| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08051812B2 |
Variable valve actuator with a pneumatic booster
Actuators, and corresponding methods and systems for controlling such actuators, provide independent valve control with a large initial or opening force. In an exemplary embodiment, an actuator includes a driver further including a housing defining a longitudinal axis and first and second directions, an actuation mechanism capable of generating actuation force at least in the first direction, and a rod with one end operably connected with at least one part of the actuation mechanism and with the other end available for an operable connection with a load such as an engine valve; at least one return spring operably connected with the rod through a spring retainer assembly and biasing the rod in the second direction; and a pneumatic booster further including a pneumatic cylinder, a pneumatic piston operably connected with the rod through the spring retainer assembly and biasing the rod in the first direction, a charge mechanism providing a controlled fluid communication between the pneumatic cylinder and a high-pressure gas source, and a bleed mechanism providing a controlled fluid communication between the pneumatic cylinder to a low-pressure gas sink. |
| US08051810B2 |
Coolant passage within a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine
A cylinder head having a coolant passage therein includes a coolant inlet, an exhaust valve seat portion, intake valve seat portion, and a spark plug mounting portion formed centrally in the cylinder head, wherein a guide rib is formed close to the coolant inlet for coolant to flow near the spark plug mounting portion along the exhaust valve seat portion and a coolant outlet is disposed near to a corner of the intake valve seat portion. |
| US08051806B2 |
Animal behavioral control apparatus
An animal behavioral control apparatus includes a cartridge, a housing, a head, and an extension assembly. The cartridge contains pressurized gas. The housing surrounds a part or more of the cartridge. The head is connected to the housing and includes an actuator and a valve. The valve engages the cartridge when the actuator is actuated in order to release gas out of the cartridge. The extension assembly is connected to the head to receive gas from the head. Upon actuation of the head, gas flows through the extension assembly and the animal behavioral control apparatus ejects a blast of gas which can be directed at an animal. |
| US08051803B2 |
Top-fill hummingbird feeder with vertically operative base sealing mechanism
A top-fill hummingbird feeder has a generally upstanding reservoir bottle or liquid container with a large opening at its top end that is closed and sealed by a removable top or cap. The bottom of the bottle or container has a lower bottom opening which can be screw-threaded into a central collar of a feeding basin that has a plurality of feeding ports. A tubular insert is received within the central collar and is configured to be vertically movable between a first position in which fluid is allowed to flow from the liquid container to the basin, and a second position in which fluid flow from the container to the basin is prevented. Movement of the insert between the two positions is effected by pushing the liquid container toward the basin (the closed position) and by pulling the liquid container away from the basin (the open position). Each movement of the insert has an associated “snap” or gives positive physical feedback which the user can feel that assures the user that the desired fluid flow or fluid sealed position has been achieved. |
| US08051800B2 |
Nanomaterial immobilization method and immobilization apparatus
In an immobilization process of electrostatically spraying a nanomaterial dispersion liquid 13 from an electrostatic spray nozzle 20 and immobilizing a nanomaterial on a sample 10, a voltage is applied between the dispersion liquid 13 and the sample 10 to electrostatically spray the dispersion liquid 13 onto the sample 10 from a spray outlet 22 of the nozzle 20 under a condition where one or zero particles of the nanomaterial 18 are contained in each individual droplet 16 sprayed and electrostatically deposit the nanomaterial 18 onto a surface of the sample 10 after drying a solvent 17, contained in each individual droplet 16, in an atmosphere to immobilize the nanomaterial 18 on the sample 10. Aggregation of the nanomaterial in each droplet is thereby prevented and the nanomaterial can be immobilized favorably on the sample. |
| US08051799B2 |
Object-processing apparatus controlling production of particles in electric field or magnetic field
An apparatus includes a housing defining a chamber in which an electric field is generated, and an internal member provided in the chamber. At least one part of the internal member is formed of a dielectric material. A process is executed in the chamber so that a dielectric deposit is formed on the at least one part of the internal member. An m1(d∈1/dm1) value of the dielectric material and an m2(d∈2/dm2) value of the dielectric deposit are set so that production of particles from the deposit is properly controlled. The term m1 is a mass density of the dielectric material, ∈1 is a permittivity of the dielectric material, m2 is a mass density of the dielectric deposit, and ∈2 is a permittivity of the dielectric deposit. |
| US08051792B2 |
Boat body and boat including the same
A boat body for a boat includes a projecting portion arranged to support one or more outboard motors at a position spaced upward and rearward from a transom. The projecting portion extends from a rear portion of the transom of the boat body, and the projecting portion supports the outboard motors at locations upward and further rearward than in a case where the outboard motors are directly installed on the transom. The projecting portion includes a projecting member that is bilaterally symmetrical and that decreases in width in a rearward direction and in an upward direction. The projecting portion includes a side thruster passing through the projecting portion in a horizontal direction. When viewed from the side, a lower edge portion of the projecting portion includes a slanting portion that is generally linear and that extends rearward and upward from a lower portion of the transom. When viewed from the rear, the lower edge portion of the projecting portion has a generally V-shape. |
| US08051791B2 |
Helicopter landing platform having motion stabilizer for compensating ship roll and/or pitch
A motion compensation system for a helipad on a vessel includes a sensor for measuring a parameter related to at least one or pitch and roll of the vessel. The system includes a first actuator functionally coupled to the helipad to move the helipad translationally with respect to the vessel in response to the measured at least one of pitch and roll of the vessel. |
| US08051789B1 |
Mooring device
A mooring device is disclosed for securing a floating structure to a layer of soil. A body of water is displaced by the vessel. The floating structure supports an individual having a first hand and a second hand. The mooring device comprises a shaft extending between a first end and a second end. A point is secured to the first end of the shaft for permitting the shaft to transverse the layer of soil. A handle is secured to the second end of the shaft for receiving a descending vertical force or an ascending vertical force. The handle includes a concave upper surface extending between a primary end and a secondary end for receiving the first hand and/or the second hand of the individual during the descending vertical force. The handle includes a first convex surface and a second convex surface. |
| US08051786B2 |
Stoker grates for circulating combustible material
A stoker grate for circulating a combustible material includes a stationary grate sheet support and a moveable grate sheet support fitting with prop rolls on the stationary grate sheet support. The moveable grate sheet support includes a pair of moveable grate sheet supports opposed to each other and another pair of arc-shaped moveable grate sheet supports opposed to each other to form a long annular-shaped assembled support, stationary grate sheets fitting with mounting transverse beams of the stationary grate sheet support, moveable grate sheets fitting with mounting transverse beams of the moveable grate sheet support, the moveable grate sheets and the stationary grate sheets being disposed alternatingly, and a transmission unit. The driving moveable grate sheet support is hinged to the adjacent driven moveable grate sheet support and the driven moveable grate sheet supports are hinged to each other. |
| US08051782B2 |
Desk and display stand with height and depth adjustment
An ergonomic desk includes an adjustable display stand supported on a table or other support platform of the desk. The display stand is adapted to support one or more display monitors thereon and to provide depth and height adjustment for the display monitors via electronic controls. The height and tilt of the table may also be adjusted using electronic controls. |
| US08051778B2 |
Chair for a chair lift and chair lift
A chair for a chair lift has seats with a seat surface and a safety bar that extends transversely over the seats and can be pivoted from an open position into a closed position. Securing parts, in particular protective panels, are arranged on the safety bar and, in the closed position of the safety bar, extend in the direction toward the center of the front edge of the respective seat surface. The securing parts have a first section which is adjacent to the safety bar and is oriented toward the front edge, and a second end section which is oriented at an angle of less than 180° to the first section. |
| US08051777B2 |
Switch for a powered pallet conveyor
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a switch for a powered pallet conveyor is provided. The switch comprising (a) a turntable and (b) rail portions which are arranged upon the turntable and define at least a first travel pathway and a second travel pathway, whereby the first travel pathway is defined by straight rail portions and a second travel pathway is defined by curved rail portions, so that the central line of the first travel pathway and the departure lines of the second travel pathway respectively pass through the fulcrum of the turntable. |
| US08051776B1 |
Self-cleaning cartridge actuated and propellant actuated devices
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method includes driving a piston by mechanically harnessing an explosion of energetic material contained in a cartridge. The method further includes releasing cleanser contained in the cartridge in response to the explosion of the energetic material. |
| US08051774B2 |
Printing plate module, printing press, and method of mounting plates
A printing plate module is disclosed. The module comprises a printing plate support member (3) having means (5) to locate printing plates (4) in a predetermined position thereon and, engagement means (8) on the plate support member for the releasab a engagement of the printing plate support member (3) with a printing press during a plate loading operation to locate printing plates (4) located on the plate support member (3) in a predetermined position relative to a plate cylinder (7) of the press. The invention also discloses a printing apparatus and, a method of loading printing plates onto a plate cylinder of a printing unit. |
| US08051772B2 |
Support system and method for a screen printing unit
A support system and method for supporting a printing screen unit in a screen printing machine. The support system includes a support assembly comprising a support unit for supporting a printing screen unit comprising a printing screen including printing apertures through which printing medium is printed onto a workpiece; and a tensioning mechanism for tensioning the printing screen in a screen printing operation, wherein the tensioning mechanism is configured to tension the printing screen to a first tension in a printing phase in printing printing medium onto a workpiece and a second tension, which is lower than the first tension, in a separation phase in separating the printing screen unit and the workpiece. Other aspects also are disclosed. |
| US08051770B2 |
Robot binding apparatus for coil packaging
A robot binding apparatus for coil packaging includes: a grip unit that grips a band used for packaging a coil; a grip robot that supports the grip unit, rotates the grip unit seizing the band at the periphery of the coil to make the band wound on the coil, and moves the band to a fastening position; a head unit that provides the band to the grip unit and fastens the band at the band fastening position; and a head robot that supports the head unit and moves the head unit to the band fastening position. |
| US08051768B2 |
Retractable rotisserie motor
A retractable rotisserie driver which is used in connection with a barbecue grill is described and shown herein. In one embodiment, a retractable motor support apparatus is pivotably connected to a side shelf assembly of a barbecue grill, and is movable between a storage position, where the rotisserie motor is substantially enclosed by the side shelf assembly, and a usage position, where the motor is generally aligned for engagement with a rotisserie spit. The support apparatus includes a first wall and a second wall which are adjacent and generally transverse to one another. The first wall is configured to be aligned generally flush with an upper surface of the side shelf assembly when the support apparatus is moved to the storage position to increase the usable work area on the shelf. The second wall is provided with a power cord holder for compactly holding the motor's power cord when the apparatus is moved to the storage position. The side shelf assembly and support apparatus are also provided with corresponding latch mechanisms which are adapted to engage when the support apparatus is moved to the usage position. |
| US08051765B2 |
Distributor of powdered product with removable reservoir
A distributor of powdered product, the distributor having a case, a reservoir removably installable in a housing formed in the case, the reservoir having a distribution orifice and being adapted to contain the powdered product and to be installed in the housing by a vertical translation movement, and elements for locking the reservoir in an intended position in the housing, with associated elements for confirming that the reservoir is correctly positioned inside the housing, elements for confirming including a switch that is responsive to the position of the reservoir in the housing and that forms part of an operating control of a machine associated with the distributor. |
| US08051764B2 |
Fluid control system having selective recruitable actuators
A fluid control or actuation system providing selective recruiting of actuators antagonistic to one another to provide variable output power, such as that used to drive a load. The actuators are intended to comprise different sizes, and to be operable with one or more pressure control valves capable of providing displacement of a non-recruited actuator without requiring active input to cause such displacement. Being able to selectively recruit different sized actuators to drive the load, and being able to displace non-recruited without active input, effectively incorporates a gearing function into the fluid control system. |
| US08051763B2 |
Hydraulic apparatus
In a hydraulic apparatus, a first rotating member and a second rotating member are provided so as to be relatively rotatable with a same central axis, a cam is provided on the first rotating member, pistons are arranged on the second rotating member so as to be opposed to the cam, the pistons are pressed against the cam to contact by compression coil springs, oil chambers of which volumes are expanded and contracted according to movements of the pistons are provided on the second rotating member, first and second fluid paths through which oil flows into and out from the oil chambers are provided, and a path switching device for switching an inflow direction and an outflow direction of the oil in the first and second fluid paths according to difference in pressure between the first and second fluid paths is provided. |
| US08051759B2 |
Motion detecting system for use in a safety system for power equipment
A method of controlling a woodworking machine having a movable cutting tool. The method monitors a signal for a change indicative of a dangerous condition between the cutting tool and a person, senses movement of the cutting tool, and performs an action to mitigate the dangerous condition when the signal change and movement of the cutting tool are both detected. A woodworking machine including a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and a working portion of the machine and then to perform some action to mitigate the dangerous condition is also disclosed. A motion detection system is adapted to detect motion of the working portion and to disable the reaction system when the working portion is not moving. |
| US08051758B2 |
Injury mitigation system for power tools
A power tool comprises a detection system for detecting a situation where an operator using a power tool of the type which has an exposed rotating component contacts the rotating component, and a protection system for minimizing the possibility of an operator being injured by contacting the rotating component. |
| US08051757B2 |
Method for cutting paper and other graphic supports on a roll at the same time along two perpendicular axes with automatic correction of errors
A method of cutting, simultaneously on two axes (X, Y) perpendicular to each other, of a sheet or web of paper and other graphic or photographic substrates (10) with series of images, comprising the steps of feeding forward the substrate sheet or web (10) to a direction (F), detecting the speed of sheet or web (10) feed and the speed at which the distance is varying between image reference marks (11) and the ideal feed direction, determining a correct cutting line (TX) in a transverse direction to the feed direction (F) of the sheet or web by data processing according to trigonometric relations through a microprocessor to obtain the angle of parallelism defect of the image with respect to the ideal feed forward direction, aligning suitable mobile means (4) of transverse cutting with the desired cutting line (TX) by means (5) for shifting the transverse cutting means. |
| US08051754B2 |
Lathe, computer program for lathe control, and machining method by lathe
With the use of a tool (41), first cutting is applied to a work (W), and then second cutting is applied to the work (W) while the tool (41) is transferred in an X-axis direction. Then, an amount of deviation dy between the cutting edge height of the tool (41) and the center line of the work (W) is calculated based on a first diameter value (D1) and second diameter value (D2) measured after the first cutting and second cutting are applied, and the travel distance of the tool (41) between the first cutting and the second cutting. Machining to the work (W) is resumed after the amount of deviation is corrected. |
| US08051749B2 |
Positive pivot centers for adjustable tools
There is disclosed herein an improved adjustable tool, such as a pair of pliers, having a first jaw portion and a second jaw portion, the first and second jaw portions being pivotably connected to one another by a pivot pin attached in any manner to one of the jaw portions and fitted within a channel defined within the other of the jaw portions. Preferably, the channel is formed by a plurality of pivot centers, including two non-adjacent terminal centers and at least one intermediate center, each center being connected to at least one other center by a slot to form a single pathway such that travel of the pivot pin between non-adjacent pivot centers requires travel through at least one intermediate pivot center, and the pivot pin has a positive tactile indication when properly seated in each pivot center. |
| US08051748B2 |
Small but effective toolkit
A toolkit includes a handle and at least one bit set. The handle is in the form of a plate including a first cavity defined in a middle portion and a second cavity defined in a terminal portion. The bit set includes a bit and a cap non-rotationally provided on the bit. The cap is non-rotationally inserted through the first cavity where only a mild torque is needed. The cap is non-rotationally inserted through the second cavity where a large torque is needed. |
| US08051741B2 |
Managing structure for umbilical member of industrial robot
A managing structure for an umbilical member includes a flexible conduit for leading an umbilical member inserted therein from a front arm of a robot to a working tool mounted on a wrist of the robot, a first conduit mounting portion provided adjacent to the front arm, and a second conduit mounting portion provided adjacent to a point where the umbilical member is connected to the working tool. One end of the conduit is attached to the first conduit mounting portion, while the other end of the conduit is attached to the second conduit mounting portion. The conduit is laid so that a section thereof between the first conduit mounting portion and the second conduit mounting portion does not contact the body of the robot. |
| US08051739B2 |
Vehicle-use transmission manipulating device
A vehicle-use transmission manipulating device for substantially preventing a rider's foot from interfering with a rod thereof. In a vehicle-use transmission manipulating device having a pair of pivot support members for supporting a pivot shaft of a swing arm provided at left and right sides of a main pipe behind a transmission. A driver step and a support shaft of a change pedal are provided behind the pivot support member with the change pedal and a transmission shaft being connected with each other by way of a rod. A bell crank is arranged below the driver step. The rod includes a first rod for connecting the change pedal and the bell crank and a second rod for connecting the bell crank and the transmission shaft side. The second rod is arranged in front of the change pedal. |
| US08051738B2 |
Rotor gear for a generator
A rotor gear includes a rotor gear body having involute teeth that each have an involute surface that extends between a tooth tip and a tooth base. The involute surface includes at least reference points A-D, with reference point A near the base, reference point D near the tip, reference point B between reference points A and D, and reference point C between reference points B and D. The reference points A-D have associated respective roll angles, εA-D, between a corresponding first line that is perpendicular to the involute surface at the given reference point A-D and a second line that is tangent at a reference point that lies on a terminal end of the involute surface at the tooth base to a reference base circle having a center origin at the center axis. |
| US08051736B2 |
Deflecting device for ball screw device
A ball screw device includes a screw engaged into a nut member for forming an endless ball guiding passage between the nut member and the screw and for receiving a number of ball bearing members, the nut member includes two orifices aligned with the helical grooves of the nut member and an axial ball return channel communicating with the orifices of the nut member, a deflecting device includes two deflecting members engaged into the orifices of the nut member and each having a ball deflecting channel communicating with the helical grooves and the axial ball return channel of the nut member for increasing the strength and the working life of the deflecting device. |
| US08051735B2 |
Automated shift transmission
In an automated split path transmission with at least six forward speeds and three characteristic transmission steps (sI, sII, sIII), which decrease with the height of the forward speed, one of the forward speeds is a direct gear and the power of a further forward speed passing through two constant gearsets of the split path group. |
| US08051732B2 |
Dual clutch group transmission shifttable under load
In a load shiftable group transmission with a high number of gears, particularly suitable for utility vehicles, the transmission includes a dual clutch a split unit, a direct gear, a main group and a hollow shaft on a countershaft in an arrangement, wherein the various gear stages can be established by a change of the input constants within the split unit without a change in the transmission stage in the main transmission without an interruption in tractive force during shifting between two adjacent gears within the main group. |
| US08051727B1 |
Pore-water profiler
A pore-water profiler and method for sampling pore water. The pore-water profiler includes a sample intake probe that receives the fluid to be sampled. A clog-resistant first filter filters the fluid as it enters the sample intake probe. A second filter, which has a pore size less than the pore size of the first filter, filters the fluid a second time before the fluid enters a sample container. A sample triggering system connected to the sample container initiates sampling by causing the fluid to be drawn into the sample intake probe. The profiler provides high-resolution (centimeter-scale) vertical pore-water profiles. The sequential filtration of the pore water avoids the problem of sample-circuit clogging, even in sediments dominated by fine or organic-rich particles. The profiler has all non-metallic, acid-washable components that contact the fluid sample, making the profiler suitable for trace-inorganic studies. |
| US08051725B2 |
Method and apparatus for soil sampling
A soil collection device can be used to collect soil samples from a harvester that excavates soil while harvesting a ground crop. The soil collection device can include a collection area for collecting soil that is excavated from the ground by the harvester and discarded from the harvester. A storage device can receive and store at least a portion of the discarded soil in individual containers. A location marking device can being configured to mark the individual containers of discarded soil with information concerning the location of the soil collection device at or about the time the discarded soil was received in the individual containers. |
| US08051720B2 |
Method and device for measuring the local mechanical resistance of a porous body
Method and device for determining the local mechanical resistance inside of a porous body having a variable density and/or porosity, in particular inside of a porous bone structure comprising the following steps: selecting a site of said porous body destined to receive a fixation element, in particular a screw or a bone implant; drilling a hole into said porous body; and measuring a mechanical parameter of the porous structure surrounding said drilled hole by inserting a suitable tool (1) into said drill hole. |
| US08051715B2 |
Resonant inspection using reconfigurable nest
The present disclosure provides a device and method for non-destructive testing of an object using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, wherein the device is provided with a reconfigurable nest for placement of objects of various shapes and sizes on the device. The reconfigurable nest includes a plurality of transducers that are held in place using a rheological fluid. As each transducer is arranged, for example, using a robotic tool, an electric or magnetic field is applied to the rheological fluid in contact with said transducer, thereby holding the transducer in place. This device and method thus provide a nest for a resonant inspection device that may be reconfigured in much less time and with much less effort when compared to existing solutions. |
| US08051709B2 |
Method and apparatus for pre-spinning rotor forgings
A method and system for relieving forging induced residual stresses in a rotor forging balances a pre-spin machine with the forging mounted thereon at a first rotational speed and then pre-spins the forging with it mounted on the machine at a substantially greater second rotational speed. A one per rev sensor is used for determining a weight placement angle and a vibration sensor is used for determining an amount of weight to add to a spinning assembly including the forging during the balancing. High-density non-metallic balance weights adhesively attached on an inside surface of the forging or spinning assembly may be used. The rotational inertia of the spinning assembly may be checked during a spin up period by determining a rate of rotational acceleration vs. torque applied to the spinning assembly and used to stop the pre-spinning if it is to great. |
| US08051705B2 |
Tire equipped with a sensor and a method of measuring strain amount of the tire
This invention provides a tire (10) equipped with a sensor (14), attached to a rubber member (15) in the surface of the tire (10), for detecting deformation of the tire (10). The sensor (14) is adhered to the rubber member (15) with the aid of an elastic adhesive formed of a room-temperature moisture cure adhesive agent composed mainly of an acryl modified silicone resin or the like. The adhesive between the sensor (14) and the rubber member (15) is cured to form an elastic adhesive layer (16). According to the above constitution, the deformation of the rubber member (15) in the tire surface can be transmitted to the sensor (14) with high accuracy, and, at the same time, the durability of the sensor (14) can be improved. |
| US08051702B2 |
Vibration monitor
A system comprising an amplifier for amplifying signals of frequencies less than one kilohertz generated by a vibration sensor and using the amplified signal to amplitude modulate a carrier signal at a frequency in excess of one kilohertz and applying the amplitude modulated carrier signal to a sensor interface circuit. |
| US08051700B2 |
Exhaust gas sensor and method for determining concentrations of exhaust gas constituents
An exhaust gas sensor and a method for determining concentrations of exhaust gas constituents are provided. The exhaust gas sensor includes a NO2 Nernst cell that generates a first voltage indicative of a NO2 concentration in the exhaust gases communicating with the NO2 sensing electrode. The exhaust gas sensor further includes a NOx Nernst cell that generates a second voltage indicative of a NOx concentration in the exhaust gases communicating with the NOx sensing electrode. The exhaust gas sensor further includes a NH3 Nernst cell that generates a third voltage indicative of a NH3 concentration in the exhaust gases communicating with the NH3 sensing electrode. |
| US08051699B2 |
Abrasive wear testing machine with cycle programmability and variable force application
An abrasive wear testing machine exhibiting a support surface upon which is dynamically supported a tray to which a wear piece is secured. A tool bit is supported by a vertically displaceable and weight supporting bracket in a fixed and downward load applied fashion against the wear piece, such that the tray is reciprocated a selected number of cycles to determine a wear profile exerted upon the wear piece by the tool bit. The bracket is configured so that end located receiving channels are each seatingly engaged upon upwardly extending hydraulic lifts secured to the support surface, with a plurality of free weights arranged upon the hydraulic lifts. |
| US08051696B2 |
Press forming method for aluminum alloy sheet and pressing device
The invention provides a press forming method of an aluminum alloy sheet and a press device capable of forming a large panel which is an automobile body outer panel such as a luggage outer panel and the like and is of a shape difficult in forming. In a method of press forming of the aluminum alloy sheet 30 into a formed product panel having non-contact outer peripheral parts 5, 6 not contacting the punch for forming the center part of the panel until the vicinity of the bottom dead point, the first punch forming the center part 2 of the panel and the second punch 15 capable of shifting independently with respect to the first punch are provided, and these punches are interlocked with each other so that the second punch 15 is made contact the non-contact outer peripheral parts 35, 36 of the sheet with the relative position of the second punch 15 with respect to the first punch 11 being shifted to the dice 22 side. |
| US08051691B2 |
Apparatus and method for vending securely stored products to consumers
A lock mechanism is disclosed, the lock mechanism having a rotary latch configured for rotation between a locked position and an unlocked position, the rotary latch rotating in a first plane and the rotary latch is retained in the locked position after it has been rotated into the locked position from the unlocked position, the rotary latch being spring biased into the unlocked position by a biasing member; and a first lock mechanism for releasing the rotary latch from the locked position after actuation of the first lock mechanism, the biasing member rotating the rotary latch into the unlocked position, the rotary latch being capable of being manipulated back into the locked position from the unlocked position after release by the first locking mechanism and the first locking mechanism must be reset in order to once again release the rotary latch. |
| US08051690B2 |
Anti-theft threaded cap
An anti-theft device is provided for inhibiting access to a fastener, and more specifically to a fastener head. The anti-theft device can include a base member with an opening for receiving the fastener and a lid member releasably coupled to the base member. The lid member can include a specialized tool recess adapted for receiving a specialized tool, such that only the specialized tool can be used to open and close the lid member. |
| US08051688B2 |
Lock device
A lock device includes a main body, a lock that locks and unlocks a lid member, an operating button, an engagement member, a rotor that rotates by locking and unlocking the lock, a coupling member, and an arm disposed on the rotor and coupled to one end of the coupling member. The coupling member interlocks the operation button and the engagement member with unlocking the lock and releases an interlock between the operation button and the engagement member with locking the lock. The engagement member slides through the coupling member to disengage the engagement member from the main body by operating the operating button. |
| US08051687B2 |
Traction steer detection and compensation
A system, method, and computer program product for detecting and compensating for a traction steer event is provided. A first wheel speed of a first driven wheel is compared with a second wheel speed of a second driven wheel to determine whether a wheel slip condition has occurred. If a wheel slip condition is determined to have occurred, a current operating state of a vehicle is compared to an expected operating state of the vehicle to determine if a traction steer event has occurred. If a traction steer event is determined to have occurred, brake pressure is selectively applied to the first or second driven wheel to compensate for the traction steer event. |
| US08051681B2 |
Constant force scoring device and method for using same
A scoring device is described herein that applies a constant force while scoring a piece of material so that there is a consistent score quality (or vent depth) within the scored piece of material. In one embodiment, the piece of material is a bowed shaped glass sheet that is supported by a conformable nosing device which has been configured to have a bowed shape that substantially matches the bowed shape of the glass sheet. |
| US08051678B2 |
Press molding method for manufacturing of glass substrate
The present invention relates to a glass substrate of which the outer periphery portion is unprocessed. The present invention also relates to a manufacturing method for a glass substrate of which the outer periphery portion is unprocessed, characterized in that a first lapping process, a second lapping process, a polishing process and a washing process are carried out after a press molding process is carried out so as to compress glass between an upper mold and a lower mold without regulating the edge surface of the outer periphery portion of the glass and, then, a crystallization process or an annealing process is carried out. |
| US08051674B2 |
Method and system for use with a consumable beverage
A system for use with a consumable beverage includes a container having a mouth. A lid is detachably engaged with the container. A collar is adapted to be seated in the mouth of the container. The collar defines an opening therein. A thermal energy storing member is detachably engagable with the opening in the collar and/or the lid. A collar for supporting an end of a thermal energy storing member; a lid for a container adapted to engage a thermal energy storing member; and method of providing a chilled consumable beverage are each separately detailed herein. |
| US08051673B2 |
Circulating air refrigerating appliance and assembly method therefor
A circulating air refrigerating appliance surrounds at least one storage region and an evaporation chamber containing an evaporator. The evaporator engages with projections extending from an inner wall of the housing defining the evaporation chamber. A separating wall between the storage region and the evaporation chamber is mounted adjacently to the evaporator in the housing. |
| US08051672B2 |
Fluid cooled cabinet for electronic equipment
An electronic equipment cabinet is provided, which includes an enclosure defining an interior space. A support is disposed with the interior space and is configured to receive electronic equipment. The bottom portion defines a base plenum configured for at least one heat exchanger, which is in fluid communication with a low temperature fluid supply and a high temperature fluid return. A closed loop gas flow distribution pathway includes a first plenum communicating with the base plenum and configured to direct a low temperature gas to the support, and a second plenum configured to receive a high temperature gas flow from the support and direct the high temperature gas flow to the base plenum. A temperature sensor is disposed with the enclosure to sense the temperature of the high temperature gas flow within the enclosure. |
| US08051670B2 |
HVAC management system for a vehicle
A vehicle that includes a frame, a prime mover, an alternator, a cabin, a HVAC system, and a power source. The prime mover is operable in a first mode that is configured for driving the vehicle and a second mode that is configured for standby operation of the vehicle. The cabin includes walls that define a space and that have insulation to insulate the space. The HVAC system is in communication with the cabin to condition the space, and includes a cooling system, a heating system, and a sorption system that dehumidifies air provided to the space. The power source has a battery that is in electrical communication with the alternator and the HVAC system to supply power to the HVAC system from the battery when the prime mover is in the first mode and when the prime mover is in the second mode. |
| US08051665B2 |
High efficiency thermoelectric cooler control system
A temperature control system is provided for efficiently controlling the temperature of an optical transmitter such as a laser diode. The temperature control system of the present invention reduces power consumption and achieves a higher efficiency by employing a voltage controller and a high-efficiency DC-DC step-down converter between the TEC controller, which drives the thermoelectric cooler, and the microcontroller, which governs the optical transmitter operation. The voltage controller converts an analog voltage command signal into a current-based command signal, which is then sent to the DC-DC step-down converter. The DC-DC converter produces a stepped-down voltage which it supplies to the TEC controller. The TEC controller receives the stepped-down voltage input from the DC-DC converter and outputs a corresponding current signal to the thermoelectric cooler. Because the current signal output by the TEC controller is proportional to the voltage signal it receives from the DC-DC converter, the current signal is reduced in magnitude. Upon receiving the current drive pulses, the thermoelectric cooler operates to stabilize the temperature of the laser diode. |
| US08051662B2 |
Transition duct assemblies and gas turbine engine systems involving such assemblies
Transition duct assemblies and gas turbine engine systems involving such assemblies are provided. In this regard, a representative a transition duct assembly for a gas turbine engine includes: an impingement sheet having cooling holes formed therethrough, an inlet end and a non-flanged outlet end, the impingement sheet being operative to be positioned about an exterior of a transition duct such that cooling air is directed to flow about the transition duct; the non-flanged outlet end of the impingement sheet being operative to attach the impingement sheet to the transition duct such that the inlet end is positioned adjacent to an intake end of the transition duct and the outlet end is positioned adjacent to an exhaust end of the transition duct. |
| US08051658B2 |
Hydraulic element
A hydraulic element, in particular for arranging in a pressure line between a master cylinder and a slave cylinder of a hydraulic clutch actuating arrangement, having a housing which has a master-cylinder-side hydraulic connection and a slave-cylinder-side hydraulic connection and which holds a valve arrangement, a simpler design is obtained in that the valve arrangement has two valve bodies which are mounted in a floating fashion in the housing and which can be moved relative to one another counter to the force of a spring. |
| US08051657B2 |
Plunger-typed master cylinder for brake system of vehicle
According to the plunger-typed master cylinder of the invention, because deformation of seal cups fitted in the hydraulic pressure chambers with the pistons (primary piston and floating piston) inserted is minimized, that is, the deformation of the inner flange being in contact with pistons does not substantially affect the outer flange being in contact with hydraulic pressure chambers when the master cylinder is in operation, it is possible to prevent deterioration in the performance of passing or stopping oil due to the deformation of seal cups and durability. |
| US08051656B1 |
Shape-memory alloy actuator
A shape memory element (a structure formed from a shape memory alloy) includes an electrically conductive ferromagnetic material. The ferromagnetic material may be magnetostrictive. In some embodiments, the shape memory element is formed from a shape memory alloy core and has a cladding over the core that includes the ferromagnetic material. In other embodiments, the shape memory alloy may be selected to be ferromagnetic. |
| US08051655B2 |
Method and system for electrical and mechanical power generation using stirling engine principles
A heat engine enclosed in a housing has two chambers maintained at different temperatures. The first chamber (“hot chamber”) receives heat energy from an external power source. The second chamber (“cold chamber”) is connected to the hot chamber by two conduits, such that a fluid (e.g., air, water, or any other gas or liquid) filling the two chambers can circulate between the two chambers. The expansion of the fluid in the hot chamber and the compression of the fluid in the cold chamber drive a turbine to provide a power output. The fluid may be pressurized to enhance efficiency. In one embodiment, the turbine propels an axle in a rotational motion to transmit the power output of the heat engine to an electrical generator outside of the heat engine's housing. In one embodiment, the turbine includes a first set of blades and a second set of blades located in the hot chamber and the cold chamber, respectively. The blades may each have a flat profile having two unequal surfaces, such that the turbine rotates in preferentially in one direction. |
| US08051654B2 |
Reheat gas and exhaust gas regenerator system for a combined cycle power plant
A combined cycle power plant includes a compressor, a first turbine, a second turbine, a first combustor, a second combustor, a heat exchanger and a heat recovery steam generator. A controller operates the combined cycle power plant a first mode wherein compressor air is passed through the heat exchanger before being delivered to the first and second combustors, and exhaust gas from the second turbine is passed to the heat exchanger. The exhaust gas from the second turbine pre-heats the compressor air passing through the heat exchanger to the first and second combustors. |
| US08051652B2 |
Hydraulic system and automatic gearbox
A hydraulic system including a multi-flow hydraulic pressure supply unit, especially a dual-flow hydraulic pressure supply unit, such as a pump, by which a volumetric flow of pressurized fluid is supplied to a hydraulic-fluid-operated device. A valve arrangement is provided either for switching between the individual pump flows or for interconnecting the individual pump flows. |
| US08051646B2 |
Particulate filter regenerating system
Disclosed is a particulate filter regenerating system which comprises a fuel injection device (7) adapted to inject fuel into a combustion chamber of an engine body (1), and an exhaust gas temperature-adjusting device (33) adapted, when a PM deposit amount which is an amount of particulate matter (PM) deposited in a DPF (particulate filter) 13 provided in an exhaust passage of an engine, reaches a predetermined value X, to cause the fuel injection device (7) to perform a post-injection for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber during an expansion stroke of the engine, so as to execute a filter regeneration process of raising a temperature of exhaust gas flowing into the DPF 13 to burn the deposited PM. The exhaust gas temperature-adjusting device (33) is operable to cause the fuel injection device (7) to stop performing the post-injection in a stage where a PM burning amount which is an amount of PM burned through the filter regeneration process, is less than an initial PM deposit amount which is the PM deposit amount X at a timing of initiation of the filter regeneration process, by a predetermined amount. The particulate filter regenerating system of the present invention can adequately burn and remove PM deposited in a particulate filter, by means of a post-injection of fuel, while effectively suppressing a fuel consumption due to the post-injection. |
| US08051644B2 |
Electrically heated particulate filter zone-based post fuel injection system
A system includes a particulate matter (PM) filter with multiple zones. An electrical heater includes heater segments that are associated with respective ones of the zones. The electrical heater is arranged upstream from and proximate with the PM filter. A post fuel injection system injects fuel into at least one of a cylinder of an engine and an exhaust system. A control module selects one of the zones, adjusts post fuel injection based on the selected one of the zones, and electrically heats the one of the zones via a respective one of the heater segments. |
| US08051639B2 |
Thrust reverser
The thrust reverser is used with an aircraft gas turbine engine and includes upper and lower doors pivotable between a stowed position and a deployed position. When deployed, the doors redirect a portion of the efflux to generate a nose-down pitching moment on an aircraft to improve handling during thrust reversing on a runway. |
| US08051632B2 |
Automatic calibration for a header flotation system
A system and method for calibrating a header flotation system of an agricultural vehicle that can be employed while the vehicle is in motion, including when traversing a field, which does not rely on, or require calibration of, height and/or pressure sensors. |
| US08051630B2 |
Device for shrinking packagings
A device is provided for shrinking shrinkable packages by heating by utilizing a liquid and/or gaseous heating medium, which reduces the amount of energy required. The novel device and method achieves its advantages by recovering heat by a recirculation apparatus (8, 9) for recovering heating medium which has evaporated from the liquid heating medium. The method relates to an operational process utilizing such a device. |
| US08051626B2 |
Purlin beam with connectable terminals
The beam has end terminals which can be connected to one another, such that one of the terminals is provided with front projections for guiding in vertical displacement of the other terminal, which has guides with a form which mates with the said projections, one of the terminals also having projecting lower arms to support the other terminal after it has been put into position, thus determining a single area of contact in order to permit disconnection of the supported terminal during dismantling, by turning on the said area of contact. |
| US08051622B2 |
Uninsulated section suitable for producing insulated sections for thermal break window and door frames and associated method of assembly
An uninsulated section comprising a first section element and a second section element is described; the first section element comprises a first cavity for housing a portion of a first heat-insulating body and a second cavity for housing a portion of a second heat-insulating body; the second section element comprises a third cavity for housing another portion of the first heat-insulating body and a fourth cavity for housing another portion of the second heat-insulating body. The uninsulated section also comprises a partition connecting the first section element and the second section element. Advantageously, the partition may be situated between the first and the second cavity and between the third and the fourth cavity. |
| US08051621B2 |
Tie system and method for connecting a cementitious backup wall made in a penetrable form and a veneer wall
A tie system is provided for use with a wall form for a cementitious backup wall and for use with a wall tie to connect between the cementitious backup wall and a veneer. The tie system includes a backup wall connector and a form connector. The form connector is connectable to the form and secures the backup wall connector in position as the wall form is filled. |
| US08051616B2 |
Movable partitions, header assemblies for movable partitions, and related methods
A header assembly for a movable partition includes an overhead track and a header pan. The header pan is configured to extend from the overhead track to an adjoining structure. The header pan, the overhead track, or a combination of both may form a fire-resistant barrier extending from a wall of the adjoining structure to an opposing wall of the adjoining structure. Movable partition systems may include header assemblies. Methods of forming header assemblies include positioning a header pan proximate to an overhead track and extending the header pan between a first wall and a second wall to at least substantially occlude a section of space therebetween. Methods of installing a movable partition include securing an overhead track to an overhead support structure, securing a retainer clip to an adjoining structure, extending a header pan from the overhead track to the retainer clip, and suspending a partition from the track. |
| US08051613B2 |
Combined wall panel
A combined wall panel is composed of a plurality of main body boards. The specific base angle on said main body board wherein longitudinal and transverse grooves are provided at equal distance so as to form a protruding square brace block; a first longitudinal and transverse grooves are provided respectively from said base angle at a translational distance of a second unit length, the last longitudinal and transverse grooves is positioned at a distance of a third unit length to said second long and short sides, while remanding longitudinal and transverse grooves are provided successively at an equal interval of a first unit length between the first longitudinal and transverse grooves and the last longitudinal and transverse grooves; wherein said main body board is provided further from said base angle with longitudinal and transverse splicing joining faces having a fourth unit width, and wherein said main body board is provided further on part of said brace blocks as well as longitudinal and transverse joining faces with through holes penetrating through the thickness of said main body board. |
| US08051610B2 |
Patient flatwall system
A patient flatwall system comprises a generally horizontal track extending generally parallel and adjacent to a wall of a hospital room, and at least one patient flatwall coupled to the track for movement therealong and for rotational movement relative thereto about a generally vertical axis. The at least one flatwall has a plurality of service connectors. In another embodiment, a patient flatwall system comprises a short telescopic arm having a proximal end coupled to the track for movement therealong, and a patient flatwall coupled to a distal end of the telescopic arm for rotational movement about a generally vertical axis. |
| US08051609B2 |
Wind turbine tower and method of assembling
The invention relates to a wind turbine tower comprising at least two annular tower rings placed vertically on top of each other. The wind turbine tower is characterized in that, a first tower ring overlaps at least a further tower ring of the at least two tower rings. The invention further relates to a wind turbine, a wind turbine tower elevator for use in a wind turbine tower and a method for assembling a wind turbine tower. |
| US08051606B2 |
Sealing or guiding assemblies and method of making it
A sealing or guiding assembly for sealing or guiding a corner of a closure member such as a window (109) for an opening is disclosed. The sealing or guiding assembly is attached to a frame (8) comprising panels (22,24). Strips (91) of flexible material extend towards and meet at the apex of the corner and are shaped to receive the closure member (109) at the corner and are adapted to be supported by a corner support which forms part of the frame (8). A flap (170) of flexible material is joined to the strips (91) in the region of the corner and bridges across the corner between the strips (91). The strips include inner lip (102) and outer lip (103). The joins (160) and (162) between the molded flap (170) and the (preferably extruded) material of the strips (91) is obscured from view by the lips (102) and (103). |
| US08051600B2 |
Flying insect trap with spaced entryways
An insect trap (100) with spaced apart first and second entry structures (120, 140), includes an entrapment chamber (100) having a first compartment (102) and a second compartment (104) separated from the first compartment with a transverse panel (106). A conical first tapered guide (126) extends from the first entry structure into the first compartment, and a second tapered guide (146) extends from the second entry structure to the second compartment. The guides encourage the target insects to venture further into the trap, while hindering egress from the trap. One or more of the compartments include means for retaining an attractant. Traps having more than two compartments with spaced apart entryways are also disclosed. |
| US08051599B2 |
Percussive rodent trap
A percussive rodent trap has an activation mechanism and a hammer for striking a percussive device when the activation mechanism is activated. A first safety moves the hammer mechanism to a cocked position and prevents it from being released from this cocked position. A second safety can be engaged after the first safety is engaged to prevent the activation mechanism from being activated when the first safety is removed. The second safety is easily removed after the trap is put in place without inadvertently activating the activation mechanism. |
| US08051591B2 |
Guide and anchor system for a billboard tensioning system
The present invention relates to a guide and tensioning system for a billboard, comprising a facing area surrounded by trim pieces. The trim pieces each comprise a back plate, a side plate and a front plate. Guide groups may be located at various locations along the outside edge of the back plate. The guide groups may comprise an arced guide located between two tab guides or a keeper tab may be centered over the arced guide. The guide group may also comprise a clip that selectively secures to the arced guide. The clip has a complimentary shape to the arced guide and to a gap in the back plate. Hook-like structures on the clip selectively engage with the end edge portions of the arced guide. When engaged with the arced guide, the clip preferably prevents a cable member from falling behind the back plate. |
| US08051589B2 |
Clothing iron holder with water reservoir
The clothing iron holder with water reservoir (10) is a protective accessory for use with a clothing iron (12) or the like. The holder (10) includes a water reservoir (16) and is sized and shaped to receive a clothing iron (12). The holder (10) has an opening (30) for releasably covering the iron's water fill opening (14) so that if the iron (12) is inadvertently tipped over or falls, water exiting the water fill opening (14) is received within the water reservoir (16). Further, when received within the holder (10), a lower face (42) of the clothing iron (12) is supported by an upper surface of the central portion (22), and the upper surface preferably has a heat-resistant padded layer (40) formed thereon. |
| US08051581B2 |
Article of footwear construction with binding portions
At least one invention pertains to an article of footwear having a foot-receiving portion and a sole portion attached via at least one binding element. In one aspect, an article of footwear includes a foot-receiving portion configured to extend over a portion of a foot of a wearer, and the foot-receiving portion being configured to extend to medial and lateral side of the foot, and the foot-receiving portion including a binding element. A sole portion having a top surface for contacting the foot and a lower surface for a least a portion provided ground engagement. A plurality of apertures extending through the top surface and lower surface, the apertures are configured to receive the binding element therein to attach the foot-receiving portion to the sole portion. |
| US08051576B2 |
Metrological apparatus for measuring surface characteristics
An attitude arm mounted to a support arm is rotatable about a pivot. The attitude arm holds a stylus gauge, which generates a signal representing deflection of the stylus in a measurement direction as the stylus follows a surface of a workpiece rotated on a turntable. An attitude switching mechanism allows switching between a first stylus attitude generally aligned with the turntable spindle axis and a second stylus attitude generally aligned perpendicular to the turntable spindle axis. To enable alignment of the measurement direction with the spindle axis, first and second adjusters enable the stylus tip to be moved perpendicular to the spindle axis and the measurement direction when in the first and second stylus attitudes, respectively. An orientation mechanism is provided to rotate the measurement direction of the stylus. A stylus tilt mechanism is provided to tilt the stylus about a tilt axis parallel with the measurement direction. |
| US08051574B1 |
Third axis level for archery sight
A third axis level for an archery sight incorporating a bubble level mounted on an assembly that may be rotated independently about a vertical axis and horizontal axis and wherein adjustment in either axis is independent of the other and both adjustments are independent of any other adjustment of the bow sight or any other accessory that may be mounted on the bow. |
| US08051573B1 |
User manipulated line marking apparatus
A user manipulated apparatus for producing straight construction lines on sheet material includes a linearly extensive frame with integrally formed handle and an expendable marking strip affixed to a bottom edge of the frame. A user positions the frame so that its ends are in registry with the endpoints of a desired construction line, with the marking strip contacting the surface of the sheet material. The user then linearly displaces the frame a short distance along its length so that the marking strip rubs along the surface of the sheet material and produces a visible construction line. The portion of the frame that supports the marking substance may be compliant to ensure that the marking substance fully engages the surface of the sheet material even when the sheet material has surface irregularities or is not perfectly planar. |
| US08051572B2 |
Pliers for removing fastening ring with an adjusting device
A pair of pliers for removing fastening ring includes a pliers head, a pliers handle and a cover, wherein the pliers head comprises a left pliers head and a right pliers head, the pliers handle comprises a left pliers handle and a right pliers handle, and the left pliers head and the right pliers head are connected to a left pliers handle and a right pliers handle via a connecting shaft respectively, wherein the cover is provided at each of both sides of the pliers head via a head shaft, wherein the cutting edge of the left pliers head is blunt, and a projecting element is extended from an upper portion of the cutting edge of the left pliers head, the cutting edge of the right pliers head is a blade, and an adjusting device is provided at an upper portion of the left pliers handle and the right pliers handle. |
| US08051570B1 |
Multi-use kitchen utility knife
The multi-use kitchen utility knife includes a handle containing a compartment for storage of a material that is distributed onto a side opposite of the knife blade. The contents of the compartment being advanced via a threaded advance knob that can be removed to provide access to the compartment for refilling or cleaning. |
| US08051568B2 |
Grate cover apparatus and method
The present invention relates to a temporary grate cover apparatus for placement over a storm water grate to filter sediment and trash from entering the storm drain during a construction project and to a method of making and attaching a storm water grate cover to a storm water grate. |
| US08051567B2 |
Steering wheel and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a steering wheel and a method of manufacturing the wheel that includes: providing parts including a frame 112 that is composed of a rim 112a and spokes 112b, an upper foam member 114 that is fitted on the upper portion of the frame, a lower foam member 116 that is fitted on the lower portion of the frame and contacts upper foam member 114, and a leather cover 118 that covers upper foam member 114 and lower foam member 116; assembling the foam members by fitting upper foam member 114 and lower foam member 116 onto the upper portion and the lower portion of frame 112; and attaching leather cover 118 by covering the outsides of upper foam member 114 and lower foam member 116 with the leather cover. According to the steering wheel, first circular grooves G11 where at least one of upper foam member 114 and lower foam member 116 is fitted are formed along the circumference of rim 112a of frame 112 to prevent rotation of the foam members and reduce the weight of the frame. Further, first circular protrusions P11 where first circular grooves G11 are fitted are formed on the upper and lower foam members. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a light-weight steering wheel by reducing the weight of the foam member and to simply manufacture the steering wheel by modifying the manufacturing processes. Therefore, it is possible to improve productivity with the reduced manufacturing cost, and the natural frequency with high recyclability. |
| US08051563B2 |
Systems and methods and apparatus involving fabricating brush seals
A method for fabricating a brush seal assembly comprising, bending a first plate member to a helical shape, bending a second plate member to a helical shape, securing the first plate member to a drum, winding a wire material around the drum and the first plate member, securing the second plate member to the drum, attaching the second plate member and the first plate member to the wire, and cutting the wire to define a bristle length. |
| US08051557B2 |
Substrate with multi-layer interconnection structure and method of manufacturing the same
The invention provides a substrate with multi-layer interconnection structure, which includes a substrate and a multi-layer interconnection structure formed on the substrate. The multi-layer interconnection structure is adhered to the substrate in partial areas. The invention also provides a method of manufacturing and recycling such substrate and a method of packaging electronic devices by using such substrate. The invention also provides a method of manufacturing multi-layer interconnection devices. |
| US08051553B1 |
Apparatus for adjusting pitch and roll in a head suspension
Apparatus for adjusting the static attitude of a head suspension having a gimbal with at least one gimbal arm. One embodiment of the invention includes a pair of first contacting members contacting a first side of the gimbal arm at a pair of spaced apart locations, and a second contacting member contacting a second side of the gimbal arm at an intermediate location between the spaced apart locations. The first and second contacting members move together relative to each other, plastically deforming the gimbal arm by the relative movement between the second and first contacting members while the spaced apart location between the first contacting members is maintained during the plastic deformation such that at least one of a pitch and roll parameter of the gimbal is adjusted to a desired amount. |
| US08051549B2 |
Method for producing plasma display panel
To realize a plasma display panel having display performances of high precision and high brightness with low power consumption, after formation of base film (91), a metal oxide paste made of metal oxide particles, an organic component including a photopolymerization initiator, a water-soluble cellulose derivative, and a photopolymerization monomer, and a diluting solvent is applied. By exposing, developing, and firing the paste film, agglomerated particles as a plurality of metal oxide particles agglomerated are formed so as to be attached on base film (91). The content of the metal oxide particles included in the metal oxide paste is 1.5% by volume or less. |
| US08051544B2 |
Method of replacing insulators on a tower and insulator support and transport assembly therefor
A method of replacing an electrical insulator on a conductor-supporting tower includes the steps of providing an elongate beam spanning the tower between a work site and a helicopter accessible site, a trolley movable on the beam between the sites and an insulator cradle detachably supported by the trolley for supporting the insulator during transport between the sites and to and from the tower via helicopter. The cradle is a partially peripherally enclosed, open-topped structure having a floor, an upstanding rear wall, peripheral walls sloping downwardly from the rear wall to a front wall, an opening in the front wall, an elongate slot in the floor extending rearwardly from the opening, the slot having a width greater than the diameter of an insulator shank but less than the diameter of an insulator skirt, the dimensions of the floor allowing an insulator skirt to lie flat thereon. |
| US08051543B2 |
Composite working lathe
The invention provides a composite working lathe capable of improving the efficiency of workpiece machining area by arranging a workpiece handling device below a spindle of the composite working lathe. The composite working lathe 1 comprises a spindle 20 and a tool spindle 30 on a bed 10. A workpiece handling device 40 arranged below the spindle 20 can be moved along a W axis parallel to the axis line C1 of the spindle. The workpiece handling device 40 has a workpiece handling head 50 that pivots in the direction of arrow F around an axis line C2, and grips the workpiece K1 via a gripper 60. The axis line C2 is an axis perpendicular to the vertical plane including the axis line C1 of the spindle 20, and the workpiece handling head 50 is raised for 90 degrees when the gripper 60 receives the workpiece K1 from the spindle 20. The angular position of the workpiece handling head 50 is allocated and the workpiece K1 is machined via a tool T1 on the tool spindle 30. |
| US08051541B2 |
Stringed bead securement device
The present invention is directed toward a bead securement device comprising a tension spring, a first cover and a second cover. The first cover and the second cover are removably secured to the tension spring. In use, a force is exerted on the spring through the covers causing the spring to deform and the gaps between the plurality of coils on the spring expand. Once expanded, the filament may be passed in between one of these gaps so that when the force exerted on the end members of the spring is released, the filament is squeezed between the coils of the spring and held in place. The filament can be easily removed by using the covers to manipulate the end members of the spring. |
| US08051535B2 |
Magnetic doorstop
The present invention provides a magnetic doorstop, which is attached to the multidirectional joint of the existing sectional shelf. The doorstep includes a block type main part, which is of block type and has an mounting end and a holder; a clamp mouth, which is concave on the mounting end of the main part and displays a v-shape; and a magnetic part set on the holder of the main part. The magnetic doorstop can clamp the edge of corner recess of a multidirectional joint by the clamp mouth, and when the flexible door piece pivots to close, the magnetic part on the holder of the holding magnetic doorstop attracts the magnet at one corner of the frame bar of the flexible door piece and holds it. Thus, the flexible door piece can be held close. |
| US08051527B2 |
Cleaning robot system of satellite type
The present invention relates to a cleaning robot system of a satellite type. The present invention provides a cleaning robot system of a satellite type that includes a flat autonomous cleaning head, a hose assembly, and a cleaning main body. The flat autonomous cleaning head includes a suction inlet formed in a bottom thereof, a side connector communicating with the suction inlet, travel wheels provided on both side thereof, and variable speed drive motors for driving the travel wheels. The hose assembly is connected to the cleaning head and is at least partially flexible. The cleaning main body is connected to the hose assembly and includes a vacuum pump, a dust collector, a discharge air separator, a power supply, and a controller. Since the cleaning head of the cleaning robot system according to the present invention has a simple structure, it is possible to make the cleaning head thin. Further, since the cleaning robot system has high output of power and high vacuum sucking performance, it is possible to satisfactorily clean the house. Furthermore, the cleaning robot system can perform wet cleaning by ejecting steam, hot water, and wash water, unlike a disk-shaped robot cleaner. Therefore, the cleaning robot system can satisfactorily perform all kinds of cleaning options that can be performed by a manual cleaner. In addition, the cleaning robot system can have a self-washing function to perform self-washing. |
| US08051525B2 |
Hair brush
A brush is made up of: a handle an aluminum tubular body which is coated with an artificial plastic material, vinyl fluoride polymer, and holes with polygonal shape, arranged in a herringbone pattern, which end in bevelling and are arranged forming oblique lines in respect of the longitudinal axis of the brush. Nylon fibers are ionized by radiation, and are fixed helicoidally to a supporting center rod, located inside the tubular body. The fibers emerge through the holes of the tubular body, and a front top closes the fore end of the tubular body. |
| US08051523B1 |
Tube cleaning implement
A tube cleaning implement with elongate shaft supporting a brush in a median section and similar scrapers or wipers fitted to opposite ends of the shaft to provide for a scrape-brush-scrape cleaning action of tube interiors, and to provide a reversible implement having extended useful life. |
| US08051517B2 |
Inflatable bed having air chambers inflatable individually by an electric air pump unit
An inflatable bed includes a bedstead assembly, a mattress assembly, and an electrical air pump unit. The mattress assembly is disposed on and above the bedstead assembly, and includes a top sheet, a bottom sheet disposed under the top sheet, and a plurality of surrounding sheets interconnecting the top and bottom sheets to form a plurality of air chambers, which are not in fluid communication with each other. Each of the air chambers is defined among the top sheet, the bottom sheet, and a respective one of the surrounding sheets. The electrical air pump unit is disposed on the bedstead assembly, and is operable to inflate the air chambers individually so that air pressures in the air chambers may be different. |
| US08051514B2 |
Pillow having a concealed food surface with integral beverage holder
The invention generally pertains to a pillow convertible between an open position as a food and beverage holder and a closed position as a pillow. By way of example, the pillow has a first and second pillow portion that may be coupled and uncoupled to switch between a closed position and an open position. The pillow also has a food surface member with one or more beverage holders that is sized to fit within the interior of the pillow in the closed position. In another example, the food surface member is a two-piece construction with a slidable tray lock that moves between a first position when the pillow is closed and a second position that secures the two pieces together as a substantially coplanar surface when the pillow is open. In yet another example, the beverage holder is tapered so as to fit a variety of sizes of beverage containers. |
| US08051511B2 |
Emergency stretcher
A stretcher includes a patient support, a base, and a plurality of support members, which supports the patient support relative to the base. The support members are adapted and arranged to raise or lower the base relative to the patient support. The stretcher also includes a releasable locking link between the patient support and a fixable point at the base. |
| US08051510B2 |
Foldable diaper bag, changing surface, and play pad assembly
A foldable diaper bag, changing surface and play pad assembly is disclosed. The foldable diaper bag, changing surface, and play pad assembly comprises a circular portion and a rectangular portion attached to and extending outwardly from said circular portion, wherein said circular portion in combination with said rectangular portion define a keyhole shape. |
| US08051509B2 |
Heated sleeping bag
A sleeping bag generally comprises a shell including an inner layer defining an interior space for a user of the sleeping bag, and an outer layer defining an exterior surface of the bag. A heating pad pocket is on the inner layer. A heating pad is disposed in the pocket and retained therein for radiating heat toward the user. |
| US08051507B2 |
Easy maintenance sensing type automatic faucet
A faucet includes a mounting unit and a valve unit. The mounting unit includes a fixed seat and a rotatable seat rotatable relative to the fixed seat. The fixed seat is formed with a plurality of inverted L-shaped retaining hooks. The valve unit includes a housing, a coupling member disposed in the housing, a valve seat, an electromagnetic valve, and an infrared sensor. The coupling member includes a plurality of L-shaped retaining grooves engaging respectively the retaining hooks. The retaining hooks can be removed from the retaining grooves to allow for maintenance and replacement of the valve unit. |
| US08051506B2 |
Shower storage cabinet
The present invention is an article for storing shower and bathroom supplies comprising a rectangular unit with at least one cavity positioned between the center line of the bottom portion of the article and each terminal end of said bottom portion and a mounting whereby said mounting secures the article into place above a shower header. |
| US08051505B1 |
Spa cover and method
A cover for a spa includes a frame with a raisable hood. The hood is affixed by cable to an electric winch mounted atop the frame. Pivotable louvers allow the hood to raise and bracket guides act as stops for safety purposes. After spa usage the winch lowers the spa hood to cover the spa and prevent dust, leaves, debris and the like from contaminating the water contained within. |
| US08051501B2 |
Swimming goggles
Swimming goggles include a left lens frame, a right lens frame, a connecting member for connecting the left lens frame and the right lens frame, a left connecting frame, a right connecting frame, a left pad frame, a right pad frame and buckles. The left lens frame and the right lens frame have lenses therein. The left connecting frame and the right connecting frame are made of hard material resistable against pulling force from the head strap of swimming goggles, and are respectively assembled to front sides of the left lens frame and the right lens frame. The buckles are unitarily assembled on outward sides of the left connecting frame and the right connecting frame. The left pad frame and the right pad frame are made of material softer than the left connecting frame and the right connecting frame, and cover around a user's eyeholes. |
| US08056138B2 |
System, method, and service for detecting improper manipulation of an application
A piracy protection system incorporates tamper detection capabilities into a protected copy of an application by disassembling a statically linked binary of the application, modifying some of the instructions in the application, and then rewriting all of the modified and unmodified instructions to a new executable file, a protected copy. The piracy protection system comprises an offline tamper detection technique in which the software itself detects the tampering and causes the program to fail, therefore protecting itself from malicious attacks. The system further comprises a dynamic software-watermarking process that incorporates code obfuscation to prevent reverse engineering. |
| US08056136B1 |
System and method for detection of malware and management of malware-related information
Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for centralized detection and management of malware-related information for use by different security applications. In one example, the centralized security management system comprises a central knowledge database of security information, such as information about various types of malware and other security threats. The system further includes an interpreter module that provides a plurality of customized Extensible Markup Language (XML) interfaces for receiving and parsing information queries from remote security applications developed by different vendors. The system further includes a plurality of local and remote analytical modules (engines) that analyze information queries from the security applications using malware-related information contained in the central knowledge database. |
| US08056134B1 |
Malware detection and identification via malware spoofing
A malware spoof component may be a formed component which has some but not all characteristics of an actual malware file or other component. Alternately, a spoof component may be an isolated component extracted from actual malware. Malware spoof components may be placed on a target system, after which a listing is obtained and checked. If the placed spoof component does not appear in the listing, then the spoof component may have been filtered out by malware infecting the system, thereby revealing the malware's presence. |
| US08056130B1 |
Real time monitoring and analysis of events from multiple network security devices
Security events generated by a number of network devices are gathered and normalized to produce normalized security events in a common schema. The normalized security events are cross-correlated according to rules to generate meta-events. The security events may be gathered remotely from a system at which the cross-correlating is performed. Any meta-events that are generated may be reported by generating alerts for display at one or more computer consoles, or by sending an e-mail message, a pager message, a telephone message, and/or a facsimile message to an operator or other individual. In addition to reporting the meta-events, the present system allows for taking other actions specified by the rules, for example executing scripts or other programs to reconfigure one or more of the network devices, and or to modify or update access lists, etc. |
| US08056127B2 |
Accessing password protected devices
Embodiments of the invention include a method that comprises receiving and storing a power-on password. Embodiments of the invention include a method that comprises receiving and storing a power-on password. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a power-on password, wherein the receiving of the power-on password occurs during power-on operations of a computer. The method can also include storing the power-on password, wherein the storing includes saving the power-on password in memory. The method can also include loading an operating system to control the computer, wherein the loading occurs after the power-on operations. The method can also include detecting, after the loading, that a peripheral devices has been added to the computer and determining that an access password is needed to access the peripheral device. The method can also include transmitting the power-on password to the peripheral device and presenting a prompt requesting a secondary password; receiving the secondary password. The method can also include transmitting the secondary password to the peripheral device; and accessing the peripheral device. |
| US08056126B2 |
Authentication system for instruction processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, authentication control method, and authentication control program
An authentication system for an instruction processing apparatus includes first and second authentication portions each for performing user authentication at the time of using the instruction processing apparatus, and a controller which makes the first authentication portion execute the user authentication and switches from the first authentication portion to the second authentication portion when the user authentication by the first authentication portion cannot be established. |
| US08056125B2 |
Recording medium storing control program and communication system
A computer readable recording medium storing a control program causing a computer to execute a process in which an authentication proxy terminal carries out authentication on behalf of a client terminal using a browser to one or more server terminals, the process which includes: performing user authentication between the client terminal and the authentication proxy terminal before an access from the client terminal using the browser to the server terminal; if the user authentication is properly performed, executing proxy authentication to the server terminal on behalf of the client terminal; and sending to the client terminal a script file that controls the browser so as to access the server terminal without involving the authentication proxy terminal at a time of the access using the browser from the client terminal to the server terminal after the proxy authentication is properly executed. |
| US08056124B2 |
Automatically generating rules for connection security
A method and system for creating security policies for firewall and connection policies in an integrated manner is provided. The security system provides a user interface through which a user can define a security rule that specifies both a firewall policy and a connection policy. After the security rule is specified, the security system automatically generates a firewall rule and a connection rule to implement the security rule. The security system provides the firewall rule to a firewall engine that is responsible for enforcing the firewall rules and provides the connection rule to an IPsec engine that is responsible for enforcing the connection rules. |
| US08056122B2 |
User authentication method and system using user's e-mail address and hardware information
A user authentication method of authenticating a user on an on-line basis using a user's e-mail address and hardware information is provided. The user authentication method includes the steps of: transmitting a user's authentication client platform hardware information and e-mail address to an authentication server module through an authentication client module installed in the authentication client platform; and the authentication client module determining user authentication according to whether or not the e-mail address and hardware information received from the authentication server module is identical to user's e-mail address and hardware information stored in an authentication database. A user's authentication request and authentication is confirmed through an e-mail in the case that authentication fails in the primary authentication process. The user authentication method performs authentication by using a user's hardware information and e-mail address, their uniqueness of which is verified. Accordingly, since a user's password is not required, inconveniences of reissuing the user's password due to losing the same can be reduced. |
| US08056120B2 |
Authentication apparatus, authentication method, and computer program product
A monitoring unit monitors a client terminal used by a user, and when there is a predetermined access operation to a resource from the client terminal, acquires identification information from the client terminal. A verifying unit verifies whether the identification information matches stored identification information. When it is verified that the identification information matches the stored identification information, a referring unit refers to an access management system to check an entry status of the user to a facility. A determining unit determines whether to allow the access operation based on a check result from the referring unit. |
| US08056118B2 |
Systems and methods for universal enhanced log-in, identity document verification, and dedicated survey participation
Systems and methods are provided for controlling access via a computer network to a subscriber server. A log-in server receives a query to connect through the computer network to the subscriber server, and the log-in server receives registrant identification data. A first session is established between the log-in server and the subscriber server to validate the registrant identification data, and to generate a session password. A second session is established between the log-in server and the subscriber server. The second session is configured to authorize, based in part on the registrant identification data, access to at least a portion of a website associated with the subscriber server. |
| US08056107B2 |
Frame scattering for video scrubbing
Disclosed is a method of retrieving video frames over a network for subsequent display. A user interaction (303) with a timeline (202) represented by a client (103) coupled to the network (105) is detected. From the detected interaction, a request (304) for video to be retrieved from a server (101) across the network is formed. A series of non-contiguous (scattered) sample frames (FIGS. 13-16) received in response to the request are then cached (104) for subsequent display. This method permits efficient handling of video scrubbing requests for streamlining video as only selected ones of the cached sample frames close to a GUI play head position (203) need be reproduced. Since the frames are non-contiguous, the scope of the source video is quickly sampled permitting improved user response and, where desired, adjustment of the play head position. |
| US08056102B2 |
Channel selection device receiving a multi-channel video and a channel selection method receiving a multi-channel video
There is provided a channel selection device receiving a multi-channel video including plural videos and video configuration information on each video from a head end. The channel selection device includes a first screen display unit editing the multi-channel video based on the video configuration information and searching view configuration information to generate a channel searching view and displaying the channel searching view on a sub-screen of a television; and a second screen display unit displaying on a main screen of the television a video selected by a viewer out of the videos included in the channel searching view. |
| US08056101B2 |
Customized interface based on viewed programming
In one embodiment, a system generates a customized interface based on viewed programming. The system stores a program that a user viewed through a media device; searches through a network for information related to the viewed program; and extracts data associated with the information related to the viewed program. A custom interface is generated based substantially on the data associated with the information related to the viewed program. |
| US08056100B2 |
System and method for providing access to data using customer profiles
A system and method for scheduling the receipt of desired movies and other forms of data from a network which simultaneously distributes many sources of such data to many customers, as in a cable television system. Customer profiles are developed for the recipient describing how important certain characteristics of the broadcast video program, movie or other data are to each customer. From these profiles, an “agreement matrix” is calculated by comparing the recipient's profiles to the actual profiles of the characteristics of the available video programs, movies, or other data. The agreement matrix thus characterizes the attractiveness of each video program, movie, or other data to each prospective customer. “Virtual” channels are generated from the agreement matrix to produce a series of video or data programming which will provide the greatest satisfaction to each customer. Feedback paths are also provided so that the customer's profiles and/or the profiles of the video programs or other data may be modified to reflect actual usage. Kiosks are also developed which assist customers in the selection of videos, music, books, and the like in accordance with the customer's objective profiles. |
| US08056099B2 |
Mosaic channel video stream with interactive services
An interactive mosaic channel video stream with indicators as to the action on a given video stream. The interactive mosaic channel is displayed on a video monitor, with a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time, comprising a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds, each video cell further comprising an area within the video cell reporting data related to the video feed, and a cursor, which can be moved between the plurality of video cells, for selecting at least one characteristic associated with a selected video cell, such that the user can then directly select a video program associated with the selected video cell. |
| US08056097B2 |
Disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus
There is provided a disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus including: a disk mounting part; a clamp member holding a disk-shaped recording medium between the clamp member and the disk mounting part; and a support member movably supporting the clamp member. One of the disk mounting part and the clamp member has a magnet and the other has an attractable member attracted to the magnet. A rotating member is rotatably supported by the support member and a rotary elevating mechanism moves the rotating member up and down at a predetermined height by rotating the member. The clamp member is allowed to approach the disk mounting part by attracting the attractable member by a magnetic force of the magnet or to depart from the disk mounting part against a magnetic force of the magnet. |
| US08056091B2 |
Systems and methods for using application services
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for executing, by a first framework, a service provided by a second framework. The method may include initiating, by the first framework, a request to access the service provided by the second framework. The method may also include identifying metadata for the service, the metadata being stored in a metamodel runtime repository. The method may further include translating the metadata into a format that the first framework can use to invoke the service and executing, using the translated metadata, the service provided by the second framework. |
| US08056088B1 |
Using scan chains for context switching
The invention sets forth an approach to context switching that utilizes scan chains modified to perform context switching operations. The design requires substantially less additional silicon area and design engineering effort than existing context switch approaches, while operating substantially faster and providing additional debug observability during context switching operations. |
| US08056083B2 |
Dividing a computer job into micro-jobs for execution
Computer micro-jobs are disclosed. A computer job is divided into micro-jobs. In one embodiment, the micro-jobs have a size that allows a particular micro-job to complete within an allotted time for which the particular micro-job owns a resource used to execute the micro-job. In one embodiment, the allotted time is a quantum. In one embodiment, an entire computer job is divided into micro-jobs and the computer job is then executed micro-job by micro-job until the entire computer job is complete. Each of the micro-jobs may complete its execution within its quantum, in one embodiment. In one embodiment, the execution of the micro-jobs is allocated to times when needed resources comply with one or more idleness criteria. A software program executed with micro-jobs may be run at all times while the computer is powered up without impacting the performance of other software programs running on the same computer system. |
| US08056076B1 |
Method and system for acquiring a quiesceing set of information associated with a virtual machine
A method and system for acquiring a quiesceing set of information associated with a virtual machine. A virtual machine is cloned. The cloned virtual machine has an associated persistent storage device. The state of the persistent storage device is transformed into a quiesced state of the cloned virtual machine by utilizing a shut-down process. The shut-down process is executed on the cloned virtual machine to quiesce the cloned virtual machine and the quiesceing set of information of the cloned virtual machine is automatically reduced to information stored on the persistent storage device. |
| US08056074B2 |
System, and computer program product for on demand enablement of dormant computing resources
A system and program product for enabling dormant computer hardware resources in a computer system having a set of dormant computer hardware resources. The method includes accepting a customer request to enable a set of dormant hardware resources, and providing computer readable instructions to a customer accessible console in communication with the computer system. The instructions are installable by the customer, and are capable of enabling dormant computer hardware resources upon installation. An order process establishes prerequisites, facilitates customer order placement, and provides rapid order fulfillment. Prerequisites include contract terms, information describing the computer system configuration, access to provider systems, and customer system setup. Ordering is facilitated through information management, configuration rules, and an interactive interface, presenting valid configuration options to the customer. Fulfillment is facilitated through parallel processing, providing computer readable upgrade instructions nearly concurrently with provider's internal order approval. An alternative embodiment provides upgrade instructions before provider's internal order approval. |
| US08056065B2 |
Stable transitions in the presence of conditionals for an advanced dual-representation polyhedral loop transformation framework
Mechanisms for stable transitions in the presence of conditionals for an advanced dual-representation polyhedral loop transformation framework are provided. The mechanisms of the illustrative embodiments address the weaknesses of the known polyhedral loop transformation based approaches by providing mechanisms for performing code generation transformations on individual statement instances in an intermediate representation generated by the polyhedral loop transformation optimization of the source code. These code generation transformations have the important property that they do not change program order of the statements in the intermediate representation. This property allows the result of the code generation transformations to be provided back to the polyhedral loop transformation mechanisms in a program statement view, via a new re-entrance path of the illustrative embodiments, for additional optimization. In addition, mechanisms are provided for ensuring code stabilization in the presence of conditions such that code bloat is not encountered during re-entrance. |
| US08056063B2 |
Method and apparatus minimizing code duplication in a statically typeable language program
A method, apparatus and computer program product for minimizing code duplication in a statically typeable language program is presented. A plurality of trees of functional instructions for a program are received, each of the plurality of trees including at least one functional node. The plurality of trees of functional instructions for a program are compared and similar trees of functional instructions are merged to eliminate similar function nodes. A combined module is produced from results of the merging, the combined module having code duplication removed therefrom. |
| US08056061B2 |
Data processing device and method using predesignated register
A data processing device and method are provided. The data processing device includes a code storage unit storing an original code to be translated into a machine language code, a code analyzer analyzing the original code stored in the code storage unit, a register allocator allocating a predesignated register for a command included in the original code based on the result of analysis, and a code executor executing a machine language code generated using the allocated register. |
| US08056060B2 |
Software testing method and system
A software product is tested by first obtaining a performance matrix for the software product, the performance matrix containing the profile results of a plurality of tests on the software product, and an expected result vector for the plurality of tests. A test sequence is then executed for the software product, the sequence comprising selecting a subset of the plurality of tests, running the test subset to obtain a new result vector for the test subset, comparing the new result vector entry with the expected result vector entry for the same test, selecting a test (which may be one of the subset or may be a new test) according to the outcome of the result vector comparison and the performance matrix, and running the selected test under profile. |
| US08056058B2 |
Method for generating test cases for software program
The method for generating test cases for a software program includes the step of setting a plurality of reference points in accordance with a sentence of the software program. The tracing pairs each including an initial test case as well as its adjacent vertex are set if one of them is among the reference points and the other one is not among the reference points. The essential test cases are chosen from the tracing pairs. |
| US08056054B2 |
Business information warehouse toolkit and language for warehousing simplification and automation
A method for use with an information (or data) warehouse comprises managing the information warehouse with instructions in a declarative language. The instructions specify information warehouse-level tasks to be done without specifying certain details of how the tasks are to be implemented, for example, using databases and text indexers. The details are hidden from the user and include, for example, in an information warehouse having a FACT table that joins two or more dimension tables, details of database level operations when structured data are being handled, including database command line utilities, database drivers, and structured query language (SQL) statements; and details of text-indexing engines when unstructured data are being handled. The information warehouse is managed in a dynamic way in which different tasks—such as data loading tasks and information warehouse construction tasks—may be interleaved (i.e., there is no particular order in which the different tasks must be completed). |
| US08056047B2 |
System and method for managing resources using a compositional programming model
A system and method for managing resources includes providing mutable entities having related data including triples, and listening for changes in the related data. A first construct is triggered in accordance with the changes in the related data to update the mutable entities. |
| US08056046B2 |
Integrated system-of-systems modeling environment and related methods
A method of modeling operational and/or logical aspects of a system in a system-of-systems environment. Modeling components of generic structure are used to obtain a logical model of the system. The logical model and the modeling components of generic structure are used to obtain related models targeted toward the aspects. The related models are implemented to determine effects of the aspects on the system and/or system-of-systems. |
| US08056045B2 |
System and method for circuit simulation
In a circuit simulation system, a storage section is configured to store a circuit data, an analysis condition data and an output data. An initial data setting section reads out the circuit data and the analysis condition data from the storage section and sets an initial data and a convergence condition for a solution calculating process based on the circuit data and the analysis condition data. A processing section generates a circuit equation to each of a voltage variable and a current variable based on the circuit data, and executes the solution calculating process based on the initial data to calculate a solution. A convergence determining section executes a convergence determining process of whether or not the solution meets the convergence condition, on the voltage variable. An output section stores the solution into the output data when it is determined to meet the convergence condition. A repetition control section controls the processing section to calculate a next solution by using the solution as the initial data, when it is determined not to meet the convergence condition. |
| US08056044B2 |
Signal processing
An iterative method for generating a series of output signal values from a series of input signal values is described. Iterations of the method comprise the steps of obtaining a current input signal value for the current iteration, comparing the current input signal value with an output signal value determined in a previous iteration, updating a counter value determined in the previous iteration based on the result of the comparison between the current input signal value and the previous output signal value such that the updated counter value replaces the counter value determined in the previous iteration, determining a slew value based on the counter value; and adding the slew value to the previously determined output signal value to generate a new current output signal value. Thus different slew values may be added to the previous output signal to obtain a new output signal. The counter value is updated so that its value reflects recent trends in the input signals. E.g. if the input signal is on an upward trend, the counter value may achieve a relative high value, for example because it is incremented each time an input signal exceeds a previously determined output signal. The magnitude of the slew values may increase as the counter value increases, thereby allowing the output signals to more rapidly track changes in the input signals. |
| US08056040B2 |
Method and system for visual implementation of layout structures for an integrated circuit
The present approach is directed to an improved method, system, and computer program product for visually presenting layout options for generating an electronic design. The visual presentation could be employed to display a set of layout choices when correcting errors or rules violations identified in the design. Alternatively, the visual presentation could be employed to display layout choices during the initial design entry phase for the electronic design. |
| US08056030B2 |
Behavioral synthesis system, behavioral synthesis method, and behavioral synthesis program
A behavioral synthesis system has a scheduling unit and a mode control unit. The scheduling unit performs scheduling of a behavioral level description with reference to a resource quantity data indicating resource constraint and a resource delay data indicating delay times of respective resources. A single process described in the behavioral level description is divided into a plurality of description blocks, and a scheduling mode among a plurality of scheduling modes is designated with respect to each of the plurality of description block. The mode control unit refers to a mode designation code that indicates the designated scheduling mode and controls such that the scheduling unit performs the scheduling with respect to each description block in accordance with the designated scheduling mode indicated by the mode designation code. |
| US08056025B1 |
Integration of open space/dummy metal at CAD for physical debug of new silicon
An access pad is used to provide access to a functional block of an integrated circuit (IC) device. The access pad is formed using dummy metal in an open space in a metallization level that is between a top metallization level and a base level on which the functional block is formed in the IC device. The access pad at the metallization level provides a contact to access an underlying circuit of the functional block so that the functional integrity of the functional block of the IC device can be verified during probing. |
| US08056020B2 |
Method of designing semiconductor integrated circuit and mask data generation program
A method of designing a semiconductor integrated circuit includes: generating a layout data indicating a layout; and generating a mask data based on the layout data. The generating the mask data includes: referring to the layout data to extract a parameter that specifies a layout pattern around a target transistor included in the semiconductor integrated circuit, wherein the parameter includes at least a width of a device isolation structure around the target transistor; correcting a gate length and a gate width of the target transistor to offset a variation of a characteristic of the target transistor from a design value, the variation depending on the extracted parameter; and generating the mask data from the layout data in which the gate length and the gate width are corrected. |
| US08056016B2 |
Method and mobile communication terminal for changing the mode of the terminal
Disclosed is a mobile communication terminal and a method for changing modes of the terminal, which changes a mode of the mobile communication terminal according to a location of a changed menu bar if a menu bar displayed on a touch screen is dragged and dropped. |
| US08056014B2 |
Web portal page interactive user interfaces with maximum accessibility to user selected portlets
A Web portal page at a Web display station having a plurality of portlet sections, each portlet including text and at least one active hyperlink to another Web page. An implementation enabling a user to enter one of the displayed portlet sections, enlarging the area of the entered one portlet section, and reducing the areas of a plurality of the other portlet sections so that at least one hyperlink in each of the other portlet sections of reduced area remains active. |
| US08056011B2 |
Method and system for providing contact management to chat session participants
A method and system for providing contact management to participants engaged in a communication session permits chat session participants to a communication session to determine common contacts that exist between the chat session participants. Dependent on the accessibility of the particular chat session participants' contact list, other chat session participants to the communication session can view the information located in the contact list. Moreover, a particular chat session participant to the communication session can give either a particular chat session participant or all the chat session participants to the communication session permission to modify their contact list. Permission to access or modify contact lists for chat session participants can be defined prior to establishment of the communication session and/or changed during the communication session. |
| US08056007B2 |
System and method for recognizing and storing information and associated context
The present disclosure provides a system and method of collecting information and associated context. Information and associated context are collected by monitoring at least one application program executable using the computing system, so as to detect one or more events associated with the at least one application program; identifying contextual information corresponding to the detected one or more events; and storing information associated with the at least one detected event, the stored information including the identified contextual information. |
| US08056005B2 |
Composing a machine readable document template
A method and apparatus is described for composing a machine readable document template having a portion for inclusion of data content. The method and apparatus comprise generating a formatting rule applicable to data content for inclusion in the data content portion and storing the rule separately from the data content portion. |
| US08056004B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method
For each of a plurality of drawing objects, whether the drawing object is laid out on the rear side of one or more other drawing objects is determined based on an overlapped state of the plurality of drawing objects. The drawing object to be selected is decided based on the determination result. |
| US08055999B2 |
Method and apparatus for repurposing formatted content
A method and system for reformatting data. The method involves a series of steps which can include identifying a template which corresponds to a specified document. The specified document can contain formatted data. Additionally, the step of applying a template to the specified document can be extracting data from the formatted content. The step of formatting the data using a different markup language can be performed. |
| US08055995B2 |
System and method of defining a hierarchical datamodel and related computation and instruction rules using spreadsheet like user interface
The present invention relates to the field of information processing involving digital computers, embedded devices and more particularly, to a method and system for defining hierarchical data model and related computation and instructions rules using electronic spreadsheet like interface. The system and method of the invention are directed to user friendly, fast, development of multi-user, workflow enabled applications using spreadsheet as a tool for application modeling. |
| US08055993B2 |
Selecting and displaying descendant pages
In an embodiment, a link to a current page is received from a user. In response to receiving the link, a descendant page of the current page is selected that meets a policy associated with the domain of the current page. The current page and the descendant page are retrieved and displayed. The current page and the descendant page are simultaneously viewable. The current page and the descendant page are in the same domain. In various embodiments, the descendant page is specified by a server, by the user, or is on a most-frequently traversed path in the domain. In various embodiments, the descendant page is a terminal page on the most-frequently traversed path or is at a level on the path that is specified by the policy. |
| US08055991B2 |
Error detection and recovery using an asynchronous transaction journal
Illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for error detection and recovery using an asynchronous transaction journal. In an illustrative embodiment the computer implemented method receives a request message from a requester, stores the request message in the asynchronous transaction journal and determines whether a sequence number contained within the request message is equal to a predetermined number. When the sequence number is equal, the computer implemented method performs a request in the request message to obtain a result and returns the result to the requester; otherwise the computer implemented method detects an error. The computer implemented method then attempts recovery from the error; otherwise the computer implemented method notifies the requestee. |
| US08055990B2 |
Method and system for error detection for improving data integrity in protocol offloading
Aspects of a method and system are provided for error detection for improving data integrity in protocol offloading. Aspects of the invention may enable receiving a block of data having a modulo-based input error detection code and an error correction term appended thereto, calculating an output error detection code of the block, combining the input error detection code and the error correction term to produce a modified error detection code, and comparing the calculated error detection code to the modified error detection code so as to detect an error in the block. The error correction term may be equal to a binary difference between the input error detection code and the output error detection code. The input error detection code and the error correction term may be combined by applying an XOR operation. |
| US08055989B2 |
Boot security using embedded counters
The present disclosure provides a system for providing a security and method of providing an enhanced security booting environment. The system and method includes a basic input/output system (BIOS) stored in memory. The system and method also includes a counter embedded in the memory configured to monitor the number of times each block of the memory has been written. This information could be used with existing error detection mechanisms to improve the ability to detect unintended write operations. |
| US08055988B2 |
Multi-bit memory error detection and correction system and method
A system and method for operating a collection of memory cells includes storing binary data values and parity data values by associating binary values with a common adjustable characteristic parameter of a memory cell collection. Probability distribution functions for values of the characteristic parameter of the memory cell collection are read and constructed. Binary data values and parity data values stored in the memory cell collection are retrieved. Parity data for error detection and error correction is evaluated in the binary data values. |
| US08055978B2 |
Semiconductor memory system performing data error correction using flag cell array of buffer memory
A buffer memory includes a memory cell array, a flag cell array, and a error correction block. The memory cell array has a plurality of word lines. Each of the plurality of word lines are electrically connected to a plurality of memory cells storing data. The flag cell array has a plurality of flag cells. Each of the plurality of flag cells is connected to each of the word lines and stores information that indicates whether error correction of the data has been performed. The error correction block performs error correction on the data output from the memory cell array in response to a command received through a host interface and flag data output from the flag cell array. |
| US08055976B2 |
System and method for providing error correction and detection in a memory system
A system and method for providing error correction and detection in a memory system. The memory system includes a plurality of memory devices, and error detection and correction logic. The error detection and correction logic includes instructions for generating an error correction code (ECC) word that includes bits from two more of the memory devices and from different memory device transfers. |
| US08055972B2 |
States encoding in multi-bit flash cells for optimizing error rate
Memory cells are programmed and read, at least M=3 data bits per cell, according to a valid nonserial physical bit ordering with reference to a logical bit ordering. The logical bit ordering is chosen to give a more even distribution of error probabilities of the bits, relative to the probability distributions of the data error and the cell state transition error, than would be provided by the physical bit ordering alone. Preferably, both bit orderings have 2M−1 transitions. Preferably, the logical bit ordering is evenly distributed. The translation between the bit orderings is done by software or hardware. |
| US08055969B2 |
Multi-strobe circuit
A multi-strobe circuit that latches a signal to be tested, an evaluation target, at each edge timing of a multi-strobe signal having a plurality of edges. An oscillator oscillates at a predetermined frequency in synchronization with a reference strobe signal. A latch circuit latches the signal to be tested at an edge timing of an output signal of the oscillator. A gate circuit is provided between a clock terminal of the latch circuit and the oscillator, and makes the output signal of the oscillator pass therethrough for a predetermined period. A clock transfer circuit loads the output signal of the latch circuit at an edge timing of the output signal of the oscillator and performs retiming on the output signal of the latch circuit by using a reference clock. |
| US08055968B2 |
Panel driving circuit that generates panel test pattern and panel test method thereof
A panel driving circuit that produces a panel test pattern and a method of testing a panel are provided. The driving circuit includes a pattern generation unit and a selection unit. The pattern generation unit responds to a system clock and produces pattern test data and pattern test signals. The selection unit responds to a test signal and selects and outputs either (a) the pattern test data and the pattern test signals that are outputted from the pattern generation unit, or (b) the pattern test data and pattern test signals that are directly applied from the outside. The driving circuit and the method of the panel test generates the panel test data, the horizontal synchronizing signal, the vertical synchronizing signal, and the data activating signal within the driving circuit using a system clock so that the testing of the panel can be carried out without using a separate test device. |
| US08055967B2 |
TAP interface outputs connected to TAP interface inputs
An IC includes an IEEE 1149.1 standard test access port (TAP) interface and an additional Off-Chip TAP interface. The Off-Chip TAP interface connects to the TAP of another IC. The Off Chip TAP interface can be selected by a TAP Linking Module on the IC. |
| US08055966B1 |
Built-in-self-repair arrangement for a single multiple-integrated circuit package and methods thereof
A multiple integrated circuit arrangement within a single package is provided. The multiple integrated circuit arrangement includes a set of electronic components, which includes at least a set of dies. The first die of the set of dies is coupled to a first electronic component of the set of electronic components, wherein the first electronic component is not the first die. The arrangement includes a built-in-self-test (BIST) arrangement, which is at least partly encapsulated within the single package, wherein the BIST arrangement is configured for at least testing the first die of the set of dies. The arrangement also includes a built-in-self-repair (BISR) arrangement, which is at least partly encapsulated within the single package, wherein the BISR arrangement is configured for at least repairing the multiple integrated circuit arrangement. |
| US08055965B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and method of testing the same
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a plurality of scan flip-flops configured to form a scan chain in a scan test; and a plurality of clock gating circuits connected between a clock input and corresponding portions of the plurality of scan flip-flops, respectively. The plurality of clock gating circuits are connected in serial to form a chain and gating setting data is inputted in serial through the chain connection. Each of the plurality of clock gating circuits controls a connection between the clock input and a corresponding portion of the plurality of scan flip-flops based on the gating setting data. |
| US08055963B2 |
Accessing sequential data in a microcontroller
System and methods transfer data over a microcontroller system test interface. The system can read data from and write data to microcontroller system memory using the described method. The method provides for the efficient transfer of data, minimizing redundancies and overhead present in conventional microcontroller test system protocols. |
| US08055961B2 |
Semiconductor device testing
A semiconductor device test circuit includes a data producing unit to produce first test data to be fed into a semiconductor device, and expected value data; a first data retaining unit to retain the first test data, and feed the first test data into the semiconductor device; a second data retaining unit to retain the expected value data; a comparison unit to compare output data outputted through the first data retaining unit and the expected value data outputted from the second data retaining unit to supply data indicating comparison result between the output data and the expected value data; and a switching unit to switch the data fed into the second data retaining unit between the expected value data and the output data, wherein the first data retaining unit and the second data retaining unit form parts of a scan chain into which second test data may externally be fed. |
| US08055960B2 |
Self test apparatus for identifying partially defective memory
A computing system is provided which includes a processor having a cache memory. The cache memory includes a plurality of independently configurable subdivisions, each subdivision including a memory array. A service element (SE) of the computing system is operable to cause a built-in-self-test (BIST) to be executed to test the cache memory, the BIST being operable to determine whether any of the subdivisions is defective. When it is determined that one of the subdivisions of the cache memory determined defective by the BIST is non-repairable, the SE logically deletes the defective subdivision from the system configuration, and the SE is operable to permit the processor to operate without the logically deleted subdivision. The SE is further operable to determine that the processor is defective when a number of the defective subdivisions exceeds a threshold. |
| US08055955B2 |
Gaming machine with power-hit tolerant data storage
Disclosed is a gaming machine capable of data restoration. |
| US08055954B2 |
Storage systems and methods for distributed support ticket processing
Storage systems and methods for distributed support ticket processing are disclosed. An exemplary method may include accessing at least one storage device in a storage system by an interface manager to retrieve raw support ticket data from the at least one storage device. The method may also include analyzing the raw support ticket data at the interface manager to generate a support ticket for the storage system. The method may also include decoding the support ticket to an intermediate format at a management station. The method may also include presenting the converted support ticket to a user at the management station. |
| US08055953B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing system, information processing method and computer program
The present invention is directed to an information processing system composed of plural information processing units adapted for mutually executing data communication, and for executing data processing in which communication data has been applied. The first entity A transmits error notification data on the basis of error detection to execute initial state return processing on the condition that data reception after error notification data has been transmitted is made, and the second entity B transmits error notification data on the basis of error detection to execute initial state return processing on the condition that transmit processing of error notification data is executed. Thus, the both entities A and B can return to the initial state in a manner synchronous with each other. As a result, it becomes possible to perform reliable error recovery and data processing restart. |
| US08055951B2 |
System, method and computer program product for evaluating a virtual machine
A method for evaluating a virtual machine, the method includes: monitoring, using an out of band monitor, information exchanged between the virtual machine and a hypervisor; and evaluating a state of the virtual machine by applying a statistical classification process to at least a portion of the monitored information. |
| US08055949B2 |
Proactive server-side error subsystem for interactive objects
A software error subsystem is provided that can log, report, and may optionally correct defective interactive objects in a virtual game environment. The subsystem may form part of a larger and more general logging and error catching system. By automatically correcting certain defects, recourse to redevelopment efforts can be postponed or eliminated. Even if error correction is not automatically performed, a more specific and helpful error message may be generated and displayed to the player, increasing player satisfaction. |
| US08055947B2 |
Comparing supplied and sampled link ID bits on TMS lead
An identification (ID) process comprises in each of a plurality of bit times, a debug test system asserting a control signal at a predefined state to a plurality of target systems, and each target system, having a bit pattern and the bit patterns being different among the target systems, outputting a bit from its bit pattern on the control signal. The process further comprises each target system comparing the resulting state of the control signal to that target system's output bit. If the target system's output bit differs from the resulting control signal state, the target system ceases participating in the ID process or, if the target system's output bit matches the resulting control signal state, the target system continues to participate in the ID process. |
| US08055945B2 |
Systems, methods and computer program products for remote error resolution reporting
A method for reporting error resolution information according to one embodiment includes identifying an error; tracking information output to a user when attempting to resolve the error; and sending error resolution data to a remote system, the error resolution data comprising at least a representation of the error and at least a representation of some of the information output to the user. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also presented. |
| US08055944B2 |
Customization and reuse of logged agent activity during remote take over help session
An apparatus and a method is provided for verifying the setup of a current computer in need of repair, parsing and updating a previously created activity log file to provide usable steps that refer to the appropriate configuration settings for the computer being repaired. The method includes obtaining an indication of a problem on a remote computer, reviewing stored log files to determine if an old log file associated with the problem exists and if the old log file does not exist, creating a new log file to store steps associated with repair operations. The method also includes if the old log file exists, retrieving the old log file and obtaining the remote computer configurations, parsing the old log file to identify references to configuration settings and comparing the configuration settings in the old log file with the remote computer configuration. The method further includes updating at least one configuration setting of the old log file to reflect the remote computer configuration, if the at least one configuration setting in the old log file is different from the remote computer configuration and executing steps in the old log file to solve the problem on the remote computer. |
| US08055943B2 |
Synchronous and asynchronous continuous data protection
A method, system, and computer program product for providing continuous data protection for write data supplied from a host incorporating a processor device to data storage in accordance with write input/output (I/O) of an owning application is provided. The write data is identified as one of a synchronous candidate and an asynchronous candidate. The write data identified as the one of the synchronous candidate and the asynchronous candidate is transferred to at least one sidefile. The write data transferred to the at least one sidefile is secured in a nonvolatile storage journal. The nonvolatile storage journal is preset with a timeout limit applicable to write data identified as the synchronous candidate. If the timeout limit is exceeded, a loss mitigation operation to safeguard the write data identified as the synchronous candidate is performed. |
| US08055938B1 |
Performance in virtual tape libraries
A method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium are provided for storing data at a virtual tape library (“VTL”) computer or server. According to one method, a VTL computer maintains one or more storage volumes for use by initiators on an array of mass storage devices. Space on each of the volumes is allocated using thin provisioning. The VTL computer may also include a cache memory that is at least the size of a full stripe of the array. Write requests received at the VTL computer are stored in the cache memory until a full stripe of data has been received. Once a full stripe of data has been received, the full stripe of data is written to the array at once. The array utilized by the VTL computer may include a hot spare mass storage device. When a failed mass storage device is identified, only the portions of the failed device that have been previously written are rebuilt onto the hot spare. The array may be maintained using RAID-5. If one of the mass storage devices in the array fails, any subsequent writes directed to the array may be stored using RAID-0. |
| US08055933B2 |
Dynamic updating of failover policies for increased application availability
Mechanisms are provided for performing a failover operation of an application from a faulty node of a high availability cluster to a selected target node. The mechanisms receive a notification of an imminent failure of the faulty node. The mechanisms further receive health information from nodes of a local failover scope of a failover policy associated with the faulty node. Moreover, the mechanisms dynamically modify the failover policy based on the health information from the nodes of the local failover scope and select a node from the modified failover policy as a target node for failover of an application running on the faulty node to the target node. Additionally, the mechanisms perform failover of the application to the target node based on the selection of the node from the modified failover policy. |
| US08055931B2 |
Method for switching between two redundant oscillator signals within an alignment element
A method is provided for switching between two oscillator signals within an alignment element. In accordance with the method, one of the two oscillator signals one is selected as a first master signal in order to provide an output stepping signal at an output of the alignment element. The method comprises introducing a virtual stepping signal when a switch between the two oscillator signals occurs or when a failure in the first master signal is detected. The method further comprises sending the virtual stepping signal to the output of the alignment element in the event of a switch until an alignment with a new master signal is completed. |
| US08055930B2 |
Internal clock signal generating circuits including frequency division and phase control and related methods, systems, and devices
An integrated circuit device may include a main clock signal input pad configured to receive a main clock signal having a main clock frequency, a high speed clock signal input pad configured to receive a high speed clock signal having a high speed clock frequency greater than the main clock frequency, a frequency divider, and a phase controller. The frequency divider may be configured to generate a plurality of preliminary internal clock signals responsive to the high speed clock signal wherein each of the preliminary internal clock signals has the same main clock frequency and a different phase. The phase controller may be configured to select one of the preliminary internal clock signals having a phase most closely matched with a phase of the main clock signal, and to translate the preliminary internal clock signals to internal clock signals so that the preliminary internal clock signal having the phase most closely matched with the phase of the main clock signal is translated as a primary internal clock signal, so that the internal clock signals have the main clock frequency. Related methods, systems, and devices are also discussed. |
| US08055928B2 |
Method for characterizing the health of a computer system power supply
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that controls a device that characterizes the health of a computer system power supply. During operation, a signature for the power supply is generated based on measurements of a set of performance parameters for the power supply. Then, the health of the power supply is characterized based on a comparison between the signature for the power supply and signatures for one or more other power supplies. |
| US08055927B2 |
Structure for analyzing dynamic CPU voltage
A design structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium for designing, manufacturing, and/or testing a system is disclosed for monitoring a voltage supplied by a voltage regulation module to a processor in response to a dynamic VID generated by the processor. The voltage monitoring system monitors the voltage generated by the voltage regulation module to ensure the supplied voltage is within regulation thresholds. The voltage monitoring system acquires an analog reading of the supplied voltage and converts it to a digital value. If the VID changes during the conversion, the result of the A/D conversion is discarded. If the VID does not change, the voltage monitoring system accepts the result of the A/D conversion and compares the supplied voltage to the voltage expected in response to the VID. The voltage monitoring system may also compute the error between the actual and expected voltage for each accepted A/D conversion. |
| US08055924B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and electric power supply controlling method thereof
An interrupt power supply control unit 5 monitors interrupts 11, 21, 31 issued from function blocks 1, 2, 3, and also, a power supply control instruction 41 issued from a CPU 4. When either an interrupt or an instruction is issued, the interrupt power supply control unit 5 performs a power supply control operation in accordance with a content of an interrupt power supply control table 50. In the power supply control operation, ON/OFF-control operations of power supply switches 12, 22, 32, 42 are carried out, and also, control signals 581 and 582 are outputted to power supply cutoff solving elements 81 and 82. When electric power of the power supply is supplied to a necessary function block in accordance with the power supply control operation, the interrupt power supply control unit 5 initiates the relevant function block in accordance with the content of the interrupt power supply control table 50. |
| US08055923B2 |
Electronic control unit and signal monitoring circuit
An electronic control unit has a microcomputer and a signal monitoring circuit. When a brake pedal is pressed down and an analog signal from a brake pedal sensor is changed in a low power consumption operation mode of the microcomputer, the signal monitoring circuit operates cyclically. When the signal monitoring circuit starts the operation, a capacitor is charged with a constant current for only a charging time stored in a memory. When a comparator detects that the analog signal is lower than the charge voltage of the capacitor, a wakeup signal is output from the comparator to the microcomputer to cause the microcomputer to operate in the normal operation mode. The charging time is pre-stored in a memory of the microcomputer. |
| US08055920B2 |
Computer system
A computer system including a power supply, a plurality of mainboards, and a power controller is provided. Each of the mainboards corresponds to a standby voltage, respectively. The power supply generates a standby power, and generates a main power according to a power enabling signal. The power controller is coupled between the power supply and the mainboards, for generating the power enabling signal and a control signal according to whether an amount of the mainboards is greater than a predetermined value, and selectively outputting the control signal to at least one of the mainboards. When the mainboards receive the control signal, regardless being in a booting state or a non-booting state, the mainboards receive the main power and converts the main power into a standby voltage corresponding thereto. When failing to receive the control signal, the mainboards convert the standby power into the standby voltage corresponding thereto. |
| US08055917B2 |
Computer and power supply method thereof
A computer includes a system unit which has a plurality of electronic components, a battery unit which supplies auxiliary electric power to the system unit, an adapter which receives a first alternating current (AC) electric power and outputs a second AC electric power; a rectifying unit which rectifies the second AC electric power and supplies a direct current (DC) electric power having a level higher than a minimum electric power level required to operate the system unit and lower than a charging electric power level required to charge the battery unit, to the system unit, a battery charging unit which charges the battery unit, and an electric power amplifying unit which amplifies the DC electric power that branches off from a point of an electric power supplying path between the rectifying unit and the system unit, and supplies a charging electric power to the battery charging unit. |
| US08055913B2 |
Systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection
The present invention provides systems and methods for electronic commerce including secure transaction management and electronic rights protection. Electronic appliances such as computers employed in accordance with the present invention help to ensure that information is accessed and used only in authorized ways, and maintain the integrity, availability, and/or confidentiality of the information. Secure subsystems used with such electronic appliances provide a distributed virtual distribution environment (VDE) that may enforce a secure chain of handling and control, for example, to control and/or meter or otherwise monitor use of electronically stored or disseminated information. Such a virtual distribution environment may be used to protect rights of various participants in electronic commerce and other electronic or electronic-facilitated transactions. Secure distributed and other operating system environments and architectures, employing, for example, secure semiconductor processing arrangements that may establish secure, protected environments at each node. These techniques may be used to support an end-to-end electronic information distribution capability that may be used, for example, utilizing the “electronic highway.” |
| US08055907B2 |
Programming interface for a computer platform
A programming interface for a computer platform can include various functionality. In certain embodiments, the programming interface includes one or more of the following groups of types or functions: those related to core file system concepts, those related to entities that a human being can contact, those related to documents, those common to multiple kinds of media, those specific to audio media, those specific to video media, those specific to image media, those specific to electronic mail messages, and those related to identifying particular locations. |
| US08055904B1 |
Systems and methods for software application security management
Apparatus and method for managing password information associated with a service account are disclosed. In some embodiments, a service account management system is configured to include a security account utility and a password information data store. In some embodiments, a security account utility is used when registering, tracking, and adjusting password change information. In some embodiments, notification of a password change date is transmitted to a service account owner and a security auditor for enforcement. Use of a security account management system with a middleware application is also disclosed. |
| US08055894B2 |
Process and streaming server for encrypting a data stream with bandwidth based variation
There is disclosed a process for encrypting a data stream to secure the data stream for single viewing and to protect copyrights of the data stream. Specifically, there is disclosed a process for protecting streaming multimedia, entertainment and communications in an Internet-type transmission. There is further disclosed a streaming server component operably connected with a streaming server that interacts with a client system to affect the inventive process. |
| US08055891B2 |
Method for the autonomic configuration of a data storage device
A method is disclosed for configuring a data storage device. A storage module stores configuration data on a remote storage system that may include operating systems, applications, updates, and an index. A boot module boots a computer system from a program other than the regular boot program to provide access to a network in communication with the remote storage system. A device configuration module autonomically downloads and installs the operating systems, applications, and updates in response to data stored in an index on the remote storage system. |
| US08055890B2 |
Data recovery method
The present invention provides a data recovery method in a system with storage of default values and prior configuration values, including executing initialization of the system; loading the default values; detecting a status of a first flag to generate a first detection result; and, determining whether a boot-up sequence is complete according to the first detection result. |
| US08055885B2 |
Data processing device for implementing instruction reuse, and digital data storage medium for storing a data processing program for implementing instruction reuse
A method and apparatus is provided for significantly speeding-up program execution in a data processing device. The data processing device is provided with a specialized instruction region storage section comprising content addressable memory (CAM) and random access memory (RAM) that operatively functions as an instruction sequence reuse table which is capable of registering/storing sequences of program instructions and corresponding instruction sequence output data as input/output (I/O) groups for potential future use in place of re-executing identical portions of program code. The data processing device includes at least one instruction stream processor which includes a computing unit for executing instructions and a dependency relationship analysis unit or “reuse window” unit (RW) that analyzes instruction sequence patterns from regions of instructions stored in a main memory to determine if the patterns can be divided up into smaller partitions that have no interdependencies and hence are potential candidates for reuse. |
| US08055884B2 |
Method and apparatus for augmenting a pipeline with a bubble-removal circuit
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for augmenting a pipeline with a bubble-removal circuit. During operation, the system generates a bubble-removal circuit which determines a clock-enable signal based at least on whether an upstream register has valid data and whether the pipeline is stalled. Next, the system gates the clock signal using the clock-enable signal. The augmented pipeline can determine whether a first register contains invalid data, which is associated with a bubble. Next, the augmented pipeline determines whether a second register contains valid data, wherein the second register is adjacent to and upstream from the first register. If the first register contains invalid data and the second register contains valid data, the augmented pipeline replaces the invalid data of the first register with valid data based on the valid data in the second register without propagating the invalid data to a downstream register. |
| US08055875B2 |
Apparatus and method for automatically defining, deploying and managing hardware and software resources in a logically-partitioned computer system
A partition wizard allows automatically defining from a set of system requirements a solution profile that defines a combination of hardware and software in multiple logical partitions to satisfy the performance objectives. The solution profile may be used by an order processing system to automatically generate an order for a target computer system. The solution profile may also be used by a hardware management console to automatically create logical partitions on the target computer system, then may be used by an operating system install engine to automatically install a desired operating system in each of the logical partitions on the target computer system and to automatically install desired software into each of the logical partitions in the target computer system. The solution profile may also be used to manage the target computer system. |
| US08055872B2 |
Data processor with hardware accelerator, accelerator interface and shared memory management unit
A data processing system in the form of an integrated circuit includes a general purpose programmable processor and a hardware accelerator. A shared memory management unit provides memory management operations on behalf of both of the processor core and the hardware accelerator. The processor and the hardware accelerator share a memory system. A first communication channel between the processor and the hardware accelerator communicates at least control signals therebetween. A second communication channel coupling the hardware accelerator and the memory system allows the hardware accelerator to perform its own data access operations upon the memory system. |
| US08055870B2 |
Tape storage emulation for open systems environments
A method according to one embodiment is performed in an environment wherein a plurality of backup hosts are connected to a plurality of virtual tape library servers (VTL servers) which in turn are connected to each of a plurality of disk library units (DLUs), each VTL server being adapted to receive tape storage commands, and in response to receiving a tape storage command, the respective VTL server accepts the tape storage command and responding as if the VTL server were the respective target tape storage device, and wherein data simultaneously streaming from the plurality of backup hosts is received by multiple of the VTL servers, where the multiple VTL servers receiving the simultaneously streamed data write to the same DLU. |
| US08055868B2 |
Apparatus and method to store original point-in-time data
A method to store point-in-time data, comprising establishing a block size, providing source data storage comprising (S) blocks, and target data storage comprising (T) blocks. The method configures (B) source storage segments and (B) target storage segments, and receives updated point-in-time data for original point-in-time data written to an (i)th source storage segment. The method then determines if a (j)th target storage segment comprises available storage capacity to store the original point-in-time data. If a (j)th target storage segment comprises available storage capacity to store the original point-in-time data, the method writes the original point-in-time data to that (j)th target storage segment. |
| US08055866B2 |
Mirrored storage system and methods for operating a mirrored storage system
A mirrored storage system for applications is provided, which enables and supports the variation and dynamic adaptation of the Recovery Point Objectives (RPO) based on policies. Furthermore, methods are provided for running such a mirrored storage system. Said mirrored storage system comprises a first storage system and at least one further storage system, wherein said first and said further storage system are connected via at least one mirror link. An application accesses said mirrored storage system via a network. Therewith, the data to be stored as response to a write command of said application can be mirrored according to a configurable time-varying RPO requirement of the application transmitting the corresponding write command. |
| US08055865B2 |
Managing write requests to data sets in a primary volume subject to being copied to a secondary volume
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for managing write requests to data sets in a primary volume subject to being copied to a secondary volume. Information indicating data sets to copy from a primary storage to a secondary storage is generated. A write request is received to write data to a target data set indicated in the information to copy from the primary storage to the secondary storage. A determination is made as to whether the write request is part of a sequential write access. The target data set and sequential data sets following the target data set are copied from the primary storage to the secondary storage. The write request to write the data to the primary storage is executed in response to receiving acknowledgment that the target data set was copied to the secondary storage. |
| US08055863B2 |
Computer system and method of managing status thereof
There is disclosed a data storage system used in a computer environment where there are plural host computers and plural storage array controllers. When a remote copy is made while assuring the order of writing across plural storage array controllers, one of the host computers gains copy information about all the storage array controllers associated with the remote copy as a representative. The representative one of the storage array controllers collects and stores copy statuses which are individually managed by the storage array controllers for which a remote copy is made. The host computer gains the copy statuses from the representative controller using an instruction to gain the copy statuses. |
| US08055858B2 |
Method for protecting exposed data during read/modify/write operations on a SATA disk drive
A method and system for saving and retrieving data includes saving data in data storage fields of a data storage device in a computer. A back-up data storage field is selected in the data storage device. A data changing operation including new data is initiated on specified data saved in a current data storage field. A copy of all the data stored in boundary data storage fields is copied and stored in the back-up data storage field before changing the current data to provide data retrieval if the data is unrecoverable in the current data storage field, when a loss of power to the data storage device occurs. |
| US08055855B2 |
Varying access parameters for processes to access memory addresses in response to detecting a condition related to a pattern of processes access to memory addresses
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for varying access parameters for processes to access memory addresses in response to detecting a condition related to a pattern of processes access to memory addresses. A monitored condition is detected during application execution. An instrumentation program is invoked to monitor processes accessing data at addresses in a memory device in response to detecting the monitored condition. Information is logged on processes and the addresses they access in the memory device in response to invoking the instrumentation program. The logged information on the processes and the addresses they access is forwarded to an application analysis system in response to detecting a monitored condition during application execution. |
| US08055846B2 |
Data vaulting in emergency shutdown
A method for data storage includes accepting write commands belonging to a storage operation invoked by a host computer, and caching the write commands in a volatile memory that is powered by external electrical power. A current execution status of the storage operation is also cached in the volatile memory. Responsively to an interruption of the external electrical power during the storage operation, the cached write commands and the cached execution status are backed up in a non-volatile memory. Upon resumption of the external electrical power, the backed up execution status is recovered, so as to resume the interrupted storage operation. |
| US08055845B2 |
Method of cooperative caching for distributed storage system
An embodiment of a method of cooperative caching for a distributed storage system begins with a step of requesting data from storage devices which hold the data. The method continues with a step of receiving any cached blocks and expected response times for providing non-cached blocks from the storage devices. The method concludes with a step of requesting a sufficient number of the non-cached blocks from one or more particular storage devices which provides an expectation of optimal performance. |
| US08055840B2 |
Storage device including a controller for rearranging writing commands
A storage device includes: a storage unit for writing data into a rotating storage medium via a writing head; a nonvolatile memory; a temporary storage memory for storing a plurality of writing commands temporarily; and a controller for executing the plurality of writing commands so as to selectively write data into the storage unit or the nonvolatile memory, rearranging the writing commands stored in the temporary storage memory in accordance with efficiency for executing the writing commands to write data into the storage unit, sequentially executing the rearranged writing commands in descending order, and executing in parallel at least one of the writing commands that has not been executed to write data into the nonvolatile memory until all the data to be written in accordance with the writing commands are stored in either the storage unit or the nonvolatile memory. |
| US08055838B2 |
Apparatus and method for autonomically suspending and resuming logical partitions when I/O reconfiguration is required
A partition manager includes an I/O reconfiguration mechanism and a logical partition suspend/resume mechanism that work together to perform autonomic I/O reconfiguration in a logically partitioned computer system. When I/O reconfiguration is required, the affected logical partitions are suspended, the I/O is reconfigured, and the affected logical partitions are resumed. Because the logical partitions are suspended during I/O reconfiguration, any ghost packet that may occur when the I/O is reconfigured is ignored. |
| US08055831B2 |
Computer system for supplying electric power to external apparatus and control method thereof
A computer system includes multiple ports to which at least one external device is connected and which are connectable to multiple power supplying lines branched from a power supplying line for supplying electric power to the at least one external device; a switching unit which controls connections between the power supplying lines and the ports; and a controller which controls the switching unit so that two or more power supplying lines among the power supplying lines are connected to a first port, to which one of the at least one external device is connected, among the ports. |
| US08055830B2 |
Portable and light programmable medical device system
A medical device system includes a portable medical device and a docking unit on which the medical device can be removably mounted. The docking unit is configured to communicate with a controller of the medical device when the medical device is mounted on the docking unit to instruct the controller to execute a selected program. |
| US08055829B2 |
Adaptable hardware-programmable transmission interface for industrial PCS
An adaptable hardware-programmable transmission interface for an industrial PC is characterized by a module switch provided on a motherboard of the industrial PC, and a plurality of riser cards, each of which is connectable to a connecting end of the motherboard and formed with one or a plurality of slots having a variety of specifications, allowing the motherboard to be significantly downsized. In addition, the same motherboard can be connected with a selected one of the different riser cards to provide lane interfaces that meet various dynamic changing needs. |
| US08055822B2 |
Multicore processor having storage for core-specific operational data
An integrated circuit includes a plurality of processor cores and a readable non-volatile memory that stores information expressive of at least one operating characteristic for each of the plurality of processor cores. Also disclosed is a method to operate a data processing system, where the method includes providing a multicore processor that contains a plurality of processor cores and a readable non-volatile memory that stores information, determined during a testing operation, that is indicative of at least a maximum operating frequency for each of the plurality of processor cores. The method further includes operating a scheduler coupled to an operating system and to the multicore processor, where the scheduler is operated to be responsive at least in part to information read from the memory to schedule the execution of threads to individual ones of the processor cores for a more optimal usage of energy. |
| US08055819B2 |
Information processor
An information processor (program processing unit 1) for managing a data sequence in a fixed order comprises a direction array (reference data storage section 2) for storing a reference to each data item of the data sequence in an element of the index associated with the key to the data, and means (CPU 3) for changing all data keys referenced by elements within an arbitrary range of indexes in the direction array by the same amount, where memory contents within the range of the direction array are shifted by the number of indexes corresponding to the changed amount. |
| US08055817B2 |
Efficient handling of queued-direct I/O requests and completions
Computer program products and methods for efficient handling of queued-direct input/output (QDIO) requests and completions at an adapter in communication with an I/O device are provided. A method includes accessing a queue with one or more storage block address lists (SBALs), where each SBAL includes a plurality of storage block address list entries (SBALEs) and is associated with an SLSB. The method further includes reading an SBAL count in one of the SBALEs, where the SBAL count indicates a number of the SBALs forming an I/O request to the I/O device. In response to determining that the SBAL count is greater than one, a number of the SBALs from the queue and associated SLSBs equivalent to the SBAL count are prefetched without waiting for a notification of completion of each of the SBALs forming the I/O request, and states of the associated SLSBs transition from adapter-owned to program-owned. |
| US08055816B2 |
Memory controllers, memory systems, solid state drives and methods for processing a number of commands
The present disclosure includes methods and devices for a memory controller. In one or more embodiments, a memory controller includes a plurality of back end channels, and a command queue communicatively coupled to the plurality of back end channels. The command queue is configured to hold host commands received from a host. Circuitry is configured to generate a number of back end commands at least in response to a number of the host commands in the command queue, and distribute the number of back end commands to a number of the plurality of back end channels. |
| US08055815B2 |
Optimal paths with SCSI I/O referrals
The present disclosure is directed to a method for communication between an initiator system and a block storage cluster. The method may comprise receiving an initial data request from the initiator system to a first storage system, a portion of the data requested in the initial data request is not stored by the first storage system, but is stored by a second storage system; retrieving the portion of the data that is stored by the second storage system; forwarding the portion of the data to the initiator system; and transmitting a referral list comprising at least one referral from the first storage system to the initiator system, wherein the initiator system is configured for maintaining a referral cache based on the referral list, and a subsequent data request initiated by the initiator system is directed to the block storage cluster based on the referral cache. |
| US08055805B2 |
Opportunistic improvement of MMIO request handling based on target reporting of space requirements
Methods and apparatus for opportunistic improvement of Memory Mapped Input/Output (MMIO) request handling (e.g., based on target reporting of space requirements) are described. In one embodiment, logic in a processor may detect one or more bits in a message that is to be transmitted from an input/output (I/O) device. The one or more bits may indicate memory mapped I/O (MMIO) information corresponding to one or more attributes of the I/O device. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08055804B2 |
Data storage system with shared cache address space
An apparatus for a node of a peer-to-peer network having a plurality of nodes comprises one or more I/O adapters; a cache component; one or more inter-node routing components; a memory mapping component for presenting to the I/O adapters a single address space mapped across a plurality of memory elements each associated with the cache component; and a direct memory access component for performing a memory operation on the memory elements via the memory mapping component on behalf of the I/O adapters. |
| US08055799B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing an interface for a messaging mailbox
A method and apparatus for accessing messages from a message server. Messages are stored on the message server in their current format without transcoding. When a client opens a session with the message server, a data transfer rate is determined for the client. In response to a message retrieve request, the bit rate of the message is compared to the data transfer rate, and if less than the data transfer rate, the message is downloaded to the user terminal without transcoding. If the bit rate is greater than the data transfer rate, then the message is transcoded to a lower bit rate according to a codec supported by the user. The codec may be selected from a set of codecs supported by the user terminal. The user is provided with the capability to override the system selected codec, for example, to pick a codec for secure encoding or encryption. |
| US08055797B2 |
Transmitting aggregated information arising from appnet information
A device, method, computer program product, and network subsystem are described for signaling a first application relating with a first core and with a second core, and for aggregating information in response to data received after signaling the first application relating with the first core and with the second core, transmitting at least a portion of the information aggregated in response to the data received after signaling the first application relating with the first core and with the second core, or signaling via a third core a partial service configuration change at least in the first core in response to data received after signaling the first application relating with the first core and with the second core. |
| US08055795B2 |
Systems and methods for proxy resolution of domain name service (DNS) requests
Systems and methods are provided for resolving domain name services (DNS) queries for address information about hosts on a network. The queries are posited from remote users across a satellite or other remote link to a network. In response to a domain name services request from the client containing a name of the server, a placeholder address is generated and provided in response to the client. After a subsequent request for a connection to the server is received, the name of the server is re-associated with the placeholder address and the connection request containing the proper host name is forwarded across the data link. A hub processor receives the request for connection, resolves the name of the server to an address on the network, and establishes a connection between the client and the server using the address on the network. |
| US08055789B2 |
Configuring intercommunications between computing nodes
Techniques are described for configuring intercommunications between multiple computing nodes, such as multiple virtual machine nodes hosted on one or more physical computing machines or systems. In some situations, virtual networks may be established and maintained for groups of computing nodes, such as those operated by or on behalf of various users. Such virtual networks may be established in some situations by automatically configuring various communication manager modules to associate communications from a computing node belonging to a virtual network with one or more networking identifiers associated with the virtual network, such that other communication manager modules may appropriately forward or otherwise process such communications. |
| US08055787B2 |
System and method for managing industrial process control data streams over network links
A data acquisition service on a network node is disclosed for forwarding received process data to a process history database over a potentially slow and/or intermittent network connection. A store and forward functionality within the networked node receives incoming process data via a first network interface and forwards outgoing process data via a second network interface. The disclosed store and forward functionality includes an immediate transmission cache and a store and forward storage. The store control enters, in response to detecting an entry condition, an activated mode wherein incoming process data is directed to the store and forward storage. A read control forwards outgoing process data to the second network interface from the immediate transmission cache and store and forward storage. The read control includes at least a first configurable parameter that constrains a rate at which data retrieved from the store and forward storage is forwarded via the second network interface. |
| US08055781B2 |
Methods for transmitting multimedia files and advertisements
The invention is directed to a method of transmitting a file having an advertising portion and a requested portion different from the advertising portion. The method includes receiving a request to transmit the file, via a streaming protocol allowing non-sequential access, transmitting the advertising portion of the file, receiving a request to transmit a portion of the requested portion of the file prior to completing transmitting the advertising portion of the file, completing the transmission of the advertising portion of the file, and transmitting the requested portion of the file. |
| US08055776B1 |
Sending full-content data to a second data processing system while viewing reduced-content data on a first data processing system
A system, method, and computer program product which allows a user to view and navigate reduced-content web pages on a wireless connection. Upon the user's selection of specific web pages, the pages are then delivered to the user by a less expensive connection, as in a conventional wired internet connection. The delivery is accomplished by several methods, according to different embodiments, including by an electronic mail message, by “push” delivery to an internet-connected data processing system, and by providing a set of hyperlinks to the wired internet connection which reference the selected pages, among other methods. The user is thereby able to view, on a second internet-connected data processing system, the data selected when using the wireless internet-connected data processing system. |
| US08055772B2 |
System for effecting communication among a plurality of devices and method for assigning addresses therefor
A method for effecting assignment of addresses in a system including at least one server device communicatingly coupled with a plurality of client devices, the addresses permitting communications among the at least one server device and at least one selected client device, includes the steps of: (a) identifying a respective geographic locus for each respective client device; and (b) assigning a respective geographic address for each respective client device; each respective geographic address identifying a particular respective geographic locus for a particular respective client device. A system for effecting communication among a plurality of server devices and a plurality of client devices includes: (a) a communication bus coupling the plurality of server devices; and (b) a plurality of connection loci coupled with the communication bus. Respective client devices are coupled with selected connection loci. Each respective connection locus is uniquely identified by a respective address. |
| US08055771B2 |
Network traversal method for establishing connection between two endpoints and network communication system
A network traversal method is provided. A plurality of endpoints in a plurality of network address translators (NATs) is grouped into a plurality of groups, and an on-line server is deployed for managing information related to the groups and information related to connections that have traversed the NATs, wherein the endpoints in the same NAT are grouped into the same group. In addition, when one of the endpoints is about to establish a connection with another one of the endpoints, whether there is a peer-to-peer direct connection between the groups corresponding to the two endpoints is determined. If there is the peer-to-peer direct connection between the groups corresponding to the two endpoints, the connection between the two endpoints is established by using the peer-to-peer direct connection. Thereby, the network traversal method can effectively reduce the time, cost, and complexity for traversing the NATs. |
| US08055770B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing network virtualization
A method and apparatus for providing network virtualization on a packet network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a request from a user, wherein the request comprises at least one of: a feature of a network component or a network component for a virtual network. The method determines if the request can be instantiated over one or more real network resources, and then instantiates the request via the one or more real network resources, if it is determined that the request can be instantiated. |
| US08055769B2 |
Method and system for secure distribution and utilization of data over a network
A method of securely utilizing downloaded data includes the steps of opening a media player; opening a data file; requesting a portable token from and used by a client, the portable token being a physical device removeably coupleable to a client computer; reading a distinguishing number from the token; and verifying a digital message linking the data file to the token using the media player, the distinguishing number, and a private key in the token. The digital message is required to access the data. |
| US08055766B2 |
Systems methods and user state files for enabling interactions between virtual and real world identities
Methods for providing a user state file enabling interactions between virtual and real world identities include determining a real world identity of a user and determining a virtual world identity of the user. An associated user designation is provided for a first and a second associated user. A real world identity and/or a virtual world identity is determined for the associated users. The first associated user has at least a real world identity and the second associated user has at least a virtual world identity. A communication history is established between the user and the first and second associated users, the communication history including communications in the real world and/or the virtual world. The user state file is generated based on the determined real world and virtual world identities of the user and the associated users and the communication history between the user and the associated users. The user state file is configured to be accessed by the user in both the real world and the virtual world. |
| US08055761B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing transparent network connectivity
A client information handling system (IHS) connects to a network in a manner that provides transparent network connectivity. In one embodiment, the client IHS includes a polling application that monitors the network connection to determine if the client IHS exhibits a connected status or a disconnected status. An interceptor application in the client IHS permits transmission of a request for a network task from the client IHS if the client IHS currently exhibits a connected status. However, the interceptor application intercepts and stores a request for a network task if the client IHS currently exhibits a disconnected status. At a later time when the client IHS again exhibits a connected status, the interceptor application transmits the stored request over the network. In this manner, the user of the client IHS experiences transparent network connectivity and need not worry with respect to the network connection status of the client IHS at any particular point in time. |
| US08055760B1 |
Firewall doctor
A method, system, and computer-readable media are provided for performing a status check on a firewall. The computer-readable media may perform a method that includes receiving a request from a requester for a status check of a firewall. The method may further include creating a connection to the firewall for accessing the firewall, and determining a plurality of status parameters for the status check such that at least one status parameter is calculated from information stored within the firewall. Additionally, the method can include providing the plurality of status parameters to be displayed to the requester. |
| US08055756B2 |
Service search system for wireless ad hoc network, and service searching method thereof
A service searching system and method for a wireless ad hoc network. According to the present invention, service information on a service agent providing a relevant service is received from a user agent that has previously broadcast a service request packet in a wireless ad hoc network environment, and consequently load on the network can be reduced. Further, service information is received from a user agent, and an additional selection algorithm for storing the service information on a service agent is not required. |
| US08055754B2 |
Verification of the availability of a server
According to the invention, an availability request is transmitted by a client to a server in order to verify whether a server is available. A response to said availability request is transmitted by the server to the client by means of a confirmation message if the server is available. The client transmits a message regarding the availability of the server to other clients who then prevent the transmission of an availability request to the server at least for a predefined period of time. |
| US08055753B2 |
Peer to peer job monitoring and control in grid computing systems
A solution for improved monitoring and control of jobs in grid and batch computing systems provides a centralized server's batch manager which is only responsible for workload balancing and job initiation and completion, all other command and status information are communicated directly between the plurality of submitter's systems and the plurality of client systems that are processing their respective workloads. The computing system and communication process utilizes event-driven peer to peer communications between submitter's systems and client systems and enables more detailed status and control information to be passed without overloading the centralized server, and by avoiding polling also provides more immediate feedback of results. Multiple process threads are employed on both the submitter's and client systems, and a user interface consolidates and displays results to the submitter allow commands to be sent to processes running on client batch systems. |
| US08055749B1 |
Optimizing media distribution using metrics
Metrics may be gathered at various points of a media distribution system as digital media files are being transmitted to client devices. The metrics may be analyzed to determine whether the media distribution system is performing at an appropriate level. If it is determined that the media distribution system is not performing at an appropriate level, configuration changes may be made to the media distribution system to improve performance. Examples of configuration changes may include changing the number of servers or server instances that are being utilized, changing the quality of the files that are being transmitted, changing the amount of CPU resources being used, adjusting client priorities, and so forth. |
| US08055748B2 |
Communication control system, motor vehicle, communication control program, system establishing the communication control system, and external system
An information management system and the like capable of managing communication processing by an internal system mounted on a mobile apparatus such as a motor vehicle to ensure efficient use of information processing resources for packets distributed from an external system are provided. According to the information management system (100), a first processing section (110) determines necessity/unnecessity of a file for an information processing device (12) mounted on the motor vehicle based on file information about the content of the file distributed or transmitted from an external system (20). If the first processing section (110) determines that the file is necessary for the information processing device (12), a second processing section (120) causes the internal system (10) to execute “relay processing” of the file including collection and accumulation of packets, decoding of the packets to restore the file, and others. |
| US08055747B2 |
Message based network transmission for selection and auditing of internet services
A computer communicates with a referral server according to a web service definition to select and audit performance of an internet service. The computer sends and receives messages requesting internet services available in a geographic region and the message includes an identifier where the computer is located. Other received messages indicating available services including, top-level-domains, currency, and languages available in the geographic region. For example, for domain name services, messages include top-level domains, and for other services, messages include currency, languages, etc. Messages include a list of providers available in the geographic region, and for each provider in the list, a provider name, a description of provider services, or a provider URL. The computer sends other messages that audited selected provider performance including, a provider selected to provide an internet service, an indication of successful transaction, an indication of successful configuration, or an indication of failure. |
| US08055744B2 |
Resolution of group membership for resources
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture, wherein a plurality of resources are grouped into a plurality of groups, wherein one group may be included in another in the plurality of groups, and wherein the plurality of resources and the plurality of groups comprise items. A recursive determination is made of valid items in a group by excluding those items that have already been determined to be included in the group. |
| US08055740B2 |
Wireless sensor network system and cluster management method thereof
A wireless sensor network system and a cluster management method thereof. The wireless sensor network system includes at least one cluster having at least one sensor node for collecting sensing data, and a cluster head for aggregating the sensing data from the at least one sensor node. A sink node collects the aggregated sensing data from the at least one cluster, wherein the cluster head of a first cluster determines a cluster size of the first cluster, and when the first cluster is a master cluster and the cluster size of the first cluster is less than a threshold size, merges, the first cluster into a second master cluster, and switches the first cluster to a slave cluster. In each cluster, management efficiency can thereby be maintained within a specified range, and the lifetime of a wireless sensor network can be prolonged by reducing energy consumption. |
| US08055739B2 |
Sharing performance data between different information technology product/ solution deployments
Mechanisms for dynamically sharing performance information among multiple computing nodes are provided. One implementation involves dynamically obtaining performance information from deployments of an information technology (IT) product/solution at the computing nodes, and transmitting the obtained performance information to a server over a communication network for storing the obtained performance information in a knowledge database. The server operates to dynamically determine new configuration information based on the information in the database, store the new configuration in the database, and provide the new configuration information to the deployments by transmitting the new configuration information over the network. |
| US08055737B2 |
Method and system for improvements in or relating to off-line virtual environments
The compliance of a virtual machine image to a set of requirements is determined during a process to potentially introduce the virtual machine image into a network. One or more virtual machine images are identified. During compliance testing, the identified virtual machine image is controlled such that it cannot connect to the network. One or more tests are carried out to determine if the virtual machine image is compliant with one or more predetermined requirements. If a virtual machine is compliant with said one or more predetermined requirements, the virtual machine image is connected to the network. |
| US08055736B2 |
Maintaining storage area network (‘SAN’) access rights during migration of operating systems
Maintaining SAN access rights during migration of operating systems including assigning, to a virtual SAN interface adapter of a source virtualization intermediary (SVI′) on the source server, at least two world wide port names (WWPN), identifying devices coupled for data communications to the SVI through the primary WWPN; selecting a target physical SAN interface adapter on a target server available to a target virtualization intermediary (‘TVI’) having a target virtual SAN interface adapter; assigning to the target virtual SAN interface adapter the secondary WWPN; identifying devices coupled for data communications to the TVI through the secondary WWPN; determining whether the devices coupled to the SVI through the primary WWPN are also coupled to TVI through the secondary WWPN; migrating the operating system from the source server to the target server if the devices coupled to the SVI through the primary WWPN are also coupled to TVI through the secondary WWPN. |
| US08055735B2 |
Method and system for forming a cluster of networked nodes
A system and a method for automatic cluster formation by automatically selecting nodes based on a selection criteria configured by the user is disclosed. During a cluster re-formation process, a failed node may automatically get replaced by one of the healthy nodes in its network, which is not part of any cluster avoiding cluster failures. In case of a cluster getting reduced to a single node due to node failures and failed nodes could not be replaced due to non-availability of free nodes, the single node cluster may be merged with a existing healthy clusters in the network providing a constant level of high availability. The proposed method may also provide an affective load balancing by maintaining a constant number of member nodes in a cluster by automatically replacing the dead nodes with a healthy node. |
| US08055732B2 |
Signaling partial service configuration changes in appnets
A device, method, computer program product, and network subsystem are described for signaling a first application relating with a first core and with a second core, and for aggregating information in response to data received after signaling the first application relating with the first core and with the second core, transmitting at least a portion of the information aggregated in response to the data received after signaling the first application relating with the first core and with the second core, or signaling via a third core a partial service configuration change at least in the first core in response to data received after signaling the first application relating with the first core and with the second core. |
| US08055730B2 |
System having a network connected to multiple different types of survey sensors
A system includes a network, multiple different types of survey sensors connected to the network, and a controller connected to the network. The multiple different types of survey sensors are configured to communicate different types of measurement data over the network to the controller. |
| US08055728B2 |
Remote control of selected target client computers in enterprise computer networks through global master hubs
An enterprise computer network comprising a hierarchy of client computers interconnected through a plurality of server computers at a plurality of hierarchical levels. A system, method and object oriented computer program for giving a selected controller computer remote control of a selected target client computer in the network comprising the combination of a plurality of server controlled regional hubs, each hub connected to and serving a network region including a set of target client computers; and a function for storing at each server controlled regional hub, a remote control object including data necessary to access and remotely control each of the target client computers served by said hub. This is essentially a standard regional set up for remote control by a remote controller. Into this environment, there is combined a global master hub connected to the plurality of regional hubs, the global master hub being normally functionally independent of the regional hubs and the sets of target computers served by said hubs. The remote controller computers are selectively connected to this global master hub, and there are means in each remote controller for requesting control of a selected target computer via said global master hub combined with means responsive to said requesting means to transmit the remote control object of the regional hub serving the selected target computer to said global hub whereby the global hub acts like a proxy of said regional hub in establishing control by said remote controller of said selected target computer. |
| US08055726B1 |
Method and system for writing network data
Method and system for writing data in a network is provided. The method includes receiving an original write command from a host system to write data to a target; sending a command notifying the host system to send data, wherein a local router sends the command to the host system; receiving data from the host system, wherein the local router receives data; segmenting the original write command into a plurality of write commands; sending the plurality of write commands with data to a remote router; sending a status command to the local router for the plurality of write commands except for a first write command; assembling the plurality of write commands with data to a single write command, wherein the remote router assembles the plurality of write commands with data; and sending the single write command to the target. |
| US08055725B2 |
Method, apparatus and program product for remotely restoring a non-responsive computing system
A method for restoring a remote server that is not responding due to a memory constraint is provided. The method comprises providing a remote server connected to a network communications channel, pinning a reserve memory segment program to the memory in the remote server to control a reserve memory segment allocated within the memory in the remote server when a memory constraint arises. The method further comprises continuously running the reserve memory segment program to listen for a request packet to release the reserve memory segment that is allocated, releasing the reserve memory segment within the memory in the remote server in response to the request packet received, and performing any corrective action at the remote server for restoring the remote server when the reserve memory segment is released. |
| US08055724B2 |
Selection of migration methods including partial read restore in distributed storage management
A hierarchical storage system is constructed from file servers and a policy engine server by building upon a file migration service. Offline attributes are added to file system inodes in a primary file server, file system parameters are added in the primary server, an offline read access method field is added to a connection database, and the primary file server is programmed to use these attributes and parameters for selecting a particular method (such as a partial read migration or a pass through read method) for read access to an offline file. In this fashion, the primary file server is provided with flexibility for selecting a particular one of a number of migration methods depending on various conditions, in order to improve the trade-off between the cost of storage and delay in file access. |
| US08055720B2 |
Cluster-based friend suggestion aggregator
Techniques are described to generate a list of suggested friends for a client of a social networking service. In an implementation, a cluster of clients is identified from among the clients of the social networking service. The cluster of clients includes the client for which the list of suggested friends is to be generated. The list of suggested friends for the client may then be generated and may include one or more clients of the social networking service selected based on connections with the cluster of clients. The list indicates at least one other client of the social networking service that is suggested as a friend. |
| US08055717B2 |
Method and system for providing permanent mail service
Disclosed is a method and system for storing mail permanently without restriction of storage space of mail box. When user requests to store certain mail permanently, mail server transforms the requested mail data into permanent mail data with predetermined format. The transformed mail data is transmitted to an external server, the external server is a various kind of server that provides personal information storage space. The external server stores received permanent mail data on corresponding user area. If user requests to read permanent mail, the mail server requests the requested permanent mail data to the external server, and the external server transmits the requested permanent mail data to the mail server, by which users can read mails indicated as permanent mail regardless mail capacity of mail box. |
| US08055714B2 |
Method for circulating a report in a semiconductor manufacturing environment
A system, method, and computer-implemented method for circulating a file associated with the manufacture of a semiconductor product. The computer-implemented method may include choosing at least one input file, choosing an output file format, choosing a mode for circulation, extracting file information to the output file, and circulating the output file to at least one recipient. |
| US08055708B2 |
Multimedia spaces
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that detect watermarks incorporated within analog and/or digital signals associated with multimedia presentations. The disclosed system can include a component that receives analog and/or digital signals, ascertains the existence of a watermark associated with the received signals, and extracts metadata encapsulated within the watermark, wherein the metadata can both include information regarding the broadcast multimedia presentations as well as information unrelated to the broadcast multimedia. Extracted metadata or more particularly, attributes contained within the metadata can be utilized to establish online social networks based at least on the associated attributes. |
| US08055707B2 |
Calendar interface for digital communications
Information from communications is displayed in a calendar format. Text from the communications is used to determine whether a scheduling entry should be created. If so, text from the communication is used to create a proposed calendar or to-do list entry, which can be saved, modified or canceled by the user. Information from a call log can be filtered and displayed in a calendar format. |
| US08055704B2 |
Internet service for passengers on in-flight airplanes
An exemplary method provides Internet Protocol (IP) devices of passengers of an in-flight airplane with terrestrial Internet IP communications. One airplane in a group of in-flight airplanes functions as a ground link airplane with a direct communication link to a ground station. Each airplane in the group travels in a substantially linear direction. A daisy chain of communications between adjacent airplanes in the group supports inter-airplane IP communications for carrying IP information of the IP devices of the passengers. The ground link airplane collects the IP-based information of the IP devices of the passengers and relays this information to the ground station that is connected to the terrestrial Internet. A communication satellite is not utilized to support any of these communications. |
| US08055699B2 |
Apparatus and method for interfacing in a communication system
Disclosed is a method for interfacing in a communication system. The method includes receiving an event, which should be processed using information managed by a second system providing a second service, from a first system providing a first service; and performing an interface so that the second system performs an operation corresponding to the event by using the information. |
| US08055698B2 |
Network recycle bin
A network recycle bin is used to store deleted files in a managed directory that is available across a network connection. Files stored in a shared directory or other network-accessible file storage system are moved to the managed directory upon deletion. Because the managed folder is part of the network-accessible file system, any permissions, authorizations, or settings for files may be unaltered after movement into the managed folder. In some embodiments, a local recycle bin may be merged with a network recycle bin from a user experience. |
| US08055696B2 |
Modular multiplication method, modular multiplier and cryptosystem having the same
Provided are a modular multiplication method with an improved arithmetic operation, a modular multiplier and a cryptograph calculating system having the modular multiplier. The modular multiplication method comprises performing a first arithmetic operation including a first multiplication on a first bit string of a multiplicand and a first bit string of a multiplier and a first reduction for eliminating partial bits of the first multiplication result, performing a second arithmetic operation including a second multiplication on a second bit string of the multiplicand and a second bit string of the multiplier and a second reduction for eliminating partial bits of the second multiplication result, and calculating a modular multiplication result using the result of the first arithmetic operation and the result of the second arithmetic result. The first arithmetic operation and the second arithmetic operation are independently performed. |
| US08055693B2 |
Method for retrieving items represented by particles from an information database
A set of words is converted to a corresponding set of particles, wherein the words and the particles are unique within each set. For each word, all possible partitionings of the word into particles are determined, and a cost is determined for each possible partitioning. The particles of the possible partitioning associated with a minimal cost are added to the set of particles. |
| US08055690B2 |
Data file management apparatus, image forming apparatus, method of managing a data file, data file management program and program recording medium
A data file management apparatus capable of avoiding the unauthorized deletion of a file shared by a plurality of users. In the apparatus connected to a network and having the function to store the data file in such as to be shared by the users, the address information of the joint file users permitted to share the data file are registered-while being related to the data file at the time of data file storage, and in response to a data file deletion request, a message to confirm the consent of the joint file users about the data file deletion is sent to the registered address information. Upon receiving a message returned from a joint file user not to consent to the data file deletion within a predetermined period from the confirming message transmission, the data file is not deleted, while the data file is deleted otherwise. |
| US08055682B1 |
Security information repository system and method thereof
A method and system for maintaining a self-updating security information repository. A plurality of types of security information are stored in a corresponding plurality of information storage units, such as database tables. A plurality of configuration files respectively associated with the information storage units are stored, and each configuration file includes update parameters of the associated information storage unit. Each information storage unit is periodically automatically updated based on its update parameters. The information storage units can be searched to return security information of different types in one search. |
| US08055678B2 |
Query processing system and method for database with encrypted column by query encryption transformation
Query processing system and method by query transformation transform a user request query based on an original DB structure, destined to a DBMS of a DB with some columns encrypted, into a query based on an encrypted DB structure so that the DBMS processes the query. The query is processed irrespective of whether or not the query includes an encryption-related item, and query-processing performance is remarkably improved. |
| US08055673B2 |
Friendly search and socially augmented search query assistance layer
Community search query technology operable to provide users with the means to collaborate on search queries and share their query results with other users in a community is disclosed. The community search query technology provides a collaborative search engine that utilizes community feedback and personal profiles. The community search query technology also includes personal task, information management, project creation, listing queries by activity categories, setting deadlines for ongoing search needs, setting up search queues, and annotation of search sessions. |
| US08055669B1 |
Search queries improved based on query semantic information
A search query for a search engine may be improved by incorporating alternate terms into the search query that are semantically similar to terms of the search query, taking into account information derived from the search query. An initial set of alternate terms that may be semantically similar to the original terms in the search query is generated. The initial set of alternate terms may be compared to information derived from the original search query. One example of such information is a set of documents retrieved in response to a search performed using the initial search query. One or more of the alternate terms may be added to the original search query based on their relationship to the information derived from the original search query. |
| US08055661B2 |
Device and method for automatically generating ontology instance
The present invention relates to a method and device for generating an ontology instance that classifies documents into structured documents and unstructured documents and automatically generates ontology instances. The method includes collecting documents corresponding to classes of an ontology from Web; if the collected documents are unstructured documents, extracting inter-entity relationship information from the unstructured documents; if the collected documents are structured documents, extracting inter-entity relationship information from the structured documents; generating ontology instances from the extracted inter-entity relationship information, and mapping the generated ontology instances to corresponding classes of the ontology. |
| US08055658B2 |
Data creating apparatus and data creating method
A data creating apparatus extracts meta data about a topic from a document, the meta data including at least one linguistic expression about a behavior, a plurality of the linguistic expressions having a first modification relation. The data creating apparatus converts the linguistic expressions included in the behavioral meta data into each class, based on a behavior ontology that is expressed by a graph where the linguistic expression about a behavior is an instance and a concept of the instance is a class to create behavior map data that represents each of the classes converted and also representing a second modification relation among the classes as a link. |
| US08055654B2 |
List search method for mobile terminal
A list search method for a mobile terminal is disclosed. The list search method includes displaying list items of a list requested by a user, and placing a cursor on one of the displayed list items in a visually identifiable manner, inputting at least one numeric key during display of the list and moving the cursor by a skip interval to a list item of the list, wherein the skip interval is associated with the at least one input numeric key. In one aspect, the user can move the cursor in a list by a skip interval by inputting a numeric key, which is translated to a skip interval or the numeric value can itself be used as a skip interval. |
| US08055653B2 |
Processing overlapping continuous queries
An edge-covering based greedy method for shared filter ordering includes receiving a plurality of queries, wherein each query is a conjunction of filters, and each filter is shared across multiple queries of the plurality of queries, evaluating a unit price of each filter, evaluating, sequentially, each filter in order of a lowest to a highest unit price, to determine a value for each filter, and changing an ordering of the filters according to the values. An edge-covering based harmonic method for shared filter ordering includes receiving a plurality of queries, wherein each query is a conjunction of filters, and each filter is shared across multiple queries of the plurality of queries, evaluating a weight of each filter, evaluating, randomly, each filter having a probability inversely proportionally to its weight, to determine a value, and changing an ordering of the filters according to the values. |
| US08055651B2 |
Distribution of join operations on a multi-node computer system
A method and apparatus distributes database query joins on a multi-node computing system. In the illustrated examples, a join execution unit utilizes various factors to determine where to best perform the query join. The factors include user controls in a hints record set up by a system user and properties of the system such as database configuration and system resources. The user controls in the hints record include a location flag and a determinicity flag. The properties of the system include the free space on the node and the size join, the data traffic on the networks and the data traffic generated by the join, the time to execute the join and nodes that already have code optimization. The join execution unit also determines whether to use collector nodes to optimize the query join. |
| US08055650B2 |
System and method for accessing data in disparate information sources
Embodiments of the invention provide a system for generating and maintaining virtual and physical metadata layers in a MetaBase metadata repository in order to simplify and optimize the retrieval of data from a plurality of disparate information sources. The system stores in a physical metadata layer of a metadata repository a plurality of physical metadata elements, wherein each one of the physical metadata elements corresponds to the metadata elements in the plurality of information sources. Logical metadata elements are stored in the virtual metadata layer and are linked to the physical metadata elements in order to maintain the relationships therebetween. By maintaining the relationships between the physical metadata elements, users can initiate a data query request for data corresponding to a logical metadata element, and the system is configured to retrieve the desired data from the relevant information sources. |
| US08055649B2 |
Scaled management system
An exemplary system for managing an applications and data space includes a strategy layer configured to receive a query statement and to formulate one or more custom queries based on the query statement and a query scheduler layer configured to schedule issuance of the one or more custom queries to one or more query response modules associated with the applications and data space. Other methods, devices and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08055648B2 |
Managing information related to communication
In one aspect, a method related to receiving, retrieving and presenting information. In addition, other method, system, and program product aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and/or text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US08055647B2 |
System, method and program for database searching
System, method and computer program product for searching through multiple databases based on a search expression. Distribution of records corresponding to search keys in the database is defined. The search expression is divided into multiple search expressions based in part on the defined distribution of records. Respective, target search ranges are determined for the multiple search expressions such that a number of records to be searched with each of the multiple search expressions is approximately constant. The multiple search expressions are executed in their respective, target search ranges. The search ranges can also be determined for the multiple search expressions based in part on search rates through respective search ranges. |
| US08055641B2 |
Methods and systems to communicate information
There is provided a method and system to communicate information. The system receives a first query that contains at least one constraint and retrieves a first plurality of data items from a database based on the first query. Next the system generating a first distribution based on the first plurality of data items, the first distribution utilizing a first plurality of domains used to identify data items. Next the system generates a second distribution based on a plurality of requests to view a second plurality of data items. Next the system generates a third distribution based on the first distribution and the second distribution. Finally the system generates interface information, to be communicated to a user, based on the third distribution. |
| US08055634B2 |
User interface for navigating a keyword space
The present invention relates to systems, methods, and user interfaces for browsing a collection of content items saved by a user or by one or more buddies associated with a given user. The method of the present invention comprises saving one or more content items and one or more associated keywords as specified by a user. An interface is generated that displays the one or more saved content items and the one or more associated keywords, as well as the one or more buddies associated with a given user. A user indication of the selection of a given keyword or the selection of a given buddy by the user is received. The one or more displayed content items are filtered according to the selected keyword, buddy, or combination of selected keyword and buddy. |
| US08055631B2 |
Reducing data loss and unavailability by integrating multiple levels of a storage hierarchy
A method for reducing data loss and unavailability by integrating multiple levels of a storage hierarchy is provided. The method includes receiving a read request. In addition, the method includes recognizing a data failure in response to the read request. The method further includes locating an alternate source of the data to be read in response to recognizing the data failure. The alternate source includes data cached at devices in the storage hierarchy, data in a backup system, and cumulative changes to the data since the last backup. Moreover, the method includes responding to the read request with data from the alternate source. |
| US08055626B1 |
Detecting mirrors on the web
A system obtains multiple signals associated with first and second hostnames or subtrees. The system uses the multiple signals to determine whether the first hostname or subtree is a mirror of the second hostname or subtree. The multiple signals may include, for example, a same link structure and/or sitemap for the first and second hostnames or subtrees, duplicate content associated with the first and second hostnames or subtrees, a same Internet Protocol (IP) address or subnet for the first and second hostnames or subtrees, a same owner for the first and second hostnames or subtrees, nearly duplicate content associated with the first and second hostnames or subtrees, similarity between the hostnames of the first and second hostnames or subtrees; and/or an indication that one hostname or subtree of the first and second hostnames or subtrees redirects to the other hostname or subtree. |
| US08055620B2 |
Map updating systems, methods and programs
Map updating systems, methods, and programs that store map information, including one or more pieces of difference update information, obtain the one or more pieces of difference update information used for updating a part of the map information, and update the map information based on the one or more pieces of difference update information. The systems, methods, and programs obtain total update information used for updating an entirety of the memory to a new piece of map information, update the map information based on the total update information, compare a version of the total update information used in the total update with each of versions of the one or more pieces of difference update information stored in the memory, extract any of the one or more pieces of difference update information judged to be newer and update the map information based on the difference update information. |
| US08055613B1 |
Method and apparatus for efficiently detecting and logging file system changes
A method and apparatus for efficiently logging changes to a file system are disclosed. A file system filter driver intercepts I/O requests directed to a file system, and analyzes the I/O requests to determine whether the requests are write or modify requests directed to a file included in a list of files to be monitored for changes. If the I/O request is directed to such a file, the file system filter driver logs the I/O request to a b-tree structured change log file. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the file system filter driver is configured to log file system changes to multiple log files to coincide with snapshot operations, such that the file system changes to be included in each snapshot are included in separate log files. |
| US08055611B1 |
Simplified XPath evaluation in XML document validation
Simplified XPath evaluation in Extensible Markup Language (XML) document validation. XML schema is compiled into a one dimensional array of schema nodes, where a schema node represents a complex/simple type definition in the XML scheme. Identity constraints are processed during compilation and Xpath expressions within these constraints are extracted and parsed. Further, these Xpath expressions are evaluated at compilation time to identify the schema nodes corresponding to the XML nodes referred in the identity constraints. The identity constraints are then enforced at runtime without the need to evaluate the Xpath expressions at the runtime. |
| US08055610B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for processing MDX post-order hierarchize expressions
Disclosed are an apparatus, system, and method for generating a post-order set of members referenced by an MDX query statement invoking a post-order function. The apparatus includes an input module that receives the MDX expression specifying the relevant data set. A pre-order module generates a set of the members in pre-order organization. An initialization module generates an empty post-order set and inserts the first member of the pre-order set into the post-order set. An ancestor module determines whether the next member in the pre-order set has an ancestor in the post-order set and the location of the closest ancestor of the member if it exists. An insertion module then inserts the member immediately before the closest ancestor if the ancestor exists, or puts it in the rightmost position of the post-order set if an ancestor does not exist. An iteration module invokes the ancestor and insertion modules for each member of the pre-order set until the post-order set is filled. |
| US08055608B1 |
Method and apparatus for concept-based classification of natural language discourse
Pinnacle concepts are not amenable to detection by the use of keywords. A unit of natural language discourse (UNLD) “refers” to a pinnacle concept “C” when that UNLD uses linguistic expressions in such a way that “C” is regarded as expressed, used or invoked by an ordinary reader of “L.” A reference can have a “reference level” value that is proportional to: the “strength” with which the pinnacle concept is referenced, the probability that a pinnacle concept is referenced or both strength and probability. Pinnacle concepts can be divided into Quantifiers and non-Quantifiers. A Quantifier can modify the reference level assigned to a non-Quantifier. A concept “C,” that is determined to be referenced by a UNLD “x,” after application of its Quantifiers, is said to be asserted by “x.” Concept-based classification is the identification of whether a pinnacle concept “C” is asserted by a UNLD. Concept-based classification can be used for concept-based search. |
| US08055607B2 |
Adaptive multi-levels dictionaries and singular value decomposition techniques for autonomic problem determination
A system and method for autonomic problem determination. Events and problems associated with the events are received from a computing resource and are expressed as entries in an event-problem matrix. Expert knowledge is expressed as entries in one or more multi-level structure dictionaries. The system and method enables dynamic interaction between the events in the matrix and the current dictionaries with its entries being updated continuously to maximize correlation among the events and problems. The index of each term in the dictionary is used to calculate the weight of each event in the matrix wherein events having frequent association with a specific problem will be given a higher weight in the matrix. Using singular value decomposition (SVD), the weighted events enable an accelerated and accurate convergence to a set of specific associated problems. Feedback, responsive to the output of the problem determination, is provided to trigger the recalculation of the index of each associated term in the dictionaries, resulting in gradual evolution of the dictionaries to accumulate expert knowledge. |
| US08055606B2 |
Method and system for self-calibrating project estimation models for packaged software applications
An estimation system for deriving multi-dimensional project plans for implementing packaged software applications with self-calibration and refinement of project estimation models, the system includes: a view layer configured to act as a user interface for user inputs and system outputs; a model and control layer configured to implement rules based on a series of estimation and implementation models, and to perform self-calibration and refinement of project estimation models for multi-dimensional project plans; an estimation knowledge base layer configured to hold and derive the series of estimation and implementation models; and wherein the system for self-calibration and refinement of project estimation models for multi-dimensional project plans for implementing packaged software applications is carried out over networks comprising: the Internet, intranets, local area networks (LAN), and wireless local area networks (WLAN). |
| US08055604B2 |
Rule processing method, apparatus and computer-readable medium to provide improved selection advice
A computer-implemented method, apparatus or computer-readable medium to provide selection advice during rule processing to help a user choose desired specifications of a product, service, or other rule-based system characterized by a ZDD rule model having one or more Include and/or Exclude rules. One aspect includes displaying on a monitor or other I/O device multiple attributes having multiple enumerations that identify possible feature, specifications, or conditions of a product; selecting multiple alternative enumerations of the attributes; determining a selection advice for each enumerations selected combining the selection advice for each numerations in order to produce result; communicating the result to an end user; and then using the result to choose a product having desired compliant specifications or conditions. |
| US08055603B2 |
Automatic generation of new rules for processing synthetic events using computer-based learning processes
A computer implemented method. A first synthetic event is received. The first synthetic event is derived from a first cohort comprising a first set of data and a second cohort comprising a second set of data. The first synthetic event comprises a third set of data representing a result of a mathematical computation on the first and second cohorts. A first rule set is created, the first synthetic event being expected as a result of application of the first rule set to the first cohort and the second cohort. The first rule set is applied to the first cohort and the second cohort to achieve a first result. The first result comprises a second event that is compared to the first synthetic event. A comparison is formed, the comparison comprising additional data that can be used to describe a difference between the second event and the first synthetic event. |
| US08055601B2 |
Compiler for compiling content search rules comprising a regular expression using a programmable intelligent search memory (PRISM) and vectors
Memory architecture provides capabilities for high performance content search. Content search rules comprise of regular expressions which are compiled to finite state automata and then programmed in Programmable Intelligent Search Memory (PRISM) for evaluating content with the search rules. A compiler compiles the content search rules for evaluation by PRISM memory. The PRISM memory architecture creates an innovative memory that can be programmed with content search rules which are used by the memory to evaluate presented content for matching with the programmed rules. When the content being searched matches any of the rules programmed in the Programmable Intelligent Search Memory (PRISM) action(s) associated with the matched rule(s) are taken. |
| US08055599B1 |
Pattern recognition using cycles or traces in an associative pattern memory (APM), vertical sensors, amplitude sampling, adjacent hashes and fuzzy hashes
Pattern recognition based on associative pattern memory (APM) and properties of cycles generated by finite cellular automata. APM addresses (e.g., positions in a two dimensional array) represent states. Cycles are repeating sequences of addresses. Each state is mapped to a “randomly” selected region within the input pattern. Each feature extracted from this region determines one of many next states. All next states (one for each feature type) and all sampled regions are assigned to each state randomly upon APM initialization. The process progresses from state to state, sampling regions of the pattern until the state-transition sequence repeats (generates a cycle). Each feature pattern is represented by one cycle, however different cycles can be derived from one pattern depending on the initial state. Some embodiments use a refractory period assuring a minimum cycle length, making it likely that any given pattern yields only one cycle independent of the initial state. |
| US08055594B2 |
Proactive detection of metal whiskers in computer systems
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that proactively monitors and detects metal whisker growth in a target area within a computer system. During operation, the system collects target electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals using one or more antennas positioned in the vicinity of the target area. Next, the system analyzes the target EMI signals to proactively detect the onset of metal whisker growth in the target area. |
| US08055593B2 |
Learning classifiers for multiple-label data analysis
A method for multiple-label data analysis includes: obtaining labeled data points from more than one labeler; building a classifier that maximizes a measure relating the data points, labels on the data points and a predicted output label; and assigning an output label to an input data point by using the classifier. |
| US08055591B2 |
Acquisition and association of data indicative of an inferred mental state of an authoring user
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of an authoring user; and associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user with an electronic message. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US08055587B2 |
Man in the middle computer technique
A method for constructing a secure Internet transaction, the method includes: receiving a user identification (userid) and user password on a client device for filling out a form generated by a secure web site; concatenating the user's Internet Protocol (IP) address with a separate password that is maintained on the secure web site that the user is authenticating to; encrypting the concatenated user IP and separate password to form an Internet Protocol password (IPPW); wherein the encrypting is carried out with a client device linear feedback shift register (LFSR) with a defined cycle count; building a transaction consisting of the IPPW, defined cycle count, and userid; transmitting the transaction and form via a network towards the secure web site; wherein in response the secure website performs the following: decrypts the IPPW, and determines if the IP portion of the decrypted IPPW is equal to the user's IP address. |
| US08055585B2 |
Digital media distribution
One embodiment in accordance with the invention is a method. For example, the method includes storing movie content with a distribution station that can be subsequently purchased and/or rented. The movie content can be encrypted. A determination can be made as to whether a storage apparatus is coupled with the distribution station. Provided the storage apparatus has been coupled with the distribution station, a determination can be made as to whether the storage apparatus is authorized to receive the movie content. Provided the storage apparatus is authorized to receive the movie content, encrypted movie content can be downloaded to the storage apparatus from the distribution station. Note that the download of movie content to the authorized storage apparatus can be part of a purchase and/or rental transaction. |
| US08055577B2 |
Method and apparatus for stock and index option price improvement, participation, and internalization
A method for stock option trading includes receiving an option order at a market, contemporaneously receiving a copy of the option order at an electronic drop (EDrop) system, which is separate and distinct from the market, obtaining a potential cross quantity and a potential cross price based on the option order at the EDrop system, and submitting, through the EDrop system, a contra-order, with respect to the option order, to the market for fulfillment, wherein the contra-order specifies at least one of an underlying security potential cross quantity, and the potential cross price. |
| US08055576B2 |
Electronic securities marketplace having integration with order management systems
An electronic trading marketplace (ETM) communicates with interfacing modules interfacing directly with order management systems (OMS's) at trading institutions. The interfacing modules automatically transmit orders from the OMS databases to the ETM and update the OMS databases in response to orders executed at the ETM. Traders can communicate with the ETM to anonymously negotiate trades of securities. |
| US08055573B2 |
System method for marketing commodity products electronically
A system and method of marketing commodity products over an internet connection, in which the product price is continuously correlated to a publicly traded exchange price and in which a customer may be notified if the product price reaches a previously selected target price set by the customer. |
| US08055572B2 |
Anonymous trading system
An anonymous computerised trading system matches orders by conducting auctions at specified times. As well as entering orders, participants assign credit limits for the duration of the auction, thus minimizing the time for which credit is allocated to the system. |
| US08055568B2 |
Entertainment concept evaluation; decision matrix method
A Entertainment Concept Evaluation is achieved through the use of a Decision Matrix Method. The decision process is a critical tool for aggregating entertainment content on the Internet as well as the monetization of chosen concepts. |
| US08055563B2 |
Financial activity based on natural weather events
A financial activity network includes a central managing system connected to a plurality of participant terminals. Rules governing operation of the financial activity are stored for future reference. A participant provides investment information such as a map location for the predicted strike by the natural event and, optionally, one or more secondary parameters relating to the natural event, such as the time interval between the time of investment and the time of all event strike and/or the severity of the event strike according to an established scale. In one example, an external objective independent information source is consulted, with the external objective independent information source providing monitoring, interpretation and derived determination of parameters pertaining to the natural event. Methods and articles of manufacture are also disclosed. |
| US08055562B2 |
Computer evaluation of crop related industries
A process for optimizing a portfolio of products produced from a crop includes the use of an objective function to determine optimized quantities of the products in the portfolio. The objective function, for example, includes quantity terms for the products. The objective function may also include additional terms such as an energy term and/or a storage term. The energy term, for example, relates to an amount of energy required to produce the products. The storage term, for example, relates to the cost of storing products. The crop, for example, may be sugarcane, and the products, for example, may be sugar, molasses, bagasse, biofuel, electricity, and/or carbon credits. |
| US08055560B2 |
Multi-company business accounting system and method for same including account payable
In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a computer implemented method for Account Payable (AP) accounting for a multi-company group is provided. The method comprises recording a voucher with a multi-company accounting system including entering input voucher detail lines into the system. At least two of the input voucher detail lines are associated with two distinct companies of the multi-company group. The system automatically adds at least a pair of multi-company generated balancing lines associated with the voucher for balancing money owed by each of the distinct companies to define an outstanding balance associated with each of the distinct companies. A payment is recorded in the system to reduce the outstanding balances and system automatically adds a pair of multi-company generated “Due To/Due From” lines as “Due To/Due From” entries to balance the money owed between the distinct companies. |
| US08055556B2 |
User interface for rapid entry of timesheet data
A user interface for receiving time entries in a timesheet is described. This user interface includes a user-interface element in the form of a calendar, where the calendar contains one or more time entries associated with at least a financial activity. Moreover, a given time entry, which is associated with a corresponding block of time, is graphically represented as an adjustable region in the calendar. Additionally, a user can change one or more temporal parameters associated with the time entry by using a pointing device to select and modify one or more geometric properties of the adjustable region. |
| US08055555B2 |
Mediation device for scalable storage service
A service provider management system (SPMS) that connects to storage resources in a datacenter controlled by a service provider and a database that stores information about the datacenter and customers that receive the storage resources as a service. The SPMS enables the service provider to allocate storage resources to a customer and to assign ownership to billable devices, such as disks, volumes, ports, and so forth, as well as to generate billing information based on hardware configuration and customer usage. The SPSM is supported on a server architecture, which includes a Web server that exports a first interface to the service provider to enable the service provider to manage the data storage resources to which the SPMS is connected, and a second interface to the customer to enable the customer to manage the allocated data storage resources directly. |
| US08055552B2 |
Social network commerce model
Rules-based commerce system or marketplace that proactively acquires and purchases, on behalf of consumers, works submitted by creators. In one implementation, the system involves a rules engine which makes current and future purchases of electronic content and code based on the positive fulfillment of specific pre-created criteria. Some particular implementations of the invention can be implemented to create a net of income from a large quantity of sources in order to support one or more social media activities. Other implementations of the invention can be configured to create forms of sponsorship whereby a consumer can create rules to automatically acquire and pay for a future work that meets one or more criteria. On the creator side, implementations of the invention can be configured to assist creators to develop an audience and corresponding income streams to support social media creation activities. |
| US08055551B2 |
Methods for alerting a sales representative of customer presence based on customer identification information
A system and method for sales optimization having a store database storing information about past shopping experiences and preferences of different customers, a business rules engine connected to the store database, a biometric database containing biometric data, a customer identification engine connected to the biometric database; and a biometric detector detecting customer's presence in the store. The biometric detector is connected to the biometric database through the customer identification engine. The customer identification engine identifies detected customers using data stored in the biometric database. The system also includes at least one sales representative terminal connected to the business rules engine. When sales optimization tactic is determined, it is conveyed from the business rules engine to the sales representative terminal. |
| US08055543B2 |
Referential interface to enable commercial interaction between entities
A system, method and program product is provided for establishment of a referential interface between business entities such as manufacturers and distributors in a computerized marketplace. The interface allows commercial interaction between two potentially geographically and technologically disparate systems. The interface is established through definition and then deployment of a distributor profile document, interrelated with a set of referential interface terms and conditions and a referential interface business policy. The profile document has associated terms and conditions representing business rules and processes referring to the business policies which then have business logic implementations. The contract prescribes the business rules that will be followed between a manufacturer and a distributor with the business policies providing mapping to units of business logic in the implementation of the distributor. Additionally the interface allows and may require setup and customization of business policy command implementation logic specific to the desired distributor. The established interface is further customizable and extensible allowing a variety of distributors to be connected to a marketplace as required with relative ease. |
| US08055540B2 |
Vehicle radio system with customized advertising
A radio broadcast system includes a vehicle-based radio system that receives radio broadcasts via digital satellite transmission from a transmitting facility and provides two-way communication with a vehicle communications central facility. The transmitting facility broadcasts a number of different channels of programming content (music, news, etc.) along with one or more separate streams of radio advertisements. The advertisements are received by the vehicle radio system which selects and stores certain advertisements targeted to the vehicle user based on user or vehicle data. The broadcasted radio streams received by the vehicle radio system contain intermittent advertising slots and the system monitors the channel selected by the vehicle operator for markers that identify these advertising slots. Once a marker is detected, one of the stored advertisements is accessed and inserted into the advertising slot for playback as a part of the selected broadcast stream. |
| US08055531B2 |
Method and computer program product for assessing a process of an organization
A method for assessing a process of an organization is provided. First, information concerning the organization and the process is acquired, such as from a set of questionnaires, interviews and/or document reviews. Then, a plurality of preliminary findings are developed based upon the information. Each of the developed preliminary findings has an associated characterization of either a strength or a weakness. Next, a conclusion associated with each preliminary finding is voted for electronically, where the conclusion is either an agreement with the preliminary finding or a disagreement with the preliminary finding. A plurality of final findings are then developed based upon the vote for each conclusion. Each final finding also has a characterization of either a strength or a weakness. |
| US08055530B2 |
System and method for composite pricing of services to provide optimal bill schedule
System and method for service pricing optimization enables analysis of multi-phased, multi-business unit, multi-process, multi-geo/country deal structure with its parts and phases having different pricing implications, and provides a flexible composite pricing schedule optimized for both service provider and receiver by gain and risk sharing. In one aspect, elementary pricing models and pricing parameters are established and a composite pricing model is constructed based on the elementary pricing models and pricing parameters. An optimizer optimizes the composite pricing model to minimize risk and maximize one or more selected criteria. Price is generated using the optimized composite pricing model. |
| US08055529B1 |
System and method for assessing attorney performance in prosecuting security interest enforcement actions
A legal process management system facilitates simultaneous dynamic dialogs between legal process managers and networked attorneys and contractors providing services in connection with security interest enforcement actions (SIEAs). The legal process managers submit queries and deadlines selected to timely guide the attorneys and contractors through the requirements of the SIEAs. The attorneys and contractors submit responsive answers revealing the status of their SIEAs In some embodiments, an events based management system uses a stochastic model to calculate completion times for the milestones of the SIEA, including the “events” that make up subparts of the milestones. This provides a flexible and powerful system for managing prosecution of the SIEA and for predicting likely durations. The stochastic model incorporates the concept of both fixed-frequency events and random-frequency events, and also allows for both controlled events and managed events. A reporting system is also provided for keeping track of event and milestone completion. |
| US08055528B2 |
System and method for informing business management personnel of business risk
A system and method are provided for informing business management personnel of business risk. The method can include the operation of defining a plurality of business risk rules that are tied to specific risk events and information. The plurality of business risk rules can be stored in encapsulated data points. Another operation is defining predicate risk rules and core risk rules for the business risk rules in the data points. A query can be made of whether predicate risk rules in a section of data points are satisfied using the predicate risk rule in a core data point. The core risk rules for the core data points can be applied after predicate risk rules for the core risk rule have been satisfied. A further operation is displaying a graphic icon to an end user for core risk rule status representing whether a core risk rule has been satisfied. |
| US08055527B1 |
Policy based automation for a supply chain
A method is provided for implementing a computer network system for managing a supply chain, wherein the computer network system comprising a plurality of application server computers. The method includes: identifying a business context for the supply chain; identifying a set of business policy rules for the business context, the set of business policy rules governing the relationship between two or more entities involved in the supply chain; creating at least one use-case description from the set of business policy rules; creating a plurality of executable code modules corresponding to the use-case description; specifying a plurality of name/value pair for modeling the set of business policy rules; provisioning the plurality of application server computers of the computer network system with the executable code modules; and provisioning a central directory database with the plurality of name/value pairs; whereby the computer network system, in response to one or more events in business transactions between at least two entities involved in the supply chain, is operable to dynamically deliver at least one name/value pair from the central directory database and to execute at least one code module. |
| US08055517B2 |
Optimization of timing for data collection and analysis in advanced patient management system
Advanced patient management systems include a unit for collecting data from a device associated with a patient, and a host in communication with the unit, the host identifying a time for the device to update data on the device. The system can identify a time for the device to update data associated with the device by developing a histogram of the availability of the device for interrogation. The system can also optimize processing loads for the system by developing a histogram of the time at which the caregiver is most likely to access the system to review the collected and processed data. Methods for optimizing device data update and processing times are also included. |
| US08055514B2 |
User-centric methodology for navigating through and accessing databases of medical information management system
A contextually sensitive, user-centric database navigation and accessing software methodology controls navigation through and access to database domains of a medical (e.g., cardiovascular) image and information management system in accordance with the specific role of the user. Being user-centric, rather than patient-centric, the routine is operative to display to a user, upon logging on, a homepage that specifically pertains to the user's area of responsibility, with the information being displayed containing a contextual list of options that are germane to the user's workflow. This facilitates the ability of the user to rapidly navigate through and access one or more data domains specifically relevant to responsibilities and functions of the user, thereby improving the user's efficiency and reducing the time to complete a task. |
| US08055513B1 |
Pharmacy network management system and method for searching for a pharmacy store location
A method and system for enabling one or more customers to search for a pharmacy store location. The method and system includes an application server connected to a network server, an intranet server, and a database, the application server configured access a network server hosting a network website via the network; display to the customer via the website at least one of a prescription order selection or a pharmacy data access selection; display one or more prescription order displays to the customer via the website when the customer selects the prescription order selection; receive from the customer a particular prescription order via a communication network that connects a plurality of member pharmacies; and determine a pharmacy store location based on at least one of: i) if the store location is a drive through store location; ii) if the store location is within a search radius to the customers. |
| US08055512B1 |
Manifest, methods and systems for multi-dose medication order fill
A manifest for a multi-dose medication order is disclosed. The manifest may serve as a single recipe or roadmap for the prescriptions and containers required for a multi-dose medicament order. The manifest may include a representation of intersecting prescription and container matrices, with each intersecting entry including an indication of a number of medicaments of an individual prescription mapped to be packaged into an individual container. Machine-readable identifiers and fields for different levels of approval may be included on the manifest. Dosing regime parameters may be visually differentiated. Methods and systems for creating a manifest and using the manifest in filling a multi-dose medicament order are also disclosed. |
| US08055509B1 |
Methods and apparatus for increasing and/or for monitoring a party's compliance with a schedule for taking medicines
Methods and apparatus are provided for increasing and/or monitoring a party's compliance with a schedule for taking medicines. In a first embodiment, a method is provided for use by a first container that is adapted to store a first medicine. The method includes storing information regarding the first medicine and wirelessly communicating a signal between the first container and a second container adapted to store a second medicine. In a second embodiment, a method is provided that includes determining if a first container for storing a first medicine is positioned so as to wirelessly communicate with a second container for storing a second medicine. The method further includes generating data based at least in part on whether the first container is positioned so as to wirelessly communicate with the second container. In a third embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving a signal and, based at least in part on the received signal, determining whether a first container for storing a first medicine was positioned so as to wirelessly communicate with a second container for storing a second medicine. In a fourth embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving a signal from a device that monitors whether a first container for storing a first medicine and a second container for storing a second medicine are positioned so as to communicate. The method further includes determining if at least one party has complied with a schedule for taking the first medicine and the second medicine based at least in part on the received signal. Systems, apparatus and computer program products are provided for carrying out the above-described embodiments and numerous other embodiments. |
| US08055505B2 |
Audio content digital watermark detection
Digital watermark detection apparatus including detection units which calculate detected values of watermark signals by use of keys for PCM data of channels of audio content, a plurality of units which add the detected values corresponding to each of the channels and each of the keys for each possible combination of the respective channels and the respective keys, and a unit which selects and outputs one adding result from the respective adding results by the plurality of detected value adding units. Moreover, it includes units which accumulate the detected values in accumulation cycles different from one another to restore messages embedded as digital watermarks from the accumulated detected values, and perform boundary detection of the audio contents to detect the audio contents in which the digital watermarks are embedded, and a detection result output unit which synthesizes and outputs respective processing results by the message restoration units. |
| US08055504B2 |
Synchronizing visual and speech events in a multimodal application
Exemplary methods, systems, and products are disclosed for synchronizing visual and speech events in a multimodal application, including receiving from a user speech; determining a semantic interpretation of the speech; calling a global application update handler; identifying, by the global application update handler, an additional processing function in dependence upon the semantic interpretation; and executing the additional function. Typical embodiments may include updating a visual element after executing the additional function. Typical embodiments may include updating a voice form after executing the additional function. Typical embodiments also may include updating a state table after updating the voice form. Typical embodiments also may include restarting the voice form after executing the additional function. |
| US08055499B2 |
Transmitter and receiver for speech coding and decoding by using additional bit allocation method
The present invention relates to a transmitter and a receiver for speech coding and decoding by using an additional bit allocation method. The transmitter and the receiver according to the present invention realize a voice communication service of high quality by using additional bits permitted in system requirements while using a conventional speech coder as it is. In addition, the transmitter and the receiver according to the present invention have an advantage in that they enable insertion of additional quantization blocks while not changing the structure of the conventional standard speech coder, since they allocate additional bits by applying a multi-stage quantization procedure not in a speech signal domain but in a parameter domain. |
| US08055498B2 |
Systems and methods for building an electronic dictionary of multi-word names and for performing fuzzy searches in the dictionary
The present invention automatically builds a contracted dictionary from a given list of multi-word proper names and performs fuzzy searches in the contracted dictionary. The contracted dictionary of proper names includes two linked trie-based dictionaries: a first dictionary is used to store single word names, each word name having an ID number; and a second dictionary is used to store multi-word names encoded with ID numbers. Information related to the multi-word names is also stored as a gloss to the terminal node of the multi-word entry of the trie-based dictionary. An approximate lookup for a multi-word name is conducted first for each word of the multi-word name using an approximate matching technique such as a phonetic proximity or a simple edit distance. Accordingly, N suggestions is determined for each word of the multi-word name under consideration. Then, multi-word candidates are assembled in ID notation. Finally, an approximate search for each assembled candidate is performed based on an edit distance or a n-grams approximate string matching. Edit distances and N-grams are used to measure how similar two strings are. The result is a set of multi-word suggestions in an ID notation. This ID notation is encoded back to the original form using the first trie-based dictionary. |
| US08055497B2 |
Method and system to parse addresses using a processing system
A method and system for parsing an address is disclosed. The method and system comprise separating the address into a plurality of tokens and providing one or more token meaning discovery passes based upon region specific configuration information to determine the meaning of each token in the address. In so doing, an address can be parsed by a processing system in an efficient and effective fashion. By disclosing the meaning of each token of the address in accordance with a region specific configuration information rule set a parsing process is provided which allows for easy modification as the requirements for the parsing change. |
| US08055496B2 |
Ensuring product correctness in a multilingual environment
A language package system that prevents undesirable behaviors resulting from an incompatibility between a core package of a software product and its language packages is provided. The language package system executes when a user starts the execution of the core package on a computing device. The language package system retrieves a language package version number from the core package that indicates the version number of compatible language packages and an indication of the preferred language of the user. The language package system then determines whether the computing device has a compatible language package that is available. When the computing device has a compatible language package, the software product uses that language package. When the computing device has no compatible language package, the language package system then performs processing that factors in the unavailability of a compatible language package. |
| US08055494B1 |
Reporting delay in modeling environments
Methods and systems for automatically reporting delay incurred in a model is disclosed. The delay may be incurred in a part or in an entire portion of the model. Delay incurred in each component of the model is determined and reported to users before executing the model. The delay of each component of the model may be determined based on intrinsic information of the component. If the intrinsic information of the component does not provide information on the delay of the component, the component may be simulated to determine the delay of the components. The model may be automatically compensated for the delay. The delay is reported prior to the execution of the model, and compensated for without executing the model. |
| US08055493B2 |
Sizing an infrastructure configuration optimized for a workload mix using a predictive model
Sizing an infrastructure configuration optimized for a workload mix includes: receiving the workload mix; identifying demand estimates for the one or more predefined benchmarks; applying a predictive model to identify an initial infrastructure configuration having a size anticipated to meet the demand estimates; instructing a virtualized-aware testing service (VATS) test controller to perform a test of the initial infrastructure configuration in a virtualized environment, where performance of the test generates at least one test result; determining whether the at least one test result satisfies a predetermined requirement as identified in the workload mix; and outputting the determination of whether the at least one test result satisfies the predetermined requirement. |
| US08055486B2 |
Power delivery analysis and design
A computer program product is provided for power delivery analysis and design for a hierarchical system. The product includes a storage medium, readable by a processing circuit, for storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method. The method includes building a model corresponding to each element of the hierarchical system, and compiling a repository that contains models corresponding to each element, where the repository includes a net list, a domain list, a component list, a pin list, and a layer list. The method also includes performing optimized gridding for each element, the net list, the domain list, the component list, the pin list, and the layer list; assembling a system model from the models contained in the repository; flattening the system model by converting the system model to a flattened system model that consists entirely of resistors; and running a simulation on the flattened system model. |
| US08055482B2 |
Integrating multiple design systems in a CAD system
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to integrate multiple engineering design systems in a computer aided design (CAD) system. A design generator is displayed and used to create an engineering design that has different worksheets. Each worksheet represents a different aspect of the design, has local design objects that represent functional aspects of a component that are independent from the component's physical representation, and relation objects that models constraints for properties of the design objects. The objects are organized into a functional layout document (FLD) that is stored in a data center/database that is shared by the worksheets. The FLD is then used to design an engineering design/model. |
| US08055481B2 |
Method for planning sheet pile wall sections
A method is provided for planning sheet pile wall sections via a user-oriented network—in particular, the Internet—in which at least technical characteristics of a suitable component for the layout of a sheet pile wall section and/or the layout of a sheet pile wall section itself are determined for the user by a computer system. The method comprises the steps of: (a) entering at least two constructional parameters of the sheet pile wall section, via the user-oriented network, into the computer system, within which various data of components for the layout of a sheet pile wall section, data of layouts for sheet pile wall sections, and technical characteristics of the components and the layouts are stored in a database of the computer system; (b) determining at least one suitable component and/or at least one suitable layout, via the computer system, on the basis of the entered construction parameters and the technical characteristics stored in the database; and (c) providing the user with the data of the component and/or layout determined in step (b) and the technical characteristics of the determined component and/or the layout, via the user-oriented network. |
| US08055480B2 |
Method for representing flexible elongate volume objects
The invention relates to a method for the simplified, physically correct representation of flexible elongate volume objects. The volume object is divided up into sections and each section begins and ends with an interaction point and is connected to an adjacent section by means of said point. Each interaction point has six degrees of freedom and the physical properties of the sections are defined according to several factors. The invention also relates to obtained experimental values which are used to represent another elongate volume object using a model function. |
| US08055469B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining the attachment position of a motion sensing apparatus
A motion sensing apparatus generally comprising a housing unit operable to be attached to an object at an attachment position, an accelerometer operable to provide a signal corresponding to an acceleration measurement; and a processing system. The processing system is operable to acquire the signal corresponding to the acceleration measurement and analyze the acquired acceleration measurement to identify the attachment position of the housing unit. |
| US08055468B1 |
Output leakage compensation and method for implementing the same
An electronic instrument having in its circuitry a specific solid state switch that exhibits detrimental current leakage at elevated temperatures, a variable voltage device in the instrument connected to the specific switch, the variable voltage device being capable, at an experimentally determined voltage setting, of zeroing out the leakage current in the specific switch, the variable voltage device being set at a voltage setting determined experimentally using said specific switch at an elevated temperature thereby temperature compensating said specific switch. |
| US08055463B1 |
Fuel gauge
A fuel gauge for power supplies having a voltage pre-regulator; a main voltage regulator; a current sense resistor; an integrator with an op amp and capacitor, wherein the integrator receives power from the main voltage regulator, and receives a voltage proportional to current from the current sense resistor; a microprocessor with data storage and a hysteresis circuit, wherein the microprocessor operates in a low power state until activated by the resistor and the microprocessor converts the voltage proportional to current to a monotonic uni-polar representation of an aggregate number of electrons; a resistor disposed between the integrator and the microprocessor for activating the microprocessor from the low power state prior to saturation of the integrator with the voltage proportional to current; and a reset circuit disposed between the microprocessor and the integrator for resetting the monotonic uni-polar representation of an aggregate number of electrons to zero. |
| US08055462B1 |
System using fuel gauge
A system for counting electrons including a power supply producing a current, a fuel gauge in communication with the power supply, a reader with a reader processor and display, wherein the reader is in communication with a microprocessor of the fuel gauge, and wherein the microprocessor transmits to the reader the established standard engineering unit of capacity, and wherein the reader processor displays the established standard engineering unit of capacity on the display; and a modem in communication with the fuel gauge, wherein the modem provides a communication signal over power lines of the fuel gauge. |
| US08055461B2 |
Distributing metering responses for load balancing an AMR network
Disclosed are methodology and corresponding apparatus subject matters for providing improved efficiency in the collection of data from a large number of metrology devices associated with an Automated Meter reading (AMR) network. AMR network operation produces randomly spaced transmissions from individual nodes in the network. When an AMR system wishes to retrieve data from a large number of points over an AMR network, a broadcast or multicast request is transmitted to appropriate nodes. A time window is defined either in such request or in the devices themselves such that start and end offsets from the time of the request are received by the node. The start offset provides a quiet period to insure request delivery to all the appropriate nodes. The end offset provides a time by which the requested data must be returned. Responses are sent randomly within the window established by the start and stop offset times. |
| US08055453B2 |
Sensing and estimating in-leakage air in a subambient cooling system
In certain embodiments, estimating air in a cooling system includes measuring a property that can be used to estimate the air to yield a plurality of measurements. The measurements are performed for different heat loads and for different concentrations of non-condensable gas in the cooling system. The measurements are stored a data set. |
| US08055451B2 |
Method for estimating a melting temperature of a nucleic acid in buffers containing magnesium ions
The invention relates to methods and systems for predicting or estimating the melting temperature of duplex nucleic acids, in the presence of divalent cations, particularly duplexes of oligonucleotides which may be used as, for example, but not limited to primers or probes in PCR and/or hybridization assays. The methods and algorithms use novel formulas, having terms and coefficients that are functions of the particular nucleotide sequence, to estimate the effect of divalent cation salt conditions on the melting temperature. |
| US08055450B2 |
Method and apparatus for temperature control
A method is disclosed. The method includes determining an amount of energy needed to change a first sample temperature of a first sample to a target temperature when a temperature changing element that changes the sample temperature is at the target temperature. Data associated with the amount of energy needed to change the sample temperature of the sample to the target temperature is then stored. The stored data may thereafter be used to quickly change a second sample temperature of a second sample to the target temperature, without having the second sample temperature exceed the target temperature. |
| US08055448B2 |
Imaging of formation structure ahead of the drill-bit
A downhole acoustic logging tool is used for generating a guided borehole wave that propagates into the formation as a body wave, reflects from an interface and is converted back into a guided borehole wave. Guided borehole waves resulting from reflection of the body wave are used to image a reflector. |
| US08055445B2 |
Probabilistic lane assignment method
An improved probabilistic lane assignment method for detected objects in the scene forward of a host vehicle. Road/lane model parameters, preferably including an angular orientation of the host vehicle in its lane, are estimated from host vehicle sensor systems, taking into account measurement uncertainty in each of the constituent parameters. A probabilistic assignment of the object's lane is then assessed based on the road/lane model parameters and object measurements, again taking into account measurement uncertainty in both the road/lane model and object measurements. According to a first embodiment, the probabilistic assignment is discrete in nature, indicating a confidence or degree-of-belief that the detected object resides in each of a number of lanes. According to a second embodiment, the probabilistic assignment is continuous in nature, providing a lateral separation distance between the host vehicle and the object, and a confidence or degree-of-belief in the lateral separation distance. |
| US08055443B1 |
Route calculation method for a vehicle navigation system
Traffic information, including flow information and incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be used in route calculation by a navigation device. The navigation device may recalculate a route based on anticipated user error. Alternatively, the navigation device may recalculate a route using received traffic information triggered by the receipt of a traffic information update, or triggered by the passage of an amount of time. The broadcast rate of traffic information updates may vary temporally (providing more frequent updates during peak commute times) or geographically (providing more frequent updates to metropolitan areas with increased traffic information needs). If route calculation is triggered by an elapsed amount of time, the amount of time may vary to be shorter during peak commute times. Additional route calculation techniques allow the incorporation of historical traffic information or the use of the most recent traffic information if incomplete traffic information is available. Still further route calculation techniques may calculate a best route by avoiding zigzagging or evaluating an assigned cost of a potential route. |
| US08055441B2 |
Supplemental powered information receiver
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for a supplemental powered information receiver. A system includes a processor linked to a memory, the memory including at least a Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation process, a clock and internal timer linked to the processor, a programmable power source linked to the processor, and an information receiver module linked to the processor, the information receiver module receiving information when programmed to power up into a standby mode. |
| US08055440B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for use in navigation
The present embodiments provide methods, processes and systems for use in determining navigation. Some embodiments provide methods that receive a communication at a mobile navigation system from an external device, determine whether the communication comprises navigation information, extract the navigation information when the communication comprises navigation information, identify a navigation location based on the navigation information, retrieve a current location, and generate navigation instructions between the current location and the navigation location. |
| US08055439B2 |
System for providing fuel-efficient driving information for vehicles
A system for providing fuel-efficient driving information for a vehicle includes a fuel-efficient driving area calculation unit and a display unit. The fuel-efficient driving area calculation unit calculates a variable fuel-efficient driving area, which is divided into economical, semi-economical, and uneconomical regions, depending on the increase or decrease of the speed of the vehicle, calculates a current fuel efficiency of the vehicle, receives information about the type and condition of a road from a GPS, and adjusts the regions in the fuel-efficient driving area to prompt the driver to increase or decrease the vehicle speed in advance. The display unit displays the fuel-efficient driving area using information calculated by the fuel-efficient driving area calculation unit, and indicates the current fuel efficiency using the regions. |
| US08055434B2 |
Fuel injection control system and vehicle comprising the same
A fuel injection control system for a motorcycle includes an ECU (Engine Control Unit) which calculates the amount of fuel to be injected by an injector based on data detected by various sensors. The fuel injection control system also includes a generator which supplies electric power to the injector and the ECU, and is driven in accordance with the engine, and a kick pedal for manually starting the engine by manually driving the generator with a user's foot. The ECU is configured to acquire data detected by the sensors at shorter intervals during a predetermined period before starting the engine than after the engine is started. |
| US08055431B2 |
Driving amount controller
A driving amount controller for reducing the response delay or erroneous deviation in the control of a driving amount of a controlled system, for example, in the control of the opening of a throttle valve. When a target opening DTHR is varied starting from the condition where the throttle valve is stopped, an ECU 20 on a vehicle calculates an output of a motor necessary for a starting operation of the motor, and outputs a control signal Sc obtained through compensation of a deficiency. |
| US08055429B2 |
Parking support control apparatus and parking support control system
An initial value θ0 of a vehicle deflection angle θ and an initial value L0 of a distance L are set, a normalized coefficient R is determined from the ratio of the vehicle deflection angle θ or the distance L to the initial value θ0 or the initial value L0 when vehicle stop control is started, and the target speed VREF of a body speed VL is determined by that coefficient R. Since the body speed V of the vehicle VL is very low when the vehicle VL arrives at a target parking position, the vehicle VL can be stopped precisely at the target parking position. |
| US08055428B2 |
Vehicle peripheral monitoring apparatus
A vehicle peripheral monitoring apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a forward monitoring unit for monitoring an obstacle within a predetermined forward area extending in a direction forward of an own vehicle; one or more forward-lateral monitoring units for monitoring an obstacle within a predetermined forward-lateral area extending in a direction lateral of the own vehicle relative to the predetermined forward area; and a traveling environment detecting unit for detecting a traveling environment of the own vehicle, wherein the monitoring with the forward-lateral monitoring units is suppressed when the traveling environment detecting unit detects that the own vehicle is traveling on a predetermined road including a highway, and a level of the suppressing of the monitoring with the forward-lateral monitoring unit is eased when the traveling environment detecting unit detects that the own vehicle is traveling in a predetermined area, including a junction, of the predetermined road. |
| US08055421B2 |
Braking control device
It is an object of the present invention to minimize any sensation of inadequate firmness and large changes in deceleration rate with respect to a change in a brake operation force when the force exceeds a boost limit point. A first correlation S1 when a brake operation force increases and a second correlation S2 after hysteresis is applied at the time of a decrease in the brake operation force are taken as relationships between a brake operation force F and a wheel cylinder pressure PWC in a state wherein an assist hydraulic pressure PA is not applied. An assist hydraulic pressure control section controls the assist hydraulic pressure PA so that when a brake operation force that exceeds a boost limit point T1 is applied, the assist hydraulic pressure PA is added, hysteresis is applied when the brake operation force decreases, the assist hydraulic pressure PA decreases, and the relationship between the wheel cylinder pressure PWC and the brake operation force F when the assist hydraulic pressure PA decreases to zero becomes the second correlation S2. |
| US08055420B2 |
Vehicle control device
A main controller calculates permissible driving forces of individual wheels from a road-surface friction coefficient, ground loads of the individual wheels, and lateral forces of the individual wheels. The main controller then calculates a permissible engine torque on the basis of the calculated permissible driving forces so as to limit engine output. In addition, based on the calculated permissible driving forces, the main controller calculates a transfer-clutch torque for front-rear driving-force distribution control, a rear-wheel torque shift amount for left-right driving-force distribution control, and a steering-angle correction amount for steering-angle control. |
| US08055413B2 |
Method for compensating hydraulic pressure of automatic transmission
Faster shifting operation and reduced shift shock in response to a braking operation during a lift-foot-up shifting may be achieved when an automatic transmission is controlled by a method for compensating a hydraulic pressure that includes: determining whether a lift-foot-up shifting of the automatic transmission is under control; calculating a vehicle speed of a vehicle; calculating a deceleration rate of the vehicle; calculating a compensation hydraulic pressure to be applied to a friction member of the transmission, based on the deceleration rate; calculating a on-coming pressure based on the calculated compensation hydraulic pressure; and applying the calculated on-coming pressure to the friction member. |
| US08055410B2 |
Electric power steering system
An electric power steering system in which a current command for a brushless DC motor is determined based on a detected steering torque, a voltage to be applied is determined based on a difference between the current command value and a current value flowing to the motor, and steering assist is implemented by applying the voltage so determined to the motor. A rotational angular velocity is computed based on a detected rotor position, and it is determined that the motor is abnormal when a rotational angular velocity determination unit determines that the rotational angular velocity is equal to or less than a predetermined value, a current command value determination unit determines that the current command value is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and a voltage determination unit determines that the voltage applied to the motor falls out of a predetermined voltage range. |
| US08055408B2 |
High bandwidth control of magnetic ride control system
A semi-active suspension system that employs magnetically controlled dampers. The semi-active suspension system includes a plurality of sensors that measure vehicle parameters in response to disturbances on the vehicle and provide sensor signals to a central controller. The central controller converts the sensor signals to a flux command signal that is representative of the force on the dampers at each wheel of the vehicle. The flux command signal is sent to a local controller that generates a coil voltage that is applied to a coil within the damper. A flux feedback signal generated by the coil is estimated or measured and is compared to the flux command signal in the local controller to adjust the coil voltage to minimize the difference between the flux command signal and the flux feedback signal to provide a response to the force without a flux delay. |
| US08055407B2 |
Health information guiding system and method thereof
This specification discloses a health information guiding system and the method thereof. By analyzing the user's position information and health data, the invention selects a target location to provide the user with related health and address information. The user is thus able to obtain more complete health information. This increases the value of immediately using the health information. |
| US08055406B2 |
Hands-free system, navigation system, and terminal memory data management method
A hands-free system that permits access to terminal memory data when a mobile terminal is identified through identification information is equipped with a storage portion that stores therein terminal memory data in association with first identification information and second identification information, a receiving portion that receives first identification information and second identification information from the mobile terminal, a collation portion that collates the received first identification information and the stored first identification information with each other and collates the received second identification information and the stored second identification information with each other, and a terminal memory data deletion portion that deletes the terminal memory data stored in association with the second identification information when it is determined that collation by the first identification information is impossible and that collation by the second identification information is possible. |
| US08055399B2 |
Control systems and methods for electric motors of utility vehicles
Electronic control systems and related control methods for controlling electric auxiliary motors for performing work, such as electric deck motors for mower blades. The apparatus is shown in use with a vehicle that includes a mowing deck. Features of the control systems allow for safe and efficient use of the vehicle. |
| US08055395B1 |
Methods and devices of an aircraft crosswind component indicating system
A system for providing crosswind component information to a pilot of an aircraft is disclosed. The system is comprised of a navigation system; datalink system; devices for manual input of data; a crosswind component module consisting of, in part, a processor and database; and an indicating system consisting of, in part, a tactical display unit system of an aircraft. A navigation system may provide flight parameters for measured and intended flight data as inputs. Other data may also be provided from manual input devices and a datalink system as inputs. The processor of the crosswind component module receives the data, retrieves runway direction data, and determines the data of the crosswind components. An indicating system receives the data of the crosswind components and displays this information. |
| US08055391B2 |
Server device and program
A server device constituting a group management system includes one or more manufacturing apparatuses for performing a preset process on a target substrate, and the server device includes a measurement information storage unit for storing therein one or more measurement information; an instruction receiving unit for receiving an output instruction of the measurement information, which contains information specifying a predetermined start point and valid time information; a measurement information acquisition unit for acquiring, from the measurement information storage unit, measurement information ranging from the predetermined start point to a time point of the valid time; an output information composing unit for composing output information by using the acquired measurement information; and an output unit for outputting the output information composed by the output information composing unit. |
| US08055388B2 |
Maintenance and control system for ground support equipment
Ground support equipment for servicing an airplane includes a ground support equipment cart upon which are mounted at least two equipment modules and a control module. A first equipment module mounted upon the cart contains ground support equipment for servicing an airplane and also has a network connection, and at least one additional equipment module mounted upon the cart contains additional ground support equipment and also has a network connection. The control module has a user display and user controls that are connected to a control processor which has a network connection. The user display and the user controls serve as a shared control panel for the ground support equipment contained in the modules mounted upon the cart. In response the control processor sends over the network to one or more of the other modules information defining what particular services the selected type or class of airplane requires of the modules. |
| US08055387B2 |
Building automation system data management
A building automation system (BAS) comprising a plurality of end devices, at least one communication network, and a protocol-independent server engine. The end devices are each associated with at least one of a space, a system, or a subsystem for at least a portion of a building or a campus. The communication network supports a plurality of communication protocols and communicatively couples at least a portion of the plurality of end devices. The server engine is communicatively coupled to the at least one communication network and includes means for selectively implementing a dynamic extensibility capability for the BAS that establishes communications with and control of the plurality of end devices over the plurality of communication protocols, and means for selectively implementing an automatic configuration capability for the BAS that supports addition of end devices to the plurality of end devices by determining at least one characteristic of each end device. Methods of establishing communications with unknown end devices in a building automation system (BAS) based upon metadata descriptors provided by known and unknown end devices are also disclosed. |
| US08055386B2 |
Building automation system data management
A building automation system (BAS) comprising a plurality of end devices, at least one communication network, and a protocol-independent server engine. In one embodiment, the BAS comprises real and non-real end devices. In another embodiment, the BAS comprises real and virtual end devices. The BAS may also comprise a user interface. |
| US08055384B2 |
Apparatus and method for positioning control
The present invention discloses a positioning control apparatus which receives a moving command and a feedback signal outputted from a controlled device, and controls the controlled device for moving and positioning. The positioning control apparatus includes a first control loop, a second control loop and an arbitration module with a dead point default value, wherein the first control loop is used to control the controlled device moving in response to the error of the moving command and the feedback signal, on the other hand, the second control loop is used to control the controlled device positioning. Furthermore, the arbitration module compares the default value of dead point with the moving command so as to enable either the first control loop or the second control loop. |
| US08055383B2 |
Path planning device
A path generating device 1 has a constraint mid-configuration generator 10. The constraint mid-configuration generator 10 defines a constraint surface in a joint angle space. The path generating device 1 probabilistically generates a mid-configuration in the joint angle space. The constraint mid-configuration generator 10 projects the probabilistically generated mid-configuration onto the constraint surface to generate a projected mid-configuration. Projected mid-configurations generated in this manner are joined to generate a path that does not interfere with any obstacle (environmental object) in a work space. |
| US08055377B2 |
Online controlled picking in a warehouse
A computer-implemented method of controlling picking operations of a number of users in a warehouse, wherein goods are located at source locations, each picking operation comprising: an operation of preparation, wherein, at the source location, the good is introduced in a handling unit, HU, an operation of placing the HU on a picking equipment, the picking equipment being a tool for transferring the HU, an operation of transferring the HU to the destination location, wherein a sequence of picking instructions are presented online individually to the number of users via instruction presenting means which are associated with the respective users, each picking instruction specifying the HU to be transferred, the equipment to be used, and the first and second position, whereby execution of each of the picking operation steps is controlled by online data verification such that a subsequent picking operation instruction may be changed, and presented to the users via the instruction presenting means depending upon result of the verification. |
| US08055376B2 |
Substrate processing system, substrate placing position adjusting method and storage medium
In a substrate processing system for processing a substrate, such as a wafer W, held by a substrate holding device rotatable about a vertical axis, such as a spin chuck, a jig is placed on the substrate holding device, and centrifugal acceleration imparted to a predetermined measuring position on the jig and an eccentricity of the measuring position from the rotation center of the spin chuck are determined. The position of the rotation center is determined on the basis of centrifugal accelerations imparted to the measuring position when the jig is placed at three different positions and eccentricities of the measuring position from the rotation center when the jig is placed at the three different positions. Data on a substrate placing position, the center of the substrate placed at which coincides with the rotation center, is stored as data of a substrate placing position at which a substrate is to be placed. |
| US08055372B2 |
Processing system, processing method, and computer program
The present invention provides a processing system, a processing method and a program, which can readily control a gas flow rate. A vertical-type heating apparatus 1 includes a plurality of gas supply pipes 16 to 20 each adapted for supplying a processing gas into a reaction vessel 2 configured to contain therein semiconductor wafers W. For the gas supply pipes 16 to 20, flow rate control units 21 to 25 are provided, respectively, for controlling each flow rate. In a control unit 50, processing conditions including the flow rate of the processing gas and a film thickness-flow rate-relationship model indicative of a relationship between the flow rate of the processing gas and a film thickness, are stored. The control unit 50 calculates the flow rate of the processing gas based on a process result obtained by processing the semiconductor wafers W under the processing conditions as well as on the film thickness-flow rate-relationship model, so as to process the semiconductor wafers W, while controlling the respective flow rate control units 21 to 25, such that the flow rate of the processing gas will be changed into the calculated flow rate of the processing gas. |
| US08055371B2 |
Services portal
An apparatus for monitoring performance of an industrial process includes a service portal for collecting, transmitting and analyzing parameter data from process field devices that includes a network connection that connects to a process control system of the industrial process, a remote collector that collects parameter data from process field devices, a processor that identifies, sorts, and stores the collected parameter data and a communications module for transmitting the stored parameter data to a remote monitoring station for analysis. |
| US08055369B2 |
Optimized deployment of parts in a distribution network
A method for deploying parts is disclosed. Locations that include supply locations and demand locations are defined. A supply location supplies parts to a demand location. A demand is computed for each part at each location. An availability lead-time is estimated for each part at each location. A lead-time demand is computed for each part at each location using the availability lead-times for the part. A stock level is computed for each part at each location. A completely filled demand is determined from the lead-time demands and the stock levels, and a partially filled demand is determined from the lead-time demands and the stock levels. A coverage function for the parts at the locations is generated from the completely filled demand and the partially filled demand. |
| US08055364B2 |
System and method for request, delivery and use of multimedia files for audiovisual entertainment
A personal computer connected to the Internet can receive and store audio and audiovisual data or programming from the Internet. This audio and audiovisual programming can be provided by the computer over a digital connection to speakers and/or a monitor located away from the computer at a location convenient for a user. A remote control unit allows the user to send signals back over the digital connection to the computer to control the computer to provide the audio or audiovisual programming that the user desires over the digital connection to the speakers and/or monitor located where the user is. The computer may send a listing of the available programming to the remote control unit from which the user can make selections. |
| US08055360B2 |
Method and system for aligning a stent with a stent support
A system and method of aligning a stent with a stent support involves taking two images of the stent that has been placed on the stent support and determining from the two images whether the stent is aligned with the stent support. The stent can be rotated so that the two images are of different views of the stent. A computer can be configured to receive the images and to determine the whether the stent is aligned. A backlight can be used to take images of the stent in silhouette. A portion of the stent support can be re-positioned based on an image taken of the stent. |
| US08055357B2 |
Self-anchoring surgical methods and apparatus for stimulating tissue
Surgical systems, devices and methods including one or more tissue stimulation elements that, in some instances, may also be used for sensing purposes. Some of the surgical devices also include a tissue coagulation element. |
| US08055353B2 |
Medical carriers comprising a low-impedance conductor, and methods of making and using the same
Medical carriers that include a low-impedance conductor are provided. The low-impedance conductors are configured to provide electrical conductivity along a length of the medical carrier. An aspect of the low-impedance conductors is the presence of a longitudinally extended region configured as a non-coiled repetitive pattern that imparts fatigue resistance to the longitudinally extended region. Also provided are systems and methods of making the medical carriers, as well as methods of using the medical carriers. |
| US08055352B2 |
Polymer lead covering with varied material properties
This document discusses, among other things, a lead assembly including a lead body, at least one conductor extending through the lead body, and a covering having varied material properties. In an example, the covering is made by forming pieces of material having varied material properties. In another example, the covering is made by varying parameters such as heat or tension during wrapping of a piece of material onto a lead assembly. |
| US08055348B2 |
Detecting sleep to evaluate therapy
A system includes one or more sensors and a processor. Each of the sensors generates a signal as a function of at least one physiological parameter of a patient that may discernibly change when the patient is asleep. The processor monitors the physiological parameters, and determines whether the patient is asleep based on the parameters. In some embodiments, the processor determines plurality of sleep metric values, each of which indicates a probability of the patient being asleep, based on each of a plurality of physiological parameters. The processor may average or otherwise combine the plurality of sleep metric values to provide an overall sleep metric value that is compared to a threshold value in order to determine whether the patient is asleep. In addition, an electroencephalogram signal may be used to identify sleep states of the patient. |
| US08055345B2 |
Self-referencing communication in implantable devices
Various aspects of the present invention enable robust, reliable control functionality for effectors present on intraluminal, e.g., vascular leads, as well as other types of implantable devices. Aspects of the invention include implantable integrated circuits that have self-referencing and self-clocking signal encoding, and are capable of bidirectional communication. Also provided by the invention are effector assemblies that include the integrated circuits, as well as implantable medical devices, e.g., pulse generators that include the same, as well as systems and kits thereof and methods of using the same, e.g., in pacing applications, including cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) applications. |
| US08055342B2 |
Method and apparatus for adjusting the sensing threshold of a cardiac rhythm management device
A method and apparatus for automatically adjusting the sensing threshold of cardiac rhythm management devices. The invention is particularly suited for implementation in devices such as implantable cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardioverter/defibrillators. A method and apparatus are provided in which a noise level and signal level for a sensing channel are determined for each cardiac cycle with the sensing threshold of the channel being adjusted in accordance therewith. |
| US08055341B2 |
Backup pacing during tachycardia
A tachycardia episode can be detected in a subject using a processor, and whether the tachycardia episode is a sustained tachycardia episode can be determined during a period of time. A backup pacing can be provided in response to the detecting tachycardia episode and during the period of time, and a tachycardia therapy can be provided to the subject if the tachycardia episode is determined to be a sustained tachycardia episode. |
| US08055340B2 |
Method and device for comprehensive anti-tachyarrhythmia therapy
A method and apparatus for delivering therapy to treat ventricular tachyarrhythmias is described. In one embodiment, neural stimulation, anti-tachycardia pacing, and shock therapy are employed in a progressive sequence upon detection of a ventricular tachycardia. |
| US08055337B2 |
System and method for maintaining a distribution of currents in an electrode array using independent voltage sources
In one technique, a desired electrical current distribution on at least three active electrodes is selected. An electrical energy perturbation is generated on at least one electrode. A current-to-voltage relationship at each active electrode is estimated based on the energy perturbation. The current-to-voltage relationship for each active electrode takes into account current flow through other active electrodes. The voltage distribution necessary to achieve the desired current distribution is determined based on the estimated current-to-voltage relationship. Voltage-regulated energy is conveyed between the electrodes and tissue in accordance with the determined electrical voltage distribution. In another technique, an electrical energy perturbation on at least one of the electrodes is generated. Network resistances for each of at least three active electrodes are computed in response to the energy perturbation. The network resistances represent the resistances between the electrodes and common node to which the electrodes are connected. |
| US08055336B1 |
Method for removing surgically implanted devices
A method of removing an implantable electronic microdevice by an integral removal loop or circumferential ring to facilitate removal of the implanted microdevice without additional surgery. The device is removed by pulling it along the surgically created implantation path. Optionally a radio-opaque tether provides a method of locating the implantable microdevice without additional surgery and attachment of one end of the tether to a radio-opaque marker provides a method of locating the end of the tether to facilitate removal of the implantable microdevice from living tissue. |
| US08055335B2 |
Adaptations to intra-thoracic fluid monitoring algorithm
Adaptations to an intra-thoracic fluid-status-trend indication and/or alert algorithm are disclosed. Some embodiments monitor fluid levels in heart failure patients and others suffering from pulmonary edema and the like. Some embodiments reset a cumulative fluid index when a short-term intra-thoracic impedance value exceeds a baseline impedance value minus a predetermined positive hysteresis value. Many device, system, and method embodiments hereof serve to reduce the number of false positive alerts while retaining the desired sensitivity. |
| US08055332B2 |
Wireless ECG in implantable devices
An implantable medical device such as an implantable pacemaker or implantable cardioverter/defibrillator includes a programmable sensing circuit providing for sensing of a signal approximating a surface electrocardiogram (ECG) through implanted electrodes. With various electrode configurations, signals approximating various standard surface ECG signals are acquired without the need for attaching electrodes with cables onto the skin. The various electrode configurations include, but are not limited to, various combinations of intracardiac pacing electrodes, portions of the implantable medical device contacting tissue, and electrodes incorporated onto the surface of the implantable medical device. |
| US08055330B2 |
Sensing gas bubbles in a living body
A method of detecting gas bubbles in a living body, comprising: transmitting at least one original electromagnetic signal to a body portion; detecting a signal modulated by a flow of blood in said body portion; and analyzing a perturbation in said signal to determine at least one of an existence and a property of a bubble in said blood flow. |
| US08055329B2 |
Ingestible device for radioimaging of the gastrointestinal tract
An ingestible device, adapted to travel in the gastrointestinal tract and perform a diagnostic image of tissue therein, is provided. The diagnostic image may comprise diagnostic information as a function of time, or diagnostic information as a function of distance traveled within the gastrointestinal tract. Specifically, the ingestible device may be arranged to perform a diagnostic image of nuclear radiation of a radiophamaceutical, scintillation of a scintillation liquid, responsive to nuclear radiation of a radiophamaceutical, optical fluorescence of a fluorescing-pharmaceutical or of bare gastrointestinal-tract tissue, infrared radiation of the gastrointestinal-tract tissue, temperature-differences along the gastrointestinal-tract, impedance, ultrasound reflection, magnetic resonance, and a combination thereof. The ingestible device may be adapted for general screening of a large population, on the one hand, and for specific diagnoses of suspected pathologies, on the other. |
| US08055327B2 |
Automatic guidewire maneuvering system and method
Method for guiding a catheter within a lumen system of the body of a patient includes receiving consecutive position inputs from a user to guide the catheter in real time within the lumen system, determining a user defined position for the catheter tip determining continuously successive incremental paths along a trail defined by a plurality of user defined positions, and directing a moving mechanism to incrementally move the catheter within the lumen system along each of the incremental paths, each of the user defined positions being determined for each of the received consecutive position inputs, the successive incremental paths being determined between a real time catheter tip position and the adjacent proceeding user defined position, according to a topological representation of the lumen system, the moving mechanism being directed to incrementally move the catheter from each of a plurality of real time positions, toward the adjacent proceeding user defined position. |
| US08055324B1 |
Rapid reports
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to documentation and reporting systems for use with diagnostic medical imaging procedures. In general, in one implementation, an ultrasound imaging system includes: one or more signal processing subsystems; one or more ultrasound transducer probes coupled with the one or more signal processing subsystems; and a computer-readable medium including encoded thereon program instructions operable to cause the ultrasound imaging system to present a user interface that enables documentation by exception of an ultrasound exam, wherein the user interface provides access to prior exam findings and is configured at least in part based on the prior exam findings, and the program instructions generate an electronic report including the documentation of the ultrasound exam, and including, when indicated as clinically relevant, the prior exam findings. |
| US08055320B2 |
Vital information measuring device
A vital information measuring device includes: a measuring unit for measuring certain vital information concerning a living body; a storage for storing therein a signal outputted from the measuring unit as measurement data; a vital information acquirer for acquiring a sleep apnea index based on the measurement data stored in the storage; a display section for displaying the sleep apnea index acquired by the vital information acquirer; and a device body for integrally mounting the measuring unit, the storage, the vital information acquirer, and the display section. |
| US08055318B1 |
Superconducting integrated circuit technology using iron-arsenic compounds
A new family of superconducting materials with critical temperature up to 55 K have recently been discovered, comprising a crystal structure with atomic layers of iron and arsenic alternating with atomic layers of rare-earth oxide or alkaline earth. The present invention identifies structures for integrated circuit elements (including Josephson junctions) in these and related materials. These superconducting circuit elements will operate at a higher temperature than low-temperature superconductors such as niobium, and may be easier to manufacture than prior-art high-temperature superconductors based on copper-oxides. |
| US08055315B2 |
Dustproof structure for slide type electronic device and slide type electronic device
There are a first packing 31 and a second packing 32 for covering and sealing a first opening portion 11a and a second opening portion 12a other than a groove portion 31a and a groove portion 32a for leading an FPC 20. The first packing 31 and the second packing 32 wipe surfaces of the FPC 20 coming in and going out of the groove portion 31a and the groove portion 32a by sliding operation of a second frame 12. |
| US08055314B2 |
System and method of determining standby time for mobile stations
A method and system for determining standby time for a mobile station uses a battery simulator, a base station emulator, a computer to control the test equipment and MSUT for testing a mobile station. The computer includes a module for determining a radio off battery voltage, a module for deriving a battery capacity in dependence upon the radio off battery voltage, a module for measuring battery capacity usage in a predetermined time while the mobile station is in standby mode and a module for determining a standby time for the mobile station in dependence upon the battery capacity and the battery capacity usage, where the predetermined time is less than the standby time. |
| US08055310B2 |
Adapting portable electrical devices to receive power wirelessly
Wireless power receiving apparatus (150) is retrofitted to a portable electrical device (100) to enable the device to receive power wirelessly. The apparatus comprises a power-receiving element (200) adapted to be attached to the device, e.g. by adhesive (201), and also being adapted to receive power wirelessly from a transmitter of power when the element and transmitter are in proximity with one another. One or more power connectors (203) are connected electrically to the power-receiving element and are adapted to be connected, when the apparatus is in use, to one or more corresponding power connectors (101) of the portable electrical device to deliver power received by the element to the device. The power-receiving element may be in the form of a sticker or may be carried by or incorporated in a replacement cover portion for the portable electrical device. |
| US08055307B2 |
Wireless handsfree headset method and system with handsfree applications
Embodiments include method for providing a handsfree service to a user of a wireless, handsfree headset. In an embodiment the method comprises the headset performing service discovery on the audio gateway to determine a method of transferring an application to the audio gateway, wherein the application provides the service, the headset causing the application to be transferred to the audio gateway using a method based on the service discovery; and the audio gateway executing the application, wherein this user issues voice commands that are executed by the audio gateway to provide the service. |
| US08055303B2 |
Method of and base station for controlling beam forming in a mobile cellular network
The invention concerns a melhod and a base station for controlling beam forming in a mobile cellular network: Antenna units apply a respective beam pattern sequence on each sector of a cell served by the respective base station. A base station acts as trigger base station informing all neighbored base stations of the cluster not to change their beam pattern sequences. The trigger base station changes the beam pattern sequence applied on the sectors of its cell. The trigger base station triggers one or more mobile units to calculate signal quality parameters for currently applied beam pattern sequence. The trigger base station selects an optimal beam pattern sequence from the set based on the calculated signal quality parameters and applies as a new beam pattern sequence on the respective sector. |
| US08055302B2 |
Full frequency scanning method and channel parameter adjusting method for smart antenna
An adjusting method for a smart antenna is provided. The adjusting method divides all possible reading directions of the smart antenna into a plurality of scanning directions and a plurality of idle directions by a first form. In searching for the optimal parameters of each of a plurality of communication channels, the adjusting method firstly adjusts the reading direction according to the plurality of scanning directions, and then adjusts the reading direction according to the plurality of idle directions. Further, the first form remain updated in accordance the process of searching for the optimal parameters of each of the communication channels, thus effectively saving the time spent on the full frequency scanning process. Further, the optimal parameters of each of the communication channels are recorded in a second form, so that the smart antenna is regulated according to the second form. |
| US08055301B2 |
Wireless networks incorporating implicit antenna selection based on received sounding reference signals
A method and system selects antennas in a wireless network including a base station and user equipment (UE) transceivers. The base station specifies times and frequencies to transmit sounding reference signals (SRSs), and antennas to use to transmit the SRSs for the specified times and frequencies. The transceivers transmit the SRS according to the specified times, frequencies, and antennas. The stopping and starting of the SRS are specified implicitly. The base station selects subsets of the set of available sets of antennas, and indicates the selected subset of antennas to the transceiver. |
| US08055296B1 |
Head-up display communication system and method
A system is provided for communication between mobile devices. The system includes an audio device, a transparent display, and a mobile device in communication with the audio device and the transparent display. The mobile device receives a request for information associated with other mobile devices, and determines a location of the mobile device. The mobile device also outputs a spatial map of the information to the transparent display, wherein the information includes locations of the other mobile devices relative to the location of the mobile device. Additionally, the mobile device communicates with at least one of the other mobile devices. |
| US08055295B1 |
Load-based selection of a frequency band class for a wireless communication device
A wireless communication system provides a wireless communication service over a first frequency band class and a second frequency band class. The system monitors first and second communication loads on the first and second frequency band classes. The system receives a request for the communication service from a wireless communication device, and in response, determines if the wireless communication device can receive the wireless communication service over either one of the frequency band classes. If the wireless communication device can receive the wireless communication service over either one of the frequency band classes, then the system selects one of the frequency band classes based on the first and second communication loads. The system provides the wireless communication service to the wireless communication device over the selected frequency band class. |
| US08055290B1 |
Method to reduce push-to-talk call setup time
System and method for reducing call setup time of a dispatch communication. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a message from an originating dispatch device intended for a target dispatch device. The message may be inspected by a base transceiver station for a call request announcement. The method may further include determining if a radio resource is available for the target dispatch device. According to an additional embodiment of the invention, a call request acknowledgement message may be transmitted to the originating dispatch device after a period of time to ensure a guaranteed talk permit. The call request announcement may also be transmitted to the target dispatch device after the period of time. |
| US08055282B1 |
Providing path-based search information
Common search queries can be provided that are associated with a predicted path of movement of a mobile device. A location of a mobile device can be determined, along with a destination or direction of movement. Common search queries associated with the path of movement and locations along the path can be transmitted to the mobile device. A user of the mobile device is able to execute the common search queries from the mobile device. |
| US08055279B2 |
Transmission control method and device
When information of its own station is transmitted to another mobile station by a CSMA access method, by a transmission control method and device, moving speed information and location information is transmitted with a predetermined minimum transmission power until a moving speed of its own station exceeds a first threshold, and the moving speed information and the location information is transmitted with a first transmission power proportional to the moving speed when the moving speed of its own station exceeds the first threshold. In this case, moving direction information of its own station may be acquired and transmitted in addition to the moving speed information and the location information. If the moving speed of the other mobile station exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold and a moving direction of the other mobile station is an approaching direction to its own station while its own station is not making transmission with the moving speed of its own station exceeding the first threshold, the first transmission power is switched over to a second transmission power proportional to the moving speed of the other mobile station and the moving speed information and the moving direction information is transmitted. |
| US08055275B2 |
Interactive method for reporting location report by target user equipment in location service
Disclosed is an interactive method for reporting location reports by a target UE in an LCS. The method comprises: the target UE receiving a location request initiated by an applicant and reporting a location report to the LCS system after detecting the occurrence of an event triggering a location report; the LCS system returning to the target UE a location report acknowledgement after receiving the location report submitted by the target UE. Further, while submitting the location report to the LCS system, the target UE starting a timer designating a time period and judging whether it has received a location report acknowledgement returned by the LCS system within the designated time period, if yes, stopping the timer designating the time period; otherwise, reporting once again the location report to the LCS system and re-starting the timer designating the time period at the same time. In accordance with this method, errors in reporting location reports are reduced and the uncertainty in implementation of LCS is lowered. |
| US08055270B1 |
System and method for providing location information for a mobile handset
A system that facilitates determination of a location of a mobile handset. The system includes three or more location measurement units that each correspond to a sector of the cell site. The location measurement units transmit location related information to a computation component. The computation component receives the location related information and performs a triangulation calculation on the information o define the location of the mobile handset. |
| US08055264B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling handoff
Disclosed is a method for controlling handoff by a network infrastructure, which includes collecting channel information and transmitting the channel information to a Mobile Terminal (MT) and a method for controlling handoff by a MT, which includes receiving channel information collected by a network infrastructure and making a handoff decision according to the channel information. The present invention also discloses apparatuses for controlling handoff. Applying the present invention, the handoff decision will be made based on both the information collected by the network infrastructure and the information collected by the MT, therefore blind handoff is reduced, the network workloads are balanced and the QoS is assured before and after the handoff. |
| US08055263B2 |
Fast cell selection method and apparatus for high speed downlink packet access system
A cell setting apparatus is provided for scheduling a packet data service in a mobile communication system supporting the packet data service. A signaling receiver receives information on a cell to be added to an active set and information on a change in a best cell, from a terminal. A signaling transmitter transmits configuration information for the packet data service and the packet data to a source base station or a target base station. A memory stores information on the active set. A data path decision unit allows the terminal to update the active set and to set configuration information newly set for the packet data service, transmits the information on the cell to be added to the active set to the target base station in response to the information on the cell to be added to the active set, and allows the target base station to perform the packet data service scheduling for the terminal in response to the information on the change in the best cell. |
| US08055262B1 |
Dispatch network and IMS integration with centralized event notification server
Several embodiments of an IMS communications network are disclosed. In one embodiment, the network comprises a plurality of dispatch application servers (DAS), an S-CSCF, and an event notification server. The S-CSCF is adapted to receive an IMS registration request from a dispatch client, authenticate the registration request, send a registration confirmation to the dispatch client, and send a notification indicating the registration of the dispatch client to an event notification server. The event notification server is adapted to receive the notification from the S-CSCF, select a DAS, and send a notification to the selected DAS indicating an assignment to provide dispatch service to the dispatch client. In another embodiment, the registration notification to the event notification server is sent from the dispatch client, instead of the S-CSCF. |
| US08055259B1 |
Generating distance bands
Computer-implemented systems and computer-readable media for generating distance bands on a map to identify areas of outbound roaming on a wireless network are disclosed. A roaming-network event record listing roaming events for subscribers of a home network is received. A home-network event record listing network events on a home network is also received. The two records are correlated to identify roaming events and network events having matching caller identifiers and time stamps within a predetermined range. Location data of a network event is adopted as location data for a matching roaming event. A home-network wireless-communications antenna having a service area in which a concentration of roaming events have occurred is identified. The distance of the roaming events from the antenna is determined and distance bands corresponding to that distance are plotted on a map to aid in identifying locations at which outbound roaming has occurred. |
| US08055258B2 |
Roaming service method in a mobile broadcasting system, and system thereof
A roaming service method in a mobile broadcasting system and a system thereof are provided. A terminal receives a service guide from a corresponding visited service provider (Visited SP) when the terminal moves to a roaming area. The terminal transmits a roaming request message for requesting a purchase item allowable for individual services to a home service provider (Home SP) based on the received service guide. Upon receipt of the roaming request message, the Home SP negotiates roaming availability and allowable scope for each individual service with the Visited SP where the terminal is located, based on the roaming request message. The Home SP transmits the roaming availability and allowable scope for the individual service, negotiated with the Visited SP, to the terminal. |
| US08055257B2 |
Systems and methods with different utilization of satellite frequency bands by a space-based network and an ancillary terrestrial network
A radioterminal communications system includes an ancillary terrestrial component configured to receive from at least some of a plurality of radioterminals using frequencies from a first satellite frequency band (e.g., an L-band) and to transmit to at least some of the plurality of radioterminals using frequencies from a second satellite frequency band (e.g., an S-band). The system further includes a space-based component configured to communicate with the plurality of radioterminals using at least some of the frequencies from the first satellite frequency band and/or at least some of the frequencies from the second satellite frequency band. In some embodiments the ancillary terrestrial component communicates with radioterminals using a Time Division Duplex (TDD) mode and the space-based component communicates with the same or other radioterminals using a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and/or a TDD mode. |
| US08055255B2 |
Wireless communications system
The present invention is a wireless communications system for simultaneously establishing a basic access network and a wireless access network using at least two kinds of wireless communication networks. The basic access network executes signaling communication in which communication is controlled so as to be continuously switched, whereas the wireless access network executes data communications other than the signaling communication. According to the system of the present invention, networks can be continuously switched by setting multicast for temporarily flowing data to the basic access network. |
| US08055254B2 |
Systems and methods for measuring the performance of a provider of communications services
Systems and methods for measuring the performance of a provider of communications service are described. A plurality of mobile communications devices measure average power received, signal to noise ratio, voice quality, blocked and dropped calls, or any combinations of such measurements. The device may also receive a set of data identifying the location of the device. The device may transmit one or more communications signals to a server computer system with such measurements and location data. The measurements and location data may be stored in a database, and new data may be created and transmitted illustrating a subset of the measurements and location data. |
| US08055252B2 |
Adaptive cell ID detection in a cellular communications system
A cell identifier is indicated in a signal to be transmitted in a cellular communication system by selecting one of a number, M, of codes, wherein each of the codes has a length N of code symbols, and wherein the selected code is associated with the cell identifier. The selected code is transmitted as a number, N, of reference symbols. The M codes are orthogonal with one another over their length, N, of the code symbols and also over at least one subgroup of length L of the code symbols, wherein L |
| US08055251B2 |
Terminal and method of setting service for data communication therein
A terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to perform data communication with at least one other terminal, a display configured to display a screen for selecting a communication application for executing the data communication and a screen for selectively selecting a communication quality of service corresponding to the communication application, and a controller configured to apply the selected communication quality of service to the communication application for executing the data communication. |
| US08055249B2 |
System and method of managing connections with an available network
A system and method for automatically managing connections between a mobile device and one or more available networks (including dedicated connections), as a user changes locations, is disclosed. The connection manager determines the connection profiles and assigns an availability and priority to each available connection profile. As is well known, mobile devices have a lot of possibilities to connect to different networks and there are many protocols that dictate such connections. The connection manager feature determines the most appropriate profile to connect to an available network. In the event that an initial attempt to connect fails, the connection manager attempts a connection based on the next available profile with the highest priority, until a connection is established or there are no more available profiles. The connection manager uses algorithms for searching for a connection profile that fits criteria or search string that is specified and other parameters such as availability, priority, and usability. The system and method uses a format for connection profile representation that facilitates easy manipulation at the application level. By this format, connection profiles may be easily exchanged between remote devices. Also, the connection manager facilitates remote configuration and administering of connection profiles. |
| US08055243B2 |
System and method for email notification of unanswered telephone calls
A method of processing a telephone call that includes creating an email notification of the telephone call if the telephone call to a telephone number registered to receive email notifications is determined unanswered and sending the email notification based on information associated with the registered telephone number. |
| US08055242B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for processing broadcasting application in digital broadcasting
Disclosed is a method, apparatus and system for processing a broadcast application in digital broadcasting. The system includes a digital broadcasting server for generating guide data, including content genre information corresponding to respective programs, and transmitting the guide data and digital broadcasting data corresponding to the respective programs; and a portable terminal for receiving and storing the guide data, receiving digital broadcast data corresponding to a requested program if a user requests digital broadcasting viewing/listening, analyzing the received guide data to thereby retrieve content genre information corresponding to the requested program, retrieving and executing a special broadcasting application corresponding to the retrieved content genre information, and outputting the received digital broadcasting data by means of the executed special broadcasting application. Various broadcasting applications and broadcasting applications specific to respective content genres can be provided to a user. |
| US08055239B2 |
Communication control device, location-dependent charge control system, and location-dependent charge control method
A communication control device (500) is capable of communicating with both a portable telephone terminal (100) and a location management device (400) that specifies the location of the portable telephone terminal (100). The communication control device (500) includes: a charge area management storage unit (530) that holds data regarding fee payment areas in which businesses that differ from the user of portable telephone terminal (100) pay the communication fees of the portable telephone terminal, a line connection unit (520) that can connect the portable telephone terminal (100) and the terminal of a communication partner while making the communication control device side the payer of communication fees of the portable telephone terminal (100), and a line connection management unit (510) that, upon accepting a communication request from the portable telephone terminal (100), acquires the location of the portable telephone terminal (100) from the location management device (400) and provides connection instructions to the line connection unit (520) to connect the portable telephone terminal (100) with the terminal of the communication partner while making the communication control device side the payer of the communication fees of the portable telephone terminal (100) only when the location of the portable telephone terminal (100) is contained in a fee payment area indicated by data held in the charge area management storage unit (530). |
| US08055237B2 |
Usage measurement collection and analysis to dynamically regulate customer network usage
In a network subscriber system, a method of determining how to monitor whether a subscriber's network usage exceeds a quota for the current billing period. The frequency at which the subscriber's usage data is collected and analyzed during the billing period is based upon the probability the subscriber's network usage exceeds the quota at a given point in time during the billing cycle. Usage data is collected more frequently as the probability increases. Usage analysis is performed if the probability exceeds a threshold. |
| US08055236B2 |
Devices for controlling amplification of a signal emitted by a mobile terminal and increasing the autonomy of the mobile terminal
Radiocommunication terminals are disclosed. A radiocommunication terminal includes a power supply, a power amplifier configured to receive and amplify a signal using power drawn from the power supply, and a control unit configured to control the power amplifier to amplify the signal by an amount of amplification based on a requested amount of amplification and a level of a voltage provided on an output terminal of the power supply. |
| US08055232B2 |
Radio frequency receiving apparatus, radio frequency receiving method, LSI for radio frequency signal and LSI for base band signal
A receiving apparatus may achieve optimal RF and IF gain control while suppressing saturated amplification due to interference. The receiving apparatus includes an RF variable gain Amp that amplifies a received RF signal, a mixer that converts an output signal of the RF variable gain Amp into an IF signal, an IF variable gain Amp that amplifies the IF signal, a demodulator that demodulates an output signal of the IF variable gain Amp, and an AGC circuit. The AGC circuit sets a period of gain control for the RF variable gain Amp to be shorter than a period of gain control for the IF variable gain Amp when gains of the RF variable gain Amp and the IF variable gain Amp are controlled based on the output signal of the IF variable gain Amp. |
| US08055229B2 |
Low noise, highly linear amplifying stage and signal receiver using the same
The invention provides a signal amplifying stage, used in a signal receiver. The signal amplifying stage has: a fixed-gain low noise amplifier (LNA), amplifying an input signal; a variable-gain LNA (VG-LNA) array, amplifying the input signal, including a plurality of parallel VG-LNAs, the VG-LNA array being parallel with the fixed-gain LNA; a variable-gain amplifier (VGA), being in series with the fixed-gain LNA and the VG-LNA array, for amplifying output signals from the fixed-gain LNA and the VG-LNA array to generate an output signal; an attenuator, being in parallel with a combination of the fixed-gain LNA, the VG-LNA array and the VGA, for attenuating the input signal to generate the output signal; and a control loop, coupled to the VGA and the attenuator, for detecting power levels of the output signal to enable and control the fixed-gain LNA, the VG-LNA array, the VGA and the attenuator. |
| US08055223B2 |
Radio receiver
A radio receiver includes a down-converter 110 for receiving a radio multiplexed signal containing a first signal and a second signal, multiplying the first signal and the second signal by a mixer 104 to thereby down-convert the radio multiplexed signal and generate an intermediate frequency signal 5e. The mixer 104 has a control section for controlling an operating bias of the mixer 104 in response to a signal strength of at least either one of the first signal or the second signal. Thus, the dynamic range of the mixer can be widened so that stable image characteristics can be obtained over a wide range of transmission distance. |
| US08055222B2 |
Multiple protocol signal detector
A Multiple Protocol Signal Detector, MPSD (320, 500) has a mixer (406) that receives signal energy from a multi-band antenna system (324) via a low noise amplifier (402) and from a variable frequency synthesizer (408) via a first variable band pass filter (410). The output of the mixer (406) passes through a second variable band pass filter (416) to an envelope detector (418) a power detector (419) and a low resolution A/D (420) that inputs digitized samples to a binary modulation detector, BMD (422). A controller (424) configures the aforementioned devices of the MPSD (320) to detect communications using different protocols based on a scan Look Up Table (426). |
| US08055217B2 |
Adaptive complex gain predistorter for a transmitter
Symbols are transmitted in a Cartesian transmitter by pre-distorting an input signal X having in-phase and quadrature components using a first compensation lookup table operable to hold complex valued entries to carry out in-phase and quadrature compensation pre-distortion with respect to the input signal to form a pre-distorted signal Z. The pre-distorted signal Z is processed to form an output signal Y using a nonlinear element. A complex gain normalization parameter adaptively updated to reflect varying gain of a linear region of the nonlinear element. A normalized feed back signal {tilde over (Y)} is formed using the adaptively updated complex gain normalization parameter. The first compensation lookup table is updated based on the pre-distorted input signal Z and the adaptively normalized feedback signal {tilde over (Y)}. |
| US08055210B2 |
Transceiver for radio-frequency communication
A transceiver for radio-frequency communication comprises a waveguide, a transmitting port, a receiving port and a receiver load termination. The waveguide receives and transmits radio-frequency signals. The transmitting port is connected to the waveguide and transmits the radio-frequency signals to the waveguide. The receiving port is connected to the waveguide and receives the radio-frequency signals from the waveguide. The receiver load termination is connected to the waveguide and removes the vertical polarization components of the receiving radio-frequency signals. The receiver load termination includes a filtering unit to reduce the energy of the transmitting radio-frequency signals entering the receiver load termination. |
| US08055207B2 |
RF receiver with fast baseband switching
A receiver includes a plurality of RF receiver modules, a plurality of analog baseband sections, a plurality of analog to digital conversion sections, and a digital baseband processing module. The RF receiver modules convert inbound RF signals into a plurality of inbound analog signals. When the receiver is in a first mode, one of the plurality of analog baseband sections is active to adjust one of the plurality of inbound analog signals to produce an adjusted inbound analog signal; one of the plurality of analog to digital conversion sections converts the adjusted inbound analog signal into an inbound digital signal; and a portion of the digital baseband processing module is active to convert the inbound digital signal into inbound data. |
| US08055206B1 |
Signal transmission surveillance system
A system and method of detecting, processing, and selectively responding to radio frequency transmissions detected by at least one electronic signal observation device deployed above a geographic area. |
| US08055201B1 |
System and method for providing integrated voice quality measurements for wireless networks
A system and method for providing integrated voice quality measurements for wireless networks, based on actual calls made by end devices, are provided. The system includes a plurality of end devices, each of which includes an algorithm for determining voice quality data; an over-the-air server configured to enable voice quality reporting in the end devices; a messaging server configured to receive voice quality reports from the end devices; a voice quality server configured to receive the voice quality reports from the messaging server and consolidate the voice quality reports; and a call data record server configured to combine call records and the consolidated voice quality reports. |
| US08055200B2 |
System and method for transmitting signals to an appliance
A transmitter apparatus effective for activating a remotely situated appliance includes a radio frequency (RF) transmitter. The RF transmitter is configured to be mounted to a structural element of a building and configured to receive an actuation by a user to wirelessly transmit a signal. An antenna is coupled to the RF transmission circuitry and is arranged and configured to transmit the signal to a remotely situated appliance. The antenna is disposed within an opening in the structural element of the building and is of dimensions so as to extend at least partially through the opening. The antenna transmits the signal to the appliance without significant interference or absorption from the structural element of the building. |
| US08055197B2 |
Apparatus and method for bluetooth connection in portable terminal
Provided is an apparatus and method for connecting a Bluetooth portable terminal to a Bluetooth device closest to the Bluetooth portable terminal by measuring link qualities or Received Signal Strength Indications (RSSIs) of accessible Bluetooth devices to determine the closest Bluetooth device when a Bluetooth connection event occurs in the Bluetooth portable terminal. |
| US08055195B2 |
Cellular radio communicator and method for configuring the same
A wireless communications device comprising a communications section adapted to communicate with a remote device using at least two wireless carriers, a signal detection section for detecting a control signal in a communications path between the wireless communications device and the at least two wireless carriers, said signal detection section generating a detection result, and a control section for evaluating the detection result and setting one of the at least two carriers as a primary communications path for communication with the remote device and one of the at least two carriers as a secondary communications path for communication with the remote device based upon the evaluation. |
| US08055194B2 |
Method for searching for devices for Bluetooth communication in wireless terminal
A method for searching for devices for Bluetooth communication in a wireless terminal, by which Bluetooth communication can be easily carried out through various search options. The method includes displaying search options if a search is selected for a Bluetooth communication, displaying search keywords corresponding to a search option if the corresponding search option is selected from the search options, and attempting a Bluetooth communication with a device corresponding to the corresponding search keyword if the corresponding search keyword is selected from the displayed search keywords. |
| US08055190B2 |
Apparatus and method for transforming and transmitting signal
A signal transforming and transmitting apparatus and a signal transforming and transmitting method are provided. The signal transforming and transmitting apparatus includes a processing chip, and a signal dividing/integrating unit. The processing chip defines a signal-download period and a signal-upload period according to a clock signal. The signal dividing/integrating unit is coupled to the processing chip, and is adapted for dividing a wired downloading signal from a wireless downloading signal transmitted from the base station during the signal-download period, and transmitting the wired downloading signal and the wireless downloading signal to corresponding downstream devices. The signal dividing/integrating unit is adapted for integrating a wired uploading signal and a wireless uploading signal into an integrated wireless uploading signal and transmitting the integrated wireless uploading signal to the base station, during the signal-upload period. In such a way, the present invention avoids the interference caused by overlaps between uploading and downloading operations. |
| US08055182B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A reverse conveying apparatus which again conveys a sheet formed an image by an image forming portion to the image forming portion includes a plurality of roller grippers which supports a sheet formed an image, and a belt which moves the roller grippers to a receiving position where a sheet is received and a carry-out position where a supported sheet is conveyed out. When a sheet is conveyed out in the carry-out position, the sheet is conveyed out such that a rear end thereof when it is received at the receiving position is a leading end. |
| US08055179B2 |
Image forming apparatus, method therefor, and program
An image forming apparatus capable of efficiently performing an image forming processing even in a case where a post-processing apparatus performs a post-processing during a both-sides printing. A first time period needed by a first both-sides image forming processing and a second time period needed by a second both-sides image forming processing are computed in a case where a post-processing unit performs a post-processing on a recording sheet formed images on both sides thereof. The first time period and the second time period is compared, and any one of the first both-sides image forming processing and the second both-sides image forming processing is selected based on the comparison. |
| US08055176B2 |
Heat roller for electrophotographic image forming device
A heat roller for an electrophotographic device comprised of an internal tube inside an insulating layer wherein a heating element having a resistance member is fixed to the outer surface of the insulating layer by depositing the resistance member onto a polyimide film applied to the insulating layer, depositing the resistance member directly to insulating layer, or embedding the resistance member in the insulating layer. Alternatively, the heating element having a resistance member is fixed to the outer surface of the internal tube by depositing the resistance member onto a polyimide film applied to the internal tube, thereby eliminating the insulating layer. An elastomer layer of predetermined thickness is overmolded to the outer surface of the insulating layer or the internal tube and an outside surface is applied to the outer surface of the elastomer layer wherein a toner image is fused on paper from the outside surface by heat transferred from the heating element. |
| US08055174B2 |
Fixing device using induction heating and image forming apparatus using the fixing device
In a fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording medium, a fixing roller and a heating roller support a fixing belt. A pressing roller presses against the fixing roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressing roller. A tension roller presses against the fixing belt to apply tension to the fixing belt. A primary heat source heats the fixing belt, and is disposed along an outer face of the fixing belt opposite the heating roller. A secondary heat source is provided inside the tension roller to supply deficient heat not provided by the primary heat source. |
| US08055170B2 |
Image forming apparatus with clearance retaining portion
In an image forming apparatus, a pre-transfer guide (50) is provided immediately before a transfer nip portion formed by an intermediate transferring belt (12) and a transferring roller (18b). The pre-transfer guide (50) extends in a width direction of a sheet conveying path, and projections (50b) are formed on opposite end portions of the pre-transfer guide (50) on sides outer than an area on which a sheet is conveyed. The intermediate transferring belt (12) is driven in a state where a tension is applied to some extent, so that it may bow in a thickness direction on a running path. However, in an area immediately before the transfer nip portion, the projections (50b) retains a distance between the sheet and the intermediate transferring belt (12) to be greater than a predetermined distance. |
| US08055163B2 |
Toner replenishing apparatus and image forming apparatus
A toner replenishing apparatus is provided. The toner replenishing apparatus includes a toner replenishing container for replenishing toner stored therein to a developing section by a rotation of the container itself, a toner scraping member provided to be movable without being fixed in the toner replenishing container and to rub against an inner wall surface of the container, including a plurality of magnetic bodies arranged in a predetermined direction and a support section that extends in an arranging direction of the magnetic bodies and supports an one end portion of each of the magnetic bodies, and a magnet for attracting the magnetic bodies with a magnetic force, disposed along an outer peripheral surface of the toner replenishing container. |
| US08055154B2 |
Protection cover, and process cartridge and image forming apparatus using the same
A protection cover includes a cover base that covers and protects an external exposure portion of a photosensitive member and that comes into contact with an image forming apparatus housing body to movably guide a process cartridge; an extrusion member that is disposed in the cover base on a side opposite to an insertion direction of the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus housing body and that moves in the insertion direction of the process cartridge to extrude the process cartridge from the cover base; and a restriction portion that is disposed in the extrusion member to restrict the process cartridge in the cover base in a state where the process cartridge is located in the cover base and to release the process cartridge from the cover base in a state where the process cartridge is inserted and mounted to the image forming apparatus housing body. |
| US08055146B2 |
Image forming apparatus with image covering density calculating section
An image forming apparatus, including: an image carrier; an image forming section to form a toner image on the image carrier; a transfer section to transfer the toner image formed on the image carrier to an intermediate transfer body or a recording sheet; a cleaning section to remove not transferred toner particles remaining on the image carrier, an image covering density calculating section to calculate an average image covering density of the toner image formed on plural areas divided in a lateral direction of the image carrier, during a predetermined time period; an obtaining section to obtain a difference of the average image covering density in each divided area, based on the image covering density calculated by the image covering density calculating section; and an adjusting section to adjust an amount of abrasive particles to be supplied to each divided area, based on the differences obtained by the obtaining section. |
| US08055140B2 |
Reducing cross-phase modulation using group delay
According to particular embodiments, reducing cross-phase modulation includes sending instructions to a phase modulation array comprising channel pixel sets that modulate phases of channels. The channel pixel sets comprise a first channel pixel set that modulates a first phase of a first channel and a second channel pixel set that modulates a second phase of a second channel that uses a phase modulation format. The first channel pixel set is instructed to modulate the first phase at a first constant phase. The second channel pixel set is instructed to modulate the second phase at a second constant phase different from the first constant phase in order to create a group delay between the first channel and the second channel. |
| US08055137B2 |
Phase coded non-return-to-zero optical transmitter
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for producing a phase coded non-return-to-zero (PC-NRZ) optical signal. The method includes providing an input optical signal; providing first and second drive signals, the first drive signal having a first data pattern of first and second signal levels, the second drive signal having a second data pattern, the second data pattern having third and fourth signal levels that toggle at least when the first drive signal changes from the first signal level to the second signal level; and modulating amplitude of the input optical signal with the first drive signal and modulating phase of the input optical signal with the second drive signal to produce the PC-NRZ optical signal. A PC-NRZ optical transmitter and an optical transmission system applying the PC-NRZ optical transmitter are also provided. |
| US08055134B2 |
Optical telecommunications network and method
An optical communications network architecture and associated method which employs time and wavelength-interleaving for homing between nodes/satellites and hubs and for grooming, while employing wavelength-division-multiplexed wavelength circuits between hubs without requiring cross-connects or routers therebetween. |
| US08055132B2 |
Optical remote node device and support equipment for constructing and extending fiber-optic access networks
Optical remote node (NR) device which is situated at a remote point in a fiber-optic metropolitan or access network, carries out the functions of connecting, and transmitting information between, various sections of the network in a passive manner without a power supply using various optical components which extract the necessary optical signals and optical pumping power from the network to which the remote node is connected, and introduces the optical signals from the sections which it connects into said network, and support equipment which is situated at a point in the network with a power supply, uses the network to provide the pumping power required by the remote nodes and has the electronics needed to carry out functions of monitoring the operation of the remote nodes and regulating their activity. |
| US08055129B2 |
Alien wavelength channel balancing and line amplifier optimization
An algorithm is disclosed for performing alien-wavelength channel balancing on channels between optical network elements within an optic-fiber communications system. The algorithm determines initial values of various optimization parameters for each of the channels, such as the input launch power and operating conditions of optical amplifiers in the optical path, and calculates an initial total optimization offset for the channels based on the initial values of the optimization parameters for each of the channels. The algorithm then adjusts the optimization parameters to new values and calculates a new total optimization offset based on the new optimization parameter values. The algorithm repeats this process until the relative channel launch powers and optical amplifiers are optimized. |
| US08055128B2 |
Methods and systems for optimal launch power computation in meshed optical networks
The present invention provides methods and systems for efficiently computing optimal optical launch powers for meshed optical networks. The present invention can be utilized to find optimal launch powers for multiple wavelengths in a meshed dense-wave division multiplexed (DWDM) system. Generally, the present invention ensures Q exceeds a threshold for OSNR, and then the launch powers are optimized based on nonlinear penalties. If Q is below the threshold, DWDM equipment changes/additions are incorporated to provide adequate OSNR. The present invention provides a computationally efficient mechanism to optimize launch powers in 10 Gb/s, 40 Gb/s, 100 Gb/s, etc. highly-meshed optical networks. |
| US08055127B2 |
Wavelength division multiplex optical ring network
A wavelength division multiplex optical ring network comprises optical fibre (1-4) arranged in a ring configuration and a plurality of doped fibre optical amplifiers (17-20) arranged in the ring. The spectral response in the ring is configured such in use amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise circulates around the ring in a lasing mode to clamp the gain of each doped fibre optical amplifier. Each optical amplifier (17-20) includes respective control means (28) which in use control the optical amplifier to produce a substantially constant output power or to maintain a substantially constant pump power. In the event of loss of the lasing peak, detection means switches the doped fibre optical amplifiers to a different mode of gain control, for example, a mode to produce constant gain at the value before the loss of the lasing peak. Optionally, after a predetermined delay, the optical amplifiers may revert to constant output power or pump power mode. Loss of the peak could be detected by a peak detection circuit (27), which filters by means of filter (26) a fraction of the input or output power of the optical amplifier using splitters and/or by detection of a drop in amplifier input power. |
| US08055125B2 |
Substrate stage mechanism and substrate processing apparatus
A substrate stage mechanism (10) configured to place a substrate (W) thereon inside a process container of a substrate processing apparatus (100) and having a substrate heating function for heating the substrate (W) includes a substrate table (11) including a base body (11a) configured to place the substrate (W) thereon and a heating element (13) provided to the base body (11a) and configured to heat the substrate (W); a support member (12) having an upper end connected to the substrate table (11) and a lower end attached to the process container; and a heating device (17) configured to heat the support member (12). |
| US08055124B2 |
System for controlling rotary speed of computer fan
A system can control a rotary speed of a computer fan according to the type of the computer fan. If the computer fan is determined to be a 3-pin fan, the system can output a changeable voltage to control the rotary speed of the 3-pin fan. |
| US08055122B2 |
Information recording medium wherein stream convertible at high-speed is recorded, and recording apparatus and recording method therefor
An information recording medium wherein a stream, which is recorded in a control format allowing format conversion from a first format (MPEG-TS) to a second format (MPEG-PS) and is seamlessly connected, can be converted into a second stream, and an apparatus and a method for recording information in the information recording medium. The control format is provided for converting the first format (for instance, MPEG transport stream) into the second format (for instance, MPEG program stream). According to the control format, a system stream just after a seamless connection point starts from a head of a prescribed data control unit (Capsule) specified by the control format. |
| US08055120B2 |
High speed dubbing apparatus
The time necessary for dubbing of a bit stream is reduced.A high speed dubbing apparatus includes: a read section (20) for reading a bit stream conforming to a DVD-VR standard from a first storage device (10), and outputting the bit stream; a first buffer (30) for storing an output from the read section (20) and outputting a bit stream; a navigation pack generator (40) for replacing a real time data information pack in the bit stream output from the first buffer (30) with a navigation pack, and outputting a resultant bit stream; a second buffer (50) for storing an output from the navigation pack generator (40) and outputting a bit stream; and a write section (60) for converting the bit stream output from the second buffer (50) into a bit stream conforming to a DVD-video standard, and writing the resultant bit stream in a second storage device (70). At least two of the read section (20), the navigation pack generator (40) and the write section (60) operate in parallel. |
| US08055116B2 |
Method and system for providing audio-only recording of an audio/video signal
A method for providing audio-only recording is disclosed. According to the method, a combined video stream and an audio stream are received from a source. The audio stream is digitized, if in analog form. The digitized audio stream is compressed using an audio encoding engine. The encoded audio stream is saved in a storage device. The storage device can be local or on a network. In the case of the input A/V signal being a multiplexed and compressed digital signal, the audio segment(s) are separated using a demultiplexer and saved in a storage device. The encoding format of the stored audio data follows that of the original audio data embedded in the multiplexed A/V stream. To store the audio data in a different encoded format, the audio data is first decoded using an appropriate audio decoder and then re-encoded in the desired encoding format. Alternatively, an audio transcoder can be used to store the audio data in the desired encoding format. |
| US08055115B2 |
Optically active glass and optical fiber with reduced photodarkening and method for reducing photodarkening
An optically active glass and an optical fiber comprising such glass, having reduced photodarkening properties are provided. The optically active glass is mainly composed of silica representing from about 50 to 98 mol % of the glass. It also includes at least one active ion, such as a rear-earth ion, which induces a photodarkening effect in optical properties of the glass. Moreover, the glass includes an effective amount of phosphorus oxide providing the photodarkening reducing effect, preferably in an amount of from about 1 to 30 mol %. A method for reducing a photodarkening effect in optical properties of an optically active glass including the step of introducing phosphorus oxide to the glass is also provided. |
| US08055111B2 |
Dispersion-shifted optical fiber
A dispersion-shifted optical fiber (NZDSF) includes a central core (r1, Dn1), an inner cladding having at least three zones with a first intermediate cladding zone (r2, Dn2), a second ring zone (r3, Dn3) and a third buried trench zone (Wtr, Dnt). The buried trench zone has an index difference (Dnt) with the optical cladding between −5·10−3 and −15·10−3 and has a width (Wtr) between 2.5 μm and 5.5 μm. The present optical fiber, at a wavelength of 1550 nm, has reduced Rayleigh scattering losses of less than 0.164 dB/km, with limited bending losses. |
| US08055110B2 |
Bend insensitive fiber with reduced heat induced loss
Microstructured optical fiber for single-moded transmission of optical signals, the optical fiber including a core region and a cladding region, the cladding region including an annular hole-containing region that contains non-periodically disposed holes. The annular hole containing region is doped with at least one dopant selected from fluorine and chlorine. The optical fiber provides low bend loss as well as low heat-induced splice loss. |
| US08055101B2 |
Subpixel registration
Sub pixel image alignment includes mapping first pixels from a first image and second pixels from a second image to a coordinate system and applying one or more sub-pixel shifts to the mapped first pixels. For each sub-pixel shift, an overall energy is calculated and is based on a plurality of gradients that represent changes in a channel value among the shifted first pixels and the mapped second pixels. The sub-pixel alignment further includes determining the sub-pixel shift that provides the lowest overall energy. |
| US08055100B2 |
Method and system for image registration quality confirmation and improvement
A system and method for confirming the accuracy of an image registration process is provided. The method includes: receiving a first image that depicts a scene area; defining a comparison area within a second image that includes the scene area; obtaining a registration model that registers the first image to the second predefined image; constructing a third image from the first image and the comparison area of the second image based on the registration model; and comparing the third image to the second image. |
| US08055099B2 |
Exposure method and exposure device
An exposure method capable of performing accurate exposure without using a large photomask. The exposure method performs exposure while relatively moving a photomask above a substrate and includes a step of performing position correction of the photomask by performing, on a front side of the photomask relatively moved in a moving direction, image recognition of a pattern prearranged on the substrate such as a line and a black matrix and by correcting deviation of the photomask with respect to the pattern, and a step of checking the position correction of the photomask by performing image recognition of a reference mark arranged on the photomask and by determining whether or not the position correction of the photomask is accurately performed in the step of performing the position correction of the photomask. |
| US08055096B2 |
Method and system for incremental patching of binary files
An incremental patch is generated as a set of delta files or sector-specific patches, intended to be applied incrementally to an old binary image. Each sector-sized patch takes into account changes to the binary image made by previous patches in the series, such that cyclic dependencies are eliminated. The sector-sized patches are generated by applying a binary difference algorithm to the then-current partially patched image, until each sector has a corresponding delta file. The order for patching sectors may be determined by selecting sectors for patching based on first overwriting those sectors making the least contribution of data to generation of the new binary image. |
| US08055092B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus is provided, including a brightness change level classifying unit, a dynamic weight calculating unit, and a brightness correcting unit. The brightness change level classifying unit compares a brightness change average value representing brightness changes from a pixel of interest to neighboring pixels around the pixel of interest with an upper threshold value and a lower threshold value and classifies the brightness change level of the pixel of interest into three types of levels according to the result of the comparison. An upper threshold value and a lower threshold value are predetermined based on the brightness of the pixel of interest. The dynamic weight calculating unit calculates different dynamic weights according to the brightness change level of the pixel of interest. The brightness correcting unit corrects the brightness of the pixel of interest, based on the dynamic weights. Accordingly, noise generated on a plane part of an image is minimized and a contour of the image is appropriately emphasized, consequently improving the definition of images. |
| US08055091B2 |
Method of filtering pixels in a video encoding process
A method and apparatus, particularly suited to SIMD instruction sets, to filter streaming video information encoded under a predictive encoding algorithm specified under video encoding standards, such as MPEG 4 or H.264/AVC. The filtering operation de-blocks or removes unwanted borders in the perceived video. During the filtering process, a series of filtering mask is generated based on temporal and spatial statistics of predictive encoded video information, which is then recursively applied to the video in order to gate filtered or unfiltered video to an output channel according to coefficients of the masks. The filtering mask effectively yields a decision or rule-based map that transforms the video on a pixel-by-pixel basis thereby avoiding complex and processor-intensive decision tree logic customarily required to process individual pixels of successive macroblocks that may have different filtering requirements. |
| US08055085B2 |
Blocking for combinatorial coding/decoding for electrical computers and digital data processing systems
Embodiments described herein may include example embodiments of a method, article and apparatus for compressing data utilizing combinatorial coding which may be used for communicating between two or more components connected to an interconnection medium (e.g., a bus) within a single computer or digital data processing system, and/or for communication between computing platforms via a network or other interconnection medium. |
| US08055078B2 |
Filter for blocking image-based spam
A network device and method are directed towards detecting and blocking image spam within a message by employing a weighted min-hash to perform a near duplicate detection (NDD) of determined features within an image as compared to known spam images. The weighting for the min-hash is determined based on employing a machine learning algorithm, such as a perceptron, to identify an importance of each bit in a signature vector of the image. The signature vector is generated by extracting a shape of text in the image using a Discrete Cosine Transform, extracting low-frequency characteristics using a high-pass filter, and then performing various morphological operations to emphasize the shape of the text and reduce noise. Selected feature bits are extracted from the lowest frequency and intensity bits of the resulting signal to generate the signature vector used in the weighted min-hash NDD. |
| US08055076B2 |
Tag information production apparatus, tag information production method and recording medium
A tag information production apparatus is disclosed which can apply tag information to a main image through a realistic amount of work. A time information acquisition section acquires time information of a main image selected on a working screen, and a key region setting section sets a key region at a position corresponding to a partial region in the main image specified arbitrarily by an operator. An identification information application section applies, to the set key region, region identification information which allows identification between the key region and a peripheral region. A key image production section produces a key image to which time information same as the time information of the main image is applied and in which the region identification information is applied to the key region set through the working screen. |
| US08055075B1 |
Method and apparatus of image processing to detect and enhance edges
A method for detecting and enhancing edges in an ultrasound image includes the steps of applying an edge detection filter to at least one of a plurality of pixels of an ultrasound image to compute an edge detection value having a magnitude and a direction; and applying either a directional edge enhancement filter or a non-directional smoothing filter to at least one of the plurality of pixels of the ultrasound image. |
| US08055073B1 |
System and method for enabling meaningful interaction with video based characters and objects
The present invention provides a system and method for enabling meaningful body-to-body interaction with virtual video-based characters or objects in an interactive imaging environment including: capturing a corpus of video-based interaction data, processing the captured video using a segmentation process that corresponds to the capture setup in order to generate binary video data, labeling the corpus by assigning a description to clips of silhouette video, processing the labeled corpus of silhouette motion data to extract horizontal and vertical projection histograms for each frame of silhouette data, and estimating the motion state automatically from each frame of segmentation data using the processed model. Virtual characters or objects are represented using video captured from video-based motion, thereby creating the illusion of real characters or objects in an interactive imaging experience. Meaningful responses to input human motion are enabled by recognizing patterns of live motion and establishing correspondences between these recognized patterns and the appropriate recorded motion responses. |
| US08055072B2 |
Image display panel and driving method thereof
The invention provides image display panels. The image display panel comprises a histogram generator, a tone slope generator, and an image transformer. The histogram generator receives an original image, counts the pixels of different gray levels to generate a histogram distribution of the original image, and compares the pixel counts at every gray level with a first threshold count to identify the peaks of the histogram distribution. The tone slope generator generates a tone slope based on the histogram distribution and peaks of the histogram distribution. The image transformer transforms the original image into a modified image based on the tone slope. |
| US08055071B2 |
Image processing apparatus, imaging apparatus and recording medium storing image processing program
An image processing apparatus includes an image input section, an image segmenting section, a correcting section and a determining section. The image input section loads an input image data. The image segmenting section segments the image data into a main area containing an image of a main subject and a non-main area other than the main area. The correcting section corrects a color of the main area based on a color of the non-main area. The determining section determines a variance of hue of the non-main area. In the above-stated constitution, the correcting section enhances the correction of the color of the main area when the variance of hue of the non-main area is small compared to a case when the variance is large. |
| US08055070B2 |
Color and geometry distortion correction system and method
Systems and methods for correcting color and geometry in an image are disclosed. In one example, image data are received in one format and are then converted to another format to perform color correction. In another example, geometric corrections are first applied to each color component of an image data to correct for different distortions including lateral chromatic aberrations. Next, color distortion corrections are performed to correct for each color component of the image data independently. In one particular exemplary embodiment, color distortion corrections are applied using surface function representation of a grid data transformation relating uncorrected values to corrected values. |
| US08055068B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing system
An image processing apparatus includes a reading unit, a color value calculation unit, a reading period measurement unit, a color value storage unit, a color value creation unit and a color value output unit. The reading unit reads a color of each of plural objects. The color value calculation unit calculates a color value of the color of each read object. The reading period measurement unit measures a time period during which the reading unit reads each object. The color value storage unit stores the color value calculated and time period information indicating the time period measured, for each object. The color value creation unit creates a new color value based on the color values of the plurality of objects and the time period information stored in the color value storage unit. The color value output unit outputs the new color value created. |
| US08055066B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for skin tone detection in a CMOS image sensor
An image sensing system provide feature tone detection. A feature tone detection module receives illumination compensated pixel data. To perform feature tone identification the illumination compensated pixel data is transformed to a color space having hue and saturation and then compared against pre-selected ranges of hue and saturation. Noise filtering is performed using an erosion-dilation process. A bit code is used to identify pixels having a specified feature tone, such as a skin tone. |
| US08055063B2 |
Methods and systems for improving robustness of color balance correction
Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for digital image color balance correction. |
| US08055059B2 |
Method and system for determining a defect during sample inspection involving charged particle beam imaging
A method for determining a defect during sample inspection involving charged particle beam imaging transforms a target charged particle microscopic image and its corresponding reference charged particle microscopic images each into a plurality of feature images, and then compares the feature images against each other. Each feature image captures and stresses a specific feature which is common to both the target and reference images. The feature images produced by the same operator are corresponding to each other. A distance between corresponding feature images is evaluated. Comparison between the target and reference images is made based on the evaluated distances to determine the presence of a defect within the target charged particle microscopic image. |
| US08055047B2 |
Polyp detection using smoothed shape operators
Improved surface feature recognition in CT images is provided by extracting a triangulated mesh representation of the surface of interest. Shape operators are computed at each vertex of the mesh from finite differences of vertex normals. The shape operators at each vertex are smoothed according to an iterative weighted averaging procedure. Principal curvatures at each vertex are computed from the smoothed shape operators. Vertices are marked as maxima and/or minima according to the signs of the principal curvatures. Vertices marked as having the same feature type are clustered together by adjacency on the mesh to provide candidate patches. Feature scores are computed for each candidate patch and the scores are provided as output to a user or for further processing. |
| US08055046B2 |
Shape reconstruction using X-ray images
A method for generating a three-dimensional model of a structure based on at least one two-dimensional image of the structure includes obtaining a general three-dimensional model of the structure; determining at least one image feature from the at least one two-dimensional image; determining an orientation of the general three-dimensional model of the structure relative to the at least one two-dimensional image of the structure so that at least one image feature of a two-dimensional projection of the three-dimensional model match or at least approximate the at least one two-dimensional image feature; and after determining the orientation of the general three-dimensional model, morphing a form or shape of the general three-dimensional model to fit the at least one two-dimensional image. |
| US08055045B2 |
Method and system for collecting image data from image data collection range including periodically moving part
A method includes a periodic motion data input step S208 of receiving input of periodic motion data indicating changes of the periodic motion with time in an object to be examined who is a target of image data collection, a step S214 of estimating fluctuations in the time resolution of the image data with time based on the periodic motion data, designating an image collection range in the object, and adjusting the collection position of the image data such that the image data is collected in the image collection range at a suitable time of image data collection, the estimated time resolution being set in a predetermined suitable range, and an image data collection position control step S216 of relatively moving at least a part of the image data collection range and the collection position of the image data such that the part of the range and the position are superimposed on each other within a time when the image data of the image data collection range has a time resolution within the desired range based on the image data collection conditions. |
| US08055044B2 |
Flexible 3D rotational angiography and computed tomography fusion
One of two data sets, originating from two different radiological methods is processed to generate interim results, yielded by an operation on one of the data sets. The interim results are used to modify the other data set. Different imaging capabilities of the employed radiological methods promote a particular task, e.g. the segmentation of a given type of tissue. When the combined data of both methods is displayed, clinical users benefit from the complementary information. Care is taken, that only relevant information is presented to the user, as to avoid irrelevant data obscuring any data of interest. Therefore, the data to be displayed is filtered based on content, e.g. the type of tissue, and on location. Three-dimensional computer tomography and three-dimensional rotational angiography are particularly applicable radiological methods. |
| US08055041B2 |
Robust motion correction for functional magnetic resonance imaging
A computer-implemented method to correct motion and interpolation effects for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analysis is provided. The method estimates the motion on every voxel of the data and removes those effects to leave a residual signal that can be analyzed to high accuracy. The estimation of the motion includes solving a normal matrix equation based on the local translational motion of each voxel of the head, and a regularization parameter that depends on the local spatial structure of the head. Methods to regularize a matrix from the normal equation using the regularization parameter are also provided. A rolling filter implementation for real-time processing and motion correction is provided. |
| US08055037B2 |
Robust reconstruction method for parallel magnetic resonance images
Methods and systems for reconstruction of an image from parallel Magnetic Resonance Image (pMRI) data are disclosed. A reconstructed pMRI image may suffer from noise and aliasing. A method for reducing aliasing by applying a bounded error function is disclosed. A method for reducing noise in a reconstruction by applying an error term is also disclosed. Error terms are included in an expression that can be solved as a minimization problem. Creating a solution in an iterative way is also disclosed. Examples of specific solutions are provided. A system applying the methods is also provided. |
| US08055035B2 |
Spectral image processing method, computer-executable spectral image processing program, and spectral imaging system
A spectral image processing method is capable of reducing noise while maintaining necessary information. The spectral image processing method performs processing on a spectral image of a specimen, including a step of normalizing spectra (=spectral brightness curves) of respective pixels constituting the spectral image such that their brightness levels become equal, a step of smoothing the normalized spectra in spatial directions of the respective pixels, and a step of denormalization of multiplying spectra of the respective pixels obtained by the smoothing by either one of brightness levels of the pixels corresponding the spectra and values corresponding to the brightness levels. Consequently, the noise can be reduced while information on brightness distribution on the image is maintained. |
| US08055034B2 |
Methods and systems for image processing of microfluidic devices
A method of processing data associated with fluorescent emissions from a microfluidic device. The method includes performing an auto-focus process associated with a first image of the microfluidic device and performing an auto-exposure process associated with the first image of the microfluidic device. The method also includes capturing a plurality of images of the microfluidic device. The plurality of images are associated with a plurality of thermal cycles. The method further includes performing image analysis of the plurality of captured images to determine a series of optical intensities and performing data analysis of the series of optical intensities to provide a series of change in threshold values. |
| US08055030B2 |
Image selection support system for supporting selection of well-photographed image from plural images
A feature area extracting section extracts an area having a unique feature in an image input to an image selection support apparatus. A specific area feature collating and determining section determines whether or not the area having a feature and extracted by the feature area extracting section is a specific area. A specific area image reading section decides a rectangular area including the specific area, and reads image information of the rectangular area. The specific area image reading section has at least one of an enlargement displaying section which enlarges and displays the image information read by the specific area image reading section, a thumbnail display section which reduces and displays the input image, and an original image displaying section which enlarges and displays the input image. |
| US08055029B2 |
Real-time face tracking in a digital image acquisition device
An image processing apparatus for tracking faces in an image stream iteratively receives an acquired image from the image stream including one or more face regions. The acquired image is sub-sampled at a specified resolution to provide a sub-sampled image. An integral image is then calculated for a least a portion of the sub-sampled image. Fixed size face detection is applied to at least a portion of the integral image to provide a set of candidate face regions. Responsive to the set of candidate face regions produced and any previously detected candidate face regions, the resolution is adjusted for sub-sampling a subsequent acquired image. |
| US08055027B2 |
Generation of directional field information in the context of image processing
A computer-implemented method for directionally characterizing an image element within an image is disclosed. The method includes obtaining an image segment and determining a directional representation value that corresponds thereto. The directional representation value is then utilized to directionally identify an image element other than the image segment. |
| US08055023B2 |
Vehicle cabin lighting apparatus
A plurality of lighting units are positioned forwardly of the driver seat in the cabin of a vehicle for applying infrared radiations in respective directions to the vehicle driver seated on the driver seat. The intensities of the emitted infrared radiations are controlled according to respective basic controlled variables depending on the illuminance in the vehicle cabin. The position and orientation of the face of the vehicle driver are recognized from an image captured of the vehicle driver by an imaging device, and the basic controlled variables are corrected according to the recognized position and orientation, thereby adjusting the intensities of the infrared radiations emitted from the lighting units and a balance of the infrared radiations emitted from the lighting units. Thereafter, the illuminance in the vehicle cabin and the recognized position and orientation change, then corrective coefficients for the basic controlled variables are updated depending on the changes. |
| US08055017B2 |
Headlamp monitoring apparatus for image exposure adjustment
There is provided a monitoring system including an image capture module for capturing an image, an object detecting unit for detecting an object from the image, a monitoring range setting unit for setting a monitoring range in a side of the object on the image, a determining unit for determining the existence of a light source within the monitoring range, and an adjusting unit for adjusting one of an exposure amount of the image capture and a luminance of a pixel output from the image capture when the determining unit determines the existence of the light source. |
| US08055014B2 |
Bi-directional image capture methods and apparatuses
An apparatus has two optical portions, for capturing imagery from two directions. One portion captures imagery from the user (e.g., the user's retina), and the other captures imagery from another subject. In one arrangement, each optical portion has its own image sensor, and the two portions operate at the same time to capture imagery. Information derived from the imagery of the user (e.g., a hash) can be used—in consultation with a database—to attempt to identify the user. Such an image hash can be steganographically embedded into the subject-related image information. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed. |
| US08055013B2 |
Conveying auxilliary data through digital watermarking
The disclosure relates generally to digital watermarking. One claim recites a method of conveying auxiliary binary data through digital watermarking. The method includes: using an electronic processor, providing a first digital watermark signal comprising a first orientation component associated with signal properties of the first digital watermark signal; using an electronic processor, providing a second digital watermark signal comprising a second orientation component associated with signal properties of the second digital watermark signal; and conveying the auxiliary binary data through a relative orientation relationship of the first orientation component and the second digital watermark component. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well. |
| US08055009B2 |
Mountable audio system for electronic devices
Disclosed is a mountable audio system configured to be mounted on an electronic device, such as a computer monitor, a television and a music system. The mountable audio system includes a frame assembly, a pair of audio sources and a fastening mechanism. The frame assembly includes a pair of frame members. Each frame member of the pair of frame members includes a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion. The pair of frame members is removably coupled to each other by slidably engaging and disengaging first portions of the pair of frame members. The pair of audio sources is coupled to second portions of the pair of frame members. The fastening mechanism is capable of detachably coupling the frame assembly and the pair of audio sources with the electronic device. |
| US08054998B2 |
Multichannel amplifier
In a multichannel amplifier according to the present invention, in a case where a headphone is not connected to a headphone output terminal, a switch IC and first to third switches are on/off controlled by a control unit so that an audio signal path for outputting a front channel signal FL/FR to a front speaker and extending from a first input terminal 1 to a front speaker output terminal 6 via a buffer circuit 10a, a switch IC 9, a first volume control unit 3a, a buffer circuit 10b, and a first amplifying unit 4a is not electrically connected to another audio signal path. |
| US08054997B2 |
Structure of speaker
An improved structure of a speaker comprises a speaker frame disposed with a yoke at a lower end, the yoke is disposed with a magnet that is sleeved with a voice coil pipe; a lower damper is sleeved onto the voice coil pipe through a hole, with an outer edge of the damper attached to the outer edge of the bottom inside the speaker frame; a washer is overlapped at the outer edge of the lower damper, then an upper damper is sleeved onto the voice coil pipe through a hole, with its outer edge attached to the washer; two cones are hooked up and attached to each other with a hole of the two cones sleeved onto the voice coil pipe, and an outer edge of a cone surround is attached to a rim of the speaker frame to form the improved structure of the speaker. |
| US08054989B2 |
Acoustic correction apparatus and method for vehicle audio system
Disclosed herein is an acoustic correction apparatus and method for vehicle audio systems which is capable of providing optimal sound at a reference level to a listener even though the acoustic spatial response characteristics in the room of a vehicle vary due to a change in the material of seat covers or the like. A first acoustic analysis unit obtains target frequency characteristic data at a specific listening location based on generated acoustic signals played from an audio system. A second acoustic analysis unit obtains measured frequency characteristic data at the listening location based on measured acoustic signals collected by the microphone unit. An acoustic correction unit adjusts the equalizer of the audio system based on the target and measured frequency data. |
| US08054988B2 |
Communications device for transmitting acoustic signals in a motor vehicle
A communications device is for transmitting acoustic signals in a motor vehicle. The communications device includes at least two transmitters and at least two receivers for transmitting and emitting acoustic signals. One transmitter and one receiver are each allocated to a spatial position. The device further includes a control unit for activating or deactivating at least the transmitters. The control unit is associated with at least one actuator element by which at least one transmitter may be selectively deactivated irrespective of a prevailing signal level. |
| US08054986B2 |
Method and apparatus for computer communication using audio signals
An acoustic communication device includes a computer device having an acoustic transmitter and/or an acoustic receiver. A signal processing module processes sound signals such that the transmitter and/or receiver are employed to permit acoustic communication between computer devices using sound signals. |
| US08054985B2 |
Low sound attenuating hearing protection device with filter arrangement
A hearing protection device including a sound attenuating portion configured to be disposed within an ear canal of a user to obstruct a passage of sound, a channel formed through the sound attenuating portion configured to allow sound to pass through the sound attenuating portion when the portion is disposed within the ear canal, a tube disposed in the channel and configured to allow the sound in the channel to pass therethrough, and a filter disposed at one end of the tube and positioned at an interior of the sound attenuating portion, where the filter attenuates some of the sound passing through the tube. |
| US08054984B2 |
Sound altering apparatus
A sound altering apparatus for altering predetermined sound levels of a sound producing device, the sound altering apparatus includes at least one piezoelectric foil sensor disposed relative to the sound producing device with the at least one piezoelectric foil sensor being operable to convert such sound wave energy into an electric sound signal one or more electric circuits in electrical communication with the at least one piezoelectric foil sensor for receiving the electric sound signal and shunting the electric sound signal to a ground connection, or to produce cancelling sound wave energy in the vicinity of the sound producing device, thereby reducing sound heard outside the sound producing device. |
| US08054983B2 |
Method for parameter identification and parameter optimization of microspeakers
The present invention discloses a method for parameter identification and parameter optimization of microspeakers. Measurement procedures for identifying electromechanical constants of microspeaker and a GUI are developed to facilitate estimation of electroacoustic parameters of the microspeaker under test. In light of the thus identified microspeaker parameters, a parameter optimization procedure is carried out to obtain the design that attains the best acoustic performance with minimum harmonic distortion. |
| US08054980B2 |
Apparatus and method for rendering audio information to virtualize speakers in an audio system
An audio processor, apparatus, and method use physical speakers to emulate one or more additional speakers. The physical speakers produce sounds that, from a listener's perspective, appear to come from at least one direction where a physical speaker is not present. Any number of additional speakers can be virtualized, such as three or five speakers that allow two speakers to emulate a 5.1 audio system. |
| US08054974B2 |
Opportunistic use of null packets during encryption/decryption
The use of keys to encrypt data in a transmitter and to decrypt encrypted data in a receiver are synchronized in accordance with a synchronization signal that opportunistically replaces a null packet in an MPEG transport stream. Additionally or alternatively, key related information is transmitted and/or received in place of a null packet in the MPEG transport stream and is used to encrypt and/or decrypt data transmitted and/or received in the MPEG transport stream. |
| US08054970B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, information processing apparatus and information processing method
In an image forming method of receiving encrypted data generated by an information processing apparatus, decrypting the encrypted data into data to be printed, and causing an image forming apparatus to execute printing processing, print data is acquired by decrypting the received encrypted data, and the acquired print data is converted into image data for which the printing processing can be performed. The image data is encrypted with first key information. |
| US08054966B2 |
Echo cancellation and noise reduction adaptation during ringing signal playback
A communication device is provided that includes a speaker for outputting a ringing signal, a microphone for receiving the ringing signal, and logic configured to analyze the spectral content of the received ringing signal and adjust noise reduction parameters and echo cancellation parameters based on the analyzed spectral content of the received ringing signal. |
| US08054964B2 |
System and method for detecting emotions at different steps in a communication
The system and method establish a communication with a first party. A first emotion is detected during a first step during the communication. Steps in the communication can include: establishing a call, waiting in a queue, talking with an agent, communicating with an IVR system, and the like. A second emotion is detected at a different step in the communication. Alternatively, the first and second emotions are detected in two different but related communications. The detection of the first and/or second emotion determines how to process the communication. Examples of processing a communication can include routing the communication differently, selecting a different script for an agent, selecting a different agent, and the like. In addition, the communication can also be processed differently based on other additional parameters. |