed. |
| US08032472B2 |
Intelligent agent for distributed services for mobile devices
Mobile devices, mobile device systems and methods applying to mobile devices are provided that employ intelligent agents in combination with a wide array of remote utilities and information sources to facilitate improving a mobile device user's experience. By collecting contextual information from numerous information sources related to the mobile device user's context, more accurate and optimized determinations and/or inferences are formed relating to which remote utilities to make available to the mobile device user. This facilitates less confusion for the user in selecting desired mobile device content, services, and/or applications. The devices, systems, and methodologies also provide for an improved user experience in an open remote utility provider model. |
| US08032468B2 |
Identifying and recommending potential uses of computing systems based on their patterns of use
Techniques for identifying potential uses of computing systems are disclosed. A potential use of a computing system can be identified by considering the context that effectively represents a situation for the computing system and further considering a known situation to be a match for the situation. As such, a potential state of use of the computing system can be identified based on one or more known states of use of the computing system. A matching situation can, for example, be determined, based on pattern of use data that effectively associates a state of use with a situation in which the use may or has occurred. Identifying a potential state of use, among other things, allows making various applications, tasks, and/or services more accessible and/or effectively recommending what is likely to be used for a given situation without requiring supervised training or direct feedback from a user. |
| US08032460B2 |
Authentication managing apparatus, and shop communication terminal
A money receiving system receives monetary payments without using cash or placing restrictions on recipients of such payments. This system uses an authentication management apparatus and a store communication terminal. The authentication management apparatus includes a receiver for receiving customer ID information, store ID information, and monetary amount information from a store communication terminal, an authentication device for authenticating the customer ID and the store ID, and a transfer device for transferring money indicated by the monetary amount from an account of a store to an account of a customer. The store communication terminal includes a memory for storing store information, a receiver for receiving customer information, an input device for inputting a monetary amount that a store is to pay a customer, and a transmitter for transmitting the store ID, the customer ID, and the monetary amount to an authentication management apparatus. |
| US08032454B2 |
Import declaration/foreign supplier invoice payment reconciliation process
A system and method for verifying the value of goods on a supplier invoice comprises inputting a first value (import declaration value) and second value (payment invoice value) of imported goods in a computer system, and comparing the values. Next, a user is alerted if the values are unequal, or a payment is made if the values are equal. Then, the process is repeated for subsequent invoices. The values are compared for every occurrence, or alternatively, it occurs selectively. The method further comprises selecting a statistical sample of invoices having the first value greater than a predetermined amount. Alternatively, the method comprises selecting a statistical random sample from all invoices in the system, and identifying an amount of occurrences of unequal values, attributed to a common supplier. Then, all invoices of the common supplier are selected if the amount of occurrences exceeds a predetermined amount, and the user is alerted. |
| US08032453B2 |
Method and system for notifying customers of transaction opportunities
A standalone notification system, including a notification server which generates electronic messages for alerting customers of potentially fraudulent activity on one or more of their financial accounts. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the notification system may be used to forward transaction code(s) to customers for verification of a request for high risk transaction(s) with respect to a customer's financial account. The transaction code is generated in response to a high risk transaction request and sent to through an identified customer notification means, e.g., e-mail, short message service (“SMS”), facsimile, mobile phone, telephone, etc. The customer must enter the transaction code within a predetermined amount of time in order to verify the high-risk transaction request. |
| US08032452B2 |
Multiple-entity transaction systems and methods
Methods and systems are provided for performing a funds transfer. A request to transfer funds to a recipient is received at a host system, as well as an identification of a selected funds-transfer company chosen from a group of funds-transfer companies and a request to provide the funds to the recipient. Information related to the request is transmitted from the host system to a payout system. The request to transfer funds may include an identification of a retrieval location, with a list of funds-transfer companies that offer funds-transfer services to the retrieval location further being transmitted from the host system to a funds-transfer initiating system. |
| US08032447B2 |
Method and system for reserving future purchases of goods and services
A method and system for reserving future purchases of goods or services or events including plural electronic options with associated option fees for the goods or services or events. The plural electronic options include electronic option terms established by one or more suppliers who can supply the goods or services or events. The purchase of the electronic option is accepted according to electronic option terms established by the desired supplier. The option terms may vary greatly among the individual suppliers and no two suppliers may use the same option terms. Final pricing and final features of the goods or services or final pricing of events is determined using electronic counters for accepted purchases of electronic options that have decremented down to a desired pre-determined value. |
| US08032446B2 |
Securitization of a commercial transaction
A method and apparatus for generating a tradable security includes confirming a vendor's compliance with predefined terms of a commercial transaction, such that a buyer is obligated to make a due payment. The method and apparatus further includes electronically rating a financial commitment relating to a receivable account for the commercial transaction. This receivable account is rated based on conditions and factors known to a system facilitating the commercial transaction. Based on the ability for the financial commitment to be rated, a financial exchange is operative to transfer entitlement rights to monies due under the receivable account where the terms for the transfer of the entitlement rights are based at least in part on the electronic rating. Thereby, receivable accounts to commercial transactions may be tradable by one or more investors as properly rated investment. |
| US08032445B2 |
System and method for dynamically changing an electronic trade order quantity
A system and methods for dynamically changing a trade order quantity in an electronic trading environment are described herein. According to one example embodiment, an automated trading tool determines if a leaned on quantity of a trading strategy has increased or decreased and if so, dynamically changing a desired order quantity to reflect the change in the leaned on quantity. Dynamically changing an order quantity may be more profitable for a trader as order queue position may be maintained and portion of the desired order quantity may get filled; rather than a trader losing their order queue position and/or taking a chance of not getting any of their order quantity filled. |
| US08032443B2 |
Systems and methods for enabling trading of currency
Systems and method of enabling trading in currencies are provided. A method of trading a foreign currency option on an electronic trading system according to the invention may include executing a trade of the foreign currency option between a buyer and a seller, locking the trading system with respect to the traded foreign currency option, querying the buyer whether the buyer desires to buy or sell additional volume of the option, querying the seller whether the seller desires to sell or buy additional volume of the option, and authorizing additional participants to join the trade and querying the additional participants whether each of the additional participants desires to buy or sell a volume of the option. The method may also include starting a countdown timer and displaying the timer on the graphical user interface of the buyer, the seller and the additional parties and receiving buy and sell orders from the at least one of the buyer, the seller and additional participants. Following the expiration of the countdown timer, the method preferably includes matching existing buy orders and sell orders for the option. In one embodiment of the invention, the matching occurs according to a predetermined order priority. |
| US08032438B1 |
Method and system for automating fraud authorization strategies
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a computer implemented method and system for automatically implementing a fraud strategy may involve identifying transaction data related to a customer transaction based on a payment instrument; automatically identifying a pattern based on one or more factors associated with a customer spending profile; identifying a potential fraud situation based on the identified pattern and the transaction data; executing an action for the potential fraud situation; and adjusting authorized use of the payment instrument. |
| US08032434B2 |
Systems and methods for issuing and maintaining a bond
According to some embodiments, a bond is issued to an investor in exchange for value. The bond may be, for example, a tax-free municipal bond associated with (i) a spread to a pre-determined index, (ii) a nominal maturity date, (iii) an initial mandatory tender date prior to the nominal maturity date, and/or (iv) an option for the investor to extend the initial mandatory tender date during an initial decision period. According to some embodiments an indication is received, during the initial decision period, indicating that the investor will extend the initial mandatory tender date. It may then be arranged for the initial mandatory tender date to be extended such that the bond will be associated with a subsequent option for the investor to extend an extended tender date during a subsequent decision period. |
| US08032433B1 |
Shari'ah compliant private equity investment system
Methods and systems are provided whereby an Islamic investor (106) transfers a commodity to a corporate investor (108) in exchange for a contract to repay the value of the commodity plus a target rate of return in accordance with and agreed-upon schedule (204). The corporate investor in turn converts the commodity to a liquid asset for investment in an investment fund (206). The returns from the investment fund are used to satisfy the contract with the Islamic investor (214). The investment is thus made in accordance with Shari'ah law. |
| US08032428B2 |
Method and system for universal gift registry
A universal gift registry providing a partial payment option for gift givers and a mandatory and contingent gift substitution for gift recipients. The gift recipient registers any type of gift idea from any store or establishment, for any occasion with an associated gift amount in the registry. The registrant is able to name their own gift price by selecting a gift amount not necessarily the same as the retail cost of the gift idea. The gift recipient also indicates whether they will accept a contingent substitute of gift or cash if the system is unable to provide the gift idea at the gift amount. The recipient can also select mandatory substitution of gift or cash. A gift giver is also able to select a gift idea and make a partial contribution toward purchase of the gift idea. |
| US08032418B2 |
Searching apparatus and a method of searching
A search engine at a service provider is configured to identify commercial suppliers in response to a keyword specified by a user. Keywords are received and searches are performed on an index database to identify displayable text items. Images are stored in the form of commercially relevant graphical images such as logos. A logo is linked to each item of displayable text and an output list is produced in which each text item includes a displayable graphical image. The system may store different image formats to allow the graphical images to be displayed on a variety of platforms. |
| US08032417B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for tracking inventory values within a plant
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed in a computer system for tracking inventory values. Multiple physical storage locations, within a plant, are defined where inventory items can be stored. An indication that an inventory item is being physically moved from a first storage location to a second storage location is received. In response to the receipt of the indication, a financial value of the inventory item is determined and an indication is provided that the financial value was transferred from the first physical storage location to the second physical storage location, wherein the financial value of the inventory item is tracked as the inventory item is physically moved within the plant. |
| US08032416B2 |
Method for the decomposition in modules of smart-card event-driven applications
A method for separating an event-driven application in an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a smart-card, and the application resident in the smart-card may be separated in at least two modules: a central module and one or more complementary modules. The method includes managing the interaction between the modules by a framework of the smart-card, and generating new set of events by the framework at the end of execution of the central module. In this manner, the central module can be developed early in production and in any set of programming languages. It can access any card resources and even in an architecture dependent way. |
| US08032415B2 |
Immediate recognition of financial transactions
Immediate recognition of deposits and other transactions may be provided by a financial institution for transactions conducted at a remote location. The financial institution may receive transaction data from a device at the remote location and immediately acknowledge the transaction and provide a non-provisional credit to an entity's account. The device may include various currency handling devices such as automatic teller machines (ATM), self-payment kiosks, cash registers and the like. A financial institution may further provide a real-time cash position of an entity across multiple currency handling devices of the entity. |
| US08032406B2 |
System and method of assortment, space, and price optimization in retail store
A computer-implemented method involves modeling of product decisions in a retail store. The product decision variables are profit, assortment, placement, promotion, and inventory. Various rules and constraints such as facing elasticity, shelf replenishment costs, shelf space, carrying costs, facing capacity, slotting fees, and cannibalization are defined for multiple product decision variables. An objective function utilizes the rules and constraints for the multiple product decision variables. The objective function model is resolved by uses nested loops to solve for a first variable, and then using the first variable to solve for a second variable. Each decision variable in the objective function is controllable by externally determined multipliers. The objective function simultaneously models each of the multiple product decision variables by iteratively resolving the objective function into values which optimize sales, revenue, and profit for the retail store. The model is output in graphic format. |
| US08032404B2 |
Method and system for estimating financial benefits of packaged application service projects
A system for calculating financial benefit estimations and generating reports for multi-dimensional project plans for implementing packaged software applications, the system includes: a view layer configured to act as a user interface for user inputs and system outputs; a model and control layer configured to implement rules based on a series of estimation and implementation models, and to perform calculations to determine financial benefits of implementing multi-dimensional project plans; an estimation knowledge base layer configured to hold and derive the series of estimation and implementation models; and wherein the system for generating financial benefit estimations and reports for the implementation of packaged software applications is carried out over networks comprising: the Internet, intranets, local area networks (LAN), and wireless local area networks (WLAN). |
| US08032402B2 |
Itinerary search tool for territory management
Electronically creating an itinerary schedule in a calendar program. A geographic indicator and a calendar date are acquired and coordinated with each other to define an itinerary entry. The itinerary entry is included into a calendar program maintained by the machine. The step of acquiring the geographic indicator further comprises the step of updating a counter upon each selection of a geographic indicator. Another method electronically populates a calendar program with an event using an itinerary entry. Optionally, health care providers from within a geographic indicator are included in the itinerary entry. A geographic indicator and calendar date are obtained from an itinerary entry, and additional search criteria are input. A search of a database is executed to identify candidates matching the geographic indicator and search criteria. Candidate matches are assigned to a time slot, and each time slot is populated into the calendar program on the calendar date. |
| US08032400B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing assessments
Described are techniques used in connection with providing insolvency services in connection with guaranty funds, such as property and casualty guaranty funds, upon the occurrence of an insurance company insolvency. A client/server system provides for creating and maintaining a database of state and insurance company member information. Operations, such as calculations, are performed in accordance with different rules that are associated with varying state laws and rules that may vary with insurance account. A range of functions are performed by the system comprising report generation, unearned premium calculations, assessment calculation, claim entry and management, administrative tasks, and other related operations. The system which provides services and operations in connection with managing insolvency funds may interact with other applications and systems, such as an accounting system, word processing system, and the like by generating data used as input in these other systems. Also described is a database schema representing a relationship between the different data entities that may be stored in a database in connection with performing insolvency operations. |
| US08032391B2 |
Dynamic bulk packing and casing
Automated techniques for identifying packaging solutions, where a dynamic, automated decision is made as to whether items are to be bulk packed and/or whether particular containers are to be bulk cased (that is, consolidated within casing such as pallets). Factors considered may comprise customer-specific requests, order destination, type of items, quantity of items, size of items, quantity of grouped orders, size of grouped orders, and so forth. Orders may contain items that are alike as well as items that are different from one another. A particular order or orders may be assembled as the items of the order(s) arrive for packaging, without requiring a fixed timing or sequence of item arrival, thereby providing a dynamic, real-time packaging solution. |
| US08032390B2 |
Context information management
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, to manage context information of events. Data characterizing an event is received, a data structure is generated, and an event resolution procedure that is to be initiated is determined (e.g., based on the data characterizing the event and one or more associated business processes being identified). The event may be defined in a business process (e.g., a computer-implemented business), for example, as a business activity. The relevance of the event to one or more business processes may be computed (e.g., to determine if the event relates to a business process such that action for a business process may be required) such that relevant business processes are identified. The data structure may be generated in response to receipt of the data (e.g., after the identification of the event or at about the same time). |
| US08032389B2 |
Method for use of environmental classification in product selection
Methods and software for selecting seed products or other agricultural inputs for planting within an associated land base include classifying the land base with an environmental classification, determining at least one seed product to plant within the land base based on the environmental classification, and providing an output comprising identification of the at least one seed product to plant within the land base. |
| US08032383B1 |
Speech controlled services and devices using internet
A speech service, including a speech-to-text engine and a text-to-speech engine, creates and maintains user profiles at a central location accessible over the Internet. A user connects to a software application over a mobile telephone and delivers a voice command. The speech service transcribes the voice command into a text command for the software application. The software application performs a service desired by the user and delivers a text result to the speech service that is converted into a speech result that is delivered to the user. A user speaks to a hardware device to perform a function. The hardware device sends the speech to the speech service over the Internet that transcribes the speech into a text command that is sent over the Internet to a device service provider. The device service provider maps the text command into a device command that is then sent back over the Internet to the hardware device to perform the function. A remote hardware device can be controlled using the software application. |
| US08032379B2 |
Creating and editing web 2.0 entries including voice enabled ones using a voice only interface
The present invention discloses a method for creating Web 2.0 entries, such as WIKI entries. In the method, a voice communication channel can be established between a user and an automated response system. User speech input can be received over the voice communication channel. A Web 2.0 entry can be created based upon the speech input. The Web 2.0 entry can be saved in a data store accessible by a Web 2.0 server. The Web 2.0 server can serve the saved Web 2.0 entry to Web 2.0 clients. The Web 2.0 clients can include a graphical and/or a voice interface through which the Web 2.0 entry can be presented to users of the clients. The created Web 2.0 entries (e.g. Web 2.0 application) can be formatted in an ATOM PUBLISHING PROTOCOL compliant manner. |
| US08032378B2 |
Content and advertising service using one server for the content, sending it to another for advertisement and text-to-speech synthesis before presenting to user
Methods and systems for providing a network-accessible text-to-speech synthesis service are provided. The service accepts content as input. After extracting textual content from the input content, the service transforms the content into a format suitable for high-quality speech synthesis. Additionally, the service produces audible advertisements, which are combined with the synthesized speech. The audible advertisements themselves can be generated from textual advertisement content. |
| US08032374B2 |
Method and apparatus for recognizing continuous speech using search space restriction based on phoneme recognition
Provided are an apparatus and method for recognizing continuous speech using search space restriction based on phoneme recognition. In the apparatus and method, a search space can be primarily reduced by restricting connection words to be shifted at a boundary between words based on the phoneme recognition result. In addition, the search space can be secondarily reduced by rapidly calculating a degree of similarity between the connection word to be shifted and the phoneme recognition result using a phoneme code and shifting the corresponding phonemes to only connection words having degrees of similarity equal to or higher than a predetermined reference value. Therefore, the speed and performance of the speech recognition process can be improved in various speech recognition services. |
| US08032373B2 |
Closed-loop command and response system for automatic communications between interacting computer systems over an audio communications channel
A system and method for enabling two computer systems to communicate over an audio communications channel, such as a voice telephony connection. Such a system includes a software application that enables a user's computer to call, interrogate, download, and manage a voicemail account stored on a telephone company's computer, without human intervention. A voicemail retrieved from the telephone company's computer can be stored in a digital format on the user's computer. In such a format, the voicemail can be readily archived, or even distributed throughout a network, such as the Internet, in a digital form, such as an email attachment. Preferably a computationally efficient audio recognition algorithm is employed by the user's computer to respond to and navigate the automated audio menu of the telephone company's computer. |
| US08032369B2 |
Arbitrary average data rates for variable rate coders
Methods and apparatus are provided for achieving an arbitrary average data rate for a variable rate coder. One method includes selecting a set (e.g., a pair) of initial composite rates surrounding the arbitrary average data rate. A reallocation fraction is then calculated based on the initial composite rates. The reallocation fraction is used to reassign a number of frames from one component rate of an initial composite rate to another in order to achieve the arbitrary average data rate. Such a method may be configured such that selecting an initial composite rate on one side of (e.g., less than) the arbitrary average data rate implicitly selects the initial composite rate on the other side of the arbitrary average data rate. |
| US08032367B2 |
Bit-rate converting apparatus and method thereof
A bit-rate converting apparatus and a method thereof, in which bit-rate conversion is executed by low computational complexity, are provided. The bit-rate conversion is executed in a frequency domain, and psycho-acoustic analysis is not needed by using information included in an inputted bit-stream before the bit-rate conversion is applied. With this, the computational complexity is lowered. And in order that many equal values are not contained in a frequency domain signal, which is inputted to a quantizing means, a quantized value before inverse quantizating is applied is modified, or an inverse quantized value after the inverse quantizing was applied is modified. With this, fine control for the bit-rate is made to be easy. |
| US08032365B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling echo in the coded domain
A method and corresponding apparatus for coded-domain acoustic echo control is presented. An echo control problem is considered as that of perceptually matching an echo signal to a reference signal. A perceptual similarity function that is based on the coded spectral parameters produced by the speech codec is defined. Since codecs introduce a significant degree of non-linearity into the echo signal, the similarity function is designed to be robust against such effects. The similarity function is incorporated into a coded-domain echo control system that also includes spectrally-matched noise injection for replacing echo frames with comfort noise. Using actual echoes recorded over a commercial mobile network, it is shown herein that the similarity function is robust against both codec non-linearities and additive noise. Experimental results further show that the echo-control is effective at suppressing echoes compared to a Normalized Least Mean Squared (NLMS)-based echo cancellation system. |
| US08032363B2 |
Adaptive postfiltering methods and systems for decoding speech
A method of processing a decoded speech (DS) signal including successive DS frames, each DS frame including DS samples. The method comprises: adaptively filtering the DS signal to produce a filtered signal; gain-scaling the filtered signal with an adaptive gain updated once a DS frame, thereby producing a gain-scaled signal; and performing a smoothing operation to smooth possible waveform discontinuities in the gain-scaled signal. |
| US08032361B2 |
Audio processing apparatus and method for processing two sampled audio signals to detect a temporal position
An audio processing apparatus for processing two sampled audio signals to detect a temporal position of one of the audio signals with respect to the other. The apparatus detects audio power characteristics of each signal in respect of successive continuous temporal portions of each of the two signals, the portions having identical lengths and each portion including at least two audio samples, and correlates the detected audio power characteristics in respect of the two audio signals to establish a most likely temporal offset between the two audio signals. |
| US08032356B2 |
Spoken translation system using meta information strings
Spoken translation system which detects both speech from the information and also detects meta information streams from the information. A first aspect produces an enriched training corpus of information for use in the machine translation. A second aspect uses two different extraction techniques, and combines them by lattice rescoring. |
| US08032352B2 |
Device, system, and method of storage controller simulating data mirroring
Device, system, and method of storage controller simulating data mirroring. For example, an apparatus for simulating data mirroring includes: a storage controller to control a primary storage unit that has data stored therein, wherein the storage controller is able to simulate a process of mirroring data stored in the primary storage unit in response to a mirroring simulation command. |
| US08032345B2 |
Method for updating a geological model using dynamic data and well tests
Method for optimizing the development of an underground reservoir, wherein a geological model is updated using dynamic data and well tests.A reservoir model is constructed by performing a geological model scale change. Dynamic data are simulated from this reservoir model. Influence zones are identified within the geological model where the well tests induce a pressure variation during well testing. Well tests are then simulated for each influence zone. An objective function measuring the difference between the simulated data and the measured data is calculated. The geological model is then modified so as to reduce to the maximum the objective function using a geostatistical parametrizing technique. Finally, development of the underground reservoir is optimized by evaluating, by means of a flow simulator, the reservoir production for various production schemes.Application: notably oil reservoir development. |
| US08032343B2 |
Method of optimizing weld design for concurrent consideration of performance and manufacturing requirements
A method of weld design for a work piece is provided. The work piece may be a unitary piece or a multi-component piece. The method includes determining a manufacturing feasible region of the work piece satisfying one or more predetermined manufacturing requirements including accessibility of welding components. The method includes determining a performance feasibility function satisfying one or more predetermined performance factors as applied in a performance simulation of the work piece. The workpiece may have a varying number of welds. An optimized weld design may be determined by minimizing an objective function, defined as a summation of the number of welds and the performance feasibility function, within the manufacturing feasible region. The optimized weld design is configured to have a minimum number of welds, and concurrently satisfy the predetermined manufacturing requirements and the performance factors. |
| US08032342B2 |
Segmentation and interpolation of current waveforms
A method for generating a linear piecewise representation of a driver output current signal includes segmenting the driver output current signal such that an integral of each segment matches an actual voltage change in corresponding portion of an associated output voltage signal (within a desired tolerance). The beginning and ending current/time values for each segment can then be compiled into the piecewise linear representation of the driver output current signal. A method for generating a model driver output current signal includes conformally mapping first and second sets of precharacterization output current data based on a weighted average of the indexing parameter (e.g., input slew or output capacitance) values for the model driver output signal and the first and second sets of precharacterization data. |
| US08032341B2 |
Modeling a process using a composite model comprising a plurality of regression models
A system for detecting abnormal operation of at least a portion of a process plant includes a composite model for modeling at least the portion of the process plant. The model may be configurable to include multiple regression models corresponding to multiple different operating regions of the portion of the process plant. A new model may be generated from two or more of the regression models, and the composite model may be revised to replace the two or more regression models with the new model. The system may also include a deviation detector configured to determine if the actual operation of the portion of the process plant deviates significantly from the operation predicted by the composite model. If there is a significant deviation, this may indicate an abnormal operation. |
| US08032337B2 |
Method for modeling customized earpieces
The present invention relates to a method for computer-controlled modelling of customised earpieces. These earpieces include housings for hearing aids, wireless or connected communication devices (headsets, mobile phones, personal agents), loud speakers, tinnitus masking devices, devices recording vibrations in the skull and transforming these into audio signals, voice recognition devices, earplugs, noise blockers with selective frequencies or sound levels, Man Machine Interface (MMI) products that enable clear communication even in the noisiest environments, or products related to wireless Internet applications. All these earpieces may be worn in the user's meatus and/or auditory canal. The invention also relates to a computerised system for manufacturing such customised earpieces. In particular, the invention is directed to a computerised system that models an earpiece based on a three-dimensional replica of the user's meatus and/or auditory canal. |
| US08032333B2 |
Hierarchical approach for health aware electronic modules
A system and method for collecting and analyzing information from environmental occurrences that may have an adverse effect on electrical components in the vehicle. The information is passed up through a hierarchical structure to a higher level controller where the information can be used to detect the health of various electrical components and sub-systems on the vehicles. The vehicle may employ sensors that are specifically provided to detect environmental disturbances or abnormal conditions on the vehicle, or may use electrical devices on the vehicle used for other purposes that have the capability of detecting such disturbances and conditions. |
| US08032330B2 |
Electromagnetic interference sensor device and method and computer program
A portable diagnostic apparatus is brought proximal to a device to be diagnosed. While the device to be diagnosed is operating, a radiofrequency interference signal emitted by the device is received at the portable apparatus and a data representation of it is stored. The data representation is submitted for matching to a diagnostic signal pattern stored in a database of predetermined signal patterns. From the matching is identified and output an indication of a fault in the device to be diagnosed. In one embodiment the submitting is to the database stored in the portable apparatus itself, and in another embodiment the submitting is outputting (data cable, wireless link) the stored data representation to a diagnostic computer such as a personal computer, a peer device, or a remote diagnostic center. The RF interference signal may be one stream and the portable apparatus receives at least a second stream and both streams are used for the matching. |
| US08032329B2 |
Method and system to monitor, debug, and analyze performance of an electronic design
Various methods and apparatuses are described that provide instrumentation and analysis of an electronic design. A performance monitoring apparatus may be located on an interconnect of a fabricated integrated circuit. An event measurement module (EM) includes an event generator sub-module that generates monitoring events and event measurements associated with transactions between initiator intellectual property (IP) cores and target IP cores over the interconnect. The EM further includes a software visible register block that provides software access for controlling the EM on which one or more transactions to monitor and to configure one or more parameters associated with that transaction to track. The EM further includes a filtering sub-module that selects transactions to be monitored based on information received from the software. The performance counter module aggregates events and event measurements received from the EM into quantities of performance metrics associated with transactions between the IP cores over the interconnect. |
| US08032326B2 |
Magnetic data processing device, method, and program, and magnetic processing system
A magnetic data processing device sequentially receives magnetic data samples each of which is three-dimensional vector data represented by a linear combination of fundamental vectors and which are outputted from a three-dimensional magnetic sensor. The magnetic data processing device defines a statistical population which includes a plurality of the magnetic data samples sequentially inputted and which signifies a rotation of the three-dimensional magnetic sensor of a predetermined range, and operates when a distribution of the magnetic data samples of the statistical population is flat, for deducing a direction perpendicular to a plane which approximates the flat distribution of the statistical population, as vertical-direction data representing a vertical direction. |
| US08032325B2 |
Device for sensing a radial position spread over more than 90 degrees
The invention produces contactless radial position sensors having an equivalent angular aperture greater than 90°, and substantially eliminates the spurious microvibrations due to the imperfections of the current sensors. For this, the invention uses at least four independent sensors and an electronic device capable of virtually placing in series said sensors in groups of two or three in order to spread the equivalent angular aperture of said groups of sensors. |
| US08032323B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining a temperature of a temperature sensing element
An apparatus and method measure a temperature of a temperature sensing element having a temperature dependent resistance based on a ratio of discharge times of a capacitor through a reference resistance and through the combination of the reference resistance in parallel with the temperature sensing element is disclosed. A reference discharge time is determined by measuring the discharge time of the capacitor from a first voltage to a second voltage through a reference resistance. A temperature evaluation discharge time is determined by measuring the time to discharge the capacitor from the first voltage to the second voltage through the reference resistance in parallel with the temperature sensing element. The ratio of the temperature evaluation discharge time to the reference discharge time is used to determine the temperature and produce a digital representation of the temperature. |
| US08032322B2 |
Apparatus for measuring a frequency-domain optical coherence tomography power spectrum from a sample
An apparatus is provided for measuring a frequency-domain optical coherence tomography power spectrum from a sample. The apparatus includes a broadband light source, an optical spectrum analyzer, and a partially reflective element optically coupled to the light source, to the optical spectrum analyzer, and to the sample. A first portion of light from the light source is reflected by the partially reflective element and propagates to the optical spectrum analyzer. A second portion of light from the light source propagating through the partially reflective element, impinging the sample, reflecting from the sample, and propagating to the optical spectrum analyzer. |
| US08032321B2 |
Multi-layered biosensor encoding systems
A biosensor system determines the presence and/or concentration of an analyte in a sample using one or more calibrated correlation equations. The analysis may be electrochemical, optical, or a combination thereof. The biosensor system may be implemented using a measurement device and a sensor strip. The measurement device applies test signals to a multi-layered encoding area of the sensor strip. Calibration information is determined from the patterns generated by the interaction of the test signals with the multi-layered encoding area. |
| US08032319B1 |
Methods for analyzing streaming composite waveforms
Methods for signal processing employ instantaneous frequency analysis through quadrature genometric measurement of streaming signal data. Such methods may include the analysis of any composite analog periodic signal, including but not limited to audio, video, radio, seismic, light, radar, sonar, EKG, where signal data is streaming, stationary or non-stationary, and represents either linear or non-linear processes. |
| US08032309B2 |
Method for identifying motifs and/or combinations of motifs having a boolean state of predetermined mutation in a set of sequences and its application
A method for identifying a motif or a combination of motifs having a Boolean state of predetermined mutations in a set of sequences including a) aligning a set of sequences of ordered motifs represented by a single-character code, b) comparing a reference sequence with the set of sequences aligned in step (a), c) identifying motifs not having mutated simultaneously or motifs having mutated simultaneously at least once on at least one sequence of the set and not having mutated on another sequence of the set. |
| US08032308B2 |
Modeling lung cancer survival probability after or side-effects from therapy
Modeling of prognosis of survivability, side-effect, or both is provided. For example, RILI is predicted using bullae information. The amount, volume or ratio of Bullae, even alone, may indicate the likelihood of complication, such as the likelihood of significant (e.g., stage 3) pneumonitis. As another example, RILI is predicted using uptake values of an imaging agent. Standardized uptake from a functional image (e.g., FDG uptake from a positron emission image), alone or in combination with other features, may indicate the likelihood of side-effect. In another example, survivability, such as two-year survivability, is predicted using blood biomarkers. The characteristics of a patient's blood may be measured and, alone or in combination with other features, may indicate the likelihood of survival. The modeling may be for survivability, side-effect, or both and may use one or more of the blood biomarker, uptake value, and bullae features. |
| US08032300B2 |
Method and system for restricting the use of position determining devices to defined regions
In a position determining system that includes a position determining component such as a GPS receiver, and a controller, the system is made geographically dependent by providing a memory with geographic information to which position information from the position determining component is compared to determine whether the system is being used outside the permissible geographic region. |
| US08032295B2 |
Pressure-maintaining function in a fully hybrid drive
A method for maintaining and/or adjusting a system pressure in a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine, in which the internal combustion engine is a part of an hybrid power train, which includes in addition at least one further drive. A system pressure in a reservoir element of the fuel injection system is monitored using a pressure sensor. In operating modes in which the internal combustion engine is shut down and/or is separated from the hybrid power train, the maintaining or the adjusting of the system pressure takes place via a pressure-regulating valve. The activation of the pressure-regulating valve takes place directly or indirectly via a control unit or a vehicle control unit or a clutch control unit. |
| US08032293B2 |
Method of controlling an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine
In a method for controlling an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel internal combustion engine, at least one variable is formed on a cylinder-specific basis, which variable characterizes a respective profile of a combustion in an associated combustion chamber, and the control of cylinder-specific fuel injection parameters is influenced as a function of said at least one variable which characterizes the combustion profile. |
| US08032290B2 |
Control device for an internal combustion engine
A control device for an internal combustion engine can quickly control, regardless of variation of the quantity of evaporative fuel gas adsorbed in a canister of the engine, the air-fuel ratio to a target value by performing air-fuel ratio feedback compensation control so as not to cause the emission performance of the engine to deteriorate. For the first canister purge performed after the engine is started up, a purge valve is driven for a prescribed period at a prescribed purge flow rate. During the period, the quantity of purged fuel is calculated using an air-fuel ratio feedback factor. Based on the fuel quantity thus calculated, an adsorption quantity estimation section estimates the quantity of evaporative fuel gas adsorbed in the canister. At the same time, a fuel evaporation quantity calculation section calculates the quantity of fuel evaporating from a fuel tank according to the condition of the engine and vehicle, and the quantity of fuel in the canister is estimated based on the balance between the quantities of fuel charged to and purged from the canister. |
| US08032289B2 |
Power output apparatus, internal combustion engine system, and control methods thereof
On the occasion of a cutoff of fuel supply to an engine in an accelerator-off state, the invention expands a throttle opening over a specific throttle opening set in the state of idling of the engine at the reference rotation speed. On resumption of fuel injection to the engine, the invention reduces the throttle opening to the specific throttle opening set in the state of idling of the engine at the reference rotation speed. Under no control of lowering the rotation speed of the engine by a motor or under the condition of low vehicle speed with control of lowering the rotation speed of the engine by the motor, the invention resumes fuel injection to the engine resumed with setting of a smaller correction amount to a fuel increase correction amount. |
| US08032288B2 |
Upshift control system of an automatic transmission and method thereof
An upshift control system and method of an automatic transmission. The system includes a vehicle speed detector outputting a vehicle speed signal; a transmission control unit for receiving the signal, calculating a target hydraulic pressure based on a change of the vehicle speed, and outputting a control signal corresponding to the target hydraulic pressure; and an actuator for controlling an actual hydraulic pressure of an on-coming element based on the control signal. The method includes determining whether a vehicle speed changes during an upshift; calculating the change of the vehicle speed; calculating a target hydraulic pressure based on the change of the vehicle speed; and controlling an actual hydraulic pressure of an on-coming element based on the target hydraulic pressure. The target hydraulic pressure may be calculated by adding a modified hydraulic pressure, proportional to the rate of change of the vehicle speed, to a constant reference hydraulic pressure. |
| US08032282B2 |
Damping characteristics control apparatus for a vehicle suspension
A damping characteristics control apparatus is provided for a vehicle suspension having a shock absorber mounted between a sprung member and an unsprung member for each wheel. Damping force of the shock absorber is controlled on the basis of damping coefficient obtained by C(absorber)=(Gain*|y−z|/|y′|)*[(T|z′|+L)/|y−z|]p wherein C(absorber); damping coefficient, z′; sprung velocity, y′; unsprung velocity, |y−z|; relative displacement, T; interval time of sprung member moving relative to unsprung member, L; displacement of sprung member stopped against unsprung member, Gain; control gain, p; parameter for determining effective range for control about neutral position of absorber. |
| US08032274B2 |
Diagnostic system for automatic transmission
A diagnostic system for an automatic transmission is provided in which a microcomputer determines that torque that can drive the driving wheels of the vehicle is not transmitted to an output shaft of the automatic transmission when the vehicle is stopped and the ignition key is operated to the OFF position, and performs forced energization of solenoids of solenoid valves associated with respective friction devices of the transmission, while monitoring current passing through the solenoid valves. If the current monitored does not match the current for energizing any of the solenoids, the microcomputer determines that the corresponding solenoid valve is at fault. Thus, the diagnostic system appropriately determines the presence of a fault of each solenoid valve for controlling the hydraulic pressure to each friction device, with increased flexibility and freedom. |
| US08032271B2 |
Boat propulsion unit and boat
A boat is capable of preventing shocks on gears in meshing engagement with each other and an abrupt movement thereof when a remote control shift lever is quickly rotated to reverse from a cruising mode. A control microcomputer is arranged to control the operation of a shift actuator based on the displacement of a remote control shift lever for remotely switching between forward, neutral, and reverse positions. The control microcomputer has a shift detector arranged to detect whether a shift operation from the neutral position to the forward position or the reverse position was made based on a signal from a lever position sensor arranged to detect the position of the remote control shift lever; and a switch control which does not drive a shift motor when a shift operation from the neutral position to the forward position or the reverse position is detected by the shift detector and the engine rotational speed detected by the engine rotational speed sensor is higher than a prescribed value, and drives the shift motor and controls a shift operating device to start shifting when the engine rotational speed decreases to a value equal to or smaller than the prescribed value. |
| US08032269B2 |
Control surface failure detection for fly-by-wire aircraft
A flight control system which detects a failure of a flight control surface and performs at least one action in response to the detected failure. |
| US08032266B2 |
Method for selecting aircraft access point into a lateral free evolution area
This method facilitates the joining, by an aircraft, of a secure zone, without constraint of deployment in the horizontal plane, in particular when the latter is threatened by a risk of collision with the ground or by a risk of penetration into a forbidden zone which cannot be resolved by a purely vertical avoidance maneuver. It consists in selecting a point for joining a zone of free lateral deployment by means of a criterion of minimum cost of the initial maneuver of turning at the start of the trajectory for joining the possible points of access to the zones of free lateral deployment. |
| US08032265B2 |
System and method for enhancing computer-generated images of terrain on aircraft displays
A system and method are disclosed for enhancing the visibility and ensuring the correctness of terrain and navigation information on aircraft displays, such as, for example, continuous, three-dimensional perspective view aircraft displays conformal to the visual environment. More specifically, an aircraft display system is disclosed that includes a processing unit, a navigation system, a database for storing high resolution terrain data, a graphics display generator, and a visual display. One or more independent, higher precision databases with localized position data, such as navigation data or position data is onboard. Also, one or more onboard vision sensor systems associated with the navigation system provides real-time spatial position data for display, and one or more data links is available to receive precision spatial position data from ground-based stations. Essentially, before terrain and navigational objects (e.g., runways) are displayed, a real-time correction and augmentation of the terrain data is performed for those regions that are relevant and/or critical to flight operations, in order to ensure that the correct terrain data is displayed with the highest possible integrity. These corrections and augmentations performed are based upon higher precision, but localized onboard data, such as navigational object data, sensor data, or up-linked data from ground stations. Whenever discrepancies exist, terrain data having a lower integrity can be corrected in real-time using data from a source having higher integrity data. A predictive data loading approach is used, which substantially reduces computational workload and thus enables the processing unit to perform such augmentation and correction operations in real-time. |
| US08032259B2 |
Bi-directional power control
An electrical circuit for bi-directional power control between two devices, including a first battery-operated device, including a first battery for providing a source of power to the first battery-operated device, a first power management subsystem connected to the first battery, to power on and power off components of the first battery-operated device in response to a first wakeup event, WE1, and a first on/off button for generating WE1, a second battery-operated device, including a second battery for providing a source of power to the second battery-operated device, a second power management subsystem connected to the second battery, to power on and power off components of the second battery-operated device in response to a second wakeup event WE2, a second on/off button for generating WE2, and a switch for generating WE1 simultaneously when the second on/off button generates WE2, and circuitry including a single connection inter-connecting the first power management subsystem, the first on/off button, the second power management subsystem, the second on/off button, and the switch for generating WE1. |
| US08032258B2 |
Multi-channel chemical transport bus for microfluidic and other applications
A controllable multiple-channel chemical transport bus routing and transport of fluids, gasses, aerosols, slurries and the like within a larger system. The system and methods are applicable for use in Lab-on-a-Chip (LoC) technology, and may be useful in the implementation of reconfigurable LoC devices. Routes through the bus are determined by control signals and/or sequences of control signals issued under algorithmic control. Several independent flows may occur simultaneously. Techniques for limiting cross-contamination are provided. Sensors may be placed at various locations along bus line segments and may be used in the control of measured flows or in clearing and/or cleaning operations. Adaptations of Clos, Banyan, and other related multi-stage architectures in the flow topology may also be accomplished. |
| US08032252B2 |
Items dispenser
An automated small items dispensing apparatus is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the invention includes a networked, programmable, automatic medication items dispensing apparatus for use by individual patients who are enrolled in a medication protocol or medication therapy regimen. The device is located separate from the patient's health care provider's facility, such as in the patient's home. |
| US08032251B2 |
Control panel for hot beverage dispensing machines
A control panel for automatic beverage machines includes a touch screen that visually represents icons saved in a memory unit as the displayed basic setting as a first selector mechanism used for choosing a desired beverage and by which a predetermined preparation process is triggered. The steps of the selected beverage preparation process may be visually represented on the touch screen. Alternatively, the touch screen is used as a second selector mechanism for choosing a desired preparation setting after a beverage is chosen by actuating the first selector mechanism. When a preparation setting is selected, the touch screen displays the icon for the selected beverage in addition to setting key icons that allow an operator to select and save a desired setting. |
| US08032247B1 |
Fabric selection and performance matching
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for fabric selection and performance matching. The method includes selecting a fabric combination from a set of different constructions and materials, the selection being made on a basis of predetermined characteristics of fabric performance and comfort required to meet specified parameters of conditions and manner of use. |
| US08032243B2 |
System and method for handling a dependency between two product segments of a process modeling a production system
A system for handling a dependency between two product segments of a process modeling a production system within a manufacturing execution system (MES) includes a network and a production modeler. The network has data processing units running a MES software for controlling and/or monitoring a production process operating a production components. The production modeler within the MES software defines the dependency between the two product segments, and allows modeling the dependency in a graphical environment as a link between the two product segments. The link is selected from a tool box having link types, each defining one of predetermined dependencies, such as: the two product segments run in parallel, one of the product segments starts after end of the other product segment, one of the product segments starts with a predetermined delay after the other product segment has been started, both two product segments use an identical equipment. |
| US08032241B2 |
Apparatus for playing back audio files and method of navigating through audio files using the apparatus
A method of navigating through audio files and an apparatus for playing back audio files using the method are provided. The apparatus for playing back audio files includes an input module which receives from a user a command to switch the apparatus to a navigation mode, a storage module which stores a plurality of audio files, each audio file comprising a highlight section, a control module which extracts the audio files from the storage module in response to the command received by the input module and plays back the highlight sections of the audio files while adjusting a volume level for each of the audio files, and an output module which outputs to the user the highlight sections of the audio files played back by the control module. |
| US08032238B2 |
Mechanical system with an active materials-based actuator
A mechanical system selectively imparts a prescribed motion to an output load using two or more actuators, including at least one having an active material element. The output load can be a locking member when the system is a vehicle transmission, a shuttle car of a linear system, or another device. A controller determines a total motive force required for imparting the prescribed motion, and selectively commands a combination of the actuators to provide the total motive force, apportioning the total motive force between the various actuators to optimize the performance of the system. An algorithm determines which combination of the actuators is the most suitable in moving the output load, and continuously modified this combination as needed as the output load is moved. The other actuator or actuators are then selectively energized as needed to provide the total motive force depending on this suitability determination. |
| US08032234B2 |
Diagnostics in process control and monitoring systems
A condition of an industrial process is diagnosed based upon process variable information related to a value of a measured process variable. Histogram information is calculated based upon the determined process variable information and time information related to a duration of time the measured process variable has the value. Condition of the industrial process is diagnosed based upon the calculated histogram information. |
| US08032233B2 |
Method and apparatus for actively managing consumption of electric power supplied by an electric utility
A client device manages consumption of power supplied by an electric utility to multiple power consuming devices. Power flow to the power consuming devices is selectively enabled and disabled by one or more controllable devices controlled by the client device. The client device receives a power control message from a load management server. In one embodiment, the power control message indicates at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices. Responsive to the power control message, the client device issues a power management command or instruction to one or more controllable devices under the client device's control. The power management command causes the controllable device(s) to disable a flow of electric power to at least one associated power consuming device. |
| US08032229B2 |
Therapy adjustment
Systems and methods for adjusting a therapy delivered to a patient include detecting a value of at least one sensed patient parameter and adjusting a therapy parameter value to accommodate different patient parameter values. A data structure including a plurality of patient parameter values and associated therapy parameter values may be stored within a medical device or a programming device. Upon detecting a patient parameter value, an associated therapy parameter value from the data structure may be selected. If no therapy parameter value is associated with the detected patient parameter value, an intermediate therapy parameter value may be generated by interpolating between the most recently implemented therapy parameter value and a stored therapy parameter value. In some embodiments, the rate of shifting between parameters of two stored or interpolated therapy parameter values may be based on the rate of change of the patient parameter value over time. |
| US08032224B2 |
Sensitivity analysis for selecting therapy parameter sets
Techniques for controlling delivery of a therapy to a patient by a medical device, such as an implantable medical device (IMD), involve a sensitivity analysis of a performance metric. The performance metric may relate to efficacy or side effects of the therapy. For example, the performance metric may comprise a sleep quality metric, an activity level metric, a movement disorder metric for patients with Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, or the like. The sensitivity analysis identifies values of therapy parameters that defines a substantially maximum or minimum value of the performance metric. The identified therapy parameters are a baseline therapy parameter set, and a medical device may control delivery of the therapy based on the baseline therapy parameter set. |
| US08032215B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling autonomic balance using neural stimulation
A neural stimulation system senses autonomic activities and applies neural stimulation to sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves to control autonomic balance. The neural stimulation system is capable of delivering neural stimulation pulses for sympathetic excitation, sympathetic inhibition, parasympathetic excitation, and parasympathetic inhibition. |
| US08032214B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing ventricular synchrony during DDD resynchronization therapy using adjustable atrio-ventricular delays
A pacing system for providing optimal hemodynamic cardiac function for parameters such as ventricular synchrony or contractility (peak left ventricle pressure change during systole or LV+dp/dt), or stroke volume (aortic pulse pressure) using system for calculating atrio-ventricular delays for optimal timing of a ventricular pacing pulse. The system providing an option for near optimal pacing of multiple hemodynamic parameters. The system deriving the proper timing using electrical or mechanical events having a predictable relationship with an optimal ventricular pacing timing signal. |
| US08032208B2 |
System and method for displaying a histogram of cardiac events
Systems, devices and methods are provided for displaying statistical distributions of cardiac events. A device embodiment comprises circuitry adapted to communicate with a medical device that is adapted to acquire data regarding cardiac events occurring at two or more cardiac sites, and display means for displaying a histogram of the data as two or more statistical distributions for the two or more cardiac sites. The histogram includes a number of histogram bins. At least one of the histogram bins includes both a representation for at least a portion of a statistical distribution of a cardiac event for a first cardiac site and a representation for at least a portion of a statistical distribution of a cardiac event for a second cardiac site. Other embodiments are provided herein. |
| US08032197B2 |
Method of analyzing for at least one disease or condition marker
A method of using a diffusion-based, continuous-monitoring system to analyze for a disease or condition includes creating a diffusion channel in an area of skin. The diffusion channel is maintained for a desired duration. The level of the disease marker(s) is continuously monitored for the desired duration via a diffusion-based, continuous-monitoring device. The levels of the at least one disease marker at the area of skin are analyzed to determine if the disease or condition associated with the at least one disease marker is present. |
| US08032192B2 |
Portable terminal and sliding/swing-type cradling apparatus thereof
Disclosed are a portable terminal and sliding/swing-type cradling apparatus thereof. The portable terminal includes a first housing, a second housing that slides along the first housing and faces the first housing, and a third housing including a display unit. The third housing is movable from a termination position after sliding along the first housing with the second housing and rotating when the display unit is inclined. |
| US08032190B2 |
System and method for facilitating short-range wireless communications between a mobile wireless device and an auxiliary system
The present invention relates to a system and method for facilitating short-range wireless communications between a mobile wireless device and an auxiliary device. The wireless device includes a short-range transceiver for communicating with an auxiliary device; a signal module for providing a mode control signal; and, a control module for controllably shifting a short-range transceiver between a power saver mode and a search mode based on the mode control signal received from the signal module. When in the search mode, the short-range transceiver is operable to search for the auxiliary device to communicate therewith. When in a power saver mode, the short-range transceiver is not operable to search for the auxiliary device. |
| US08032187B2 |
Mobile device with a smart battery having a battery information profile corresponding to a communication standard
Various embodiments are described for a mobile communication device having a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile communication device; a device memory coupled to the main processor for storing a plurality of battery information profiles; and a smart battery coupled to the main processor for providing supply power. The smart battery includes a battery processor for controlling the operation of the smart battery and communicating with the main processor; and a battery memory coupled to the battery processor for storing a Battery ID indicating the model of the smart battery. The main processor is configured to communicate with the battery processor to obtain the Battery ID and select one the battery information profiles based on the Battery ID. |
| US08032181B2 |
Service provider activation with subscriber identity module policy
Systems and methods for activating a mobile device for use with a service provider are described. In one exemplary method, a mobile device having a currently inserted SIM card may be prepared for activation using a signing process in which an activation server generates a signed activation ticket encoded with SIM policy data that corresponds to the combination of the device and one of a number of SIM cards belonging to a set of SIM cards defined by the SIM policy data. The activation ticket is securely stored on the mobile device. In another exemplary method the mobile device may be activated in an activation process in which the device verifies an activation ticket against information specific to the device and SIM card in accordance with the SIM policy in the activation ticket, and initiates activation when the verification of the activation ticket is successful. |
| US08032179B2 |
System and method for making and receiving cellular telephone calls at a wired analog telephone device
A cellular telephone docking station is provided and includes a semiconductor device that has a processor and a memory device that is coupled to the processor. An identification device is coupled to the semiconductor device and the identification device includes a docking station identification. The cellular telephone docking station also includes a cellular telephone cradle that is coupled to the identification device. Further, a computer program is embedded within the memory. The computer program includes instructions to verify that a cellular telephone identification matches the docking station identification. Additionally, the computer program includes instructions to transfer a cellular telephone service associated with the cellular telephone to the docking station. The computer program also includes instructions to disable the cellular telephone. |
| US08032177B2 |
Mobile communication device with enhanced image communication capability
The present invention discloses a mobile communication device that allows the user to easily perform simultaneous voice communication and image communication that allows the user to transmit high quality image information to another user and receive high quality image information from another user. The mobile communication device provides multiple cameras and/or display screens that allow a user to easily photograph a subject and view captured images that are received either from a camera located in the device or from another user. |
| US08032175B2 |
Method and system for using a bluetooth PLL to drive FM transmit, FM receive, bluetooth, and NFC functions
Aspects of a method and system for using a Bluetooth® PLL/LO to drive FM Transmit, FM Receive, Bluetooth, and NFC functions. A Bluetooth® PLL/LO may be utilized to generate Bluetooth® signal that comprise I and Q components for use in Bluetooth® communication. The Bluetooth® signals may then be utilized by a DDFS to generate FM radio I and Q signals for FM radio reception and/or transmission. The Bluetooth® signals may also be utilized by a second DDFS to generate signals for near field communication (NFC) transmission and/or reception. The Bluetooth® signals may be kept at the same frequency, or reduced in frequency, for use in clocking the DDFS. A frequency word may also be utilized to clock the DDFS. The outputs of each DDFS may be a constant frequency while the inputs to each DDFS may vary in frequency. |
| US08032173B2 |
Intelligent roaming system with over the air programming
A method for providing a wireless network connection between a device and a wireless network includes storing data related to wireless service providers. The method includes selecting at least one of the wireless service providers based on information related to at least one of services subscribed to by the device and characteristics of a selected wireless service provider. The method includes establishing the wireless network connection between the device and the selected wireless service provider. |
| US08032172B2 |
Method and apparatus for forward link gain control in a power controlled repeater
A power controlled repeater is disclosed for use in a wireless communication system to control the forward link gain. The power controlled repeater includes a forward link for communications from a base station to a mobile station. In addition, the power controlled repeater includes a reverse link for communications from the mobile station to the base station. An embedded subscriber unit is used at the power controlled repeater and is inserted into the forward link. A microprocessor is in electronic communications with the subscriber unit and implements a method for controlling the forward link gain. The method for controlling the forward link gain includes using the embedded subscriber unit in the power controlled repeater to control the forward link gain. |
| US08032168B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for monitoring data transmission connections
A method, device and computer program product for monitoring data transmission connections. The method comprises monitoring data transmission connections between a cellular radio network and a subscriber terminal with two analyzers. With the first analyzer, first connection information is collected on a first data transmission connection of the subscriber terminal to a first cell. With the second analyzer, second connection information is collected on a second data transmission connection of the subscriber terminal to a second cell. The first connection information is transferred from the first analyzer to the second analyzer. In the second analyzer, the first connection information is used combined with the second connection information for analyzing the second data transmission connection. |
| US08032166B2 |
Wireless network location-based reference information
The present invention provides a ‘411xx’ value added service to wireless users. The disclosed ‘411xx’ service allows a mobile user who may be unfamiliar with their current geographic location to nevertheless obtain quick, accurate, and current information relating to the geographic area, e.g., different services in their current location, stores, libraries, gas stations, etc., via a mobile terminated (MT) short message system (SMS) message. In addition to the traditional ‘4-1-1’ dialed digits, a mobile user would also dial a number (or numbers) representing a feature code for a particular service, e.g., nearby ATMs, or traffic information. Upon receiving a 411xx call, the MSC generates an ORREQ/TCAP trigger based on a translation of the requested service represented by the extra ‘xx’ digits. The 411xx call is terminated on the MSC after an audible whisper notice plays to the caller, e.g., “thank you for calling, your requested information will be sent momentarily”. |
| US08032163B2 |
System and method for performing quick short message functions for a mobile phone
A method for performing quick short message functions for a mobile phone is disclosed. The method includes reading short messages from a subscriber identify module card and a memory system of the mobile phone, copying the short messages into a short message status table, if the mobile phone has been started up for the first time, and saving the short message status table into the memory system. The method further includes obtaining the short message status table stored in the memory system if the mobile phone is powered on hereafter, and monitoring the mobile phone to determine if status of the short messages has been changed. The method further includes updating the short message status table and saving the updated short message status table into the memory system, if status of the short messages has been changed. |
| US08032159B2 |
Method for paging and stopping paging to an idle MS and a paging apparatus
A method for paging an idle MS includes: a PC sends a Paging Announce message to the BS, starts a timer and sets a paging count threshold; the BS pages the MS; if no paging response is received from the MS before expiry of the timer, the PC compares the number of times of paging with the set paging count threshold, and re-sends the Paging Announce message or cancels the paging operation, according to the comparison result. A method for stopping paging to an idle MS includes: a BS in a PG pages an MS, and a network side sends a paging stop message to at least one other BS; and at least one other BS stops the paging process. A paging includes a central processing unit for setting a paging count threshold and judging whether a paging response is received. |
| US08032155B2 |
Method of applying a spherical correction to map data for rendering direction-of-travel paths on a wireless communications device
Displaying a map on a wireless communications device includes steps of obtaining map data for rendering the map to be displayed on the wireless communications device, determining a rotation that, when applied to the map, will orient a selected path in a selected direction, such as a current direction of travel, generating a corrected rotation by applying a spherical correction factor, e.g. based on a current location, and rendering the map on a display of the wireless communications device by applying the corrected rotation. The spherical correction factor corrects for map distortions that occur at high latitudes for paths that are neither purely north-south or east-west. When such a path is rotated to face upward to show direction of travel, the path needs to be straightened by applying the spherical correction factor. |
| US08032150B2 |
Connection manager with location learning
A method for configuring a mobile device including a plurality of communication interfaces is provided. A first network configuration identifying communication networks accessible through the communication interfaces of the mobile device is identified. The first network configuration is compared to a plurality of previously encountered network configurations. A location of the mobile device associated with the first network configuration is designated responsive to the first network configuration being included in the plurality of previously encountered network configurations. Usage patterns of the communication interfaces at the designated location are tracked. Connectivity is established for the mobile device to a remote network through the communication interfaces based on the usage patterns. |
| US08032147B2 |
Apparatus and method for supporting mobility of wireless terminal in wireless communication network
A method and apparatus for informing terminals in a UMTS regarding state information of an MBMS in order to prevent terminals from requesting a service that cannot be provided in a cell in which it is newly located. The mobile communication network informs the terminals about its service provision state for a particular MBMS service being provided, and the terminals operate in accordance with this service provision state information to minimize unnecessary operations of the terminal and unnecessary signaling and waste of radio resources. |
| US08032145B2 |
Restrictive reuse set management algorithm for equal grade of service on FL transmission
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate restrictive reuse resource set management with equal grade of service on forward link transmission. User throughput over a resource reuse set can be estimated, and an iterative method can be employed to reallocate users with poor spectral efficiency to reuse sets exhibiting high throughput to optimize overall throughput in a wireless network or a portion thereof. |
| US08032144B2 |
Multi-carrier communication device and feedback information communication method
A multicarrier communication apparatus that is capable of suppressing interference of feedback information with other channels and alleviating a reduction in an uplink capacity. In PL signal reception section (260) of this apparatus, PL signal extraction section (261) extracts pilot signals and reception quality measuring section (262) measures reception quality such as an SIR. Here, since pilot signals are included in respective subcarriers, reception quality measuring section (262) measures reception quality of subcarriers. FBSC determining section (270) determines a feedback information subcarrier based on the reception quality of subcarriers. More specifically, FBSC determining section (270) determines a subcarrier having the highest reception quality as a feedback information subcarrier. FBSC determining section (270) outputs information about the feedback information subcarrier (FBSC information) to control CH transmission section (110) and FB information reception section (250). |
| US08032142B2 |
Access point power control
There is described a method of controlling a basestation in a cellular wireless communications network, the method comprising, within the basestation, autonomously and dynamically adapting a maximum value for a total transmit power of the basestation, such that interference between the basestation and other access points in the vicinity is minimized. |
| US08032141B2 |
Method of transmitting data and network
A method of transmitting data between a content server (11) and a terminal (17) belonging to a discontinuous coverage network, the terminal (17) moving from a first radio coverage area (14, 161) to a second radio coverage area (14, 162) over an area (14a) comprising no radio coverage. The method includes: terminating (100) one or more protocols used by the content server (11) for the data transmission with the terminal (17) within a proxy, wherein the proxy is seen as the entry point of the discontinuous coverage network by the content server (11), and using a caching mechanism provided within the discontinuous coverage network for forwarding (200) data from the proxy to the terminal (17). |
| US08032136B2 |
Service providing system, service using device, and template transmitting device
A service providing system, including a service using device; a service providing device for providing a service to the service using device, the service providing device being communicably connected to the service using device; and a template transmitting device for transmitting a template to the service using device, the template containing: transmission destination information indicating a transmission destination to which the service using device transmits data for use in authentication; and user input assisting information based on which display device either provided in the service using device or communicably connected to the service using device displays an interface for use by a service user entering data to the service using device. |
| US08032128B2 |
Methods and systems for handling software operations associated with startup and shutdown of handheld devices
Systems and methods for improving software operations on startup. A system and method can provide for the storage of volatile memory contents of an application upon shutdown of a mobile device, and restoration of the contents upon startup. |
| US08032127B2 |
Announcing information service through broadcasting or multicasting
A receiver (FIG. 2) receives IP session announcement signals from a terrestrial digital video broadcasting system. Each IP session announcement (RM) includes information concerning announcements on an immediately lower level as well as information identifying the quantity of announcement data, such as the number of announcement messages, and a timeout value. The quantity data tells the receiver how many messages X1 to X3 it needs to receive (C) before it has received all the relevant announcement messages. The timeout value informs the receiver how long it can wait before again receiving the messages X1 to X3 (which may have changed in content by then). After initially receiving the messages X1 to X3, the receiver may sleep (E), or it may receive announcement messages from another channel Y (D). |
| US08032123B2 |
Mobile handset with air pollution meter and system
A mobile telecommunications handset is provided. The mobile telecommunications handset includes a component operable to measure a level of an air pollutant and a transceiver operable for a user to send and receive communications wirelessly. |
| US08032114B2 |
Service access request authorization
Embodiments of methods for handling a service authorization request (SAR) from a mobile subscriber are disclosed. The SAR represents a request for access to a given prepaid mobile service. The method includes ascertaining, using suspect subscriber list, whether the SAR is associated a suspect subscriber in the suspect subscriber list. The method further includes authorizing, if the SAR is not associated with the suspect subscriber, the SAR without waiting until response-determinative processing is performed on the SAR. |
| US08032112B2 |
Location derived presence information
The number of messages required in networks where both location and presence services are deployed may be reduced, by retrieving presence data from messages otherwise intended to provide only location information. Thus, information determined in a location service scheme is utilized to provide a presence service as well. A location server requests mobile subscriber (MS) information from a Core Network (CN) Node (i.e. HLR, MSC, etc.) that can be used in determining the Location of the MS. A single message aggregates retrieval of information for two services, specifically, for both location and presence. |
| US08032111B2 |
Over-the-air service termination for a telematics device
The disclosed technology automatically terminates wireless service that a mobile communication network provided to a telematics unit, e.g. when the customer is no longer active for telematics service. The disclosed deactivation allows the network service provider to reuse any resources, such as mobile numbers, that were previously assigned to the particular telematics unit. In a disclosed example, a SMS deactivation message causes the telematics unit to delete its mobile provisioning data, such as its MDN and/or its MIN, and replace that data with a dummy number. The deactivation procedure may also provide a replacement destination number for emergency calls, typically a cleared number, such as 911. For example, the deactivated telematics unit would be able to call a PSAP, and the PSAP would recognize that the unit is inactive for wireless service (and cannot be called-back) from the dummy number used to identify the unit. |
| US08032110B2 |
Mobile security device
The security device contains at least a main unit with a number of wired external sensors and detectors. The main unit itself has built-in image capturing and motion detection capabilities that can be operated independently or to provide additional confirmation to the events detected by the external sensors and detectors. The main unit contains a radio transceiver member capable of conducting two-way, real-time and message-based, mobile communications via a mobile communication network. As such, whenever some abnormality is detected, the main unit is able to dial a specific party to play pre-recorded voice message and/or send captured images or video clips in real time or in some messages. |
| US08032109B1 |
Method and system for obtaining emergency caller location
Methods and systems for obtaining the location of a caller during an emergency or other telephone call. Before or during a call, a phone system can obtain from one or more sources a subscriber access line identity associated with a subscriber location record that includes a subscriber access line identity attribute and a subscriber location attribute. A phone system can send a query that includes the subscriber access line identity to a subscriber location query system that returns a subscriber location record or a subscriber location to the phone system. The phone system can then display the caller location information to a phone system, an agent or operator so that emergency services can be quickly and accurately dispatched. Using similar procedure and a memory, phone systems can also determine if a subscriber phone has or is changing location. Methods for testing the emergency call capabilities of a subscriber access line. |
| US08032107B1 |
Power management by constant awake correlator
Disclosed is a circuit for improved power management of a wireless device, comprising an input signal from an antenna, an oscillator, a mixer and a circuit for correlating. In a first analog embodiment of the circuit, the circuit for correlating comprises a surface acoustic wave (SAW) and the circuit further comprises an operational amplifier and a reference voltage. In a second digital embodiment of the circuit, the circuit for correlating comprises a digital correlator and the circuit further comprises a digital comparator. |
| US08032105B2 |
Multistage frequency conversion
A receiver for frequency down converting a radio frequency signal (10) using a multistage frequency (down) conversion. The radio frequency signal (10) having a center frequency that is comprised in one of at least two frequency bands, comprises oscillating means (20) for generating a first mixing signal (11) having a first frequency. And also a frequency divider (22) arranged to derive a second mixing signal (13) from the first mixing signal. The receiver further comprising a first mixer (12) arranged to down-convert the radio frequency signal (10) to a first lower frequency signal (15) using the first mixing signal (11) and a second mixer arranged to down-convert the first low frequency signal to a second lower frequency signal (18) using the second mixing signal (13). Wherein the division factor of the frequency divider and a ratio between the center frequency and the first frequency are determined by the one of at least two frequency bands. Similarly a transmitter can transmit a radio frequency signal (53) by using multistage frequency (up) conversion. |
| US08032102B2 |
Receiver second order intermodulation correction system and method
A system for correcting a second order intermodulation product in a direct conversion receiver is provided. The system includes a cross-covariance system receiving a data signal and a second order intermodulation estimate signal and generating a cross-covariance value. An auto-covariance system receives the second order intermodulation estimate signal and generates an auto covariance value. A buffer system stores a second order intermodulation product correction factor. A divider receives the cross-covariance value, the auto-covariance value and the second order intermodulation product correction factor and generates a running average second order intermodulation product correction factor. |
| US08032099B2 |
Automatic gain control circuit using gain shift
An AGC circuit includes a low noise RF amplifying module with an adjustable gain, a frequency converter, an IF/Baseband amplifying module with an adjustable gain, an A/D converter, an AGC module and a gain distribution module. The AGC module is configured for detecting a level of a digital IF/Baseband signal outputted from the A/D converter, comparing the detected level with a reference level and generating a digital AGC signal and a digital gain distribution control signal based upon the comparison result. The gain distribution module is subject to control of the digital AGC signal and digital gain distribution control signal and configured for generating digital gain control signals to selectively adjust at least one of the gains of the low noise RF amplifying module and the IF/Baseband amplifying module in a digital manner to keep an IF/Baseband signal outputted from the IF/Baseband amplifying module at a desired level. |
| US08032095B1 |
Method and apparatus for detecting carrier leakage in a wireless or similar system
A method and circuit for indicating signal faults in wireless transmissions, particularly, a carrier leak, includes an input to receive a wireless signal, a bias detector that detects a bias in a portion of the signal and outputs a bias value indicative of the bias, an evaluator configured to compare the bias value to at least one allowable transmission signal value, and output a signal when the bias value is outside the allowable transmission signal value, and an output, responsive to the evaluator, to indicate a carrier leakage in the wireless signal. A buffer may be provided between the input and the evaluator. The sensitivity of the circuit may be adjusted and a protocol determination may be made. |
| US08032092B2 |
System, apparatus and method for introducing antenna pattern variability
A device, system, and method for providing a transmit diversity device have a first antenna and a second antenna. The first antenna may have a first power transmission gain pattern, which may be non-uniform in a reference plane. The second antenna may have a second power transmission gain pattern, which may be non-uniform in a reference plane. The first and second antennae may be arranged with respect to each other such that a minimum power region of the first gain pattern overlaps a maximum power region of the second gain pattern in the reference plane. The transmit diversity device may also have a processor to receive a feedback parameter from a feedback device. The processor may produce a different transmit diversity parameter based on the feedback parameter for each of a first and second signals to be transmitted on the first and second antennae, respectively. |
| US08032087B2 |
Method of detecting interference in a communication signal
A method of detecting at least a radar signal in an incoming signal received by a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of obtaining a measurement of said incoming signal during a measurement duration proportional to a known pulse duration of a known radar signal, performing a first comparison between said measurement and a first threshold, performing an intermediate test if said measurement exceeds said first threshold, characterized in that it further includes the step of performing a second comparison between said measurement and a second threshold if said measurement exceeds said first threshold, said second threshold being greater than said first threshold, and in that said intermediate test is only conditionally performed if said measurement exceeds said second threshold. |
| US08032084B2 |
Data security device
A portable data storage device is described, which includes a short range wireless communication interface. The device is configured to communicate with a backup device over a wireless communication link and further comprises an alerting device for initiating an alert procedure on separation of the backup device from the portable data storage device. The alert procedure may include one or more of: disabling at least one function of the portable data storage device, for rendering the portable data storage device at least partially inoperable in the absence of communication from the backup device, locking the portable data storage device, generating an audible, visible or vibrational signal, restricting access to certain functions of the portable data storage device, preventing use of the portable data storage device except to telephone a specified number to report the device as lost or to re-enable the device and/or communicating a unique identifier of the portable data storage device to a network. |
| US08032082B2 |
Amplifier for a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting a transmit signal to an otological apparatus
There is described an amplifier for a radio frequency signal for transmitting a transmit signal to an otological apparatus. The amplifier comprises at least one power transistor for switching an output signal. A breaker gap of the power transistor is actively connected to a network such that a power loss converted in the power transistor is at least partially reduced during a switchover into a switched-on state and/or at least during a switchover into a switched-off state. The breaker gap of the at least one transistor is at least indirectly connected in series to a power supply source by way of a choke coil. The amplifier comprises a transmit coil as an output load, with the transmit coil comprising an inductor and being actively connected to the power transistor. The transmit coil is coupled to the choke coil in a transformer-like manner, with the choke coil thus being able to transmit an output power to the transmit coil. The transmit coil can generate a transmit signal from the output power. |
| US08032080B2 |
Wireless communication MIMO system with repeaters
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system (C) comprising at least one base station (1) in a communication cell (2), from which base station (1) at least two essentially uncorrelated antenna radiation lobes (7, 8, 9, 10) are formed. Each antenna radiation lobe (7, 8, 9, 10) communicates a MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) communication stream. The system (C) further comprises at least one repeating transmitter/receiver (repeater) (18, 19, 20, 21), which is arranged for communicating one of the MIMO communication streams to and/or from at least one UE (user equipment) (12). The present invention also relates to a repeater that is a part of the system (C), and a method for communicating at least two MIMO communication streams to and/or from at least one UE (user equipment) (12), using at least one repeater (18, 19, 20, 21). |
| US08032079B2 |
Hearing system, hearing device and method of operating and method of maintaining a hearing device
The hearing device is adapted to automatically requesting an establishment of a communication connection to at least one hearing device support provider. The hearing device support provider may comprise a person knowledgeable in hearing devices, at the hearing device seller and/or at the hearing device manufacturer, and it may comprise a computer with a suitable software. Said automatically requesting said establishment of said communication connection will usually happen, when at least one change in internal status of the hearing device occurs, like a failure or a memory overflow or the upcome of a repeatedly occurring event. The hearing device may by itself decide upon the type of change in internal status, which hearing device support provider to connect to. Typically, at least one long-range communication connection is involved. |
| US08032075B2 |
Broadcast radio system
Each of terminals for use in a regional broadcast radio system includes a measuring unit for measuring an electric field value of a received signal of a specific frequency; a comparing unit for comparing the electric field value of the received signal with a predetermined electric field value; a scanning unit for scanning a specific frequency band when the electric field value of the received signal is equal to or less than the predetermined value; a frequency detecting unit for detecting a frequency of a maximum received electric field; and an information detecting unit for detecting whether notification information is included in a reception signal of the detected frequency. Each of terminals further includes an acquiring unit for acquiring a district code from the detected notification information; and a district code changing unit for setting the acquired district code as a district code of each of terminals. |
| US08032071B2 |
Image forming apparatus including a reading part supported by first and second supporters
An image forming apparatus includes an image reading part configured to read image information on an original document, an image forming part configured to form an image on a sheet according to the image information, a sheet discharge part configured to discharge the sheet on which the image is formed from a front side to a backside of a main body, a sheet stack part onto which the sheet is discharged, and first and second supporters located outside the sheet stack part along a sheet discharge direction. The sheet stack part is located between the image reading part and the image forming part. The first and second supporters form a space between the sheet stack part and the image reading part. The second supporter is smaller than the first supporter in the sheet discharge direction. |
| US08032069B2 |
Fusing device and image forming apparatus having the same
A fusing device includes a rotatable pressing roller, a fusing belt to rotate by a rotational force transmitted from the rotatable pressing roller, a nip forming member to contact an inner surface of the fusing belt to form a nip on a contact area between the rotatable pressing roller and the fusing belt, a heating member formed in approximately an internal central portion of the fusing belt to heat the nip forming member and the fusing belt, an inner support member formed within the fusing belt to press a nip part of the nip forming member toward the rotatable pressing roller, and an outer support member formed outside the fusing belt, and both ends of the outer support member being engaged with the inner support member to thereby reinforce the strength of the inner support member and form a path for radiation heat to disperse. The support unit includes an inner support member placed within the belt unit, and an outer support member placed outside the belt unit, both ends of the outer support member being engaged with the inner support member to reinforce the strength of the inner support member and to form a path for a radiation heat to disperse. |
| US08032066B2 |
System and method for correcting color registration
A method and apparatus for correcting a color registration are provided for improving the quality of images of an image forming apparatus. A surface condition is estimated of an intermediate transfer belt used to correct a color registration. A determination is made as to whether an abnormal section exists on the intermediate transfer belt. Location information is stored regarding the abnormal section on the intermediate transfer belt, if the abnormal section exists. A mark for color registration correction is formed on a normal section, other than the abnormal section. The color registration is corrected using the mark. Accordingly, if a partially inferior section appears in the intermediate transfer belt and a mark is not normally formed, the color registration is successfully corrected. |
| US08032064B2 |
Developer apparatus, image forming apparatus and developing method
A developer apparatus, includes: a container which houses toner; a toner carrier roller that is provided, on a surface thereof, with a plurality of convex sections which are regularly arranged and a concave section which surrounds the convex sections, is shaped approximately like a cylinder, and rotates while carrying a toner layer of charged toner supplied from the container on the surface thereof, and a restriction member that abuts on the surface of the toner carrier roller to form a restriction nip, restricts a thickness of the toner layer carried on the surface of the toner carrier roller in the restriction nip, and removes the toner layer on the convex sections from among the toner layer carried on the surface of the toner carrier roller at an upstream-side end of the restriction nip in a rotation direction of the toner carrier roller. |
| US08032060B2 |
Power transmitting unit, and developing device and image forming apparatus having the same
An image forming apparatus includes a main body in which a photosensitive medium is disposed, and a developing device detachably disposed at the main body to develop electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive medium. The developing device includes a developing member disposed in a developing unit to supply developing agent to the photosensitive medium, a driven member to receive power from a driving member, and to allow the developing member to rotate, and a power transmitting member to connect the developing member and the driven member, and to absorb a movement of a normal force direction of a driving force generated between the driving member and the driven member. |
| US08032056B2 |
Developing unit and image forming apparatus having the same
Disclosed are a developing unit and an image forming apparatus having the same. The developing unit includes a first frame and a second frame. The first frame supports thereon a first set of processing members and includes at least one jig hole for mounting to a jig. The second frame supports thereon a second set of processing members. Several connection parts provided in the first and second frames allow assembly of the developing unit that includes a rectilinear movement and a rotational movement of the first and second frames relative to each other during the coupling together of the connection parts so as to couple the first and second frames together. The relative movement in certain direction of the frames may be limited during the relative rotational movement of the frames. |
| US08032048B2 |
Image forming apparatus with standby and power saving modes
An image forming apparatus, for which a heated roller fixing device is employed but for which a savings in power can still be obtained, is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a fixing device, which is a heated roller fixing device that requires pre-heating in a stand-by state; an operation panel, with which a power-saving mode transition time period can be changed; and a control part, which selects pre-heating or does not select pre-heating of the heated roller fixing device. The control part employs the power-saving mode transition time period, entered at the operation panel, to change the pre-heating or to not change the pre-heating of the heated roller fixing device. |
| US08032045B2 |
Fusing device heated by induced current for instantly controlling power
A device for fusing and fixing a transferred toner of a predetermined image onto a print paper is provided. In particular, a fusing device which can instantly control induced current provided to a fusing unit in an image printing apparatus which heats the fusing unit using the induced current is provided. The fusing device includes a fusing unit which is resistance heated or induction heated by an induced current, and fuses the toner onto the print paper using the generated heat. A sensing unit senses the temperature of the fusing unit. A reference current generating unit generates a predetermined reference current to heat the fusing unit to reach a predetermined temperature based on the temperature of the sensed fusing unit and the reference temperature. A pulse width modulation signal generating unit generates a pulse width modulation signal for generating the induced current so that the induced current corresponding to the reference current is supplied to the fusing unit. |
| US08032044B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus capable of preventing toner fusion between recording sheets, with a construction that does not require increase in cost and size of the apparatus and does not unduly lower productivity, to thereby offer high usability. For image formation on plural pieces of recording sheets, a CPU controls a recording sheet conveyance interval for a first set based on a detected amount of toner used for the image formation on each page, stores the toner use amounts for respective pages of the first set into a RAM, and controls the recording sheet conveyance interval for second and subsequent sets based on the toner use amount stored in the RAM for each page. |
| US08032043B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
In case new and old toners may be mixed, a developing bias is set as follows. The time is first clocked. The number of times toner is replenished from a hopper into a buffer for a clocked period is counted. If a replenishment amount per clock time is a threshold value or higher, considering that new and old toners are mixed, the setting of the developing bias is changed. An electric field intensity between a developing roller and a photoconductor is set to cause normally-charged toner to fly in an image area but not to fly in a background area. No image fogging is therefore generated in the background area. Thus, an image forming apparatus and method capable of preventing low-charged toner and oppositely-charged toner generated by mixing of new and old toners from adhering to the background area of an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor, thereby avoiding generation of image fogging. |
| US08032039B2 |
Controller, image-forming device, and storage medium
A controller includes: a detection unit that detects that a housing unit housing a recording medium has been inserted into an insertion slot for inserting the housing unit; a prediction unit that predicts a vibratory excitation time at which vibrations will occur based on a time detected by the detection unit; a determination unit that determines whether the vibrations will occur based on the vibratory excitation time during a period when an image-forming unit is forming an image on a recording medium supplied from a different supply source for recording media from the housing unit inserted into the insertion slot; and a control unit that controls the image-forming unit to prevent image formation if the determination unit determines that the vibrations will occur during a period when the image-forming unit is forming an image on the recording medium. |
| US08032038B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus
A developing device includes a storage portion for retaining developer; a light guide member for forming a plurality of optical paths passing through the storage unit to detect an amount of the developer in the storage portion; a plurality of window members formed in a wall of the storage portion for passing the optical paths therethrough; a blocking member disposed to be movable for blocking the window members; and a drive unit for moving the blocking member. The blocking member is disposed on each of the optical paths. When the drive unit moves the blocking member, the blocking member periodically blocks and opens each of the optical paths in a specific cycle. |
| US08032037B2 |
Image forming apparatus, computer program product, and printing inhibiting method
A cartridge used for image formation is detachably accommodated in a main body of an image forming apparatus. A cartridge determining unit determines a cartridge type, which is a type of the cartridge, and a print-job determining unit determines a print job type, which is a type of a print job received from an external device. If the print job type and the cartridge type do not match, an inhibiting unit inhibits an image formation process. |
| US08032034B2 |
Optical code communication system
An optical code communication system comprises an optical transmitter, an optical receiver, and an optical transmission line. The optical receiver has an optical mixing decoder for mixing a coded light and a local light, dividing the mixed light into an object optical frequency and a non-object optical frequency, and outputting the lights and a detection adder-subtractor filter for detecting the object optical frequency and the non-object optical frequency, filtering the intermediate frequency signals, subtracting one of the intermediate frequency signal from the other, and outputting the resultant intermediate frequency signal. The coded light and the local light are coherent with each other between the optical frequency chips constituting the coded light when detected. The optical mixing decoder or detection adder-subtractor filter regulates the phase of the intermediate frequency signal within the passband when filtered so that the output value or the absolute value of the intermediate frequency signal within the passband when filtered is different when the optical receiver receives a coded light modulated with a different value of the transmission data. |
| US08032032B2 |
Bi-directional optical link between multiple data sources and a processing node in an avionics platform
A fiber optic link for platforms with data sources including, e.g., sensors, cameras, radars and antennas. An array of optical transmitter/receiver pairs is coupled to an integrating network of the platform. Data modules are each coupled to certain ones of the data sources and include a receiver for detecting control data, and a modulator for modulating a light signal according to signals from the module's data sources. At least one optical fiber is coupled between a given transmitter/receiver pair of the array, and a corresponding data module. A laser source associated with each transmitter supplies a light signal with the control data to a corresponding data module downstream over an optical fiber. The light signal is modulated by the signals from the module's data sources, and the modulated light signal is returned to an array receiver upstream over an optical fiber. |
| US08032030B2 |
Multiple core system
An integrated circuit has a group of cores that communicate with a packet switch using carrierless ultra wideband (UWB) radio frequency (RF) signaling. The packet switch communicates outside the integrated circuit using optical signaling. The carrierless UWB provides for high frequency communication and processing without requiring additional space for interconnects. No special paths are necessary because the signals used by the cores for communicating with the packet switch are RF signals therefore they can be broadcast by the packet switch and be received by a plurality of cores. No conductor line or waveguide is required. Because the signals are carrierless, they can be transmitted with low power. With multiple cores providing information to the switch, the total information being received may exceed the capacity of the RF bandwidth so an external optical interface is provided to multiplex information provided via carrierless UWB RF signals by a plurality of cores. |
| US08032028B2 |
Optical add/drop device
Optical add/drop nodes are used in a network having a pair of optical transmission paths for transmitting optical signals in opposite directions to each other. Each add/drop node comprises a variable split ratio optical coupler for splitting an optical signal output from a transmitter. The split ratio of the variable split ratio optical coupler is set such that the optical power levels of the signals added through the respective optical add/drop nodes are equal to one another respectively on the pair of optical transmission paths. |
| US08032021B2 |
Status link for multi-channel optical communication systems
A robust and redundant status link is established by a first multi-channel optoelectronic device with a second multi-channel optoelectronic device in a multi-channel communication link. Transmitter bias currents are effectively modulated with a status link modulation signal representative of status data and subsequently modulated with primary data modulation signals. The resulting signals are transformed into optical signals and transmitted over the link as main communication links combined with a status link. At the second device, the optical signals are received and converted to electrical signals. The receipt of the optical signals creates multiple receiver bias currents, which may be monitored to detect the status link modulation signal. The second device may adjust various operating parameters in response to the information conveyed by the status link. For instance, devices can use status links to operate above nominal eye safety limits and/or to adjust transmit power to compensate for degradation effects. |
| US08032019B2 |
Camera body and imaging apparatus
A camera body is provided, to which an interchangeable lens is mountable, the interchangeable lens including a diaphragm and capable of sending driving speed information of the diaphragm. The camera body has a receiving unit operable to receive the driving speed information of the diaphragm from the interchangeable lens, an imaging unit operable to capture a subject image formed by the interchangeable lens to generate image data, a controller operable to set an imaging condition for the imaging unit, and a sending unit operable to send a control signal for changing brightness information of the interchangeable lens to the interchangeable lens. The controller sets the imaging condition for a period from a start to an end of a driving of the diaphragm according to the received driving speed information of the diaphragm when the sending unit sends the control signal to the interchangeable lens. |
| US08032016B1 |
Agile block downconversion for the distribution of narrowcast services
An arrangement is provided for transporting information from a central information distribution center (CIDC) to locations where such information is intended. Upon receiving a request for narrowcast information to be delivered to a node associated with a head end, the CIDC selects the requested information, generates an optical signal encoded with the requested information using information channels dedicated to narrowcast information transport for the node, and sends the optical signal to the head end via an optical fiber. When the head end receives the optical signal, the narrowcast information transport channels dedicated to the node are translated into subcarriers acceptable to the node before the requested narrowcast information is forwarded to the node. |
| US08032014B2 |
Fragrance emitting apparatus for use with USB port
A fragrance emitting apparatus (20) for connection to a USB port. In one embodiment, the fragrance emitting apparatus (20) comprises a casing (22) having an interior and a fragrance vent (36A, 36B) in communication with the interior, a heating element (42) located within the casing (22) that generates heat when electrical power is applied thereto, a USB connector (28) connected to the casing (22) and electrically connected to the heating element (42) so as to provide electrical power to the heating element (42) when the USB connector (28) is connected to a USB port, and a stationary fragrance member (50) located within the casing (22) to provide a fragrance, scent or aroma when heat is applied to the fragrance member (50). The fragrance member (50) is proximate to the heating element (42) so that heat generated by the heating element (42) causes the fragrance member (50) to emit a fragrance, scent or aroma which exits the interior of the casing (22) through the vent (36A, 36B). Other embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention are disclosed herein. |
| US08032011B2 |
Recording medium having recording program recorded therein and recording apparatus and method
A recording apparatus for recording a moving picture file and a still picture file to a program area on an optical disk, capable of converting the format of management information to be recorded in combination with the file according to the attribute of the file. |
| US08032010B2 |
Image recording/reproducing apparatus and control method thereof
An image recording/reproducing apparatus and a control method thereof to provide the functions of recording image files in a recording medium and reproducing and editing the image files recorded in the recording medium. The apparatus and method enables a user to easily select and manipulate functions of the apparatus using a menu display, and can record, reproduce and edit the image files according to the function selected by the user. The apparatus and method, therefore allows the user to easily select and manipulate the functions using a displayed menu, and more efficiently manage and easily search for the recorded image files. |
| US08032008B2 |
Content recording/reproduction device, content recording/reproduction method, information processing device, and content recording/reproduction system
There is provided a content recording/reproducing apparatus that can restore a deleted content. An MD recording player (1) as an example of the content recording/reproducing apparatus records, each time a content recorded in a mini disk (90) is deleted, information on the deleted content to a deletion history. Since a personal computer (200) as an external device re-records the content deleted in the MD recording player (1) on the basis of the content of the deletion history, so the user has not to re-record the deleted content by remembering what the deleted content was. Also, even if a content checked out to the MD recording player (1) is deleted, the number of times of check-in or check-out is matched with the content data by making deemed check-in on the basis of the deletion history or recording history. Thus, even if checked-out content data is deleted at the check-out destination, a limited number of times of check-out can be assured so that it is possible to prevent the content data from becoming unusable. |
| US08032005B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method of reproducing content provided by said apparatus
Content managed as a content directory is allowed to be selected from a playback apparatus on a network and the playback apparatus is allowed to play back the content. If playback of the content is suspended, the position at which playback was suspended is stored. This content is set in the content directory as virtual content. If this virtual content is selected, playback of the virtual content is resumed from the position at which suspension occurred. |
| US08032004B2 |
Multimedia presentation format
A format for accessing content such as a full-length move from an optical disc uses an XML description file stored on the disc to generate one or more screens that a user employs to access the content. The decoding requirements of a hardware or software player are reduced by discarding specific elements of an encoding standard such as MPEG4 that is used to encode the content on the disc. The maximum average and peak bitrates at which the data is transferred are limited to further reduce the demands on the player. |
| US08031994B2 |
Optical waveguide for touch panel and touch panel using the same
An optical waveguide for a touch panel in which the intensity of light beams emitted from light-emitting portions of a plurality of light-emitting cores in the form of branches is substantially uniform independently of the branch position of the light-emitting cores, and a touch panel using the same. An optical waveguide for a touch panel is provided in which a plurality of light-emitting cores 33 are formed by dividing a tip portion of a single original core into branches. A portion extending from a basal portion 32b of the original core to a branch point 32c at which the division into the branches serving as the light-emitting cores 33 starts is an isosceles triangular portion 32 gradually widened from the basal portion 32b into the shape of an isosceles triangle. The isosceles triangle has a taper angle θ in the range greater than 0 degrees and less than 15 degrees. |
| US08031991B2 |
Low index, large mode field diameter optical coupler
An optical coupler is formed of a low index material and exhibits a mode field diameter suitable to provide efficient coupling between a free space optical signal (of large mode field diameter) and a single mode high index waveguide formed on an optical substrate. One embodiment comprises an antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide (ARROW) structure in conjunction with an embedded (high index) nanotaper coupling waveguide. Another embodiment utilizes a low index waveguide structure disposed in an overlapped arrangement with a high index nanotaper coupling waveguide. The low index waveguide itself includes a tapered region that overlies the nanotaper coupling waveguide to facilitate the transfer of the optical energy from the low index waveguide into an associated single mode high index waveguide. Methods of forming these devices using CMOS processes are also disclosed. |
| US08031987B2 |
Optical modulator
An optical modulator suppresses a radiation mode of a microwave generated in a connection substrate or termination substrate from entering a signal electrode of the optical modulator and suppresses modulation properties from being degraded. The optical modulator includes an optical modulation element (1) having a substrate with an electro-optic effect, an optical waveguide formed on the substrate, and a modulating electrode (or a signal electrode (2)) for modulating light passing through the optical waveguide; and a connection substrate (4), arranged outside the substrate, for supplying the optical modulation element with a microwave signal operating the optical modulation element. A signal input terminal (22) and a signal output terminal (23) are formed on the connection substrate (20). A recombination suppression unit suppresses a radiation mode (24) of the microwave signal input to the signal input terminal (22) from being recombined with the signal output terminal (23) provided on the connection substrate. |
| US08031986B2 |
Optical control device
The optical device includes a substrate having an electrooptic effect; a plurality of optical waveguides formed in the substrate in parallel to one another; and a polarization inversion region which is disposed a part of the substrate and which has a polarization characteristic that is an inverse to that of the substrate, wherein a profile of a boundary between the polarization inversion region and a remaining region in which the polarization is not inverted is configured such that accumulated amounts of distortion that affects the respective waveguides over coordinates along a light propagation direction are substantially identical. |
| US08031982B2 |
Pen-shaped sensing device for sensing surface regions
A pen-shaped sensing device is provided for sensing coded data disposed which is substantially invisible to the average unaided human eye on a surface. The device has a region identity sensor configured to sense, when the sensing device is positioned or moved relative to a region of the surface, and using at least some of the coded data, region identity data indicative of an identity of the region, and a transmitter configured to transmit the sensed region identity data to the computer system to a computer system. |
| US08031981B2 |
Method and systems for generating a subset of biometric representations
A system and method for enabling analysis of enrolled biometric data is presented. A plurality of vectors each having a plurality of score values representative of the relationship between individual ones of the enrolled biometrics with a plurality of biometric representations forming a filter set are described. Judicious use of the vectors enables a filtering of the enrolled biometric data on a dynamic basis. |
| US08031980B2 |
Image processing apparatus and information processing system
A disclosed image processing apparatus includes process components configured to input, process, or output image data; and a registration unit configured to obtain a list of the process components available in the image processing apparatus, to display on a display unit a screen for selecting one or more of the process components from the list and thereby defining a combination of the process components which combination implements an application program for performing an image processing task, and to register the combination with an identifier in the image processing apparatus. |
| US08031971B2 |
Image processing content determining apparatus, computer readable medium storing thereon image processing content determining program and image processing content determining method
An image processing content determining apparatus 100, a computer readable medium storing thereon an image processing content determining program and an image processing determining method being capable of determining the content of an image processing with simple operation is provided. The image processing content determining apparatus includes: a basic figure generating section for generating a basic figure 400; a transformed figure generating section 140 including a transformed figure displaying section for superimposing transformed images 410, 420, 430 and 440 obtained by transforming the basic figure 400 according to a transform instruction received from outside on input images 310, 320, 340 and 350 and for displaying the same; and an amount of transform calculating section for calculating the content of a processing to transform the transformed images 410, 420, 430 and 440 currently displayed to the basic figure 400. |
| US08031969B1 |
Fourier transform optimized anisotropic filtering
Methods and apparatuses for selecting appropriate anisotropic filtering levels for images. An image is obtained, that image is Fourier transformed into its frequency components, and then those frequency components are normalized. The Fourier transformed into its frequency components are assigned to Fourier buckets (or bins) having dimensions selected in accord with the number of available anisotropic filtering levels. A predetermined threshold value is used to select one of the Fourier buckets by comparing the predetermined threshold value with the contents of the Fourier buckets. The selected Fourier bucket is used to determine an appropriate anisotropic filtering level for the image. Some embodiments of the present invention can provide for an automatic selection and setting of the appropriate anisotropic filtering level. |
| US08031968B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing program
An image processing apparatus includes: an image obtaining unit that obtains an image captured with an image sensor; and a defect information generating unit that generates defect information indicating a defect within the image having been obtained, based upon a value at a target pixel and an average value of a plurality of pixel values corresponding to pixels present within a predetermined range containing the target pixel. |
| US08031964B2 |
Display method and device for reducing blurring effects
The present invention relates to a display method and device for improving the luminous efficiency of a matrix display using a pulse-width modulation, or PWM, technique. According to the invention, in order to reduce the blurring effect, the display method comprises the following steps: —detecting the moving object contours within said sequence of video images, —modifying, for each image of said sequence and each contour detected, the gray level of at least one pixel adjacent to said contour by assigning to it an intermediate level in the range between its initial gray level and that of the other pixel adjacent to said contour, and—displaying said modified image sequence. Application to matrix displays comprising a LCOS, OLED or DMD valve array. |
| US08031963B2 |
Noise filter
Provided is a system and method for processing data and images including, but not limited to separating data into a plurality of data planes; performing noise analysis to determine an average noise amplitude and noise distribution for each data plane via a gradient calculation; applying an edge mask to weaken isolated transients in one or more of the data planes; applying a noise filter using one or more levels of filtering to one or more of the data planes; and performing detail recovery combining a composite data plane and filtered and unfiltered data planes according to the noise analysis. |
| US08031958B2 |
Image signal processing apparatus, camera system and image signal processing method
An image signal processing apparatus, the method and a camera system are provided, by which highly efficient processing close to 1-path processing can be performed without deteriorating a picture quality or taking too much time for the processing, a capacity required for a compression rate, band and memory in the worst case can be assured and a random accessing property is not impaired when compressing image data: wherein the apparatus has at least a first signal processing unit, a second signal processing unit, and a storage unit accessed by the first signal processing unit and the second signal processing unit; wherein the first signal processing unit includes at its interface part with the storage unit a band compression expansion unit having functions of compressing input image data based on a predetermined band compression method, writing the same in the storage unit, and expands compressed data read from the storage unit. |
| US08031956B2 |
Enhancing video sharpness and contrast by luminance and chrominance transient improvement
An apparatus, system, method, and article for enhancing video sharpness are described. The apparatus may include a media processing node to enhance sharpness of an input image. The media processing node may include a wavelet decomposition module to perform wavelet decomposition of the input image to detect and modify edge information. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08031955B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, medium storing program, and computer data signal
An image processing apparatus includes a block setting unit that sets a block having a fixed size to inputted image data; a determining unit that determines whether or not at least a part of an image region included in the block set by the block setting unit is filled with a single pixel value; a pixel value replacing unit that replaces at least a part of the image region included in the block by a single pixel value according to a result of the determination by the determining unit; and a hierarchical process controller that instructs the block setting unit to set a broader block including plural set blocks. |
| US08031952B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing memory usage in image processing
A method and digital camera avoiding the use of delay lines for block processing within the camera, such as compressing images, demosaicing, or the like. Processing is done for a block comprising a single newly received line, together with previously acquired information. In one preferred embodiment, the block processing is performed for the single line using previous lines as retrieved from the results of previous processing. In another embodiment, the processing results for the current block are determined by the processing results of the previous block together with the newly received line. Saving delay lines provides for lower memory requirements, and enables the production of smaller and lower cost cameras. |
| US08031948B2 |
Shape comparison apparatus on contour decomposition and correspondence
The present invention discloses a shape comparison apparatus and method based on contour decomposition and correspondence. The apparatus comprises a polygonal approximation unit for approximating an image object contour as a polygon, namely representing the image object contour into an ordered contour primitive sequence; an attribute generation unit for calculating attribute value for contour primitive and contour primitive composition; and a comparison unit for establishing correspondence of polygons and hence calculating similarity between contours. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises an image object contour extraction unit for extracting, in the case the input into the apparatus is an image object rather than an image object contour, an image object contour of an image object inputted into the apparatus. |
| US08031947B2 |
Method and system for rapid matching of video streams
Techniques for managing video stream data and portions of video stream data are disclosed. In particular, the present invention enables the user to match portions of video streams against stored, previously characterized video streams using Canny edge detection filtering coupled with Hu invariant third moments of those edges. According to one aspect of the present invention, the video stream data is encoded with the following technique, which selects specific frames from the video stream, finds the edges of objects within these selected frames using Canny edge detection, separates each edge into a distinct object, calculates Hu invariant third moments for each edge, and stores each edge together with the video stream and frame identification and it's Hu invariant third moments in a database for later comparison. Similar encoding can then be performed for a query video stream to compare against the previously identified video streams stored in the database to identify a unique video stream. It is emphasized that the present invention applies to video stream data but can also be used for imagery data in any other form or taken in any spectrum. |
| US08031943B2 |
Automatic natural language translation of embedded text regions in images during information transfer
Text regions of natural language embedded in images are automatically translated via a clipboard buffer during a cut-and-paste command according to an isolation rule defining one or more types of image elements to be isolated, by examining the image elements, responsive to meeting the isolation rule, transferring the image element from the clipboard to an isolation store, disabling pasting of the image element; recognizing text within the isolated image; determining a natural language in which the recognized text is expressed; performing natural language translation of the recognized text into a user-specified destination natural language; producing image data for the translated text; overlaying the image data onto the embedded text in the isolated image element; and pasting the modified image element from the isolation store to a user-designated destination points within a destination computer file. |
| US08031942B2 |
Matching device
A matching device includes a first storing unit, a second storing unit, and a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a control unit and a circuit unit. In the circuit unit, a first circuit including distance calculating circuits that calculate distances between unknown characters and dictionary characters and a selecting circuit that selects P distances having smallest values and character codes corresponding to the distances is configured, and then a second circuit including a permutation circuit that outputs distances in order from one having a smallest value and outputs character codes corresponding to the distances is configured. |
| US08031935B2 |
Method for removing color noise and image-capturing device that uses this method
A method for removing color noise on a slowly varying component contained in color difference component image data of image data which is imported from an image sensor and converted to brightness and the color difference component image data, includes the steps of: sampling pixels of said color difference component image data by thinning out according to a first defined sampling format when not performing a color noise removal process on the slowly varying component; determining if the color noise removal process is necessary to be performed or not; producing the color difference component image data, corresponding to a compressed image data size smaller than an image data size without said color noise removal process, by thinning out according to a second defined sampling format when performing said color noise removal process; and recording the color difference and brightness component image data. |
| US08031934B2 |
Image processing apparatus and computer-readable recording medium which records image processing program
An image processer has an extractor to extract a character area from color image data. A color-difference-value acquirer acquires information about color-difference values in the character area. A color-saturation-value acquirer acquires information about color saturation in the character area. A color-difference-subrange storage stores pre-defined color-difference subranges. A chromatic-region determination section determines the character area as gray when color salutation values fail to satisfy a condition for a chromatic color, and determines the character area as a chromatic region when color saturation values in the character area satisfy the condition. A first color-difference-subrange assignment section assigns a stored color-difference subrange to the character area determined as the chromatic region based on information about color-difference values. A representative-color setup section sets color information about the character area determined as chromatic by using an average of the color-difference values in the color-difference subrange assigned to the character area. |
| US08031933B2 |
Method and apparatus for producing an enhanced 3D model of an environment or an object
The present invention provides a system (method and apparatus) for creating photorealistic 3D models of environments and/or objects from a plurality of stereo images obtained from a mobile stereo camera and optional monocular cameras. The cameras may be handheld, mounted on a mobile platform, manipulator or a positioning device. The system automatically detects and tracks features in image sequences and self-references the stereo camera in 6 degrees of freedom by matching the features to a database to track the camera motion, while building the database simultaneously. A motion estimate may be also provided from external sensors and fused with the motion computed from the images. Individual stereo pairs are processed to compute dense 3D data representing the scene and are transformed, using the estimated camera motion, into a common reference and fused together. The resulting 3D data is represented as point clouds, surfaces, or volumes. The present invention also provides a system (method and apparatus) for enhancing 3D models of environments or objects by registering information from additional sensors to improve model fidelity or to augment it with supplementary information by using a light pattern projector. The present invention also provides a system (method and apparatus) for generating photo-realistic 3D models of underground environments such as tunnels, mines, voids and caves, including automatic registration of the 3D models with pre-existing underground maps. |
| US08031930B2 |
Testing system and testing method for inspecting electonic devices
A testing system for inspecting electronic devices includes a first transparent disk, a first image capturing unit disposed under the first transparent disk, a second disk disposed next to the first transparent disk, a guiding unit disposed on adjacent area between the transparent disk and the second disk, and a plurality of second image capturing units disposed around the second disk. A plurality of electronic devices is continuingly supplied onto the first transparent disk and the first image capturing unit is used for capturing the images of the bottom surfaces of the electronic devices. Then, the electronic devices are guided to the second disk via the guiding unit and the second image capturing units are used for capturing the images of other surfaces of the electronic devices. A testing method for electronic devices is further disclosed. |
| US08031928B2 |
CT data processing apparatus and CT data processing method
A CT data processing apparatus and a CT data processing method capable of separating a subcutaneous fat region from a visceral fat region accurately and efficiently in CT data are provided. The CT data processing apparatus includes a center calculation part that calculates a body center 41 of an examinee on tomographic CT data, a start point setting part that identifies a vertebral column position 45 on the tomographic CT data and sets a start point on a muscular layer 37 on the opposite side of the vertebral column position 45 with respect to the body center 41, a muscular layer determination part that determines whether or not the muscular layer 37 is present in a first range 48, and when it is determined that the muscular layer 37 is present in the first range 48, further setting a point on the muscular layer 37 in the first range 48 as a new first reference point 47 and thus determining whether or not the muscular layer 37 is present in the first range 48, while moving the first reference point 47 from the start point 46, and a separation line calculation part that calculates a separation line so that the separation line passes through the first reference points 47. |
| US08031927B2 |
Medical image processing
In one aspect, the invention is a method of medical image processing. The method includes receiving data representing a medical image. The method also includes generating the medical image based on a model. The model characterizes the medical image as a composition of at least two components having processing constraints. |
| US08031925B2 |
Method and computer-program product for detecting and quantifying protein spots
The present inventions is directed to a method and computer program product for detecting and quantifying protein spots, including: generating an average gel image by taking a pixel-by-pixel average of the intensities of a plurality of aligned gel images; detecting spots on the average gel image using pinnacle detection; and quantifying spots on individual gels using the maximum intensity within fixed neighborhoods surrounding pinnacle locations found in the average gel image. |
| US08031923B2 |
Method, device and computer program product for evaluating medical image data sets
The present invention relates to a method, a device and a computer program product for evaluating medical image data sets, which consists of two-dimensional section images, in particular MR images, wherein a plurality of two-dimensional cross-sections (K1, K2, . . . Kn) and at least one two-dimensional longitudinal section (L1) of a target region (1) of a human or animal body are recorded and stored, a longitudinal axis (5) and points of intersection (6) are determined at the points at which the longitudinal axis (5) extends through the plurality of two-dimensional cross-sections (K1, K2 . . . Kn) and a reduced data volume (7) is generated, which is composed of partial cross-sections (k1, k2, . . . kn), which are generated by means of the points of intersection (6) and scaling factors (a1, a2, b1, b2) from the plurality of two-dimensional cross-sections (K1, K2, . . . Kn). |
| US08031922B2 |
Registration of imaging data
A method of determining in a three-dimensional operating space a measure of super-imposition M between at least a portion of an object and a spatial representation of the object or part thereof in an object representation pose, a pose comprising position and orientation in operating space includes: a) obtaining a similarity measure S between a first imaging data taken in first respective imaging poses of the object or part thereof and second imaging data comparable to the first imaging data taken in second respective imaging poses that are digitally reconstructed from the spatial representation of the object or part thereof in the object representation pose; b) locating in operating space at least one point on the surface of the object or part thereof; c) obtaining a distance measure D between the at least one point in operating space and a surface of the spatial representation of the object or part thereof in the object representation pose; and d) obtaining a measure of superimposition M by a combination of the similarity measure S and the distance measure D. |
| US08031919B2 |
Computerised cortex boundary extraction from MR images
Method for processing digital images, such as magnetic resonance images of a brain. The images contain a first object, for example the cerebrum white matter, a second object, for example the cerebral cortex, and a third object, for example the cerebrospinal fluid. The method involves providing a digital dataset representing a deformable curve or surface that in an initial state approximates the boundary between the first object and the second object. Further, a vector force field is provided that for each point on the deformable curve or surface defines a direction from the point approximately towards the second boundary between the second and the third object, and this vector force field is applied for iteratively deforming the deformable curve or surface convergently towards the second boundary. In order to reconstruct a folded structure of the second object, for example the cortex, the vector force field also involves a normal vector field with a vector normal or approximately normal to the deformable curve or surface for each point on the deformable curve or surface. |
| US08031917B2 |
System and method for smart display of CAD markers
A method for displaying computer aided detection markers from a digitized image includes marking a first set of locations of interest during a first read of the image, producing a first set of markers, receiving a second set of markers of locations of interest on the image from a CAD algorithm, combining the first set of markers with the second set of markers, sorting the combined set of markers according to a predetermined criteria, and presenting the sorted set of markers to a user for a second read of the image. |
| US08031903B2 |
Networked security system
The application discloses a system and methods for remote access and analysis of data collected about items under inspection. The system includes one or more data collection stations, each of which may include an X-ray scanner that scans the items under inspection to obtain data about the items. The data is transmitted to one or more remote stations, where the data is remotely analyzed to determine whether the item contains a potential threat, such as, for example, explosives or other contraband. Data may be aggregated so that correlations between data collected for different items may be used to more accurately detect threats. |
| US08031901B2 |
Planar speaker driver
A planar magnetic driver includes covering plates that are maintained under tension to form a buckled or curved surface, thereby providing for a larger magnetic gap, and allowing for a larger excursion of the diaphragm and extended lower frequency response. Another aspect of the driver includes a corrugated region along the periphery of the diaphragm, which provides increased internal dampening. |
| US08031895B2 |
Driver and enclosure combination
An enclosure includes a chamber holding a driver with an end at a first opening in a housing and a rear end nearby a first terminal end of a passageway having a second terminal end at a second opening in the housing. The driver projects sound waves into a listening area directly through the first opening and simultaneously projects sound waves along the passageway and out the second opening into the listening area. The passageway comprises expansion and compression zones of different cross-sectional areas. |
| US08031894B2 |
Non-occluding ear module for a personal sound system
An ear module with an interior lobe (200) housing a speaker (58) and adapted to fit within the Concha (103) of the outer ear, and an exterior lobe (300) housing data processing resources, includes a compressive member (202) coupled to the interior lobe (200) and providing a holding force between the anti-helix (101) and the forward wall (108) of the ear canal (102) near the tragus (104). The interior lobe (200) extends into the exterior opening (110) of the ear canal (102), and includes a forward surface (210) adapted to fit against the forward wall (108) of the ear canal (102), and a rear surface (211) facing the anti-helix (101). The width of the extension (201) (in a dimension orthogonal to the forward surface (210) of the extension (201)) between the forward surface (210) and the rear surface (211) from at least the opening of the ear canal (102) to the tip (203) of the extension (201) is substantially less than the width of the ear canal (102), leaving an open air passage (250). |
| US08031893B2 |
Hearing aid
Supply of power is ensured on use without requiring troublesome works such as battery replacement work and charging work. Specifically, hearing aids, which collect sound, amplify the collected sound, and output the amplified sound, boosts electromotive force generated by the Peltier module derived from temperature difference between a human-body contact portion and an ambient-air contact portion, and causes sound collecting units, a controller IC, a speaker to operate by the boosted voltage. |
| US08031890B2 |
Electroacoustic transducer
An electroacoustic transducer serving as a speaker or a microphone is reduced in size and weight and is capable of generating sound with relatively high sound pressure. It is constituted of a housing having a cavity having an opening in the exterior, a fixed electrode positioned opposite to the opening of the housing, a diaphragm having an electrode positioned between the opening and the fixed electrode, and an elastic deformation portion for supporting the diaphragm with respect to the housing and for allowing the diaphragm to vibrate in the thickness direction. The fixed electrode is electrically insulated from the electrode of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is distanced from the fixed electrode by means of the elastic deformation portion placed in the balanced state. When the elastic deformation portion is subjected to elastic deformation, the diaphragm vibrates with relatively large amplitude such that it comes in contact with the fixed electrode. |
| US08031889B2 |
Acoustoeletric transformation chip for ribbon microphone
An acoustoelectric transformation chip for a ribbon microphone includes a diaphragm that has a vibrating region and two fixing regions disposed on two opposite sides of the vibrating region, and a voice coil film formed on the diaphragm. The voice coil film includes two rectangular voice coils, each of which has a plurality of first and second connection segments parallel to a direction of a magnetic field. A plurality of first and second transverse segments are perpendicular to the first and second connection segments and are connected between the first and second connection segments. The second transverse segments of each voice coil are disposed on one of the fixing regions. The first transverse segments of the two voice coils are disposed in the vibrating region. |
| US08031888B2 |
Electronic apparatus having audio output units
Two control voltages are generated, one increasing and another decreasing, in response to the rise of the voltage of a condenser of a common time-constant circuit. Based on the two control voltages, a first and a second currents are formed, from which four different combinations of currents are established. By feeding one of four combinations to each of multiple differential output amplifier circuits each having a feedback resistor, the multiple output amplifier circuits can be individually started up or shut down without generating popcorn noise, using only one single time constant circuit. |
| US08031886B2 |
Audio signal processing system
In a mixer system having a digital mixer having functions of processing an audio signal in an input channel and outputting the signal via an ST bus, and a PC executing a DAW application realizing a function of plural tracks to record waveform data, a WET button corresponding to the input channel is provided to the digital mixer to select a DRY mode for inputting signal which is inputted from outside the device to the input channel, to the ST bus without sending the signal to the DAW application, or a WET mode for inputting signal which are inputted from outside the device to input channel, to the ST bus after sending the signal to the DAW application for processing and being sent back to the digital mixer, in response to a pressing of the WET button. |
| US08031883B2 |
Crosstalk cancellation system with sound quality preservation and parameter determining method thereof
A crosstalk cancellation system for preserving quality of sound and the parameter determining method thereof. The system can cancel a two-channel audio signal without compensating a frequency response of an ipsilateral HRTF. The method includes providing an audio signal input device for inputting the two-channel audio signal, modeling a relation between parameters of the crosstalk cancellation system and a head related transfer function (HRTF) to thereby obtain an output transfer impulse response, setting contralateral parts of the output transfer impulse response approximate to zero, setting ipsilateral parts of the output transfer impulse response equal to a delay of ipsilateral head related impulse responses (HRIRs) corresponding to the HRTF, and performing an inverse operation to compute the parameters of the crosstalk cancellation system. |
| US08031882B2 |
Method and apparatus to reduce the effect of flux modulation in speakers
A speaker feedback system has a linear current feedback derived from a current sensing resistor. A linear motional feedback from the active speaker driver is derived from a sensing coil mechanically coupled with the driver coil of the speaker, the driver coil receiving electrical energy from the power amplifier. A motional signal correction circuit extracts the motional signal from the sensing coil and feeds to input B of the multiplier. A current filter circuit filters out higher-frequency signals from the current feedback signal and then feeds to input A of the multiplier. A multiplier performs the multiplication function of its two inputs and produces an output. Post-multiplier equalization circuitry that control the feedback gain of the nonlinear feedback system such that it can effectively compensate for the effect of flux modulation over the targeted frequency range. A feedback network feeds the output from post multiplier equalization to the power amplifier. |
| US08031881B2 |
Method and apparatus for microphone matching for wearable directional hearing device using wearer's own voice
Method and apparatus for microphone matching for wearable directional hearing assistance devices are provided. An embodiment includes a method for matching at least a first microphone to a second microphone, using a user's voice from the user's mouth. The user's voice is processed as received by at least one microphone to determine a frequency profile associated with voice of the user. Intervals are detected where the user is speaking using the frequency profile. Variations in microphone reception between the first microphone and the second microphone are adaptively canceled during the intervals and when the first microphone and second microphone are in relatively constant spatial position with respect to the user's mouth. |
| US08031880B2 |
Vehicle audio system surround modes
A signal processor for use in a vehicle audio system provides multiple operating modes. A first mode provides substantially equal total sound pressure levels at each seating location. A first equalization pattern provides a substantially similar frequency response at each of the seating locations, and a first balance configuration provides substantially similar balance patterns at each of the seating locations. A second mode provides greater sound pressure levels at a first seating location than at other seating locations. A second equalization pattern results in a frequency response at the first seating location that is substantially smoother than the frequency responses at other seating locations, and a second balance configuration results in the balance pattern at the first seating location being substantially more balanced than the balance patterns at other seating locations. |
| US08031876B2 |
Audio system
Disclosed is an audio system including a group of loudspeakers that form a sound field by delivering into a single space sound signals passed through respective ones of a plurality of sound signal channels. This audio system is comprised of two characteristic-variable equalizers that are cascaded to each other to constitute a part of the sound signal channels; a sound field characteristics detecting part for supplying test signals through the sound signal channels and detecting sound pressure in the sound field and thereby obtaining a sound pressure signal; and a characteristics adjusting part for adjusting, based on the sound pressure signal, equalizing characteristics of the characteristic-variable equalizers individually and with respect to each of the sound signal channels. The sound field characteristics detecting part selectively generates test signals of different bands. The characteristics adjusting part adjusts equalizing characteristics of either one of the two characteristic-variable equalizers according to the band of the test signal. |
| US08031874B2 |
Station and method of collecting information corresponding to security in a wireless network
A station and a method of collecting information corresponding to security. A wireless communicator transmits a request packet to search a wireless network to at least one external device and receives a response packet to the request packet. An authentication method determiner analyzes the response packet to search for at least one wireless network and determines an authentication method supported by each of the searched wireless networks. A storage unit stores the determined authentication method of each of the searched wireless networks. Thus, necessary information corresponding to security during a connection to a wireless network can be searched in advance and provided to a user. |
| US08031871B2 |
Method of updating an authentication algorithm in a computer system
The invention relates to a method of updating an authentication algorithm in at least one data processing device (CARD, SERV) which can store a subscriber identity (IMSI1) which is associated with an authentication algorithm (Algo1) in a memory element of said device (CARD, SERV). The inventive method comprises the following steps, namely: a step whereby a second inactive (Algo2) authentication algorithm is pre-stored in a memory element of the device and a step for switching from the first algorithm (Algo1) to the second algorithm (Algo2) which can inhibit the first algorithm (Algo1) and activate the second (Algo2). |
| US08031868B2 |
Apparatus, method, and computer program product for recording content
A content recording apparatus includes a key selecting unit that selects an encryption key for performing an encrypting process to adjunct data from pieces of information recorded on a recording medium, when a user generates the adjunct data which is data derived from a title content, wherein the recording medium records thereon a title key for encrypting the title content as program content and content data including the title content encrypted by the title key. The content recording apparatus also includes an encryption processing unit that performs an encrypting process to the adjunct data by the selected encryption key; and a recording unit that records the adjunct data to which the encryption process is performed and the selected encryption key in the recording medium. |
| US08031867B2 |
Method of verifying the integrity of an encryption key obtained by combining key parts
The method of verifying the integrity of an encryption key (K) obtained by combining at least two key portions (KM, M) in a protected zone (3) by using a commutative operator, comprises the steps of: using the commutative operator to perform a first combination between a key portion (KM) and a verification encryption key (Kv); using the commutative operator to perform in succession a combination between a key portion that has not yet been combined and a result obtained by an immediately preceding combination, until a last combination (Mv) is performed that includes all of the key portions; performing a combination in the protected zone (3) between the encryption key (K) to be verified and the last combination (Mv) of the verification encryption key (Kv) and the key portions (KM, M) in order to obtain a final verification key (Kf); encrypting verification data (Dv) by means of a symmetrical encryption algorithm (DES) using the final verification key (Kf); and making a comparison with a verification encryption (Cv) obtained by direct encryption of the verification data (Dv) by means of the verification encryption key (Kv). |
| US08031865B2 |
Multiple level security system and method for encrypting data within documents
A multiple level security system and method for encrypting data within documents is disclosed. The method includes one or more different encryption algorithms, and can employ the one or more different encryption algorithms to achieve the multiple levels of encryption. More particularly, a first encryption algorithm is based upon multiple rearrangements of bits representing data to obtain encoded data. A second encryption algorithm is based upon performing multiple XOR operations on bits representing data so that each data word is at least encoded with previous data words. Either encryption method or a combination of both encryption methods can be repeatedly applied to portions of data within a document to selectively encrypt each data portion within the document in accordance with the authorization level associated with the data portion. |
| US08031862B2 |
Voice mail apparatus and control method thereof
According to one embodiment, a voice mail apparatus is connectable to a telephone exchange, records a voice message sent from a caller telephone terminal in a mail box corresponding to each telephone terminals, and reproduces the voice message in response to a reproduction instruction. The voice mail apparatus stores in a memory an audio file having approximately the same signal level as the voice message. The voice mail apparatus inputs the audio file in a voice processing device when a request for processing the voice message is given from a request source telephone terminal. The voice mail apparatus controls the processing gain such that the signal level output from the voice processing device becomes a prescribed level, while performing muting for the request source telephone terminal. The voice mail apparatus inputs the voice message to the voice processing device after completing controlling of the processing gain. |
| US08031861B2 |
Communication system tonal component maintenance techniques
An apparatus and method for suppressing noise is presented. The apparatus may utilize a filter bank of bandpass filters to split the input noisy speech-containing signal into separate frequency bands. To determine whether the input signal contains speech, DTMF tones or silence, a joint voice activity & DTMF activity detector (JVADAD) may be used. The overall average noise-to-signal ratio (NSR) of the input signal is estimated in the overall NSR estimator, which estimates the average noisy signal power in the input signal during speech activity and the average noise power during silence. Two indirect power measures are performed for each band, measuring a short-term power and a long-term power. The power estimation processes are adapted based on the signal activity indicated by the JVADAD. A NSR adapter adapts the NSR for each frequency band based on the long-term and short-term power measures, the overall NSR and the signal activity indicated by the JVADAD. The NSR adaptation may then be performed. The gain computer utilizes these NSR values to determine the gain factors for each frequency band. The gain multiplier may then perform the attenuation of each frequency band. Finally, the processed signals in the separate frequency bands are summed up in the combiner to produce the clean output signal. In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for suppressing noise is presented. An alternative embodiment of the present invention includes a method and apparatus for extending DTMF tones. Yet another embodiment of the present invention includes regenerating DTMF tones. |
| US08031854B2 |
Methods, systems, and products for providing ring backs
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing a ring back to a calling party's communications device. A first call is placed to a called number. An identification sequence is received during the first call. When the first call ends, a second call is placed to a server. The identification sequence is sent to the server during the second call, and the ring back associated with the identification sequence is received. The ring back is stored in memory of the calling party's communications device and retrieved when subsequent calls are made to the called number. The ring back is then presented on the calling party's communications device to indicate the called number is ringing. |
| US08031849B1 |
Telephony system and method with enhanced fraud control
Inmate communications systems provide a feature-rich platform with a high degree of flexibility and security employing call control facilities located off institutional premises. Authentication processes for calling and called party verification include biometric techniques in some embodiments. Distributed processing of call control and billing provide flexible interactive call payment processes. Preferred embodiments feature voice over IP transmission and control featuring controlled access to avoid addition of unauthorized third-party call participants. Monitoring, recording and selective forwarding of calls is provided under control of system administrators. |
| US08031845B2 |
System for viewing information underlying lists and other contexts
A system is provided for viewing extended text information associated with a particular item in place. A user may invoke a text scrolling area in order to view extended text in place without obstructing the view of other screen items. Multiple scrolling areas may be created to view text associated with multiple items. |
| US08031842B1 |
Dual modern architecture to support the transfer of non-Baudot TTY telephone calls
A telecommunications system 100 is provided that includes a plurality of TTY devices 124a-n, a switching system 104 to switch a call to a selected one of the plurality of TTY devices; and back-to-back modems 132a-m comprising first and second modems 136 and 140. The first modem 136 faces the TTY devices 124a-n and the second modem 140 faces a set of outgoing trunks. |
| US08031841B2 |
Method and apparatus for automated asymmetric digital subscriber line loop testing
A method and apparatus for mechanizing the currently manual ADSL loop testing process is disclosed. In one embodiment, an automated loop testing device is disclosed, where the loop testing device has a pair of terminals, e.g., RJ-11 jacks on both sides of the device. The jack on one side connects to inside wiring which, in turn, connects to an ADSL modem. The other jack connects to an outside line which, in turn, connects to a central office of a network provider. In operation, the present device detects a line voltage reversal and then disconnects the input line to the ADSL Modem. When the voltage returns to normal, then the device behaves normally by being closed, essentially acting as a pass through device and again connects the input lines to the output lines. |
| US08031836B2 |
Methods and devices for quantitative analysis of x-ray images
The present invention relates to network enabled analysis of x-ray images. Also described are devices comprising calibration phantoms; methods of using these devices; methods of formulating databases containing information regarding x-ray images; the databases themselves; and methods of manipulating the information and databases. |
| US08031834B2 |
Tomosynthesis apparatus and method to operate a tomosynthesis apparatus
A tomosynthesis apparatus has an x-ray source that generates an x-ray beam emanating from a focus, which is received by a flat panel detector. To set a tomosynthesis angle, the position of the central axis of the x-ray beam of the x-ray source is variable. A collimator diaphragm has a diaphragm aperture that limits the expansion of the x-ray beam at the location of the flat panel detector. The collimator diaphragm is arranged in the beam path between the focus and the flat panel detector. The shape and size of the diaphragm aperture are dynamically varied (adjusted) dependent on the changing tomosynthesis angle, such that the expansion of the x-ray beam at the location of the flat panel detector always essentially corresponds to the detector dimensions. |
| US08031833B2 |
Portable inspection apparatus for X-ray tomography
An inspection apparatus for tomographing an object includes a moving unit and a rotating unit, which is disposed on the moving unit and rotates the object to be tomographed. A method for tomographing an object includes steps of disposing an object on an inspection apparatus; rotating the object by operating the inspection apparatus; and tomographing the object. |
| US08031832B2 |
Circular multi-beam X-ray device
A multi-beam x-ray device has a multi-beam x-ray tube with an interior in the form of a circle. Focal spots of the x-ray radiation are arranged along the circle. An x-ray tube control unit controls the x-ray radiation emission such that an x-ray beam is emitted from each segment of the circle in specified sequence. The circle is divided up into at least two segments, and multiple diaphragms, each with at least one diaphragm aperture therein, one mounted to rotate around the center point of the circular path into the beam path of the x-ray tube. A first diaphragm, whose first diaphragm aperture limits the cross section of the x-ray beam emitted from the x-ray tube, is associated with each segment of the circular path. A number of slice images can be acquired without a movement of the x-ray tube. |
| US08031829B2 |
Method for analytic reconstruction of cone-beam projection data for multi-source inverse geometry CT systems
A method for analytically reconstructing a multi-axial computed tomography (CT) dataset, acquired using one or more longitudinally-offset x-ray beams emitted from multiple x-ray sources is provided. The method comprises acquiring one or more CT axial projection datasets, wherein the CT axial projection datasets are acquired using less than a full scan of data. The method further comprises reconstructing the CT axial projection datasets to generate a reconstructed image volume. The reconstruction comprises back projecting one or more voxels comprising the multi-axial CT dataset, along one or more projection views, based upon a cone-angle weight determined for the voxels, wherein the cone-angle weight for the voxels is determined along a longitudinal direction. |
| US08031825B2 |
Non-destructive testing method and apparatus
Non-destructive testing apparatus may comprise a photon source and a source material that emits positrons in response to bombardment of the source material with photons. The source material is positionable adjacent the photon source and a specimen so that when the source material is positioned adjacent the photon source it is exposed to photons produced thereby. When the source material is positioned adjacent the specimen, the specimen is exposed to at least some of the positrons emitted by the source material. A detector system positioned adjacent the specimen detects annihilation gamma rays emitted by the specimen. Another embodiment comprises a neutron source and a source material that emits positrons in response to neutron bombardment. |
| US08031821B1 |
Digitally assisted power reduction technique for IQ pipeline ADCs used in wireless receivers
A pipelined analog to digital converter that includes a first stage and a second stage. The first stage is configured to (i) receive a first phase component and a second phase component and (ii) generate a first integrated component and a second integrated component. The second stage is configured to sample and integrate the first integrated component and the second integrated component. The first stage is configured to: sample the first phase component to generate a first sampled component; sample the second phase component to generate a second sampled component; during a first portion of a first clock phase, (i) sample the first phase component and (ii) integrate the second sampled component to generate the second integrated component; and during a second portion of the first clock phase, (i) sample the second phase component and (ii) integrate the first sampled component to generate the first integrated component. |
| US08031818B2 |
Method and apparatus for fine frequency synchronization in wireless broadband (WiBro) system without using global positioning system (GPS) receiver
Provided is a fine frequency synchronization method of a WiBro system, and particularly, a fine frequency synchronization method which measures a spread degree of a received signal of an adjacent subcarrier using orthogonality of PN sequences and thereby estimates a frequency offset, in a base station or a wireless repeater without using a GPS receiver. The fine frequency synchronization method includes: (a) performing despreading on received adjacent subcarrier sequences, using a PN sequence transmitted from a transmitting party; (b) obtaining ratios of correlative values obtained by the despreading; and (c) estimating a frequency offset on the basis of the ratio of correlative values. Accordingly, fine frequency offset estimation with relatively low complexity is possible without using a GPS receiver in a WiBro environment where interference signals of other base stations or repeaters exist. |
| US08031817B2 |
Receiver device, error detection circuit, and receiving method
A receiver device which is small in scale of circuit configuration yet capable of detecting an error between symbol timing of a received signal and that generated therein and also restraining an error signal from varying due to variation in input level of the received signal. A delayer delays the received signal for one effective symbol period, a correlator calculates a correlation signal from the product of the received signal and the delayed signal, and an integrator calculates an integral value of the correlation signal. First and second accumulative adders accumulatively add up the integral values over respective predetermined periods before and after symbol start timing generated within the receiver device. An error signal generator generates an error signal by normalizing the difference between first and second sums obtained from the first and second accumulative adders, respectively, by means of the sum total of the first and second sums. |
| US08031816B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining boundaries of information elements
A method for determining boundaries of information elements for a PRN code modulated signal is provided. The method of the present invention measures a symbol phase of the received signal and correlation values of different durations to determine the information element boundary. By the method of the present invention, the determination of the information element boundary can be more effective especially in the common dump receiver architecture, wherein a reference wave used in the correlation measurement of the receiver cannot match the received waveform exactly. |
| US08031815B2 |
System and method for acquisition of signals
A system for processing a received signal having at least one code applied thereto, the received signal having a frequency, the system comprising: first correlator circuitry arranged to correlate the received signal with a first code to provide an output; second correlator circuitry arranged to correlate the received signal with a second code to provide an output, wherein the first code and the second code are different; and processor for processing together the outputs of the first and second correlator circuitry to cancel the frequency. |
| US08031814B2 |
Apparatus and method for estimating channel in multi antenna wireless communication system
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for estimating a channel in a wireless communication system. The apparatus according to the present invention includes an estimator for initially estimating a channel response value by using a predetermined signal among reception signals, a detector for detecting transmission signals by using the channel response value and an operator for updating the channel response value by using detected transmission signals, a detection accuracy and reception signals. |
| US08031811B2 |
Dynamic DC offset canceling apparatus and dynamic DC offset canceling method
The dynamic DC offset canceling apparatus includes: section 104 that detects dynamic DC offset in longest overlapping part sequences from the differences between the sampling values of a first longest overlapping part sequence and the sampling values of a second longest overlapping part sequence, the first longest overlapping part sequence and the second longest overlapping part sequence being overlapping part sequences in a training sequence of the received signal; section 105 that detects dynamic DC offset outside the longest overlapping part sequences from the difference between an average value of sampling values of a received signal which exists in a burst before the first longest overlapping part sequence, and an average value of sampling values of a received signal which exists in a burst after the second longest overlapping part sequence; and section 106 that adaptively subtracts a DC offset value from the received signal based on these results. |
| US08031809B2 |
Template pulse generating circuit, communication device, and communication method
A template pulse generating circuit that generates a template pulse used for detection of a received pulse in pulse communication includes an output mode switching circuit for switching an output mode in accordance with a supplied control signal between a continuous output mode that continuously outputs the template pulses and an intermittent output mode that intermittently outputs the template pulses so that the template pulse is generated in either one of the continuous output mode and the intermittent output mode. |
| US08031804B2 |
Systems and methods of RF tower transmission, modulation, and amplification, including embodiments for compensating for waveform distortion
Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion. |
| US08031803B2 |
Transmitter capable of suppressing peak of transmission signal
A transmitter capable of suppressing a peak of a transmission signal includes a frequency domain acquisition unit for obtaining a frequency domain signal from the signal for transmission; and a level control unit for controlling a level of the frequency domain signal obtained by the frequency domain acquisition unit to suppress a peak in a time domain transmission signal. Further, the transmitter includes a time domain conversion unit for converting the frequency domain signal into the time domain transmission signal whose level has been controlled by the level control unit; and a transmission unit for transmitting the time domain transmission signal. |
| US08031797B2 |
Interference power estimating device and interference power estimating method
The present invention relates to an interference power estimating device that estimates interference power with high accuracy. The interference power estimating device includes a reference symbol acquiring unit acquiring a reference symbol corresponding to each of the pilot symbols included in a received signal by symbol-averaging a reference signal including the pilot symbol being allocated in positions near in terms of time to each of the pilot symbols and having the number less than the number of the pilot symbols within one slot, and an estimating unit estimating interference power of the received signal by power-valuing each difference between each of the pilot symbols and the reference symbol corresponding to each of the pilot symbols acquired by the reference symbol acquiring unit. |
| US08031796B2 |
Device, method and computer program for transmitting an information signal comprising several transmit signals
A device for transmitting an information signal having several transmit signals has a modulator for generating a first and a second transmit signal. The first transmit signal is transmittable via a first spatial emitter, and the second transmit signal is transmittable via a second spatial emitter. The modulator has an OFDM control stage to load a first group of OFDM carriers with first information to generate the first transmit signal, and to load a second group of OFDM carriers with second information to generate the second transmit signal. The first group of OFDM carriers differs from the second group of OFDM carriers, and the first information differs from the second information. The present invention further provides a corresponding method and a computer program for transmitting an information signal. |
| US08031792B2 |
Metrics calculations utilising pre-stored values
A trellis processing technique for estimating a transmitted signal from a received signal acquired through a channel achieves a reduced computational structure when implementing a DDFSE-like branch metrics calculation by pre-storing computed values, which can be re-used. The technique involves storing differences between a received symbol and different products, each of which is a product of a channel coefficient corresponding to a least time delay and a different possible transmitted symbol. A summation of products is calculated, each product being a product of a possible transmitted signal symbol and a channel coefficient other than the channel coefficient corresponding to the least time delay, the summation being specific to a branch-start state in a trellis. The summation is combined with different stored differences in a calculation of branch metrics leading to different branch-end states in the trellis. |
| US08031790B2 |
Wireless communication device
A multiband OFDM_UWB transmitting and receiving apparatus is provided in Low-IF configuration to solve problems attributed to a direct-conversion transmitting and receiving apparatus. A Low-IF receiver performs sorting by rotating a sub-carrier after FFT to eliminate the need for frequency conversion using a second local signal and uses the same AD conversion clock as that for a direct conversion receiver. An FFT-free preamble can be detected by using a sequence resulting from previously multiplying an original preamble pattern and an IF frequency together. |
| US08031788B2 |
OFDM reception in multi-antenna mode
A signal is received by P antennas. It includes frames having symbols occupying respective positions distributed along an axis of time and of frequency, a frame including M blocks having N reference symbols M groups of P weighting coefficients are determined, each one of the groups relating to one of the blocks emitted, with the coefficients of a group being associated to the blocks which are received on the P antennas and which correspond to the block emitted relating to the group. The coefficients are determined so as to increase via a threshold value, an error value for each block emitted, between the reference symbols of the block emitted, and the symbols obtained using the symbols received on each antenna at the positions of reference symbols corresponding to the block emitted and the associated coefficients. Then, weighting coefficients are obtained for the other symbols of the frame Finally, a composite signal is generated by summing up the symbols received respectively weighted by the associated weighting coefficients. |
| US08031780B2 |
Smooth scanning presenter
Described herein is a technology for the presentation of digital video. One implementation, described herein, smoothly presents variable-speed scanning of a compressed digital video stream—for example, a MPEG video stream. One implementation, described herein, smooth scanning (e.g., fast-forward and fast-rewind) video is produced by selectively displaying certain types of frames of a Group-of-Pictures (GOP). The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims. |
| US08031779B2 |
External-device control apparatus and system
In an external-device control apparatus, a first section extracts a prescribed descriptor from program specific information in a transport stream. A second section analyzes information represented by the extracted prescribed descriptor to obtain an analyzation result. A third section stores information about setting of operation of an external device. A fourth section generates a signal for control of the operation of the external device in response to the obtained analyzation result according to the information stored in the third section. The fourth section sends the generated signal to the external device. |
| US08031778B2 |
Picture decoding device and method
A picture decoding device (100) comprises a decoding unit (30), a frame memory (40), a deblocking filter (50), a macro block memory (60), and a control unit (70). The macro block memory (60) stores an unfiltered picture data, for which deblock-filtering is not performed, of the macro blocks adjoining a slice boundary. Decoding and deblock-filtering are performed for the macro blocks of each slice in a manner of pipeline processing, and the decoded picture data for the macro blocks is stored in the frame memory (40). After the pipeline processing for all of the macro blocks is completed, the second deblock-filtering is performed to the slice boundary-adjoining macro blocks, and the pixel values of the slice boundary-adjoining macro blocks already stored in the frame memory (40) are replaced. Thereby, the encoded picture data of arbitrary slice order can be completely decoded. |
| US08031775B2 |
Analyzing camera captured video for key frames
In order to analyze a digital video clip to determine candidate frames for subsequent key frame selection, a camera motion sensor is provided in the camera so that information is provided during image capture regarding camera motion including translation of the scene or camera, or scaling of the scene. The sensor includes an accelerometer or a lens motor sensor. A plurality of video segments is formed based on the global motion estimate and each segment is labeled in accordance with a predetermined series of camera motion classes. Thereafter, key frame candidates are extracted from the labeled segments and a confidence score is computed for each candidate by using rules corresponding to each camera motion class and a rule corresponding to object motion. |
| US08031771B2 |
System and method for dynamically determining multimedia transmission based on communication bandwidth
A system and method is provided for dynamically adjusting one or more characteristics of a multimedia transmission between a content provider and a content recipient. In one embod, the system responds to a change in available bandwidth between the content provider and the content recipient. |
| US08031769B2 |
Method and device for controlling quantization scales of a video encoding bit stream
According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for controlling quantization scales when encoding video signals is disclosed, which comprises: (a) generating a new quantization scale; and (b) comparing the new quantization scale with a prior quantization scale, and if the difference between the new quantization scale and the prior quantization scale exceeds a predetermined range, replace the prior quantization scale with the new quantization scale. |
| US08031767B2 |
Encoding and decoding multi-view video while accommodating absent or unreliable camera parameters
A method of encoding multi-view video using camera parameters and a method of decoding multi-view video using the camera parameters are provided. The method of encoding multi-view video using the camera parameters includes detecting the camera parameters from each of a plurality of video data input from a multi-view camera in predetermined video units, and adaptively encoding each of the plurality of the video data according to whether each video data has the camera parameters. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the efficiency of compressing video without degrading video quality. |
| US08031763B2 |
Automatic tuning circuit for a continuous-time equalizer
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for an automatic tuning circuit for a continuous-time equalizer (CTE). In some embodiments, the automatic tuning circuit automatically tunes the magnitude response as a function of frequency of the CTE. |
| US08031762B2 |
Stream weight estimation and compensation in SIMO/MIMO OFDM receivers
A process for equalizing streams of OFDM subcarrier data computes the noise variance for each stream, and forms a stream weighting coefficient by equalizing the noise variance, such that for a first stream having a noise variance σ1 and a second stream having a noise variance of σ2, the first stream is scaled by k 1 = 2 σ 2 σ 1 2 + σ 2 2 and the second stream is scaled by k 2 = 2 σ 1 σ 1 2 - σ 2 2 . |
| US08031761B2 |
Adaptive margin and band control
Configuration or otherwise controlling parameters of a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) system related to power, band usage and margin is based on collected operational data. Operational data are collected from at least one DSL system operating under a known configuration and/or a profile. A target profile is selected based on binder-level information. The collected operational data is analyzed and conditions for changing the DSL system configuration to the target profile are evaluated, including any applicable transition rules pertaining to changing profiles. If the conditions hold, then the DSL system is instructed to operate with the target profile. Binder-level information can include deployment point information, topology information, and/or crosstalk coupling information. The controlled parameters may have values that are chosen using one or more spectrum balancing methods. Such spectrum balancing methods may be executed infrequently, and may make use of all binder-level information that is available. |
| US08031760B2 |
Fast modem reconfiguration
Methods, systems, and computer program products for reconfiguring a modem. In an embodiment, fast reconfiguration of a modem occurs when a first modem determines there is a need for fast reconfiguration. The first modem signals its transition from showtime to fast reconfiguration. The first modem waits for acknowledgement from a second modem before transitioning to showtime. Once transitioned from showtime, the first modem estimates a signal to noise ratio and then exchanges parameters with the second modem. The first and second modems then transition to showtime. |
| US08031758B2 |
Powerline communication (PLC) modem employing an analog electromagnetic transducer
A PLC cable modem is provided which includes an analog electromagnetic field transducer for generating an electromagnetic field based on an analog electrical signal and also for generating an analog electrical signal based on an electromagnetic field. The PLC cable modem also includes an analog signal processing unit operatively coupled to the analog electromagnetic field transducer and a digital signal processing unit for processing signals received from (or to be sent to) the analog signal processing unit. An interface port is provided for communicating digital signals to and from a data transmission or receiving device. |
| US08031756B2 |
Communication device, communication method, communication system and program
A communication device of the present invention includes channel compensations, an adaptive processor, a MAC and a controller. The channel compensations weight each of signals received by a plurality of antennas based on an SN ratio of the received signals so as to control the antennas to operate as combining diversity systems. The adaptive processor weights each of the signals received by the plurality of antennas so as to suppress the interference signal and to control the antennas to operate as adaptive array antennas. The MAC detects frequency hopping information of the received signals. The controller changes between the operation of the combining diversity systems and the operation of the adaptive array antennas, based on the frequency hopping information. |
| US08031751B2 |
Nitride semiconductor laser device
The present invention relates to a nitride semiconductor laser device having a structure in which two or more of nitride semiconductor laser elements, having at least a first electrode on a first main surface of a first conductive type conductive substrate, having at least a first conductive type nitride semiconductor layer, an active layer, a second conductive type nitride semiconductor layer, and a second electrode on a second main surface of the conductive substrate, and having a stripe-waveguide structure parallel to the first main surface, are arranged in a direction parallel to the first main surface and a direction perpendicular to the direction of light that is emitted from the stripe waveguide structure in the nitride semiconductor laser device, and the first sub-mount and the first electrode of the nitride semiconductor laser element are electrically and heat-conductively connected, and the second sub-mount and the second electrode of the nitride semiconductor laser element are electrically and heat-conductively connected. |
| US08031743B2 |
Apparatuses and method for multiplexing elementary streams based on a multiplexing pattern indicating an order of types of data to be multiplexed
A multiplexing pattern generator generates a multiplexing pattern signal indicating the order of types of data to be multiplexed. A video remaining size calculator and an audio remaining size calculator calculate, as a remaining size, the size of multiplexable data of an elementary stream. A video packet generator and an audio packet generator generate a multiplex packet containing transmission data of a predetermined size, based on the multiplexing pattern signal and the remaining size. A multiplexer generates a multiplexed stream. The video remaining size calculator and the audio remaining size calculator calculate the remaining size, based on the data size per access unit and the transmission size of transmission data. The video packet generator and the audio packet generator generate a multiplex packet, if the data type indicated by the multiplexing pattern signal shows matching, and the remaining size is equal to or larger than the transmission size. |
| US08031741B2 |
Method and apparatus for facilitating inter-network handover
A method and apparatus for facilitating inter-network handover comprises receiving a first network service primitive. The first network service primitive is then mapped to a second network service primitive. |
| US08031740B2 |
Time division multiple access communication network system
A transmitter node includes a first data transmission portion that transmits data in a first transmission time slot on a first transmission channel and a second data transmission portion that transmits the same transmission data from the first data transmission portion in a second transmission time slot on a second transmission channel that does not superimpose in time on the first transmission time slot. A receiver node includes a first data reception portion that receives data transmitted from the transmitter node in a first reception time slot superimposing in time on the first transmission time slot on the first transmission channel and a second data reception portion that receives transmission data transmitted from the second data transmission portion in a second reception time slot on the second transmission channel superimposing in time on the second transmission time slot. Data transmission and reception can be thus ensured even at a trouble. |
| US08031730B2 |
System and method for transmitting a sequence of messages in an interconnection network
Method for transmitting a sequence of messages in a point-to-point interconnection network comprising message initiating agents, message destination agents and message transmission agents. During a transmission of an indivisible sequence of messages from an initiating agent to a destination agent, an output of a message transmission agent is locked onto an input of the transmission agent, the other inputs of the said transmission agent being able to transmit messages to the other outputs of the said transmission agent. |
| US08031729B2 |
System and method for receive queue provisioning
Systems and methods that provide receive queue provisioning are provided. In one embodiment, a communications system may include, for example, a first queue pair (QP), a second QP, a general pool and a resource manager. The first QP may be associated with a first connection and with at least one of a first limit value and an out-of-order threshold. The first QP may include, for example, a first send queue (SQ). The second QP may be associated with a second connection and with a second limit value. The second QP may include, for example, a second SQ. The general pool may include, for example, a shared receive queue (SRQ) that is shared by the first QP and the second QP. The resource manager may provide, for example, provisioning for the SRQ and may manage the first limit value and the second limit value. |
| US08031727B2 |
Wireless network system
In a wireless network system for interconnecting a wireless network and another network different from the wireless network, the wireless network system includes: a plurality of wireless nodes for establishing the wireless network; a control device connected to the other network; and a plurality of gateways for interconnecting the wireless network and the other network, wherein the wireless node searches a path from a gateway candidate list, selects a gateway on an optimal path based on information collected in searching the path, and transfers data to the control device through the gateway on the optimal path. |
| US08031726B2 |
Billing, alarm, statistics and log information handling in multi-services gateway device at user premises
A gateway device for operation at a user premises having at least one endpoint device associated with the gateway device, the gateway device being in communication with a remote service manager comprises an application service module having at least one application, the application service module being remotely managed by a remote service manager via a connection, the application service module residing on a user premises side of a network service provider demarcation, a user module having a user interface that is associated with the at least one application, wherein the user module enables bi-directional communications with the at least one endpoint device, a network module having the connection that enables bi-directional communications with the remote service manager, a processor coupled to the user module, application service module, and network module, and a storage device coupled to the processor operable to store operational information generated by and related to the gateway device, and having a management module operable to generate, collect, process, and provide access to the operational information under the control of the remote service manager. |
| US08031724B2 |
Home network system
The present invention discloses a home network system using a living network control protocol. The home network system includes: at least one electric device; first and second networks based on a predetermined living network control protocol (LnCP); an LnCP access device connected to the electric device through the second network; and a network manager connected to the LnCP access device through the first network, for controlling and monitoring the electric device. |
| US08031721B2 |
Method and apparatus for marking and scheduling packets for transmission
A method and system for profile-marking and scheduling of packets are disclosed. Using a dual-rate scheduler, the profile state of a packet being scheduled for transmission by a flow traffic descriptor is determined based on the traffic rate of the flow traffic descriptor, which is associated with the queue that the packet belongs to. The profile state of the packet is marked prior to the transmission of the packet. |
| US08031719B2 |
System, node, and method optimizing data connections for packet services
Systems and methods for optimizing resources of a packet service gateway are disclosed. According to an embodiment, a telecommunication system includes a servicing node, a gateway node connecting the servicing node to a data network, and a control node virtualizing the connection of the servicing node to the data network when the connection is inactive for a predetermined period of time. The control node can include a memory storing control information of inactive connections to the data network, and a processor processing and generating requests to and from the servicing node and the gateway node. According to another embodiment, a method of establishing a connection to a data network includes requesting a connection to the data network by a servicing node, connecting the servicing node to the data network via a gateway node, and virtualizing, by a control node, the connection of the servicing node to the data network. |
| US08031718B2 |
Method of data communication between PLC stations belonging to different PLC cells and apparatus thereof
A method of data communication between power line communication (PLC) stations belonging to different PLC cells includes transmitting a station ID of a PLC reception station to a PLC cell bridge (CB) of a first PLC cell to which a PLC transmission station belongs, receiving a group identification (GID) and an encryption key of a second PLC cell to which the PLC reception station belongs from the PLC CB of the first PLC cell, encrypting data to be transmitted using the encryption key of the second PLC cell, and transmitting the station ID of the PLC reception station, the GID of the second PLC cell, and the encrypted data, to the PLC CB of the first PLC cell, and an apparatus to perform the method. |
| US08031714B2 |
Using a cache of outgoing packet identifiers to recover from a protocol error in GTP-u
A process of using a cache of outgoing packet identifiers to recover from a protocol error includes assigning a receive identifier associated with a user entity to a traffic stream at a receive node. The receive identifier is sent to a transmit node. The transmit node is instructed to associate the receive identifier with a receive plurality of data packets of the traffic stream. The transmit identifier associated with the user entity is assigned to the traffic stream at the transmit node. The transmit node identifier, the receive node identifier, and the address of the receive node are stored in a transmit cache at the transmit node for each of the receive plurality of data packets. The receive plurality of data packets is sent from the transmit node to the receive node. An error message is received at the transmit node from the receive node, indicating that the receive identifier was not recognized. The transmit cache is searched for the transmit node identifier using the receive node identifier and the address of the receive node. The user entity associated with the transmit node identifier is identified, and the user entity is removed. |
| US08031709B2 |
User-specified key creation from attributes independent of encapsulation type
An integrated circuit has a hardware decoder that parses a frame to identify a type of encapsulation. The integrated circuit also has a number of hardware parsers, each parser being coupled to the decoder by an enable line. During packet processing, one of the parsers is enabled by the decoder, based on the value which identifies the encapsulation type. The enabled parser retrieves one or more attributes from the frame, depending on the encapsulation. The integrated circuit also has a register, coupled to each parser. The register holds the attributes retrieved by the parser. The integrated circuit also has a key generation hardware which creates a key, by concatenating from the attributes register, certain attributes that are pre-selected by a user for forming the key. The integrated circuit supplies the key to a memory to look up a set of user-specified actions to be performed on data in the frame. |
| US08031707B2 |
System for transporting Ethernet frames over very high speed digital subscriber lines
An apparatus for and method of encapsulating Ethernet frames over a Very high speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) transport facility. The VDSL frames are transmitted over a point to point VDSL link where they are subsequently extracted and forwarded as standard Ethernet frames. The VDSL facility transport system comprises an Ethernet to VDSL Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) coupled to a DSL Access Multiplexor (DSLAM) over a VDSL transport facility. The Ethernet to VDSL CPE functions to receive a 10BaseT Ethernet signal and encapsulate the Ethernet frame into a VDSL frame for transmission over the VDSL facility. The DSLAM is adapted to receive VDSL frames, extract Ethernet frames therefrom and generate and output a standard Ethernet signal. Ethernet frames are encapsulated within VDSL frames and transmitted on the wire pair without regard to the state of the SOC signals. |
| US08031705B2 |
Bus interface unit for interposing in a two-wire current loop, as well as a transducer, position controller and analog input and output module with such a bus interface unit
A bus interface unit is provided for intermediate switching in a two-wire current loop, wherein the bus interface unit has a transformer for potential-free decoupling of an alternating current signal modulated with digital receive data and/or for coupling in of an alternating current signal to be modulated with digital send data. The alternating current signal is modulated onto a direct current signal of a two-wire current loop. The bus interface unit has a bidirectional modem unit connected on the secondary side to the transformer for output of the receive data on a data bus and for input of the send data from the data bus. The transformer has two primary windings, which are interconnected such that the magnetic fields generated by the two-wire loop current flowing through it cancel each other out. A lowpass and/or a highpass filter for the alternating current signal is connected upstream from the at least one primary winding. |
| US08031704B2 |
Network planning and optimization of equipment deployment
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, devices and methods for improving the efficient deployment and configuration of networking equipment within a network build-out. In certain embodiments of the invention, an iterative analysis of inter-node equipment placement and connectivity, and inter- and intra-node traffic flow is performed to identify a preferred deployment solution. This analysis of deployment optimization takes into account both configurations from a network node perspective as well as from a network system perspective. Deployment solutions are iteratively progressed and analyzed to determine a preferred solution based on both the cost of deployment and satisfaction of the network demands. In various embodiments of the invention, a baseline marker is generated from which the accuracy of the solution may be approximated that suggests to an engineer whether the deployment is approaching an optimal solution. |
| US08031703B2 |
System and method for dynamic maintenance of fabric subsets in a network
A networking device includes a port, and a management module that identifies fabric subsets that include networked devices that can exchange information with each other, detects that a networked device was uncoupled from the networking device, and modifies the fabric subsets. A Fibre Channel switch includes ports, zones and a management module. Each zone includes subsets of devices coupled to the ports, and permits the subset of devices to exchange information with each other. The management module detects when a device becomes uncoupled from a port and automatically updates the zones to restrict the device from exchanging information with other devices. A method includes identifying fabric subsets in a network, selecting a fabric subset that includes networked devices that are permitted to exchange information with each other, detecting that one of the networked devices has become uncoupled from the network, and automatically modifying a portion of the network fabric. |
| US08031700B2 |
PPP terminating equipment, network equipment and method of responding to LCP echo requirement
In a PPP terminating equipment connected with a switch fabric and terminating PPP link, the PPP terminating equipment has an LCP echo requirement detecting section detecting whether or not a received packet is the LCP echo requirement packet, and an LCP echo response producing section producing a response packet to the LCP echo requirement by rewriting the LCP header of the received LCP echo requirement packet. The PPP terminating equipment thereby produces and returns the response packet to the LCP echo requirement. |
| US08031699B2 |
Call processing method and apparatus for mobile terminal in data call mode
A call processing method and a mobile terminal are provided. The mobile terminal includes a Radio Frequency (RF) receiver including a first input terminal connected to a first incoming signal line and a second input terminal connected to a second incoming signal line, a first RF switch arranged on the first incoming signal line for switching the first incoming line between the first input terminal and an inter-switch line, a second RF switch arranged on the second incoming signal line for switching the second input terminal between the second incoming signal line and the inter-switch line, and a controller for controlling, in a data call session, the first RF switch and the second RF switch to establish a connection of the first incoming signal line and the second incoming signal line during a first period and during a second period. |
| US08031693B2 |
System and method for timing synchronization
The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for timing synchronization. Uplink synchronization is a necessary component of a UE operating in a mobile, wireless network. Reliable uplink synchronization generally requires regular uplink transmission containing reference signals. A method is provided that defines a burst period for sending the reference signals, determines an interval between the reference signals, and sends a timing instruction message that includes the burst period and the determined interval. A second method is provided that receives the timing instruction message and sends the reference signals in accordance with the timing instruction. |
| US08031691B2 |
System and method for wireless communication of uncompressed video having acknowledgment (ACK) frames
A system and method for wireless communication of uncompressed video data are disclosed. One embodiment of the system includes a wireless communication device. The device includes a receiver configured to receive a data packet, and a transmitter configured to send an acknowledgment (ACK) signal upon receiving a data packet. The ACK signal includes a physical layer preamble, a physical layer header including a plurality of bits indicative of the status of the data packet, and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field. The ACK signal optionally includes a payload field containing beam-tracking data. |
| US08031686B2 |
Methods and apparatus for power control in multi-carrier wireless systems
Methods and apparatus disclosed maximize the capacity of serving cells and minimize inter-cell interferences due to power emission from serving cells in a multi-carrier, multi-cell communication system. The control methods and apparatus take into account various factors such as cell configuration, frequency reuse, geometry and path-loss information, transmission priority, subchannel configuration, feedback from other cells, or any combination thereof, and produce signals that control the transmission power levels and the modulation and coding of transmitted signals. |
| US08031684B2 |
Nodal policy inclusive techniques for operating an ad hoc network
A method of operating an ad hoc network comprising a plurality of devices (11-16). Each device includes communication means for communicating with other ones of the plurality of devices when they are in range. The method involves storing on each device one or more nodal policies (1-6) which specify rules for determining how a device should behave in response to various prevailing circumstances and controlling each device to operate in accordance with one or more of the stored nodal policies. Additionally, each device stores a fitness parameter and adjusts the value of the fitness parameter in dependence upon the level of activity of the device (in particular, activity which is consistent with its stored policies). Additionally, each device monitors the value of its stored fitness parameter and the activity of its communication means and transmits (46, 48, 49), to other ones of the devices which are in range (13, 15, 16) one or more of its stored nodal policies (5) in the event that its fitness parameter exceeds a threshold of value and its communication means is not required for other purposes. |
| US08031683B2 |
Selecting portals to service network transmissions
A system, apparatus, and method to dynamically select and establish connections with portals of a mesh network are described herein. |
| US08031681B2 |
Communication between overlapping WRAN cells working in different channels
A common control channel for base station (“BS”)/consumer premise equipment (“CPE”) communication in areas of overlapping coverage by wireless regional area network (“WRAN”) cells operating on different working channels is disclosed. A common control channel is selected from among the various working channels sensed in each of a plurality of overlapping WRAN cells so as to enable BS/CPE and BS/BS communication. Once chosen, each CPE within the overlapping area communicates with the controlling BS via an enhanced coexistence beacon protocol messages. These messages include timing and other synchronization information. |
| US08031679B2 |
Method for performing softer handover in a broadband wireless communication system
Disclosed is a method of performing softer handover in a broadband wireless communication system. The method includes granting identification numbers to neighbor antennas around a mobile station currently performing communication, and transmitting a neighbor base station advertisement message including the identification numbers of the neighbor antennas, receiving a handover request message including an identification number of a particular antenna from the mobile station, determining if the particular antenna is located within a current coverage area of the base station, and adding the particular antenna to a diversity set and notifying information on multiple antennas included in the diversity set to the base station when the particular antenna is located within the current coverage area of the mobile station; multicasting an identical frame to the multiple antennas included in the diversity set and receiving a handover indication message from the mobile station. |
| US08031677B1 |
Method, system, and device for user detachment when a handover or change occurs in heterogeneous network
A method for user detachment when a handover or change occurs in a heterogeneous network is provided. The method includes: a user equipment (UE) is handed over or switched from a source network to a target network; a network element on a network side determines whether to detach the UE from the source network, and if yes, the network element on the network side detaches the UE from the source network. A system and a device for user detachment when a handover or change occurs in a heterogeneous network, and another method for user detachment when a handover or change occurs in a heterogeneous network are also provided. |
| US08031676B2 |
System for constructing a mobility model for use in mobility management in a wireless communication system and method thereof
A method for constructing a mobility model for use in optimizing mobility management in a wireless communication system is disclosed, which comprises steps of collecting a plurality of network traffic statistic data of a plurality of desired items, wherein the desired items are related to the behavior of a plurality of subscribers of the wireless communication system; constructing the mobility model according to the network traffic statistic data, wherein the mobility model is for modeling the mobility behavior of the subscribers; and optimizing mobility management according to the mobility model. |
| US08031675B2 |
System and method for detecting wireless base stations
A system for detecting wireless base stations and a method thereof are provided. The system includes a detection module, a count module, a storage module, and a switch module. The method includes sending a detection request to a channel, determining whether a wireless base station corresponding to the channel physically exits, and whether the channel is detected, based on a detection response returned by the channel; returning a detection response; calculating the sum of the detection request and the detection response so as to create a count result to be stored in the storage module; and switching directly from the wireless base station currently in use and the corresponding channel to the next undetected channel and a corresponding wireless base station, based on the count result. |
| US08031673B2 |
Cell change in cellular networks
A handover or cell change procedure in a cellular radio communications system starts with mobile user terminal present in a serving cell and having multiple radio resources simultaneously allocated for communication with a base station of the cell. When there is a need for a cell change, the multiple radio resources are sequentially replaced with radio resources allocated to the terminal for communication with at least one base station having an associated cell different from the serving cell. This cell change procedure provides macro diversity without requiring the complexity of soft handover and has enhanced service coverage and handover robustness compared to hard handover. |
| US08031671B2 |
Methods and systems for providing improved handoffs in a wireless communication system
Methods and systems are provided for using a PDSN in a wireless communication network that includes multiple IP addresses and multiple corresponding physical interfaces. Through the use of multiple IP addresses and interfaces, the throughput of the PDSN may be substantially increased. Additionally, the multiple IP addresses and interfaces may be used to provide redundancy in order to protect against software or hardware failures. According to the methods and systems of the invention, moreover, the risk of internal hard handoffs resulting from the use of a PDSN having multiple IP addresses and interfaces is eliminated or at least substantially reduced. |
| US08031670B2 |
Systems and methods for selecting the size of a control region of a downlink subframe
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for choosing the size of the control region of a downlink subframe. For example, an apparatus for selecting the size of the control region based on a set of one or more physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) is disclosed. The apparatus, in some embodiments, includes: a module configured to determine, for each of at least two or more control region sizes included in a set of two or more control region sizes, a subset of PDCCHs from said set of PDCCHs that can be assigned to a control region having a size equal to the control region size; and control region size selector for selecting a control region size for the subframe, wherein the control region size selector is configured to make the selection based, at least in part, on information pertaining to the subset of PDCCHs that can be assigned to a control region having a size equal to the selected control region size. |
| US08031669B2 |
Systems and methods for increasing base station capacity
Systems and methods for enhancing the capacity of base stations are provided. A base station can operate in a time division duplex mode within a first frequency band. When a second frequency band is acquired for the base station's geographic region, a duplexer can be added to the base station. The base station can then operate in a frequency division duplex mode, where the first frequency band is used for base station downlink transmissions and the second frequency band is used for uplink transmissions. |
| US08031665B1 |
Connection identifier reservation in a wireless communication system
A wireless communication system allocates connection identifiers into a first group and a second group. The system associates sectors or base stations with a reservation zone, and associates the reservation zone with the first group of connection identifiers. The system associates the first group of connection identifiers with a quality-of-service level. In response to determining that a user has the quality-of-service level, the system reserves at least one of the connection identifiers in the first group for the user and uses the reserved connection identifier to communicate with the first user in all of the sectors or base stations associated with the reservation zone. |
| US08031664B2 |
Channel management method and channel selection method for wireless node in wireless ad-hoc network
Provided are a channel management method and a channel selection method for a wireless node in a wireless ad-hoc network. The channel management method includes the steps of: (a) when a current mode is a first mode, performing channel selection using a method for evenly distributing a channel within an interference range; and (b) when the current mode is a second mode, performing channel selection based on a channel switching probability. According to the method, by preventing a channel change from being continuously repeated in a wireless ad-hoc network using multi-channel multi-interface, it is possible to prevent data transmission delay and network performance deterioration. |
| US08031661B2 |
Symmetric transmit opportunity (TXOP) truncation
Symmetric transmit opportunity (TXOP) truncation (STT) including receiving a frame that truncates a TXOP around a first station, and responsive to receiving the frame, sending a second frame that truncates the TXOP around a second station. By transmitting a second frame that repeats the truncation of the TXOP transmitted from the first station, a hidden node problem can be avoided and equitable access to the medium provided by ensuring that stations that may be outside the broadcast range of the first station also receive the frame truncating the TXOP. Also disclosed is an access point (AP) that receives an extended interframe space (EIFS) set frame responsively transmits a second frame having a completed transmission corresponding to time based on an interval of EIFS less DIFS, the interval commencing from an end of the EIFS set frame. |
| US08031660B2 |
Data transmission method, system, base station, subscriber station, data processing unit, computer program product, computer program distribution medium and baseband module
A data transmission method in a communication system including transmitting at least one capacity request message from a subscriber station, granting capacity subscriber station-specific by a base station, transmitting at least one capacity grant message from the base station, allocating granted capacity connection-specific by the subscriber station, transmitting from the subscriber station at least one message, which includes information on previous capacity requests, transmitting data from the subscriber station according to capacity allocation, monitoring by the base station request messages, capacity grant messages and received transmissions. |
| US08031657B2 |
Server for updating location beacon database
A location beacon database and server, method of building location beacon database, and location based service using same. Wi-Fi access points are located in a target geographical area to build a reference database of locations of Wi-Fi access points. At least one vehicle is deployed including at least one scanning device having a GPS device and a Wi-Fi radio device and including a Wi-Fi antenna system. The target area is traversed in a programmatic route to reduce arterial bias. The programmatic route includes substantially all drivable streets in the target geographical area and solves an Eulerian cycle problem of a graph represented by said drivable streets. While traversing the target area, Wi-Fi identity information and GPS location information is detected. The location information is used to reverse triangulate the position of the detected Wi-Fi access point; and the position of the detected access point is recorded in a reference database. |
| US08031654B2 |
Wireless communication system, apparatus for suppporting data flow and methods therefor
An apparatus for use in allocating resource in a wireless communication system employing transfer communication protocol (TCP) based data transfer between a network and a wireless subscriber communication unit comprises a scheduler located in the network, wherein the scheduler buffers a TCP data segment for downlink (DL) transmission. A transmitter is arranged to transmit the buffered TCP data segment to the UE; wherein the message indicates an allocation of DL resources plus sufficient uplink resources to transfer a stand-alone ACK data segment. In this manner, for example in large bulk data transfer cases, a reduced latency may be achieved that may lead to improved throughput, due to the fact that the overall throughput may be limited by the window size (i.e. number of unacknowledged segments) rather than the throughput possible across the air interface. |
| US08031651B2 |
Method and system for minimizing power consumption in a communication system
Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and system for minimizing power consumption in a communication system. Exemplary aspects of the invention may comprise configuring a supply voltage of an amplifier to enable communication of data using a first communication protocol during a first timeslot in a TDM frame, reconfiguring the supply voltage of the amplifier to enable communication of data using a different communication protocol, and adjusting the supply voltage of the amplifier in proportion to the envelope of a baseband signal conforming to one of the communication protocols. The first and second communication protocols may conform to various communication protocols, such as WCDMA, HSDPA, HSUDPA, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, WiMAX, OFDM, UWB, ZigBee, and Bluetooth. The baseband signal may be delayed by a number of samples before being input into the amplifier. |
| US08031649B2 |
Systems and methods for arranging MAC layer PDUs in a downlink burst
Embodiments of systems and methods for arranging data units in a downlink burst transmission are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments a group of data units are arranged by associated identifiers. These identifiers may also be associated with certain subscriber stations. Once arranged, the data units may be transmitted in a downlink burst and received by a subscriber station. The subscriber station may determine the arrangement of the data units to decode until a cutoff value is determined and passed. |
| US08031645B2 |
Archival of session data exchanged with a wireless communication network
Techniques for archiving data exchanged between a terminal and a wireless communication network during a session are described. Session data may be archived at a network entity in real-time while the session is in progress or may be uploaded to the network entity for archival after the session has terminated. The network entity may archive all data exchanged during the session or only data of the terminal, depending on whether authorization is received from other terminals in the session. The network entity may assign an identifier for the session and may store the identifier and other attributes for the session. During or after the session, the network entity may receive from the terminal a request for all or a portion of the archived data and would then provide the requested data. The network entity may archive a single copy of the session data for all terminals in the session. |
| US08031640B2 |
Packet transmission apparatus, packet forwarding method and packet transmission system
A packet transmission system enabling VLAN packet forwarding of the MAC layer at the RPR layer. An address translation table associates with a VLAN identifier a MAC address and a flag showing validity of the VLAN identifier. A flag set valid means that an own node belongs to a VLAN domain with the VLAN identifier. In a case where a received packet is a VLAN packet, a first node searches the address translation table based on the VLAN identifier for a MAC address, creates an RPR packet with the MAC address stored as an RPR destination address, and transmits the RPR packet to an RPR network. A second node searches the address translation table based on the MAC address stored in the RPR packet, and if a corresponding flag is a valid flag, regards the packet as being addressed to a VLAN to which the own node belongs, and transmits the packet to the VLAN after deleting the RPR header therefrom. |
| US08031639B2 |
Efficient probabilistic duplicate packet detector in computer networks
In order to solve the problem of the detection of the arrival of duplicate data packets in an interconnected, multinode data processing system, each data packet is provided with a field of r bits that are randomly generated for each data packet. However, one of the packets is provided with a field that is computed from the other randomly generated field entries in a checksum computation which yields a selected nonzero checksum value. A running checksum at the receiver is used to determine whether or not, after the receipt of the specified number, k, of data packets, a duplicate packet has been received. |
| US08031638B2 |
Method and system for determining the topology of a modular analysis system
The invention relates to the field of modular analytical systems. The invention enables the topology of a modular analytical system to be determined without requiring additional complicated measures such as a system reset. The method/system is also adapted to industry standards such that CAN-busses can be used. |
| US08031629B2 |
Method and apparatus of managing wireless communication in a worksite
A method of controlling wireless messaging between mobile apparatuses and an onsite office in a worksite, including: dividing the worksite area into elementary cells mapped in correspondence with the topology of the area and into and communication zones, establishing at least one updatable communication attribute value pertaining to a parameter of wireless communication, establishing at least one worksite management attribute value pertaining to a parameter other than a wireless communication parameter of the worksite at that cell, storing values of the worksite and communication attributes, forming a worksite management message with an electronically readable content containing at least one worksite management attribute value, accessing the memory to obtain at least one current communication attribute value, and establishing a wireless communication to or from the communication zone to send or receive the management message on the basis of the current communication attribute value(s) electronically accessed from the memory. |
| US08031626B2 |
Packet structure for a mobile display digital interface
An Enhanced Reverse Link Encapsulation packet for a MDDI system combines and improves upon the functionality of the Round Trip Delay Measurement packet and Reverse Encapsulation packet. The combination of these packets allows for reduced MDDI link overhead when providing client reverse link transmission. This packet allows for dynamic reverse link bandwidth allocation and therefore improved MDDI link utilization. |
| US08031624B2 |
Enhanced data transport system and method for mobile terminal
An enhanced data transport system and method for a mobile terminal are provided that may improve transmission rates. A data transport system for a mobile terminal includes a radio frequency unit, a data processing unit, a memory unit, and a control unit. The radio frequency unit establishes a radio frequency channel on the basis of a transmission control protocol parameter received from a mobile communication network. The data processing unit performs encoding/decoding and modulation/demodulation on signals to be transmitted or received through the radio frequency unit. The memory unit stores routines to execute a communication session and the transmission control protocol parameter. The control unit controls signal flows among the radio frequency unit, the data processing unit, and the memory unit, and configures a data transmission scheme according to the transmission control protocol parameter. |
| US08031615B2 |
Balancing clusters of a wireless mesh network
An apparatus and method of propagating a size of a cluster within a wireless mesh network is disclosed. The method includes a gateway within the cluster maintaining information of access nodes within the cluster. The gateway determines a cluster size based on the maintained information, and transmits routing packets that include the cluster size of the gateway. An apparatus and method of balancing clusters of a wireless mesh network is also disclosed. The method includes the gateway of each cluster originating beacons, wherein the beacons include a size of the cluster of the gateway. The access nodes of each cluster, re-broadcasts beacons received from the gateway of the cluster. A connecting access node selects which cluster to connect to at least in part based on the size of each of the clusters. |
| US08031613B2 |
System for routing internet traffic over backbone providers
An apparatus and method for real-time buying and selling of Internet Protocol (IP) transit is described. Embodiments include a platform for routing IP traffic in real time from at least one network user to a plurality of backbone providers. Embodiments further include sellers specifying a quality, a quantity, and a duration of a contract available, buyers identifying and selecting an appropriate contract, and executing the selected contract. Embodiments further include assigning different ranks to different backbone providers based on network monitoring. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08031608B2 |
Flow control method, transmitting terminal device used in same, receiving terminal device and packet transfer system
It is an object to provide a flow control method in which a packet round trip time is not excessively calculated out and its performance is not unnecessarily deteriorated even at the time of continuously connected packet transfers through relays of a plurality of receiving terminal devices. This method is directed to a flow control method in which the delivery of packets are carried out through relays of a plurality of receiving terminal devices. The method is comprised of steps (S501-S517) for acquiring a packet round trip time for every pair of neighboring terminal devices in a path of the delivery, a selection step for selecting one from the acquired round trip time in accordance with a predetermined standard, and a step (S518) for calculating a packet transmission rate on the basis of the selected round trip time, so that the round trip time of each receiving terminal device is measured and the transmission rate is calculated in accordance with the measured result. Thus, a packet round trip time is not excessively calculated out, and data transmission performance can be improved. |
| US08031606B2 |
Packet switching
In an embodiment, an apparatus is provided that may include an integrated circuit including switch circuitry to determine, at least in part, an action to be executed involving a packet. This determination may be based, at least in part, upon flow information determined, at least in part, from the packet, and packet processing policy information. The circuitry may examine the policy information to determine whether a previously-established packet processing policy has been established that corresponds, at least in part, to the flow information. If the circuitry determines, at least in part, that the policy has not been established and the packet is a first packet in a flow corresponding at least in part to the flow information, the switch circuitry may request that at least one switch control program module establish, at least in part, a new packet processing policy corresponding, at least in part, to the flow information. |
| US08031604B2 |
Algorithm for grouping stations for transmission in a multi-phase frame structure to support multi-hop wireless broadband access communications
A station grouping mechanism has been presented for a wireless device that collects Multi-hop Relay Base Station (MR-BS) and Relay Stations (RSs) into groups according to their locations in a tree topology and assigns them with a phase. Grouping or partitioning MR-BS and RSs and assigning a distinct phase to the group prevent the MR-BS and the RSs from transmitting and receiving at the same time. |
| US08031602B2 |
Estimating wireless processing device queue length and estimating signal reception quality in a wireless network
The present invention may be used to estimate operational characteristics of devices that transmit and receive streams of information in a communication system. In one application, the level of occupancy of a FIFO buffer in a processing device such as a router or wireless access point is estimated by monitoring packets transmitted by the processing device. Estimates of the operational characteristics can be used to control communications in the system so that the overall performance is improved. Techniques that can be used to mitigate effects of low signal-to-noise ratio conditions are also disclosed. |
| US08031600B2 |
Method and related apparatus for performing status report procedure in a wireless communication system
A method for performing a status report procedure in a receiver of a wireless communication system includes forming a STATUS PDU in an RLC layer, forming a Data PDU with a flexible size when a mode of flexible RLC PDU size is configured, combining the Data PDU with the STATUS PDU for forming a concatenated RLC PDU for a MAC layer, forming a MAC PDU for carrying the concatenated RLC PDU, and transmitting the MAC PDU to a peer transmitter. |
| US08031595B2 |
Future location determination using social networks
A computer-implemented method of predicting a future location of a mobile node can include determining a current location of a first mobile node, determining a location of at least a second mobile node, wherein the second mobile node is associated with the first mobile node via a social network, and generating a list including at least one candidate destination determined, at least in part, according to the location of the first mobile node and the location of the second mobile node. For each candidate destination on the list, a probability that the first mobile node is in route to that candidate destination location can be calculated. A candidate destination can be selected, according to the probabilities, from the list as a predicted future location of the first mobile node. The predicted future location of the first mobile node can be output. |
| US08031587B1 |
Method and device of synchronizing symbol timing, and OFDM communication system
To synchronize symbol timing in a communication system, time-domain signals are generated by performing an IFFT on frequency-domain signals. Positions of power peaks are detected by analyzing a channel impulse response (CIR) of the time-domain signals. Channel state informations are provided by analyzing a channel state, such that each channel state information corresponds to each position of the power peaks. A proper symbol start position is determined based on the channel state informations. |
| US08031582B2 |
Optical information recording medium, BCA information recorder, and BCA information recording method
Multilayered optical information recording media involve a problem that a BCA is erroneously formed in a different information recording layer even if the BCA is intended to be formed in a specific information recording layer.An optical information medium (1) for recording/reproducing information by applying a laser beam includes two or more recording layers (11, 12) for recording/reproducing information by receiving a laser beam at the same laser beam incident surface (1a). A geometrical irregularity (K) is formed in an area (inner peripheral side) (21) for a BCA on one recording layer (12), and a mirror surface is formed in the area of the other information recording layer (11) corresponding to the BCA area (21). The geometrical irregularity (K) is detected when focus servo is actuated so as to detect the desired information recording layer. Thus, a BCA is prevented from being erroneously formed in another information recording layer. |
| US08031580B1 |
Recording media with features to render media unreadable and method and apparatus for replication of said media
Optical recording media configured to deter unauthorized access are described. Methods for manufacturing the optical recording media described above are also presented. |
| US08031575B2 |
Optical pickup device and recording/reproducing device
An optical pickup device has a near-field optical system having a numerical aperture of NA>1; a first light source emitting a first light having a first wavelength; a second light source emitting a second light having a second wavelength; an optical system multiplexing the first light and second light and irradiating the multiplexed light onto an optical recording medium having at least two recording layers; a first photodetector detecting the first light returned from the recording medium a second photodetector detecting the second light returned from the recording medium; a controller obtaining a signal corresponding to distance between the near-field optical system and the recording medium based on the returned second light, and obtaining a reproducing signal and a tracking signal of the recording medium and a focus signal corresponding to the recording layer based on the returned first light; and a focus position adjustment mechanism moving a focus position of the first light under control of the focus signal. |
| US08031562B2 |
Master disk for magnetic transfer, a method of drawing a magnetic transfer pattern, and a magnetic recording medium having a transferred magnetic transfer pattern
A master disk for magnetic transfer of a reference servo signal in a spiral mode, having a pattern including a plurality of dots groups, which are disposed at different radial positions of the master disk with a first pitch, and correspond to the reference servo signal in the spiral mode. Each of the plurality of dot groups includes a plurality of dots, successively disposed with a second pitch along a circumferential direction of the master disk at a same one of the radial positions. Each of the plurality of dots is of a ferromagnetic material, and has four sides, two opposing sides thereof extending in the circumferential direction, and the other two opposing sides thereof extending in a radial direction of the master disk. |
| US08031558B2 |
Forced acoustic dipole and forced acoustic multipole array using the same
Provided is a forced acoustic dipole capable of regulating phases and acoustic pressures of first and second acoustic signals output from first and second pole speakers to freely steer the direction of an acoustic lobe. In addition, a forced acoustic multipole array is constituted by a plurality of forced acoustic dipoles. When the phases and acoustic pressures of the first and second acoustic signals output from the forced acoustic dipoles are regulated to steer an acoustic lobe in a specific direction, sound can be heard from a desired direction only without disturbing others. |
| US08031554B2 |
Circuit and method for controlling loading of write data in semiconductor memory device
A circuit for controlling the loading of write data in a semiconductor memory device includes a global bus; a data block configured to selectively load data of a predetermined first burst length or data of a second burst length, which is a half of the first burst length, for writing on the global bus in response to a control signal; and a memory bank configured to write the data of the first burst length or the data of the second burst length. |
| US08031551B2 |
Systems, methods and devices for monitoring capacitive elements in devices storing sensitive data
Power-backup capabilities are provided by implementing a variety of different methods, systems and devices. According to one such implementation, a data storage device stores data in response to data accesses under the control of a memory control circuit. A solid-state memory circuit and a volatile caching memory circuit provide the memory control circuit with access to a set of common data. A power-reservoir circuit includes two or more capacitor cells that respectively hold charge to provide operating power to the data storage device to permit transfer of the data from the volatile memory circuit to the solid-state memory circuit in the event of a power loss. A detection circuit is connected to a center tap between the capacitor cells and uses the tap to detect characteristics of the cells relative to one another, and to provide an output that can be used to characterize the cells' electrical characteristics relative to one another. |
| US08031550B2 |
Voltage regulator circuit for a memory circuit
A voltage regulator circuit for a memory circuit comprises a voltage divider, a capacitor, an active-mode voltage regulator and a standby-mode voltage regulator. The active-mode voltage regulator is always on while in active mode, and turned on whenever a refresh is requested. The standby-mode voltage regulator is periodically turned on while in standby mode, and turned on whenever a refresh is requested. In addition, the active voltage regulator uses stronger transistors than those used by the standby-mode voltage regulator, and both the active-mode voltage regulator and the standby-mode voltage regulator are coupled to the voltage divider and the capacitor. |
| US08031547B2 |
Differential sense amplifier
A differential sense amplifier can perform data sensing using a very low supply voltage. |
| US08031546B2 |
Semiconductor device
In a semiconductor device having a data input buffer capable of inputting write data to each of memory units, the data input buffer is changed from an inactive state to an active state after the reception of instruction for a write operation effected on the memory unit. The data input buffer is a differential input buffer having interface specs based on SSTL, for example, which is brought to an active state by the turning on of a power switch to thereby cause a through current to flow and receives a signal therein while immediately following a small change in small-amplitude signal. Since the input buffer is brought to the active state only when the write operation's instruction for the memory unit is provided, the data input buffer is rendered inactive in advance, before the instruction for the write operation is provided, whereby wasteful power consumption is reduced. In another aspect, power consumption is reduced by changing from the active to the inactive state in a time period from a write command issuing to a next command issuing. |
| US08031544B2 |
Semiconductor memory device with three-dimensional array and repair method thereof
A nonvolatile memory device includes a three-dimensional (3D) cell array, a column selection circuit and a fuse block. The 3D cell array includes multiple cell arrays located in corresponding stacked substrate layers, the cell arrays sharing a bit line. The column selection circuit selects a memory unit included in the 3D cell array. The fuse block controls the column selection circuit to repair defective columns with one of multiple redundant bit lines located in the 3D cell array. |
| US08031543B2 |
Memory chip having a complex termination
A memory chip has a signal line and a complex impedance which is connected to the signal line for termination of the signal line. A memory having such a memory chip and a method for operating a memory chip are also described. The memory chip on the memory having a signal line that is terminated with a complex impedance. |
| US08031542B2 |
Low leakage ROM architecture
A Read only memory (ROM) with minimum leakage includes a ROM array including a first transistor, wherein a drain, a source, a gate, and a bulk of the first transistor is electrically connected to a logic zero in the idle state for ensuring zero junction and sub-threshold leakage current. The drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to a main bit line through a second transistor. The second transistor includes a gate, electrically connected to a first decoding circuit, a drain, electrically connected to the main bit line. A first reference bit line is electrically connected to a drain of a third transistor, wherein gate of the third transistor is electrically connected to a second decoding circuit for generating a stop read signal. A second reference bit line, electrically connected to the first decoding circuit through a first sensing unit for generating a stop pre-charge signal. |
| US08031540B2 |
Randomizing current consumption in memory devices
In some implementations, a memory device includes a plurality of memory cells, each memory cell storing a plurality of data bits; an input/output interface that is configured to, in response to receiving a read signal and an address value that identifies a specific memory cell in the plurality of memory cells, output a plurality of data bits corresponding to the identified specific memory cell; and a delay controller that is configured to delay the outputting to the input/output interface of at least one of the plurality of data bits based on a randomly selected or pseudo-randomly selected delay value. The memory device can further include a delay block having a plurality delay paths having varying delays, and randomly selecting or pseudo-randomly selecting the delay value can include randomly selecting or pseudo-randomly selecting one of the plurality of delay paths through which to transmit a control signal. |
| US08031537B2 |
Time reduction of address setup/hold time for semiconductor memory
In the storage device of the invention, latch control is performed on a series of signals in response to latch control signals. Latch control terminals are provided to which the latch control signals are input respectively and a plurality of signal terminals to which a series of signals are input. Herein, a plurality of latch circuits is provided so as to correspond to the plurality of signal terminals, respectively. The plurality of latch circuits are located within a specified distance from their associated signal terminals respectively and within a specified distance from the latch control terminals. The delays of signal transmission from the signal terminals to their associated latch circuits can be equalized and the delays of signal transmission from the latch control terminals to which the latch control signals for executing latch control are input to the latch circuits can be equalized. This contributes to a reduction in the skew of the latch characteristics of the signals. |
| US08031532B2 |
Methods of operating embedded flash memory devices
Flash memory device structures and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. The flash memory devices are manufactured on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates. Shallow trench isolation (STI) regions and the buried oxide layer of the SOI substrate are used to isolate adjacent devices from one another. The methods of manufacture require fewer lithography masks and may be implemented in stand-alone flash memory devices, embedded flash memory devices, and system on a chip (SoC) flash memory devices. |
| US08031527B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for adjusting reference levels of reference cells
A semiconductor device includes a first reference cell used for programming or reading non-volatile memory cells, and an adjustment circuit adjusting a first reference level of the first reference cell when the first reference level is changed. |
| US08031525B2 |
Flash memory device and program method thereof
A flash memory device that includes a voltage generator circuit configured to generate a program voltage, a pass voltage, and a high voltage; a plurality of planes configured to perform a program operation in response to the program, pass, and high voltages and to verify the program operation, respectively; and control logic configured to control the planes in response to verification results from the planes, wherein the control logic controls the planes so as to interrupt the program and pass voltages or the high voltage from being applied to program-passed planes. |
| US08031521B1 |
Reprogramming non-volatile memory devices for read disturbance mitigation
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to non-volatile memory. The systems and techniques can include accessing a threshold value that is associated with a data area of a non-volatile memory structure, performing a comparison using the threshold value and a first value associated with the data area, and selectively reprogramming data of the data area based on the comparison. A programming operation on the data area can trigger a reset of the first value. Accessing a threshold value can include accessing a second value that reflects a count of programming operations on the data area or a time between programmings and using the second value to select the threshold value. |
| US08031519B2 |
Shared line magnetic random access memory cells
A memory unit with one field line; at least two thermally-assisted switching magnetic tunnel junction-based magnetic random access memory cells, each cell comprising a magnetic tunnel junction having an insulating layer disposed between a magnetic storage layer and a magnetic reference layer; wherein a selection transistor is connected to the magnetic tunnel junction; the one field line is used for passing a field current for switching a magnetization of the storage layer of the magnetic tunnel junctions of the cells. A magnetic memory device can be formed by assembling an array of the memory units, wherein at least two adjacent magnetic tunnel junctions of the cells can be addressed simultaneously by the field line. The memory unit and magnetic memory device have a reduced surface area. Magnetic memory devices with an increased density of memory units can be fabricated resulting in lower die fabrication cost and lower power consumption. |
| US08031518B2 |
Methods, structures, and devices for reducing operational energy in phase change memory
Methods of forming and operating phase change memory devices include adjusting an activation energy barrier between a metastable phase and a stable phase of a phase change material in a memory cell. In some embodiments, the activation energy barrier is adjusted by applying stress to the phase change material in the memory cell. Memory devices include a phase change memory cell and a material, structure, or device for applying stress to the phase change material in the memory cell. In some embodiments, a piezoelectric device may be used to apply stress to the phase change material. In additional embodiments, a material having a thermal expansion coefficient greater than that of the phase change material may be positioned to apply stress to the phase change material. |
| US08031517B2 |
Memory device, memory system having the same, and programming method of a memory cell
A method of writing multi-bit data to a semiconductor memory device with memory cells storing data defined by a threshold value, the method comprising, for each memory cell, writing a least significant bit, verifying completion of writing the least significant bit, verifying including comparing a written value to one of a low least significant bit verification value and a high least significant bit verification value, and writing a next significant bit upon completion of writing the least significant bit. |
| US08031516B2 |
Writing memory cells exhibiting threshold switch behavior
A memory cell exhibiting threshold switch behavior, such as a phase change memory, can be programmed in a way that eliminates the need for a separate post-programming verification cycle. In particular, a circuit can be used to apply the programming pulse to a cell in a way that determines whether the cell has reached the desired threshold voltage. If the cell has not reached the desired threshold voltage, it receives another programming pulse. If it has, it does not receive another programming pulse. Thus, by applying a voltage across the cell that never exceeds the threshold voltage of the cell, the need for a separate verification cycle can be eliminated in some embodiments. |
| US08031513B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of operating thereof
A semiconductor device includes: a memory cell; a precharge circuit; a negative potential applying circuit; and a sense amplifier. The memory cell is connected to a first bit line and store data. The precharge circuit is connected to the first and second bit lines and precharges the first and second bit lines to a ground potential. The negative potential applying circuit is connected to the first bit line and applies a negative potential to the first bit line. The sense amplifier is connected to the first and second bit lines and read data based on a difference between a first potential of the first bit line and a second potential of the second bit line. An absolute value of the negative potential is smaller than the difference between the first potential and the second potential. |
| US08031512B2 |
Multiple-valued DRAM
Provided herein is an MV DRAM device for storing multiple value levels using an SET device. The device includes one or more word lines; one or more bitlines; a DRAM cell connected to intersections of the word lines and the bitlines; a current source transistor having a source connected to a power supply voltage and a gate and a drain connected to the bitlines; an SET (single electron transistor) device having a gate connected to the bitlines and a source connected to the ground voltage; and a transistor connected between the bitlines and the drain of the SET device, where the gate of the transistor is connected to the ground voltage. |
| US08031511B2 |
Semiconductor device
At the time of, for example, a set operation (SET) for making a phase-change element in a crystalline state, a pulse of a voltage Vreset required for melting the element is applied to the phase-change element, and subsequently a pulse of a voltage Vset that is lower than Vreset and is required for crystallizing the element is applied thereto. And, the magnitude of this voltage Vset is then changed depending on the ambient temperature so that the magnitude of the voltage Vset is small as the temperature becomes high (TH). In this manner, a margin of a write operation between the set operation and a reset operation (RESET) for making the element to be in amorphous state is improved. |
| US08031509B2 |
Conductive metal oxide structures in non-volatile re-writable memory devices
A memory cell including a memory element comprising an electrolytic insulator in contact with a conductive metal oxide (CMO) is disclosed. The CMO includes a crystalline structure and can comprise a pyrochlore oxide, a conductive binary oxide, a multiple B-site perovskite, and a Ruddlesden-Popper structure. The CMO includes mobile ions that can be transported to/from the electrolytic insulator in response to an electric field of appropriate magnitude and direction generated by a write voltage applied across the electrolytic insulator and CMO. The memory cell can include a non-ohmic device (NOD) that is electrically in series with the memory element. The memory cell can be positioned between a cross-point of conductive array lines in a two-terminal cross-point memory array in a single layer of memory or multiple vertically stacked layers of memory that are fabricated over a substrate that includes active circuitry for data operations on the array layer(s). |
| US08031507B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
The sense amplifier detects and amplifies a signal read via bit lines from the ferroelectric capacitor of the memory cell. The dummy capacitor provides a reference voltage to bit lines. The dummy capacitor includes a first dummy capacitor and a second dummy capacitor. The first dummy capacitor is provided with a first dummy plate potential at one end to set the reference voltage to a certain potential. The other end is connected to the bit line. The second dummy capacitor is provided with a second dummy plate potential at one end to fine-tune the reference voltage from the certain potential. The other end thereof is connected to the bit line. |
| US08031506B2 |
One-time programmable memory cell
A disclosed embodiment is a programmable memory cell having improved IV characteristics comprising a thick oxide spacer transistor interposed between a programmable thin oxide antifuse and a thick oxide access transistor. The spacer transistor separates a rupture site formed during programming the programmable antifuse from the access transistor, so as to result in the improved IV characteristics. The programmable antifuse is proximate to one side of the spacer transistor, while the access transistor is proximate to an opposite side of the spacer transistor. The source region of the access transistor is coupled to ground, and the drain region of the access transistor also serves as the source region of the spacer transistor. The access transistor is coupled to a row line, while the spacer transistor and the programmable antifuse are coupled to a column line. The rupture site is formed during programming by applying a programming voltage to the programmable antifuse. |
| US08031504B2 |
Motherboard and memory device thereof
A memory device can be directly mounted on a motherboard supporting DDR3 SDRAM, and then the memory device have advantages of the fly-by bus topology and the T branch topology established by the joint electron device engineering council (JEDEC). Thus, the system performance of a desktop computer in a unit interval can be enhanced. |
| US08031503B1 |
System for dynamically managing power consumption in a search engine
The power consumption of a search engine such as a CAM device is dynamically adjusted to prevent performance degradation and/or damage resulting from overheating. For some embodiments, the CAM device is continuously sampled to generate sampling signals indicating the number of active states and number of compare operations performed during each sampling period. The sampling signals are accumulated to generate an estimated device power profile, which is compared with reference values corresponding to predetermined power levels to generate a dynamic power control signal indicating predicted increases in the device's operating temperature resulting from its power consumption. The dynamic power control signal is then used to selectively reduce the input data rate of the CAM device, thereby reducing power consumption and allowing the device to cool. |
| US08031501B1 |
Segmented content addressable memory device having pipelined compare operations
Present embodiments describe a CAM device having a segmented CAM array. Each segment of the CAM array, or cell blocks, includes one or more rows of CAM cells. One or more of the cell blocks in the CAM array are selectively enabled during a search operation based on a detected matching condition of another cell block. By selectively enabling cell blocks during search operations only when needed, energy consumption is reduced. Selectively enabling a cell block includes selectively pre-charging match lines to the cell block, selectively enabling word lines to the cell block, and selectively enabling comparand line to the cell block. In accordance with certain embodiments, the CAM device is configurable to perform search operations in a pipelined manner. Accordingly, the CAM device is capable of performing multiple search operations simultaneously. |
| US08031497B2 |
Three-leg power converter apparatus
A three-leg power converter apparatus including first, second and third input/output ports, a three-leg bridge converter, a filter circuit, a decoupling circuit and a controller is presented. The three-leg bridge converter has three single-leg circuits, two DC terminals connecting to two terminals of the first input/output port, and three mid-terminals with each of them being formed by a middle point of one of the three single-leg circuits. The controller connects to the three-leg bridge converter for controlling an input or output current passing through each DC terminal and mid-terminal. The filter circuit connects between two of the mid-terminals and the second input/output port. The decoupling circuit has two terminals connecting to the second input/output port and another terminal connecting to a terminal of the third input/output port, with the third input/output port having another terminal connecting to the other mid-terminal that dose not connect with the filter circuit. |
| US08031496B2 |
Driving circuit for power switching device, driving method thereof, and switching power supply apparatus
A driving circuit includes a generation unit configured to generate a driving signal for turning on and off a power switching device, the driving signal having plural levels of voltage at which the power switching device is turned on. The driving circuit also includes a switching control unit configured to switch between the plural levels of voltage at which the power switching device is turned on, depending on a status of the power switching device. |
| US08031492B2 |
PWM controller for compensating a maximum output power of a power converter
A PWM controller having an oscillator, a control circuit and a two-level limiter is provided. The oscillator generates a pulse signal. The control circuit couples to the oscillator for generating a PWM signal in response to the pulse signal, wherein the PWM signal controls a power switch. The two-level limiter couples to the control circuit for generating a two-level limit signal in response to an on-time of the PWM signal, wherein the two-level limit signal is formed by a first-level signal and a second-level signal during a switching period of the PWM signal, and the first-level signal is used to limit the maximum output power of the power converter under a high-line input voltage with a heavy-load condition, and the second-level signal is used to limit the maximum output power of the power converter under a low-line input voltage with the heavy-load condition. |
| US08031486B2 |
Electrical distribution system and modular high power board contactor therefor
An electrical distribution system provides a Line Replaceable Modules (LRM) with a printed wire board (PWB) which is of a relatively thick construction. The PWB is manufactured of a relatively thick construction to provide structural support for a multitude of electrical components as well as a board mounted contactor. Each contactor is mounted directly to the PWB. As the primary contactor switch function is board mounted, support functions such as coil drivers, economizing switches, auxiliary switches become PWB mounted components that are assembled to the PWB for communication through the board circuit traces rather than the heretofore required wiring harnesses. |
| US08031480B2 |
Structure for mounting feedthrough capacitors
In a structure for mounting a first feedthrough capacitor and a second feedthrough capacitor on a mounting surface of a substrate, the first and second feedthrough capacitors are disposed so as to be substantially parallel and to face each other in their partial regions, and a current in the partial region of the first feedthrough capacitor flows in a direction opposite to that in the partial region of the second feedthrough capacitor. |
| US08031478B2 |
Power conversion apparatus
A power conversion apparatus comprising a base 110 which includes a first fixation portion 110a and a second fixation portion 110b that are coupled to each other at a desired angle, wherein power modules IPM1, IPM2 and IPM3 are fixed on the first fixation portion 110a of the base 110, a control circuit board 10 is fixed with its first principal surface 10a held in direct or indirect touch with the second fixation portion 110b of the base 110, and components constituting a control circuit are packaged on the second principal surface 10b of the control circuit board 10. Owing to the configuration, a versatility for the installation of the power conversion apparatus on a vehicle becomes high, the vibration-proofness of the control circuit board is enhanced, and heats generated by the electronic components, etc. packaged on the control circuit board are sufficiently emitted. |
| US08031477B2 |
System and method for coupling a lens to a printed circuit
An optical assembly is disclosed which may include a lens having first and second electrodes; and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) configured for placement in proximity to the lens, wherein the FPC may include a bottom insulating layer; a top insulating layer; and an FPC electrode configured to contact the second electrode of the lens, wherein the FPC electrode may include a center portion disposed between the bottom and top insulating layers of the FPC; a post connected to the center portion and extending through the top insulating layer of the FPC; and a contact layer connected to the post and configured to provide the contact with the second electrode of the lens. |
| US08031472B2 |
Electronic device with weather-tight housing
An electronic device includes a housing with electrical circuitry that is sealed against penetration by dust, moisture, water, and the like, and permits convenient mounting and reconfiguration during operation. The electronic device can be reconfigured to add or delete a connecting plug and cable without compromising the seal. Mounting brackets are provided for mounting to both horizontal and vertical support structures, depending on orientation of the brackets. |
| US08031471B2 |
Secure transparent enclosure for communication device
An enclosure comprises first and second sections formed of a transparent material, a plurality of wall sections, a plurality of vent holes, a hinge, a cable access and a lock. The wall sections are joined to the first section to form the enclosure. The vent holes are formed in the wall sections to provide thermal flow through the enclosure. The hinge connects the second section to one of the plurality of wall sections to form a door in the enclosure. The cable access is located to allow authorized power and data connections within the enclosure when the door is in an open position, and sized to prevent unauthorized data connections within the enclosure when the door is in a closed position. The lock secures the enclosure by locking the door in the closed position. |
| US08031469B2 |
Electronic device
According to one embodiment, the electronic device includes a housing, the first to third printed circuit boards, and a fan unit. The first printed circuit board includes the first heat-generating part secured to the first wiring board. The second printed circuit board includes the second and third heat-generating parts, has an amount of heat generation larger than that of the first printed circuit board, and is located between the first printed circuit board and the second wall. The third printed circuit board includes the fourth heat-generating part, has an amount of heat generation smaller than that of the first printed circuit board, and is located between the first printed circuit board and the first wall. |
| US08031468B2 |
Hot aisle containment cooling unit and method for cooling
A cooling unit, which is configured to contain and cool air between two rows of equipment racks defining a hot aisle, includes a housing configured to be secured mounted on the two rows of equipment racks such that the housing spans the hot aisle, a heat exchanger supported by the housing and coupled to and in fluid communication with a coolant supply and a coolant return, and an air movement assembly supported by the housing and configured to move air over the heat exchanger. Other embodiments of the cooling unit and methods of cooling are further disclosed. |
| US08031466B2 |
Thermal management of a personal computing apparatus
A method and system are provided for thermal management of a portable computing apparatus. Accelerometers are provided to detect changes in attitude, and temperature sensors are provided to detect changes in temperature. A fan is used to cool the internal temperature of the electronic components of the computer. In response to lift of the computer from a stationary surface, the computer may transition to an alternative state of operation. The transition may include the change of the speed of the fan and/or adjustment of the processor clock. |
| US08031465B2 |
Electronic apparatus
The invention discloses an electronic apparatus comprising a motherboard, a connector, a card member and a first holder. The connector is disposed on the motherboard and the card member is disposed on the connector. The motherboard comprises a first fixing portion and the card member comprises a second fixing portion. The first holder comprises a third fixing portion fixed to the first fixing portion of the motherboard and a fourth fixing portion fixed to the second fixing portion of the card member. Accordingly, once the motherboard or the card member is hit or pulled by an external force, since two ends of the first holder respectively fix the card member and the motherboard, the card member will not be detached from the connector, such that the card member can be connected to the connector well. |
| US08031464B2 |
Ruggedized computer capable of operating in high-temperature environments
Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are directed to a computer that has a housing with walls that form a substantially sealed interior cavity from an exterior environment. The computer includes a plurality of computer components within the interior cavity. The computer also includes at least one heat sink for dissipating thermal energy into the exterior environment. A cooling element is thermally coupled to the heat sink and at least one of the computer components to transfer thermal energy from the computer component into the heat sink and the exterior environment. |
| US08031462B2 |
Molded component, electronic apparatus, and method of producing a molded component
A molded component includes: a primary molded layer including a boxlike base portion that has a width direction in a first direction, a length direction in a second direction, and a height direction in a third direction and includes a first surface protruding in the third direction and a second surface that forms a spatial portion on the other side of the first surface, and a pedestal portion protruding outwardly in parallel to the first direction and the second direction from a circumferential edge of the base portion; a secondary molded layer formed of an optically-transparent resin material, that is laminated on the primary molded layer and has the same width and length as the primary molded layer; and an in-mold layer formed between the primary molded layer and the secondary molded layer. |
| US08031460B2 |
Multilayer capacitor
A first internal conductor has a first portion. A second internal conductor has a lead portion and a main electrode portion. The second internal conductor is arranged in the same layer as the first internal conductor. A third internal conductor has a lead portion and a main electrode portion. The third internal conductor is arranged so as to be adjacent to the second internal conductor in a laminate direction. A fourth internal conductor has a lead portion and a main electrode portion. The fourth internal conductor is arranged so as to be adjacent to the third internal conductor in the laminate direction. When the laminate body is viewed from the laminate direction, the main electrode portion of the third internal conductor overlaps with the main electrode portions of the second and fourth internal conductors. A width of the first portion is smaller than a width of the main electrode portion of the second internal conductor in the longitudinal direction of the laminate body and a width of the main electrode portion of the second internal conductor in the transverse direction of the laminate body. |
| US08031459B2 |
Movable micro-device
A micro-device includes a movable part, a frame and a connecting part. The movable part has a main portion, a first capacitor electrode and a first driver electrode. The capacitor electrode and the driver electrode have electrode teeth extending from the main portion. The frame includes second capacitor and driver electrodes, where the second capacitor electrode has electrode teeth extending toward the first capacitor electrode, and the second driver electrode has electrode teeth extending toward the first driver electrode. The connecting part connects the movable part to the frame. The first and second capacitor electrodes have their electrode teeth overlapped in their initial position. The movable part is rotatable for varying the extent of the overlapping between the first and second driver electrodes. |
| US08031458B2 |
Current return network
A composite moving apparatus made substantially of composites may include a plurality of longitudinal conductive electrical pathways extending along a substantial length of the composite moving apparatus, and a plurality of lateral conductive electrical pathways extending along a substantial lateral width of the composite moving apparatus. The longitudinal and lateral conductive electrical pathways may be connected in order to provide redundant electrical pathways extending along a substantial portion of the composite moving apparatus. The redundant electrical pathways may carry return current, carry fault current, provide grounding, carry lightning current, provide electromagnetic shielding, minimize resistance and voltage differential, and/or provide a bleed path for electrostatic charge. |
| US08031456B2 |
Explosion-roof and flameproof pullout safety surge absorbing module
An explosion-proof and flameproof pullout safety surge-absorbing module includes a surge-absorbing unit, a protective unit, a function member, and a hot melt component. The unit has a body defining an electrode side. The middle section of electrode side defines a partially exposed electrode side further connected to a first pin. The protective component includes a base and a top cover conjoint to the base. The body is between the base and the top cover. The function member includes a recovery component and a function part. The recovery component is flexible, of which one terminal connects the base and the other terminal connects the function part pivoting onto the base and working in a first state and a second state. In the first state, one terminal of the function part is connected to the partially exposed electrode side; in the second state, the hot melt component is heated and melt. |
| US08031452B2 |
Single-supply single-ended high voltage peak detector
A device for current detection is disclosed and includes a protection circuit having a current input provided via a positive input and a negative input arranged in parallel to the positive input, a pair of diodes communicatively coupling the positive input to the negative input, wherein the pair of diodes are configured to protect an operational amplifier from an overvoltage and negative voltages, and a peak detector in communication with the protection stage, wherein the peak detector is configured to receive an output provided by the operation amplifier of the protection stage, and wherein the peak detector is configured to create a peak detector output representative of the current input. |
| US08031441B2 |
CPP device with an enhanced dR/R ratio
A CPP-GMR spin valve having a composite spacer layer comprised of at least one metal (M) layer and at least one semiconductor or semi-metal (S) layer is disclosed. The composite spacer may have a M/S, S/M, M/S/M, S/M/S, M/S/M/S/M, or a multilayer (M/S/M)n configuration where n is an integer ≧1. The pinned layer preferably has an AP2/coupling/AP1 configuration wherein the AP2 portion is a FCC trilayer represented by CoZFe(100-Z)/FeYCo(100-Y)/CoZFe(100-Z) where y is 0 to 60 atomic %, and z is 75 to 100 atomic %. In one embodiment, M is Cu with a thickness from 0.5 to 50 Angstroms and S is ZnO with a thickness of 1 to 50 Angstroms. The S layer may be doped with one or more elements. The dR/R ratio of the spin valve is increased to 10% or greater while maintaining acceptable EM and RA performance. |
| US08031440B2 |
Coil support structure and magnetic disk drive
A voice coil includes a stack of a plurality of layers of aligned windings held between an outer holding portion and an inner holding portion of the carriage assembly. The carriage assembly is formed integrally with the voice coil through injection molding. An outermost peripheral layer is a conductive wire wound a number of turns that falls short of the number of turns required to constitute a complete layer. A step is thereby formed between the outermost peripheral layer and a layer adjacent thereto and inner therefrom. The outer holding portion includes a reinforcement portion formed thereon to cover part of a transverse end face of the voice coil. The outermost peripheral layer opposes a force acting on the outer holding portion from top downward and the reinforcement portion opposes a force acting on the outer holding portion from bottom upward. |
| US08031436B2 |
Electron beam writing method for magnetic recording medium
When performing writing on a substrate applied with a resist by rapidly vibrating electron beam in a direction orthogonal to a radial direction of the substrate and X-Y deflecting the electron beam while rotating the substrate in one direction, a long element is written by scanning the electron beam with the middle position of a 2-bit signal length as the center position of the electron beam so as to completely fill the area of the writing length reduced by a predetermined ratio and an unwritten portion of predetermined width remaining on each side of the long element with respect to a final 2-bit signal length on a magnetic disk medium. |
| US08031421B2 |
Method for measuring optimum seeking time and inspection apparatus using the same
The present invention provides a method for measuring an optimum seeking time and an inspection apparatus using this method capable of measuring and setting an optimum seeking time for inspection of a magnetic disk or magnetic head. The method samples average level differences of sector-wise read signals in positive and negative domains for one round of track and detects a minimum value H and a minimum value L among these differences. The method recalculates the seeking time while changing the settling time. After writing and reading test data, calculates a deviation DEV of average levels DEV=(H−L)/(H+L). The method is adapted to obtain a minimum one of the values of settling time having measured when the deviation DEV of average levels is equal to or less than a predetermined value as an optimum settling time or an optimum seeking time. |
| US08031419B2 |
Compact imaging device
An imaging apparatus may comprise a lens assembly including one or more lenses, an image sensor to receive light from the lens assembly, and an actuator to adjust a position of the lens assembly. An actuator may be mounted on an image sensor, wherein a surface area of the actuator need not extend substantially beyond a surface area of the image sensor. |