| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08042192B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, recording medium, and program
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a recording medium, and a program for importing and exporting a content with information missing controlled. A CPU extracts a sound track contained in the content in step S301, and converts a format of the extracted sound track into a format compatible with a memory stick in step S302. The CPU generates a predetermined file from data contained in the content and excluding the sound track in step S304. In step S306, the CPU attaches reference information of the sound track to the file. In step S307, the CPU controls the writing of the sound track in the converted format and the file to the memory stick. The present invention is applied to clients of a DRM system. |
| US08042184B1 |
Rapid analysis of data stream for malware presence
A system, method and computer program product for anti-malware processing of data stream that includes a plurality of logical data streams formed from a primary data stream; and a plurality of stream buffers, each buffering data of a corresponding logical data stream. A plurality of processing handlers each associated with one of the data streams, where the handlers are processing the data of the logical data stream buffered by its stream buffer. Each processing handler is associated with a particular functionality and at least one processing handler scans its logical data stream for malware presence. Each stream buffer has a configurable buffering policy. At least one of the processing handlers decompresses the data into one or more secondary streams. At least one of the processing handlers parses its logical data stream, creating one or more instances of secondary data streams. The scanning can be based on a signature search. At least one of the processing handlers parses its logical data stream to identify headers, wherein new secondary data streams are instantiated based on regions of interest in a future stream data at positions identified by the headers. The set of conditions is stored e.g., in a table, a list, and/or a registry. |
| US08042182B2 |
Method and system for network intrusion detection, related network and computer program product
A system for providing intrusion detection in a network wherein data flows are exchanged using associated network ports and application layer protocols. The system includes a monitoring module configured for monitoring data flows in the network, a protocol identification engine configured for detecting information on the application layer protocols involved in the monitored data flows, and an intrusion detection module configured for operating based on the information on application layer protocols detected. Intrusion detection is thus provided independently of any predefined association between the network ports and the application layer protocols. |
| US08042180B2 |
Intrusion detection based on amount of network traffic
A method for combating malicious programs including monitoring network traffic from one or more devices, analyzing the network traffic to determine the presence of a malicious program in the one or more devices and disabling transmission of the network traffic for those of the one or more devices determined to have the malicious program present. |
| US08042174B2 |
Image processing device
An image processing device is provide with an external storage which is detachably connectable to the image processing device, an inputting unit configured to allow a user to input user information, a registration unit configured to register ID information intrinsic to the external storage and the user information input through the inputting unit with registration data in a related manner, a permission unit configured to retrieve the ID information from the external storage and permit access to the external storage connected to the image processing device only if the retrieved ID information is included in the registered ID information which is registered with the registration data, and a data processing unit configured to read/write data from/to the external storage if access to the external storage is permitted by the permission unit. |
| US08042167B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for network firewall policy optimization
Methods, systems, and computer program products for firewall policy optimization are disclosed. According to one method, a firewall policy including an ordered list of firewall rules is defined. For each rule, a probability indicating a likelihood of receiving a packet matching the rule is determined. The rules are sorted in order of non-increasing probability in a manner that preserves the firewall policy. |
| US08042166B2 |
Printing via user equipment
In one embodiment of a method of printing in a network, a connection is established from a user equipment to a printing system. A secure connection is established between the user equipment and a server. From the user equipment, a file on the server is selected. From the user equipment, information indicating the file and information indicating a path from the printing system to the server via the user equipment is passed to the printing system. The printing system is caused to retrieve the file from the server via the path. The printing system is caused to print information contained in the file. |
| US08042164B2 |
Device and process for unique internet access identification
A process and device for uniquely identifying an Internet enabled device with a unique identification. The process can include receiving an identification when an Internet user accesses an Internet resource, and determining position-based information for at least one of an Internet user and an Internet enabled device based on the identification. The identification may be authenticated, to reduce fraud. The identification may further be used to determine whether or not the device is in a particular geographic area of interest. |
| US08042159B2 |
Website log in system with user friendly combination lock
User friendly log in system for validation of user for entry into a website includes: (a) a plurality of user computers; (b) an internet; (c) a host server connected to the internet for connection to user computers; and (d) a website program hosted on the host server for a website that requires individual user security, for connecting each of the plurality of computers to the website available to the user computers, that includes an open log in field. The program has software for secured activity for receiving and recognizing a unique user identification from a user of a user computer to create a personal combination lock rule for a unique easy-to-remember user initialization input that includes a preset selection and operation of the intersection of a first randomly arranged challenge presentation and a second randomly arranged challenge presentation to obtain a selection solution. |
| US08042158B2 |
Management of user authorizations
A method of determining unauthorized user access requests in a data processing system, the method comprising the steps of accessing a record of role managed authorizations and a record of manually assigned authorizations, receiving a record of user authorization requests from a plurality of data processing systems, and comparing the record of user authorization requests to the record of role managed authorizations and to the record of manually assigned authorizations to identify any unauthorized authorizations. |
| US08042156B2 |
Mapping proprietary SSL APIs onto openssl APIs
Techniques are described for mapping an emulated SSL implementation to, for example, OpenSSL. An exemplary method includes receiving a request to initiate a communication session from an application, running in an emulation environment, with a first SSL API of an emulated SSL implementation running in the emulation environment, sending the request to a communication interface process that is running in a base computing environment, wherein the emulation environment is a process running on the base computing environment, extracting, with the communication interface process, communication session information from the request, calling, with the communication interface process, procedures provided by a second SSL API of an SSL implementation, in accordance with the request, to initiate a communication session with a computing device, wherein the SSL implementation is a program running in the base computing environment, initiating the communication session with the computing device, and transferring data to the computing device. |
| US08042154B2 |
Allowing network access for proxy mobile IP cases for nodes that do not support CHAP authentication
The disclosed embodiments support proxy Mobile IP registration for nodes that do not implement CHAP. This is accomplished, in part, through the generation of a CHAP challenge and response by either a AAA server or a network device such as a PDSN or Foreign Agent. If the CHAP challenge and response is generated by the AAA server, the AAA server provides the CHAP challenge and response to the network device. In this manner, the network device may generate a Mobile IP registration request based upon the CHAP challenge and response. |
| US08042153B2 |
Reducing overhead associated with distributed password policy enforcement operations
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for reducing the overhead associated with distributed password policy enforcement operations using a proxy server. When a proxy server provides a request from a client to a backend directory server, the proxy server determines whether a password policy check is required to be performed at the backend directory server. If a password policy check is not required to be performed at the backend directory server, the proxy server sends the client request together with a skip password policy control to the backend directory server. This skip password policy control informs the backend directory server to skip the password policy check on the client request. |
| US08042148B2 |
System and method for enforcing policy in a communication network
A system for enforcing policy in a communication network includes a policy server which is operable to receive a request to invoke an application, receive a policy profile for a network user, and decide a proper allocation of network users based on the policy profile, the application, and available network resources. The policy server is further operable to communicate with a non-SIP application. The system also includes a network resource manager operably associated with the policy server and operable to monitor available network in the resources in the communication network. In addition, the network resource manager is functional to allocate network resource amongst a plurality of network users. The system also contains an application control point which is operably associated with the policy server and operable to communicate with a SIP application. The system is operable to use policy peering between the home and visited network to enable user-specific policies to be enforced while roaming. |
| US08042146B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating an electronic document, and storage medium
An electronic document generating apparatus comprises a generating unit that assigns a value to a variable area in a source electronic document for defining a format, to newly generate an electronic document, and a setting unit that establishes, independently of the generated electronic document, security policy information which defines an operation right to the generated electronic document, on the basis of security policy information associated with the source electronic document and defining an operation right to the source electronic document, and associates the established security policy information with the generated electronic document. |
| US08042144B2 |
Interactive medium and method for managing additional data thereof
The present invention relates to an interactive medium and a method for managing additional contents synchronously outputted with audio/video (A/V) data in an interactive digital versatile disk (I-DVD). A player in which an interactive disk is seated accesses a server providing the additional contents of the A/V data recorded on the interactive disk before the interactive disk is reproduced, and receives updated information of the additional contents from the server. The player refers to the received updated information and determines whether an arbitrary file contained in an additional content list associated with the A/V data has been updated. The player makes a request for an original file contained in the list or an updated file designated in the updated information, and receives the requested original or updated file. Therefore, the player can always receive additional contents containing the updated file. According to this operation, the server enables the additional contents to be conveniently updated. |
| US08042143B2 |
Apparatus and method for distributing media content
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to receive a digital signal representative of media content where the digital signal includes a main profile version of the media content and one or more lower profile versions of the media content and where the one or more lower profile versions have higher error correction than the main profile version, monitor the main profile version for an undesired condition that jeopardizes video continuity for a viewer of the media content, and transmit one of the one or more lower profile versions over an internet protocol television system to the viewer when the undesired condition is detected, where the transmission of the lower profile version to the viewer maintains video continuity for the viewer. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08042141B2 |
CATV system, management device, cable modem and program
A cable modem of a CATV system includes an address monitoring unit and a proxy requesting unit. The address monitoring unit monitors an address of at least one set top box connected to the cable modem based on a content of transmission sent to the cable modem from the set top box. The proxy requesting unit requests for sending relevant information about the set top box to an address indicated by monitoring result of the address monitoring unit, when the proxy requesting unit is requested for sending the relevant information by at least one management device connected to the cable modem via a CATV network. |
| US08042138B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing and obtaining product information through a broadcast signal
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing and obtaining product information through a broadcast signal. In this present invention, information identifying a product item, which is in a scene to be presented from a broadcast signal, is provided together with a broadcast signal, then a signal receiving terminal stores the product information for a new product item and displays the stored information to a viewer to select one product item while or after watching an interesting broadcast program, and transmits data identifying a selected product item to a predetermined web site and receives web site address for the selected item from that site. As a result, detailed information for the selected item is acquired from a server addressed by the received web site address. |
| US08042135B2 |
Method of controlling EPG receiver and EPG receiver using the same
A method of controlling an apparatus for receiving an electronic program guide (EPG), and an EPG receiver using the same, enable preferred broadcast programs to be displayed and viewed using a reserved recording function, without performing specific searching or playback operations, by employing a user channel to simulate reception of real-time television broadcasting to enable a sequential display and viewing of at least one broadcast program via the user channel. A process of user channel editing includes steps of storing in memory EPG information arranged according to broadcast channel and broadcast time, the EPG information indicating at least one broadcast program; displaying, based on the stored EPG information, an EPG menu including a broadcast program setting area for at least one user channel and the EPG information indicating at least one broadcast program; identifying a broadcast program of the displayed EPG information, according to a user selection, to register the identified broadcast program for preprogrammed playback; and storing in memory program registration information corresponding to the registered broadcast program. A process of simulating real-time television reception of preferred broadcast programs on a user channel includes steps of storing in memory EPG information arranged according to broadcast channel and broadcast time, the EPG information indicating at least one broadcast program; storing in memory information indicative of a user channel, the user channel information including program registration information, the program registration information identifying at least one broadcast program registered for preprogrammed playback and including a start time of the at least one registered broadcast program and a broadcast time of a corresponding broadcast program based on the EPG information; and enabling a display of the at least one registered broadcast program according to the start time of the at least one registered broadcast program. |
| US08042125B2 |
Disc changer device
The disc changer device, for transporting a tray to a stand-by position where trays are housed in a stacked state, to a disc exchange position where a disc on the tray is exchanged, as well as to a disc recording/reproducing position where a recording/reproducing operation is carried out on the disc on the selected tray, is provided with a plurality of tray locking units that are prepared in association with the respective trays, and engaged with a corresponding trays so that each of the corresponding trays is prevented from being transported from the stand-by position to the disc exchange position, and an engagement releasing unit for releasing engagement between the selected tray and the tray locking unit related to the selected tray as well as engagement between a tray adjacent to the selected tray on a lower side thereof and the tray locking unit related to the adjacent tray. |
| US08042120B2 |
Method and apparatus for moving processes between isolation environments
A method for moving an executing process from a source isolation scope to a target isolation scope includes the step of determining that the process is in a state suitable for moving. The association of the process changes from a source isolation scope to a target isolation scope. A rule loads in association with the target isolation scope. |
| US08042119B2 |
States matrix for workload management simplification
A computer-implemented method, system and article of manufacture for managing workloads in a computer system, comprising monitoring system conditions and operating environment events that impact on the operation of the computer system, using an n-dimensional state matrix to identify at least one state resulting from the monitored system conditions and operating environment events, and initiating an action in response to the identified state. |
| US08042118B2 |
Developing diameter applications using diameter interface servlets
Mechanisms for developing Diameter applications are provided. The mechanisms extend the application server servlet model to support Diameter applications. A “base protocol” servlet is provided that handles the basic Diameter protocol functionality. Base application servlets are provided for each Diameter interface (for example, an “Sh” base servlet for the IMS “Sh” interface). These servlets are base classes for application code. The base application servlets implement additional semantics on top of the base protocol servlet to support additional attribute-value pair semantics. With the system and method, Diameter servlets share the same ServletContext as HTTP and SIP servlets. This mechanism facilitates communication between the various application entities and facilitates generation of converged applications. |
| US08042113B2 |
Runtime-resource management
A runtime-resource management method, system, and product for managing resources available to application components in a portable device. The method, system, and product provide for loading one or more new application components into a portable device only if maximum runtime resources required by the one or more new application components are available in the portable device assuming loaded application components within the device are using the maximum runtime resources reserved by the loaded application components, reserving maximum runtime resources required by application components when application components are loaded into the portable device, and running loaded application components using only the runtime resources reserved for the loaded application components. |
| US08042111B2 |
Information processing system and computer readable recording medium storing an information processing program
A unit: (a) sets event largest possible values used for limitation of the number of tasks and/or the size of areas in a buffer; (b) generates a task without reaching the event largest possible values when receiving an event, and reserves an area in the buffer for the task; (c) determines whether another event has been received before process of the task is completed; (d) deletes the task and releases the area if another new event has not been received; (e1) if it has been received and both the number of tasks and the size of the areas do not reach the event largest possible values, generates a new task and reserves another area in the buffer; and (e2) if it has been received and any of them reaches any of the event largest possible values, reuses the task and the area for the new event. |
| US08042094B2 |
Architecture for rendering graphics on output devices
A method for accessing graphical information including receiving one or more graphics commands written in an application programming interface (API). The graphics commands are converted into a graphical language that facilitates the execution of the commands for a plurality of output devices of one or more types. |
| US08042093B1 |
System providing automatic source code generation for personalization and parameterization of user modules
A method and system of automatically generating source code for configuring a programmable microcontroller. The method involves displaying virtual blocks in a computerized design system where the virtual blocks correspond to programmable circuit blocks in a microcontroller chip. The user selects a user module that defines a particular function to be performed on the microcontroller. The user assigns the virtual blocks to the user module. The design system then automatically generates source code for configuring the programmable blocks to perform the desired function. The source code can then be assembled, linked and loaded into the microcontroller's memory system. When executed on the microcontroller, the executable code will then set registers within the blocks to implement the function. Source code is automatically generated for: (1) realizing the user module in a hardware resource; and also (2) to configure the user module to behave in a prescribed manner. |
| US08042091B2 |
Automatic composition of model transformations
Techniques for composition of model transformations from a predetermined set of model transformations. A state machine is provided in memory. The states are defined in the state machine in terms of predetermined model attributes. In response to specification of a target state for an input model to be transformed, an execution sequence in the state machine, between a start state corresponding to the input model and an end state corresponding to the specified target state, is selected. Each transformation in the selected sequence is then successively executed on the input model. After executing each transformation in the selected sequence, the transformed input model state is compared to the model state defined in the state machine to determine if the selected sequence is inoperable for the input model. If so, an alternative execution sequence in the state machine, between the input model state and the specified target state, is selected. |
| US08042089B2 |
Process automation system and method employing multi-stage report generation
The embodiments of the invention described herein employ sophisticated techniques for managing distributed processes in a process automation system. Specifically, one embodiment of the invention implements a general purpose property mechanism in which arbitrary data is attached to any object in the system (e.g., projects, procedures, jobs, job steps, resources, etc), thereby providing a convenient way to configure the system without modifying the underlying program code. In addition, in one embodiment, a three-tier hierarchy of data object is employed: “projects,” “procedures,” and “steps” (or “projects,” “jobs” and “job steps” during runtime). A property may be attached to any object on any tier of the hierarchy to configure that object and (potentially) all of the objects which reference the property. The properties and property sheets may be attached both statically (before runtime) and dynamically (during runtime). Moreover, one embodiment of the invention employs a unique property substitution syntax to allow the value for a particular property to be located and substituted dynamically at runtime. In addition, advanced report generation techniques are described below in which the report generation process is logically separated into a data gathering stage and a report generation stage. The data gathering stage extracts certain specified properties and diagnostic information from each job step. The extracted information is then stored in a highly flexible, reusable data format which is used to create different types of user-configurable reports. |
| US08042088B2 |
Method and system for implementing stacked vias
The invention is directed to a method, computer program product and apparatus for a body of code to specify how database elements are combined to create a complex element, a database grouping is created that receives the content of the evaluation without introducing a level of hierarchy, and provides graphical user interface (GUI) to interactively manipulate the element. |
| US08042087B2 |
Method to design network-on-chip (NOC)-based communication systems
A method to design a Networks on Chips (NoCs)-based communication system for connecting on-chip components in a multicore system, said system comprising several elements communicating through the communication system, said communication system comprising at least switches, said method comprising the steps of modelling the applications running on the multicore system, establishing the number and configuration of switches to connect the elements, establishing physical connectivity between the elements and the switches, for each two pairs of communicating elements: (a) a defining a communication path, (b) calculating metrics as affected by the need to render said path into physical connectivity, taking into account any previously defined physical connectivity, (c) iterating the steps a and b for a plurality of possible paths, (d) choosing the path having the optimal metrics, and (e) establishing any missing physical connectivity between the switches so that the selected optimal path occurs across physically connected switches. |
| US08042086B2 |
Method and apparatus for verifying integrated circuit design using a constrained random test bench
A constrained random test bench methodology employing an instruction abstraction layer. The instruction abstraction layer includes an instruction streamer for generating random test instruction sequences that preserve instruction order dependencies and randomly selecting data values from a valid range of data values. Multiple instruction streamers may be employed to simulate interrupt handlers and other functional design units sharing a control command bus. A priority scheduler sequences the instruction sequences generated by multiple instruction streamers based on a specified priority scheme. |
| US08042082B2 |
Three dimensional memory in a system on a chip
The invention relates to multi-planar memory components in a three-dimensional integrated circuit system configuration. A multi-planar memory system consisting of a plurality of memory circuit planes in a three-dimensional system on a chip (3D SoC) comprised of a plurality of memory layers, at least one logic circuit layer and an interface configured to provide access to memory and logic circuit layers. |
| US08042080B2 |
Electro-migration verifying apparatus, electro-migration verifying method, data structure and netlist used in the same
An electro-migration verifying method is comprised of: a data inputting process step; a netlist updating process step (first process operation) for updating a netlist which is constructed by a wiring line parasitic element and a device element based upon a current density limit value database, a characteristic variation database, and wiring line current information; a current density calculating process step (second process operation) for calculating current density of the wiring line parasitic element from a device current and the updated netlist; a wiring line current information updating process step (third process operation) for updating the wiring line current information based upon the current density; a current density limit value comparing/judging process step (fourth process operation) for judging whether or not a current density value is located within the current density limit value based upon the updated wiring line current information and the current density limit value database; an electro-migration verifying process step constituted by the first process operation up to a fifth process operation of a step judging process step (fifth process operation) for judging a repetition process operation from step information; and a result outputting process step. |
| US08042078B2 |
Enhancing formal design verification by reusing previous results
A method, a system and a computer program product for re-using verification results associated with a circuit design to eliminate a formal verification re-run associated with a subsequent verification of the circuit design. A Verification Data Re-use (VDR) utility initiates the creation of a first netlist data structure and a first set of target signatures for the circuit design. The VDR utility initiates an initial functional verification run of the circuit design and stores the results of the verification run. When a subsequent verification of the initial design is initiated, the VDR utility compares the first set of target signatures with a second set of target signatures for the subsequent verification run. A match of target signatures indicates that corresponding design targets have an identical functionality and the VDR utility re-uses verification results from the initial verification run to eliminate an extensive formal verification re-run for the circuit design. |
| US08042077B2 |
Technique for creating analysis model and technique for creating circuit board model
According to a circuit board creation program presented herein, a simulation assuming a case in which an addition of a bypass capacitor near a another bypass capacitor provided between a pin and via of an LSI part can be performed, simply by adding a bypass capacitor property model and changing the value of a coefficient parameter by which the property value of an element of a line part is to be multiplied or divided. |
| US08042076B2 |
System and method for routing connections with improved interconnect thickness
A method for modeling a circuit includes generating a circuit model based on a netlist that defines a plurality of connections between a plurality of circuit elements. The circuit model includes a model of one or more of the circuit elements. The method further includes determining a wire width associated with at least a selected connection based, at least in part, on design rules associated with the netlist. Additionally, the method includes determining a wire thickness associated with the selected connection based, at least in part, on a signal delay associated with the wire thickness. Furthermore, the method also includes routing the selected connection in the circuit model using a wire having a width substantially equal to the wire width calculated for the connection and a thickness equal to the wire thickness calculated for the connection and storing the circuit model in an electronic storage media. |
| US08042073B1 |
Sorted data outlier identification
Embodiments of the present invention provide for sorted data signature analysis for identifying outliers in datasets. Some embodiments disclose a nearest pattern smallest delta procedure to identify outliers in a dataset of vector patterns. Other embodiments disclose a nearest neighbor smallest delta procedure to identify outliers among values from dies in a wafer. Still other embodiments may be disclosed and claimed. |
| US08042071B2 |
Circuit and method for avoiding soft errors in storage devices
A storage element within a circuit design is identified. The storage element is replaced with both a first storage cell and a second storage cell. The second storage cell operates as a redundant storage cell to the first storage cell. An output of the first storage cell is connected to a first input of a comparator and an output of the second storage cell is connected to a second input of the comparator. The comparator provides an error indicator. Placement of the first storage cell, the second storage cell, the comparator, and one or more intervening cells is determined. The one or more intervening cells are placed between the first storage cell and the second storage cell. An integrated circuit is created using the comparator, the first storage cell, the second storage cell, the one or more intervening cells, and the determined placement. |
| US08042070B2 |
Methods and system for analysis and management of parametric yield
Impact on parametric performance of physical design choices for transistors is scored for on-current and off-current of the transistors. The impact of the design parameters are incorporated into parameters that measure predicted shift in mean on-current and mean off-current and parameters that measure predicted increase in deviations in the distribution of on-current and the off-current. Statistics may be taken at a cell level, a block level, or a chip level to optimize a chip design in a design phase, or to predict changes in parametric yield during manufacturing or after a depressed parametric yield is observed. Further, parametric yield and current level may be predicted region by region and compared with observed thermal emission to pinpoint any anomaly region in a chip to facilitate detection and correction in any mistakes in chip design. |
| US08042068B2 |
Method for processing optical proximity correction
A method for processing optical proximity correction includes preparing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) map; extracting calibration data depending on a focus degree with the CMP map; and correcting optical proximity with the calibration data. |
| US08042066B2 |
Peripheral device
A peripheral apparatus is provided. The peripheral apparatus includes a display, the peripheral apparatus being configured to process input images based on one of a plurality of operation conditions displayed on the display, each of the operation conditions comprising a plurality of set items, each of the set items comprising a plurality of possible set values; a setting unit that sets a set value for each of the plurality of set items; an operation condition storing unit that stores the plurality of operation conditions and associated set items and set values; and a display controlling unit that controls the display to array and display the plurality of operation conditions, including setting items and set values corresponding to the respective operating conditions, on the display. |
| US08042061B1 |
Method and system for interface presentation
Methods and systems for interface presentation are described. A user interface for the user may be selected among a plurality of available user interfaces in accordance with the personal characteristic information. A user access profile level for the user may be selected among a plurality of available user access profile levels in accordance with the personal characteristic information. Product information may be selected in accordance with the age data. |
| US08042060B1 |
Mini toolbar user interface
A toolbar in a client application such as a web browser may be miniaturized. The miniature toolbar annexes itself to a part of the chrome region of the client application, modifying the functionality of the annexed part. The annexed part may be a search box. At least a subset of the features of the toolbar is accessible from the miniature toolbar, but some toolbar features may not be accessible from the miniature toolbar. Some features of the miniature toolbar may replace some features of the annexed search box. |
| US08042056B2 |
Browsers for large geometric data visualization
A representation of a physical object can be displayed even where the amount of geometric data is too large to be stored in resident memory. A primary viewing window displays point data for the object using a substantially even sampling of data at an appropriate point density for the system. At least one auxiliary viewing window displays a two-dimensional representation of the point data. A user can select a portion of the data in the auxiliary window(s), such as by selecting cells of an overlaid grid, to be displayed in the primary window using a rendering such as a “visible” rendering. The remainder of the displayed data can be displayed using a rendering such as a “hidden” or “transparent” rendering. The resolution of the selected region can be increased while maintaining a substantially even spacing among points for the region. The resolution of the unselected region can be decreased accordingly. |
| US08042055B2 |
Replaying captured network interactions
A user interface event monitor captures user interface events executed by a client during a network session. A network session monitor captures network data exchanged between the client and a web application during the network session. A replay device identifies control events in the network session that require execution before replaying associated user interface events. Replay of the user interface events are delayed by the replay device until the associated control events have been fully executed. |
| US08042043B2 |
Adaptive display system and method for a gaming machine
The present invention provides a system and method for a configurable gaming system. Certain embodiments of the system include a local storage for storing a markup language file and token resolution information and a markup language viewer for processing the markup language file. The markup language viewer processes contents of the markup language file and resolves tokens in the markup language file using the token resolution information from the local storage to generate a resolved markup language file for display at a gaming system. The markup language file may include display content, markup language tags, and tokens. The markup language file may include read-only information and variable information to be resolved by the markup viewer for display. The markup language file may be a binary markup language file including tokens or other indicia for resolution. |
| US08042037B1 |
Sequencing of markup language documents
A communication system includes a number of devices interconnected by a communication network and each operable to communicate with each other using a text-based communication protocol that provides for the exchange of markup language documents. Each of the devices includes a document interface capable of sequencing documents for communication to other devices and for enforcing sequencing of received documents. |
| US08042029B2 |
Error correction decoding by trial and error
A representation of a codeword is decoded by applying a first decoder of the codeword to the representation of the codeword. If applying the first decoder fails to decode the representation of the codeword then a second decoder of the codeword is applied to the representation of the codeword. Preferably, applying the first decoder consumes less power and is faster than applying the second decoder. Data are ported by encoding the data as a codeword, exporting the codeword to a corrupting medium, importing a representation of the codeword, and applying a first decoder to the representation of the codeword. If applying the first decoder fails to decode the representation of the codeword then a second decoder of the codeword is applied to the representation of the codeword. |
| US08042027B1 |
BM/LLR computation for multi-dimensional TCM/BCM
Systems and methods for processing and decoding TCM/BCM-coded signal vectors. A multi-dimensional signal vector is received by, for example, a TCM or BCM decoder. The TCM/BCM decoder identifies the closest signal points in the signal constellation set, or “nearest neighbors,” for each dimension of the received signal vector. The TCM/BCM decoder then forms a test set that includes a plurality of multi-dimensional test vectors, where each dimension of each test vector is based on an identified nearest neighbor. In particular, each test point in the test set is based on a different combination of the nearest neighbors. The TCM/BCM decoder can compute branch metrics based on only the test points in the test set, and can make detection decisions using the computed branch metrics. |
| US08042019B2 |
Broadcast transmitting/receiving system and method of processing broadcast data in a broadcast transmitting/receiving system
A broadcast transmitting system and a method of processing broadcast data in the broadcast transmitting system are disclosed. Herein, the broadcast transmitting system includes a block processor for encoding mobile service data at a coding rate of 1/H, a group formatter for mapping the encoded mobile service data into at least one region of a data group that has a plurality of regions, wherein the data group further includes a plurality of known data sequences, a trellis encoder for trellis encoding data being outputted from the group formatter, the trellis encoder having at least one memory that is initialized at a start of each known data sequence, a multiplexer for multiplexing the trellis-encoded data with segment synchronization data and field synchronization data, and a modulator for modulating a broadcast signal including the multiplexed data. |
| US08042018B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving ACK/NACK in a frequency division multiple access system
A method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving an ACKnowledgement/Negative ACKnowledgement (ACK/NACK) signal to support packet data retransmission in an Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) wireless communication system are provided, in which a User Element (UE) generates an ACK/NACK signal for received packet data, determines whether the UE is set to support ACK/NACK repetition, transmits the ACK/NACK signal on a basic response channel mapped to one of a DCH on which the packet data was received and a Shared Control Channel (SCCH) carrying scheduling information about the packet data, if the UE is not set to support ACK/NACK repetition, and selects one of supplementary response channels for each ACK/NACK repetition, the supplementary response channels being allocated for ACK/NACK repetition and repeatedly transmits the ACK/NACK signal on the selected supplementary response channel according to a predetermined repetition factor, if the UE is set to support ACK/NACK repetition. |
| US08042012B2 |
Systems and devices including memory with built-in self test and methods of making and using the same
Disclosed are methods, systems and devices, such as a device including a data location, a quantizing circuit coupled to the data location, and a test module coupled to the quantizing circuit. The quantizing circuit may include an analog-to-digital converter, a switch coupled to the memory element and a feedback signal path coupled to the output of the analog-to-digital converter and to the switch. |
| US08042000B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for validating application server replication errors
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for validating application server replication errors. The method includes receiving a first information message with a test sequence from a caller. The caller is engaged in a communication session with a callee according to a communication protocol and the communication session is managed by a first application server. The method also includes storing the test sequence in a replicable data structure on the first application server. The replicable data structure is replicated to a second application server to form a replicated data structure and both servers operate within an active-active configuration. The method also includes receiving a second information message from the caller. The second information message includes a confirmation sequence. In addition, the method includes determining a replication error in response to comparing the stored test sequence in the replicated data structure with the confirmation sequence. |
| US08041997B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing wireless sensor network
An apparatus for managing a plurality of wireless sensor networks selects a configuring policy according to a characteristic of each wireless sensor network and configures a network with the selected configuring policy for management. When an error occurs in the wireless sensor network, the apparatus performs error diagnosis based on a configuring policy applied to the error-detected wireless sensor network, infers a cause of the error, and provides an error recovery method corresponding to the inferred cause of the error to the error-detected wireless sensor network. |
| US08041996B2 |
Method and apparatus for time-based event correlation
A method and apparatus for fault analysis and fault isolation in a system of networked processors by using a central event correlation function and logical fault signature to provide for fault isolation of failed processing elements is presented. This central event correlation method uses asynchronous events from multiple input sources of same and different technologies and time-based fault correlation and ageing to match unique fault signatures and determine levels of fault recovery escalation over time. This mechanism uses an event driven recovery table to recognize a unique fault signature, count and age faults, provide fault threshold based recovery and generate events as needed to drive recovery escalation. |
| US08041993B2 |
Distributed control system
There is provided a distributed system having a plurality of nodes connected by a network. Each of the nodes includes: a common-parameter-value determining unit for determining a common-parameter-value from values of a parameter (each value being possessed by a corresponding one of the nodes); a common-operation execution unit for executing a common-operation using, as its input, a value of the parameter or the common-parameter-value; a send/receive unit for exchanging, via the network, the parameter values used for the determination of the common-parameter-value and the results of the common-operation execution with the other nodes; and a fault identification unit that compares the common-operation execution results collected from all the nodes and determines that an error occurs if not all the results are the same. |
| US08041992B2 |
Input compensated and/or overcompensated computing
Techniques are generally described for correcting computation errors via input compensation and/or input overcompensation. In various examples, errors of a computation may be detected, and input compensation and/or overcompensation to correct the errors may be created. The disclosed techniques may be used for power and/or energy minimization/reduction, and debugging, among other applications. Other embodiments and/or applications may be disclosed and/or claimed. |
| US08041989B2 |
System and method for providing a high fault tolerant memory system
A system and method for providing a high fault tolerant memory system. The system includes a memory system having a memory controller, a plurality of memory modules and a mechanism. The plurality of memory modules are in communication with the memory controller and with a plurality of memory devices. The plurality of memory devices include at least one spare memory device for providing memory device sparing capability. The mechanism is for detecting that one of the memory modules has failed possibly coincident with a memory device failure on an other of the memory modules. The mechanism allows the memory system to continue to run unimpaired in the presence of the memory module failure and the possible memory device failure. |
| US08041988B2 |
Firmware update for consumer electronic device
To update firmware on a consumer device intelligently, two or more application images are stored as firmware on the consumer device. If the primary application image is corrupt, the back-up application image is executed on the consumer device. The back-up application image can be updated based on the primary application image. User configuration files can be preserved during the update of an application image, or they can be overwritten. This firmware updating scheme can be advantageously implemented in a personal media broadcasting system. |
| US08041986B2 |
Take over method for computer system
A proposed fail over method for taking over task that is preformed on an active server to a backup server, even when the active server and the backup server have different hardware configuration. The method for making a backup server take over task when a fault occurs on a active server, comprises steps of acquiring configuration information on the hardware in the active server and the backup server, acquiring information relating the hardware in the backup server with the hardware in the active server, selecting a backup server to take over the task that is executed on the active server where the fault occurred, creating logical partitions on the selected backup server, and taking over the task executed on the active server logical partitions, in the logical partitions created on the selected backup server. |
| US08041985B2 |
Match server for a financial exchange having fault tolerant operation
Fault tolerant operation is disclosed for a primary match server of a financial exchange using an active copy-cat instance, a.k.a. backup match server, that mirrors operations in the primary match server, but only after those operations have successfully completed in the primary match server. Fault tolerant logic monitors inputs and outputs of the primary match server and gates those inputs to the backup match server once a given input has been processed. The outputs of the backup match server are then compared with the outputs of the primary match server to ensure correct operation. The disclosed embodiments further relate to fault tolerant failover mechanism allowing the backup match server to take over for the primary match server in a fault situation wherein the primary and backup match servers are loosely coupled, i.e. they need not be aware that they are operating in a fault tolerant environment. As such, the primary match server need not be specifically designed or programmed to interact with the fault tolerant mechanisms. Instead, the primary match server need only be designed to adhere to specific basic operating guidelines and shut itself down when it cannot do so. By externally controlling the ability of the primary match server to successfully adhere to its operating guidelines, the fault tolerant mechanisms of the disclosed embodiments can recognize error conditions and easily failover from the primary match server to the backup match server. |
| US08041982B2 |
Real time clock
Various apparatuses, methods and systems for a real time clock are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments provide a real time clock including a clock generator having a first input connected to a clock signal and a second input connected to a time set signal. The clock generator produces a time change signal at an output of the clock generator. Counters, each adapted to track a different unit of time, are connected to the time change signal. The clock generator is adapted to generate a pulse on the time change signal for each pulse of the time set signal, and to generate separate pulses on the time change signal for consecutive pulses on the clock signal and the time set signal. |
| US08041978B2 |
Method for ensuring synchronous presentation of additional data with audio data
A recording medium, method and apparatus for managing data are discussed. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of reproducing main data and additional data. The method includes receiving the additional data associated with the main data, the additional data being divided into a plurality of segment units; and reproducing the additional data in a synchronous manner with the main data using time information if indication information indicates a presence of the time information. The time information indicates a presentation time of the additional data with respect to the main data. The main data and the additional data are reproduced according to management data, the management data including link information for linking the main data and the additional data. |
| US08041974B2 |
Power management method for input device
A power management method for an input device is provided, which includes the following steps: starting to count time and recording a trigger time of the input device after the input device enters a light-sleep mode; and dynamically updating a deep-sleep start time according to the trigger time. When the input device is idle over a standby time, the input device would enter the light-sleep mode and record the trigger time that the input device is restored from the light-sleep mode to an operation mode by a user operating the input device. The method dynamically updates the deep-sleep start time according to the recorded trigger time, and thus better power saving efficiency is achieved. |
| US08041973B2 |
Interrupt/wake-up of an electronic device in a low power sleep mode when detecting a sensor or frequency source activated frequency change
Activation of an external sensor coupled to an electronic device will change the frequency of a low power oscillator in the electronic device that runs during a low power sleep mode of the electronic device. When a change in frequency of the low power oscillator is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. In addition, when a change in frequency from an external frequency source is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. |
| US08041968B2 |
Power management for driving display with baseband portion when application portion is in low power mode
Systems and methods for efficiently managing power consumption in portable electronic devices are provided. In one embodiment, power management circuitry may operate the device in a low power mode (e.g., a HIBERNATION mode), but enables the device to quickly become fully operational in response to a power-ON event, despite having been in that low power mode. This may be accomplished by powering a processor engaging memory (e.g., SDRAM) while other circuitry are powered OFF. In another embodiment, the display may be driven by an application portion when operating in an ON mode, but may be driven by a carrier portion when the application is operating in a low power mode. In another embodiment, various discrete circuitry portions are selectively turned ON and OFF, depending, for example, on whether a particular discrete circuitry portion is idle or its processing functionality is not needed. |
| US08041963B2 |
Technique for regulating power-supply efficiency in a computer system
Embodiments of a system for regulating an efficiency of a power supply in a computer system are described. During operation, the system measures an output load of the power supply using one or more telemetry monitors in the computer system. Then, the system determines if an efficiency of the power supply corresponding to the measured output load is within a predetermined range that includes an optimal efficiency of the power supply. If the efficiency is outside of the predetermined range, the system performs remedial action so that the power supply operates at an adjusted efficiency that falls within the predetermined range. |
| US08041961B2 |
Storage system
A storage system encrypts plain text from an external device and stores the cryptogram into a disk unit, decrypts stored data in the disk unit and transmits decrypted text to the external device. The plain and decrypted text must be in agreement when seen from the external device. If a failure occurs in the encrypting or decrypting process, the plain and decrypted text disagree. The storage system includes an encryption unit for encrypting first data, a decryption unit for decrypting the encrypted data into second data, and a comparison unit for comparing the first and second data. When the first and second data do not agree, the first data is encrypted by a different encryption unit and the encrypted data is decrypted into third data, whereupon the first and third data are compared. When the first and third data do not agree, a failure report is sent. |
| US08041960B2 |
Secure creation and management of device ownership keys
Secure creation and management of device ownership keys. TPM ownership keys are generated by cryptographically combining manufacturer information with device specific information. Ownership keys are established in the TPM containing device. The manufacturer retains necessary information to reconstruct the ownership key if needed. |
| US08041957B2 |
Associating software with hardware using cryptography
Techniques for associating software with hardware using cryptography are described. The software is identified by a software identifier (ID), and the hardware is identified by a hardware ID. The software is hashed to obtain a code digest. A code signature is generated for the code digest, software ID, and hardware ID. A code image is formed with the software, software ID, code signature, and a certificate. The certificate contains cryptographic information used to authenticate the certificate and validate the code signature. The code image is loaded onto a device. The device validates the software to hardware association prior to executing the software. For the validation, the device authenticates the certificate with a certificate authority public key embedded within the device. The device also validates the code signature using the cryptographic information contained in the certificate, information in the code image, and the hardware ID embedded within the device. |
| US08041951B2 |
Code-based communication connection management
In some embodiments, an electronic apparatus comprises a communication interface, an input/output interface, a processor, and logic to collect, in the electronic apparatus, a first identifier associated with a first communication device and second identifier associated with a second communication device, logic to establish a communication connection between the electronic apparatus and the first communication device, and logic to initiate, in the electronic apparatus, a connection request for a communication connection between the first communication device and the second communication device. Other embodiments may be described. |
| US08041943B2 |
Revocation list improvement
A method for enforcing use of certificate revocation lists in validating certificates, the lists being associated with a series of list generation indices such that each list is assigned one index which advances according to a time of generation of the list, the lists and the indices being cryptographically signed, the method including receiving one of the lists and an associated index as an identifier of the one list, checking the certificates against the list, associating each of the certificates, which have been checked against the list, with the index, receiving an enforcement generation index (EGI) associated with a latest list in use, storing the EGI as a last known EGI, and refusing performance of an action associated with a certificate if the one index of the one certificate is earlier in the series than the last known EGI. Related apparatus and methods are also included. |
| US08041942B2 |
Robust peer-to-peer networks and methods of use thereof
A method of authentication of peers of a peer-to-peer network includes a certificate issuer tracking at most a predetermined number of node IDs for each peer on the peer-to-peer network, a requesting peer requesting from the certificate issuer a certificate for authenticating a communicating peer and each certificate issued listing at least one node ID of the predetermined number of node IDs assigned for the communicating peer. |
| US08041941B2 |
Method and apparatus for compression of data on storage units using devices inside a storage area network fabric
The capability to encrypt or compress the traffic over network links, thus improving the security of the link on the performance of the links, and the capability to encrypt/decrypt data stored on the storage devices without requiring specialized hosts or storage devices. In a first embodiment, traffic to be routed over a selected link needing encryption and/or compression is routed to hardware which performs the encryption and/or compression and returned for transmission over the link. A complementary unit at the second end of the link routes the received frames to complementary hardware to perform the decryption and/or decompression. The recovered frames are then routed to the target device in a normal fashion. In a variation of this first embodiment the hardware is developed using an FPGA. This allows simple selection of the desired feature or features present in the switch. The switch can be easily configured to perform encryption, compression or both, allowing great flexibility to a system administrator. In a second embodiment frames can be encrypted by a switch and then provided to the storage device in this encrypted manner. The frames from the storage device are decrypted before provision to the requesting host. By performing the encryption and decryption in the switch, conventional hosts and storage devices can be utilized. |
| US08041940B1 |
Offloading encryption processing in a storage area network
In one aspect, a method to offload encryption processing in a storage area network (SAN) system includes determining whether a host is performing at a first performance level, offloading encryption processing at a processor if the host is not performing at a first performance level and performing encryption processing at the host if the host is performing at a first performance level. |
| US08041938B2 |
Alternatively activating a replaceable hardware unit
A data processing system having a plurality of hardware units providing a predetermined set of functional capabilities. The data processing system is configurable to allow selectively electronically enabling at least a subset of the functional capabilities. The system includes a portion for receiving a replaceable hardware unit. The system also includes a control unit for determining a type of the replaceable hardware unit. The control unit is configured to determine the subset of functional capabilities to be electronically enabled and electronically enabling the determined subset of functional capabilities if the replaceable hardware unit is of a first type. The control unit is also configured to enable entire functional capabilities of the replaceable hardware unit if the replaceable hardware unit is of a second type. |
| US08041936B2 |
Persisting value relevant to debugging of computer system during reset of computer system
The last value of an element of a computing system is continually stored within a first register. The element is cleared during any restart or reset of the computing system. The last value is relevant to debugging of the computing system when the computing system fails to perform as expected and/or as desired. Upon receiving an instruction to reset the computing system via a first reset signal corresponding to pressing of a reset button or a second reset signal corresponding to a baseboard management controller issuing a reset command, the last value of the element as stored within the first register is copied to a second register. The computing system is then reset. The last value of the element as stored within the second register persists within the second register during this type of reset, but is cleared during any other reset or restart of the computing system. |
| US08041933B2 |
Method and apparatus for selectively enabling a microprocessor-based system
A system for selectively enabling a microprocessor-based system is disclosed. State information that describes the operating conditions or circumstances under which a user intends to operate the system is obtained. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a valid hash value is determined, preferably based on the state information and preferably by locating the valid hash value within a table of valid hash values indexed by the state information. Candidate authorization information is obtained from the user, and a candidate hash value is generated by applying a hashing algorithm to the candidate authorization information, the state information, or a combination of the candidate authorization information and state information. The candidate hash value and the valid hash value are then compared, and the microprocessor-based system is enabled if the candidate hash value matches the valid hash value. In this manner, the designer or distributor of the system can determine, at the time of manufacture or distribution, the conditions and circumstances under which the system may be operated. |
| US08041930B2 |
Data processing apparatus and method for controlling thread access of register sets when selectively operating in secure and non-secure domains
The data processing apparatus has processing logic for performing data processing operations and a register bank for storing data associated with the processing logic. The register bank has at least one register group, each register group having a plurality of register sets. The processing logic has an operating state associated with each register group defining how that register group is used, a first operating state being a state in which each register set in the register group is used to support an independent execution thread of the processing logic, and a second operating state being a state in which the register sets of the register group are collectively used to support a single execution thread of the processing logic. Control logic is provided to control how the register sets of each register group are used dependent on the operating state associated with that register group. |
| US08041926B2 |
Transparent concurrent atomic execution
Executing a block of code is disclosed. Executing includes receiving an indication that the block of code is to be executed using a synchronization mechanism and speculatively executing the block of code on a virtual machine. The block of code may include application code. The block of code does not necessarily indicate that the block of code should be speculatively executed. |
| US08041925B2 |
Switch coupled function blocks with additional direct coupling and internal data passing from input to output to facilitate more switched inputs to second block
A reconfigurable integrated circuit includes a plurality of function blocks and a plurality of programmable switches to switchably connect between function blocks included in the plurality of function blocks. The plurality of function blocks each includes at least one operation unit or one memory unit. The plurality of function blocks each includes at least one data input port connected to at least on of the plurality of programmable switches and at least one data output port connected to at least one of the plurality of programmable switches. Further, at least a pair of function blocks included in the plurality of function blocks is connected without intervening the programmable switch and data being output from a direct output port included in one of the pair of function blocks can be input to a direct input port included in the other of the pair of function blocks. |
| US08041923B2 |
Load page table entry address instruction execution based on an address translation format control field
What is provided is a load page table entry address function defined for a machine architecture of a computer system. In one embodiment, a machine instruction is obtained which contains an opcode indicating that a load page table entry address function is to be performed. The machine instruction contains an M field, a first field identifying a first general register, and a second field identifying a second general register. Based on the contents of the M field, an initial origin address of a hierarchy of address translation tables having at least one segment table is obtained. Based on the obtained initial origin address, dynamic address translation is performed until a page table entry is obtained. The page table entry address is saved in the identified first general register. |
| US08041921B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for utilizing tape media segmentation
An apparatus and system are presented for utilizing tape storage media segmentation to improve data access performance. A segmented tape storage medium within a tape cartridge having a first and second segment is utilized. A selection module allows a user to select a user-defined capacity of the tape storage medium that is less than the usable capacity of the tape storage medium. The user-defined capacity allows the user to prefer improved data access over tape storage capacity. Data, when written to the tape, is written only within the user-defined capacity. Data may be written exclusively on the first segment or written on both the first segment and second segment allowing data access to be improved. In addition, the user-defined capacity may correspond to the full capacity of the tape storage media. |
| US08041920B2 |
Partitioning memory mapped device configuration space
Embodiments of apparatuses, methods, and systems for partitioning memory mapped device configuration space are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a configuration space address storage location, an access map storage location, and addressing logic. The configuration space address storage location is to store a pointer to a memory region to which transactions to configure devices in a partition of a partitioned system are addressed. The access map storage location is to store an access map or a pointer to an access map. The addressing logic is to use the access map to determine whether a configuration transaction from a processor to one of the devices is to be allowed. |
| US08041916B2 |
Data storage device and method of operating the same
A data storage device and a method of operating the same include firmware recognizing that the data storage device has a smaller than normal capacity or includes a routine in the firmware when the number of bad blocks exceeds the maximum. Therefore, even if the number of bad blocks exceeds the maximum, the data storage device having a capacity smaller than the normal capacity can be used. |
| US08041914B2 |
Storage system comprising function for reducing power consumption
For at least one of storage unit, processor and cache memory which are I/O process-participating devices related to I/O command process, when a load of one or more I/O process-participating devices or a part thereof is a low load equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, a processing related to a state of one or more of the I/O process-participating devices or a part thereof is redirected to another one or more I/O process-participating devices or a part thereof, and the state of the one or more I/O process-participating devices or a part thereof is shifted to a power-saving state. |
| US08041910B2 |
Storage apparatus and control method thereof
This storage apparatus further includes a control unit for creating a second volume as a backup volume of the first volume upon receiving a backup command of the first volume from the host apparatus, and sending a completion reply of the backup command to the host apparatus while the formatting of the second volume and the replication from the first volume to the second volume are incomplete. |
| US08041907B1 |
Method and system for efficient space management for single-instance-storage volumes
A method and system for efficient space management for single-instance-storage volumes is provided. A backup module storing data within a collection of containers according to access locality and retention time of the data, wherein the retention time defines an amount of time the data is stored within the collection of containers before deletion of the data, and the access locality comprises an order in which the data is to be accessed is further provided. A compaction module compacting the stored data by selecting at least two containers among the collection of containers, wherein the selection is performed using a predetermined criteria that includes access locality and retention time of the data is also provided. The compaction module distributes the data among the at least two containers. The compaction criteria creates an imbalance among the containers to create more empty, full, or nearly full containers. |
| US08041906B2 |
Notification processing
Embodiments for notification processing are disclosed. One embodiment includes dividing the number of data entries of an array, having a number of data entries that each utilize a variable having a changeable state, into a number of blocks. The number of blocks include a flag indicating whether at least one of the number of entries in the block has been modified. The method includes identifying at least one of the number blocks that has at least one modified entry by checking the flag and processing the at least one identified block to determine a current state of at least one the variables having a changeable state whose corresponding data entry has been modified. |
| US08041895B2 |
Translation table coherency mecahanism using cache way and set index write buffers
Systems and/or methods are presented that provide for recording transactions that occur during a write process for the purpose of recovering the transactions in the event of a power loss. In an aspect a system implements an organization that reflects a cache architecture that is organized according to the cache way and set index of each transaction In this regard, the cache way and set index cache architecture provides for a post-power loss search operation that is limited to identifying duplicate locations within the cache-line and keeping only the most recent modification. Thus the system provides pre-organization in terms of self-aggregation by cache way and set index recording that facilitates cache-line eviction processing in the event that the cache is determined to be full. |
| US08041893B1 |
System and method for managing large filesystem-based caches
Embodiments disclosed herein utilize statistical approximations to manage large filesystem-based caches based on imperfect information. When removing entries from a large cache, which may have a million or more entries, the cache manager does not need to find the absolutely oldest entry that has been accessed the least recently. Instead, it suffices to find an entry that is older than most. In embodiments disclosed herein, statistical sampling of the cache is performed to produce models of different properties of the cache, including the number of entries, distribution of access times, distribution of entry sizes, etc. The models are then used to guide decisions that involve those properties. The size of the samples can be adjusted to balance the cost of acquiring the samples against the confidence level of the models produced by the samples. To achieve randomness, entries are stored using prefixes of addresses generated via a message-digest function. |
| US08041891B2 |
Method and system for performing RAID level migration
A RAID level migration system and method are provided that enable RAID level migration to be performed without the use of a hardware RAID controller with NVRAM for storing the migration parameters. Eliminating the need for a hardware controller having NVRAM significantly reduces the costs associated with performing RAID level migration. The system and method are capable of migrating from any arbitrary RAID level to any other arbitrary RAID level. |
| US08041889B2 |
Information processor and image generator for stopping rotation of a magnetic disk in response to an abnormal state
An information processor includes a rotating magnetic disk that stores therein data, an accessing unit that accesses the magnetic disk, a detecting unit that detects an abnormal state. The abnormal state is a state that a user takes an action that may cause the magnetic disk to vibrate. The information processor further includes a control unit that terminates an access to the magnetic disk and stops rotation of the magnetic disk when the detecting unit detects the abnormal state, and an output unit that outputs a request for the action after the control unit has stopped the access and the rotation. |
| US08041888B2 |
System and method for LUN cloning
A logical unit number (LUN) cloning technique separates data blocks referenced by a writable virtual disk (vdisk) from data blocks referenced only by a backing store to conserve storage resources of a storage system. The LUN cloning technique separates the writable vdisk data blocks from the backing store during periods of reduced processing activity and in a manner that does not interfere with storage service provided by the system. |
| US08041887B2 |
Memory device and control method thereof
A control method of a memory device including a storage area formed of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, includes updating a file stored in the storage area by using a file system which supports an incremental write method, recording, in the storage area, an allocation table representing a correlation between a logical address indicating a recording position of the file and a virtual address representing a virtual recording position of the file and management information of the allocation table, and recording position information representing a recording position of the management information in a position information area of the storage area. |
| US08041886B2 |
System and method of managing memory
The disclosure is related to systems and methods of management of memory. In a particular embodiment, a system is disclosed that comprises a control circuit adapted to compare a second data set to a first data set and to selectively replace the first data set with the second data set without performing an erase operation based on the comparison, wherein the erase operation is not performed when the first data set and the second data set differ only when locations of the second data set include a first logic value corresponding to one or more locations of the first data set that include a second logic value. |
| US08041885B2 |
Memory system and method with flash memory device
A memory system is provided which includes a host, a flash memory device, and a dual port memory which exchanges data with the host and the flash memory device. The flash memory device utilizes a portion of the dual port memory as a working memory. |
| US08041882B2 |
Method and device for writing to a flash memory
For NAND flash devices, two specific bounds for the program time are defined in the data sheets: a typical program time, during which more than 50% of all pages are programmed, and a maximum program time. Reduction of the maximum program time to an effective program time is possible using the following method for writing to a flash memory, comprising the steps of specifying an effective program time that is between typical and maximum program time, writing first data to the flash memory, after the effective program time checking if the programming cycle is finished, if it is finished writing second data to the flash memory, and if it is not finished writing the at least second data to a buffer memory and marking them as not to be overwritten, repeating the previous steps as long as further data are to be stored, determining a free location in a flash memory, and copying the at least second data from the buffer memory to the determined location in the flash memory. |
| US08041879B2 |
Flash memory backup system and method
A flash memory system includes a flash controller for controlling operation of at least two flash memory devices. A page buffer is allocated within each flash memory device, such that one page buffer functions as a designated target buffer and another page buffer functions as a mirror buffer. The flash controller transmits the page data to two flash memory devices simultaneously, such that no backup of the page data is required to be kept in the flash controller. Hence, there is no delay in writing the next page data from a host computer to the flash controller. |
| US08041873B2 |
Multiple module computer system and method including differential signal channel comprising unidirectional serial bit channels to transmit encoded peripheral component interconnect bus transaction data
A computer system for multi-processing purposes. The computer system has a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site. Each coupling site comprises a connector. The console is an enclosure that is capable of housing each coupling site. The system also has a plurality of computer modules, where each of the computer modules is coupled to a connector. Each of the computer modules has a processing unit, a main memory coupled to the processing unit, a graphics controller coupled to the processing unit, and a mass storage device coupled to the processing unit. Each of the computer modules is substantially similar in design to each other to provide independent processing of each of the computer modules in the computer system. |
| US08041869B2 |
Method and system for bus arbitration
A method and system for bus arbitration to be used in a system having a plurality of data handling units (110a, . . . , 110d) and a shared bus (140) with a plurality of data-lines. The invention provides a method and an system to carry out the method, having steps of; receiving data transfer requests from the data handling units; selecting a set of data transfer requests the allowance of which serves a maximum number of data handling units and utilizes a maximum number of data-lines, and; allowing the data handling units that issued said selected set of data transfer requests to access said bus in a single bus cycle. |
| US08041866B2 |
System and method for interfacing an electronic device with a host system
The disclosure describes a system and method for controlling interfacing parameters for a device when connected to a host. In the system and method, the communications interface is configurable to be in operable connection to a host using a microprocessor in the device having a first bus controller and a second bus controller, the second bus controller external to the microprocessor. The method comprises: establishing an initial connection by the device; conducting negotiations by the device to set a first data transmission rate for the device for the initial connection utilizing a communication bus controller contained in the microprocessor; and after detecting completion of enumeration of the device, re-establishing the connection by the device using the second bus controller in the device that processes the communications at a second transmission rate that is higher than the first data transmission rate. |
| US08041862B2 |
Data flow control and bridging architecture enhancing performance of removable data storage systems
A data flow control and bridging architecture that enhances the performance of removable data storage systems. In one implementation, the present invention provides a bypass bus implementation where the data transfer phase associated with select commands occurs directly between the host computing system and the target removable data storage unit. In one implementation, the present invention further provides a data flow and bridging architecture that emulates a removable media interface, such as the ATAPI interface, to the host computing system, and translates these commands for a target removable storage unit that implements a fixed media interface, such as the ATA interface. In yet another implementation, the present invention provides a data flow and bridging architecture that supports the serial ATA interface. |
| US08041861B2 |
Memory device communicating with a host at different speeds and managing access to shared memory
A memory device includes a high speed port, a low speed port, at least a first memory bank, a first register, and a multiplexer. The at least first memory bank is shared by the high speed port and the low speed port. The first register store information that indicates which one of the ports has permission to access the first memory bank. The multiplexer connects one of the high speed port or the low speed port to the first memory bank, in response to the information stored in the first register. |
| US08041852B1 |
System and method for using a shared buffer construct in performance of concurrent data-driven tasks
A computer system is provided that utilizes a buffer construct to manage memory access operations to a region of memory. The buffer construct may correspond to a data item or structure that represents a region of memory. Each task may control the buffer construct exclusively of other tasks, so that the region of memory that is represented by the buffer construct is only available to the controlling task. Another task that requires access to the region of memory must wait until the controlling task makes the buffer construct available. The controlling task makes the buffer construct available only when DMA or other memory access operations that are in progress become complete. In this way, the buffer construct acts as a token that synchronizes each of the concurrent tasks execution and ensures mutually exclusive access to the common region of memory. |
| US08041850B2 |
Storage apparatus and data integrity assurance method
A channel control unit of a storage apparatus is provided with: a variable-length DMA (Direct Memory Access) that performs data transfer of variable-length data sent to or received from the host computer in accordance with an I/O request; a fixed-length DMA that performs data transfer of fixed-length data to and from the cache memory; and a buffer intervening between the variable-length DMA and the fixed-length DMA. In performing the data transfer of the fixed-length data to the cache memory, the fixed-length DMA divides the variable-length data into multiple sets of the fixed-length data each having a data size equivalent to a unit size of data managed in the cache memory, and adds a first integrity code to the last fixed-length data set of the fixed-length data sets generated by the division, the first integrity code being generated based on the entire variable-length data. |
| US08041849B2 |
Method for handling small computer system interface (SCSI) commands via a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) device driver
The present invention is a method for handling an operation system kernel-provided command via a software-based device driver. The method includes receiving the operation system kernel-provided command from an operation system kernel. The method further includes determining if a kernel virtual address is required for responding to the command. The method further includes initiating a Direct Memory Access (DMA) operation for providing data to the operating system kernel in response to the command when a kernel virtual address is not required for responding to the command. The method further includes allocating a device driver buffer with a DMA address and a virtual address when a kernel virtual address is required for responding to the command. |
| US08041843B2 |
Recording/reproducing apparatus
A device, including a first storage unit configured to store a first plurality of files and a first management data corresponding to the first files; a connector configured to connect to an external storage device, the external storage being configured to store a second plurality of files and second management data corresponding to the second files; a controller configured to generate new management data by merging the first management data and the second management data, and to store the new management data in a memory; and a display unit configured to display contents of the first and second plurality of files based on the new management data without indicating to the user where the respective files are stored. |
| US08041841B1 |
Protocol and interface for source-synchronous digital link
Method and interface for configuring a link is described. A transceiver has configuration registers. The configuration registers are read to determine capability of the transceiver. An application is selected, and the configuration registers of the transceiver are configured responsive to the application selected. A protocol having initialization, transmit and receive portions is described to facilitate configuration operations, such as reads and writes of configuration registers, for such a link. |
| US08041839B2 |
Method and system of providing active web user interface
A method of providing active web user interface is disclosed. The method includes questioning a web server about a message from an application program module by Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX). The web server asks the application program module to confirm receipt of the message. The web server obtains a result from the application program module, and returns to the web user interface control module. The web user interface receives the message from the web server and calls a plug-in module to provide a service about the message. The plug-in module starts the service of the application program module. |
| US08041834B2 |
System and method for enabling a wireless sensor network by mote communication
A system and method for implementing a wireless sensor network. The system comprises a plurality of motes, each mote having a sensor and a wireless communication system for communicating with neighboring motes; a distributed routing table distributed amongst each of the plurality of motes; and an update system for periodically updating the distributed routing table. |
| US08041827B2 |
Interoperability of a network interface protocol with an internet interface protocol
A method for interoperability of a network interface protocol with an Internet interface protocol begins by receiving a scan channel request of a plurality of channels that are in accordance with the network interface protocol. The method then continues by determining whether an Internet packet is being received via one of the plurality of channels when the channel scan request is received (i.e., is a higher layer protocol supporting a current transmission). If so, the method continues by scanning at least one channel of the plurality of channels, but does not scan all of the plurality of channels at one time. The method continues after the scanning by tuning to the channel supporting the higher layer protocol communication to transmit at least one outbound Internet packet. The method then continues by scanning at least another channel of the plurality of channels. |
| US08041825B2 |
System and method for a policy enforcement point interface
Systems and methods for providing an interface to communicate policy information from a policy server to a policy enforcement point are presented. An external policy server is used to implement and provide various policies to a policy enforcement point for enforcement on subscriber sessions and traffic flows of a mobile subscriber. A policy enforcement point can request instructions from the policy server using an access-request message and receive from the policy server unsolicited instructions with a change-of-authorization message. Policies for application to a subscriber session or traffic flow are included in the message from a policy server to the policy enforcement point. Other messages such as a disconnect message are used to terminate a subscriber session. |
| US08041822B2 |
Service network system and server device
A server device that represents a plurality of service provision servers implements authentication and a SIP message exchange with respect to a SIP server as a representative, and notifies a service provision server of client communication information that is acquired by the SIP message exchange. The service provision server communicates with a client on the basis of the client communication information that is notified from the representative server. |
| US08041814B2 |
Method, system and computer program product for hierarchical load balancing
An improved load balancing method, system, and computer program product handles popular object requests using a front-end cache, and hashing is applied only to the requests in the stream that were not handled by the front-end cache. A cache (e.g., a web proxy cache) is placed in front of a Level 7 switch, such that the cache services the popular requests from the cache based on the content of the request (e.g., based on the portion of an HTTP request following the domain name). The remaining requests are hashed and then routed to the back-end server. This allows the requests that make it past the cache to still be routed to the back-end server and take advantage of the efficiencies provided therefrom. |
| US08041813B2 |
Storage management method and server
When the application I/O performance problem is solved, the I/O amount from the application is increased. In the conventional technique, no consideration has been taken on the affect of the increase of the application I/O performance to other applications. A resource whose I/O load is reduced by setting modification of a storage subsystem is specified and the application using this resource is specified as an application whose I/O processing amount may be increased. Furthermore, the resource used by the specified application and another application using this resource are specified as a resource and an application whose I/O processing performance may be lowered by the setting modification. |
| US08041805B2 |
System and method for reporting to a website owner user reactions to particular web pages of a website
In certain embodiments, a system is provided for measuring page-specific user feedback concerning each of a plurality of particular web pages. A user-selectable element is viewable on and solicits page-specific user feedback concerning each such web page upon initial display of the web page, the element appearing identically and behaving consistently on each such web page. Software associated with the element is operable to receive the feedback concerning the web page for reporting, the feedback comprising one or more page-specific subjective ratings of the web page and one or more associated page-specific open-ended comments concerning the web page, the feedback allowing an interested party to access page-specific subjective ratings and associated page-specific open-ended comments across the plurality of web pages to identify one or more web pages for which the feedback is notable. |
| US08041802B2 |
Decoupled logical and physical data storage within a database management system
The subject matter herein relates to database management systems and, more particularly, to decoupled logical and physical data storage within a database management system. Various embodiments provide systems, methods, and software that separate physical storage of data from logical storage of data. These embodiments include a mapping of logical storage to physical storage to allow data to be moved within the physical storage to increase database responsiveness. |
| US08041801B2 |
Information recommendation system based on biometric information
State information of a user is detected via a biometric information sensor and is stored, in a nonvolatile memory, in association with a content identifier of content that is being reproduced for the user when the state information is detected. An information request, including the state information of another user at another terminal apparatus, is generated and transmitted. Provided information transmitted in response to the information request is received and provided to the user. When an information request is received by the user, information is extracted from the nonvolatile memory based on the state information of another user. Provided information that is based on the extracted information is transmitted to another user. |
| US08041799B1 |
Method and system for managing alarms in a communications network
A system, method, and medium for routing alarms based within a telecommunications network is provided. Status indications (such as alarms or element problem notifications) are received and a determination is made as to whether the status indication has been processed. If it has not be processed, then a data field state is evaluated to determine a routing behavior rule. If the status indication is an updated occurrence (not new), then a corresponding prior event is identified within a data structure, notified, and the second occurrence is routed to one or more data engines. |
| US08041797B2 |
Apparatus and method for allocating resources based on service level agreement predictions and associated costs
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for allocating resources based on predictions of service level agreement (SLA) breaches in order to minimize costs are provided. With the method, apparatus, and computer instructions, a prediction that an SLA will be breached is received from a prediction engine associated with the SLM system. Based on a prediction that an SLA will be breached, a minimum cost analysis is performed to determine if computer resources may be shifted from another service consumer under another SLA to facilitate the service consumer of the potentially breached SLA in order to reduce the cost of the penalty associated with breaching SLAs. If so, resources are reallocated in order to minimize penalties associated with SLA breaches. |
| US08041795B2 |
Method and arrangement in an internet protocol multimedia subsystem
The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for allowing private domains in the IMS, which makes it possible to use a SIP URI like ID@private-domain.TLD. This is achieved by providing an administration support and an interface to the IMS interconnect DNS and the DNS system of the operator network. The identity associated with private domain is established as a Private domain name based IMPU. |
| US08041794B2 |
Platform discovery, asset inventory, configuration, and provisioning in a pre-boot environment using web services
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for initializing a common information model (CIM) broker and a SLP service agent of a system in a pre-boot environment, transmitting a multicast request and receiving a unicast advertisement from a directory agent, registering a web-based enterprise management (WBEM) service to the directory agent, and configuring, provisioning, and/or performing asset inventory of the system in the pre-boot environment responsive to information from a resource manager. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08041792B2 |
Client processor device for building application files from file fragments for different versions of an application
A client processor including a communications receiver for receiving file fragments for the device, a micro-controller system including a microcontroller and a programmable non-volatile memory system, for building and storing application and data files from the fragments, and executing an application of the device by processing at least one application file and associated data identified by configuration instructions included in at least one of the fragments. |
| US08041790B2 |
Dynamic definition for concurrent computing environments
A system generates an executable process for execution by a concurrent computing environment, generates a configuration that specifies configurable properties of the concurrent computing environment, and initiates execution of the executable process, with the concurrent computing environment, to initiate configuration of the concurrent computing environment based on the configurable properties of the configuration. |
| US08041787B2 |
Application software and data management method, management system, and thin client terminal, management server and remote computer used therefor
A thin client terminal that can perform information processing in an off-line state is provided. A thin client terminal 101a sends a request for registration of data to be used off-line and designation of application software to be used off-line to a management server 107 through a remote computer 104. The management server 107 registers the data and application software according to the request. The thin client terminal 101 requests the management server 107 to acquire the requested data and application software, receives the data and application software, and stores the received data and application software into a storage medium 110. |
| US08041783B2 |
Method for distribution of configuration settings for medical devices
A method is provided for configuring medical devices such as medical devices used in a clinical trial. Based on the needs of the clinical trial, a definition of a configuration of the medical devices to be used in the clinical trial is generated and the configuration data is transformed into a profile. The profile is distributed to sites at which the clinical trial will be conducted and the profile is applied to the medical devices at the sites to configure the medical devices. The medical devices are thereby capable of producing data that is comparable as between the sites used in the clinical trial. |
| US08041782B1 |
System of automated configuration of network subscribers for broadband communication
The invention relates to a new system and method for process automation system that allows the conversion of a narrowband consumer Internet user into a broadband (e.g., DSL, ISDN, or Data over Cable) Internet user. In an alternative embodiment, the new system and method is used to configure an original broadband connection. The system includes automation agent software residing on the personal computer that is being configured for broadband communication, and an automation server associated with the manager of the broadband network. The automation agent software guides the user through the steps of testing and ordering the service, automates the configuring of the personal computer for broadband communication, and communicates with the automation server to complete the registration, billing and other administrative processes. |
| US08041781B2 |
System and method for providing web system services for storing data and context of client applications on the web
An improved system and method for supporting web system services is provided for storing data and context of client applications on the web. A client application may include a web system services interface for invoking web system services to support web applications to operate over the web using different devices that may store data and context of web applications as a web application document onto a web server. A web application document may be represented by components that may include view information, content, and context information. The application may also include a web system services user interface for providing a graphical user interface for a user to invoke web system services that may include a new document system service, a store document system service, and a restore document system service. A schema for context scope may be implemented for collecting context information relevant to the web application document. |
| US08041779B2 |
Method and system for facilitating the exchange of information between a vehicle and a remote location
The present invention is directed to a system and method that includes a vehicle that exchanges information with the remote location by way of a communication network. A remote server transmits vehicle-related information to the vehicle by way of a communication system. Information may also be broadcast to and received by the vehicle by way of a broadcast communication system. A receiver of the vehicle provides user access to only a subset of the broadcast information based on user preferences of a user profile. The user may update the user profile by accessing and updating it at either the vehicle or by accessing a database. The user may access the database through a network, such as the Internet. The vehicle also selectively transmits vehicle-related information to the remote location when a predetermined event occurs. The vehicle-related information is compiled and analyzed at the remote location, and the analyzed information is transmitted back to the vehicle. |
| US08041774B2 |
Early issue of transaction ID
Early issue of transaction ID is disclosed. An apparatus comprising decoder to generate a first node ID indicative of the destination of a cache transaction from a caching agent, a transaction ID allocation logic coupled to and operating in parallel to the decoder to select a transaction ID (TID) for the transaction based on the first node ID, a packet creation unit to create a packet that includes the transaction, the first node ID, the TID and a second node ID corresponding to the requestor. |
| US08041773B2 |
Automatic clustering for self-organizing grids
Computational grids have traditionally not scaled effectively due to administrative hurdles to resource and user participation. Most production grids are essentially multi-site supercomputer centers, rather than truly open and heterogeneous sets of resources that can join and leave dynamically, and that can provide support for an equally dynamic set of users. Large-scale grids containing individual resources with more autonomy about when and how they join and leave will require self-organizing grid middleware services that do not require centralized administrative control. Dynamic discovery of high-performance variable-size clusters of grid nodes provides an effective solution for implementation of grids. A brute force approach to the problem of identifying these “ad-hoc clusters” would require excessive overhead in terms of both message exchange and computation. Therefore, a scalable solution is provided that uses a delay-based overlay structure to organize nodes based on their proximity to one another, using a small number of delay experiments. This overlay can then be used to provide a variable-size set of promising candidate nodes than can then be used as a cluster, or tested further to improve the selection. Simulation results show that this approach results in effective clustering with acceptable overhead. |
| US08041771B2 |
Input shortcuts for a communications device
A method of inputting an electronic address into an address field on a communications device, the electronic address including a plurality of text characters and non-text symbol characters. The method includes: receiving a plurality of inputs for the address field through a user input interface of the device; adding text characters to the address field corresponding to the inputs; and detecting among the inputs repetitive successive inputs of a predetermined delimiter, selecting a non-text symbol character from a set of non-text symbol characters in dependence on a number of times the delimiter has been repetitively input without any intervening inputs, and adding the selected non-text symbol character to the address field. |
| US08041770B1 |
Method of providing instant messaging functionality within an email session
A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing instant messaging functionality within an Email session is presented. An intended Email recipient is notified that an Email message is currently being written to them. The intended Email recipient is invited to view the Email message. The intended Email recipient is permitted to interact with the originator of the Email by way of an instant messaging session. |
| US08041762B2 |
Methods and systems for processing a plurality of errors
As part of handling a large amount of error information generated on a mainframe system associated, for example, with a telephone billing system, a utility software program allows a user to easily process the error information. The information is generated by the mainframe in flat file format and converted into spreadsheet format. This compilation of error messages is then sent electronically as a spreadsheet to an operator responsible for processing the error messages. The utility software automatically opens the spreadsheet and saves then information locally in a relational database. The operator then opens the database and disposes of the error messages. Upon completion, the utility software appends the disposed information to an SQL database residing on a network. The utility software then establishes communication with a mainframe and transfers the error message disposition to the mainframe where this information is merged with the existing error messages and disposed of accordingly. |
| US08041756B1 |
Method and apparatus for high speed calculation of non-linear functions and networks using non-linear function calculations for digital signal processing
The invention includes apparatus and methods for high-speed calculation of non-linear functions based upon a shifted adder and a offset generator. Various implementations may preferably include a input preprocessor and/or an output post processor. The invention includes a family of core cells built from instances of these calculators providing an upward, functionally compatible, extension to a family of Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) core cells. All of these core cells consistently provide the ability to perform high speed DSP tasks including Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs), Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filters and Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filters. The core cells built from the calculators can concurrently perform many non-linear function calculations. The core cells can switch between tasks every clock cycle. |
| US08041752B2 |
Concurrent, lock-free object copying
Described is a technology by which a real-time data relocating mechanism is provided for multiprocessing environments, including supporting lock-free programs that run in parallel. The relocating mechanism moves an object by using a status field related to the data field, possibly in an interim (wide) object space, which is then copied to a to-space object. The status information for each data field of the original object contains information indicating where a current version of the data for each field is present, that is, in the original, wide or to-space object. In one example, a handshake mechanism of a garbage collector establishes preparation and copy phases between the mechanism and other threads that determine where memory accesses occur. Also described is support for program thread compare-and-swap (CAS) operations and/or multi-word atomic operations. |
| US08041747B2 |
Data search device and gateway device in communication apparatus
A data search device that is provided in a communication apparatus detects a memory area storing data to be transmitted from a memory unit having memory areas defined by IDs allotted to data. The data search device includes: a first flag that is provided for each of the memory areas of the memory unit, and indicate whether the data in the corresponding memory area is updated; a second flag that is provided for each group consisting of a predetermined number of the first flags, and indicates a data update state when at least one set of data in the first flags in the corresponding group indicates an updated state; and a search control unit that detects the memory area storing the data to be transmitted, by searching for the corresponding first flag after detecting the second flag. |
| US08041744B2 |
Computer-aided modeling
In a modeling method and system, a model is created by using parametric basic elements and parameterized complementary elements, each having special parameters; such that a complementary object to be created with a parameterized complementary element is directly or indirectly, at least via one of its parameter values, associated with at least one basic object created with a basic element. |
| US08041743B2 |
Systems and methods for providing semantically enhanced identity management
Systems and methods are provided to enhance biometric data available to authorities to identify individuals by linking the available biometric data semantically to data from other sources to improve identity management using a semantic computing server that builds a semantic graph based on the data. Using a semantic graph helps determine the identity and possible intention to deceive of certain individuals. |
| US08041742B1 |
Method, system, and apparatus for providing generic database services within an extensible firmware interface environment
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for providing generic database services within an EFI environment. A database engine is executed within an EFI environment that provides generic database functions on records having arbitrary data types. Database functions such as adding, deleting, and searching records may be performed by the database engine. The database engine utilizes a database structure for organizing the database that includes an initial count field for storing the initial number of records to be stored in the database, a record count field for storing the current number of records in the database, a key count field for storing the number of key fields in a stored data record, a key field for storing a pointer to a function for retrieving the value of a key field, and an index array field for storing a pointer to an index array. The index array is a sorted array of pointers to each of the data records in the database. |
| US08041738B2 |
Strongly typed tags
In one or more embodiments, a tag is provided and includes a property that associates a strongly typed variable with the tag. Strongly typed variables can include any suitable types. For example, in at least some embodiments, the strongly typed variable is a people type that allows the tag to be associated with an individual person or group of people by virtue of a unique identification that is associated with the person or group. Strongly typed tags can then serve as a foundation upon which various other types of information and services can be provided to enhance the user experience. |
| US08041737B2 |
Method of presenting leasing arrangements
A method and apparatus are provided for presenting leasing arrangements for a plurality of rental spaces. The method includes the steps of providing a graphical user interface that depicts the plurality of rental spaces within a two-dimensional layout on a display of the graphical user interface where a relative size and relative location of each rental space on the display is proportional to a relative physical size and relative location of the actual rental spaces and associating a menu with at least some of the rental spaces on the display where the menu provides additional information regarding the rental space, building, rental space user prospects and associated documents. The method and apparatus also allow user IDs to simultaneously have access to information in multiple database partitions within a management system. |
| US08041731B2 |
Efficient evaluation of SQL pivot operations
Techniques are described herein for supporting efficient evaluation of pivot operations. In an embodiment, a pivoting query on a data table is received. The query identifies pivot columns, measure columns, and grouping columns. In response to receiving the query, a staging table that comprises new pivot columns, aggregated columns, and new grouping columns may be created. For each particular unique combination of values of the grouping columns and the pivot columns in the data table, stored values in the measure columns in the data table are aggregated for certain rows in the plurality of rows in the data table. Each row of the certain rows comprises the each particular unique combination of values of the grouping columns and the pivot columns in the data table. Results of aggregating are stored in the staging table. Data that has been populated in the staging table is transposed into a result set. |
| US08041728B2 |
Utilization of display profiles with abstract queries
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for applying query-level and parameter-level display profiles to abstract queries are provided. Display profiles allow users to utilize existing abstract queries for purposes of data analysis. In one embodiment, display profiles are used to change the scope of an existing abstract query or incorporate existing data processing functions into the abstract query. |
| US08041726B2 |
System for executing a query having multiple distinct key columns
A system and computer readable medium for executing a query to access data stored in a database, wherein the query includes a plurality of DISTINCT keys, is disclosed. The system and computer readable medium includes a capture module for identifying each of the plurality of DISTINCT keys in the query and a sort module coupled to the capture module for determining if more than one sort is needed to execute the query, performing a first DISTINCT operation on a first DISTINCT key of the plurality of DISTINCT keys, storing data fetched from the first DISTINCT operation in a master workfile only if more than one sort process is needed to execute the query, and utilizing the master workfile to perform subsequent DISTINCT operations on the other of the plurality of DISTINCT keys. |
| US08041721B2 |
Attribute extraction processing method and apparatus
A machine-executable attribute extraction method comprising: extracting, vis-à-vis a plurality of documents in the archival memory (that also stores registration dates and attributes of the documents) having registration dates falling within a desired time period, feature words for each attribute value of the corresponding attributes of the plurality of documents; registering, into the work memory, the desired time period, and the extracted feature words for each attribute value of the corresponding attributes of the plurality of documents; determining, amongst the extracted feature words in the work memory, first feature words for which the attribute has a first attribute value and second feature words for which the attribute has a second attribute value; calculating a similarity between the first feature words and the second feature words; judging whether the similarity satisfies a condition; and outputting the second attribute value when the similarity satisfies the condition. |
| US08041715B2 |
Sponsored search results re-ranking based on linking associations
A computer-implemented system and methods of re-ranking sponsored search results by a search engine in response to a search query include: retrieving one or more organic search results and a plurality of sponsored search results (“search results”), along with their respective rankings, associated with a search query; determining a degree of association between each sponsored search result and the other search results through analyzing web links between the search results and other web documents to or from which the search results are at least indirectly linked; calculating a clustering score for each sponsored search result based on their respective degrees of linking association; generating a new ranking score for each sponsored search result based on their respective clustering scores and rankings; and re-ranking, and storing in memory, the plurality of sponsored search results based on the new ranking scores of each respective sponsored search result. |
| US08041714B2 |
Filter chains with associated views for exploring large data sets
In an embodiment, a filter chain object comprising an association of a starting set of data items and two or more filter links is created and stored in computer memory. Each of the filter links comprises a component object that associates a set operation and a membership criterion. Each of the filter links is associated with a particular filter view among a plurality of filter views. Each particular filter view comprises a graphical representation of a state of applying the membership criterion of the associated filter link to a subset of data resulting from filtering the starting set of data items according to zero or more preceding filter links. |
| US08041713B2 |
Systems and methods for analyzing boilerplate
Systems and methods for analyzing boilerplate are described. In one described system, an indexer identifies a common element in a plurality of related articles. The indexer then classifies the common element as boilerplate. For example, the indexer may identify a copyright notice appearing in a plurality of related articles. The copyright notice in these articles is considered boilerplate. |
| US08041712B2 |
System and method for automatically selecting a data source for providing data related to a query
A computer-implemented method of prioritizing a predefined set of electronic data sources includes the steps of electronically determining data sources in which at least one of one or more source fields is the same as a query data item of a query statement, electronically and dynamically ranking the data sources in which at least one of the one or more source fields is the same as the query data item based on at least the ability of the data sources to provide data at one or more query dimensions of the query statement and the extent of aggregation necessary to provide the data, and electronically identifying one or more of the data sources having the highest rank as preferred data sources for locating the data value. |
| US08041709B2 |
Domain collapsing of search results
Systems, methods, computer-readable media, and graphical user interfaces for presenting search results having collapsed domains are provided. A search result obtaining module obtains search results based upon a received query. Upon obtaining the search results, search results having the same domain are associated with one another. Thereafter, search result clusters of associated search results are formed. In some embodiments, the search result clusters may be formatted to include desired search result cluster attributes. The search result clusters are presented such that two or more associated search results form a single cluster of search results rather than being presented individually. In some embodiments, an option to view more search results with the same domain may be provided. |
| US08041708B2 |
Optimizing execution of database queries containing user-defined functions
A query engine (or optimizer) which supports database queries having user-defined functions maintains historical execution data with respect to each of multiple user-defined functions. The historical execution data is dynamically updated based on query execution performance. When executing a query having user-defined functions, the query engine uses the historical execution data to predict an optimal evaluation ordering for the query conditions and, preferably, to dynamically adjust the evaluation order when appropriate. Preferably, the historical execution data includes historical execution time of the user-defined function and proportion of evaluated records which satisfied the query parameters. |
| US08041703B2 |
Agent for identifying domains with content arranged for display by a mobile device
A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed for providing a single source for searchable content by mobile devices. Mobile user agents crawl host sites to determine whether there is content that may be viewed by any of the mobile user agents. If files are identified as viewable for a given mobile user agent, the site is tagged as crawlable. A best mobile user agent may also be identified for that site, based on number of files viewable, response time, file mobileness, or the like. The sites may be discovered by instrumentation of URLs with mobile device keywords, performing a backlink analysis to discover interlinking of mobile device related sites, exploring URLs of a known host name for potential starting points for mobile device sites, or employing a list of known popular conventional sites with a mobile user agent for possible redirections to a potential mobile device web site. |
| US08041701B2 |
Enhanced graphical interfaces for displaying visual data
Techniques and implementations for providing enhanced functionality for handling data in Internet browsers or other applications used for accessing data over a network, including providing thumbnail image displays of the current appearance of webpages referenced by URLs returned in a set of search results, providing thumbnail image displays of the webpages referenced by a list of favorite or bookmarked websites, providing thumbnail image displays of webpages which have been blocked from appearing on a user's screen, and providing thumbnail image displays of images which have been extracted from webpages and stored for potential future use. |
| US08041700B2 |
Content item retrieval based on a free text entry
A method and apparatus for textual searching of a database is provided herein. During operation a user will input a letter into a search engine. The search engine will score words based on the letter and display results of the highest-scored words. Another letter will again be received and the process repeated. In situations where titles are returned to the user, additional steps of associating the words with a title and scoring the title take place. The highest-scored titles are provided to the user as the displayed results. |
| US08041696B2 |
Idea tracking and management
Disclosure is related to idea tracking and management. The disclosure invokes a method and system for displaying and tracking ideas from a database. The invention accesses a data repository via a data connection, displays the data from the data repository, and allows the displayed data to be characterized as scheduling data, statistical data, action items, current status, and listing of individuals. |
| US08041693B2 |
Storing image data in and retrieving image data from memory in print controlling system
A method to control a computer is provided. The computer executes steps of designating the image data file, generating locator information to indicate a location of a corresponding storage folder based on a unique identification of the image data file, and creating the corresponding storage folder having the locator information, which indicates a location of the storage folder, as a folder name. Also, the computer may execute steps including making a copy of the designated image data file having the unique identification and the file name, storing the copied image data file in the corresponding storage folder created in the creating step, and deleting the copied image data file and the corresponding storage folder created in the creating step when the designation of the image data file is invalidated. |
| US08041691B2 |
Acquiring locks in wait mode in a deadlock free manner
Techniques for a data definition language (DDL) statement acquiring a lock on a table in wait mode in a deadlock free manner are provided. A DDL statement specifies metadata of a table that is to be modified, whereas a data manipulation language (DML) statement specifies a table to be modified. When a DDL statement is received, a proxy statement is initiated and executed instead of first acquiring an exclusive lock on metadata of a particular table. The proxy statement is similar to a DML statement in that the proxy statement acquires a lock on the particular table. After the proxy statement has been processed, an exclusive lock on the metadata is acquired. |
| US08041689B2 |
Flexible LDAP templates
Template entries are added to a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (“LDAP”)-accessible database, containing attributes that affect new records added to the database, attributes returned in response to an LDAP query, and records identified through an LDAP search operation. Static and dynamic attributes are discussed. |
| US08041688B2 |
Data search device, data search method, and recording medium
A data search device to extract relevant data matching a specified requirement from multiple pieces of data to be searched stored in a database. The data search device includes a specified requirement data acquisition unit to acquire specified requirement data including the specified requirement, a data extraction unit to extract the relevant data based on the specified requirement data, an extracted data counter to count a number of pieces of the relevant data for each piece of classification data provided for the data to be searched, a display data generation unit to generate data to display the number of pieces of the relevant data counted for each piece of classification data on a coordinate space based on the classification data, and a positional data storage unit to store positional data including coordinates for specifying a position in the coordinate space and the classification data associated with the coordinates. |
| US08041686B2 |
Database contention and deadlock detection and reduction within application servers
A method in a data processing system for detecting and reducing database contention and deadlock caused from within an application server. A determination is made as to whether a set of parameters in a statistical model indicates contention. If the set of parameters in the statistical model indicates contention, an application server administrator is notified of the contention and the number of threads in an application server pool is reduced. If the set of parameters in the statistical model indicates contention is reduced, the number of threads in the application server pool is increased. |
| US08041684B2 |
Techniques for determining an implemented data protection policy
Described are techniques for determining an implemented data protection policy. One or more recovery points corresponding to each of one or more storage objects are determined. A data protection method determined in accordance with a facility and replication type associated with each recovery point is selected for each of the one or more recovery points. A data protection category for each of the one or more recovery points is determined in accordance with the data protection method, a recovery point type, and a recovery point location associated with each recovery point. A data protection policy indicating an implemented data protection policy for each of the one or more storage objects for at least one data protection category is stored. |
| US08041683B1 |
Methods and apparatus for locating network logs
A log collection utility (LCU) operable in a storage area network (SAN) to identify the various types of log files generated in the SAN computes the location of each of the log files, and collects the log files for consolidation and analysis in a common repository. The LCU periodically collects and/or processes the log files by enumerating the location of each of the log files in a log file designator, and generates a script operable for identifying each of the log files sought. A resulting task definition file lists each of the log files identified. The log collection utility therefore finds log files generated by dissimilar applications and nodes in the SAN via a log type definition that enumerates each of the log files in a manner that is agnostic to operating systems, platforms, and directory structures around which the log files are written and stored. |
| US08041681B2 |
Method for performing a backup by querying a backup infrastructure
One aspect of the invention is a method for backing up data. An example of the method includes querying a backup infrastructure to ascertain backup capabilities of the backup infrastructure. This example also may include broadcasting the capabilities of the backup infrastructure, wherein the capabilities are broadcasted by the backup infrastructure. This example also includes determining if the backup infrastructure supports a desired backup type. If the backup infrastructure supports a desired backup type, this example may also include performing a backup of data using the desired backup type. |
| US08041679B1 |
Synthetic differential backups creation for a database using binary log conversion
Creating a synthetic database backup using binary logs. A full backup of a database may be stored, followed by one or more incremental backups. The one or more incremental backups may include first binary log files. A first synthetic differential backup may be created using the first binary log files. Creating the first synthetic differential backup may include translating the first binary log files into a first plurality of SQL statements. The first plurality of SQL statements may be executable to recreate the changes in the database since the full backup. Translating each of the first binary log files into the first plurality of SQL statements may be performed before performing a recovery process to decrease recovery time. |
| US08041671B2 |
Method and system for providing a homogeneous view of a distributed common information model (CIM) within a heterogeneous virtual system environment
A method and system for providing a homogeneous view of a distributed common information model (CIM) within a heterogeneous virtual system environment is disclosed. The virtual system environment includes local and remote host systems, each of which includes a CIM Object Model (CIMOM) and a CIM repository of provider applications. The method includes selecting one of the CIMOMs to serve as a single access point to the CIMOMs for all client requests and configuring provider applications of the selected CIMOM to communicate with non-selected CIMOMs. The configuration includes using a discovery or registration process to identify all of the local and remote host systems in the virtual system environment and provide access points between the provider applications of the selected CIMOM and the hosts. In response to a client request, the selected CIMOM uses the access points to retrieve, aggregate, and forward the information to a client application as a homogeneous view. |
| US08041669B2 |
Topical sentiments in electronically stored communications
The present application presents methods for performing topical sentiment analysis on electronically stored communications employing fusion of polarity and topicality. The present application also provides methods for utilizing shallow NLP techniques to determine the polarity of an expression. The present application also provides a method for tuning a domain-specific polarity lexicon for use in the polarity determination. The present application also provides methods for computing a numeric metric of the aggregate opinion about some topic expressed in a set of expressions. |
| US08041667B2 |
Method and system to manage multiple party rewards using a single account and artificial intelligence
A system for managing an account having at least one sub-account, including: a memory element, a processor, and an interface element for at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer. The memory element stores a transaction history for the account, an incentive previously offered to the account, and an artificial intelligence program (AIP). The transaction history includes at least one transaction involving the main account or sub-accounts from the at least one sub-account. The processor is for: comparing the transaction history with a metric; generating, using the comparison of the transaction history with the metric, a desired transaction involving the account and a business entity; and modifying the incentive using the AIP and the comparison of the transaction history with the metric. Rewarding of the modified incentive is conditional upon execution of the desired transaction. The interface element is for transmitting the desired transaction and the modified incentive. |
| US08041661B2 |
System and method for determining stability of a neural system
Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer-readable media for determining stability of a neural system. The method includes tracking a function world line of an N element neural system within at least one behavioral space, determining whether the tracking function world line is approaching a psychological stability surface, and implementing a quantitative solution that corrects instability if the tracked function world line is approaching the psychological stability surface. |
| US08041660B2 |
Optimizing traffic predictions and enhancing notifications
Travel-demand forecasting methods are described for predicting traffic volume based, at least in part, on user-entered data in the form of origin/destination data pairs, user preferences, demographic data and other types of socioeconomic data. This data can source a prediction algorithm or be used to calibrate or more make accurate a current algorithm. Methods and systems are described for, among other things, optimizing traffic predictions, forecasting traffic patterns using user-assigned trip patterns, associating rich attribute information to navigation routes, exposing personal-logistic information to a group, communicating traffic-situation-generated alerts based on user information, optimizing a presentation of user-defined traffic routes, and presenting location indications based on proximity (temporal or geographical). |
| US08041658B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product for adaptively learning user preferences for smart services
A method, system, and computer program product are described for adaptively learning user preferences for smart services. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for adaptively learning user preferences for smart services includes modeling an availability of a subscriber for responding to an event associated with a service in terms subscriber context information available to determine a current situation of the subscriber related to the service, the subscriber context information based on private information of the subscriber. The availability of the subscriber for responding to the event is determined using a probability value associated with at least a portion of the subscriber context information. The probability value associated with the portion of the subscriber context information is updated based on feedback received from the subscriber in response to being presented a response to the event. |
| US08041657B1 |
Systems and methods for providing digital works based on user preferences
A method for providing digital works based on user preferences is described. Data associated with a plurality of digital works is analyzed. The plurality of digital works are classified based on the data analysis and on a first list and on a second list. The first list includes preferred words, and the second list includes non-preferred words. One or more digital works from the plurality of digital works are transmitted. The one or more digital works transmitted were classified as works to be transmitted using the first list. |
| US08041655B2 |
Otoacoustic protection in biologically-inspired systems
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments an autonomic unit transmits an otoacoustic signal to counteract a potentially harmful incoming signal. |
| US08041652B2 |
Measuring web site satisfaction of information needs using page traffic profile
A method, system, and computer program product for measuring web site satisfaction of information needs are provided. The method includes: selecting a page for analysis; generating a page profile in the form of a list of keywords representing the page; generating a page traffic profile in the form of lists of keywords representing information needs of users, wherein the page traffic profile is generated from keywords used by users to visit the page; determining the success of users' visits to the page; and analyzing whether a page satisfies users' information needs by applying a distance measure between the keywords of the page profile and the keywords of the page traffic profile and combining the distance measure result with a success rate of the keywords. |
| US08041651B2 |
Method for extracting spatial knowledge from an input signal using computational manifolds
A processor architecture for a learning machine is presented which uses a massive array of processing elements having local, recurrent connections to form global associations between functions defined on manifolds. Associations between these functions provide the basis for learning cause-and-effect relationships involving vision, audition, tactile sensation and kinetic motion. Two arbitrary input signals hold each other in place in a manifold association processor and form the basis of short-term memory. |
| US08041650B2 |
Method and system for directed documentation of construction projects
Methods and systems for directed creation of construction documentation are provided. Example embodiments provide a Directed Documentation System (a “DDS”), which directs, in a computer-assisted manner, the creation of a historical record of a portion or an entire construction project. In one embodiment, the DDS comprises a directed construction data organization process/component, a directed documentation data acquisition process/component, a construction documentation data retrieval process/component, and a construction documentation data distribution process/component. These components cooperate to direct the documentation of a construction project in a manner that insures that all desired aspects of the project are documented thoroughly and uniformly. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US08041637B1 |
Systems and methods for automated payment processing
Apparatus and methods to process loss payments are described herein. In one example, an apparatus includes one or more data stores, a rules engine, an audit engine and a payment engine. In another example, the method may include receiving a notice of loss, deriving a payee, processing one or more rules using the information, determining whether an automatic payment can be made and transferring funds if the automatic payment can be made. In a further example, the method may include receiving a notice of loss, the loss having one or more exposures, processing one or more rules for each of the exposures in parallel, determining if an automatic payment can be made for each of the exposures and removing the automatic payment for an exposure if it can not be made while continuing processing payments for the remaining exposures. |
| US08041636B1 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically determining insurance coverage
A method and apparatus for monitoring and dynamically adjusting insurance coverage tracks new personal and/or business property purchases and alerts a concerned party, such as the insured or the insurer, to the potential need for updating insurance coverage in light of the new personal and/or business property purchases. |
| US08041631B1 |
Secure bidding system and method
Secure image bidding system process for financial transactions, including structured investment products, escrows and interest rate swaps. Some embodiments provide a secure image bidding system and process for image-based bid transmissions where each of a plurality of bids received by the system is encrypted and held in a digital “Vault” until the specified end of the bid period, at which time a package containing the encrypted bids, a log of server activity, and a digital checksum of the original bid file is sent via electronic mail to the bid broker and other participants. A second electronic mail message is sent to the bid broker and other participants containing the decryption key. During the bid process, no party has access to the bid information and there is no human interaction in the receipt, conversion to image, encryption, storage or conveyance of compiled information. |
| US08041629B2 |
System and method of implementing massive early terminations of long term financial contracts
A method of and system for terminating or assigning outstanding OTC derivative transactions between a plurality of financial institutions (banks). The system comprises: a processing station arranged to receive transaction data describing a plurality of transactions from a plurality of banks via the Internet. The processing station comprises: a linking module for linking different versions of the same transaction received from different parties to that transaction; an analysis module for determining a set of linked transactions between a plurality of different banks, wherein each bank has debts and claims towards other banks in the set; a calculation module arranged to calculate an aggregated value of each set of linked transactions and select the set of linked transactions which has an aggregated value within bank-specified tolerance limits acceptable for executing a termination; and an execution module for executing a termination or assignment of the selected set of linked transactions. |
| US08041627B2 |
System and method for identifying spectrum with transferable access rights
Transferring spectrum use rights may include ascertaining information regarding available spectrum for use in wireless communications. A request for spectrum use from a spectrum user system may be matched with available spectrum. A spectrum certificate may be issued to the spectrum user system, where the spectrum certificate contains at least one spectrum-related variable under which the spectrum user system is to engage in wireless communications. |
| US08041622B1 |
System and method for randomizing orders in an electronic trading environment
When a trading application on a client terminal receives a trade order, a randomizer application may automatically randomize one or more order parameters to generate a randomized order. For example, an order quantity, a price level, and/or a time period between sending any two consecutive orders may be randomized. The randomized order is then automatically placed on the market. |
| US08041621B2 |
Automated ticket selling system having a maximum price setting
According to the present invention, a buyer may submit a listing containing a description of an item desired to be purchased, such as an airline ticket, to an operator of an automated selling system. The automated selling system may be a server or series of servers accessible via a computer network, such as the Internet. The listing may contain a maximum price at which the buyer is willing to purchase the item. In the case of an airline ticket, the description accompanying the listing may contain a point of departure, a destination, desired flight times, number of travelers, and/or a specification of acceptable airlines. A plurality of sellers designate listings for which they submit bids to the operator. In the case where the sellers are airlines, the sellers may designate originating and destination city-pairs, a listing of available flights, a floor price for a city-pair, and a range of acceptable prices for one or more bidding rounds. The floor price applicable to a given listing determined from the highest floor price submitted by the eligible sellers for that listing. If only one seller submits a bid, and the bid is less than or equal to the price submitted by the buyer, that seller is selected to make the sale and provide the item. If there are multiple eligible sellers, the sale is awarded to a seller after a predetermined number of rounds of bidding, applying predefined system rules. |
| US08041616B2 |
Outsourced service level agreement provisioning management system and method
An outsourced service level agreement (SLA) deliverable management method includes configuring SLA client and secondary SLA provider master data, procuring a secondary SLA provider provision services network, administering a secondary SLA provider human resource network, processing an SLA client provisioning requirement, processing an SLA provisioning service voucher, and processing payment of an SLA provisioning work order. |
| US08041615B1 |
Apparatus and method for converting investment capital into publicly traded and private master limited partnerships
A method of generating income includes receiving investment capital from an investor. The investment capital is invested in publicly traded master limited partnerships to generate a revenue stream. The investment capital is also invested into a private company. The private company is subsequently converted to a master limited partnership to generate an equity gain. A portion of the revenue stream and a portion of the equity gain are distributed to the investor. |
| US08041613B2 |
Systems, applications and products in data processing for cross dock
A system, application and product in data processing is disclosed for cross-dock and direct shipment processes. A default plant on an order is changed to a new plant in another country which is the same country as a customer but a different country than a selling organization. A cross dock partner function is entered to reflect a service provider location in a destination country. The cross dock partner is not a true vendor but rather a place holder for the service provider address used by a delivering warehouse to process the order and output appropriate sales documentation. The order is processed like any other order in the system. |
| US08041610B1 |
Distributing things through personalized networks
Things are distributed through a personalized network of trusted parties specified by a member. A specific implementation of the invention is for distributing unused tickets, but the principles of the invention are applicable to other things besides tickets. A system of the invention drives or increases attendance by enabling consumers to push their seats (i.e., unused tickets) to members of a trusted network (created by the consumer themselves) rather than making the seats available for sale to the public or manually locating an interested party and transferring them. Additionally, the system performs the time consuming work of contacting members of the trusted network to find out if they are interested in using the tickets for a particular event while receiving and recording their responses. |
| US08041604B1 |
Method of embedding advertisements in communication
A system and method for advertising wherein a communication from a sending party to a receiving party includes one or more advertisements. Such communication could include one or more of an email, a voice mail, a voice communication (i.e. a telephone call or internet based telephony communication), a facsimile message, a pager message, or any other suitable electronic communication. In a preferred embodiment, the communication is an email sent from a sending party to a receiving party, wherein the email includes an advertisement for a product or service used by the sending party. Such advertisement could include a “testimonial” from the sending party, who's credibility is established with the receiving party. In another preferred embodiment, the advertisement could be for a software program installed and operated on a computer system used by the sending party. The advertisement is included in the email message of the sending party as a result of an election made by the sending party during installation of the software program. The advertisements can be structured in a multi-level marketing type organization including trusted and credible reporting systems to account for each participant's advertising efforts. |
| US08041603B2 |
System and method for reimbursing merchants for redeemed electronic coupons
A system and method are provided for reimbursing merchants for coupons used by the customers of those merchants is disclosed. Pursuant to the Present Invention, a Coupon Data File is prepared, identifying the products potentially subject to coupons and/or incentives, and the nature of the associated discount. A Transaction Log Data File is also prepared, describing one or more purchase transactions undertaken by consumers. Finally, a Transaction Log Processor analyzes the transaction log data, compares the information in the Transaction Log Data File with information in the Coupon Data File and tabulates coupons redeemed by consumers during the transactions associated with the information in the Transaction Log Data. |
| US08041602B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a reverse frequency cap in advertisement viewing
Systems and methods relate to frequency of advertisement viewing on the Internet, and more specifically to controlling advertisement viewings by a person during an advertising cycle. A probability of return for a customer is evaluated and an advertisement is shown to the customer based on a function of at least the probability of return and a value for the return. Once the customer has seen the advertisement a target number of times, the customer is no longer shown the advertisement. |
| US08041600B2 |
Application of brokering methods to performance characteristics
This application describes an application of resource unit brokering algorithms, chip management methods for automated brokering, chip management methods for live brokering, and chip allocation methods to the brokering of performance characteristics of service level management within an enterprise. Typically, the performance characteristics are derived from known capacity values that are provided by configuration managers. Calculations are made on the capacity values and maximum quantities of the availability resource units are provided to resource brokers for spot or periodic sale and auction to one or more buyer's agents. |
| US08041599B2 |
Method, system, and program product for selecting a brokering method for obtaining desired service level characteristics
Under the present invention, a set (e.g., one or more) of requests (e.g., from a single bidder or multiple bidders) for an elemental bidding resource (EBR) is received. Market conditions for the EBR are evaluated from historical data. It is then determined whether a demand for the desired EBR exceeds a supply of the EBR. Based on the market conditions, the supply, and the demand, a brokering strategy (e.g., auction versus non-auction) and associated method are selected to allocate the EBR. A resource unit broker (RUB) will then determine an outcome of the brokering method to fulfill at least one of the set of requests. The outcome and associated metrics can then be logged, it can be determined whether a sales contract was created, the EBR can be allocated, and reports/data can be updated accordingly. |
| US08041595B2 |
Social networking system capable of notifying a user of profile updates made by the user's contacts
A networked computer system provides various services for assisting users in locating, and establishing contact relationships with, other users. For example, in one embodiment, users can identify other users based on their affiliations with particular schools or other organizations. The system also provides a mechanism for a user to selectively establish contact relationships or connections with other users, and to grant permissions for such other users to view personal information of the user. The system may also include features for enabling users to identify contacts of their respective contacts. In addition, the system may automatically notify users of personal information updates made by their respective contacts. |
| US08041591B2 |
Business process operation method and system
A format conversion decision definition generating unit 104 stores information whether or not a response message format from a service unit 134 may be utilized in all later service callings of a business process without format conversion in a repository 121 as format conversion decision information 127, by referring to business process definition information 105 and adapter definition information 106. Then, when a business process operation control unit 132 executes the business process, an adapter operation control unit 133 refers to the format conversion decision information 127 about a target service 134 at the time, and skips the format conversion when information indicating that the format conversion is unnecessary is stored in the format conversion decision information 127. |
| US08041589B1 |
Organization health analysis using real-time communications monitoring
The present invention provides a communication monitoring and analysis method and system. More specifically, the present invention provides a method for determining the health and overall satisfaction of employees in an organization. The determination may be made by monitoring communications generated by employees for their tone and other parameters related to their satisfaction with various decisions made within the organization. |
| US08041587B2 |
Integrated safety management system
An integrated safety management system includes a self inspection module, an incident management module, and a hazard reporting module. A corrective action module integrates the other modules. Each module accepts data corresponding to events or actions, accepts and displays completion indicators, and accepts and displays corrective action indicators. |
| US08041586B2 |
Shared space availability by dynamically responding to user utilization behavior of shared space
The present invention discloses a solution for improving shared space availability by dynamically responding user utilization behavior of shared space. In the system, automated sensors within a shared space can be used to detect when spaces are in use. Sensors such as motion detectors, infrared sensors, cameras, and the like can correlate space usage to a reservation system. When a space is reserved by a user, the system can verify space occupancy according to the reservation. If the space is unoccupied and the reservation time has not expired, the space can be automatically freed. If the excess time before reservation expiration is more than a threshold value (e.g., fifteen minutes) the system can penalize the user. Penalties can be applied for users that do not utilize reservations. |
| US08041584B2 |
Method and system for patient risk level evaluation
A method for patient risk level evaluation is provided, implemented with a remote medical care center. The remote medical care center connects with a plurality of health care locations at various locations over a network. Patient data of a plurality of patients is received from the plurality of health care locations via the network. An occurred event for each patient is determined, and each of the occurred events is classified into deteriorating or ameliorating category. The patients corresponding to the same events are sorted into a group, and the patients within the group are ranked according to severity of illness of each patient. A risk score for each patient is determined according to the corresponding event. Patient ranking orders corresponding to the events of the deteriorating and the ameliorating category are generated and displayed. |
| US08041582B2 |
System and apparatus for medical error monitoring
An apparatus and system for providing improved monitoring errors in a medical setting. The apparatus includes a storage medium, display and scanner that allow medical personnel to quickly and reliably track and monitor samples collected from patients, such as information about the type, location, and timing of a collected sample. An unable to complete function labels incompletely collected samples or otherwise notifies the processing facility. Label sets and/or messages are generated to guide medical personnel when performing orders. Errors are linked to collection events for variance tracking. Temporary identifier labels are generated for containers and such when no order is pending. Order of draw procedures are communicated to medical personnel at the collection site. |
| US08041579B2 |
Method, system and article of manufacture, such as a card, to provide user selectable medical information and information to obtain eligibility of healthcare payments
An article of manufacture, such as a credit card sized health card having a magnetic strip, includes user selected medical information and/or information to obtain medical information of an individual and eligibility of healthcare payments in an embodiment. A user may customize the medical information displayed on the health card. In an embodiment, a method obtains and stores medical information in a machine-readable format. An interface to select a portion of the medical information is provided to a user. In response to a user selection, the portion is displayed on a substrate, such as the health card, and the medical information is accessed by information, such as a URL, user identifier and password, recorded in a machine-readable format on the substrate. In an embodiment, a system includes a healthcare provider processing device obtaining eligibility information from the health card and generating an eligibility request to an entity processing device that forwards the eligibility request to a payer processing device. An eligibility response from the payer processing device is then provided to the healthcare provider processing device via the entity processing device. In an embodiment, medical information in a paper format is faxed using a unique user identifier and password and categorized into a machine-readable format. |
| US08041577B2 |
Method for expanding audio signal bandwidth
A method expands a bandwidth of an audio signal by determining a magnitude time-frequency representation |G(ω, t) for example audio signals g(t). A set of frequency marginal probabilities PG(ω|z) 221 are estimated from |G(ω, t)|, and a magnitude time-frequency representation |X(ω, t)| is determined from an input signal audio signal x(t). Probabilities P(z), PX(z) and PX(t|z) are determined using PG(ω|z)|X(ω, t)|. |Ŷ(ω, t)| is reconstructed according to PzPX(z)PG(ω|z)PX(t|z), and |Ŷ(ω, t)| is transformed to a time domain to obtain a high-quality output audio signal ŷ(t) corresponding to the input audio signal x(t). |
| US08041575B2 |
System and method for enabling voice driven interactions among multiple IVR's, constituting a voice workflow
A method for enabling voice driven interactions among multiple interactive voice response (IVR) systems begins by receiving a telephone call from a user of a first IVR system to begin a transaction; and, automatically contacting, by the first IVR system, at least one additional IVR system. Specifically, the contacting of the additional IVR system includes assigning tasks to the additional IVR system. The tasks require input from the user and the additional IVR system is secure and separate from the first IVR system. Moreover, the tasks can include a transfer of currency and a transfer of local information. |
| US08041571B2 |
Application of speech and speaker recognition tools to fault detection in electrical circuits
A method and apparatus detect and localize electric faults in electrical power grids and circuit. High impedance faults are detected by analyzing data from remote sensor units deployed over the network using the algorithms of speech and speaker analysis software. This is accomplished by converting the voltage and/or current waveform readouts from the sensors into a digital form which is then transmitted to a computer located either near the sensors or at an operations center. The digitized data is converted by a dedicated software or software/hardware interface to a format accepted by a reliable and stable software solution, such as speech or speaker recognition software. The speech or speaker recognition software must be “trained” to recognize various signal patterns that either indicate or not the occurrence of a fault. The readout of the speech or speaker recognition software, if indicating a fault, is transmitted to a central processor and displayed to provide information on the most likely type of fault. Automatic or human decision is then implemented based on the generated information. |
| US08041570B2 |
Dialogue management using scripts
Representation-neutral dialogue systems and methods (“RNDS”) are described that include multi-application, multi-device spoken-language dialogue systems based on the information-state update approach. The RNDS includes representation-neutral core components of a dialogue system that provide scripted domain-specific extensions to routines such as dialogue move modeling and reference resolution, easy substitution of specific semantic representations and associated routines, and clean interfaces to external components for language-understanding (i.e., speech-recognition and parsing) and language-generation, and to domain-specific knowledge sources. The RNDS also allows seamless interaction with a community of devices. |
| US08041560B2 |
System for adaptive multi-cultural searching and matching of personal names
An automated name searching system incorporates an automatic name classifier and a multi-path architecture in which different algorithms are applied based on cultural identity of the query name. The name classifier operates with a preemptive list, analysis of morphological elements, length, and linguistic rules. A name regularizer produces a character based computational representation of the name. A pronunciation equivalent representation such as an IPA language representation, and language specific rules to generate name searching keys, are used in a first pass to eliminate database entries which are obviously not matches for the query name. The methods can also be implemented as a callable set of library routines including an intelligent preprocessor and a name evaluator that produces a score comparing a query name and database name, based on a variety of user-adjustable parameters. The user-controlled parameters permit tuning of the search methodologies for specific custom applications. |
| US08041557B2 |
Word translation device, translation method, and computer readable medium
A word translation device stores a first-language word search TRIE structure (100), a second-language word search TRIE structure (200), a first-language word information record (110), a second-language word information record (210) in a bilingual dictionary. The first-language word search TRIE structure (100) is provided for searching for words of the first language. The second-language word search TRIE structure (200) is provided for searching for words of the second language. The first-language word information record (110) includes first translation information for identifying a translation of each of the words stored in the first-language word search TRIE structure (100). The second-language word information record (210) includes second translation information for identifying a translation of each of the words stored in the second-language word search TRIE structure (200). By referring to the first and second word information records (110) and (210), word translation between the first and second languages can be performed with high precision at high speeds. |
| US08041556B2 |
Chinese to english translation tool
A Chinese to English Translation Tool (CETT) locates pre-existing translations of phrases and increases probabilities for a match by searching independently of proper nouns and Western characters. The CETT comprises an enhancement program, a search program and a display program. The CETT is adapted to access a translation database, a proper noun table, and an unmatched translation table. The translation database is a central repository of an accumulated body of translated literature. The proper noun database is a table showing the associations between English and Chinese for proper nouns. |
| US08041543B2 |
Input/output workload analysis method and system for a storage area network
A system and method of input/output (I/O) workload analysis of the components in a storage area network (SAN) are disclosed. In one embodiment, I/O workloads of components in the SAN are analyzed by determining host bus adapter (HBA) port to storage port oversubscription ratios as well as HBA port to inter-switch link (ISL) oversubscription ratios. A subset of the components for monitoring based on the HBA port to storage port oversubscription ratios and the HBA port to ISL oversubscription ratios is selected. The subset of the components is continuously monitored and the I/O statistics of the subset of the components are stored. Expected I/O workloads of the subset of the components are forecast based on current I/O workloads associated with the I/O statistics of the subset of the components and respective I/O workload threshold values of the subset of the components. |
| US08041541B2 |
Methods and apparatus for data analysis
A method and apparatus for data analysis according to various aspects of the present invention is configured to automatically identify a characteristic of a fabrication process for components based on test data for the components. |
| US08041539B2 |
Principal component analysis based fault classification
Principle Component Analysis (PCA) is used to model a process, and clustering techniques are used to group excursions representative of events based on sensor residuals of the PCA model. The PCA model is trained on normal data, and then run on historical data that includes both normal data, and data that contains events. Bad actor data for the events is identified by excursions in Q (residual error) and T2 (unusual variance) statistics from the normal model, resulting in a temporal sequence of bad actor vectors. Clusters of bad actor patterns that resemble one another are formed and then associated with events. |
| US08041537B2 |
Clock duty cycle measurement with charge pump without using reference clock calibration
Embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for clock duty cycle measurement. A clock signal and a complement of the clock signal are provided to a charge pump during first and second predetermined timing windows. A charge pump is operable to generate first and second output voltages in response to the clock signal and the complement of the clock signal during the first and second timing windows, respectively. In addition a predetermined positive voltage and a ground voltage are applied to the charge pump during predetermined third and fourth timing windows, respectively. The charge pump is operable to generate third and fourth output voltage signals corresponding to the predetermined positive and ground voltages during the third and fourth timing windows, respectively. The first, second, third and fourth voltages are then used to calculate the duty cycle of the clock. |
| US08041532B2 |
Method for information processing, information processing apparatus, and computer program for information processing
In a measured-value converting process, a shape-condition converting process and an absolute coordinate system converting process (S16) are performed on a value measured by a sensor. In the shape-condition converting process, when a mobile terminal has a shape 1 and shape 2, the converting process is not performed (S12 and S13). When the mobile terminal has a shape 3, a converting process of rotating through 180° around YS axis is performed (S14). Moreover, when the mobile terminal has a shape 4, a converting process of rotating through 180° around ZS axis (S15) is performed. Therefore, even in an information processing apparatus of which a shape changes, a sensor which detects a movement of the information processing apparatus can be used as an input device, irrespective of the shape. |
| US08041531B2 |
Burn-in test apparatus
A burn-in test apparatus and a semiconductor device using the same are disclosed. The burn-in test apparatus includes a flag signal generating unit configured to receive an external input signal and an external address externally inputted for a burn-in test and generate a flag signal, and a burn-in test unit configured to receive the flag signal, generate a toggled output enable signal, and drive an input/output line to toggle a signal on the input/output line. |
| US08041527B2 |
System and method for translating variation information between computer 3D variation models and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing callouts
Systems and methods are disclosed for consistently translating or converting between geometric dimensioning and tolerancing information and variation parameters for a three dimensional variation analysis tool. The methods and systems may receive geometric dimensioning and tolerancing information; translate, with a computer, the received geometric dimensioning and tolerancing information into variation parameters for a three dimensional variation analysis tool; and output the variation parameters. |
| US08041525B2 |
Substrate measuring method, computer-readable recording medium recording program thereon, and substrate measuring system
In the present invention, for measurement of line widths, for example, at 36 locations within a substrate processed in a coating and developing treatment system, the 36 measurement points are divided and, for example, six substrates are used to measure the line widths at all of measurement points. In this event, the line widths at six measurement points are measured in each of the substrate, which exist in substrate regions different for each substrate. Then, the measurement results of the line widths at the measurement points of the substrates are combined, so that the line widths at 36 measurement points are finally detected. According to the present invention, the measurements of product substrates can be performed without decreasing the throughput of processing of the product substrates. |
| US08041518B2 |
Determining die test protocols based on process health
A method includes receiving a first set of parameters associated with a subset of a plurality of die on a wafer. A die health metric is determined for at least a portion of the plurality of die based on the first set of parameters. The die health metric includes at least one process component associated with the fabrication of the die and at least one performance component associated with an electrical performance characteristic of the die. At least one of the die is tested. A protocol of the testing is determined based on the associated die health metric. |
| US08041517B2 |
Spatio-temporal and context-based indexing and representation of subterranean networks and means for doing the same
Systems, methods and devices for indexing, archiving, analyzing and reporting pipe and other void network data. Specifically, multi-dimensional indexing and correlation of spatial, temporal, feature, environmental, uncertainty and/or context-based data is synchronized, indexed and analyzed across a wide variety of pipe networks at various times. The present invention preferably includes data represented at several different levels of reference including: referenced to the sensor with which it was collected; referenced to the robot or platform upon which the sensor is attached; and the world. The structure and functionality of the system provides for extensive querying, trouble-shooting and predictive analysis for pipe networks. |
| US08041512B2 |
Method of acquiring a set of specific elements for discriminating sequence
To provide a method of accurately and efficiently acquiring a candidate for a set of discrimination elements for identification. Provided is a method of acquiring a set of specific elements on a specific sequence for discriminating the specific sequence from a number of sequences, including the steps of acquiring a group of alignment data in which each of the number of sequences is subjected to alignment processing, and acquiring a set of elements capable of discriminating the specific sequence through computational processing on the group of alignment data. |
| US08041509B2 |
System and method of addressing nonlinear relative motion for collision probability using parallelepipeds
Collision probability analysis for spherical objects exhibiting linear relative motion is accomplished by combining covariances and physical object dimensions at the point of closest approach. The resulting covariance ellipsoid and hardbody are projected onto the plane perpendicular to relative velocity by assuming linear relative motion and constant positional uncertainty throughout the brief encounter. Collision potential is determined from the object footprint on the projected, two-dimensional, covariance ellipse. To accommodate nonlinear motion in accordance with the disclosed embodiments, the dimension associated with relative velocity is reintroduced by segmenting the collision tube volume into a plurality of mitered tube sections modeled as bundles of parallelepipeds in Mahalanobis space. Disclosed embodiments compute the probability of each parallelepiped as the combined object passes through the space, and sums. The method is not dependent on a specific motion propagator and is designed to handle any object shape by using pixel files of the object images. |
| US08041508B2 |
Navigation apparatus and method for monitoring vehicle safety
A navigation apparatus including a central processing unit, an imaging module, a GPS module, a tire pressure monitoring module, and a storage module is provided. The imaging module captures an image signal. The central processing unit controls the imaging module to capture the image signal for generating image data, and further stores the image data in the storage module. The central processing unit executes the electronic map software stored in the storage module and receives the positional data generated by the GPS module for generating route guidance. The central unit receives the digital tire pressure signal received by the tire pressure monitoring module to generate tire pressure data and further identifies whether or not the tire pressure data is in compliance with a safety value. |
| US08041507B2 |
Meter support structure
A meter support structure for a vehicle includes a leg portion of a meter stay that is joined to a top bracket disposed on an upper end of a steering shaft by way of a mounting portion at a lower end portion of the leg portion. An upper portion of the meter stay is bent rearwardly to form a meter support portion. The meter support portion extends to an area upward of the top bracket and a meter is mounted thereon. The meter is then fitted with a meter cover. A pressure contact portion extends downwardly from a trailing end of the meter support portion. A rubber cushion mounted to the pressure contact portion is pressed up against a receiver member fixed to a side of the top bracket. Support stiffness is thereby enhanced and vibration-proof support is thereby provided. |
| US08041497B2 |
Fuel based engine operation control
Methods are provided for operating an engine with a variable fuel blend in a cylinder, where the variable fuel blend varies a peak achievable engine torque for a given operating condition. One example method comprises selectively operating an engine actuator that affects engine torque and engine fuel economy at the given operating condition, and extending operation of the actuator to higher engine torques as a peak engine torque for the given operating condition increases. |
| US08041493B2 |
Cruise control device and method for controlling the running of a vehicle
A cruise control device and method for controlling a vehicle such that the driver can set the speed setting at will, and the speed of the vehicle is controlled to match the speed setting. The speed limit for the road on which the vehicle is traveling is detected, and when the detected speed limit changes from a first speed limit to a second speed limit, the speed setting is selectively changed to the second speed limit. When the driver has performed an operation to change the speed setting before the detected speed limit changes from the first speed limit to the second speed limit, changing of the speed setting to the second speed limit is selectively suppressed. |
| US08041491B2 |
Reconfigurable structure method of estimating vehicle lateral velocity
A system, method and computer program product is provided for estimating the lateral velocity of a vehicle. The method comprises providing a plurality of estimation structures, each estimation structure corresponding to one of a plurality of dynamic regions in which a vehicle may operate, determining in which of the plurality of dynamic regions the vehicle is operating to identify a first dynamic region, and generating a first regional lateral velocity estimation from a first estimation structure corresponding to the first dynamic region. |
| US08041480B2 |
Apparatus for estimating yaw rate
A future yaw rate γ(t) is estimated according to a current yaw rate γ(t) and a steering angular velocity. As compared with directly detecting the yaw rate γ(t) from a vehicle body, calculating the yaw rate γ(t) from a steering operation can attain a yaw rate having a phase advanced by a time lag Δt, whereby the future yaw rate γ(t) can be estimated accurately. |
| US08041475B2 |
Electric parking brake system and method for controlling the same
An electric parking brake system includes an electric parking brake mechanism that includes a brake which suppresses rotation of a wheel and an electric motor which applies or releases the brake, and that maintains a vehicle at a standstill while the brake is applied. A parking switch selectively outputs an application command for applying the brake and a release command for releasing the brake in response to an operation of an operating portion for the parking switch. A parking switch malfunction determination unit determines whether the parking switch malfunctions, and a parking brake automatic control unit automatically applies the brake by operating the electric motor when an ignition switch of the vehicle is turned off in response to an operation of an operating portion for the ignition switch, in a case where the parking switch malfunction determination unit determines that the parking switch malfunctions. |
| US08041473B2 |
Method and system for assisting steering and mooring alongside of vessels
A method and a system for assisting steering and mooring alongside of vessels that enables operators to easily obtain physical relationship between two vessels and the states of mooring lines and fenders when the operators lay the two vessels aboard and moors them alongside for loading cargoes are provided. Physical relationship between a hull of the first vessel and a hull of the second vessel is calculated in the form of numerical data based on information on a reference position of a first vessel that is detected by a first GPS receiver, information on a reference position of a second vessel that is detected by a second GPS receiver, oscillation information on the first vessel, oscillation information on the second vessel, information on a distance between the two vessels that is measured by distance measuring device, coordinate data including hull outer shape and the like against the reference position for each vessel, and air pressure data for each fender. Information on the physical relationship between the hull of said first vessel and the hull of said second vessel based on the numerical data and the state of each fender are displayed on a first display device provided for a steering room of the first vessel and a second display device provided for a steering room of the second vessel by means of animation. |
| US08041472B2 |
Positioning device, and navigation system
A positioning device that detects a position of a mobile body with a radio navigation positioning unit includes: first and second autonomous sensors obtaining behavioral information on the mobile body; a position detecting unit obtaining an estimated position and an estimated direction by updating a detection result based on the behavioral information from the first autonomous sensor; a map data positioning unit that refers to a map data storage unit based on the estimated position and obtains a map data linked position at a predetermined distance away from a link; a direction detecting unit obtaining a cumulative estimated direction by updating the detection result based on the behavioral information from the second autonomous sensor; and a most probable position estimating unit estimating the position of the mobile body from the estimated positions and directions using the Kalman filter. |
| US08041471B2 |
Vertical take-off and landing aircraft and vertical take-off and landing aircraft control method
A vertical take-off and landing aircraft that includes AC motors, which drive fans that propel the aircraft, and a control device for controlling the AC motors adaptively based on a thrust control amount from an attitude controller. In particular, the drive controller performs switching to convert DC from a power source to three-phase AC at a predetermined frequency to be supplied to the AC motors. The drive controller reduces the control frequency of the three-phase AC to be applied to the AC motor to reduce the control resolution when the flight mode is switched from a vertical flight control mode to a horizontal flight control mode, in which the control amount to correct the external forces is smaller. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the power loss in the controller and thus the power consumption compared to conventional vertical take-off and landing aircrafts, in which the control resolution is always constant. |
| US08041470B2 |
Fan operation control method and apparatus
An outside air temperature of a vehicle is detected, an operating time of a fan is set in accordance with the detected outside air temperature based on a fan operating time map, and an idle speed increase time is set in accordance with the an operating time based on an idle speed increase time map. |
| US08041469B2 |
Determining relative spatial information between vehicles
A method for determining relative spatial information between a first vehicle and a second vehicle, the method including monitoring a communication channel at the first vehicle and receiving a current communication signal sent by the second vehicle on the communication channel. The current communication signal is received at a received power level. A relative position between the first vehicle and the second vehicle is calculated. Input to the calculating includes an actual or estimated transmitted power level, and the received power level. |
| US08041466B2 |
Method for operating a wind turbine connected to a utility grid during a utility disturbance, wind turbine and wind park
The invention relates to a method for operating a wind turbine connected to a utility grid during a utility grid disturbance. The method comprises the steps of controlling active current in dependency of the frequency deviation from a reference frequency, and controlling reactive current in dependency of the voltage deviation from a reference voltage. The invention also relates to a wind turbine and wind park. |
| US08041465B2 |
Voltage control at windfarms
A voltage control arrangement for a system of multiple windfarms with transmission lines. Voltage is regulated at a point of regulation on the system, such as a high voltage substation or other system bus. Regulation is achieved at the point of regulation by sensing the voltage, comparing to a reference voltage, and adjusting the reactive power output of the wind turbines and other equipment in the system. The regulation point may be shifted to another point if needed to respect voltage limits at that points of the system after attempting to shift reactive load to restore voltage within limits at the other points in the system. The reference voltage may be adjusted to minimize losses for the system of multiple windfarms and transmission lines. A loss optimizing algorithm is applied to the combined multiple windfarm and transmission line to shift reactive load among local windfarms to minimize losses and to shift reactive load among individual wind turbines within an individual windfarm. |
| US08041462B2 |
System and method for controlling hydronic systems having multiple sources and multiple loads
A method and system for designing and controlling a hydronic apparatus. In one aspect of the invention, the system includes a computing device having a first receiver that receives input data, in which the input data includes environmental data and hydronic apparatus data. The computing device also includes a first processor that communicates with the first receiver. The first processor processes the received input data into configuration data that includes a hydronic apparatus layout. The hydronic apparatus layout indicates a plurality of hydronic components and fluid connections between the hydronic components. The computing device also includes a transmitter that transmits the configuration data. The system also includes a controller that has a stored set of rules and a second receiver that receives the configuration data. The controller includes a second processor that processes the received configuration data to correlate the configuration data with the default rules and select a corresponding subset of the set of default rules. |
| US08041458B2 |
Robot
To provide a robot whose degree of freedom of design is not limited, and which has simple structure and further reduces load of an actuator of a neck part, the present invention provides a robot at least including a head part, a body part, and a neck link which connects the head part and the body part, wherein a surrounding object distance measurement means is provided adjacently to the neck link and in an upper portion of the body part between the head part and the body part, and a distance scanning field of the surrounding object distance measurement means is provided in parallel with a horizontal plane. |
| US08041454B2 |
Automated business system and method of vending and returning a consumer product
System and method of dispensing disc-based media and other consumer products. A user can interact with an automated business system to select disc-based media for rental and/or purchase. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the interior of the automated business system and dispense the selection through a port to the user. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the port in a return process. |
| US08041453B2 |
Method and apparatus for defining and utilizing product location in a vending machine
In accordance with one embodiment, a vending machine comprises a plurality of receptacles for holding units of products, each receptacle operable to hold a respective plurality of units in a series. The vending machine further comprises a dispensing mechanism operable to dispense, from each receptacle, a first unit in the respective plurality of units, the dispensing mechanism thereby being operable to dispense only a first unit from the respective series at a time. The vending machine further comprises a means for determining, for a unit, information allowing a relationship among the unit and a location of the unit in the receptacle to be determined. |
| US08041443B2 |
Surface defect data display and management system and a method of displaying and managing a surface defect data
A surface defect data display and management system comprises a risk score calculation unit for calculating the magnitude of an influence a surface defect on a wafer detected by a wafer inspection system or review system has upon a reduction in the yield of a final product as a risk score of the surface defect based on a defect size of the surface defect on the wafer and a pattern concentration obtained from design data of a pattern figure nearby a location corresponding to the position of the surface defect, and a correlation graph and defect image display unit for preparing a correlation graph showing the correlation between the defect size and the risk score of each defect, displaying the prepared correlation graph on the display apparatus and displaying additionally a defect image list of one or more defects selected by using the correlation graph. |
| US08041442B2 |
Process for selecting surrogate part
A process for selecting a surrogate part for metallic plating, the metallic plating of the surrogate part predicting results for the metallic plating of a new or predetermined part is disclosed. The process can include providing a reinforcement learning system having a memory circuitry and a processing circuitry. The memory circuitry can have a database with data associated with a plurality of surrogate parts and data associated with the predetermined part can be entered into the data input module. The processing circuitry can compare the data associated with each of the plurality of surrogate parts and the data associated with the predetermined part and select a surrogate part that affords predicting a plating result of the predetermined part. |
| US08041434B2 |
Implantable medical electrical lead bodies providing improved electrode contact
A distal section of an implantable medical electrical lead body includes a pair of pre-formed arcuate segments between which an approximately straight segment extends. The approximately straight segment includes a first portion extending distally from a first of the pair pre-formed arcuate segments, a second portion extending from the first portion, a third portion extending from the second to a second of the pair pre-formed arcuate segments. An electrode is coupled to the second portion of the approximately straight segment, and the adjacent first portion has a stiffness which is less than that of the first of the pair pre-formed arcuate segments and preferably less than the stiffness of the third portion, so that, when the distal section of the lead body is implanted, for example, within a cardiac vein, the lead buckles to bring the electrode into closer contact with surrounding tissue. |
| US08041433B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging interference immune device
A wire form includes a conductor having a distal end and a proximal end. The conductor is coiled and has a predetermined spacing between adjacent coils. The predetermined spacing provides a parasitic capacitance and an inductance. The parasitic capacitance and inductance have a resonance frequency tuned to about an excitation signal's frequency of a magnetic-resonance imaging scanner. |
| US08041428B2 |
Electrical stimulation treatment of hypotension
The present invention includes methods and devices for treating hypotension, such as in cases of shock, including septic shock, anaphylactic shock and hypovolemia. The method includes the step of applying at least one electrical impulse to at least one selected region of a parasympathetic nervous system of the patient. The electrical impulse is sufficient to modulate one or more nerves of the parasympathetic nervous system to increase the ratio of blood pressure to heart rate and relieve the condition and/or extend the patient's life. |
| US08041427B2 |
Battery isolator for implantable medical device
An implantable medical device having a case with therapeutic componentry contained with the case. A module has a rail around at least a portion of a perimeter of the module and is adapted to be mechanically secured to the case. The case has a rigid fastening channel adapted to receive the rail of the module. The rigid fastening channel has an opening allowing the rail of the module to drop into the rigid fastening channel through the opening and then slide along the rigid fastening channel to be mechanically secured to the case. |
| US08041423B2 |
System and method for testing neural stimulation threshold
Various system embodiments comprise a neural stimulator, a premature ventricular contraction (PVC) event detector, a heart rate detector, an analyzer, and a controller. The neural stimulator is adapted to generate a stimulation signal adapted to stimulate an autonomic neural target. The analyzer is adapted to, in response to a PVC event signal from the PVC event detector, generate an autonomic balance indicator (ABI) as a function of pre-PVC heart rate data and post-PVC heart rate data. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein. |
| US08041422B2 |
In-body information acquiring apparatus and power-supply circuit
An in-body information acquiring apparatus includes a function executing unit that realizes a predetermined function inside a body of a patient. A power-supply circuit includes a power unit that includes a cell and that outputs a first current and a first voltage; and a converter that converts the first current to a second current, which is a current required to operate the function executing unit for a predetermined time, and converts the first voltage to a second voltage, which is a voltage required to operate the function executing unit. |
| US08041418B2 |
System and method for regulating cardiac triggered therapy to the brain
A medical device system includes a brain monitoring element, cardiac monitoring element, therapy module and a processor. The processor is configured to activate the therapy module upon detection of a cardiac event in the cardiac signal. The processor is further configured to monitor the brain signal and communicate to the therapy module to change the cardiac triggered therapeutic output to the brain based upon the brain monitoring. A method of treating a person with a neurological disorder is also provided. |
| US08041417B2 |
Method and system for dynamical systems modeling of electrocardiogram data
Electrocardiogram data is received in association with a subject, the electrocardiogram data comprising a series of RR intervals and a series of QT intervals. A first value which indicates an amount by which uncertainty associated with the QT intervals is reduced given the RR intervals is generated. A second value which indicates an amount by which uncertainty associated with the RR intervals is reduced given the QT intervals is generated. The subject is determined to be associated with a low risk of cardiac dysfunction responsive to the first value exceeding the second value and a result of the determination is provided. |
| US08041415B2 |
Ultrasonic diagnosis system and strain distribution display method
An ultrasonic diagnosis system and strain distribution display method utilizing an ultrasonic probe for performing transmission/reception of ultrasonic signals to/from a subject, a storage arrangement for storing the properties of signals detected with the ultrasonic probe, a correlation computer for calculating a correlation coefficient between the properties with and without pressure applied to the subject, and a phase difference between the received signals with and without application of pressure, based upon the properties stored in the storage arrangement with and without pressure applied to the subject, a computer for calculating a displacement of each measurement point, and a strain distribution of tissue of the subject due to application of pressure, based upon the correlation coefficient and phase difference calculated by the correlation computer, and a display for displaying the strain distribution. |
| US08041414B2 |
Dual-modality imaging
The invention relates to a dual-modality imaging system and a method for dual-modality imaging of an imaged object, wherein a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus for acquiring MRI data and at least one optical imaging detector for acquiring optical imaging data are arranged to acquire the MRI data and the optical imaging data of the imaged object (10) simultaneously, the at least one optical imaging detector being a non-contact optical imaging detector. |
| US08041410B2 |
Medical device sensing and detection during MRI
A medical device includes a sensor for sensing for an MRI gradient magnetic field and a microprocessor for responding to the detected gradient magnetic field by switching from a first electrical signal processing mode to a second electrical signal processing mode, such that electrical signals induced by the gradient magnetic field and an associated RF burst are not counted as cardiac events. |
| US08041405B2 |
Stack type mobile terminal
A stack type mobile terminal for enabling the user to easily add only a necessary option cabinet from among different types of option cabinets eliminating the need for electric connection of the user is provided.A stack type mobile terminal 100 includes a main body cabinet 110 functioning as a telephone, a plurality of option cabinets 120 stacked on the rear of the main body cabinet 110, a rotation supporting point shaft in the stack direction, provided in the option cabinet 120 for the main body cabinet 110 and the option cabinet 120 to relatively rotate, rotation supporting point holes into which the rotation supporting point shaft is inserted, and a contact mechanism for electrically connecting the cabinets when the main body cabinet 110 and the option cabinet 120 or the option cabinets 120 are positioned at a predetermined relative angle, wherein the main body cabinet 110 and the option cabinet 120 relatively rotate, whereby the function section of the option cabinet 120 can be exposed. It is made possible to stack different types of option cabinets 120 on the rear of the main body cabinet 110 selectively as many as desired. |
| US08041403B2 |
Mobile cellular device providing hybrid dynamic/static received signal measurement scheduling control and related methods
A cellular communications system may include a cellular base station and at least one mobile cellular device communicating with the cellular base station. The at least one mobile cellular device may include a receiver and a processor cooperating with the receiver for implementing a hybrid dynamic and static received signal measurement scheduling control. The processor may include a dynamic scheduler for scheduling recurring received signal measurement times, a static schedule memory for storing common data for received signal measurements, and a micro-scheduler for scheduling received signal measurements based upon the recurring received signal measurement times and the common data for received signal measurements. |
| US08041401B2 |
Personalization content sharing system and method
A method includes previously downloading, to a device of a user, media content chosen by a buddy of the user and an indication that it is to be associated with the buddy, passing the downloaded media content to the device as the media content to be associated in a contact list with the buddy and playing the media content in response to an identification of the buddy. |
| US08041400B2 |
Event display method and apparatus for mobile terminal
Disclosed is an event display method and apparatus for a mobile terminal, which displays events occurring in a mobile terminal on a multi time graphic (divided into a plurality of time graphics), thereby enabling easy checking and management of various types of events. For this, the event display method includes detecting at least one or more events in a mobile terminal, displaying a multi time graphic divided into a plurality of time graphics on a display screen, and locating the detected events on the multi time graphic. |
| US08041397B2 |
Mobile communication terminal apparatus and recording medium which records data operation process program
A mobile communication terminal apparatus having a panel used for a predetermined operation and image display and storage unit for recording various pieces of information includes a macro information setting unit, line model setting unit, macro information read unit, and macro processing unit. The macro information setting unit sets macro information which performs a series of operations. The line model setting unit sets linear line model information input from the panel for the macro information set by the macro information setting unit, and records the set line model information and macro information in the storage unit in correspondence with each other. The macro information read unit reads out, from the storage unit, macro information corresponding to line model information input from the panel. The macro processing unit executes a series of operations of the macro information read out by the macro information read unit. A recording medium which records a data operation process program is also disclosed. |
| US08041394B2 |
Methods and systems for transmitting an information signal in a multiple antenna communication system
Methods and systems are provided for transmitting a plurality of information signals in a multiple antenna communication system. One or more information signals are coded using a plurality of coders to generate the plurality of coded information signals and an Inverse Fast Fourier Transformation is performed on each of the plurality of coded information signals to create a corresponding output signal. Each of the corresponding output signals are transmitted on a different antenna. Each of the plurality of coded information signals can optionally be separated into K signals. On the receiver side, a signal comprising K different frequencies is received on at least N receive antennas and a Fast Fourier Transformation is applied to each of the at least N received versions of the signal comprising K different frequencies to generate N*K low frequency signals. The N*K separate low frequency signals are then combined to recover a transmitted information signal, based on one or more transfer functions from each of a plurality of transmit antennas to each of the N receive antennas. |
| US08041392B2 |
Radio equipment control, radio equipment and communication system
A radio equipment control for communicating plural radio equipment units including an identifier inserting unit for inserting into a frame an identifier for recognizing a connection relation of plural cascade-connected radio equipment units and a transmitting unit for transmitting the frame having the identifier inserted therein by the identifier inserting unit to the plural cascade-connected radio equipment units. The wireless communication apparatus includes a receiving unit for receiving the frame having the identifier inserted therein from the plural cascade-connected radio equipment units and a connection relation recognizing unit for recognizing the connection relation of the plural cascade-connected radio equipment units on the basis of the identifier of the frame received by the receiving unit. |
| US08041387B2 |
Information processing apparatus
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a main body, a display unit rotatably attached to the main body via a coupling portion, first and second antennas provided in the display unit, a first mixing/distributing device provided in the display unit, first and second wireless communication modules provided in the main body, and a second mixing/distributing device provided in the main body. The signal transmission/reception between the first mixing/distributing device in the display unit and the second mixing/distributing device in the main body is executed via a cable which is inserted in the coupling portion. |
| US08041384B2 |
Assigning a local access telephone number to a wireless mobile communication device
A method and apparatus for assigning a mobile dialing number (MDN) to a wireless mobile communication device (MCD), for providing local call access to the MCD from a base address for the MCD, by first selecting a wireless rate center encompassing the base address and having an MDN providing local call access to the MCD from the base address for the MCD, and then assigning the MDN to the MCD, for providing local calling access to the MCD from the base address for the MCD. A database defines geographic boundaries of a plurality of wireless rate centers, including the wireless rate center encompassing the base address and having the MDN providing local call access to the MCD from the base address. |
| US08041383B2 |
Digital upgrade system and method
Digital upgrade system and method for translating analog commands and digital commands in wireless customer services premises equipment (CPE). The digital upgrade system receives a command from a CPE Host and translates the command from analog to digital in order to broadcast it over a wireless digital network to be received by a client. Alternatively, the digital upgrade system receives a digital command from a digital network and translates it to an analog command to be received by a functionality module of a wireless CPE Host. |
| US08041381B2 |
Radio network controller and transmission power control method
A radio network controller includes a block error detection unit configured to receive a data block from the base station and to detect a block error, and a target SIR calculation unit configured to calculate a target SIR based on the detected block error rate. The target calculation unit sets a first time section, which indicates a time section from a detection of the block error to the notification of the target SIR is to the base station when the block error is detected, shorter than a second time section, which indicates a time section from the detection of the block error to the notification of the target SIR to the base station when the block error is not detected. |
| US08041377B2 |
Radio device for preventing isolated radio devices in network
A radio device is located far from other radio devices in a radio network system. The radio device determines a threshold WIth for detecting a strength equal to or more than the minimum strength of radio waves transmitted/received in a stable radio wave environment based on a plurality of reception signal strengths of Hello packets received from radio devices adjacent to the radio device. Then, if the number of radio devices adjacent to the radio device when the threshold WIth is introduced is less than a standard value (such as five), the radio device stores the adjacent radio devices in the neighbor list without introducing the threshold WIth, and then, maintains in the routing table the routing information of routes passing through the adjacent radio devices based on the neighbor list. |
| US08041376B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing PTT data buffering support indications from mobile devices and PTT data buffering control by wireless networks
In one illustrative example of the present application, a mobile communication device has one or more processors, a wireless transceiver adapted to provide communications through a wireless communication network, and a buffer memory for use in buffering a Push-To-Talk (PTT) communication from the mobile communication device. The one or more processors are operative to produce a mobile device indication message which indicates the mobile device's support for buffering of the PTT communication. This message is transmitted by the wireless transceiver to a PTT service entity through the wireless network. The one or more processors may be further operative to receive, from the PTT service entity through the wireless network, a network indication message which instructs the mobile device whether to use buffering for the PTT communication. The mobile device may use the buffer memory for the buffering of the PTT communication based on the network indication message from the PTT service entity. |
| US08041375B2 |
Methods and apparatus for use in peer to peer communications devices and/or systems relating to rate scheduling, traffic scheduling, rate control, and/or power control
Methods and apparatus related to peer to peer communication networks are described. Embodiments directed to methods and apparatus for establishing traffic data transmission rates and/or transmission power levels between wireless terminals is described. Embodiments direct to methods and apparatus of making decisions whether or not to transmit as a function of the received power of the received response signals are also described. Transmission of pilot signals after granting of a transmission request and a decision to transmit traffic data has been made occurs in some embodiments. Rate information to be used in determining a traffic rate may be received in response to the pilot signal from a peer to peer (P2P) device. |
| US08041372B1 |
Selecting data in a mobile information system
Systems and methods, including computer software products, can be implemented for selecting data on a mobile device on which multiple channels are defined. Each channel can be adapted to receive a predetermined type of content for access on the mobile device. Multiple languages may also be defined on the device, and multiple data sets for at least one of the channels are received, wherein each data set is configured for presentation in a different one of the languages. One of the data sets may be selected based on a current location. |
| US08041369B2 |
Plug-in network appliance
A plug-in network appliance is disclosed. In one aspect, a network appliance performs a bridge between two wireless communication formats. In another aspect, a network appliance is deployed to perform position location services. In another aspect, a mesh network comprising one or more network appliances is deployed. A mesh network comprising one or more network appliances may be deployed to perform position location services. A plug-in form factor is described. A network appliance may convert power received from a plug in a first format to power in a second format for powering various components. A network appliance may connect with a wireless network and/or a network connected through a plug. A plug-in network appliance may connect to a weight-bearing outlet. Various other aspects are also presented. |
| US08041367B2 |
Sparsed U-TDOA wireless location networks
In an overlay, U-TDOA-based, Wireless Location System, LMUs typically co-located with BTSs, are used to collect radio signaling both in the forward and reverse channels. Techniques are used to compensate for sparse LMU deployments where sections of the U-TDOA service area are uplink demodulation or downlink beacon discovery limited. |
| US08041366B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing message in a mobile communication system
Provided are an apparatus and a method for transmitting and deleting a regional information message that is available and effective only in a specific zone in a mobile communication system. A Base Station (BS) communicates with an Mobile Station (MS) using a radio resource and transmits information about whether the MS is located in a service zone of the BS to an Home Location Register (HLR). The HLR transmits location information of the MS to a message control server. The location information indicates whether the MS is located in a zone for transmitting the regional information message. The message control server transmits the regional information message or a deletion request message for deleting the regional information message to the MS depending on the location information of the MS. |
| US08041356B2 |
Device and method for enabling the reception, by a mobile terminal located in a moving conveyance, of signals transferred in at least a first and a second cells of a wireless cellular telecommunication network
A device assisting in reception, by a mobile terminal located in a moving conveyance, of signals transferred in at least a first cell and a second cell of a wireless cellular telecommunication network composed of plural base stations, the moving conveyance moving from a first area to a second area. |
| US08041354B2 |
Mobile switchboard, mobile unit, mobile communication system, and position-registration extending method
A mobile unit transmits a request for position registration to a network when moving from a first area to a second area. When the number of incoming calls does not exceed a threshold and the number of movements between the first area and the second area exceeds a threshold, a mobile switchboard combines the first area and the second area into an extended area, and informs the mobile unit of the extended area. |
| US08041353B2 |
Systems and methods for automatically determining the global cell identifier of a neighboring cell
The present application discloses systems and methods for automatically adding a unique identifier associated with a cell to a neighbor cell list associated with another cell. In some embodiments, the method includes: selecting a particular mobile terminal from a set of mobile terminals; instructing the particular mobile terminal to obtain and report the unique identifier; receiving from the particular mobile terminal the unique identifier; and adding the unique identifier to the neighbor cell list, wherein the step of selecting the particular mobile terminal from the set of mobile terminals comprises determining which of the mobile terminals in the set appears to have a relatively high probability of obtaining the unique identifier within a certain window of time and selecting that mobile terminal. |
| US08041352B2 |
Frequency control
The invention provides for a mobile radio communications device, and related method, arranged for communication by way of at least two RATs and having at least first and second RAT systems and related respective automatic frequency controls for control of an internal clock of the device, the mobile radio communications device further including a search frequency controller for controlling the internal clock during an initial network search, the frequency controller and related method steps being arranged to be initiated at a nominal correction value at the start of the search procedure, and to depart from the said nominal value responsive to one of a receipt of a valid frequency error reading, or receipt of a request for a raster step during an initial network search procedure. |
| US08041345B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining reconnection time point for packet service
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for determining a reconnection time point for a packet service according to a handover environment during the packet service. To this end, a multi-mode terminal checks the service quality of a network, and performs reconnection for a packet service by determining a current time point as a handover time point only when the service quality of the network meets a handover condition at the current time point. Therefore, the multi-mode terminal is provided with a packet service from a network which provides relatively superior quality of service. |
| US08041344B1 |
Cooling off period prior to sending dependent on user's state
A determination regarding the appropriateness of sending a message can be based on one or more factors. For example, the determination can be an analysis of a message to determine the likelihood that the sender has the target physical condition and/or a likely degree or severity of the target physical condition. The analysis determines, with reference to a baseline of the user, one or more of a number of errors (spelling and/or grammar) in the message, a response time, a non-fluency level associated with the message, a spell check of the message and recipient information associated with the message. Based on this analysis, the message can be managed in accordance with one or more of sending the message after a delay, returning the message to a sender for approval, managing the message based on a profile and holding the message for management at a later time. |
| US08041343B2 |
Apparatus and methods for incentivized superdistribution of content
Apparatus and methods for providing an incentive-based system for the superdistribution of content, which include one or more communications devices transmitting one or more referral messages relating to the content. Further, the apparatus and methods include the communications devices ordering content from across the network based on the referral messages, where a reward is generated for one or more referring devices based on the one or more referral messages. Additionally, the application of privacy and authentication mechanisms protects the privacy and verifies the identities of the parties involved in the transaction. |
| US08041342B2 |
Moving notification message
A computer program product, method and a terminal for receiving and processing a notification message for notifying a second terminal of an arrival of a multimedia message addressed to a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) of a first terminal installed in the second terminal and storing the received notification message in the SIM card. |
| US08041341B1 |
System of providing information to a telephony subscriber
An information fulfillment system provides information to a caller having a wireless communication device. Upon manual or automatic input of access codes to the wireless communication device, the caller's identity and the input access code are verified. Thereafter, the call is connected through the wireless network to the system messaging or fulfillment center for automatic or live-operator delivery of the requested information. Automatic verification, connection, and billing modification processes are provided for implementation of the system and method. |
| US08041340B2 |
Personal information protecting method and mobile terminal
A personal information protecting method of this invention protects personal information saved in a software program installed on a mobile terminal or in a module insertable into and removable from the mobile terminal. The software program installed on the mobile terminal or the module inserted in the mobile terminal is locked or unlocked depending on a state of the mobile terminal. |
| US08041337B2 |
Control device, communication terminal device, server device, service providing system, parameter modification method, service providing method, and control method of server device
When a service providing server receives, from a mobile phone or the like owned by a user, a request to modify a parameter defining the performance of a control device provided in an automobile, the service providing server transmits a requested modification command to the control device. The control device modifies the parameter thereof in accordance with the modification command received from the service providing server. Further, the service providing server records a history of the modification command having been transmitted on a user-by-user basis, and settles an account of the user every predetermined period of time, by requesting the user to pay a fee for the modification. Thus, a service provider is able to charge the user for modifying various parameters defining performance of the control device. |
| US08041333B2 |
Method and system for 60 GHz antenna adaptation and user coordination based on base station beacons
Information may be communicated between two or more wireless devices via adaptive or steered antennas or antenna systems and 60 GHz signals. The adaptive or steered antennas or antenna systems may be initialized based upon location information determined from a beacon signal and/or a reference system. The beacon signal may be swept through an angle and may be utilized along with reference system information to determine the direction and/or distance between the two or more wireless devices. Spatial relationships between the two or more wireless devices may vary. The two or more wireless devices may communicate and coordinate communications between them via alternate lower frequency signals. |
| US08041331B2 |
System and method for conditionally attempting an emergency call setup
A system and method are provided for a communications device to conditionally attempt an emergency call setup. The communications device maintains at least one condition for attempting emergency call setups. Upon receiving a message prompting an emergency call setup, the communications device attempts the emergency call setup only if any of the at least one conditions is satisfied. The at least one condition is defined such that the communications device does not erroneously attempt to establish an emergency call when there is no emergency. The at least one condition might for example include whether the message prompting the emergency call setup indicates a message source that is trusted by the user of the mobile device. A system and method are also provided for a communications network to block at least some of the messages from being delivered to their target communications device. |
| US08041328B2 |
System and method for activating an electronic device
The disclosure provides a circuit and method for activating an electronic device from a low power state. The activation circuit comprises: a first accelerometer located in the device to detect a movement of the device along a specific axis; a second accelerometer which is activated upon receiving a movement signal from the first accelerometer indicating a movement of the electronic device along the specific axis; an input device; and a monitoring circuit connected to the input device and an output of the second accelerometer, the monitoring circuit providing power to the input device when the second accelerometer indicates movement of the device that surpasses a threshold and then generating an activation signal to operate the electronic device in a higher power state utilizing a notable signal received from the input device. |
| US08041325B2 |
Speed-based, hybrid parametric/non-parametric equalization
A mobile receiver having a multi-mode interference suppression function and a way to estimate its speed utilizes a parametric approach to interference suppression at high speeds, and a nonparametric approach at low speeds. In particular, if the mobile receiver is currently operating in a nonparametric mode and its speed exceeds a first predetermined threshold, the mobile receiver switches to a parametric mode. Conversely, if the mobile receiver is currently in parametric mode and its speed is less than a second predetermined threshold, the mobile receiver switches to nonparametric mode. In one embodiment, the speed may be estimated by a Doppler frequency in the received signal, and the thresholds are Doppler frequencies. In one embodiment, the first and second thresholds are different, creating a hysteresis in the mode switching. |
| US08041324B2 |
Antenna apparatus
An antenna apparatus, including: a power supply pin; a circuit substrate having a first through hole through which the power supply pin passes; and an antenna element having a second through hole which faces with the first through hole and through which the power supply pin passes, the antenna element being disposed at a distance from the circuit substrate; wherein the second through hole is formed smaller than a shaft diameter of the power supply pin and is widen by the power supply pin; and a periphery of the second through hole of the antenna element is curved to be convex toward the circuit substrate, and the power supply pin is fixedly nipped by a tip end of the periphery. |
| US08041321B1 |
Apparatus and methods for providing multi-band operation in a mobile computing device
Various embodiments for providing multi-band operation in a mobile computing device are described. In one or more embodiments, a mobile computing device may be arranged to support quad-band GSM communication in the GSM-850, GSM-900, GSM-1800, and GSM-1900 frequency bands. The mobile computing device may be arranged to determine a starting frequency band based on the home country and home network. By using the determined starting frequency band associated with the home country and home network of the user, fewer and/or shorter delays may be experienced when searching for and acquiring an available frequency. Once a network search is completed, the mobile computing device may be arranged to determine whether a network can be found in current frequency band pair for normal service, to disconnect from the acquired network if normal service is not supported, and to intelligently search for an available frequency in a different frequency band. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08041319B2 |
Method and apparatus to intelligently perform scanning and assist scanning by profiling scanning history
According to one embodiment, a method involves determining whether a wireless connection between a first access point and a wireless station has failed. If so, a partial scanning process is conducted only on a subset of communication channels over which data is transmitted by access points neighboring the first access point. The subset of communication channels, inclusive of zero, is determined by analysis of a scanning history database. |
| US08041317B2 |
Radar detection algorithm
A system includes a radio frequency transceiver. A baseband processor includes an automatic gain control module. The automatic gain control module has a gain that changes from and subsequently returns to a predetermined value each time the radio frequency transceiver receives a radio frequency signal. The baseband processor is configured to selectively generate an interrupt signal each time a radio frequency signal is received based on a magnitude of the change in the gain of the automatic gain control module and a length of time in which the gain returns to the predetermined value. A control module is configured to identify a radio frequency signal received by the radio frequency transceiver as a radar signal in response to the baseband processor having generated a plurality of interrupt signals at substantially equal time intervals. |
| US08041316B2 |
Transmission circuit, transmission method, and use
A method for the transmission and use of a power amplifier and transmission circuit of a radio network is provided that includes a power amplifier, which is connectable to an antenna, a counter whose output is connected to a control input of the power amplifier to output a count value to control the amplification of the power amplifier, a register for storing a register value, a comparator whose inputs are connected to the output of the counter and the register for comparing the register value with the count value, and a control circuit whose input is connected to the comparator and whose output is connected to the counter to control a counting process depending on the comparison result of the comparator. |
| US08041314B2 |
Signal amplifier structure for radio transmitter
There is provided a modular amplifier structure that includes a plurality of parallel amplifier sub-units. Each amplifier sub-unit is configured to amplify a received payload signal under control of at least one received control signal. Outputs of the amplifier sub-units are applied to a combining circuit. The combining circuit is configured to combine the outputs of the plurality of amplifier sub-units to provide an amplified payload signal. |
| US08041313B2 |
System and method for wireless communications
A system and method for wirelessly communicating using beamswitching is provided. A communications system includes a high-power signal cable coupled to a signal amplifier, a radio frequency circuit coupled to the high-power signal cable, and a control unit coupled to the radio frequency circuit. The high-power signal cable conveys a transmission signal produced by the signal amplifier. The radio frequency circuit includes a plurality of antennas, a passive network having a plurality of output ports and a plurality of input ports, each output port coupled to an antenna of the plurality of antennas, and a plurality of switches coupled to the high-power signal cable, each switch coupled to an input port in the plurality of input ports. The control unit produces the control signal based on a specified coupling of the high-power signal cable to the passive network. |
| US08041312B2 |
Information guidance service system, information guidance providing device, information guidance service method, and recording medium
An information guidance service system according to the present invention provides a user terminal with information on a facility in use. The information guidance service system includes the user terminal having a push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) function of performing a transceiver-mode communications; a PoC server which controls the transceiver-mode communications with the PoC function to relay between the user terminal and an information guidance providing device; and the information guidance providing device for providing the information on the facility in use to the user terminal. The information guidance providing device includes a control circuit that controls to communicate with the user terminal via the PoC server and notify the user terminal of the information on the facility in use as a voice signal. |
| US08041304B2 |
Area estimation system, area estimation method and area estimation apparatus
An area estimation apparatus 100 includes: a reception level receiving unit 110 configured to receive, from a plurality of the radio signal capturing terminals 40a and 40b via the network, a radio signal reception level transmitted from the radio signal transmitting terminal 10, a radio signal transmitting terminal ID for uniquely identifying the radio signal transmitting terminal 10, and a radio signal capturing terminal ID for uniquely identifying each of the plurality of radio signal capturing terminals 40a and 40b; with a presence area of the radio signal capturing terminals being known; a reception level storage unit 123 configured to store the radio signal reception level, the radio signal transmitting terminal ID and the radio signal capturing terminal ID, which are received from each of the radio signal capturing terminals 40a and 40b, in association with one another; and a presence area estimating unit 140 configured to refer to the reception level storage unit and to estimate the presence area of the radio signal transmitting terminal 10, by using at least one presence area of at least one radio signal capturing terminal 40a identified by at least one radio signal capturing terminal ID associated with a predetermined range of at least one radio signal reception level. |
| US08041303B2 |
Auto sniffing of carrier performance using reverse round trip time
A device, system, and method are directed towards employing a beacon to sniff a network metric. When a mobile device requests content from a content server, the content server obtains a beacon be a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that encodes information about the mobile device, a network carrier, a time the beacon is generated, a connection type, or the like. The beacon may further provide a link to a small image, file, or the like. The beacon may be included with the response to the mobile device. When the mobile device receives the response, it may send a request for content using the beacon's link. A time that the request for the beacon's content is received by a server is recorded. A reverse round trip time (RRTT) may then be determined based on the encoded information and the time the beacon is received. |
| US08041299B2 |
Communication base system and method of using the same
In order to enable several wearable devices to communicate with several communication devices over a range of types of networks simultaneously, the illustrative embodiments provide a communication base system and method of using that communication base system. The communication base system includes several network-side transceivers in which each transceiver is configured to communicate with a communication device, a set of user-side transceivers in which each transceiver is configured to communicate with a headset, and a communication path to provide communications between a network-side adapter and a user-side adapter. A processing unit coupled to the communication path is configured to process instructions, where the instructions enable communication between the headset and the communication device without the headset being associated with the communication device. |
| US08041288B2 |
Image forming apparatus having lowered image forming position and recessed sheet stacking portion
In a printer, a scanner unit is formed into a taper shape having a thinner thickness on a side of a pick-up roller in a removing direction of a process unit, to allow the process unit to be removed from the printer. A part of a sheet feeding path is formed in an area between the process unit and a sheet cassette. An image forming position on the sheet feed path is set lower than an upper end of the pick-up roller. Thus, removal of the process unit can be readily performed. Further, the height of the printer at a position of the pick-up roller can be reduced as compared with a case where the scanner unit is not formed into a taper shape. |
| US08041285B2 |
Moving member holding mechanism, paper feeding device, and image forming apparatus
A paper feeding device includes a stacking plate for stacking sheets. The stacking plate is movable vertically within a range from a lower limit position to a pick-up position. The stacking plate has a first surface facing the lower limit position and a second surface facing the pick-up position. The paper feeding device also includes a driving device for driving the stacking plate. The paper feeding device has a locking member for locking the staking plate in the lower limit position. The locking member has a deformable section for contact with the second surface of the stacking plate. The deformable section becomes deformed by a driving force applied through the stacking plate as locked in the lower limit position by the driving device, to unlock the stacking plate. |
| US08041284B2 |
Automatic document feeder device and image forming device
An automatic document feeder device 100 has a device body 110 disposed on a platen 210 of a document reading device 200 and pivotably openable relative to the device 200 by being hingedly connected thereto. The device 100 includes detectors 130, 140 for detecting a document-stack state of at least one of a feeder and an output tray 111, 112 provided on the body 110, a driver 160 for driving the body 110 to be pivotably opened in an upward direction from the platen 210, an instructor 179 for giving an instruction for the driving, and a controller 172 for, based on a detection result of the detectors 130, 140 in priority to the instruction, to permit or forbid the driving, or to control an amount of the driving. When the device body is automatically opened, documents in the feeder or the output tray are unlikely to fall off. |
| US08041278B2 |
Heating device, fixing device and image forming device
A heating device includes: a magnetic field generating unit that generates a magnetic field; a heat-generating member that is disposed so as to face the magnetic field generating unit, and generates heat due to electromagnetic induction of the magnetic field, and having a heat-generating layer of a thickness that is thinner than a skin depth; and a temperature-sensitive member that is disposed so as to face a side of the heat-generating member opposite a side at which the magnetic field generating unit is located, a magnetic permeability of the temperature-sensitive member starting to decrease continuously from a magnetic permeability change start temperature that is in a temperature region that is greater than or equal to a set temperature and less than or equal to a heat-resistant temperature. A convex portion, that projects-out toward the heat-generating member from a surface that faces the heat-generating member, is provided at the temperature-sensitive member. |
| US08041275B2 |
Release layer
An apparatus and method transfer imaging material using a release layer having a bulk swelling capacity between 120% and 145% in Isopar L. |
| US08041272B2 |
Drum positioning system
Various embodiments and methods adjust and maintain a relative positioning and/or pressure between a first drum and a second drum using first and second bearers coupled to the first and second drums, respectively, and at least one spacer mechanism between the first and second bearers. |
| US08041270B2 |
Image developer using one-component developer
An image developer using a one-component developer, Including a developing roller visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearer with a pulverized toner; and a feed roller feeding the pulverized toner to the developing roller while contacting thereto, wherein the pulverized toner includes a parent toner; a wax; and an external additive comprising an additive having a number-average particle diameter of from 20 to 60 nm and adhering to the surface of the parent toner at an adherence strength of from 50 to 70%, and wherein the following relationships (1) to (3) are satisfied: 4.70 |
| US08041260B2 |
Member mounting arrangement
A member mounting arrangement mounts a proximity mounting member to a proximity object at a predetermined position relative thereto. The arrangement includes an intermediate fixing member attached to a fixing frame supporting the proximity object, the intermediate fixing member being adjustable in position in a direction to/from the proximity object, a fixing connecting portion attached to the intermediate fixing member while supporting the proximity mounting member, the fixing connecting portion being adjustable in position in the same direction as above, a regulating portion for regulating a separating distance between the proximity mounting member and the proximity object to a predetermined range, a first fixing portion for fixing the intermediate fixing member in position relative to the fixing frame, and a second fixing portion for fixing the fixing connecting portion in position relative to the intermediate fixing member. |
| US08041256B2 |
Tandem photosensitive-member unit for image-forming device
The tandem photosensitive-member unit includes a plurality of photosensitive-member and a pair of side plates. The plurality of photosensitive-member holding units each extends in a first direction. The plurality of photosensitive-member holding units is arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The pair of side plates each extends in the second direction. The pair of side plates is disposed at both ends of the arranged plurality of photosensitive-member holding units with respect to the first direction. The tandem photosensitive-member unit is configured to be detachably mounted as an integral unit in a main body of an image-forming device. |
| US08041252B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus and printer are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of side frames opposed to each other; an intermediate frame provided between the plurality of side frames; a plurality of first screws for connecting the side frames and the intermediate frame at first mutually opposed positions of the side frames; and a plurality of second screws for connecting the side frames and the intermediate frame at second mutually opposed positions of the side frames; wherein a distance between the first mutually opposed positions of the first screws is narrower than a distance between the second mutually opposed positions of the second screws. |
| US08041251B2 |
Developing device and image forming device
A developing device used for forming a toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier in an image forming device, comprises a developer carrier roller which is rotationally driven, and a toner thin layer forming member which is brought into contact with the developer carrier roller, wherein the developer carrier roller is formed in the shape of an inverted crown which is concave at the central portion in the direction of the rotation axis, and a starting point of the shape of the inverted crown is positioned further outside in the direction of the rotation axis than toner thin layer region formed by the toner thin layer forming member. |
| US08041248B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming cartridge supporter, and image forming unit
An image forming apparatus has a body frame and a slide frame. The slide frame is configured to be pulled out from the body frame along a sliding direction. A plurality of image forming cartridges is detachably mounted on the slide frame. A plurality of electrode members is mounted on the slide frame and aligned along the sliding direction so as to correspond to the image forming cartridges. A body-side contact portion of each of the electrode members electrically connected to the body frame. A cartridge-side contact portion of the electrode member electrically connected to the image forming cartridge. The image forming cartridge is connected to the body via the corresponding electrode member when the slide frame mounting the image forming cartridges is inserted to the body frame. |
| US08041246B2 |
Image forming apparatus including a separable cleaning member and image forming method including controlling a seperable cleaning member
An image forming apparatus includes: an image holding body that is rotatable, and holds a first toner image and a second toner image; an image forming unit that forms the first toner image and the second toner image on the image holding body; a transfer unit that transfers the first toner image onto a transfer medium; a cleaning unit that has a cleaning member for freely coming into contact with and separating from the image holding body, and that brings the cleaning member into contact with the image holding body so as to clean a residual toner remaining on a surface of the image holding body; and a cleaning control unit that controls forming the second toner image for cleaning the cleaning member, opposing between the cleaning member and the second toner image, and cleaning of the second toner image by the cleaning member that is in a contact state with the image holding body. |
| US08041245B2 |
Apparatuses useful in printing and methods of controlling the temperature of surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing
Apparatuses useful in printing and methods of controlling the temperature of surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatuses useful in printing includes a belt including a first surface; at least one heat source for heating the first surface; a roll including a second surface; a temperature sensor positioned to measure a temperature of the second surface; and a roll positioning device coupled to the roll for positioning the second surface of the roll in contact with the first surface of the belt to form a nip and increase the temperature of the second surface, and for positioning the second surface out of contact with the first surface to decrease the temperature of the second surface, in response to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. |
| US08041240B2 |
Closed loop charge control to minimize low frequency charge non-uniformity
This is a system to improve final xerographic image by providing uniformity in both pre-imaged and imaged photoconductive drums or belts. An ESV is placed after the exposure imaging station so that it can measure the voltage on the photoreceptor (PR) belt or drum obtaining a periodic photoreceptor signature. This signature is communicated to a controller and stored therein. After both pre-imaged and imaged signatures are obtained, the controller compensates for these signatures to all imaging runs thereafter to ensure uniform voltage and thereby uniform final images. |
| US08041238B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and computer program product
A patch-pattern forming unit causes an image forming unit to form a patch pattern including a plurality of patches on a conveying member. A detecting unit detects the patch pattern formed on the conveying member. An adjusting unit adjusts an image forming condition of the image forming unit based on a result of detection by the detecting unit. The patch pattern has a length substantially equal to a distance between a patch-pattern start position, which is located at a space corresponding to at least a predetermined margin of a recording medium from a position of the image, and a position of the detecting unit. |
| US08041233B2 |
Adaptive equalization in coherent fiber optic communication
An embodiment of the invention is a technique to equalize received samples. A coefficient generator generates filter coefficients using a rotated error vector. A filter stage generates equalized samples or slicer input vector from received samples or rotated received samples using the filter coefficients. The received samples are provided by a receiver front end in an optical transmission channel carrying transmitted symbols. |
| US08041227B2 |
Apparatus and method for near-field communication
A communication device is disclosed having optical and near-field communication capability. The device includes an optical transceiver circuit fabricated on an integrated circuit die and configured to transmit and receive far field signals. A near field transceiver circuit is also fabricated on the integrated circuit die and is configured to transmit and receive near-field electro-magnetic signals. Control circuitry is provided to selectively enable the optical transceiver circuit and the near field transceiver circuit responsive to an external control signal. |
| US08041226B2 |
Optical transceiver with equalizing function and a method to setup the optical transceiver
An optical transceiver and a method to setup the optical transceiver are disclosed, where the transceiver has a function to compensate the distortion and the dispersion due to the limited bandwidth of the electrical signal line, that of the active devices, and that of the optical fiber. The optical transceiver comprises a transmitter with an equalizer unit and a receiver also with an equalizer unit. The equalizer unit in the transmitter compensates the distortion due to the limited bandwidth of the transmission lines for the electrical signal and that of the semiconductor active device, while, the equalizer unit in the receiver compensates the dispersion due to the limited bandwidth of the optical fiber. |
| US08041223B2 |
Method and apparatus for establishing system delay time and frame length in time division duplexing system
A method of establishing a system delay time and a frame length in a Time Division Duplexing (TDD) system includes adjusting time lengths of an uplink (UL) frame, a downlink (DL) frame, a Transmit/receive Transition Gap (TTG), and a Receive/transmit Transition Gap (RTG); a Base Station (BS) transmitting a DL frame and receiving a UL frame; and a Mobile Station (MS) receiving the DL frame and transmitting the UL frame. |
| US08041214B2 |
Photonic network packet routing method and packet router for photonic network
A photonic network packet routing method includes the steps of optically encoding destination address information attached to an IP packet using light attributes, discriminating the encoded address information of the IP packet by optical correlation processing, switching to an output path for the IP packet based on a result of the discrimination, and outputting the IP packet labeled with prescribed address information on the output path selected by the switching step. A packet router for a photonic network includes a device for encoding by use of light attributes destination address information attached to an IP packet, a branching device for sending the IP packet having the encoded destination address information onto two paths, an address processing device for subjecting one IP packet received from the branching device to optical correlation processing and outputting a switch control signal based on a result of the discrimination, and a switch device for selectively outputting the packet by switching an output path of the other packet received from the branching device based on the address control signal from the address control device. |
| US08041212B2 |
Method and arrangements for determining the optical signal-to-noise ratio for an optical transmission system
According to the invention, various noise currents are added to the electrical data signal after the opto-electric conversion of an optical data signal, and an optimum decision threshold for the electrical data signal equipped with this noise current is determined for each noise current. Values for a median signal current and for a median noise current of the amplified spontaneous emission are subsequently determined from the value pairs of the optimum decision threshold and the added noise current in accordance with a computation rule that is based on a noise model, and the optimum signal-to-noise ratio is calculated from their quotient. The method may also be advantageously implemented by means of simple expansions of common receiver devices. |
| US08041210B2 |
Parallel high-speed communication links with redundant channel architectures
An optical transmission system includes more optical channels than electrical channels. If an optical channel is not functioning, the signals may be diverted to another optical channel since there are more optical channels than electrical channels. Embodiments of the present invention also relate to switches for switching the electrical channels to particular optical channels on either or both of the transmission and reception side. The switches include switching elements and selector elements for routing the electrical signals between the electrical channels and optical channels. In one embodiment, the multiple optical channels are incorporated into a single cable. The single cable may have the electrical interface for a number of electrical channels exposed for mechanical and electrical coupling with an external port, whereas the optical channels may be hidden within the cable coating. |
| US08041207B2 |
Photographing apparatus, photographing method and computer readable storage medium storing program therein
A photographing apparatus, including: a photographing section for generating photographed image data by performing a continuous shooting, and a controller for causing the photographing section to perform the continuous shooting with a continuous shooting speed thereof being slowed down in stages to correspond to a plurality of different continuous shooting speeds. |
| US08041204B2 |
Mechanism for controlling position of optical element
An optical element position control mechanism includes an optical element holding member which holds an optical element of a photographing system; an advancing/retracting movement guide member which guides the optical element holding member in an optical axis direction of the photographing system to be movable in the optical axis direction; and a biasing device including an arm, the arm being swingable about a swing axis which is substantially orthogonal to the optical axis and being engaged with the optical element holding member. The biasing device simultaneously exerts via the arm both a biasing force in a direction of movement of the optical element holding member that is guided by the advancing/retracting movement guide member and a biasing force in a direction orthogonal to the direction of movement of the optical element holding member on the optical element holding member. |
| US08041202B2 |
Driving device and image pickup apparatus
A driving device includes a fixed section, a holding member, a driving section disposed at the fixed section and having a driving shaft, a first movable body having a bearing section friction-coupled with the driving shaft, a second movable body formed as a body separate from the first movable body and capable of moving in conjunction with the first movable body although not secured to the first moving body, and support means for supporting the second movable body with the fixed section and the holding member so as to allow the movable body to move in a predetermined plane. |
| US08041201B2 |
Camera module having movable lens
Disclosed herein is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing, a first magnet member, a lens holder, and a second magnet member. The first magnet member is connected to the housing. The first magnet member includes a first surface. The lens holder is in the housing. The lens holder includes a lens. The second magnet member is connected to the lens holder. The second magnet member includes a second surface. The second surface is opposite the first surface of the first magnet member. The second magnet member is configured to move in a direction substantially normal to the first surface of the first magnet member when a magnetic force is generated between the first magnet member and the second magnet member. |
| US08041200B2 |
Deicing system and method
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a deicing system configured to prevent ice from forming in a water containment vessel. The system includes a heating element configured to heat the water within the containment vessel, a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor. The first temperature sensor is electrically connected to the heating element through an electrical path and may be configured to monitor water temperature. The second temperature sensor is electrically connected to the heating element through the electrical path and may be configured to monitor heating element temperature. At least one of the temperature sensors may include a reset button. |
| US08041199B2 |
Deicer covering system
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a deicer system for heating water within a fluid receptacle to prevent ice from forming. The system may include a main body configured to be positioned within the fluid receptacle, a heating element adapted to heat the water, wherein the heating element is supported by the main body, and a concealing cover that is configured to hide the main body the said heating element from view. The concealing cover has a larger axial envelope than the main body and the heating element. The concealing cover may be shaped as a naturally existing object. |
| US08041196B2 |
Heat radiating plate storage tray
A heat radiating plate storage tray has a plate main body, and a plurality of first projection portions provided on a first surface of the plate main body. A heat radiating plate having a rectangular recessed portion on a surface thereof is capable of being mounted on the first surface of the plate main body, a top face of the first projection portion supports a bottom face of the recessed portion of the heat radiating plate, and a height of the first projection portion is larger than a depth of the recessed portion of the heat radiating plate. |
| US08041195B2 |
Vehicle entertainment system for remote sharing and storage of video content
A vehicle entertainment system includes a video system mounted within a vehicle, a video monitor for presenting video content and a video source integrated therewith. The video source is a hard drive or flash memory. The vehicle entertainment system further includes a circuit board including an input/output assembly associated with the video source for the transmission of video content. The entertainment system also includes a common support member upon which the video source and circuit board are mounted. The input/output assembly includes a means for wireless transmission of video content to the video system. |
| US08041185B2 |
Information processing device and method, and recording medium
A system and method of determining the copy protection features of a program, and notifying a potential user of the program of these features, is provided. The copy protection features of the program first are analyzed. On the basis of this analysis, a message such as “this program cannot be recorded with IEEE1394, optical digital audio” is displayed to the user. By displaying such a message, the user can easily recognize that copy protection is applied to the program and that, for example, the program can be recorded (picture-recorded) in an analog style but cannot be digitally recorded. Accordingly, the user is easily made aware of the copy protection features of the program before using or purchasing the program. |
| US08041183B2 |
Device for recording and playing stream data
Time stamps are attached to packets output from stream data input section by a time stamp-attaching section in a HDD, and the packets are then recorded into a HDD main unit. A stream data-generating section removes the time stamps from the packets subsequent to a predetermined amount of packets last recorded into the HDD main unit and controls the timing of the packets according to the time stamps, and the packets are transferred to an HDD. In the HDD, time stamps start to be generated according to the last predetermined amount of packets, and to the packets transferred thereafter, time stamps are attached in a similar fashion as in the HDD, so that the packets are recorded into the HDD main unit. |
| US08041181B2 |
Electronic apparatus, security management program and security management method
The present invention provides an electronic apparatus, including a photographing apparatus control unit controlling a photographing apparatus; and an access management unit performing an operation for recording, in history information by correlating with an information name invested to specific information, an image of an operator photographed by way of the photographing apparatus control unit at the time of an occurrence of an access to the specific information. |
| US08041178B2 |
Loop back plug and method
A loop back connector and methods for testing lines in a fiber optic network are disclosed. The loop back connector includes a ferrule having an interface side constructed for optical connection to a multifiber optical cable. The loop back connector also includes first and second optical loop back paths, each having first and second terminal ends positioned at the interface side. The terminal ends of each loop back path are adapted to be aligned to fibers in the multifiber optical cable. The method includes injecting a signal on a first optical path at a first location, looping back the signal at a second location onto a second optical path, and receiving the signal on the second optical path at the first location. |
| US08041175B2 |
Front-access locking arrangement for sliding drawer
A cable management panel including a chassis, a drawer, and an open-drawer locking arrangement. The open-drawer locking arrangement preventing inadvertent closing movement of the drawer relative to the chassis. The open-drawer locking arrangement including an activation arm accessible from the front of the drawer and a locking piece located at the rear of the drawer. The activation arm moving in a linear direction to engage the locking piece, causing the locking piece to rotate from a locking position to a non-locking position. |
| US08041170B2 |
Photonic bandgap fiber
A photonic bandgap optical fiber and a method of manufacturing said fiber is disclosed. The photonic bandgap fiber comprises a core region surrounded by cladding region. The cladding region includes a background optical material having a first refractive index, and elements of optical material having a second refractive index higher than said first refractive index. The elements are arranges periodically in the background optical material. At the drawing temperature of the fibered, the background optical material has a viscosity lower than the viscosity of the optical material of the elements. |
| US08041158B2 |
Multithickness layered electronic-photonic devices
An apparatus comprising an electronic-photonic device. The device includes a planar substrate having a top layer on a middle layer, active electronic components and active photonic waveguide components. The active electronic components are located on first lateral regions of the top layer, and the active photonic waveguide components are located on second lateral regions of the top layer. The second-region thickness is greater than the first-region thickness. The top layer has a higher refractive index than the middle layer. |
| US08041157B2 |
Silicon integrated photonic optical parametric amplifier oscillator and wavelength converter
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for adjusting intensity, wavelength and higher and lower frequency components of an optical signal. Photonic apparatus receives a first and a second optical signal. A waveguide provides an anomalous group velocity dispersion the first optical signal or the second optical signal and adjusts intensity or wavelength of the first optical signal or the second optical signal, in response to the anomalous group velocity dispersion. In some embodiments photonic apparatus receives an optical signal comprising a lower frequency component received an amount of time prior to a higher frequency component of the optical signal. A waveguide provides an anomalous group velocity dispersion for the optical signal and adjusts the amount of time between the higher frequency component and the lower frequency component in response to the anomalous group velocity dispersion. |
| US08041153B2 |
Processing device, processing method and computer readable medium
A processing device has plural processing modules executing a processing; and plural connectors each having a linking section, an associating section, and a controller. The linking section is able to link with at least one other connector at an input side or an output side. The associating section associates the connector with one of the processing modules. In accordance with a linked state, the controller controls the processing module associated by the associating section. |
| US08041148B2 |
Recording medium storing image processing program and image processing method
An image processing program causes a computer to execute the following steps. A first step reads data of a first image and data of a second image which are generated by imaging a common object under natural light and have different contents of specular reflection components. A second step generates an output image which gives a different visual impression of the object than the first image and the second image, based on difference data of the specular reflection components extracted from the first image and the second image. |
| US08041147B2 |
Method for realistic stitching image blocks of an electronically recorded multipart image
A method for realistic stitching and showing image blocks of an electronically recorded multipart image wherein relative positional offset values of the image blocks recorded with overlap are determined in a co-ordinate system in directions x and y and stored in matrix format, and the image blocks to be presented are stitched together on the basis of the stored values the method comprising: subdividing the overlaps of the individual image blocks into smaller regions with fixed relative positions; picking up at least one region most useful for the determination of the stitching; determining the offset goodness value based on the similarity of pattern of the image blocks; stitching the blocks of the image so that first the two image blocks characterized by the best offset goodness values are stitched together and the two image blocks characterized by the worst offset goodness values are stitched together last, whereas only the co-ordinates of the images figuring in a table are modified in the course of the stitching process; and distributing the errors produced by the stitching process over several image blocks. |
| US08041143B2 |
Methods for background and noise suppression in binary to grayscale image conversion
One embodiment is a method for suppressing background inaccuracies in binary to grayscale image conversion. A binary image is converted to a grayscale image using a neighbor map. An image enhancement function is applied to the grayscale image to suppress background inaccuracies in the grayscale image. Another embodiment is method for converting a binary pixel of a binary image to a grayscale pixel of a grayscale image and suppressing noise in the grayscale image using selective filtering of the binary image. Another embodiment is a method for converting a binary image to a first grayscale image and suppressing noise in the first grayscale image to produce a noise suppressed grayscale image using selective filtering of the first grayscale image. |
| US08041142B2 |
Method and device for reconstructing images
A method for reconstruction of an image function (r), which represents an object function (ƒ) of an object (1) imaged with periodically structured illumination, from optical section images (gc, gs), which are formed following convolution operations on the object function (ƒ) with a modified illumination point spread function (hI), comprises the steps of generating (S1) corrected optical section images (gc′, gs′), wherein predetermined filter operators are applied to the optical section images (gc, gs), said filter operators being the inverse of the convolution operations, and demodulation (S2) of the corrected optical section images (gc′, gs′) in order to generate the image function (r). In addition, an imaging method and an imaging apparatus are described, by means of which the aforementioned reconstruction method is applied. |
| US08041140B1 |
Healing by texture synthesis in differential space
Techniques for modifying an image may be applied to heal texture areas within the image. A region to be healed in an original image may be identified, and a differential representation may be calculated for at least a portion of a texture source image that provides sample texture. Samples of the texture source image differential representation may be copied to a location corresponding to the identified modification region to generate a new differential representation for the modification region. The new differential representation for the modification region may be integrated to produce a modified image. In some implementations, a differential representation may be calculated of boundary pixels that are outside of and adjacent to the region to be healed in the original image. Copying samples of the texture source image differential representation may be performed so as to obtain substantial smoothness between the copied samples and the differential boundary pixel values. |
| US08041137B2 |
Tiled output mode for image sensors
Methods and systems for a tiled output mode for image sensors are disclosed and may comprise receiving tiled image data from an image sensor that generates output in a tiled format, and sequentially processing the received tiled image data. The received tiled image data may comprise a plurality of lines. A tile received from the image sensor may overlap at least one neighboring tile. The neighboring tiles may be above, below, to the left and/or to the right of the current tile. The size of the received tiled image data may vary dynamically, and may vary based on, for example, a compression format and/or a desired resolution of the image sensor. The method may also comprise generating the tiled image data from an image sensor, and sequentially processing the generated tiled image data. |
| US08041136B2 |
System and method for signal processing using fractal dimension analysis
A system and method of signal processing using linear or non-linear signal transformation and fractal dimension based analysis. Using a transform process (i.e. wavelet transform, Fourier transform, ICA transform, etc.), a signal is decomposed into a series of coefficients or components. Within this transform domain, fractal dimensions of the components are computed. The components with fractal dimensions higher than a pre-determined threshold are then selectively processed. A modified signal is reconstructed using inverse transform of the signal components. |
| US08041134B2 |
Apparatus to provide block-based motion compensation and method thereof
A motion compensation apparatus to provide block-based motion compensation, and a method thereof. A first motion compensation interpolator calculates a first interpolation pixel by reading a first and a second pixel corresponding to a motion vector of an estimated current block respectively from a current and a previous frame or field. A second motion compensation interpolator calculates a second interpolation pixel by reading a third and a fourth pixel corresponding to a motion vector of peripheral blocks adjacent to the current block respectively from the inputted current and previous frame or field. A candidate interpolation pixel calculator calculates a candidate interpolation pixel by allocating a predetermined weight to the first and the second interpolation pixels, among the current blocks. A motion analyzer analyzes the motion vectors of the current block and the peripheral blocks, and determines discontinuities between the blocks. A final interpolation pixel selector selects either of the first interpolation pixel and the candidate interpolation pixel as a final interpolation pixel, according to the discontinuities determined at the motion analyzer. Accordingly, by applying an overlap block motion compensation according to discontinuities between the current and the peripheral blocks, an image can be provided in which the block artifacts are removed or reduced. |
| US08041132B2 |
System and method for load balancing a video signal in a multi-core processor
Sequential video data frames are encoded using cores including a first core and a second core. A first beginning frame is divided into slices. The first core is assigned to process a first slice. The second core is assigned to process a second slice. The first beginning frame is processed using the cores which results in a first ending frame in which the first slice was partitioned into a third slice and a fourth slice. The third slice was processed by the first core. The fourth slice and the second slice were processed by the second core. A second beginning frame, which immediately follows the first ending frame, is divided into a second plurality of slices. The first core is assigned to the third slice. The second core is assigned to a fifth slice which has a size equal to a sum of the second and fourth slices. |
| US08041131B2 |
Variable length coding of coefficient clusters for image and video compression
A coding method, apparatus, and medium with software encoded thereon to implement a coding method. The coding method includes encoding cluster of consecutive non-zero-valued coefficients, the encoding of a cluster including jointly encoding joint events that each are defined by at least two parameters: the number of zero-valued coefficients preceding the cluster, and the number of non-zero-valued coefficients in the cluster. The encoding of the cluster also includes encoding a parameter indicative of the number of amplitude-1 trailing non-zero-valued coefficients in the cluster, in one version with the parameter indicative of the number of trailing amplitude-1 coefficients part of the joint events such that the coding is according to a 3-dimensional joint variable length coding table. The method further includes encoding the amplitudes of the non-zero-valued coefficients that are not encoded by the joint encoding, e.g., encoding the amplitudes of the other than the trailing amplitude-1 coefficients. |
| US08041127B2 |
Method and system for obscuring and securing financial data in an online banking application
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that obscures critical information communicated over a network. During operation, the system receives a set of data and produces a file which represents a character in the data with at least one image, thereby avoiding representing the data in plain text and reducing the risk of scraping. The system then communicates the file to a client, thereby allowing the client to present the data using the embedded images. |
| US08041125B2 |
Data visualization device and method
A data visualization device comprises a focal attribute calculator for calculating a focal value of each of a plurality of data input items, and for categorizing each of the plurality of data input items as either non-cluster blobs or second blobs. The device further comprises a clustering attribute calculator for clustering data input items categorized as second blobs into one or more cluster blobs, and a visualization shaper for arranging the one or more cluster blobs and the non-cluster blobs, relative to each other in accordance with the focal values of the data input items of respective blobs. |
| US08041124B2 |
Identifying computer graphics from digital photographs
Computer graphics may be detected in digital images by extracting a first set of features from an input digital image, extracting a second set of features from a prediction-error image derived from the input digital image, and applying a classification algorithm to the first set of features and the second set of features to determine if the combined sets of features indicate that the input digital image corresponds to computer graphics. |
| US08041123B2 |
Template matching processing apparatus and method, hologram reproducing apparatus and method, and computer program
A template matching processing device includes: first calculation means for calculating a plurality of correlation values indicating the correlation between an inputted detection image and a predetermined template image for each pixel unit while shifting the template image with respect to the detection image in pixel unit; and second calculation means for calculation coordinate position of the detection image according to the coordinate position of the center of gravity of the correlation values. |
| US08041120B2 |
Unified digital ink recognition
Described is a unified digital ink recognizer that recognizes various different types of digital ink data, such as handwritten character data and custom data, e.g., sketched shapes, handwritten gestures, and/or drawn pictures, without further participation by a user such as recognition mode selection or parameter input. For a custom item, the output may be a Unicode value from a private use area of Unicode. Building the unified digital ink recognizer may include defining the data set to be recognized, extracting features of training samples corresponding to the dataset items to build a recognizer model, evaluating the recognizer model using testing data, and modifying the recognizer model using tuning data. The extracted features may be processed into feature data for a multi-dimensional nearest neighbor recognizer approach; the extracted features for the samples of each class is calculated and combined into the feature set for this class in the resulting recognizer model. |
| US08041118B2 |
Pattern recognition filters for digital images
In an exemplary embodiment, a pattern is recognized from digitized images. A first image metric is computed from a first digitized image and a second image metric is computed from a second digitized image. A composite image metric is computed as a function of the first image metric and the second image metric, and a pattern is identified by comparing the composite image metric against a reference image metric. The function may be a simple average or a weighted average. The image metric may include a separation distance between features, or a measured area of a feature, or a central angle between two arcs joining a feature to two other features, or an area of a polygon whose vertices are defined by features, or a second moment of a polygon whose vertices are defined by features. The images may include without limitation images of friction ridges, irises, or stars. |
| US08041117B2 |
Image processing system, computer readable medium storing image processing program and computer data signal embedded with the image processing program
An image processing system includes an image input section, a first character-extracting section, a second character-extracting section and a synthesizing section. The image input section inputs images which are linked to each other in time series manner. The first character-extracting section extracts a character from a first image input by the image input section. The second character-extracting section extracts a character from a second image input by the image input section. The synthesizing section generates a character string in accordance with the character extracted by the first character-extracting section and the character extracted by the second character-extracting section. |
| US08041115B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining a classification boundary for an object classifier
In a method and apparatus for determining a classification boundary between an object, such as a vehicle, and a background, using an object classifier, a trained classifier is configured to classify and recognize each of a plurality of object images and a plurality of background images. Next, a confidence probability density distribution function is calculated for the vehicle and the background using the determined confidence values for the vehicle images and background images. Once the probability density distribution functions for the vehicle and the background are calculated, the classification boundary between the vehicle and the background is determined using the probability density distribution functions for the vehicle or the background, or both, and a predefined model that is appropriate. |
| US08041112B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, image reading apparatus, image processing method, image processing program, computer-readable storage medium for storing the image processing program with segmentation and density correction optimization
The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a segmentation process section for performing a segmentation process with respect to image data corresponding to an image to be processed; first and second input tone correction sections each of which performs a density correction process with respect to the image data by referring to a conversion curve which indicates a relation between density before correction and density after correction; and a processing mode control section for switching between (i) a first processing mode in which the segmentation process is performed with respect to the image data having been subjected to the density correction process and (ii) a second processing mode in which the segmentation process is performed with respect to image data having not been subjected to the density correction process. Therefore, the image processing apparatus can perform the segmentation process with high accuracy. |
| US08041109B2 |
Color processor and computer program product
The present invention provides a Creating unit that creates a color conversion table to be used to convert a CIE color to a device color, a Converting unit that converts a CIE color to a device color using the CIE color conversion table created by the Creating unit, a managing unit that holds data of the CIE color conversion table in a nonvolatile storage medium, and a Controlling unit that, for color conversion from a CIE color to a device color, uses appropriate CIE color conversion tables held in the nonvolatile storage device or creates, when no appropriate CIE color conversion table is available, an appropriate CIE color conversion table and uses the created CIE color conversion table, and causes the color conversion to be performed. |
| US08041108B2 |
Color extraction method and apparatus
This invention is a technique to presume colors of an image. A color extraction method according to this invention include a luminance calculation step of calculating a luminance in a color extraction region, which is included in an image and from which a color is to be extracted, and storing the calculated luminance into a storage device; a color name extraction of referring to a luminance database storing a color name and a luminance corresponding to the color name to extract a color name in the color extraction region by using, as a main judgment element, the luminance in the color extraction region, which is stored in the storage device. As a result, it is possible to presume a color even in a case of the monochromatic image or color image photographed in the night. |
| US08041106B2 |
Methods and systems for detecting defects on a reticle
Methods and systems for detecting defects on a reticle are provided. One method includes printing a single die reticle in first areas of a wafer using different values of a parameter of a lithography process and at least one second area using a nominal value of the parameter. The method also includes acquiring first images of the first areas and second image(s) of the at least one second area. In addition, the method includes separately comparing the first images acquired for different first areas to at least one of the second image(s). The method further includes detecting defects on the reticle based on first portions of the first images in which variations in the first images compared to the at least one second image are greater than second portions of the first images and the first portions that are common to two or more of the first images. |
| US08041104B2 |
Pattern matching apparatus and scanning electron microscope using the same
A pattern matching apparatus comprising: means for storing photographed image data of a semiconductor device; means for storing CAD data of said semiconductor device; an information input means for inputting information on the white band width contained in said image data; a pattern extracting means for extracting a pattern on the semiconductor device from said image data by using the white band width information; and a matching means for matching said pattern with the CAD data. |
| US08041103B2 |
Methods and systems for determining a position of inspection data in design data space
Various methods and systems for determining a position of inspection data in design data space are provided. One computer-implemented method includes determining a centroid of an alignment target formed on a wafer using an image of the alignment target acquired by imaging the wafer. The method also includes aligning the centroid to a centroid of a geometrical shape describing the alignment target. In addition, the method includes assigning a design data space position of the centroid of the alignment target as a position of the centroid of the geometrical shape in the design data space. The method further includes determining a position of inspection data acquired for the wafer in the design data space based on the design data space position of the centroid of the alignment target. |
| US08041101B2 |
Image processing system and image forming apparatus
When a predetermined anomaly has occurred in a digital multifunctional machine, the fact of the anomaly occurring is notified to the service center and the computer at the guardhouse. The service person sent out from the service center is issued with an entrance permit from the entrance permit issuing device at the guardhouse. Then, the service person can pass through the passage gates in the building using the information recorded in the entrance permit and reach the place where the digital multifunctional machine is installed. |
| US08041096B2 |
Method for creating mass density images on the basis of attenuation images captured at different energy levels
The invention relates to a method for creating scatter-corrected mass density image in dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The mass density image is created using additional information provided by attenuation images at different energy levels in an inhomogeneous correction image area. A multi-dimensional mass density is found that is consistent for a plurality of the attenuation images by inverting a primary radiation function. A scatter fraction is determined on the basis of the multi-dimensional mass density. |
| US08041092B2 |
Apparatus and method adapted to correct image data acquired by image detector
An apparatus adapted to correct an image data acquired by an image detector including a plurality of detecting elements, includes: a first correction unit adapted for obtaining an offset-corrected image by removing an offset component due to the image detector from the image data, a second correction unit adapted for correcting a pixel value of the offset-corrected image on the basis of a gain of corresponding one of the plurality of detecting elements; and a third correction unit adapted for correcting a value of a selected pixel of the offset-corrected image, the selected pixel being selected based on the pixel value of the offset-corrected image, by generating a pixel value in place of a value of the selected pixel obtained by said second correction unit. |
| US08041086B2 |
Method of detecting specific polymer crystal
In a specific macromolecule crystal detecting method according to the present invention, ultraviolet light is irradiated to sample solution, and a fluorescent image emitted from a sample in the sample solution is detected to detect specific macromolecules in the sample solution. Furthermore, by detecting the outline of the sample from the visible light image of the sample contained in the sample solution, the crystal is discriminated from other materials on the basis of the outline. By integrating the detection results of the fluorescent image and the visible light image, the specific macromolecule crystal is detected from the sample solution. |
| US08041081B2 |
Method, apparatus, and program for human figure region extraction
Upon extraction of a human figure region in an image, a face or facial part is detected in the image, and an estimated region which is estimated to include the human figure region is determined from position information of the detected face or facial part. The human figure region is extracted in the estimated region. Judgment is made as to whether at least a portion of the human figure region exists in an outline periphery region of the estimated region, and the estimated region is extended and updated so as to include a near outer region near the human figure region in the outline periphery region and outside the estimated region, in the case where a result of the judgment is affirmative. The human figure region is extracted in the extended and updated estimated region. |
| US08041080B2 |
Method for recognizing traffic signs
A method recognizes a set of traffic signs in a sequence of images acquired of a vehicle environment by a camera mounted in a moving vehicle by detecting in each image, a region of interest (ROI) using a parameter space transform. The ROI is tracked and classified as a particular one of the signs. The classifier only uses a same class and a different class, and a regression function to update the classifier. |
| US08041076B1 |
Generation and usage of attractiveness scores
A digital image is obtained. A face depicted in the digital image is detected. A set of characteristics is obtained, where the set of characteristics are associated with at least some portion of a face. An attractiveness score is generated based at least in part on the detected face and the set of characteristics. |
| US08041075B2 |
Identifying spurious regions in a video frame
In a digital video surveillance system, a number of processing stages are employed to identify foreground regions representing moving objects in a video sequence. An object tracking stage 5 is also provided in order to identify a correspondence between candidate objects in a current frame and those that have already been identified in one or more previous frames. In this way, it is possible to calculate the path taken by the or each foreground object and to record this path information in a trajectory database. In order to improve tracking performance, the object tracking stage 5 employs a state transitional object management scheme which determines whether or not a particular object is to be tracked. As part of the object management scheme, spurious objects, which are identified on the basis of their motion characteristics, are deleted from the system. This ensures that valuable processing resources are not wasted tracking unwanted artifacts which may represent, for example, noise or random motion. |
| US08041074B2 |
Content indexing and searching using content identifiers and associated metadata
A method of indexing content for network searching comprises obtaining media content signals stored on a computer network; deriving content identifiers from the content signals; using the content identifiers to obtain metadata used to classify the media content signals; and creating a searchable index of the media content signals based on the metadata, wherein users access the searchable index on the distributed computer network to submit a search query for the searchable index to retrieve links to the media content signals. |
| US08041073B2 |
Decoding watermark information items of a watermarked audio or video signal using correlation
Watermark information consists of several data symbols which are embedded continuously in an audio or a video signal using modulation with a pseudo-random sequence if spread spectrum technology is used. At decoder site the watermark information is regained using correlation of the received signal with a candidate pseudo-random sequence. Such correlation can be performed by one-dimensional real-symmetric fast Fourier transform of the two input signal vectors, which each consist of a section of N values of the input signal, to which section N−1 zeroes are attached, by multiplying one of the transformed vectors by the conjugated version of the other transformed vector, followed by inverse RFFT transform of that frequency domain product vector. However, if the level of a spread-spectrum watermark is too low or if too much noise had been added during the transmission of the audio or video signals, the correlation does not show a clear peak, which means that the watermark information bits cannot be recovered. According to the invention, the correlation result is improved by setting to zero in the frequency domain frequency bins of the vector which do not have a positive impact on the correlation peak at location zero, i.e. which frequency bins do not contribute to that peak. Thereby the noise level in the correlation or matched filter output is reduced and the watermark information items can be recovered or decoded correctly from the received watermarked audio or video signal. |
| US08041072B2 |
Audio output apparatus and method
An audio output apparatus for converting an input audio signal into audio and outputting the audio includes a first oscillation enhancing panel for outputting the audio as a result of being oscillated; a second oscillation enhancing panel for outputting the audio as a result of being oscillated; a first transducer for allowing the first oscillation enhancing panel to oscillate on the basis of an audio signal, the first transducer being disposed in the first oscillation enhancing panel; and a second transducer for allowing the second oscillation enhancing panel to oscillate on the basis of an audio signal, the second transducer being disposed at a position on the second oscillation enhancing panel, the position on the second oscillation enhancing panel differing from the position corresponding to the position of the first transducer in the first oscillation enhancing panel. |
| US08041070B2 |
Speaker
The invention relates to a small speaker. A speaker 1 comprises: a magnetic circuit 3 having a yoke 7, a magnet 15, and a pole piece 16; a vibration system 4 having a voice coil 18 and diaphragm 19 which are joined to each other through a voice coil bobbin 23; and a frame 2 which holds the magnetic circuit 3 and the vibration system. The voice coil is placed in a magnetic gap 17. In the speaker, dampers 26 which are extended respectively from a plurality of places of an opening side end portion of the voice coil bobbin are disposed, and tip end portions of said dampers are bonded and fixed to the frame. The voice coil bobbin is supported from the lower side. The resistance to input is improved without impairing the thinness of the speaker 1, and while suppressing the increase of the production cost. |
| US08041069B2 |
Loudspeaker
A high efficiency loudspeaker without a damper is provided. The loudspeaker includes magnetic circuit having a magnetic gap and a voice coil member, which has movable coil, disposed in the magnetic gap of the magnetic circuit. The loudspeaker also includes a diaphragm, whose inner peripheral part is linked with the voice coil member, outside the magnetic gap and a frame linked with an outer peripheral part of the diaphragm via a first edge. An inner peripheral part of a suspension holder is linked with the voice coil member at a linked position which is closer to the magnetic circuit than a linked position of the diaphragm and the voice coil member. An outer peripheral part of the suspension holder is linked with a frame via a second edge. The first edge and the second edge are substantially symmetrical with each other about a median of a first edge and a second edge. |
| US08041067B2 |
Earphone structure with a composite sound field
An earphone structure including one or more composite chambers is described. Each of the composite chambers includes sub-speakers. The sounds generated by these sub-speakers are uniformly distributed in the composite chamber and a composite sound field is generated by these sub-speakers. The sound field generated by each of these sub-speakers can be adjusted by re-locating the position of the sub-speaker, for example, by re-locating the sub-speaker, or by re-locating the sub-speaker in different angles, to generate the composite sound field. The sound field generated by the main speaker and the composite sound field generated by these sub-speakers can form a spatial sound with very good quality. By using of its physical characteristics of locations of these sub-speakers, the sound generated by the earphone has an uniformly diffusion sound pressure and a surround effect, which allows a user of the earphone to enjoy a sound field similar to that in a theater. |
| US08041065B2 |
Microphone
The acoustic resistance inside the microphone of the present invention can be adjusted mechanically by a simple electrical operation from the outside, and thereby directivity can be changed easily without adversely affecting the acoustic characteristic, even if the microphone is a single directivity dynamic type microphone. The microphone has a front acoustic terminal and a rear acoustic terminal, and makes directivity variable by having an acoustic resistance changing unit of the rear acoustic terminal. The acoustic resistance changing unit has a piezoelectric element arranged in opposition to the rear acoustic terminal with an air layer in between, and makes the acoustic resistance of the rear acoustic terminal variable by varying a voltage to be applied to the piezoelectric element. The rear acoustic terminal opens in a flat part formed in a microphone unit constituent part, and it is recommended to arrange the acoustic resistance changing unit with a narrow air layer between the flat part and the acoustic resistance changing unit. |
| US08041051B2 |
Dual streaming with exchange of FEC streams by audio sinks
A system and method is described herein in which an audio source wirelessly transmits audio content to a first audio sink over one wireless link and to a second audio sink over another wireless link. The two audio sinks also exchange forward error correction (FEC) streams over a wireless link between the two audio sinks, wherein the FEC streams are generated by FEC encoding the audio content received from the audio source. The audio sinks advantageously use the exchanged FEC information to synchronize the playback of the audio content as well as to improve the robustness of the wireless links with the audio source in a manner that does not consume additional bandwidth on those links. |
| US08041049B2 |
Method for controlling output from ultrasonic speaker and ultrasonic speaker system
The invention maintains optimum sound quality even when a listener changes his/her angle formed between a sound wave emitting axis of an ultrasonic transducer and a front direction axis of the listener with respect to the sound wave emitting axis. An ultrasonic speaker system of the invention includes an angle measuring unit that measures a listener angle as an angle formed between a sound wave emitting axis of the ultrasonic transducer and an axis indicating a listener's front direction; a control information transmitting unit that transmits control information including listener angle information obtained by the angle measuring unit; a control information receiving unit that receives the control information; and a control unit that controls the signal processing performed by a signal processing unit based on the listener angle information included in the control information. |
| US08041047B2 |
Plug, sound inputting and outputting apparatus, and noise cancel system
Herein disclosed a sound inputting and outputting apparatus for being connected to an external apparatus which includes a noise cancel signal production section, a storage section and a reproduction section, including: a first auricle mounting section; a second auricle mounting section; and a plug. |
| US08041046B2 |
Reverberation adjusting apparatus, reverberation adjusting method, reverberation adjusting program, recording medium on which the reverberation adjusting program is recorded, and sound field correcting system
The present invention provides a sound field correcting system and a reverberation adjusting apparatus capable of correcting a reverberation time characteristic by an easy operation without setting a complicated parameter. A surround system 100 has a sound reproducing apparatus 120 for adjusting a reverberation component of sound on the basis of a reverberation characteristic of a listening room 10 and amplifying the sound by a speaker system 130; and a microphone 140 for collecting the amplified sound in a specific listening position in the listening room 10. The sound reproducing apparatus 120 includes: a test signal generating device 124 for generating a test signal; a space characteristic analyzer 127 for recognizing an attenuation characteristic indicative of attenuation with time in the listening room on the basis of the obtained amplified test signal, and calculating attenuation time in the listening position of the amplified sound on the basis of the recognized attenuation characteristic; and a signal processor 200 for adjusting the reverberation characteristic of the listening room 10. |
| US08041044B2 |
Method and apparatus for checking a measuring situation in the case of a hearing apparatus
It should be possible to balance microphones and hearing apparatus more reliably. To this end, provision is made for a method for checking a measuring situation, wherein at least two measurement points of a frequency response of the hearing apparatus are recorded. A check then establishes whether the at least two measurement points lie in a predetermined tolerance range above a threshold. If this is the case, an OK signal is output. Otherwise, if at least one of the measurement points lies outside the tolerance range, the position of the measurement point outside the tolerance range is ascertained and a fault signal is output depending on the ascertained position. It is therefore possible to establish, for example, whether a measuring chamber lacks proofness, a microphone is blocked or the microphone is completely malfunctioning. |
| US08041043B2 |
Processing microphone generated signals to generate surround sound
Surround sound recording is a tedious task requiring the use of many microphones. The invention aims at enabling the use of two-channel microphones (or stereo microphones) for multi-channel surround recording. A conventional stereo microphone, or a two-channel microphone specifically optimized for use with the proposed algorithm, is used to generate two signals. A post-processor is applied to the microphone generated signals to convert them to multi-channel surround.This aim is achieved through a method to generate multiple output audio channels (y1, . . . , yM) from two microphone generated audio channels (x1, x2), in which the number of output channels is equal or higher than two, this method comprising the steps of: determine directions of sound components related to the microphone characteristics determine compensation gains of sound components related to the microphone characteristics generating the output audio channels, y1, . . . , yM, by using the microphone generated audio channels, x1, x2, directions, and compensation gains. |
| US08041040B2 |
Sound image control apparatus and sound image control method
A sound image control apparatus and sound image control method capable of increasing the accuracy, in particular, in the distance direction while keeping fixed intervals of transmission characteristic filters, without increasing the number of the transmission characteristic filters. Sound image control apparatus 100 is provided with distance gain control section 101 that performs gain control of the sound pressure of an input monaural audio signal of one channel in the distance direction from a head to a sound image before input to virtual sound field 1 sound image localization section 120 and virtual sound field 2 sound image localization section 130, and reflected sound gain control section 102 that performs gain control by distance of a reflected sound of the sound pressure of the input monaural audio signal of one channel before input to virtual reflected sound generating section 150 that controls the sound image to be localized outside the head when the sound is listened to with headphones. |
| US08041035B2 |
Automatic configuration of devices upon introduction into a networked environment
Automatic configuration of devices upon introduction into a networked environment, can be implemented, for example, by having a device randomly generate a series of letters and/or numbers, e.g., generate a PIN (Personal Identification Number) that encodes temporary credentials that, in addition to proving ownership and/or control over the device by virtue of having access to the PIN, also allows creating a temporary secure communication channel based on the PIN over which permanent security credentials may be transferred to the device to facilitate provisioning it to securely communicate in the networked environment. In a wireless scenario, a unique SSID and encryption key (WEP or WPA) may be determined as a function of the PIN, where both the device and its access point utilize the PIN to establish a temporary secure communication channel. Various techniques may be used to establish ownership and/or control over the device to prevent inadvertent association of the device with a wrong networked environment. |
| US08041033B2 |
Cipher feedback with variable block chaining
Some embodiments of a method and apparatus for encrypting and decrypting data have been presented. In one embodiment, a current initialization vector (IV) is generated based on a previous block of plaintext enciphered. Then a current block of plaintext is combined with the current IV to create a temporary block. An encipher may encipher the temporary block to generate a current block of ciphertext. |
| US08041029B2 |
Mount for an electronic device
A mounting device comprises a base for placement on a vehicle dashboard or other surface; an attachment mechanism positioned on the base for removably coupling with the electronic device; a battery system including a rechargeable battery positioned within the base or the attachment mechanism for providing power to the electronic device when it is coupled to the attachment mechanism; and at least one solar cell positioned on or incorporated into the base or the attachment mechanism for charging the rechargeable battery. |
| US08041028B2 |
Double-talk detection
Within audio telecommunications for audio-visual conferencing a means of reliable double-talk detection is required for several reasons, including control of residual echo, and control of adaptive algorithms used to estimate the echo. Existing techniques tend to either fail when echo return loss is very low or require highly complex algorithms to increase the range of detecting whether double-talk is occurring. The invention is based upon a new method of estimating the power envelope of the double-talk signal. This estimation is then employed in conjunction with a slightly modified version of an echo return loss enhancement (ERLE) based statistic, to form a double-talk decision based on a combination of the two statistics. The resulting decision rule works for both low-ERLE and high-ERLE situations, which is useful when there can be large variations in the magnitude of the echo path seen by the algorithms, or where near-end noise prevents the achievement of high ERLE. |
| US08041027B2 |
Electricity echo cancellation device and method
An electricity echo cancellation device applied at a terminal includes: an input buffer memory module, a network echo delay computation module and an adaptive filtering module. The adaptive filtering module includes an adaptive filter, a subtracter and a dual-ended voice detection module. An electricity echo cancellation method includes: calculating a network echo delay according to relevant information of an RTCP packet transmitted from the network; and dynamically adjusting a terminal input signal to be adaptively filtered according to the network echo delay. The present invention ensures the electricity echo cancellation effect at the final user end on the whole, and improves the effectiveness of electricity echo cancellation. Meanwhile method of the present invention can be realized with software, thus avoiding influences of hardware memory restricts on the echo cancellation effect. In addition, the present invention only needs a single-point deployment, and thus the cost is saved. |
| US08041026B1 |
Event driven noise cancellation
Systems and methods for noise cancellation are provided. In particular, information regarding events associated with a computer providing a telephony function or associated with a hardware telephone providing a telephony function is provided to a noise cancellation process. The provided information can be used to identify specific noises associated with events, so that filters specifically adapted for removing an identified noise can be applied. Alternatively or in addition, information regarding the existence and timing of an event can be provided in order to facilitate the application of a noise cancellation filter. Noise cancellation as described can also be applied in connection with recording speech or other audio signals. |
| US08041024B2 |
Method and system for telephone number change notification and tracking
A system for broadcasting a notification. In response to receiving a new telephone number for a communication device from a service provider, a telephone number change notification is automatically broadcast to a plurality of contact telephone numbers within a contact list. Each of the plurality of contact telephone numbers within the contact list is tracked to determine whether each of the plurality of contact telephone numbers received the telephone number change notification. In response to a contact telephone number within the plurality of contact telephone numbers not receiving the telephone number change notification, a configurable indicator is displayed in a display when a user inputs the contact telephone number into the communication device. |
| US08041023B1 |
System and method of using a phone to access information in a call center
A system and method of using voice to access information in a call center is disclosed. Providing a voice response server to handle requests from local and remote administrators allows a call center to be managed even when administrators are physically distant from the call center. The voice response server may adhere to VoiceXML to process requests for call center information from administrators. |
| US08041022B1 |
Policy-based control of content intercept
In one embodiment, a method includes detecting registration of an endpoint associated with a user on a network. The method further includes accessing a policy profile of the user. The policy profile indicates whether data communicated to or from the user is subject to a lawful intercept. The method further includes notifying a lawful intercept server that the user has registered on the network. |
| US08041021B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for selecting a global title translation mode based on an originator of a signaling message and performing global title translation according to the selected mode
The subject matter disclosed herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for selecting among different global title translation modes based on a message originator and performing global title translation based on the selected mode. According to one method, a global title translation mode is selected based on a message originator. A global title translation lookup is performed in accordance with the selected mode. If the global title translation according to the selected mode fails, a lookup may be performed according to at least one additional mode in a global title translation mode hierarchy. |
| US08041019B2 |
Methods and apparatus for call back disposition and re-evaluation in interactive voice response based customer care
An interactive voice response (IVR) system which assists in identifying repeat callers, understanding whether they are calling for the same reason as one of their previous calls, and properly disposing of the call. If the repeat caller is calling for the same reason, information from the previous call (or the previous calls) is retrieved and an action based on a defined business logic for repeat callers may then be executed for the current call. |
| US08041011B2 |
Device and method for suppressing DSL signal echo induced by bridgetap
A digital signal line echo reduction adaptor is configured to connect adjacent to a first end of a bridgetap line. The bridgetap line has a second end connected to a carrier communication line. The digital signal line echo reduction adaptor reduces an effect of echo from the bridgetap line on a rate of data transmission over the carrier communication line. |
| US08041002B2 |
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for increasing efficiency in computed tomography detection
Methods, computer-readable mediums, and systems are provided. In one embodiment, a method detects at least one faulty X-ray detector signal and adjusts a conveyor speed and/or a gantry speed in accordance with the detection to increase information for image reconstruction. In another embodiment, a method detects a high volume time. Upon detection of the high volume time conveyor speed and gantry speed is increased during the high volume time. After expiration of the high volume time, the conveyor speed and gantry speed is reduced. In yet other embodiments, the computer-readable mediums and systems are also provided which perform similar features recited by the above methods. |
| US08041001B2 |
Image diagnosing apparatus and image diagnosing method
With the object of enabling a subject to be imaged at an appropriate timing of shooting, an image diagnosing apparatus for shooting an image of the subject in an imaging space has a voice guidance unit which reproduces and outputs to the subject a prescribed voice guidance and a voice output control unit which causes the output timing of the voice guidance outputted from the voice guidance unit to correspond with the timing of shooting the image of the subject. |
| US08040999B2 |
Shift register circuit
A shift register circuit is provided that can suppress a decrease in a drive capability when a frequency of a clock signal increases. A unit shift register includes a first transistor for supplying a clock signal to an output terminal, a pull-up driving circuit for driving the first transistor, a second transistor for discharging the output terminal, and a pull-down driving circuit for driving the second transistor. In the pull-up driving circuit, the gate of a third transistor charging the gate of the first transistor is charged in accordance with activation of an output signal of preceding stage, and the potential at the gate of the third transistor is increased with a capacitive element. As a result, the third transistor operates in the non-saturated region. |
| US08040998B1 |
Fuel assembly
A fuel assembly is charged in a reactor core of a nuclear reactor using a liquid metal as a coolant, and includes a wrapper tube storing a plurality of fuel pins and including an entrance nozzle for introducing the coolant and an operation handling head, grids disposed in the wrapper tube to support the fuel pins in the radial direction of the wrapper tube, liner tubes inserted in the wrapper tube to fixedly hold the respective grids in the axial direction of the wrapper tube, and a fixing device for fixing the grids and the liner tubes in the radial direction of the wrapper tube. |
| US08040984B2 |
Methods and apparatus for improved jitter tolerance in an SFP limit amplified signal
Methods and apparatus are provided for improving the jitter tolerance in an SFP limit amplified signal. Jitter tolerance is improved in a communications receiver by applying a received signal to an SFP limiting amplifier; and applying an output of the SFP limiting amplifier to a low pass filter to improve the jitter tolerance. The low pass filter optionally applies a programmable amount of attenuation to high frequency components of the output. The low pass filter slew rate controls (i.e., rotates) a data eye representation of the received signal to increase the data eye representation along a time axis. The noise margin of the received signal can optionally be improved by applying an output of the low pass filter to an all pass filter. A slew rate controller can evaluate the data eye statistics to determine a setting for the low pass filter. |
| US08040982B1 |
Phase-adjusted channel estimation for frequency division multiplexed channels
The disclosed technology relates to estimating the frequency response of a frequency division multiplexed (FDM) channel. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a channel estimation circuit of a receiver can compute initial estimates of the frequency response of sub-channels in the FDM channel. A phase adjustment circuit can adjust the phase components of the initial estimates to provide phase-adjusted estimates. A smoothing circuit can apply a smoothing operation to the phase-adjusted estimates to provide smoothed phase-adjusted estimates. When necessary, a reverse phase adjustment circuit can reverse the phase adjustment by adjusting the phase components of the smoothed phase-adjusted estimates to provide final channel estimates. |
| US08040980B2 |
Log likelihood ratio calculation method, transmit signal detection method, and receiver
The present invention relates to a log-likelihood ratio calculation method, a transmitting signal detection method, and a receiver. The present invention estimates a channel on the basis of the received signal and rearranges a plurality of layers. Further, at the time of rearrangement of the layers, a symbol of a layer having the lowest reliability is considered for every constellation dot, and the successive interference for the remaining layers is removed corresponding to the constellation dots of the layer having the lowest reliability to set the transmitting symbol candidate vector. Furthermore, a log-likelihood ratio for every bit of the plurality of layers is calculated using the transmitting symbol candidate vector to decode the channel. |
| US08040973B2 |
Transmitter including pre-distortion
The present invention relates to pre-distortion in transmitter circuits and provides a circuit for introducing pre-distortion into the output of a transmitter, wherein said pre-distortion comprises a pre-cursor, a cursor and a post-cursor, the circuit comprising: a first driver arranged to switch an output drive between said pre-cursor and said cursor; a second driver arranged to switch an output drive between said post-cursor and said cursor; a third driver arranged to switch an output drive between a positive cursor drive and a negative cursor drive. The arrangement provided give flexibility when setting the pre-cursor, cursor and post-cursor levels. |
| US08040970B2 |
Method and apparatus for adaptive reduced overhead transmit beamforming for wireless communication systems
A multi input multi output (MIMO) transceiver having a channel estimation module being responsive to received samples including channel state information (CSI) and operative to generate time domain beamforming parameters, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The multi input multi output (MIMO) transceiver further includes an adaptive beamforming parameters module coupled to receive said time domain beamforming parameters and operative to generate time domain adaptive beamforming parameters, said adaptive beamforming parameters module operative to process said time domain beamforming parameters to generate frequency domain adaptive beamforming parameters, a decoding module coupled to receive said frequency domain adaptive beamforming parameters and operative to generate data bits, a channel parameters module coupled to receive said data bits and operative to extract said time domain adaptive beamforming parameters, an encoding module coupled to receive said time domain adaptive beamforming parameters and operative to generate a data packet, said encoding module operative to encode said data packet to generate a modulated data stream, and a beamform matrices module coupled to receive said modulated data stream and operative to generate a beamformed data stream based on said frequency domain adaptive beamforming parameters, said MIMO transceiver operative to process said beamformed data stream to generate output signals and to transmit said output signals by forming beam patterns. |
| US08040969B2 |
Communication system and method of operation therefor
A Multiple In Multiple Out (MIMO) communication system comprises an air interface scheduler for allocating air interface resource to a plurality of user equipments transmitting to a MIMO receiver. A vector processor of the scheduler determines a receive equalizer vector for the MIMO receiver for each of a plurality of user equipments in response to a channel matrix for the user equipment. The vector processor may specifically apply singular value decomposition to the channel matrix to determine the receive equalizer vector. An orthogonality processor then determines orthogonality measures between receive equalizer vectors for different sets of user equipments. A selection processor selects a set of user equipments to be allocated a shared MIMO air interface resource in response to the orthogonality measures. By scheduling in response to orthogonality of receiver operations, a reduced interference and/or reduced receiver complexity can be achieved. |
| US08040960B2 |
Method for transmitting signal in wireless communication system
A method for transmitting a signal in a wireless communication system. The method comprises the steps of: grouping two subcarriers having different channel characteristics; identifying a number of all cases occurring when either equal symbols or different symbols, among symbols determined upon applying a first modulation scheme, are mapped to the two subcarriers; and mapping two subcarriers corresponding to each of the number of all cases to one symbol according to a second modulation scheme, and transmitting the signal, wherein a modulation order of the second modulation scheme is two times higher than a modulation order of the second modulation. |
| US08040958B2 |
Method for measuring correlation between frequency response functions
A method for measuring correlation between frequency response functions. A first frequency response function and a second frequency response function are acquired. The amplitude of the first and second frequency response functions are tabulated at a plurality of corresponding, predetermined frequencies. Amplitude and shape correlations between the first and second frequency response functions are then computed. The computed amplitude and shape correlations provide an indication of the degree of correspondence between the first and second frequency response functions, and can be used to compute a frequency response index that is an objective measure of the overall correspondence between the first and second frequency response functions. |
| US08040955B2 |
Image decoding apparatus
An image decoding apparatus is capable of decoding coded bit streams with different coding schemes. The image decoding apparatus includes a coding scheme decision section for deciding a coding scheme from coding scheme identification information multiplexed into a coded bit stream, a setting unit for setting header information on a second coding scheme in accordance with header information in a first coding scheme, and a decoder for decoding image coded data in the first coding scheme in response to the header information on the second coding scheme, which is set. |
| US08040951B2 |
Information processing apparatus and program for use in the same
An information processing apparatus includes a unit that executes a de-blocking filter process for each of decoded pictures, a unit that executes a motion compensation prediction process that generates an inter-frame prediction signal, from one or more pictures that are subjected to the de-blocking filter process, a unit that executes an intra-frame prediction process that generates an intra-frame prediction signal, a unit that adds one of the inter-frame prediction signal and the intra-frame prediction signal to a prediction error signal corresponding to the to-be-decoded picture to decode the to-be-decoded picture, and a unit that executes, when a load on the information processing apparatus is greater than a predetermined reference value, a process that skips execution of the de-blocking filter process and generates the inter-frame prediction signal, which corresponds to the to-be-decoded picture, from the one or more decoded pictures that are not subjected to the de-blocking filter process. |
| US08040946B2 |
Audio/video data synchronization apparatus for transmitting uncompressed audio/video data
Disclosed is an audio/video data synchronization apparatus for directly transmitting decoded audio/video data to an external device, without compressing the data, using UWB communication. The apparatus synchronizes video and audio data stored in a terminal without compressing the data and simultaneously transmits the data to an external device using UWB communication, so that users can enjoy high-quality images and sounds. In addition, the receiving end does not necessarily incorporate a separate function for decoding moving images, because it receives uncompressed video/audio data. This makes the apparatus simple and convenient. |
| US08040944B2 |
Adaptive digital filter, signal processing method, FM receiver, and program
A complex signal in which one of two signals that are generated from one real signal and that have phases shifted from each other by 90° is a real part and the other signal is an imaginary part is applied as input to an input terminal. A filter unit generates an output signal that is a complex signal by means of a convolution operation of this input signal and filter coefficients that are real signals and supplies the result to an output terminal. A coefficient control unit composed of a common unit and separate units controls the envelope target value based on the input signal and updates the filter coefficients such that the value of the envelope derived from the output signal approaches the envelope target value. |
| US08040942B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining an outage in communication systems
A method of detecting an outage includes determining at a source of data a quality metric of a link over which data is to be transmitted, modifying the quality metric by a quality metric margin, and declaring an outage event when power required for transmission of a reference signal exceeds power required for transmission of the reference signal determined form the modified quality metric. An apparatus for detecting an outage includes means for determining at a source of data a quality metric of a link over which data is to be transmitted, means for modifying the quality metric by a quality metric margin, means for determining a maximum rate of data in accordance with said modified quality metric, and means for declaring an outage event when power required for transmission of data at the maximum rate of data exceeds maximum allowable transmission power. |
| US08040941B2 |
Constellation-multiplexed transmitter and receiver
A device of dynamic communication of information allows, on the average, non-integer bits per symbol transmission, using a compact code set or a partial response decoding receiver. A stream of selectable predetermined integer bits, e.g., k or k+1 data bits, is grouped into a selectable integer number of bit vectors which then are mapped onto corresponding signal constellations forming transmission symbols. Two or more symbols can be grouped and further encoded, so that a symbol is spread across the two or more symbols being communicated. Sequence estimation using, for example, maximum likelihood techniques, as informed by noise estimates relative to the received signal. Each branch metric in computing the path metric of a considered sequence at the receiver is weighted by the inverse of the noise power. It is desirable that the constellation selection, sequence estimation and noise estimation be performed continuously and dynamically. |
| US08040940B2 |
Transmitter/receiver device that converts serial and parallel signals and method of testing thereof
A transmitter/receiver device includes: a transmitter unit including a parallel/serial converting circuit, a waveform deteriorating circuit, and a transmitter circuit; and a receiver unit including a receiver circuit, a serial/parallel converting circuit, and an error detecting circuit. The parallel/serial converting circuit converts a transmitter-side parallel signal to a transmitter-side serial signal. The waveform deteriorating circuit deteriorates a signal waveform of the transmitter-side serial signal. The transmitter circuit transmits to the receiver unit the signal whose waveform is deteriorated. The receiver circuit receives, as a receiver-side serial signal, the signal transmitted from the transmitter circuit. The serial/parallel converting circuit converts the receiver-side serial signal to a receiver-side parallel signal. The error detecting circuit detects a bit error rate of the receiver-side parallel signal. |
| US08040939B2 |
Picture mode controller for flat panel display and flat panel display device including the same
The picture mode controller for flat panel and flat panel display device including the same includes an input unit to input a first timing signal indicating transmission sections for pixel data, and a second timing signal indicating a transmission time of each pixel data, a pseudo timing signal generating unit to generate a first pseudo timing signal to be used as the first timing signal, a first selecting unit to selectively output the first timing signal and the first pseudo timing signal to allow one of a video picture mode and a black picture mode to be designated, and a selection control unit to control a selecting operation of the first selecting unit based on whether the first timing signal is input from the input unit and whether a period of the second timing signal changes. |
| US08040937B2 |
Selective noise cancellation of a spread spectrum signal
A method is provided for improving a signal-to-noise ratio in a received signal. The method involves receiving a spread spectrum signal (SSS) with a power level below a noise floor of a receiver. The SSS is generated by modulating a data signal using a spreading sequence (SS) comprised of a random number sequence (RNS). The SS can be generated using a chaos generator or any other deterministic means. The method also involves comparing a magnitude of each number of the RNS which was used to generate the SSS to an adaptable threshold value. The adaptable threshold value is selected based on a minimum magnitude of each number necessary to produce samples having a predetermined signal-to-noise ratio. Notably, samples of the received SSS are excluded from a receiver processing based on a result of the comparison. Similarly, each number of a random number sequence is excluded from the receiver processing based on the comparison. |
| US08040934B2 |
Vertical cavity surface emitting laser and method of manufacturing thereof
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser capable of reducing parasitic capacitance while suppressing power consumption, and a method of manufacturing thereof are provided. The vertical cavity surface emitting laser includes a columnar mesa including, on a substrate, a first multilayer reflector, an active layer, and a second multilayer reflector in order from the substrate side, and also including a current narrowing layer. The columnar portion of the mesa including the active layer and the current narrowing layer is formed within a region opposed to the first multilayer reflector and a region opposed to the second multilayer reflector, and a cross section area of the columnar portion is smaller than a cross section area of the second multilayer reflector. |
| US08040932B2 |
Semiconductor laser and method of manufacture
The present application relates to a semiconductor laser, in particular such a laser which operates with substantially single longitudinal mode emission. The laser comprising a laser cavity, the laser further comprising a slot having an interface, characterized in that the slot is substantially filled with a reflective material having a large imaginary index relative to the laser cavity material. The interfaces of the slot may be inclined or may have a step for introducing a quarter wave phase shift. |
| US08040931B2 |
Dual layer color-center patterned light source
A method of fabricating a color laser, comprising growing a first thin layer of ionic crystal on a substrate. The crystal can comprise many types of ionic crystals, such as sodium chloride or potassium chloride. A second thin layer of a different type of ionic crystal can be deposited above the first ionic crystal layer, such as lithium fluoride or sodium fluoride. An inert metal layer can be deposited between the first and second layers of ionic crystal and above the second layer of ionic crystal. When the first and second ionic crystal layers are radiated with gamma rays, they form color centers at the spots radiated. Because of the difference in crystalline properties of the two different ionic crystal centers, their color centers have different wavelengths. Each of the ionic crystal layers emit light at different characteristic wavelengths when illuminated at their unique absorption frequencies, and can be made to lase separately. |
| US08040926B2 |
Multi-core fiber for optical pumping device and manufacturing method thereof, optical pumping device, fiber laser and fiber amplifier
A multi-core fiber for an optical pumping device is provided. The multi-core fiber includes a plurality of optical fibers that are inserted into holes of an alignment member. The optical fibers and the alignment member are integrated by heating. The alignment member includes a material that has a lower softening temperature than a softening temperature of the optical fibers. |
| US08040925B2 |
Broadband fiber laser
A broadband fiber laser provides a lasing cavity including a reflective minor and at least one fiber Bragg grating for further providing a lasing signal to resonate and be amplified therein. Alternatively, the wavelength of the fiber laser can be either fixed or tunable by varying the central wavelength of the fiber Bragg grating and/or by adjusting the switching status of an optical switch pair. |
| US08040923B2 |
Communication methods and apparatuses
Communication methods and apparatuses are provided. |
| US08040922B2 |
Apparatus and method of frame synchronization in broad band wireless communication systems
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of frame synchronization in broad band wireless communication systems. In an apparatus of frame synchronization in a mobile station, a time variant phase rotation compensator eliminates time variant phase rotation carried in received signals by conjugated multiplication between adjacent signal samples. Then, the processed signal is fed into a delay correlator to calculate a plurality of correlations between two successive frames. A local power calculator acquires an average power of several symbols centered on delayed correlation values. A normalizer normalizes the delayed correlation values with a local average power corresponding to the delayed correlation values. A maximum value detector selects the maximum value from normalized correlation values to trigger frame synchronizing and timing signals. |
| US08040917B2 |
Apparatus and method for upgrading codec
An apparatus, system, and method for upgrading to a new codec used in a digital broadcasting environment are provided. The apparatus includes a first transceiver that receives a transport stream; a first parser that parses the transport stream to determine a codec packet, and decodes codec information contained therein; and a codec-comparison unit that compares the decoded codec information with existing codec information, and determines whether a codec should be downloaded. The system includes a device manufacturer that manufactures a codec packet; a broadcaster that transmits a transport stream containing the codec packet; and a rendering device that parses the transport stream, compares existing codec information with new codec information, and upgrades a codec based on the comparison. The method includes receiving a transport stream; parsing the stream; decoding new codec information; comparing the new codec information with existing information; and upgrading the codec based on the new codec information. |
| US08040916B2 |
Admission control for virtualized services in routers
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request to provision a first customer interface to a service instance, and identifying a resource capacity for a resource associated with a service controller of a system. A determination is made as to whether a sum of resource requirements for a first set of customer interfaces that does not include the first customer interface exceeds the resource capacity. The method further includes provisioning the first customer interface to the service instance if it is determined that the sum of the customer instance resource requirements does not exceed the resource capacity. |
| US08040914B2 |
Method and apparatus for establishing metazones across dissimilar networks
A system and method for creating and enforcing meta-zones that cross the interface between different network protocols are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of enforcing meta-zones comprises: (a) receiving an Infiniband (IB) packet destined for a Fibre Channel (FC) target device; (b) comparing a partition key in the IB packet to a partition key associated with the FC target device; and (c) converting the IB packet to a FC frame only if the partition keys match. The method may further comprise receiving FC frames destined for an IB target device and converting the FC frame into an IB packet having a partition key associated with the source of the FC frame. Also disclosed are a gateway configured to create and enforce meta-zones, and computer networks having such a gateway. |
| US08040911B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating upstream channel resource in hybrid fiber coaxial network
A method and apparatus for allocating upstream channel resources in a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network are provided. A cable modem termination system (CMTS) previously provides cable modems (CMs) with a plurality of burst profiles through an extended interval usage code (IUC) of an upstream channel descriptor (UCD) message, and allocates resources to CMs by using an optimized burst profile according to an upstream channel status, thereby increasing transmission efficiency of an upstream channel. |
| US08040909B2 |
Packet transmission scheduling technique
A packet data transmission method of the HSDPA system includes collecting information on the quality of physical channels, a status of the MAC buffer, the priority level of data, the delay of data, and the like, determining the transmission order of data and the size of a data block to be transmitted based on the collected information, and transmitting the data block through the physical layer according to the order of transmissions. Since the HSDPA scheduler takes into account the delay of data, the quality of real-time services can be improved. |
| US08040908B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing transmission delay of down-link frame in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for reducing a transmission delay of a downlink frame in a wireless communication system are provided. A frame transmission method in an access point (AP) includes classifying each of a plurality of hosts as any one of a normal destination and a suspect destination according to whether a retransmission is exhausted, and managing at least one frame to be transmitted to each of the normal destination and the suspect destination in a first queue and a second queue, and assigning at least one frame transmission attempt to the first queue and the second queue according to a transmission priority. |
| US08040906B2 |
Utilizing betweenness to determine forwarding state in a routed network
A set of critical nodes or links is identified on the network through which most of the shortest paths on the network occur. Each node compares their distance to end points on the network with a distance between the end points and each of the distinct critical nodes. Where the distance between the end points and the critical nodes is shorter than the distance between the end points and the node, the node is not on the shortest path and does not install forwarding state. Where the distance between the end points and the critical node is larger than or equal to the distance between the end points and the node, the node may be on the shortest path between the pair of end nodes and installs forwarding state. Installation of forwarding state may cause packet duplication, but determining forwarding state is dramatically simplified. The level of duplication may be reduced by selecting a larger number of critical nodes on the network. |
| US08040904B2 |
System and method for autonomous combining
A user agent capable of autonomous combining. The user agent can be implemented as a processor configured to promote receiving a first signal from an access node and a second signal from a relay node. The processor may be further configured to combine the first and second signals. |
| US08040902B1 |
Extending standalone router syntax to multi-chassis routers
A multi-chassis router allows an administrator to deliver commands from a single interface. Additionally, the multi-chassis router presents a software image consistent with that of a standalone router and uses commands and configurations consistent with those used by a standalone router. The multi-chassis router automatically distributes, processes and responds to administrator commands a single unit, minimizing time required to administer the multi-chassis router. In effect, an administrator does not need to account for the multiple chassis configuration, and an administrator familiar with the control and commands for a standalone router can use that knowledge to effectively control the operation of the multi-chassis router. |
| US08040901B1 |
Packet queueing within ring networks
In general, techniques are described for packet queuing within ring networks. In accordance with the techniques, a network device of a ring network comprises a memory having a different queue for each order-dependent pair of the network devices. Each pair represents a different order-dependent combination of the network devices that includes an ingress network device that provides an ingress to the ring network and an egress network device that provides an egress from the ring network. The network device further comprises an interface for receiving a packet from a neighboring one of the plurality of network devices and a control unit that, in response to receiving the packet, stores the packet to one of the queues based on which network devices is the ingress and which network device is the egress for the packet. The control unit forwards the stored packet via the ring network according to a scheduling algorithm. |
| US08040897B2 |
Multiple spanning tree extensions for trunk ports carrying more than 4K virtual services
In one embodiment, bridges in a computer network maintain a per-port mapping table for each of its ports, where each mapping table maps, for each virtual connection (of more than 4K) at a respective port, i) frame encapsulation fields that uniquely identify a particular virtual connection at the respective port to ii) a particular multiple spanning tree (MST) instance. The bridges may then compute a checksum of a particular mapping table for a particular port, and share the checksum with a corresponding port interconnected with the particular port (e.g., of another bridge). Upon determining that the mapping tables at the corresponding ports match in response to the checksums matching, frames may then be forwarded between the ports based on the particular mapping table. |
| US08040895B2 |
Method and system for removing dead access control entries (ACEs)
Methods and systems have been provided for removing dead Access Control Entries (ACEs) in an Access Control List (ACL). In one embodiment, the dead ACEs can be detected for an egress as well as an ingress ACL. The ACEs that have a hit count above a user-specified hit count are checked for their validity. The validity of the ACE is checked, using the information based on a Forwarding Information Base (FIB). If an ACE is found to be invalid, it is considered dead. The dead ACEs are referred as candidates for removal from the ACL. If the ACE is found to be a candidate for removal, a system administrator can either warn the network administrator about the candidate for removal or delete the ACE from the ACL after a pre-defined time limit. |
| US08040894B2 |
System and method for providing dynamic bandwidth on demand
A system and method to adjust dynamically network speed or bandwidth allocation. A network connection is established at some initial speed. The bandwidth usage through the connection is monitored, and when the connection speed becomes congested with data, the connection is dropped and a higher-speed connection is established. |
| US08040893B2 |
Method for fast source routed connection setup
The invention comprises a method for establishing a connection between a begin node and an end node in which parallel transmission and processing of connection request messages is used to minimize the dependency of connection setup time on connection path length. |
| US08040890B2 |
Apparatus and method for a virtual hierarchial local area network
A method and apparatus are provided for creating a virtual hierarchical local area network. The method and apparatus provide a hierarchical framing technique that allows a network architecture to realize a local area network hierarchy within the network. In this manner, a first local area network hierarchy is defined by communication in a first frame format between a first set of network devices and a second set of network devices. A second local area network hierarchy is defined by communication in a second frame format between members of the second set of network devices. The second frame format includes the fields of a frame in the first frame format that is used to communicate between the first set of communication devices and the second set of communication devices. |
| US08040889B2 |
Packet forwarding device
A power-saving packet forwarding device realizing electric power that accords to the number of lines in which communication is performed and a traffic volume inputted from the lines. A header processing unit with which the packet forwarding device is equipped has a plurality of packet processing circuits for performing a packet processing. A line number decision circuit monitors the number of lines in which communication is performed and a traffic volume inputted from the line, and decides presence or absence of an operation of a packet processing circuit. Based on this decision result, a power supply and a clock of the packet processing circuit that does not need to operate are interrupted, and accordingly power saving of the packet forwarding device is realized. |
| US08040888B1 |
Packet switch with port route tables
A packet switch includes individual route tables for ports of the packet switch. Each route table is associated with a port and individually maps a destination identifier of a data packet received at the port to another port in the packet switch. In some embodiments, the packet switch routes a data packet to an intermediate device based on a destination identifier in the data packet. The intermediate device services the data packet and sends the data packet, which includes the same destination identifier, back to the packet switch. In turn, the packet switch routes the data packet to a destination device based on the destination identifier in the data packet. The destination device terminates the data packet and may further service the data packet. In this way, the packet switch routes the data packet to both the intermediate device and the destination device based on the same destination identifier. |
| US08040884B2 |
Constraining multicast traffic between a layer 2 network device and a router
A method, system, computer program product and apparatus are presented to enable a L2 network device, such as a bridge or switch, to control the flow of a multicast data stream to a connected router in response to control messages received from the router by the L2 network device. By controlling the flow of multicast data streams in this manner, there will be a corresponding reduction in wasted bandwidth due to unnecessary transmission of these multicast data streams and a reduction in processing overhead by the router due to analysis and dropping of unnecessary multicast frames. In one aspect of the present invention, the router can generate the control messages in response to receiving a data frame in a multicast data stream from the L2 network device. The router can determine whether a subscriber to that multicast data stream is connected downstream of the router and then transmit an appropriate control message to the upstream L2 network device, indicating whether the router does or does not have a downstream subscriber. In response to such a control message, the L2 network device can cease transmitting the multicast data stream to the router, if appropriate. |
| US08040881B2 |
Communication apparatus and control method of the apparatus
When a destination address specified by a client is to be registered as a destination, determination is made as to whether name resolution of the destination address is possible or not. If it is determined that name resolution is impossible, registration of the destination address that requires name resolution is restricted. |
| US08040880B2 |
Signed message based application generation and delivery
A mailbox system that has a distributed architecture is disclosed. The system includes an application server, a media server, and message storage system having subscriber mailboxes. Application messages may be stored in a subscriber's mailbox. When the subscriber accesses an application message, the application server uses the application message to create an application, which is then provided to the media server. The media server then executes the application for the subscriber. |
| US08040879B1 |
Communication system
A method and an arrangement are provided for actuating and operating a heterogeneous transport network which includes connection elements, such as ATM and Ethernet connections, by controlling a TDM-based switching system. In the area of the transport network, there are gateways and routers which are actuated by the central control device for the purposes of setting up and clearing down a connection. Information relating to the accessibility of specific communications subscribers by a communication medium and communications protocol is either stored in the area of a central control mechanism or is available locally in the area of local access devices for subscriber terminals. |
| US08040878B2 |
Multi-service transport apparatus with switch for integrated transport networks
A multi-service transport apparatus for integrated transport networks that may have an electrical matrix, termination function means handling signals incoming at said apparatus input, a plurality of termination function means interfacing different layers, and adaptation function means. The termination function means handling incoming signals are implemented in input/output port devices; the termination function means interfacing different layers and said adaptation function means are implemented in adapter devices. The matrix performs exclusively the switching of the incoming signals that are already terminated and adapted by said input/output port devices and by said adapter devices and it is transparent with respect to the signal format. The switch may have a time division multiplexing matrix provided with a number of matrix inputs and a number of matrix outputs; source address generators, connected to matrix outputs of the time division multiplexing matrix. |
| US08040874B2 |
Method and communication system for automatically discovering the common multimedia service capability
A method, a system, a server, and a computer program product are provided for Multimedia Capability discovery of different user terminals. Unnecessary use of the radio interface is avoided based on a network storage, which is accessible without registration to find out about the calling as well as the called user's multimedia capabilities during a voice call. If there is a positive capability discovery result out of this for both users, the system sends a message to each of the user terminals that they should notify the users, e.g., by displaying an icon above a soft button. There is no need for establishing a packet switched session, which uses a lot of radio interface signalling, until the Multimedia Service capability of both subscribers and their user terminals is investigated and responded to both user terminals and their users. |
| US08040871B2 |
Null indication in a shared robust scheme
A method implemented on a network node includes receiving an adjustable schedule of transmission start slots, the slots representing opportunities for initiating data transmission by at least one network device on a network, transmitting an expected duration indication in each slot associated with the network node as per the schedule, and adjusting the schedule in accordance with the expected duration for each transmission. A method for virtual carrier sensing includes receiving a schedule of transmission start slots on a network node, the slots representing opportunities initiating data transmission by at least one network device in a network, listening for transmissions by other network nodes according to the schedule, the transmissions indicating an expected length of a current transmission, adjusting the schedule in accordance with the indicating of a data transmission, and ignoring any subsequent transmissions until a next scheduled transmission start slot in accordance with the adjusted schedule. |
| US08040858B2 |
Method for enabling communications between a communication device and a wireless access point
A system and methods (300, 500) are disclosed for enabling communications between a communication device and a wireless access point. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a multimode communication device (MCD) (106) having a controller (214) for managing operations of a multimode wireless transceiver (202) supporting communications on a plurality of wireless access technologies (103). The controller can be programmed to transmit (324) to a network management system (NMS) (100) over a first wireless access technology a request for configuration information associated with a wireless access point, receive (326) the configuration information from the NMS, and enable (320) communications with the wireless access point over a second wireless access technology according to the configuration information. Embodiments for the NMS are also disclosed. |
| US08040857B2 |
System and method for timeslot and channel allocation
A distributed multi-channel TDMA MAC time slot and channel allocation algorithm for wireless networks is provided. The time slot and channel allocation includes a distributed allocation phase and an allocation adjustment phase. Each phase begins allocation at a first node and continues node-by-node until the last node in the network. The allocation then reflects back from the last node to the first node. At each node in the path, the node can initiate resource allocation between itself and its neighbor nodes. Nodes that are within range of the wireless network but are not on the path do not initiate resource allocation but instead participate in the resource allocation initiated from other nodes. |
| US08040856B2 |
System and method for wireless communication of uncompressed high definition video data using a beamforming acquisition protocol
A system and method for obtaining a transmit beamforming vector for transmission of high definition video data over a wireless medium is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises at least one transceiver, a memory configured to store a first transmit beamforming vector, and a processor configured to i) perform beamforming with the first transmit beamforming vector to modulate a first training signal, ii) transmit the modulated training signal via the at least one transceiver, iii) receive a second modulated training signal via the at least one transceiver, iv) obtain a second transmit beamforming vector based on the modulated second training signal, v) replace the first transmit beamforming vector in the memory with the second transmit beamforming vector, and vi) determine whether to use the second transmit beamforming vector to modulate a high definition video data signal to be transmitted. |
| US08040851B2 |
Method and system of reducing handover time in mobile IP network
A method and system of reducing handover time in a mobile IP network. An Foreign Agent (FA), when a terminal carries out a handover between mobile Internet Protocol Version-4 (IPv4) sub-networks of the Foreign Agent (FA), identifies whether or not a registration request message from the terminal is transmitted from an entry of a visitor list of the Foreign Agent (FA). If the registration request message is transmitted from the entry of the visitor list, interface information of a corresponding one of the sub-networks, to which the terminal registered in the visitor list is connected, is updated. A registration reply message is generated in response to the registration request message, and is transmitted to the terminal. |
| US08040850B2 |
Advanced internet protocol with flash-OFDM methods and systems
In various embodiments, communication apparatuses and methods for providing robust communications are disclosed. For example, an apparatus may establish an air interface in accordance with an orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) protocol. According to another particular aspect, the apparatus establishes an air interface in accordance with a Fast Low-Latency Access with Seamless Handoff Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (FLASH-OFDM) protocol. |
| US08040849B2 |
Maintaining a data connection during a dormant data session with a wireless communication network
A wireless device establishes a data session with a data call, and a data connection is set up for the data session. The wireless device may receive or originate a voice call while the data session is dormant, exchange traffic data for the voice call, and perform handoff between base station controllers (BSCs), if needed, during the voice call. Upon termination of the voice call, the wireless device determines whether it has moved to a new packet zone during the voice call. This may be the case if the wireless device was handed off between BSCs located in different packet zones. If the wireless device has moved to a new packet zone, then the data connection is updated, e.g., by sending to the current serving BSC an origination message indicating no data to send. The network entities perform appropriate actions to update the data connection for the wireless device. |
| US08040845B2 |
Efficient routing between a mobile node and a correspondent node in a proxy mobile IP network
Methods and nodes are provided for efficiently establishing a route between a mobile node and a correspondent node in a Proxy Mobile Internet Protocol network. A return routability procedure is used between a local mobility anchor and a media access gateway on one hand, and the correspondent node on the other hand. The procedure is made without involvement from the mobile node. The procedure is such that the correspondent node handles return routability as per standard mobile IP mechanisms. Following this return routability procedure, a binding of an address of the mobile node with an address of the media access gateway is stored in the correspondent node. This binding allows data traffic to flow between the mobile node and the correspondent node without passing through the local mobility anchor. |
| US08040841B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless terminal and wireless base station
If a WiMAX base station cannot receive a ranging signal from a WiMAX-embedded wireless terminal or if adjustment is not completed even after the WiMAX-embedded wireless terminal adjusts a parameter depending on adjusted value information for a pre-determined number of times, negotiation is performed via a heterogeneous network to establish a communication connection for upstream communication from the WiMAX-embedded wireless terminal to the WiMAX base station, and only downstream communication from the WiMAX base station to the WiMAX-embedded wireless terminal is performed via a WiMAX network. |
| US08040840B2 |
Method of merging cells in cognitive radio
A method of merging cells in cognitive radio is provided. The method includes: requesting base stations to merge cells, measuring service ranges of the merged cells using the base stations, and exchanging cell-merging information between the base stations. |
| US08040836B2 |
Local network coding for wireless networks
A local network coding framework and method including techniques to improve efficiency in a wireless network by reducing overhead. The local network coding method includes exchanging data availability between nodes on the wireless network by sending Bloom filters of lists of packets to neighboring nodes. Based on data availability, optimized mixing of pure packets is performed to form mixture packets for output. A separate acknowledgement buffer keeps track of the pure packets transmitted but not acknowledged. If an acknowledgement does not arrive after a certain time period, the packet is assumed to be lost and is retransmitted. An optimized packet mixing process generates mixture packets and decides which nodes to send the mixture packets. The local network coding framework and method also includes methods for representing the composition of a mixture packet and using mixing at a wireless access point to improve the performance of the wireless local area network. |
| US08040835B2 |
Troubleshooting link and protocol in a wireless network
Methods, apparatuses, and systems directed to facilitating troubleshooting wireless connectivity issues in a wireless network. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, either a diagnostic supplicant in the wireless client or a diagnostic manager initiates a troubleshooting protocol between the diagnostic supplicant and the diagnostic manager over a diagnostic link in response to one or more events. In one embodiment, after the diagnostic supplicant establishes a link to a diagnostic manager via a diagnostic link, the diagnostic supplicant generates and transmits a problem report to the diagnostic manager. The problem report initiates a troubleshooting protocol between the diagnostic manager and the diagnostic supplicant. |
| US08040827B2 |
Method for transmitting sub-frame designation information to a downlink in a radio communication system
A method of transmitting subframe designating information in downlink in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The present invention includes generating the subframe designating information for designating a subframe of a specific type in a radio frame and transmitting the generated subframe designating information to a user equipment, wherein the subframe designating information includes initial location information indicating an initial location of the subframe of the specific type on the radio frame and period information indicating a period for the subframe of the specific type to be repeated. |
| US08040825B2 |
Multiparty calling method and corresponding mobile communication terminal
A multiparty calling method, which includes initiating a multiparty call between at least a first, second and third terminal, and setting a flag in the first terminal to inform a processor of the first terminal to skip a process of closing an existing communication path between the first terminal and the second terminal, when the first terminal is disconnected with the third terminal. Further, the set flag is released when the multiparty call between the at least first, second and third terminals has been established for a predetermined time period. In addition, the first terminal preferably sets the flag when the multiparty call join command is transmitted to the network. |
| US08040824B2 |
Methods and apparatus for content delivery via application level multicast with minimum communication delay
A method for constructing an overlay multicast tree to deliver data from a source to an identified group of nodes is provided in which a plurality of nodes are identified and mapped into multidimensional Euclidean space. A geometric region is constructing having a size that is the minimum size necessary to contain the source and all the nodes. Once constructed, a tree is created beginning at the source and including all of the nodes within the geometric region. |
| US08040822B2 |
Configuring communication services using policy groups
The invention is directed to configuring services in a packet switching network. Embodiments of the invention group existing service policies configured on network routers into policy groups, thereby enabling better management of service policies and policy overrides. This functionality can be useful for identifying redundant policies that may be eliminated by reconfiguring one or more of the network routers to reduce the overall network-wide number of policies, as well as provisioning new services in a manner that efficiently uses existing policies. |
| US08040821B2 |
Switching device, switching method, and switch control program
A switching device includes an input stage switch group 1-1 including a plurality of input lines, an output stage switch group 1-3 including a plurality of output lines, an intermediate stage switch group 1-2 arranged between the input stage switch group and the output stage switch group, and a scheduler 1-22 deciding a signal path of each of intermediate stage switches 1-21 in the intermediate stage switch group based on information input to the respective input lines. The intermediate stage switch group is divided into a plurality of groups, a plurality of the schedulers is arranged in a distributed fashion to correspond to the plurality of groups, respectively and the schedulers operate independently of one another. |
| US08040818B2 |
Method for exchange of upkeep-relevant information with a computer-supported, upkeep system
A method for exchanging upkeep-relevant information regarding a field device with a computer-supported upkeep system, which manages upkeep-relevant information regarding the field device in a database. A mobile, manually portable device is utilized, which has an interface for a wireless Internet access. According to the method, a wireless Internet access is established by the mobile, manually portable device. Subsequently, upkeep-relevant invention regarding the field device is exchanged between the computer-supported, upkeep system, which is connected to the Internet, and the mobile, manually portable device, via the Internet. |
| US08040813B2 |
Apparatus and method for reduced loading of signal transmission elements
An apparatus is provided which includes a common signal node operable to conduct a first signal, a first circuit coupled to the common signal node to utilize the first signal and a signal-handling element coupled to the common signal node. The signal-handling element includes an isolating circuit coupled to the first conductor, a second conductor operable to conduct an output of the isolating circuit, and a signal-handling circuit coupled to the second conductor. The signal-handling circuit is operable to perform a signal-handling function in response to the output of the isolating circuit. By virtue of the isolating circuit, the signal-handling circuit and the first circuit are isolated from the second conductor and the signal-handling circuit. Preferably, the achieved isolation permits a communication signal included in the first signal to be conducted within a communication apparatus with less capacitance, and producing less return loss of that signal. |
| US08040811B2 |
System and method for collecting and managing network performance information
A system and method for collecting network performance information from a packet network. The method may include requesting network performance information from network communications devices on a packet network, collecting the network performance information from the network communications devices, where the network performance information is indicative of communications of real-time content and non-real-time content, and storing the network performance information in a configuration distinguishing the network performance information indicative of communications of real-time content. |
| US08040810B2 |
Method for routing packets in wireless ad-hoc networks with probabilistic delay guarantees
A method determines an optimal route to deliver a packet from a source node via relay nodes to a destination node in a network. A graph of nodes connected by edges represents possible routes in the network. A probability that the packet arrives at the destination before a deadline time is assigned to each edge. A minimal delay route is selected from the possible routes, and an arrival time for delivering the packet using the minimal delay route is determined. The arrival time is comparing to a deadline time, and the probabilities are scaled accordingly until the minimal delay route is an optimal route. |
| US08040808B1 |
Service aware path selection with a network acceleration device
An intermediate network device performs service aware path selection. For example, the intermediate network device comprises a network interface that receives network traffic and a control unit that couples to the network interface. The control unit comprises a storage medium that stores a first set of cost factors for a first path from the intermediate network device to another intermediate network device. The first set of cost factors includes at least one optimization cost factor corresponding to intermediate optimization capabilities available to the intermediate network device that offset other cost factors of the first set. The storage medium also stores a second set of cost factors for a second path between the devices. The control unit selects either the first path or the second path over which to forward the network traffic based on the first and second sets of cost factors. |
| US08040805B2 |
Load control in a communication network
A gateway apparatus for interfacing an access network 1 to a service network 3, the apparatus comprising an input for receiving access requests from the access network at a first flow rate, an output for forwarding access requests to a gateway controller at a second flow rate, and a flow controller for controlling the flow of access requests from said input to said output. The flow controller comprises a receiver for receiving a restrict ion value from the gateway controller, first processing means for determining whether the received restriction value is more restrictive than any currently in use restriction value and, if so, for determining a leak rate on the basis of the received restriction value and the current second flow rate, and second processing means for allowing access requests to pass to said output at a rate up to the determined leak rate at least until a further restriction value is received. |
| US08040804B2 |
Method of flow control for IUB-interface, apparatus and base station
A method of flow control for an IUB-interface, an apparatus, and a base station are disclosed. The method includes the following steps: a frame loss rate of a service is acquired according to the number of lost frames in a predetermined period. A congestion condition at the IUB-interface is determined according to the frame loss rate. A total bandwidth allocated to users' IUB-interface is adjusted according to a bandwidth reservation margin. It is determined whether congestion occurs at the IUB-interface or not by calculating the frame loss rate in the predetermined period, and a maximum available bandwidth for the users' IUB-interface is adjusted in real time according to the congestion condition. Therefore, congestion can be controlled effectively and the bandwidth of the IUB-interface can be used sufficiently. |
| US08040800B2 |
Method for address translation device traversal for SIP signaling messages through temporary use of the TCP transport protocol
A method for establishing a communication session between a first communication client located within a first communication network, and a second communication client, via a signaling server located within a second communication network distinct from the first communication network and connected thereto via a address translation device. The method includes the step of binding a first address and a second address of the first communication client within the address translation device, by having the first communication client transmit registration messages according to the UDP protocol to the communication server. The method further includes saving, at the communication server, an incoming signaling message sent from the second communication client and intended for the first communication client; replying, by the communication server, to the registration message of the first communication client that follows with a reply message requesting that the first communication client send a new registration message using the TCP protocol; and delivering, by the communication server, the incoming signaling message after the new registration message using the TCP protocol has been received from the first communication client. |
| US08040789B2 |
Method for uplink transmission in OFDM(A) system
A method for uplink transmission in an OFDMA system is provided. The subcarrier transmission method includes arranging 4 pilot REs at different positions of a frequency axis in a basic unit when the basic unit includes 4 subcarriers on the frequency axis and 6 OFDM(A) symbols in a time axis, arranging data REs at remaining positions of the basic unit, and transmitting the basic unit to a receiving end. |
| US08040788B2 |
Multi-dimensional network resource allocation
A system and method for allocating communication resources in a multi-transceiver communication system, where multiple transmitters transmit respective signals to a generally similar area. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise allocating frequency and time bandwidth for communication with a second communication system. A first portion of a plurality of transmitters may be allocated for communication with the second communication system utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth. A second portion of the plurality of transmitters may be allocated for a purpose other than utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth to communicate with the second communication system. For example, the second portion of the plurality of transmitters may be blocked from transmitting or allocated for communication with a third communication system utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth. In an exemplary communication system, a resource allocation module may perform various functionality associated with the previously described allocation(s). |
| US08040787B2 |
Method and/or system for reduction of PAPR
Methods and/or systems for reducing peak-to-average-power ratio (PAPR) may utilize rotation among transmit channels and/or inversion of polyphase sequences of sub-blocks of an orthogonal frequency-division multiplex (OFDM) sequence in a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) scheme. |
| US08040786B2 |
Information storage medium, reproducing method, and recording method
According to one embodiment, an information storage medium includes an organic dye material which records information with a light beam having a wavelength equal to or smaller than 620 nm. |
| US08040781B2 |
Wavelength selecting wavelength plate and optical head device using it
An optical rotating plate has an optical rotating material layer. A phase plate is provided on a first surface side of the optical rotating plate and has at least one birefringent material layer. The first surface side is disposed toward an emitting side of an optical path, thereby giving different phase differences to a first linearly polarized light group containing at least a linearly polarized light having a first wavelength and a second linearly polarized light group containing at least a linearly polarized light having a second wavelength which is different from the first wavelength. |
| US08040780B2 |
Optical pickup device and optical disc apparatus
In the optical pickup device, while reflection light reflected from the optical multi-layer disc is divided into a plurality of regions so as to produce a plurality of divided optical beams, the divided optical beams are focused onto different positions on a photodetector, and a focus error signal is detected by employing a plurality of the divided optical beams by utilizing the knife edge method, and further, a tracking error signal is detected by employing a plurality of the divided optical beams. Furthermore, the dividing regions of the optical beam and light receiving parts are arranged in such a manner that stray light derived from other layers of the optical disc is not entered to a servo signal-purpose light receiving part of the photodetector when the divided optical beam is focused onto a target layer of the optical disc. |
| US08040776B2 |
Pulse amplitude modulation circuit with pulse width equalization
In pulse width control equalization, attention is paid to the existence of the symmetry of anteroposterior signals and thereby the size of a table in which the adjustment amount of an edge position is stored is reduced to the power of one-half. Pattern jitters caused by inter-symbol interference are suppressed. The pulse time span of each symbol is adjusted to an optimum pulse width determined by a calculating formula or search in a table in response to a code sequence to be transmitted. In the configuration wherein a table is used, the table to store an edge position adjustment amount wherein the row of the exclusive OR of two symbols located at positions symmetrical to each other before and after a center symbol now ready to be sent in the code sequence is used as a search key is made. |
| US08040773B2 |
Method and recorder for reducing rejection of record carriers due to write errors
When writing on a recordable medium the recorder can encounter write errors. When a write error occurrs the record carrier is discarded. By ignoring write errors in sections of the record carrier comprising unused information, for instance sections of the lead-in or lead-out the record carrier no longer needs to be discarded. |
| US08040766B2 |
Method and apparatus for compensating for defect of storage medium
An apparatus for compensating for a defect of a storage medium of an optical driving includes a memory to store sample values of a servo driving signal during at least one track sampled by a first signal and cycle information about the first signal; a servo driving signal estimator to estimate a servo driving signal during at least one next track using the sample values, the cycle information about the first signal, and cycle information based on a second signal; and a transmitter to transmit the servo driving signal estimated by the servo driving signal estimator to a servo driver of the optical driving device during a defect section of the storage medium; wherein the first signal is synchronized with a radial direction of the storage medium; and the second signal has a frequency higher than the first signal. |
| US08040761B2 |
Near-field light generating device including near-field light generating element disposed over waveguide with buffer layer and adhesion layer therebetween
A near-field light generating device includes: a waveguide; a buffer layer disposed on the top surface of the waveguide; an adhesion layer that is formed by incompletely oxidizing a metal layer and disposed on the buffer layer; and a near-field light generating element disposed on the adhesion layer. The adhesion layer has a resistance-area product higher than that of the metal layer unoxidized and lower than that of a layer that is formed by completely oxidizing the metal layer. A layered structure consisting of the buffer layer, the adhesion layer and the near-field light generating element has a peel-test adhesive strength higher than that of a layered structure consisting of the buffer layer and the near-field light generating element. |
| US08040758B1 |
Golf watch having heart rate monitoring for improved golf game
A wrist-worn apparatus for monitoring a user's performance while playing golf includes a user input, a processor, a heart rate monitor, a timer, a user input, a display, a processor and a memory for storing a plurality of inputted golf parameters that pertain to a round of golf. The apparatus obtains and displays the user's heart rate, providing feedback on the user's heart rate during a round of golf. In addition, the apparatus can store various inputted golf parameters and compute calculated statistics one or more rounds of golf. |
| US08040757B2 |
Sample analyzing apparatus
A sample analyzing apparatus is provided with a memory for storing a schedule of maintenance, a display, and a controller for displaying on the display a screen of calendar format, wherein the screen includes a date display area for displaying a date and a maintenance item display area for displaying a maintenance item scheduled on the date. |
| US08040750B2 |
Dual mode memory system for reducing power requirements during memory backup transition
A controller of a memory system is configured to reduce power requirements during memory backup transition. When transitioning to backup mode, the memory system controller performs a number of power saving techniques. The controller may change a number of configuration settings in the volatile memory system, such as reducing output driver strength, increasing differential impedance, increasing on-die termination, disabling receiver input circuitry, and disconnecting the termination voltage network. The controller may also assert a hard reset to the storage controller system to significantly reduce the load and allow the voltage regulator to continue to provide power to the memory system for a longer period of time. |
| US08040749B2 |
Flash memory controller utilizing multiple voltages and a method of use
A Flash memory controller is disclosed. The Flash memory controller comprises a host interface, a Flash memory interface, controller logic coupled between the host interface, the controller logic handling a plurality of voltages. The controller also includes a mechanism for allowing a multiple voltage host to interface with a high voltage or a multiple voltage Flash memory. A multiple voltage Flash memory controller in accordance with the present invention provides the following advantages over conventional Flash memory controllers: (1) a voltage host is allowed to interface with multiple Flash memory components that operate at different voltages in any combination; (2) power consumption efficiency is improved by integrating the programmable voltage regulator, and voltage comparator mechanism with the Flash memory controller; (3) External jumper selection is eliminated for power source configuration; and (4) Flash memory controller power source interface pin-outs are simplified. |
| US08040748B2 |
Quad SRAM based one time programmable memory
A differential latch-based one time programmable memory cell is provided. The differential latch-based one time programmable memory cell includes a differential latching amplifier having a first set of fuse devices coupled to the first input and a second set of fuse devices coupled to the second input. Only one set of fuse devices can be programmed in a memory cell. If one or more fuse devices in a set of fuse devices are programmed, the side having the programmed fuse will present a lower voltage at its input to the differential latching amplifier. Differential latching amplifier outputs a “0” or a “1” depending on the side having the programmed fuse. |
| US08040746B2 |
Efficient word lines, bit line and precharge tracking in self-timed memory device
A memory device for efficient word line, bit line and precharge tracking is provided. The memory device includes a memory array, one or more address decoders, a word line driver, a plurality of sense amplifiers, a reference word line column, a reference bit line column, and a control circuit. The control circuit generates a control signal to perform read and write operations on the memory device. The address decoder selects a bit line and a word line. The selected word line is activated by the word line driver. While the reference word line column is used for vertical tracking of the word line, the reference bit line column is used for vertical tracking of the bit line. The sense amplifiers are activated to read the bit line. |
| US08040739B2 |
Configurable write policy in a memory system
A configurable memory system may be able to support at least three different write policies, namely, no-read-on-write, read-before-write, and read-after-write. Such a system may include configurable write signal timing, configurable read signal timing, and/or configurable wordline enable signal timing. Static and/or dynamic configuration of the system may be used. |
| US08040738B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing semiconductor memory operations
A semiconductor memory device and a method for performing a memory operation in the semiconductor memory device are provided. The semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of predetermined memory arrays, a bitline decoder, and a controller. The controller provides the memory operation signal to the bitline decoder and, after precharging bitlines of the plurality of predetermined memory arrays, performs the memory operation on selected memory cells in the one or more of the plurality of predetermined memory arrays in accordance with the memory operation signal. The bitline decoder includes a plurality of sector select transistors and determines selected ones of the plurality of predetermined memory arrays and selected rows and unselected rows within the selected ones of the plurality of predetermined memory arrays in response to the memory operation signal. The bitline decoder also precharges the bitlines of the plurality of predetermined memory arrays to a first voltage potential then shuts off the sector select transistors of unselected ones of the plurality of predetermined memory arrays and the unselected rows of the selected ones of the plurality of predetermined memory arrays while maintaining the sector select transistors of the selected rows of the selected ones of the plurality of predetermined memory arrays at the first voltage potential prior to the controller performing the memory operation. |
| US08040730B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array and a control circuit configured to control reading and programming operations for reading data from and inputting data to the memory cell array, respectively. The control circuit includes first and second units. The first unit is configured to count a number of bits having logic 0 or a number of bits having logic 1, to set a logic where the counted number is greater than n/2 as an initial state to regenerate programming data, and to perform a programming operation based on the regenerated data, when simultaneously programming the programming data of n bits input for a designated address. The second unit is configured to program a recognition bit for recognizing which of the logic 0 and the logic 1 the initial state of the memory cell of the designated address is in, when the programming operation is performed. |
| US08040727B1 |
Flash EEprom system with overhead data stored in user data sectors
A system of Flash EEprom memory chips with controlling circuits serves as non-volatile memory such as that provided by magnetic disk drives. Improvements include selective multiple sector erase, in which any combinations of Flash sectors may be erased together. Selective sectors among the selected combination may also be de-selected during the erase operation. Another improvement is the ability to remap and replace defective cells with substitute cells. The remapping is performed automatically as soon as a defective cell is detected. When the number of defects in a Flash sector becomes large, the whole sector is remapped. Yet another improvement is the use of a write cache to reduce the number of writes to the Flash EEprom memory, thereby minimizing the stress to the device from undergoing too many write/erase cycling. |
| US08040724B2 |
Magnetic domain wall random access memory
A magnetic random access memory includes: a magnetic recording layer including a ferromagnetic layer and having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy; and a magnetic reading layer provided on the magnetic recording layer and used for reading information. The magnetic recording layer includes: a magnetization switching area having reversible magnetization; a first magnetization pinned area connected to a first boundary of the magnetization switching area and having magnetization whose direction is pinned in a first direction; and a second magnetization pinned area connected to a second boundary of the magnetization switching area and having magnetization whose direction is pinned in a second direction. The magnetic reading layer includes: a magnetic sensing layer whose direction of magnetization changes based on a direction of the magnetization of the magnetization switching area; a nonmagnetic barrier layer provided on the magnetic sensing layer; and a pinned layer provided on the nonmagnetic barrier layer. |
| US08040719B2 |
Nonvolatile memory devices having bit line discharge control circuits therein that provide equivalent bit line discharge control
A memory device includes a memory array having a plurality of rows and columns of nonvolatile memory cells (e.g., PRAM cells) therein and a first plurality of local bit lines electrically coupled to a corresponding first plurality of columns of memory cells in the memory array. A first plurality of bit line selection circuits are also provided, which are responsive to bit line selection signals. A first plurality of bit line discharge circuits are electrically connected to respective ones of the first plurality of local bit lines. A bit line discharge control circuit is provided to drive the first plurality of bit line discharge circuits with equivalent bit line discharge signals during an operation to read data from a selected one of the first plurality of local bit lines. |
| US08040714B2 |
Multilevel nonvolatile memory device using variable resistance
A multilevel nonvolatile memory device using a resistance material is provided. The multilevel nonvolatile memory device includes at least one multilevel memory cell and a read circuit. The at least one multilevel memory cell has a level of resistance that varies according to data stored therein. The read circuit first reads first bit data from the multilevel memory cell by providing a first read bias to the multilevel memory cell and secondarily reads second bit data from the multilevel memory cell by providing a second read bias to the multilevel memory cell. The second read bias varies according to a result of the first reading. |
| US08040713B2 |
Bit set modes for a resistive sense memory cell array
Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a method and apparatus for providing different bit set modes for a resistive sense memory (RSM) array, such as a spin-torque transfer random access memory (STRAM) or resistive random access memory (RRAM) array. In accordance with some embodiments, a group of RSM cells in a non-volatile semiconductor memory array is identified for application of a bit set operation. A bit set value is selected from a plurality of bit set values each separately writable to the RSM cells to place said cells in a selected resistive state. The selected bit set value is thereafter written to at least a portion of the RSM cells in the identified group. |
| US08040712B2 |
Information memory device and memory medium
An information memory device using an electromagnetic-wave resonance phenomenon is provided to achieve both high density and long-period storage of stored data. Memory cells are three-dimensionally arranged in the inside of a solid-like medium which is not contacted with a surface of the medium, and the memory cell has resonance characteristics to electromagnetic waves depending on the space coordinates of the memory cell. For the medium, a material is selected so that an electromagnetic wave having the resonance frequency of the memory cell. By observing absorption spectra of the irradiated electromagnetic wave or emission spectra after the absorption, three-dimensional space coordinates of the memory cell are calculated. |
| US08040711B2 |
Apparatus and methods for optically-coupled memory systems
Optically-coupled memory systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system memory includes a carrier substrate, and a controller attached to the carrier substrate and operable to transmit and receive optical signals, and first and second memory modules. The module substrate of the first memory module has an aperture formed therein, the aperture being operable to provide an optical path for optical signals between the controller and an optical transmitter/receiver unit of the second memory module. Thus, the system memory provides the advantages of “free space” optical connection in a compact arrangement of memory modules. In an alternate embodiment, the first memory module includes a beam splitter attached to the module substrate proximate the aperture. In another embodiment, the first and second memory modules are staged on the carrier substrate to provide an unobstructed path for optical signals. In another embodiment, the optical transmitter/receiver unit projects outwardly from the module substrate to provide an unobstructed path for optical signals. |
| US08040709B2 |
Semiconductor storage device
A semiconductor storage device includes: a memory cell array having memory cells positioned at respective intersections between a plurality of first wirings and a plurality of second wirings, each of the memory cells having a rectifier element and a variable resistance element connected in series; and a control circuit selectively driving the first and second wirings. The plurality of first wirings that are specified and selectively driven at the same time by one of a plurality of address signals are separately arranged with other first wirings interposed therebetween within the memory cell array when a certain potential difference is applied to a selected memory cell positioned at an intersection between the first and second wirings by the control circuit. |
| US08040703B2 |
Power factor correction controller with feedback reduction
A power control system includes a feedback loop having a power factor correction (PFC) and output voltage controller and a switching power converter. The switching power converter includes an inductor to supply charge to an output capacitor and a switch to control inductor current ramp-up times. The PFC and output voltage controller provides a control signal to the switch to control PFC and regulate output voltage of the switching power converter. During a single period of the control signal, the PFC and output voltage controller obtains the line input voltage and output voltage of the switching power converter using a single feedback signal received from the switching power converter. |
| US08040702B2 |
DC/DC power converting apparatus
Three or more circuits, in which series-connected low-voltage and high-voltage side switches including MOSFETs including parasitic diodes are connected across positive and negative terminals of each of smoothing capacitors, are connected in series. One of elementary series circuits, each including a capacitor and an inductor, is disposed between any adjacent two of the circuits with the elementary series circuits set to have the same period of resonance. The MOSFETs of rectifier circuits are brought into an ON state simultaneously with the MOSFETs of a driving inverter circuit and brought into an OFF state earlier than the MOSFETs of the driving inverter circuit by a period of time not exceeding a time period equal to (period of resonance)/2. A resonance phenomenon of the capacitor and the inductor is used and conduction loss in the rectifier circuits is reduced in DC/DC power conversion performed through charging and discharging operation of the capacitor. |