| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08069751B2 |
E-Z lid lifter
The “invention” is a unique device that has but one relevant purpose and that is to engage both regular and large mouthed mason jars that have been vacuum sealed with a “dome lid” (without a ring), thus attached by a user screwing the invention's two tiered body onto the selected mason jar. The top tier of the invention receives a regular mouthed mason jar while the lower tier receives a large mouthed mason jar. Once screwed onto the existing jar the user depresses the appropriate level leaf spring, thus inserting the associated lifting pin underneath the lip of the present dome lid and then, while holding the mechanism inward, the user unscrews the invention's body causing a counterclockwise and upward force on the dome lid via the lifting pin separating the dome lid from the mason jar, opening it. |
| US08069746B2 |
Auxiliary device for mechanical arm
An auxiliary device for a mechanical arm includes a supporting base, two reciprocating engines, a rotational plate, and four suction members. The reciprocating engine includes a cylinder and a driving rod. The cylinder is configured for driving the driving rod linearly and reciprocating along its longitudinal axis. The cylinder is rotatably fixed to the supporting base, thereby defining a first rotational axis therebetween. The driving rod is rotatably fixed to the rotational plate, thereby defining a second rotational axis therebetween. The rotational plate is also directly and rotatably fixed to the supporting base to be rotatable about a third rotational axis defined therebetween. The three rotational axes are parallel. The four suction members are fixed to the rotational plate. |
| US08069744B2 |
Device for synchronization and engagement of a gear transmission of a motor vehicle
A synchronization and engagement device for a gear transmission of a motor vehicle is provided with: a cylindrical hollow portion, which is fixed and coaxial with respect to a shaft of the gear transmission; a toothed driving ring, fixed to an idle or neutral gear of the gear transmission; a first conical friction surface, carried by one between the driving ring and the gear; a floating toothed synchronizing ring, which has a second conical friction surface mating with the first conical surface; and at least one engagement member, which is angularly fixed with respect to the cylindrical hollow portion, is able to slide axially under the action of a control device, and has a cylindrical toothing, designed to render the cylindrical hollow portion angularly fixed with respect to the driving ring. The engagement member is located in a radial position that is more internal with respect to the conical friction surfaces, whilst the cylindrical toothing of the engagement member is an external toothing. |
| US08069739B2 |
Base design for self-centering
A device having at least one housing and one bottom connected to the housing. In this context, the housing has a housing wall and the bottom at least one base. Further it is provided for the base to have a specifiable edge. The essence of the present arrangement now lies in the fact that the edge of the base has at least two regions, a first region being situated closer to the housing wall and a second region being further removed from the housing wall. |
| US08069735B1 |
Tactile sensor array for soft tissue elasticity imaging
A tactile sensor array includes a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer with a two-phase compressible dielectric material therebetween. A ferroelectret film is used as a dielectric layer. In some embodiments, to improve sensor sensitivity and at the same time provide for high stability and reproducibility of sensor readings, the ferroelectret film is vented to atmosphere via a venting network of channels traversing at least one electrode layer and a curved rigid substrate. In some embodiments, an elastic supporting structure is provided that comprises individual elastic fastening elements connecting all layers of the sensor together. These individual elastic fastening elements are located throughout the layers of the sensor and prevent cross-talk between the individual sensors that may be caused by local shifts of parts of the sensor during use. |
| US08069734B2 |
Multi-vortex flowmeter integrating pressure gauge
A multi-vortex flowmeter includes a vortex type detection device including a measurement tube provided in a flow channel to allow a fluid to be measured to pass, a vortex generator provided in the measurement tube to face a flow of the fluid to be measured, and a vortex detector for detecting a change based on a Karman vortex generated by the vortex generator. The flowmeter also includes a thermal type detection device including a temperature sensor and a heating temperature sensor, each protruding into the flow channel, and a flow rate converter, in which a pressure gauge for measuring a pressure in a pipe wired together with the vortex detector and the thermal detection device is provided integrally with the flow rate converter. |
| US08069732B2 |
Ultra-miniature multi-hole probes having high frequency, high temperature responses
Embodiments of an ultra miniature pressure probe are disclosed. The pressure probe can include a probe body, a plurality of transducer ports, and a plurality of transducers. The probe body can be a longitudinal tubular body having a front conical end. The transducer ports can be disposed about the front end of the body. The transducers can be leadless SOI transducers, each having an active deflection area associated with a semiconductor substrate. Each transducer can be in communication with a header for supporting the transducer. The header can have a thickness substantially less than the probe diameter and can comprise a flange about an edge of the header. Each of the plurality of transducer ports can define an aperture and a counter-bore, wherein each transducer is positionable in an associated transducer port with the flange of the header of the transducer being welded to the counter-bore of the transducer port. |
| US08069731B2 |
Heating and air conditioning service gauge
A service gauge for determining refrigerant pressure and the saturated vapor equivalent temperature, or other parameters, for a refrigerant in an HVAC system. In one embodiment, the service gauge employs a bourdon tube with at least one attached strain gauge to sense the refrigerant pressure and produce an electronic pressure signal. In another embodiment, a magnet and rotary position sensor produces an electronic signal proportional to the refrigerant pressure. The electronic pressure signal from the output of the strain gauge or the rotary position sensor is connected to a microprocessor, which calculates and displays the refrigerant pressure, the saturated vapor equivalent temperature for a variety of refrigerants, produces instantaneous and time lapsed representations of those parameters, and other parameters of the refrigerant. |
| US08069729B2 |
Pressure gauge
A pressure measuring device for measuring and/or monitoring the pressure of a measured medium. The pressure measuring device includes a sensor housing and a measurement transmitter, wherein assigned to the sensor housing is a pressure measuring cell with a pressure sensitive measuring element. Assigned to the pressure measuring cell is a temperature sensor, and assigned to the measurement transmitter is a control/evaluation unit. In order to increase the measurement accuracy of the pressure measuring device, it is provided, that the control/evaluation unit, in the case of an abrupt change of the temperature registered by the temperature sensor, ascertains, or provides, a step response, wherein the step response has a sensor-type-specific, settling time, and the control/evaluation unit, on the basis of the ascertained, or provided, step response, references the corresponding time-dependent integral temperature of the pressure measuring cell, in order to eliminate, or to compensate, the temperature influence on the pressure measurement signal provided by the measuring element. |
| US08069727B2 |
Invariant multi-dimensional vibration-resilience-signature generation system
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that generates vibration-resistance signatures for hard disk drives (HDDs). In this system, a set of HDDs is mechanically affixed to a disk enclosure. The system additionally includes a vibration generator which is mechanically coupled to the disk enclosure and can apply a translational vibration profile to the disk enclosure. The system further includes a coupling mechanism between the set of HDDs and the disk enclosure which translates the translational vibration profile into both translational and rotational vibrations for the set of HDDs in multiple dimensions. The system additionally includes a monitoring mechanism which monitors an HDD performance metric from the set of HDDs while the HDDs are subject to the translational and rotational vibrations. The system also includes a signature-generation mechanism which uses the monitored HDD performance metric to generate vibration-resistance signatures for the set of HDDs. |
| US08069719B2 |
Gear flow meter with optical sensor
Embodiments of the invention provide devices and methods for measuring fluid volume. Devices according to some embodiments include a chamber, having a pair of gears rotatably mounted therewithin. Fluid flow through the chamber causes rotation of the gears, such that each rotation and/or partial rotation results in a known volume of the fluid passing through the chamber. An optical sensor positioned outside of the chamber, can view the rotating gears through a substantially transparent chamber wall. The optical sensor can view an optical characteristic of one or both of the gears, and based upon this data, fluid volume, flow rate, and/or flow direction can be determined. Devices and methods disclosed herein can provide for improved precision in fluid flow meter measurement. In addition, the devices and methods used herein can be more durable and easier to fabricate than previously known positive displacement flow meters. |
| US08069715B2 |
Vadose zone pore liquid sampling system
A method and apparatus for collection of pore water samples from a subsurface geologic formation, especially a vadose zone formation having high capillary tension. The method consists of injection of a fluid with known tracer concentrations therein into the formation. The injected displacement fluid develops a wetting front which carries with it the ambient pore water. The mixture of pore water and tracer-bearing displacement fluid is absorbed by a collection system, such as an absorbent member or pumping system. The injection and collection system are attached to a sealing borehole liner for emplacement in a borehole in the formation, and for other functions. Water samples collected in the collector system may be recovered by inversion of the liner, or alternatively by pumping. Samples thus removed from the borehole may be evaluated for chemicals, such as contaminants. The use of the tracer permits pore water characteristics to be distinguished from the motivating displacement fluid. Apparatuses for performing the foregoing functions are described. |
| US08069713B2 |
Method for evaluating the plausibility of a pressure difference value determined across a particle filter
In a method for achieving plausibility of a pressure difference value by means of a particle filter, a pressure difference value is allocated to each charging pressure of the internal combustion engine. As a result, the identification of a faulty pressure difference value occurs when the detected pressure difference value is outside a limit range of the detected charging pressure value. |
| US08069712B2 |
Method for the diagnosing of a catalytic converter located in an exhaust gas flow, and device for carrying out said method
Disclosed are a method and a device for diagnosing a catalytic converter located in a exhaust gas flow. Said method and device are based on an evaluation of the hygroscopic properties of the catalytic converter. |
| US08069707B2 |
Methods and apparatus for determining moment weight of rotating machine components
A method of determining the moment weight of a rotating component for a rotary machine includes the steps of: (a) supporting the component on a platform at a pair of spaced locations along a length dimension of the component, one of the spaced locations corresponding to a known radial distance from a centerline of a rotor of the rotary machine to a predetermined location on the component when the component is installed on the rotary machine, and wherein a center of gravity of the component is located between the spaced locations; (b) determining partial weights of the rotary machine component by supporting the platform on a pair of weight scales vertically aligned with and substantially centered on the spaced locations, wherein a total weight TW of the component is equal to a sum of the partial weights; (c) utilizing information obtained in step (b), locating a center of gravity of the component relative to the one of the spaced locations and determining a radial distance D1 between the center of gravity and the centerline of the rotor; and (d) utilizing information obtained in steps (a)-(c), determining the moment weight of the component by an equation: MW=TW*D1. |
| US08069705B2 |
Method and apparatus for continuously monitoring interstitial regions in gasoline storage facilities and pipelines
An underground storage system includes a primary containment unit and a secondary containment unit arranged to sealingly encompass the primary containment unit. The underground storage system further includes a leak detection system which is fluidly connected to the secondary containment system, and which is adapted to detect fluid leaks in the primary containment system and the secondary containment system. |
| US08069704B2 |
Sealing structure of plasma processing apparatus, sealing method, and plasma processing apparatus including the sealing structure
A gate valve corresponding to the sealing structure seals an opening of a plasma generation chamber and includes a valve body, a valve stem, and ring-shaped first and second sealing members that seal a gap between the valve body and the plasma generation chamber. The first ring-shaped sealing member is on the side of the plasma generation chamber and is exposed to a plasma atmosphere. The first and second ring-shaped sealing members do not contact each other, that is, a gap is formed therebetween. A plurality of gas grooves are arranged in the length direction of the first ring-shaped sealing member. The gas grooves are formed by cutting the valve body in a direction almost perpendicular to the length direction of the first ring-shaped sealing member, and the gap is in communication with the plasma generation chamber via the gas grooves. A gas injection passage 14 for injecting a gas into the gap is formed in the wall of the plasma generation chamber. A concave portion extending along the length direction of the first ring-shaped sealing member is formed on the surface of the plasma generation chamber, and the concave portion is connected to a gas outlet of the gas injection passage. |
| US08069701B2 |
Device for manufacturing a mould for use in the manufacture of an optical element comprising optical sub-elements mutually arranged in a pattern
An optical element is manufactured by means of a mould by a replication technique including a mold that is manufactured from a ductile metal and is given a mold shape which corresponds to a pattern of sub-elements by means of a die having a die surface which corresponds to the optical sub-element and which is imprinted in the mold with a predetermined force in consecutive positions in accordance with the pattern. A workpiece holder fastened to the mold including a stepped chamber which is displaceable relative to the workpiece holder by a positioning device. The die surface imprints the sub-shape in the mold with a predetermined force substantially independent of a position occupied by the die during imprinting. The predetermined force plastically deforms the ductile metal exclusively at the area of the surface contact between the mold and the die. |
| US08069698B2 |
Trim and pierce press assembly and method of use
A press assembly including a die assembly having a trim die defining an annular cavity wherein the trim die is fixed to the press assembly, a punch assembly including a trim punch having an annular boss that is correspondingly shaped to the annular cavity, wherein the trim punch is movable relative to the die assembly, and an ejector assembly including an ejector arm, wherein the ejector arm is mounted to the punch assembly. The object is pressed into the annular cavity of the trim die by the annular boss of the trim punch when the annular boss is slidably received in the annular cavity, and the ejector arm pushes the object upwardly within the annular cavity of the trim die when the annular boss of the trim punch is removed from the annular cavity. |
| US08069694B2 |
Key device
Rotation of a rotating member to a predetermined rotational position is properly regulated by a regulating member even when a thickness of the regulating member in a rotating shaft direction is made smaller. In a steering lock device, a pair of restricting portions formed in a release frame of a release link is disposed at both-sides of a link in front- and rear-direction, so restricts tilt of the link to both-sides in the front- and rear-direction. For this reason, even if thickness of the link in the front- and rear-direction in the vicinity of the shaft is made smaller, when rotation of a cam shaft from an “ACC” position to a “LOCK” position is regulated by the link, tilt of the link to both-sides in the front- and rear-direction can be suppressed, so that the link can properly regulate rotation of the cam shaft from the “ACC” position to the “LOCK” position. |
| US08069691B2 |
Cleaving apparatus
A method of cleaving an optical fiber and apparatus therefor including a hand tool wherein the optical fiber to be cleaved (6) has a natural path. The method of cleaving includes deflecting the optical fiber (6) away from its natural path in a first direction and at a point spaced longitudinal along the length of the fiber deflecting the optical fiber in a second direction opposed to the first direction. The opposing deflection induce internal stresses in the fiber that extend substantially across the core of the optical fiber over a region of the length of the optical fiber. The fiber may then be scratched in this region with a cleaving blade (5) so as to induce cleaving of the optical fiber. The cleaving is controlled by controlling the internal stresses induced in the fiber by in turn controlling the degree of deflection induced in the fiber. Further the fiber (6) may be placed under extension to assist in the control of the stresses induced. |
| US08069690B2 |
Apparatus and method for fabricating glass bodies using an aerosol delivery system
A method of fabricating a glass body that includes a multiplicity of constituents, at least one of which is a dopant (e.g., a rare-earth element) having a low vapor pressure (LVP) precursor comprises the steps of: (a) generating an aerosol from the LVP precursor; (b) separately generating vapors of the other constituents; (c) convecting the aerosol and vapors to deposition system including a substrate; and (d) forming at least one doped layer on a surface of the substrate. In one embodiment, the method also includes filtering the aerosol so as to remove aerosol particles outside of a particular range of sizes. Also described is a unique aerosol generator that is particularly useful in generating aerosols of rare-earth dopants. Particular embodiments directed to the fabrication of Yb-doped optical fibers are described. |
| US08069686B2 |
Refrigerator
A refrigerator including a body having a plurality of cooling compartments separated from each other by a partition, and a machine room defined by the partition in a lower region of one of the plurality of cooling compartments. The machine room receives predetermined elements required to operate the cooling compartments. |
| US08069685B2 |
Capacity modulation compressor and air conditioning system having the same
Provided is an air conditioning system comprised of a plurality of indoor units connected to each other in parallel, each having an expansion valve, and an outdoor unit including a plurality of compressors, in which at least one of the compressors provided to the outdoor unit is a capacity modulation compressor including an electromotive driving unit for driving a plurality of compression units capable of selectively compressing a working fluid, and the electromotive driving unit for the capacity modulation compressor has a stator with a coil wound around thereon and a rotor rotating inside the stator, the rotor being an LSPRM including a rotor core, flux barriers, permanent magnets and conductive bars. |
| US08069684B2 |
Control of a refrigeration circuit with an internal heat exchanger
Refrigeration circuit (2) for circulating a refrigerant in a predetermined flow direction, having in flow direction a heat rejecting heat exchanger (4), an evaporator throttle valve (8), an evaporator (10), a compressor (22), an internal heat exchanger (16) placed with its “cool side” between the evaporator (10) and the compressor (22), an inlet temperature sensor (24) located between the evaporator (10) and the internal heat exchanger (16) and an outlet temperature sensor (26) located between the internal heat exchanger (16) and the compressor (22), and a control (28) for controlling the evaporator throttle valve (8) based on the inlet and outlet temperature sensor measurement, wherein the control is adapted for controlling the evaporator throttle valve (8) based on an inlet temperature setpoint at the inlet temperature sensor (24); and shifting the inlet temperature setpoint based on the outlet temperature sensor measurement (26). |
| US08069678B1 |
Heat transfer in the liquefied gas regasification process
A system and apparatus for regasifying liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other cryogenic liquids on a continuous basis utilizing improved atmospheric air vaporizer heat exchangers of the vertical single pass and parallel connected type. A multiplicity of such heat exchangers is positioned on a defined grid, such as to improve the natural convection of the ambient air heat source. An improved heat exchange system includes heat exchange elements within the heat exchangers comprised of hybrid externally finned elements, smooth interior stainless steel tubes thermally bonded within the externally finned elements, the tubes containing vortex generators. Flow distributors in the form of venturi shaped injectors are positioned at the inlet of each tube of the multiplicity of heat exchangers of the system. |
| US08069677B2 |
Regasification of LNG using ambient air and supplemental heat
Liquefied natural gas is regasified to form natural gas, including circulation of an intermediate fluid between a vaporizer and an ambient air heater, where the intermediate fluid is warmed by exchanging heat with the ambient air as the intermediate fluid passes through the ambient air heater, and the intermediate fluid is cooled by exchanging heat with LNG as the intermediate fluid passes through the vaporizer. The ambient air heater is subjected to a defrosting cycle by intermittently regulating the temperature of the intermediate fluid fed to the ambient air heater to a temperature greater than zero degrees Celsius using a source of supplemental heat. |
| US08069676B2 |
Water vapor distillation apparatus, method and system
A fluid vapor distillation apparatus. The apparatus includes a source fluid input, and an evaporator condenser apparatus. The evaporator condenser apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical housing and a plurality of tubes in the housing. The source fluid input is fluidly connected to the evaporator condenser and the evaporator condenser transforms source fluid into steam and transforms compressed steam into product fluid. Also included in the fluid vapor distillation apparatus is a heat exchanger fluidly connected to the source fluid input and a product fluid output. The heat exchanger includes an outer tube and at least one inner tube. Also included in the fluid vapor distillation apparatus is a regenerative blower fluidly connected to the evaporator condenser. The regenerative blower compresses steam, and the compressed steam flows to the evaporative condenser where compressed steam is transformed into product fluid. |
| US08069673B2 |
Seal structure for gas turbine combustor
Provided is a seal structure, according to the present invention, for sealing opposite surfaces of flanges between adjacent tail ducts, which can be prevented from being worn or aged deteriorated due to a thermal deformation in a high temperature atmosphere or vibration of a gas turbine combustor, and which can maintain a satisfactory sealing function for a long time. The seal structure is characterized in that recess grooves are formed in opposed surfaces of adjacent flanges at the outlet end of tail ducts, striding between the opposed surfaces, a seal assembly composed of a seal member and a leaf spring is inserted in the recess grooves, the seal member has a pair of continuous beads which are arranged facing the inner surfaces, on the combustion gas passage side, of the recess grooves, striding between the opposed surfaces of the flanges within the recess grooves, the leaf spring is arranged so as to be contact with the seal member within the recess grooves so that the beads are pressed against the surfaces on the combustion gas passage side by the resilient force of the leaf spring so as to create seal surfaces. |
| US08069672B2 |
Method and systems for operating a combined cycle power plant
An embodiment of the present invention may provide a variable speed booster, which receives air from a compressor of a gas turbine through an intercooler, to supply air at a relatively constant pressure to an air processing unit. An embodiment of the present invention may provide a speed adjustable booster turbine to energize a variable speed booster; which provides air at a relatively constant pressure to an air processing unit. |
| US08069669B2 |
Separator for feeding cooling air to a turbine
A combustion chamber which is fitted with a separator disposed between the radially inner wall of the chamber and the inner flange of the chamber is disclosed. The separator includes a tubular portion and a fastener portion. The tubular portion is centered on the main axis of the combustion chamber, with the upstream end thereof being situated upstream from orifices in the radially inner wall of the chamber. The fastener portion is secured to the combustion chamber. The tubular portion splits the flow of air running along the radially inner wall into an inner air flow passing between the tubular portion and the inner flange of the chamber, and an outer air flow passing between the radially inner wall and the tubular portion. |
| US08069661B2 |
Transmission hydraulic control system having an accumulator
A hydraulic control system for actuating at least one torque transmitting device in a transmission includes a sump, a pump in communication with the sump, and an accumulator. A first control device and a second control device control the communication of hydraulic fluid between the pump, the accumulator, and the torque transmitting device. |
| US08069654B2 |
Optimized rhodium usage in LNT SCR system
Rhodium utilization in LNT/SCR-based exhaust after treatment systems for medium and heavy duty trucks is reduced by operating inline fuel reformers in a certain manner. The fuel processors are operated at steam reforming temperatures to produce a reformate-containing exhaust having a hydrogen to CO ratio of at least about 3:2 or at least about 3% hydrogen, This generally involves operating the fuel reformers at temperatures from about 500 to about 625° C. and with an overall fuel to air ratio from about 1.10 to about 1.40. In this manner, regeneration can be efficiently carried out while limiting the catalyst loading of the fuel processors to no more than about 1.0 grams rhodium per liter maximum displacement of the diesel engine and the catalyst loading of the LNTs to no more than about 0.50 grams rhodium per liter maximum displacement of the diesel engine. |
| US08069653B2 |
Interchangeable nozzle for a dispensing module
A dispensing module having a dispenser body having a liquid passageway, a valve element movably mounted within the liquid passageway, and a nozzle removably coupled with the dispenser body. The nozzle has a valve seat contacted by a tip of the valve element for modulating liquid flow through the liquid passageway. The tip may be made of a harder material than the valve seat and may have a surface finish characterized by an Ra less than or equal to about 32 microinches. The tip may have a compound angle provided by contiguous frustoconical surfaces of differing included angles in which one frustoconical surface contacts the valve seat. The nozzle is configured to be attached to the dispenser body so that the valve seat and a sealing surface of the valve element tip form a circular line of contact when among multiple different nozzles and dispenser bodies. |
| US08069652B2 |
Control apparatus and method for internal combustion engine
A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine has an oxygen storage volume computing unit for computing an oxygen storage volume of a catalyst by using a real air/fuel ratio detected by an air/fuel ratio sensor installed on the upstream side of a catalyst, a center air/fuel ratio representing a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and an estimated air flow volume or detecting a flow rate of air flowing into the catalyst. A center air/fuel ratio correcting unit for correcting a center air/fuel ratio based on output of a rear air/fuel ratio sensor provided on the downstream side of the catalyst, and an oxygen storage volume computed by an oxygen storage volume computing unit, and the oxygen storage volume computing unit computes an oxygen storage volume by using a center air/fuel ratio corrected by the center air/fuel ratio correcting unit. |
| US08069650B2 |
Method for internal combustion engine with exhaust recirculation
A method is provided for maintaining the heat in an exhaust after treatment system connected to the exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine. The engine is used to propel a vehicle and is equipped with a valve-controlled EGR duct for the adjustable recirculation of exhaust gases from the exhaust side of the engine to its induction side. According to the invention, it is detected that neither the braking system nor the throttle control mechanism of the vehicle is activated and that the vehicle is being driven at a speed in excess of a predetermined value. After this, the gas flow through the EGR duct is regulated so that the gas flow to the exhaust aftertreatment system is reduced to a level which is less than about 50% of the gas flow to the exhaust aftertreatment system with shut-off EGR valve. |
| US08069648B2 |
Impingement cooling for turbofan exhaust assembly
A cooling system for a turbine exhaust assembly comprises an annular case, a flowpath ring and a splash plate. The flowpath ring is coaxially disposed within the annular case. The splash plate extends axially between the annular case and the flowpath ring. A plurality of cooling fluid apertures is formed in the annular case, in order to provide cooling fluid flow onto the splash plate. A plurality of impingement holes is formed in the splash plate, in order to provide impingement flow onto the flowpath ring. |
| US08069640B2 |
Rotary disk crop harvesting header with an auger member
A crop header has generally horizontal flail disks mounted for driven rotation about generally upright axes. A pair of conditioner rolls is mounted in a discharge opening. A crop converging system includes two over-shot auger elements defined by a common auger shaft with an auger flight carried thereon arranged generally longitudinal of the cutter bar so as to carry the cut crop longitudinally of the cutter bar to the entrance opening. Each auger element is arranged with a forwardmost tangent to the auger flight located behind the axes of the rotary disks and with an outer end thereof spaced outwardly of the respective end of the entrance mouth. The common auger shaft is driven by a common rotary drive with the bottom roll of the conditioner rolls. The augers terminate inwardly of the outer end of the cutter bar to locate the drive inboard of the end plates. |
| US08069636B1 |
Method and apparatus to facilitate retention and removal of components placed on adhesive backed carrier tape for automated handling
An improved adhesive-backed carrier tape system for packaging of components. Components or devices are held within the compartments of the carrier portion by a low tack adhesive level layer while a high tack adhesive layer is affixed to the carrier portion to provide means for high speed, low cost automated handling of the packaged components. |
| US08069632B2 |
Integrally assembled changeable framework connector used for a spatial structure
An integrally assembled changeable framework connector used for a spatial structure includes a framework, a predetermined quantity of protruded connecting bases and a specific quantity of positioning element. The framework is a predetermined shaped axial rod, which acts as a main body of the whole connector. The protruded connecting base has a specific quantity of protruding bodies extended in different positions and directions and disposed on a predetermined shaped base body and along the peripheral surface of the framework, and fixed onto the framework by a positioning element to form a connector used for connecting various different spatial structures in any direction and position. An axial pipe and a lateral connecting element are used for connecting the connectors to form the spatial structure. The shapes of the framework, the protruded connecting base and the positioning element can be changed to fit the shape and the connection of the spatial structure. |
| US08069630B2 |
System and method for interlocking support blocks
A system and method for forming a filter media support system with multiple locking mechanisms. The support system comprises two or more interlocking rows of support blocks. One or more slides and one or more guides protrude from the side walls of the blocks. Each guide is conformed to receive one slide from a neighboring block, forming a first locking joint. The side walls also comprise one or more nubs and one or more recesses. Each nub is conformed to fit within one recess of a neighboring block, forming a second locking joint. In one embodiment, the method for assembling the support system comprises aligning a slide of a first support block with a guide of a second support block. The slide of the first support block is vertically moved into the guide of the second support block. Force is applied so that the nubs are flexed within the recesses. |
| US08069627B2 |
Door, method of making door, and stack of doors
A door, method of making a door, and stack of doors includes providing a door having front and back skins that have differing, but complementary profiles, one for the front side of the door and one for the back side of the door where each allows and fits onto the other, while still providing direct contact in the stile and rail zones of the door permitting conventional door layup practices. |
| US08069625B2 |
Fire-resistant frame assemblies for building
Fire resistant door, glazing, and mullion frames include intumescent material at least partially embedded in the frame adjacent the door or glazing. Trim materials are positioned over the intumescent material to prevent tampering with and damage to the intumescent material while improving the aesthetic appearance of the frame. The jamb trim has a thickness that allows heat to be transmitted to the intumescent material in the event of a fire so that the intumescent material will expand and fill a clearance space between the frame and the door or glazing. The expanded intumescent material retards the passage of heat and, by sealing the clearance space, inhibits the transmission of smoke, flames and gases from one side of the door or glazing to the other. After expanding, the intumescent material will char and solidify, which may provide an added benefit of structural support for the door or glazing. |
| US08069623B2 |
Sleeve system and method of using
Herein is disclosed a sleeve system and methods of using the system. The system uses an elongated open-ended sleeve, and mounting plate parts which mate with each other to form a mounting plate and which are securable to each other and to a wall. The mounting plate thus formed comprises a collar which, when the mounting plates parts are secured together, presses against portions of the outer surface of the sleeve to hold the sleeve in place. |
| US08069621B2 |
Ridge vent apparatus
A ridge ventilator for covering an open ridge of a roof while promoting ventilation of a space beneath the roof. The ridge ventilator has a sectional body having a first side and a second side, a number of partitions extending across said body between said sides, as well as a first end and a second end. The vent body has a width between said sides to permit said body to be laid over and cover an open ridge in a roof formed at the peak. The body also includes a recessed middle portion in a top face of the body, the recess being sized and shaped to accommodate roofing cap shingles. The body also includes opposed raised and curved, in side view, air foil side sections; which have a grill to permit air to pass therethrough between a space beneath said roof and the outside, the air foil side sections being sized and shaped to create, in a wind passing over the air foil sections, a low pressure adjacent to the grill to facilitate drawing air out of the space. |
| US08069619B1 |
Vented gutter
A vented gutter system includes a gutter hanger and a ventilation strip. The gutter hanger preferably includes a lengthwise support, a plurality of hanger members and a plurality of mounting plates. Each hanger member includes a roof attachment leg and a fascia attachment member. Each mounting plate is attached to a single fascia attachment member. The plurality of mounting plates may be replaced with a single lengthwise mounting plate. The plurality of hanger members are attached to the lengthwise support. The ventilation strip is retained at a bottom of the plurality of hanger members. A vented fascia system preferably includes a rear plate, a roof flange, at least two bracket spacers, a fascia plate and a ventilation strip. The roof flange and rear plate are secured to the bracket spacers. The ventilation strip and the fascia plate are also secured to the bracket spacers. |
| US08069618B2 |
Sterilization plant, extension module and method of increasing the capacity for a sterilization plant
A sterilization plant for the sterilization of surgical instruments is provided. The plant includes at least one original building (1) having at least one first process line that extends, at least partly, essentially parallel to a first one (2) of the essentially limiting external walls (2, 3, 4, 5) of the original building (1). The sterilization plant further includes at least one extension module (31) located next to and, at least partly, essentially parallel to the first external wall (2). Also provided are an extension module (31) and a method of increasing the capacity of a sterilization plant. |
| US08069606B1 |
Firearm selector removal and installation tool
This tool makes it possible to more conveniently handle the “selector” element on a conventional M16/M4 family weapon when the selector must be removed or reinserted. As will be appreciated by those in the gun repair trade, in the disassembly or reassembly of such weapons the handling of the selector element is a tricky and painstaking activity. This disclosed tool handily is an assist in such activities. The tool is inserted in the opening in the receiver of the selector element and rotated. An offset circular cam means on the tool when rotated will handily depress the detent element (which necessarily must be done and it also has a spring beneath it). A bumper end cap at the distal end of the tool will carefully engage the selector element to gently push on it if needed (or in the reverse operation for the tool to be gently backed away there from as the selector is repositioned into the weapon). A longitudinal groove on the cam means will signal to the user when the proper rotation has been achieved to adequately depress said detent element. |
| US08069602B2 |
Adjustable dual stage trigger mechanism for semi-automatic weapons
A dual stage trigger assembly for a firearm. The trigger assembly comprises a spring loaded lightweight hammer, a spring loaded trigger, a spring loaded disconnector, a spring follower for the disconnector spring and two adjustment screws that allow the user the ability to adjust the sear face of the trigger that is engaged with the hammer in the cocked position and adjust the force imparted to the disconnector by the disconnector spring. |
| US08069595B2 |
Garment cleanliness indicator
The invention is a product that allows one to determine precisely how many times a particular garment has been worn. By removing the guesswork from the “wash-or-wear equation,” the consumer knows the garment is sufficiently clean, and will generally be able to extend the wearing of the garment between cleanings. Use of the invention will result in the conservation of resources in terms of reduced consumption of water, energy, detergent/softeners, and dry cleaning services; it will also increase the life span of garments as well as cleaning/drying appliances. |
| US08069588B2 |
Adjustable sliding eyelet for footwear
An article of footwear comprising a sliding eyelet apparatus comprising a flexible track comprising at least one groove and at least one track, and a lace carrier comprising a lever comprising at least one tooth to engage said groove, a spring; and a slider comprising a rail to engage said flexible track. |
| US08069586B2 |
Orthopedic foot appliance
An orthopedic foot appliance providing optimal and adaptable comfort and shock absorption while at the same time varying degrees of heel support, arch support and motion control depending on the foot type and footwear. The foot appliance consists of a cushioning insole and a re-attachable support piece for attaching and re-attaching to the insole. |
| US08069585B2 |
Shoe, in particular sports shoe
The shoe, has a shoe upper part and a sole. The sole has a supporting part, which is designed for receiving the heel region of the wearer's foot and is connected to the shoe upper part, and a sole element, which is connected to the supporting part. In order to improve the damping behavior of the shoe, the supporting part and the sole element are spaced apart from each other, in the longitudinal direction of the shoe. The connection between the supporting part and the sole element is preformed at two spaced-apart points in such a way as to form, under the heel region of the wearer's foot, a gap. The gap extends at least in portions over the entire width of the sole. The sole element, in the rear end region of the shoe, is connected to the supporting part. |
| US08069582B2 |
Dryer
A dryer includes a cabinet; a drum rotatably mounted inside the cabinet; a front panel provided between the cabinet and the drum; a valve provided inside the cabinet to control supply and cutoff of gas and an amount of the supplied gas; a fixing piece for mounting the valve on one side thereof; and a bracket coupled to the other side of the fixing piece. |
| US08069581B2 |
System for purifying contaminated soil
Disclosed herein is a system for purifying contaminated soil, which restores soil contaminated by a variety of pollutants to the condition before the contamination, and which itself provides the driving source required for the purification. The system includes: a dryer which dries contaminated soil, separates waste gas generated during the drying from the contaminated soil, and discharges the waste gas; a pyrolysis apparatus which indirectly heats the dried contaminated soil in a hermetic condition to divide the contaminated soil into purified soil and pyrolysis gas, and separately discharges the purified soil and the pyrolysis gas; a transfer fan for forcibly transferring the discharged pyrolysis gas; a burner for oxidizing the waste gas discharged from the dryer and the pyrolysis gas forcibly transferred by the transfer fan, to heat the pyrolysis apparatus; and a cooling facility for directly spraying cooling water on the discharged purified soil to cool the purified soil. |
| US08069579B2 |
Train rail alignment and distance system
A train rail alignment and distance system. The train rail alignment and distance system is a durable, highly accurate, portable electronic measurement system that is used for determining both rail inclination and distance between substantially parallel train rail sections during the processes of railway construction, maintenance, and monitoring. The system is designed to work accurately across a wide temperature range and in extreme weather conditions. It is designed to be easily manufactured, configured and maintained. The system also includes several optional integrated features and functions such as: field calibration, factory configuration, GPS and/or USB integration, PC and/or Internet-based communications, and data logging, data storage, and data analysis capabilities. |
| US08069572B2 |
Hand-held electrical shears
The invention relates to a hand machine-tool, especially electrical shears, comprising a housing (13) provided with a tool head (14) and a grip part (15), an electric motor (18) arranged in the housing (13), a switch (22) for the electric motor (18), and a drive shaft (16) mounted in the tool head (14), transversally to the housing axis. The drive shaft can be driven by the electric motor (18) by means of a transmission (19). The hand machine-tool also comprises a rotary tool (11) that can be fixed to the drive shaft (16). The aim of the invention is to create a compact, structurally small and lightweight hand machine-tool for work without generating fatigue. To this end, a small-volume, rechargeable energy accumulator, preferably a lithium ion accumulator (20), which feeds the electric motor (18) and has a high charging capacity, is arranged in the grip part, together with an electronic plate (21) and the switch. The transmission (19) and at least part of the electric motor (18) are arranged in the tool head (14). |
| US08069571B2 |
Spring back safety and film cutter
A cutter apparatus includes a housing shaped to be hand-held, a slider configured to support a front blade, the slider being mechanically coupled to the housing and configured to be moved longitudinally along the housing, and a blade guard mechanically coupled to the housing and configured to be extended and retracted adjacent to the front end of the housing, wherein the slider and the blade guard are configured to move in tandem. |
| US08069568B2 |
Electric hair removal apparatus
An electric hair removal apparatus includes a housing adapted to be held in the hand, a guard cap mounted on the housing for pivotal movement about a pivot axis, and a control element with which a switch can be activated. The control element is arranged inside an at least locally circular recess of the guard cap. The pivot axis of the guard cap is constructed to be eccentric relative to the recess of the guard cap. |
| US08069567B2 |
Method and device for the production of a split bearing arrangement
The invention relates to a method and a device for producing a split bearing arrangement, in which a top bearing part (6) is separated in several machining stations from a basic bearing part (5) that is monolithically joined thereto via a severing breaking process on a predefined plane of breakage (10) by applying a certain force, whereupon the two parts are joined back together by means of a screw connection comprising at least two screws. The basic bearing part (5) and the top bearing part (6) are fixed on an adapter device (1) that is conveyed from one machining station to another while the top bearing part is retained at least during some processes in the machining stations via a retractable auxiliary support (13) which is disposed on the adapter device and catches the top bearing part outside the area of the screw connection. |
| US08069563B2 |
Blade structure for torque converter and process for producing the same
A blade structure for a torque converter, produced by a process including the steps of: stamping a flat blank into a first annular plate that includes a first connecting ring portion, a second connecting ring portion, and a plurality of blades spaced from each other in a circumferential direction of the first and second connecting ring portions; bending the blades into a curved shape curved with respect to the first annular plate; bending the blades to be inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the first and second connecting ring portions; and expanding the first annular plate outwardly in a radial direction thereof to thereby form a predetermined annular shape that has a larger radial dimension than the first annular shape and a larger circumferential distance between respective adjacent two of the blades than that in the first annular plate. |
| US08069562B2 |
Method of manufacturing a brush seal for sealing between stationary and rotary components
A method of manufacturing a brush seal includes the steps of maintaining a pair of first elongated frames spaced from one another on a fixture; wrapping wire strands about and longitudinally along the pair of frames in multiple longitudinal wire passes forming wire runs; disposing two pairs of first elongated plates between the wire runs at respective locations spaced from one another along the wire runs and at an angle to the wrapped strands with the plates of each of two pairs lying parallel to and in registration with one another; clamping two pairs of second elongated plates at second respective locations along an outside of the wire runs with each pair of the second plates registering with each pair of the first plates, the two pairs of second plates extending generally parallel to the pairs of the first plates; cutting the wrapped strands outside of and beyond the first and second pairs of plates forming two wire strand runs with both ends of each of the runs disposed between and straddled by the first and second pairs of plates; welding the cut strand runs and the pair of plates straddling the both ends of the runs; and cutting the wire strand runs intermediate the welded ends of the strand runs to form two bristle packs from each of runs and from which the bristle packs form the brush seals. |
| US08069561B2 |
Method for manufacturing a metal-ceramic substrate
A method for manufacturing a metal-ceramic substrate with at least one metallization, patterned by etching, on at least one surface side of a laminar ceramic material. The metal-ceramic substrate includes a base substrate made of an aluminum-nitride or silicon-nitride ceramic. The metallization is applied by active soldering before patterning. An intermediate layer made of an oxidic ceramic is provided between the at least one metallization and the base substrate. |
| US08069560B2 |
Method of manufacturing multilayer wiring board
A manufacturing method of a multilayer wiring board that includes a core board, a wiring layer, and an electrically insulating layer that are stacked on the core board. The manufacturing method forms a plurality of through holes in a core member, a thermal expansion coefficient of the core board being between 2 to 20 ppm, and the core member selected from silicon, ceramics, glass, a glass-epoxy composite, and metal. The through holes are made conductive by a conductive material, to electrically connect between the front and the back of the core board. A wiring layer and an electrically insulating layer are stacked on one surface of the core board to form a multilayer wiring layer. A capacitor is formed on the other surface of the core board. |
| US08069559B2 |
Method of assembling an insulated metal substrate
An insulated metal substrate laminate includes a metal substrate, a dielectric layer disposed upon the metal substrate, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a thermoplastic film having a thickness of less than or equal to 10 micrometers, a thermal resistance of less than or equal to 0.050 Kelvin-square inches per watt, and a breakdown voltage greater than or equal to 1000 volts (alternating current), and an electrically conductive layer disposed upon the dielectric layer. |
| US08069552B2 |
Method of manufacturing rotor magnet for micro rotary electric machine
A method of manufacturing a rotor magnet for a micro rotary electric machine is provided which includes steps of: a process in which a plurality of thick films, each of which is made of nanocomposite texture composed of αFe and R-TM-B where R is either 10 to 20 atomic % Nd or 10 to 20 atomic % Pr, B is 5 to 20 atomic % and TM is either Fe or partly Co-substituted Fe with 0 to 16 atomic %, are formed into a laminated magnet including isotropic nano-crystalline texture which contains αFe and R2TM14B and which has a remanence, Mr, of 0.95 T or more; and a process where the laminated magnet is multi-polar magnetized in-plane of the thick films. |
| US08069551B2 |
Method for handling a stator bar using a pit
A method for handling a stator bar at a stator bar facility having a stator bar workstation, an in-ground pit proximate to and at an elevation below the workstation and a stator bar transport proximate to the in-ground pit including: loading the stator bar onto the stator bar transport; turning the stator bar at least 45 degrees in a vertical plane; positioning at least a third of a length of the stator bar down into the in-ground pit, aligning a first end of the bar with the workstation, and turning the bar to reverse positions of the ends of the bar, such that a second end of the bar is aligned with the workstation. |
| US08069549B2 |
Method for sealing a quartz crystal device
A quartz crystal device includes a crystal resonator element and a package including a plurality of components. The plurality of components are bonded using a metal paste sealing material containing a metallic particle having an average particle size from 0.1 to 1.0 μm, an organic solvent, and a resin material in proportions of from 88 to 93 percent by weight from 5 to 15 percent by weight, and from 0.01 to 4.0 percent by weight, respectively, to hermetically seal the crystal resonator element in the package. |
| US08069546B1 |
Plastic sheet cutter and method for installing a zipper on a sheet of material
A cutter operative to pierce and cut a sheet of material includes a handle and a body portion coupled to the handle. The body portion includes two puncture fingers having tips for piercing the sheet of material and two blades for cutting two parallel cuts in the sheet of material. In a method of installing a zipper on a sheet of material, left and right portions of a zipper are applied to a sheet of material. A swath portion of the sheet of material is cut having two parallel, spaced-apart cuts between the left and right portions of the zipper. In this manner, zipper installation is established in a manner that avoids formation of flap of material that would otherwise remain between the left and right flanges of the zipper. |
| US08069540B2 |
Strapping system
A strapping system including a strap having opposite first and second faces carrying first and second arrays of touch fastening elements respectively and a buckle assembly releasably attached to one end of the strap and defining an opening sized to receive an opposite end of the strap. The buckle assembly includes a buckle and an attachment portion coupled to the buckle, the attachment portion having opposing surfaces that releasably engage the touch fastening elements on the first and second faces of the strap, respectively, to releasably secure the buckle to the strap, wherein the strap includes touch fastening elements engageable with other touch fastening elements of the strapping system when the buckle assembly attached to the strap to secure the strapping system about an object. |
| US08069536B2 |
Conformable pod for a manual implement
A conformable pod and related method of production are provided, wherein the pod defines a soft structure adapted for deformation in response to minimal pressure applied manually, i.e., by contact with some portion of the body, and for retaining a deformed configuration substantially in the absence of continued application of manual pressure. The pod includes a viscous and tacky gel material encased within a closed chamber defined at least in part by a relatively thin and easily deformed outer skin providing minimal deformation resistance. In a preferred form, the encased gel material is a coagulated or partially coagulated gel such as a silicone-based gel material adapted for deformation in response to minimal applied manual pressure, and for substantially pressureless retention of the as-deformed shape, followed by relatively slow return (at least two seconds or more) to an initial nondeformed shape upon manual release of the pod. |
| US08069534B2 |
Hinge assembly
A hinge assembly includes a shaft, a leaf, a rotatable joint, a positioning member, an elastic engaging member, and a fastening member. The leaf is non-rotatably mounted on the shaft, and the rotatable joint is rotatably mounted on the shaft. The positioning member includes an engaging surface, and is non-rotatable relative to the rotatable joint. The elastic engaging member includes an engaging surface, and is non-rotatably sleeved on the shaft. The fastening member is engaged on the shaft. One of the engaging surfaces of the positioning member and the engaging member forms an engaging protrusion, and the other one of the engaging surfaces of the positioning member and the engaging member defines an engaging slot engaging with the engaging protrusion. |
| US08069531B2 |
Deck cleaning tool
An improved deck cleaning tool includes a rigid blade with a sharply angled front end and adapted to dislodge debris build-up commonly found between planks of outdoor decks is supported by a plate having an aperture connected to a rigid and hollow conduit having a handle at its distal end. The distal end further adapts to couple to a common shop or wet/dry vacuum cleaner. |
| US08069529B2 |
Handheld vacuum cleaner
A handheld vacuum cleaner including an inlet, an outlet, and a dust cup having an aperture. The dust cup is in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet and is configured to retain debris collected by the handheld vacuum cleaner. A fan is configured to draw air through the inlet and the dust cup and to discharge air through the outlet. A door is adjacent to the dust cup and includes the inlet. The door is movable between an open position to allow a user to empty the debris collected within the dust cup through the aperture of the dust cup and a closed position to inhibit debris from being emptied through the aperture of the dust cup and to allow debris to be collected through the inlet and through the aperture of the dust cup. A biasing member configured to bias the door toward the open position. |
| US08069520B2 |
Power mop with exposable scrub brush
A cleaning tool including one or more of the following features in various embodiments: a mop head that pivots with respect to a handle assembly to dispose a motorized power head between a mopping position and a scrubbing position; a nozzle assembly connected to the handle assembly and in fluid communication with a liquid reservoir, the liquid disposed within the liquid reservoir ejected from the nozzle assembly in response to trigger control by an operator; an absorbent or soil attracting mopping cloth attached to a cartridge support; a mopping cartridge ejection member slidably disposed within the mopping platform and manipulated to eject the mopping cartridge from the mopping platform; and a mopping cloth ejection member disposed on a top surface of the mopping platform and manipulated to eject the mopping cloth from the mopping platform. |
| US08069519B2 |
Bridge decking panel with fastening systems and method for casting the decking panel
A bridge decking panel and structures for attaching the panel to supporting bridge beams. An anchor plate assembly is cast within a paving material and has a pair of parallel runner bars extending along the decking panel and spaced apart by the width of a supporting bridge beam that is received between the runner bars. The connecting structures include panel to beam connecting structures that have several clamping plates extending from beneath a runner bar to beneath a portion of a bridge beam. The decking panels arc cast in a form that has two or more channel-forming sheets attached to the bottom wall of the form and extending from wall to wall. Each sheet is dimensioned to receive an anchor plate assembly and form a channel in the cast concrete between the runner bars. |
| US08069515B1 |
Orthopedic pillow with shoulder recess
An orthopedic pillow for supporting a user is disclosed. The user has a head and a torso. The pillow comprises a head rest for supporting the head of the user and a wedge-shaped portion having a tapered surface. The wedge-shaped portion is attached to and extends away from the head rest. The tapered surface of the wedge-shaped portion supports portions of the torso of the user. The wedge-shaped portion has a shoulder recess depressed from the tapered surface to receive a shoulder of the user. |
| US08069514B2 |
Expandable width bed
A variable width bed is provided. In one embodiment the bed has a frame, a deck supported on the frame, and a mattress on the deck. A portion of the mattress on one of head and seat deck sections expands to have an increased width. In an alternate embodiment, deck extender assemblies are provided at the sides of the bed. Each of the deck extender assemblies have supplemental mattresses connected thereto. |
| US08069509B2 |
Sanitary indicator
A sanitary device 210 is provided. The sanitary device 210 includes a body and mounting means on the body for mounting the body on a toiletry actuation device 312 of a toilet 310. A stack of leaves of material is provided on the body, the leaves of material being selectively removable so as to enable a user to actuate the toiletry actuation device 312 by removing an uppermost leaf of material from the stack, to reveal a lower leaf of material, and then pressing on the lower leaf of material to actuate the toiletry actuation device 312. In this way, a user can actuate the actuation device 312 without having to touch the toiletry actuation device 312 in a manner in which the user touches a surface which has been touched previously. |
| US08069508B2 |
Systems for moving shower rods
A rotatable shower rod system may be provided. The system may include a pair of mounting brackets coupled to a wall, the pair of mounting brackets includes a stationary portion; a rotatable portion rotatably coupled to the stationary portion, the rotatable portion rotates to at least one of a first position and a second position about an axis of rotation; and a cover coupled to the stationary portion; and a curved rod extending between the pair of mounting brackets. |
| US08069506B2 |
Sectional plumbing fixture enclosure removably secured with clip
Disclosed is a clip suitable to removably assemble a bathtub or shower stall base to a shower enclosure surround wall. The clip includes a toe, a leg connected to the toe, a web connected to the leg, and a flexible tang also connected to the web. The web is designed to mount the clip on the bathtub or stall base, while the toe catches under a ledge of the bathtub or stall base. The tang will then project at an angle inwardly. The tang permits the surround wall to pass vertically downward past it to assemble the enclosure. It resists upward movement until a specified force is applied, at which point the clip deforms or breaks to permit disassembly. The clip also has a portion of the web which facilitates keeping the clip on the bathtub or stall base even after the clip has been deformed or partially broken. |
| US08069502B2 |
Flexible flange apparatus with a flexible membrane
The present disclosure generally relates to improved water closet flanges and methods for installing such water closet flanges. In one exemplary embodiment, an improved water closet flange apparatus includes a flexible conduit portion (i.e. sleeve) and an integral membrane element sealing the top opening of the flexible sleeve. The membrane element is made of flexible materials such that the membrane element may be removed without breaking into pieces. In one embodiment, the integral membrane element includes indented portions to facilitate its removal. In another embodiment, the flange apparatus includes an outer flange connected to the flexible sleeve. Related methods for installing the disclosed flange apparatus between plumbing fixture discharges and waste drainpipes are also described. |
| US08069499B2 |
Helmet shield attaching mechanism, and helmet attached with the same
A helmet shield attaching mechanism with which when raising a shield, the shield and/or an anti-fogging auxiliary shield will not catch on a window opening rim member for a head protecting body, in spite that the operation of raising the shield in a fully-closed state is comparatively simple and that the mechanism has a comparatively simple structure. The helmet shield attaching mechanism includes a stationary base member fixing to the head protecting body, a movable base member attaching to the stationary base member so as to be movable forward and backward with respect to the stationary base member, and the shield which is pivotally supported by the movable base member. When a substantially upward force acts on the shield which is in a fully-closed state, at least one cam follower provided to the shield or stationary base member relatively follows at least one cam surface formed on the stationary base member or shield, to move the shield forward substantially to the front side. |
| US08069497B2 |
Multi-purpose hospital gown
The present invention relates generally to hospital gowns and more specifically to gowns with specific pockets, slits to allow mounting catheter bag concealed inside gown of patient for maximum mobility and privacy with various monitors, catheters and lumens attached and passing through openings in gown to reach the patient's body and closures that are simple to use and provide for patient privacy with approximately 125% wrap around. |
| US08074291B2 |
Harmonic correcting controller for a scanning probe microscope
A scanning probe microscope and method for operating the same to correct for errors introduced by a repetitive scanning motion are disclosed. The microscope includes an actuator that moves the probe tip relative to the sample in three directions. The actuator executes a repetitive motion, characterized by a repetitive motion frequency, in one of the directions, and changes a distance between the sample and the probe tip in a second one of the directions. A probe position signal generator generates a probe position signal indicative of a position of the probe tip relative to the cantilever arm. A probe signal correction generator generates a corrected probe position signal by correcting the probe position signal for errors introduced by the repetitive motion. A controller maintains the probe tip in a fixed relationship with respect to the sample in the second one of the dimensions based on the corrected probe position signal. |
| US08074290B2 |
System, apparatus, method and computer program for transferring content
A content transfer system for transferring content between a source device transmitting the content and a sink device receiving the content, includes a content specifying unit for specifying the content to be transferred between the source device and the sink device, an authentication unit for performing an authentication exchange key process between the source device and the sink device, a content transfer unit for performing a content transfer process by encrypting and transferring the content specified by the content specifying unit from the source device to the sink device using the key exchanged by the authentication unit, and a content transfer finalizing unit for performing a content transfer finalizing process by validating the content at the sink device and invalidating the original content at the source device in response to the end of the content transfer process performed by the content transfer unit, the content thus being moved from the source device to the sink device. |
| US08074288B2 |
Isolation of application-specific data within a user account
A mechanism is provided for isolating application-specific data in an environment where multiple applications share a same user account. This mechanism enables data specific to an application to be accessed only by the application. When an application requests application-specific data, the data is loaded and a handle to the data is returned to the application. Access to the data is allowed only though the handle. Therefore, only the application possessing the handle can access the data. A counter may be associated with the loaded data. The counter's value is incremented whenever a handle is created for the data and decremented whenever a handle for the data is terminated. When the value of the counter reaches zero, the data is automatically unloaded. |
| US08074287B2 |
Renewable and individualizable elements of a protected environment
Systems and methods for providing a protected computing environment comprising separating out a protected environment management component from a kernel of a computing device, providing identification information as a part of the protected environment management component, and providing individualization information as part of the protected environment management component. |
| US08074283B2 |
Method and system for securely protecting data during software application usage
Techniques for use in enterprise and similar computing systems securely protect data during software application use by generating private table seeds as a function of a predetermined parameters and private tables as a function of the private table seeds. Each of the private tables associates with a distinct one of the private table seeds, each of the private tables associates with a site. An enterprise table seed is formed using other parameters and an enterprise table is derived from the enterprise table seed. The enterprise table permits data communication throughout an enterprise. A string of characters allows accessing a global private information protection system which includes global tables for integrating the private tables, the enterprise tables, and the global tables into a runtime application program at a remote location and coordinating the user's use to control assure only secure use and prevent inadvertent disclosure of the protected information. |
| US08074280B2 |
Detection of undesired computer files in archives
Systems and methods for an anti-virus detection module that can detect known undesired computer files in archives that may be encrypted, compressed and/or password-protected are provided. According to one embodiment, a method is provided for detection of malicious or undesired computer files within an archive without decrypting and without decompressing the contents of the archive. A type and structure of the archive are identified by examining primary or secondary identification bytes stored within the archive. Based on the identified type and structure, descriptive information is obtained from the archive describing contained files within the archive file. The descriptive information for each contained files is evaluated to determine if any are malicious or undesired computer files by comparing the descriptive information to signatures of known malicious or undesired computer files. Finally, an attempt is made to prevent contained files determined to be malicious or undesired from being opened. |
| US08074279B1 |
Detecting rogue access points in a computer network
Detecting an unauthorized wireless access point in a network uses a detector. A rogue access point detector receives an incoming data packet which is scanned for a time expiration value. The time expiration value may be a Time To Live (TTL) value as used in Internet Protocol data packet headers. It is determined whether the time expiration value is the same as a threshold time expiration value. If the time expiration value is not the same as the threshold value, it is determined whether the incoming data packet was routed through an authorized access point in the network. If it is determined that the packet is not being routed from an authorized access point, a security component in the network, such as a network administrator's workstation, is notified. During this process the time expiration value remains unchanged. |
| US08074277B2 |
System and methodology for intrusion detection and prevention
System and methodology for intrusion detection and prevention is described. In one embodiment, for example, a method is described for detecting and preventing network intrusion, the method comprises steps of: defining intrusion descriptions specifying exploits that may be attempted by malicious network traffic, the intrusion descriptions indicating specific applications that may be targeted by individual exploits; for a particular application participating in network communication, deriving a subset of the intrusion descriptions specifically applicable to that particular application; using the subset of the intrusion descriptions specifically applicable to that application, monitoring network traffic destined for the particular application for detecting an attempted network intrusion; and if a network intrusion is detected, blocking network traffic destined for the particular application determined to comprise an exploit. |
| US08074269B2 |
System and method for controlling devices at a location
A system and method for controlling, by an outside entity, one or more devices associated with a location. A representative embodiment of the system architecture comprises an internal computer system through which a device may be remotely controlled by the outside entity during a communication session between the outside entity and the internal computer system through an external computer network. The external computer network can be the Internet. When the outside entity is requested to control the device, the outside entity's identity information is authenticated before the communication session is established. In a preferred embodiment, the internal computer system is protected by a firewall. The firewall allows the outside entity to access the internal computer system to control the device if the outside entity can provide proper identity information. The identity information of the outside entity may be a password that is recognized by the firewall. In the preferred embodiment, the identity information is a digital certificate issued to the outside entity by a certificate authority. In preferred embodiments, after the communication session is established, only the outside entity can terminate the communication session. |
| US08074261B2 |
Methods and systems for internet security via virtual software
A method for providing internet security includes providing a storage medium including a first executable application module. In response to inputting the storage medium onto a local computer the first executable application module is loaded into virtual memory in the local computer. The first executable application module is executed, the first executable application module providing information identifying at least one remote server. Communication is performed between the local computer and the remote server using the information provided by the first executable application module. The remote server is instructed to send a second application module to the local computer. Upon receipt of the second application module, the second application module is loaded into virtual memory on the local computer. The second application module is executed from virtual memory and a prompt is displayed to the user. |
| US08074259B1 |
Authentication mark-up data of multiple local area networks
An authentication mark-up data of multiple local area networks is disclosed. In one embodiment of a system, the system includes a wide area network, an update device coupled to the wide area network, and any number of gateway devices coupled to the wide area network. Each of the gateway devices is associated with a separate local area network. Each of the plurality of gateway devices automatically provide an authentication page stored in the update device based upon a data provided to the update device. In addition, the authentication page is the same for at least some of the plurality of gateway devices, according to the one embodiment. |
| US08074257B2 |
Framework and technology to enable the portability of information cards
When a user connects a pluggable card store to a machine, the machine plugs a pluggable card provider into a card provider registry. The pluggable card store can be an object portable to the user, or can be a remote store available via some connection, such as an FTP connection. The user can then use the information cards stored on the pluggable card store in a transaction. |
| US08074254B2 |
Recording device, playback device, recording method and playback method
A data transmission device transmits a data broadcast using a narrow unused broadcasting band in a digital broadcast, and to record the data broadcast, which has been received, on a receiving side so that the receiving side can play back the data broadcast after a data stream is totally recorded. The transmission device generates a first data stream, which is recorded on a recording medium on a receiving side, and a second data stream including audio and video data, which is transmitted as a broadcasting program. The transmission device multiplexes the first and the second data streams and then transmits the multiplexed data stream. The transmission of the multiplexed data stream is controlled so that a transmission rate for the multiplexed data stream does not exceed the maximum transmission rate, and so that a transmission rate for the first data stream becomes lower than that for the second data stream. A receiving device records the first data stream on the recording medium, and permits the first data stream to be played back for use after the transmission completes. |
| US08074253B1 |
Audiovisual reproduction system
Audiovisual reproduction system comprising a central unit managing a sound control circuit, and a telecommunications modem connected to a distribution network controlled by a host server, through a multitask operating system created around a tools and services library, characterized in that the operating system comprises a function that adjusts the sound control circuit to couple volumes in the various areas in which the loudspeakers in the audiovisual reproduction system are used, this function being accessible through a management mode of the multitask operating system, the coupling maintaining the ratios between the various volumes in each area when the volume in one area is modified. |
| US08074251B2 |
Limited social TV apparatus
One aspect of the disclosed technology is a limited social television system that provides a light-weight process that allows multiple audience members to close the loop of interaction and create a compelling feeling of “shared experience” on the part of the response-reviewer. |
| US08074247B2 |
Visual improvement of video stream transitions
Four techniques which result in the visual improvement of transitions between video streams with a same packet identifier (PID). All four techniques are applicable in the situation where the stream transition is between two streams that utilize the same PID. Retaining the same PID reduces the delay between the time the user selects an action via the remote control to the time when the new stream is displayed on the TV.The first technique includes two methods: a method for pre-conditioning video stream data for storage; and a method for transitioning between video streams which utilizes the pre-conditioning. The second technique involves a method for transitioning between video streams where timing information in the new stream is modified so as to be consistent with timing information in the old stream. The third technique involves a method for transitioning between video streams where packets in the old stream are replaced by picture repeat packets. The fourth technique involves a method for transitioning between video streams where packets in the old stream are replaced by null packets.The various techniques discussed above may be combined to further improve the smoothness and quickness of the video stream transitions. For example, the first technique may be combined with either the third or fourth technique. Similarly, the second technique may be combined with either the third or fourth technique. |
| US08074242B2 |
System and method for information supply and apparatuses therefor
An information supply apparatus for providing broadcasting contents summary information for the input of specified conditions of a program desired to view by an information utilization apparatus, the storage of the summary playback information representing the summary content of the broadcasting contents information and additional screen information, the extraction of a specific summary playback information and additional screen information according to the specified condition information sent from the information utilization apparatus, distribution to the information utilization apparatus by the information supply apparatus. The information utilization apparatus creates the summary based on the distributed information and replays the same. The information utilization apparatus transmits the viewing results information showing that the summary has been played back to the information supply apparatus and the information supply apparatus collects this viewing results information, and creates the statistics of the viewing results information. |
| US08074240B2 |
Disk drive device with improved centering holding function
A disc drive device able to increase the number of plastic flexible cantilever beams and improve a centering holding function of a disc to enable handling of high speed revolution, that is, a disc drive device having a plastic turntable mounted on a shaft of a spindle motor, wherein this turntable has a disc hole engagement projection provided with a ring-shaped projection and a plurality of centering portions which extend from this ring-shaped projection outwardly in a diametrical direction and have guide surfaces from which an edge of a disc hole easily slides off, a disc carrying portion, through holes formed defined between adjoining centering portions, and flexible cantilever beams extending in the through holes. |
| US08074233B2 |
Information processing apparatus and configuring method
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a monitoring module which periodically transmits a message to a device driver which controls a device controller in accordance with an instruction issued by a program executed by a CPU to drive a peripheral device, and initializes the device driver when a response to the message is not issued received. The information processing apparatus further includes a setting module which sets an interval of transmission of the message based on a predetermined rule. |
| US08074232B2 |
Method for improving the communication of the human interface device
A method for improving the communication of the human interface device, comprising reporting at least one interrupt input endpoint and at least one interrupt output endpoint to the host; specifying that the USB device has a report descriptor in the HID class descriptor; specifying an input report and an output report in the report descriptor; and receiving an instruction from the host through the bulk output endpoint by the USB device, and returning the result from the USB device to the host through the bulk input endpoint, in which the size of the data transferred between the USB device and the host each time is equal to that of the corresponding report to increase the communication speed of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) device, which is designed to work as an HID. |
| US08074221B2 |
Job allocation method for document production
Methods and systems of processing print jobs are disclosed. A feasible route for processing each of a plurality of jobs is determined. For each feasible route, the time to process the job via the feasible route is determined. Each job is assigned to a first feasible route. A first objective function value is determined using a time to process each job assigned to each autonomous cell. A job is selected. A second feasible route is selected for the selected job. A second objective function value is determined by substituting the second feasible route for the first feasible route for the selected job. If the first value plus a threshold exceeds the second value, the second value replaces the first value, and the second feasible route replaces the first feasible route. Selection and substitution are repeated for each job. The jobs are then processed. |
| US08074220B2 |
System and method for interfacing an application to a distributed transaction coordinator
In certain embodiments, a method for interfacing an application to a distributed transaction coordinator includes receiving a distributed transaction request from an application in a first runtime environment. In response to the request, the application is enlisted with a distributed transaction coordinator in a second runtime environment. The first runtime environment is at least partially distinct from the second runtime environment. A transaction identifier is received from the distributed transaction coordinator. A first resource manager is invoked to enlist in the distributed transaction using the transaction identifier and a second resource manager is invoked to enlist in the distributed transaction using the transaction identifier. |
| US08074216B2 |
Device management apparatus, client apparatus, and device management method
This invention relates to a device management apparatus. This device management apparatus is a device management apparatus which communicates with a client computer, includes an output management unit adapted to manage output information of a device for each user, an identification unit adapted to identify a user who is about to install a driver, a device extraction unit adapted to extract a device used by the user identified by the identification unit based on the output information, and a transmission unit adapted to transmit the driver of the device extracted by the device extraction unit to the client computer. |
| US08074212B2 |
Method and apparatus for software upgrade in a digital television receiving device
A method and an apparatus for software upgrade in a digital television receiving device are disclosed. The method includes multiplexing service software into a transport stream according to a predefined protocol, extracting by the digital television receiving device data of the service software from the transport stream and storing the data, restarting the digital television receiving device, so that digital television receiving device software and the service software may obtain addresses of interface functions of the opposite party, and updating by the digital television receiving device software and the service software, default addresses of the interface functions of the service software and the digital television receiving device software according to the obtained addresses. With the invention, the digital television receiving device software and the service software may be independent from each other, and may be upgraded separately. |
| US08074208B2 |
System and method for generating safe and efficient component relationships in wireless applications
A method of detecting recursive instantiation loops in a wireless application. A data model digraph is constructed including a respective node for each data component in the wireless application, and a respective edge for each relationship between a pair of data components. The data model digraph is searched to identify any cycles. For each identified cycle, each data component that participates in the cycle is identified. |
| US08074207B1 |
Application profiling
Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer program products, for profiling an application. An application for execution is obtained. The application comprises a plurality of machine-independent first instructions. Regions of the first instructions that implement one or more programming language methods, functions, or flow control structures are identified. The first instructions are translated into corresponding machine-dependent second instructions for a target machine. The second instructions are instrumented to include sampling instructions for the identified regions. The sampling instructions are configured to cause generation of a state sample when an identified region is executed. Each state sample includes a time stamp and an identification of a currently executing method or function. The second instructions are executed in order to execute the application. During the execution of the application, each generated state sample is collected. |
| US08074203B2 |
Graphical program execution with distributed block diagram display
System and method for executing a graphical program on a first computer and providing a user interface of the graphical program on a second computer, where the graphical program includes a plurality of interconnected function icons representing graphical data flow of a function. Information indicating a plurality of graphical programs on the first computer, e.g., a list, may be displayed on the second computer, and user input specifying the graphical program on the first computer received to the second computer, e.g., selecting the graphical program from the list of graphical programs. The graphical program is executed on the first computer, and information describing the user interface of the graphical program is provided to the second computer during execution. The user interface of the graphical program is displayed on the second computer, facilitating interaction between a user of the second computer and the graphical program executing on the first computer. |
| US08074201B2 |
Deployment and execution of a program on an embedded device
System and method for deploying and executing a program, e.g., a graphical program, on an embedded device. The program and a plurality of execution system components are stored on a host computer. The program is analyzed programmatically to determine a subset of the plurality of components required for execution of the program. The subset of components and the program are combined into a file while preserving execution order of the program. The file is transmitted to the device. The file is used to construct a combined program which includes executable code for the program and the subset of components. The device includes a minimal execution engine which executes the subset of components to execute the program. The file may be streamed to the device for streaming execution, where received portions of the subset of components needed for execution of received portions of the program are stored until no longer needed. |
| US08074199B2 |
Unified messaging state machine
A unified messaging (UM) application benefits from platform independence and human intelligibility of eXtended Markup Language (XML). A finite state machine (FSM) of the UM application is created utilizing an XML feature to create a valid menu state based upon a UM software component. For a UM software component that is a context or setting of the UM application, an XML conditional attribute conditions a prompt, transition or grammar node of the UM FSM. For a UM software component that is an XML snippet, an XML importation element replicates the XML snippet upon compilation, avoiding time-consuming and error prone requirements for manual code duplication. For a UM software component such as an external method, function, variable or action, a function wrapping XML tool validates the existence of such external UM software components at build time and captures version information to verify the availability of the same version upon execution. |
| US08074192B2 |
Verification support apparatus, verification support method, and computer product
The circuit volume of a system under design is reduced by a circuit conversion involving consolidation (sharing) of common parts in the system by a representative part. The design data of the system post-conversion is used to verify operation of the system. However, the verification results for the system post-conversion express signals (e.g., signal X) of plural modules (e.g., modules a to c) as one signal waveform thereby making debugging difficult when a bug is found. Given this situation, from the verification results of the system post-conversion, signal-generation-use data is generated for generating the signal waveforms (here, respective signal waveforms for the modules a to c) of the system before conversion. After verification is complete, a signal waveform for each of the modules a to c is generated using the verification results for the system under design and the signal-generation-use data. |
| US08074189B2 |
Pruning-based variation-aware design
For application to analog, mixed-signal, and custom digital circuits, a system and method to begin with a complex problem description that encompasses many variables from statistical manufacturing, the circuit's environment, and the circuit's design parameters, but then apply techniques to prune the scope of the problem to make it manageable for manual design and more efficient automated design, and finally use that pruned problem for more efficient and effective design. |
| US08074181B2 |
Screen magnifier panning model with dynamically resizable panning regions
A magnifier panning system is described that creates a panning region at the edges of a magnified view. When a user moves the cursor into the panning region, the system pans the magnified view. When the user is not in the panning region, the user can interact with objects in the magnified view without the view shifting around. The objects appear magnified, but they do not behave or move any differently than they would if they were not magnified, providing the user with a familiar and comfortable user experience. Thus, the magnifier panning system provides the user with a much more natural view for interacting with the displayed objects while still allowing an efficient way to pan the view to move the magnified view to a different area of the screen. |
| US08074177B2 |
User defined wire appearance indicating data type in a graphical programming environment
System and method for configuring a wire appearance in a graphical programming environment. A first data type (or class), or communication functionality between nodes, e.g., timing, or data transfer, e.g., data transfer semantics, mechanism, or medium, in a graphical program is specified in response to user input. A first wire appearance denoting the first data type or specified functionality is created in response to user input, including, e.g., a specified wire pattern, thickness, shape, color(s), portion of the wire to be configured with the first wire appearance, wire label and/or wire icon to be displayed on or near the wire. A graphical program including a first icon and a second icon is created, including connecting the first icon to the second icon in response to user input, and displaying a wire between the first icon and the second icon in response, where the wire has the first wire appearance. |
| US08074175B2 |
User interface for an inkable family calendar
The subject application relates to a user interface(s), system(s), and/or methodology that facilitate improved management and coordination of activities, events, and occasions using a digital calendar format that can be accessed anywhere, changed or edited with ease, and readily synchronized on different devices. Various input modes can be employed including inking. New items can be created using an inking component and then dragged and dropped onto the appropriate day. Items can be modified or deleted and such alterations can be tracked to ensure that calendar changes can be monitored, and moreover, access to the calendar can be controlled. |
| US08074174B2 |
GUI application development supporting apparatus, method, and computer program
An application development supporting apparatus and method that make it possible to generate a GUI application, freely altering the settings for graphical representation corresponding to devices, are provided. A configuration in which the logical part and the graphics representation part of each component set in a graphical user interface (GUI) are configured separately, and a GUI component is generated based on the logical part and the graphics representation part is adopted. Through the present configuration, it becomes possible to easily construct a GUI adapted to a device by sharing the logical part among various devices, and selecting different graphics representation parts, in which various representation modes are set, depending on the device. |
| US08074173B2 |
Associating input with computer based content
Notes and other input may be entered directly onto computer based content. The notes may be taken on a portable computing device that contains metadata from the computer based content. The metadata and input are stored and once the portable computing device is in communication with the second computing device displaying the computer based content, the input is displayed near the computer based content that was displayed at the time the input was created. |
| US08074170B2 |
Methods and computer program products that conditionally route print files
A method of routing print files in a computer system. The content of a print file is evaluated based on a routing policy. The print file is then selectively routed based on that evaluation. |
| US08074166B2 |
XSLT/XPATH focus inference for optimized XSLT implementation
Techniques are provided for performing focus inference when compiling an Extensible Markup Language Transforms (XSLT) stylesheet into a compiled XSLT processor. In XPath/XSLT, expression evaluation occurs with respect to the dynamic context. In XPath, the part of the dynamic context, related to the context node-set, is called the “focus” of the expression. Conceptually, the focus would need to be systematically computed and propagated along the recursive execution of XSLT templates. This is costly. Focus inference enables the more efficient execution of XSLT programs since the inferred focus information can be used directly by a code generator in an XSLT compilation architecture. |
| US08074163B2 |
Information processing method and apparatus
The state of a label at an optional time point, such as a past time point, can be recognized, while the label can be regenerated even when the label has been deleted. When a label on which can be pasted an object, such as text, picture or sound, is acted upon (yes at step S141) the difference of the label information is computed (step S142) and the computed difference information is stored (steps S144, S145). The label state is then regenerated based on the time information stored in association with the label and the difference information. Also, time is displayed, plural time intervals are displayed (step S201), a desired one of the plural time intervals is selected (step S202) and time display is controlled responsive to the selected time intervals (steps S203 to S206), to facilitate retrieval of the information corresponding to the specified time. In addition, a label handling at least the time concept is processed (step S231) and the time axis in displaying the label is controlled (step S233) based on an operating signal associated with rotational actuation from a jog dial (step S232). |
| US08074161B2 |
Methods and systems for selection of multimedia presentations
Described are a variety of techniques for viewing multimedia-based information in accordance with user controls for the speed and direction of the multimedia presentation. Different techniques for presenting multimedia data items are disclosed. User controls providing control for speed and direction in accordance with a user selection device being in a particular location. When a user device is within the defined area, the speed and direction control are on. When the user selection device leaves the defined area, the speed and direction are off. Also described is a system using a browser tool for displaying multimedia data in accordance with these viewing techniques. Multimedia data items displayed with the viewing techniques are indices into multimedia presentations. A user selection is made by viewing the multimedia data items and control is transferred accordingly to an appropriate application to present a multimedia presentation corresponding to a selected multimedia data item. A technique is disclosed for generating an index database of the multimedia data items used as indices into the multimedia presentations. |
| US08074157B2 |
Methods and apparatus for reduced complexity soft-output viterbi detection
Methods and apparatus are provided for reduced complexity Soft-Output Viterbi detection. A Soft-Output Viterbi algorithm processes a signal by determining branch metrics using a branch metrics unit; determining survivor paths for sequence detection using a first add-compare select unit; and determining survivor paths for generating one or more bit reliability values using a second add-compare select unit, wherein the first and second add-compare select units process the branch metrics determined by the branch metrics unit. The first and second add-compare select units can optionally process branch metrics having a different number of bits. A sequence detector is provided that comprises a branch metrics unit for determining branch metrics having a first precision; a programmable precision conversion unit for converting the branch metrics having the first precision to branch metrics having a desired precision; and an add-compare select unit for computing path metrics based on the desired precision branch metrics. The Soft-Output Viterbi processor optionally processes a trellis having a reduced number of states relative to a trellis processed by the sequence detector. |
| US08074153B2 |
Error correction devices and correction methods
An error correction device is provided. When an error of an incorrect data group stored in a memory is detected, a memory controller of the error correction device executes a burst read, burst write or burst read-modify-write (RMW) operations to the memory instead of the conventional single read-modify-write (RMW) operation, thereby reducing the occupied bandwidth of the memory. |
| US08074151B1 |
Correcting errors in disk drive read back signals by iterating with the reed-solomon decoder
A signal detector comprises a first detector that generates raw decisions as a function of a read back signal. A selector generates a modified decision by at least one of applying a correction technique to soft information that is based on the raw decisions and marking an erasure in the soft information. A decoder decodes the modified decision to generate a final decision and determines whether a correct codeword is generated by evaluating the final decision. The decoder performs at least one of Reed-Solomon decoding, Bose Chaudhuri Hocquerghen (BCH) decoding, Hamming decoding, and Trellis decoding. |
| US08074143B2 |
Detection, avoidance and/or correction of problematic puncturing patterns in parity bit streams used when implementing turbo codes
Detecting, avoiding and/or correcting problematic puncturing patterns in parity bit streams used when implementing punctured Turbo codes is achieved without having to avoid desirable code rates. This enables identification/avoidance of regions of relatively poor Turbo code performance. Forward error correction comprising Turbo coding and puncturing achieves a smooth functional relationship between any measure of performance and the effective coding rate resulting from combining the lower rate code generated by the Turbo encoder with puncturing of the parity bits. In one embodiment, methods to correct/avoid degradations due to Turbo coding are implemented by puncturing interactions when two or more stages of rate matching are employed. |
| US08074142B2 |
Decoding device and receiving device
A decoding apparatus for low density parity check codes includes a variable-to-check message generator and a check-to-variable message generator. The variable-to-check message generator includes a variable-to-check processing unit block, provided with an adder, and which is arranged between registers corresponding to locations of ‘1’s in a check matrix. The check-to-variable message generator includes a check-to-variable processing unit block, provided with a comparator, between registers corresponding to locations of ‘1’s in the check matrix. The decoding apparatus for low density parity check codes is simple in configuration and is able to perform high speed processing without using RAMs without the necessity of performing complex control operations. |
| US08074140B2 |
User equipment using hybrid automatic repeat request
A user equipment comprises a transmitter and an adaptive modulation and coding controller. The transmitter is configured to transmit data over an air interface in a single transmission time interval with a first specified modulation and coding scheme, where the single transmission time interval has a plurality of transport block sets. In response to receiving a repeat request for retransmission of at least one particular transport block set, the transmitter retransmits the at least one of the particular transport block sets. The adaptive modulation and coding controller is configured to change the specified modulation and coding scheme to a second specified modulation and coding scheme, enabling a combining of a particular transport block set transmitted at the first specified modulation and coding scheme with a retransmitted version of the particular transport block set transmitted at the second specified modulation and coding scheme. |
| US08074137B2 |
Method and system for supporting multiple hybrid automatic repeat request processes per transmission time interval
A method and system for supporting multiple hybrid automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processes per transmission time interval (TTI) are disclosed. A transmitter and a receiver include a plurality of H-ARQ processes to transmit and receive multiple transport blocks (TBs) simultaneously per TTI. The transmitter generates a plurality of TBs and assigns the TBs to multiple H-ARQ processes. The transmitter sends control information for the TBs and H-ARQ processes associated with the TBs to the receiver. The transmitter then sends the TBs using multiple H-ARQ processes simultaneously per TTI. After receiving the TBs, the receiver sends feedback to each of the TBs indicating successful or unsuccessful receipt of each of the TBs to the transmitter. The control information and the feedback may be sent via a layer 1 or layer 2/3 control part. |
| US08074133B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing delay faults
An apparatus or method for testing of a SOC processor device may minimize interference that is caused by interfacing a comparatively low-speed testing device with the high-speed processor during testing. Implementations may gate the input clock signal at the clock input to each domain of the SOC processor device rather than at the output of the PLL clock. The gating of the clock signal to each domain may then be controlled by clock stop signals generated by the testing device and sent to the individual domains of the processor device. Gating the clock signal at the domain may provide a more natural state for the circuit during testing as well as allow the test control unit to test the different domains of the SOC device individually. |
| US08074130B2 |
Test apparatus
A test apparatus includes a test section that executes testing of each cell of the memory under test, a fail information storage section that stores fail information in a fail memory; a counting section that counts the number of defective cells in each block, a reading request receiving section that receives a request to read the fail information of each cell, a comparing section that compares the number of defective cells in a block to a predetermined reference number, a converting section that, in a case where the number of defective cells exceeds the predetermined reference value, converts a plurality of consecutive pieces of fail information in a response data string into a value indicating defectiveness, and a compressing section that compresses the response data string and returns a compressed response data string. |
| US08074123B2 |
Multi-CPU failure detection/recovery system and method for the same
A multi-CPU system including plural CPUs, comprising a failure state detection unit for detecting a failure in an operating program, and a recovery unit for determining, when the failure state detection unit has detected a failure, whether or not recovery of data involved in the failure is possible on the basis of content of the detected failure, and for recovering the data when recovery is determined to be possible. |
| US08074122B2 |
Program failure recovery
A program failure is detected during programming of a memory device. When the program failure is detected, a transfer of the contents of a register of the memory device to a first location of a memory of the memory device is stopped. First data that remains in the register after the program failure is detected is transferred to a second location of the memory. At the second location of the memory, the first data is combined with second data from the first location of the memory that remains in the first location of the memory after the program failure is detected to reconstruct third data that was originally intended to be programmed in the first location before the program failure was detected. |
| US08074121B2 |
Automated information technology error and service request correlation
An implementation verification policy for each of a set of change management tasks associated with one of a set of service requests within an information technology (IT) environment is created via a configuration management device. Each of the set of change management tasks is automatically implemented. An error associated with the automated implementation of one of the set of change management tasks is detected based on the implementation verification policy created for one of the set of change management tasks. The error is automatically correlated with a service request that caused the error. |
| US08074120B2 |
Method for recognizing a power failure in a data memory and recovering the data memory
To detect a power failure in a volatile data memory containing useful data units and test data units associated with the useful data units, the associated test data unit is also read when the useful data unit is read-accessed, and a decision is made as to whether the useful data unit is corrupted based on the test data unit. A power failure is identified when at least two read useful data units within a predefined number of successive read accesses are found to be corrupted. |
| US08074117B2 |
Inference of contract using declarative program definition
A declarative program definition. The definition is analyzed to produce an application contract that describes semantics for sending and receiving application messages during the successful execution of operations by the program. In addition, this analysis may also generate local behaviors associated with the local execution of the program. Alternatively or in addition, the analysis may infer secondary contracts regarding the sending and receiving of application messages, even though the full details of the secondary contracts are not present in the declarative program definition. For instance, the secondary contracts might include error contracts or consistency contracts. |
| US08074111B1 |
System and method for responding to failure of a hardware locus at a communication installation
A method for responding to a failure of hardware locus of at a communication installation having a plurality of control apparatuses for controlling a plurality of processes distributed among a plurality of hardware loci, the hardware loci including at least one spare hardware locus, includes the steps of: (a) Shifting control of a failed process from an initial control apparatus to an alternate control apparatus located at an alternate hardware locus than the failed hardware locus. The failed process is a respective process controlled by the initial control apparatus located at the failed hardware locus. (b) Relocating the respective control apparatuses located at the failed hardware locus to a spare hardware locus. (c) Shifting control of the failed process from the alternate control apparatus to the initial control apparatus relocated at the spare hardware locus. |
| US08074096B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit, memory system, memory controller and memory control method
Aspects of the embodiment provide a semiconductor integrated circuit including a control terminal coupled to a memory through a control bus, a data terminal coupled to the memory through a data bus, a memory controller coupled to the control terminal and the data terminal and a first master and a second master coupled to the memory controller, wherein the memory controller supplies a control signal corresponding to a memory access based on the first master and a control signal corresponding to a memory access based on the second master to the control terminal in synchronism with a rising edge and a falling edge of a clock signal, respectively, and the memory controller receives and outputs input/output data of the first master and input/output data of the second master at the data terminal in synchronism with the rising edge and the falling edge, respectively. |
| US08074095B2 |
Method for ensuring synchronous presentation of additional data with audio data
A recording medium, method and apparatus for managing data are discussed. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of reproducing main data and additional data. The method includes receiving the additional data associated with the main data, the additional data being divided into a plurality of segment units; and reproducing the additional data in a synchronous manner with the main data using time information if indication information indicates a presence of the time information. The time information indicates a presentation time of the additional data with respect to the main data. The main data and the additional data are reproduced according to management data, the management data including link information for linking the main data and the additional data. |
| US08074094B2 |
Session redundancy using a replay model
A mechanism for synchronizing states of components in a first routing engine to corresponding components in a second routing engine is provided. In order to reduce the amount of data required to synchronize the state of the components and the time and resources required to perform the synchronization, the state-related information transmitted from the first routing engine to the second routing engine is limited to information used to build states of a subset of the components associated with the first routing engine. That subset of components is limited to those components that receive stimuli (e.g., data streams or data packets) from sources external to the routing engine. Other components on the second routing engine synchronize state by receiving information from those components on the second routing engine that received the external stimuli information. |
| US08074091B2 |
Storage apparatus for power saving and achieving longest mean time between failures
Proposed is an operation method for seeking a power interruption operation target in which MTBF will become longest. When a target value regarding a power interruption time and a target value regarding a power interruption count per 24 hours is input from an administrator to a management computer, the management computer calculates the MTBF after one year and the annual power consumption for each of the input target values, and, as a power interruption operation target in which the MTBF will become longest in one year, a target value regarding a power interruption time and a target value regarding a power interruption count are respectively selected among multiple target values in which the MTBF will become longest based on each of the calculation results, and displayed on a screen of an output unit. |
| US08074088B2 |
Electronic circuit and electronic device
An electronic circuit according to the present invention has one or more circuit sections which operate according to a variable power supply voltage and a variable clock frequency. In the electronic circuit, active information related to load and/or processing time which changes in real time from a control processing section included in the circuit section is output and, based on the active information, a voltage/frequency setting section which sets values of a power supply voltage and clock frequency is provided. The electronic circuit further includes a voltage controller which controls the power supply voltage to be supplied to the circuit section based on the voltage value set by the voltage/frequency setting section and a clock frequency controller which controls the clock frequency to be supplied to the circuit section based on the frequency value set by the voltage/frequency setting section. |
| US08074079B2 |
Anti-attacking method for private key, controller, storage device and computer readable recording medium having the same
An anti-attacking method for a private key is provided. The method includes using a plurality of storage areas for storing the same security information. The method also includes selecting one of the storage areas as a currently-used storage area for accessing the security information and synchronously updating the security information stored in the other storage areas while updating the security information stored in the currently-used used storage area when generating a digital signature by using a signature rule and the private key. The method further includes selecting one of the other storage areas as the currently-used storage area for correctly accessing the security information when detecting an attack on the security information stored in the currently-used storage area during generation of the digital signature. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the attacker from stealing the private key. |
| US08074078B2 |
System and method for remote reset of password and encryption key
A method for securing data and resetting a password using a content protection key is provided, in which the content protection key itself is protected by a password. A content protection key is also protected at a data storage device with a key encryption key generated in collaboration with an additional device such as a server. The server stores a private key required to regenerate the key encryption key, but this private key is not provided from the server to the data storage device; rather, a public key derived from the private key is provided by the server. The data storage device combines the received public key and a further private key to derive the key encryption key; the further private key itself is not stored by the data storage device, but rather its matching public key is stored. The content protection key is then encrypted using a password and the derived key encryption key. If the password is lost, data from the server and from the data storage device may be combined to recreate the key encryption key. |
| US08074069B2 |
Reading a locked windows NFTS EFS encrypted computer file
Embodiments of the invention relate to reading at least one locked, encrypted computer file encrypted by an encryption filter driver running on an operating system of a computer system, with an added kernel driver, while the operating system is running and reading at least one locked, unencrypted computer file in a computer system with an operating system with an added kernel driver while the operating system is running. An exemplary embodiment includes getting the handle of the locked, encrypted computer file, causing encryption key information associated with the locked, encrypted computer file to be processed, and reading data from the locked, encrypted computer file by using the added kernel driver. |
| US08074068B2 |
Secret sharing device, method, and program
A secret sharing device of (k, n) threshold scheme creates a generator matrix G, first divided secret data, and random number data, calculates shared partial data based on the product of matrices with the random number data, the divided secret data, and the generator matrix G, and delivers the shared information formed by the shared partial data and the header information individually to the storage units. The secret sharing device calculates a recovery matrix and multiplies the shared information by the recovery matrix, hence to recover the secret information. |
| US08074066B2 |
System and method for sending secure messages
Electronic messages are sent from a sending system to an identified recipient and are encoded using information contained in a certificate. A key store is accessed by a messaging application to determine if a certificate associated with the recipient is present. If no certificate is present in the key store the messaging application accesses one or more certificate services to obtain a certificate. Where validation of the retrieved certificate is required, the messaging application invokes a certificate validation process. One or more further certificates are obtained by the messaging application where the retrieved certificate is invalid. |
| US08074064B2 |
Testing and alert device and method for power leakages
A testing and alert device for power leakages of a computer includes a basic input/output system (BIOS) chip located on a motherboard of the computer, a south bridge chip connected to the BIOS chip, and an alarm device controlled by the BIOS chip. The south bridge chip has a first general purpose input/output terminal capable of being coupled to a ground of an exterior power source. The BIOS chip is capable of detecting the input signal of the first general purpose input/output terminal of the south bridge chip and outputting an alarm command to initiate the alarming device when the input signal from the first general purpose input/output terminal is at a high level. |
| US08074061B2 |
Executing micro-code instruction with delay field and address of next instruction which is decoded after indicated delay
A microsequencer is disclosed that controls the order in which microcode instructions are fetched from a microcode ROM. Each microcode instruction includes an execution command for execution by one or more execution units. Each microcode instruction also includes a microsequencer command to indicate the location of another microcode instruction at the microcode ROM. The microcode instruction can also include a delay field, indicating a selectable time when the associated microcode instruction is to be decoded. The delay field thereby provides more flexible control of the sequencing of microcode instructions. |
| US08074060B2 |
Out-of-order execution microprocessor that selectively initiates instruction retirement early
A microprocessor for improving out-of-order superscalar execution unit utilization with a relatively small in-order instruction retirement buffer. A plurality of execution units each calculate an instruction result. The instruction is either an excepting type instruction or a non-excepting type instruction. The excepting type instruction is capable of causing the microprocessor to take an exception after being issued to the execution unit, wherein the non-excepting type instruction is incapable of causing the microprocessor to take an exception after being issued. A retire unit makes a determination that an instruction is the oldest instruction in the microprocessor and that the instruction is ready to update the architectural state of the microprocessor with its result. The retire unit makes the determination before the execution unit outputs the result of the non-excepting type instruction, wherein the retire unit makes the determination after the execution unit outputs the result of the excepting type instruction. |
| US08074059B2 |
System and method for performing deterministic processing
A system and method is provided for performing deterministic processing on a non-deterministic computer system. In one example, the system forces execution of one or more computer instructions to execute within a constant execution time. A deterministic engine, if necessary, waits a variable amount of time to ensure that the execution of the computer instructions is performed over the constant execution time. Because the execution time is constant, the execution is deterministic and therefore may be used in applications requiring deterministic behavior. For example, such a deterministic engine may be used in automated test equipment (ATE) applications. |
| US08074055B1 |
Altering data storage conventions of a processor when execution flows from first architecture code to second architecture code
A computer. A processor pipeline alternately executes instructions coded for first and second different computer architectures or coded to implement first and second different processing conventions. A memory stores instructions for execution by the processor pipeline, the memory being divided into pages for management by a virtual memory manager, a single address space of the memory having first and second pages. A memory unit fetches instructions from the memory for execution by the pipeline, and fetches stored indicator elements associated with respective memory pages of the single address space from which the instructions are to be fetched. Each indicator element is designed to store an indication of which of two different computer architectures and/or execution conventions under which instruction data of the associated page are to be executed by the processor pipeline. The memory unit and/or processor pipeline recognizes an execution flow from the first page, whose associated indicator element indicates the first architecture or execution convention, to the second page, whose associated indicator element indicates the first architecture or execution convention. In response to the recognizing, a processing mode of the processor pipeline or a storage content of the memory adapts to effect execution of instructions in the architecture and/or under the convention indicated by the indicator element corresponding to the instruction's page. |
| US08074051B2 |
Multithreaded processor with multiple concurrent pipelines per thread
A multithreaded processor comprises a plurality of hardware thread units, an instruction decoder coupled to the thread units for decoding instructions received therefrom, and a plurality of execution units for executing the decoded instructions. The multithreaded processor is configured for controlling an instruction issuance sequence for threads associated with respective ones of the hardware thread units. On a given processor clock cycle, only a designated one of the threads is permitted to issue one or more instructions, but the designated thread that is permitted to issue instructions varies over a plurality of clock cycles in accordance with the instruction issuance sequence. The instructions are pipelined in a manner which permits at least a given one of the threads to support multiple concurrent instruction pipelines. |
| US08074050B2 |
Electronic device and address space expansion method
An address space expansion method implemented by the electronic device which includes a storage unit, wherein the storage unit includes a first storage unit and a second storage unit, comprising: responding to the user operation to generate a target address; determining whether a address range of the target address is less than or equal to a predetermined address range, and generating a corresponding control signal; enabling the first storage unit or the second storage unit according to the generated corresponding control signal; acquiring a physical address corresponding to the target address and providing the physical address to the enabled storage unit according to the corresponding control signal and a predetermined converting rule; accessing and performing a reading/writing operation for data corresponding to the physical address of the enabled storage unit. |
| US08074045B2 |
Virtualization with fortuitously sized shadow page tables
In a computing system having virtualization software including a guest operating system (OS), a method for providing page tables that includes: providing a guest page table used by the guest OS and a shadow page table used by the virtualization software wherein at least a portion of the guest page table and the shadow page table share computer memory; wherein: machine pages have a predetermined size; and the virtualization software maps guest OS physical pages to machine pages at a predetermined alignment. |
| US08074033B1 |
Cooperating memory controllers that share data bus terminals for accessing wide external devices
A memory controller mechanism is operable in a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, a first memory controller portion of the mechanism can use a first set of data terminals to perform a first external bus access operation (EBAO) and a second memory controller portion of the mechanism can use a second set of data terminals to perform a second EBAO. The first and second EBAO operations may be narrow accesses that occur simultaneously. In the second mode, one of the controllers can use both the first and second sets of data terminals to perform a wider third EBAO. The memory controller mechanism can dynamically switch between first mode and second mode operation. In situations in which one of the sets of data terminals would not otherwise be used, performing wide accesses in the second mode using the one set of data terminals improves bus utilization. |
| US08074032B2 |
Storage controller, storage control system, and storage control method
There is provided a storage control system in which various controls to a plurality of storage controllers connected to each other can be effectively performed. The storage control system controls first and second storage controllers, in which a second storage controller 10 is connected to a first storage controller 1-1 to which a host system 1-2 is connected. With reference to a memory in which a table defining correspondence relationships between internal logical volumes and a host logical volume 32 of the second storage controller 10 is stored, a channel adapter 1-3 of the first storage controller 1-1 controls power supplies of driving mechanisms of storage devices corresponding to the internal logical volumes. |
| US08074027B2 |
Multi-level read caching for multiplexed transactional logging
A transactional logging service is provided to user-mode and kernel-mode log clients by utilizing a marshalling area to buffer a set of log records that a log client assembles into a log stream. Disk I/O (input/output) functionality is then separately brokered using a kernel-mode address space for a single dedicated physical log, or virtual logs multiplexed to a single log, which is written to stable storage that contains log records from across all of the log streams. Physical log writes are handled by a shared log flush queue and physical log reads are provided by a file system cache that underlies the service. A multi-level cache hierarchy is utilized when a log client needs to access a log record. A series of caches are queried in order of increasing latency until the targeted log record is located. The target log record is only read from disk in the event that it missed at each cache in the hierarchy. |
| US08074024B2 |
Electronic flash memory external storage method and device
An electronic flash memory external storage method and device for data processing system includes firmware which directly controls the access of electronic storage media and implements standard interface functions, adopts particular reading and writing formats of the external storage media, receives power via USB, externally stores data by flash memory and access control circuit with the cooperation of the firmware and the driver with the operating system, and has write-protection so that the data can be safely transferred. The method according to present invention is highly efficient and all parts involved are assembled as a monolithic piece so that it has large-capacity with small size and high speed. The device operates in static state and is driven by software. It is plug-and-play and adapted to data processing system. |
| US08074018B2 |
Disk array apparatus, and control method and control program recording medium
A disk array apparatus has a plurality of the same type of disk array units. Each of the disk array units has a plurality of storage areas in each of which firmware for allowing the disk array unit to operate is stored. When the disk array apparatus recognizes that a first disk array unit has been disposed therein, it compares a version number of firmware stored in each storage area included in the first disk array unit with a version number of firmware stored in each storage area included in a second disk array unit that currently operates in the disk array apparatus. If these version numbers are the same, the disk array apparatus makes a storage area in which firmware executed by the first disk array unit is stored conform to a storage area in which firmware executed by the second disk array unit is stored. |
| US08074016B2 |
Data loss prevention during a fall of a storage device
A data storage device having fall protection includes a rotatable media platter operable to receive and store data, a read/write head operable to communicate with the media platter by writing the data to the media platter and by reading the data from the media platter, an arm supporting the read/write head, a servo motor coupled the arm and operable to move the arm to and from the media platter, a drive controller operable to control the media platter, the read/write head and the servo motor, and a general purpose input/output (GPIO). In an embodiment, the GPIO is coupled with a fall sensor that is external to the data storage device so that when the fall sensor sends a floating interrupt trigger, signaling that the fall sensor is falling, the GPIO receives the interrupt trigger and the drive controller performs an emergency routine to cache data in flight to or from the data storage device and park the read/write head away from the media platter. |
| US08074015B2 |
Method for storing files on a storage medium, storage medium, and video recording apparatus using the method
In a storage medium, an address space is defined which is divided into a first area and a second area. According to the invention, at least one file is stored on the medium which is split into small data packets and large data packets. All small data packets are stored on said first area, and all large data packets are stored on said second area. A single file allocation table (FAT) is used and is small by having one entry per data packet. |
| US08074013B2 |
Uniform coding system for a flash memory
A uniform coding system for a flash memory is disclosed. A statistic decision unit determines a coding word according to a plurality of inputs. An inverse unit controllably inverts input data to be encoded. The input data are then encoded into encoded data according to a statistic determined by the statistic decision unit. |
| US08074010B2 |
Intelligent memory banks for storing vectors
An intelligent memory bank for use with interleaved memories storing plural vectors comprises setup apparatus (96) receives an initial address (B+C+V+NMSK) and spacing data (D) for each vector. Addressing logic (90) associates a memory cell select (C) to each initial and subsequent address of each of the plurality of vectors. Cell select apparatus (98) accesses a memory cell (in 92) using a memory cell select (C) associated to a respective one of the initial and successive addresses of each vector. |
| US08074008B2 |
Motherboard with video data processing card capability
The motherboard comprises a CPU and a memory component; further at least one video data processing chip mounted to the motherboard wherein the video data processing chip is programmable; and further at least one additional memory component provided to store a software that is executable by the video data processing chip. |
| US08074007B2 |
Passive client-host detection for connected peripherals
A client-host detection device for detecting connecting a connected peripheral is disclosed herein. The device comprises a peripheral sensor connected to a terminal, a terminal sensor connected to or for connection to a peripheral and a terminal electrical connector connected to the terminal for electrical connection with a peripheral electrical connector connected to a peripheral. The peripheral sensor is positioned to sense the terminal sensor upon connection of the terminal electrical connector with the peripheral electrical connector. The device allows for an electrical connector to be maintained in an unpowered state unless a peripheral is connected thereby reducing or preventing de-plating of the contacts of the electrical connector caused by conductive solution across the contacts as a result of the voltage on the connections. The device also allows for the use of an unpowered peripheral. |
| US08074005B2 |
Data processor and control system
Provided are a data processor, and a control system, in which an interrupt controller and an event link controller are adopted. The event link controller responds to a generated event signal to output a start control signal for controlling start of an operation of a circuit module. The circuit module is able to generate an event signal. The event link controller generates the start control signal according to the correspondences between event signals and start control signals which are defined by event control information. The links between the event signals and start control signals can be prescribed by the event control information. Therefore, operations of circuit modules prescribed by such links can be controlled sequentially. The control neither involves save and return processes by CPU as in the interrupt processing, nor needs priority level control as executed on competing interrupt requests. |
| US08074004B2 |
Electronic device for contention detection of bidirectional bus and related method
An electronic device of detecting contention of a bidirectional bus for avoiding failing to drive a bidirectional bus due to bus contention includes: an output terminal, an input terminal and a data output unit, a timing comparing controller and a comparing unit. The output terminal is coupled to the bidirectional bus and used for outputting a data output signal to the bidirectional bus. The input terminal is coupled to the output terminal and the bidirectional bus and used for receiving a data reception signal from the bidirectional bus. The data output unit is used for providing the data output signal. The timing comparing controller is used for generating a timing comparison signal according to the data output signal. The comparing unit is used for comparing the data reception signal with the data output signal according to the timing comparison signal to determine a contention state of the bidirectional bus. |
| US08073998B2 |
Display system and display apparatus
If a device non-compatible with CEC is contained in an input path when a display apparatus is HDMI-connected hierarchically to a plurality of external devices, an external device which has transmitted |
| US08073997B2 |
Software install automation
Method and peripheral device to facilitate the installation of software on a host device to allow communication between that host device and a peripheral device. On connection to a host device a peripheral device presents in a first mode. In the first mode the device identifies itself as a Human Interaction Device and transmits information to the host device to facilitate the installation of the software. Subsequently the peripheral device operates in a second mode in which it identifies itself according to its real function. |
| US08073991B2 |
Isolated HART interface with programmable data flow
An isolated highway addressable remote transfer (HART) interface with programmable data flow is provided. The isolated HART interface includes a HART channel having at least one pair of terminals configured to connect with a HART device via a current loop. The HART channel is programmable to have each pair of terminals assigned as a current loop input or a current loop output. |
| US08073987B2 |
PCI express card type peripheral apparatus and host apparatus for accessing parts of protocol ID information stored in storage unit one part after another
A card type peripheral apparatus connected to a host apparatus for communication therewith according to a specific protocol. The card type peripheral apparatus includes a plurality of configuration registers configured to be accessible by the host apparatus and to be set with diverse set information. At least one of the plurality of configuration registers is a special register configured to be set with data arbitrarily selected and fixedly established by a vendor that either fabricates or markets the card type peripheral apparatus. The special register is set with protocol identification information for discriminating the specific protocol. |
| US08073984B2 |
Communication protocol for use with portable electronic devices
Improved techniques for communicating between a portable electronic device and an accessory (or auxiliary) device are disclosed. The accessory device can augment or supplement the functionality or capabilities of the portable electronic device. For example, in one embodiment, the accessory device can provide wireless communication capabilities to the portable electronic device. In one embodiment, the portable electronic device pertains to a portable media player and thus provide media data for storage, playback or transmission. In one embodiment, the accessory device is attachable to the portable electronic device. |
| US08073981B2 |
PCI express enhancements and extensions
A method and apparatus for enhancing/extending a serial point-to-point interconnect architecture, such as Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) is herein described. Temporal and locality caching hints and prefetching hints are provided to improve system wide caching and prefetching. Message codes for atomic operations to arbitrate ownership between system devices/resources are included to allow efficient access/ownership of shared data. Loose transaction ordering provided for while maintaining corresponding transaction priority to memory locations to ensure data integrity and efficient memory access. Active power sub-states and setting thereof is included to allow for more efficient power management. And, caching of device local memory in a host address space, as well as caching of system memory in a device local memory address space is provided for to improve bandwidth and latency for memory accesses. |
| US08073973B2 |
Method of processing data packets
There is described a method of processing data packets in a data stream in a communication system. In the method, a plurality of data packets from the data stream are analyzed in order to generate profile data which indicates how one or more parts of each of the plurality of data packets varies from data packet to data packet. The profile data is then made available so that a data packet compression scheme that accords with the profile data can be implemented on data packets in the communication system. |
| US08073971B2 |
Message based network configuration of dynamic domain name services
Systems and methodologies that facilitate hosting of a domain name and access of users to the Internet, by using a well defined protocol to interact with a plurality of Dynamic Domain Name Service (DDNS) providers, via employing; a purchasing component and a status verifying component. Once a user has selected a domain name, the purchasing component can automatically query the provider(s) for terms of the service plan to host such domain name associated with dynamic IP addresses. The status verifying component can verify the IP address of the end user machine and supply it to the DDNS, to manage in-bound traffic to the user's domain name. |
| US08073969B2 |
Systems and methods for facilitating storage operations using network attached storage devices
A system and method for communicating, browsing, verifying and routing data in storage operation systems using network attached storage devices is provided. In some embodiments, the system may include a management module and a media management component connected to the management server, which interoperate with network attached storage devices to provide the communicating, browsing, verifying and routing functions. |
| US08073967B2 |
Web services-based communications for use with process control systems
A web services-based communication system and technique uses an information server to facilitate the communication of process control data and analysis results between a plurality of web services coupled to a communication network. A graphical user interface coupled to the network enables users to store user profile information and configuration information in a database within the information server. The information server uses the configuration information and the profile information to control the operations of a scheduler and a router within the information server to enable users to selectively view process control information via the graphical user interface and to route process control information to appropriate ones of the web services. |
| US08073964B2 |
Electronic device and base station for maintaining a network connection
An electronic device and wireless base station for maintaining a persistent connection are provided. In an embodiment, a system includes an electronic device that connects to a web-server via a physical link that is bandwidth-constrained. The physical link also includes a wireless base station and at least one network address translation (“NAT”) router that is configured to terminate idle connections between the client and the web-server. One of the electronic device and the wireless base station is configured to send keep-alive packets to the web-server in order to reduce the likelihood of the NAT router terminating the connection. The keep-alive packets are sent on a variable basis that is intended to reduce bandwidth consumption while ensuring that the NAT router does not deem the connection idle and terminate the connection. |
| US08073963B1 |
Data stream change detector
A data stream change detector including a receiving module, a preprocessor module, a clustering module, a strangeness module, a p-value module, a martingale value determination module, comparison module, and an output module. The receiving module accepts new data vectors that originate from a sequence of data in a data stream. Preprocessor module preprocesses the new data vector using a filter. The clustering module clusters the new data vector with previously received data vectors. Strangeness module computes a strangeness value for each of the previously received data vectors. The p-value module calculates a p-value for the new data vector using the strangeness value. Martingale value determination module calculates a martingale value for the new data vector using the p-value. Comparison module compares the martingale value with a threshold value; and sets an indicator if a change if the martingale is greater than the threshold. |
| US08073961B2 |
Global hosting system
The present invention is a network architecture or framework that supports hosting and content distribution on a truly global scale. The inventive framework allows a Content Provider to replicate and serve its most popular content at an unlimited number of points throughout the world. The inventive framework comprises a set of servers operating in a distributed manner. The actual content to be served is preferably supported on a set of hosting servers (sometimes referred to as ghost servers). This content comprises HTML page objects that, conventionally, are served from a Content Provider site. In accordance with the invention, however, a base HTML document portion of a Web page is served from the Content Provider's site while one or more embedded objects for the page are served from the hosting servers, preferably, those hosting servers near the client machine. By serving the base HTML document from the Content Provider's site, the Content Provider maintains control over the content. |
| US08073955B1 |
Method and apparatus for tuning used in a broadcast data system
A method for tuning used in a broadcast data system having a receiving station with a memory, wherein the receiver station files data and real-time data is disclosed. The method includes storing the memory in a table having tuning information corresponding to a plurality of IP addresses and ports, receiving a download request based on a user input, and using the download request to identify download information including an IP address and a port. The method further includes using the identified IP address and port to open a connection to a socket, using the table to determine tuning information corresponding to the identified IP address and port, and using the tuning information to tune the receiver station to the identified IP address and port. |
| US08073952B2 |
Proactive load balancing
A load balancing system is described herein that proactively balances client requests among multiple destination servers using information about anticipated loads or events on each destination server to inform the load balancing decision. The system detects one or more upcoming events that will affect the performance and/or capacity for handling requests of a destination server. Upon detecting the event, the system informs the load balancer to drain connections around the time of the event. Next, the event occurs on the destination server, and the system detects when the event is complete. In response, the system informs the load balancer to restore connections to the destination server. In this way, the system is able to redirect clients to other available destination servers before the tasks occur. Thus, the load balancing system provides more efficient routing of client requests and improves responsiveness. |
| US08073949B2 |
Secure multiapplication proxy
A client application (16) establishes in a client network (10), a first connection having a first security level, directly with a first port (1) of a server application (17) hosted in a server machine (13) linked to a server network (11), in order to send messages addressed to the server machine (13). The messages pass from the client network (10) to the server network (11) through a network layer (CR) of a gateway machine (9). In the gateway machine, a secure application proxy reroutes the messages from the first connection, in a way that is transparent for the client application, and establishes a second connection having a second security level with the server application; the second connection is unknown to the client application. |
| US08073947B1 |
Method and apparatus for determining notable content on web sites
A computerized method for gauging the importance of web content and presenting selected content to a user. A web site that has a plurality of comment-enabled entries is monitored, by tracking the number of comments that are posted to the entries by visitors to the web site. An average number of comments per entry is calculated. The web site is monitored over time so as to calculate a moving average, the moving average being the latest average number of comments per entry. The number of comments posted to each of the entries is compared with the moving average, to determine an importance score for each of the entries. A list of some of the entries ranked in accordance with their determined importance scores is displayed to a web user. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08073946B1 |
Monitoring of metrics to identify abnormalities in a large scale distributed computing environment
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for finding application latency degradation causes in an application on a distributed computing system. Variables associated with the application and the computing system are identified, including variables that are candidates for being responsible for latency degradation. A total latency is divided into latency components, that each corresponds to an aspect of the total application latency. Each latency component is divided into study classes, that each includes a subset of the candidate variables. For each study class, combinations are generated for the subset of the variables; a latency distribution is determined for each variable combination; the determined latency distributions for the combinations are compared with corresponding latency benchmark values for the same combinations to determine whether a degradation in latency distributions has occurred for particular combinations among the one or more combinations, and a result is provided to a user. |
| US08073945B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a measurement of performance for a network
A method and an apparatus for providing a measurement of performance for a network are disclosed. For example, the method sends a plurality of multi-objective probes on a path, and receives one or more of said plurality of multi-objective probes for the path. The method then determines a plurality of performance measurements. |
| US08073940B1 |
Managing content delivery network service providers
A system, method, and computer readable medium for managing CDN service providers are provided. A network storage provider storing one or more resources on behalf of a content provider obtains client computing device requests for content. The network storage provider processes the client computing device requests and determines whether a subsequent request for the resource should be directed to a CDN service provider as a function of the updated or processed by the network storage provider storage component. |
| US08073939B2 |
License information exchange system
When license information is transferred between a server machine and a client machine, an identifier which is unique to a series of communication sequences is provided. The identifier is sent when a communication is performed between the two machines, as well as when the license information is updated. Therefore, when a message for transferring the license information is received by the use of the same identifier, a response message is returned without updating the license information. |
| US08073938B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method of operating the same
Using a service server list containing addresses of servers within a service system and an application list containing names of active applications within the service system, addresses of servers on which the active applications are running, and communication source addresses and communication destination addresses of the active applications, the following processes are carried out: specifying applications of a first layer in the service system from among applications lying within the service system; specifying applications of a second or subsequent layer in the service system from the application list and from addresses of servers on which the applications of the first layer are running; and judging applications having the same application name among applications belonging to the same layer as being of the same role for aggregation. |
| US08073935B2 |
Pluggable semantic verification and validation of configuration data
A pluggable semantic verification and syntactic validation mechanism for server configuration information. In one embodiment, the data verification and validation mechanism may be implemented as modules that may be plugged into a framework. In one embodiment, the mechanism may include a generic test case framework that may call test cases to verify and validate changes to configuration information. In one embodiment, each test case may implement an interface through which the framework calls a test case. The test case may return results, e.g. whether the test passed or failed, and may return additional information, e.g. why the test failed. If the change is valid, then the change may be made to the configuration information. If the change is not valid, the change is not made or alternatively is made with a warning. If the change is made, one or more other servers may be notified of the change. |
| US08073930B2 |
Screen reader remote access system
The present invention provides an assistive technology screen reader in a distributed network computer system. The screen reader, on a server computer system, receives display information output from one or more applications. The screen reader converts the text and symbolic content of the display information into a performant format for transmission across a network. The screen reader, on a client computer system, receives the performant format. The received performant format is converted to a device type file, by the screen reader. The screen reader then presents the device type file to a device driver, for output to a speaker, braille reader, or the like. |
| US08073923B2 |
Wireless network system and wireless communication program
Upon receipt of a network connection request, a CPU core of a game device randomly sets a master device search period, and searches for a master device or a temporary master device until the master device search period ends. When the master device search period ends, the CPU core randomly sets a temporary master process period, and causes the game device to act as a temporary master until the temporary master process period ends. The CPU core alternately repeats the master device search and the temporary master process. The game device is caused to act as a slave device if any game device acting as the master device or temporary master device is found during the master device search period. Alternatively, the game device is caused to act as a master device if a connection request from another game device is received during the temporary master process period. Thus, it is possible to automatically construct a wireless network with one master device and one or more slave devices. |
| US08073920B2 |
Service authorizer
A service authorizer system for pushing and pulling data service authorization requests to wireless terminals is disclosed herein. The wireless terminal or a service authorization server may generate requests for authorization. The wireless terminal may generate a request for authorization that is sent to the service authorization server, which generates a multi-modal response and transmits the multi-modal response to the user. The service authorization server may also generate a multi-modal request for authorization that is sent to the wireless terminal. |
| US08073915B1 |
Detection of chain-letters in user-generated comments for websites
Chain-letters within user-generated comments on a website are detected based on an inserted watermark. Comments identified as likely chain-letters are rendered for display with the inserted watermark. When a user propagates a chain-letter by copying and pasting a comment already rendered on the website with the inserted watermark, the inserted watermark is recognized, and a spam score associated with the comment is adjusted. Those comments with spam scores above a pre-defined threshold are displayed on the website in an altered format. |
| US08073910B2 |
User interface for email inbox to call attention differently to different classes of email
A user interface for email users which calls attention to one or more categories of emails in different ways. In some species, at least three categories are used: branded senders with Trumarks; white list buddies; and fraudulent emails which are either not from the domain they purport to be from or in which the content was tampered. The preferred embodiment authenticates emails from branded senders and displays them with the sender's Truemark. Branded sender emails have their Truemarks displayed in the sender column of a list view in the preferred embodiment. In a preferred embodiment, white list senders have either an icon or other graphic or photo they choose displayed to the left or right of the sender column with their name in the sender column. In a preferred embodiment, fraudulent emails have a fraud icon displayed to the left or right of the sender column with a warning in the sender column. Antiphishing processing is also disclosed. |
| US08073909B2 |
Hybrid platform for video games
Techniques for providing a hybrid platform for video games are disclosed. To enjoy the video and audio quality a TV could provide, all game actions with a video game are provided via a TV. However, the video game itself is running on a generic personal computer (PC). In one embodiment, a game hub is provided to receive from a game controller various game actions by a game player with the video game. The game hub provides an (wired or wireless) interface for transferring signals representing the game actions to the PC, in return the PC provides an uncompressed digital stream to the TV for display. |
| US08073908B2 |
Method and apparatus for utility computing in ad-hoc and configured peer-to-peer networks
Executing a program structure by leveraging a peer-to-peer network comprises generating a program structure comprising a plurality of program instructions. A first of a plurality of network peers then executes a portion of the program instructions which initiates the execution of code hosted by said first network peer, where said portion comprising fewer than all program instructions. The first network peer then migrates one or more of the program instructions, together with any requisite data, to at least one other of the plurality of network peer. The at least one other network peer then continues execution of the program structure until one or more of the objections of the program structure are achieved. |
| US08073906B2 |
Inviting a conferencing unaware endpoint to a conference
Systems and methods that enable conference unaware clients to participate in the conference. A conferencing component is aware of what protocol to employ, and enables devices and/or end points that employ disparate or heterogeneous protocols to participate in the same conference initiated therebetween. A call flow (e.g., in form of a dial out) can be initiated, wherein the conferencing component invites conference unaware devices to participate in the conference. |
| US08073901B2 |
Information update method and information update system
Information update technique where information held by every apparatus does not need to be updated at the same time.A first server is connected with a second server. The first server judges whether it is possible to access the second server. When a result of the judgment shows that the second server may be accessed, then the first server sends an information update request including information to the second server. On the other hand, when the result of the judgment shows that it is impossible to access the second server, the first server repeats the judgment until it becomes possible to access the second server. When it becomes possible to access the second server, the first server sends an information update request including the information to the second server. Receiving the information update request, the second server updates its information by replacing the information with new information, i.e. the information included in the information update request. |
| US08073899B2 |
System and method for proxying data access commands in a storage system cluster
A system and method proxies data access commands acrossed a cluster interconnect between storage appliances and a cluster using a file-level protocol. Each storage appliance activates two ports per data access, a local port for data access requests directed to clients of the storage appliance and a proxy port for data access requests directed to the partner storage appliance. Clients utilizing multi-pathing software may send data access requests to either the local port of the storage appliance or the proxy port of the storage appliance. The system and method improves high availability, especially during a loss of connectivity due to non-storage appliance hardware failure. |
| US08073898B2 |
Display device, display method, and display control program
The present invention provides a display device for retrieving and displaying the list information regarding the broadcast contents in which the list information corresponding to the program broadcast before or after can be displayed without making the complicate key operations. An information server 2 transmits a list of musical compositions broadcast in a designated time zone to a terminal unit 1, based on a retrieval key such as date and time zone from the terminal unit 1. The terminal unit 1 displays the received list of musical compositions on a display part 1a. At this time, the directive items for displaying the list of musical compositions broadcast before and after are displayed, together with the received list of musical compositions. The user is allowed to display the list of musical compositions broadcast in a preceding or succeeding time zone only by selecting a directive item by performing an operation in series with a selection operation for a musical composition within the list of musical compositions, without returning to other screen, or re-specifying the retrieval conditions. |
| US08073897B2 |
Selecting values in a distributed computing system
A distributed computing system can operate in the face of malicious failures on the part of some of its constituent devices, and provide a minimum of message delays between receiving a client request and providing a response, when each device within the system verifies the sender of any message it receives, and the propriety of the message. |
| US08073889B2 |
Seed generating circuit, random number generating circuit, semiconductor integrated circuit, IC card, and information terminal equipment
A random number generating circuit comprises: the seed generating circuit which generates a seed; and a pseudo random number circuit which generates pseudo random numbers based on the seed generated by the seed generating circuit. The seed generating circuit has: an oscillating circuit which oscillates continuously or intermittently, and which outputs a digital data sequence; a smoothing circuit which outputs time series data by controlling appearance frequencies of “0” and “1” in the digital data sequence outputted from the oscillating circuit; and a postprocessing circuit which generates one-bit seed by a computation using a plurality of bits included in the time series data. |
| US08073882B2 |
Method, system and computer-readable media for managing software object handles in a dual threaded environment
A method and computer-readable media for managing software object handles in a dual threaded or multi-threaded environment are provided. In a first version a software driven computational process drives a first thread, while a garbage collector process drives a second active computational thread within a host computer. The software driven computational process generates persistent software objects that are temporarily stored in a memory of the host. Each handle may include an object identifier of the handle itself, an open/closed flag and a pointer to a unique persistent object. The open/closed flag indicates whether the persistent object associated with a handle shall remain open and accessible for processing or may be selected for closure by the garbage collector process. A plurality of handle wrappers are each associated in a one-to-one correspondence with a unique handle. Each handle wrapper is a software data structure that may include a in-use/not in-use flag and a specific handle or a pointer to a handle. |
| US08073881B1 |
Methods and apparatus facilitating access to storage among multiple computers
Multiple computers in a cluster maintain respective sets of identifiers of neighbor computers in the cluster for each of multiple named resource. A combination of the respective sets of identifiers define a respective tree formed by the respective sets of identifiers for a respective named resource in the set of named resources. Upon origination and detection of a request at a given computer in the cluster, a given computer forwards the request from the given computer over a network to successive computers in the hierarchical tree leading to the computers relevant in handling the request based on use of identifiers of neighbor computers. Thus, a combination of identifiers of neighbor computers identify potential paths to related computers in the tree. |
| US08073877B2 |
Scalable semi-structured named entity detection
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for performing named entity recognition. A set of candidates and corresponding contexts are obtained, each of the set of candidates being a potential seed example of an entity. The contexts of at least a portion of the set of candidates are compared with contexts of a set of seed examples of the entity such that a subset of the set of candidates are added to the set of the seed examples. A set of rules are created from the set of seed examples obtained in the comparing step. A final set of seed examples of the entity is generated by executing the set of rules against the set of candidates. |
| US08073876B2 |
Computer product having distribution map data, distribution map data generating method, distrubution map data generating apparatus and terminal device
Distribution map data for distributing a map by communication includes road data representing position information on the roads contained in a plurality of compartments and integrating name data for integrating name information for the same roads contained in the plurality of compartments without duplicating them. |
| US08073870B2 |
Methods for storing data
A method for storing data includes the steps of receiving a metadata parameter from a first user, the parameter being associated with a property in a database containing a plurality of data records, and storing the parameter. The method also includes the step of providing a second user with access to the stored parameter, the second user having an access level to the database which is different from that of the first user. |
| US08073868B2 |
System for facilitating search over a network
This invention provides the data network user with an interactive search engine environment that helps him focus on the object of his search. Through a powerful graphical user interface (GUI), the user is provided with terms closely related to what he is looking for, even when he has no prior knowledge of the subject or its terminology. The user is also provided with suggested terms that should be excluded from the search because of the high probability of interfering with the search. The contribution of each term to the search progress is explained to the user. The invention then enables the user to build complex queries combining the related terms in a visual and simple way that facilitates the search process and saves time. This invention allows the user to create a detailed, precise, and longer search query then is customarily executed today. |
| US08073867B2 |
Analyzing a query log for use in managing category-specific electronic content
Providing category-specific electronic content includes receiving a request for electronic content. The request has an attribute. The attribute of the received request is compared to an attribute related to a query included in a log of search queries. An indication of a category that represents a search query from a log of search queries that is related to an attribute that matches the attribute of the received request is accessed, and electronic content that is representative of the identified category is accessed and provided. |
| US08073866B2 |
Method for providing content to an internet user based on the user's demonstrated content preferences
A method of providing content from an internet server to an internet user based on the user's internet navigation history. The method begins with the step of installing a profile decoder, including a profile library, on the server. The profile decoder maps server content to content categories contained in the profile library. The server then receives a communication from a user then in internet communication with the server, at least a portion of that communication including an encrypted summary of user navigation history. The server then processes the user communication in the profile decoder to identify user content preferences by matching user content preferences with available server content, employing the profile server. Finally, the server provides content to the user based on the user's identified preferences. |
| US08073865B2 |
System and method for content extraction from unstructured sources
A system and method for extracting content from unstructured sources is disclosed. The method includes analyzing web pages of a website, storing text and image data for each web page of the website, extracting a plurality of entities from the web page data, scoring each entity of the plurality of entities to provide an overall score for each entity, and defining a product based on the plurality of entities and the overall score for each entity. |
| US08073864B2 |
Method and apparatus for human-powered mobile visual search and feedback
A system and a method for receiving live human feedback of an image provided using a mobile device equipped with a camera. The method includes capturing an image with the mobile device equipped with a camera, inputting a text query, where the text query corresponds with the image, transmitting the image and the text query to a server, determining at least one client user to send the image and the text query to, sending the image and the text query from the server to the at least one client user, reviewing the image and the text query, formulating at least one text response relating to the image and the text query, accepting the at least one text response from the at least one client user, and outputting the at least one text response to a user. |
| US08073863B2 |
Batch management of metadata in a business intelligence architecture
A metadata management system is described for a business intelligence architecture having a metadata repository for content that defines a user environment of the business intelligence architecture. The metadata management system includes a user interface generator to display information regarding a plurality of objects in the metadata repository and to facilitate selection of a group of the plurality of objects, a content editor to evaluate the content stored in the metadata repository for each object of the selected group and to modify in a batch job the content for each object of the selected group for storage of the modified content in the metadata repository, and a communication manager to issue instructions for the storage of the modified content in the metadata repository, the instructions being configured in accordance with a communication protocol of the business intelligence architecture utilized to control the metadata repository. |
| US08073862B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for video on demand (VOD) metadata organization
A method and system for optimizing the transmission of VOD metadata is disclosed. VOD metadata can be filtered, processed and/or organized prior to being packetized for transmission to client devices. The filtering, processing and/or organization can, for example, be based on a time duration associated with VOD media items and/or by groups of information elements available within the sets of metadata. |
| US08073860B2 |
Method and system for incrementally selecting and providing relevant search engines in response to a user query
Methods and systems for incrementally selecting and providing relevant search engines in response to a user query. A method of incrementally selecting and providing relevant search engines is based in part on identifying a set of search engines associated with corresponding metadata, receiving a partial search query entered by the user of a device, inferring after each user keypress a set of potential full queries intended by the user, using the potential full queries and the search engine metadata to identify a set of relevant search engines, and for each of these search engines, providing a direct link to launch a relevant query in the search engine. The user input may be either ambiguous, or erroneous, and may be entered using an input-constrained device. |
| US08073856B2 |
System and method for efficiently searching a forwarding database that is split into a bounded number of sub-databases having a bounded size
A method, apparatus, and storage medium product are provided for forming a forwarding database, and for using the formed database to more efficiently and quickly route packets of data across a computer network. The forwarding database is arranged into multiple sub-databases. Each sub-database is pointed to by a pointer within a pointer table. When performing a longest-match search of incoming addresses, a longest prefix matching algorithm can be used to find the longest match among specialized “spear prefixes” stored in the pointer table. After the longest spear prefixes are found, the pointer table will direct the next search within a sub-database pointed to by that spear prefix. Another longest-match search can be performed for database prefixes (or simply “prefixes”) within the sub-database selected by the pointer. Only the sub-database of interest will, therefore, be searched and all other sub-databases are not accessed. Using a precursor pointer and a sub-database of optimally bounded size and number ensures power consumption be confined only to the sub-database being accessed, and that higher speed lookup operations can be achieved since only the sub-database of interest is being searched. |
| US08073855B2 |
Communication control device and communication control system
The present invention provides a technique for enabling a high-speed communication control apparatus.A packet processing circuit of a communication control apparatus includes a user database, a virus list, a whitelist, a blacklist and a common category list. Upon acquisition of a request for access to a content, matching between information on a user who has sent the access request and the user database is performed by a search circuit, so as to authenticate the user. When the user is authenticated, the search circuit performs matching between the URL of the content to be accessed and the virus list, whitelist, blacklist and common category list. A process execution circuit controls the permission for the access based on the search result of the search circuit and determination conditions stored in a second database. The packet processing circuit is configured with a wired logic circuit. |
| US08073854B2 |
Determining the similarity of music using cultural and acoustic information
There is disclosed a method and storage media for determining the similarity between a first music collection and a second music collection. The similarity may be determined by comparing metadata associated with the first music collection and metadata associated with the second music collection. A plurality of comparison algorithms may be used including at least one of a comparison algorithm based on acoustic metadata and a comparison algorithm based on cultural metadata. The result of the plurality of comparison algorithms may be combined. |
| US08073849B2 |
Method and system for constructing data tag based on a concept relation network
A system for constructing data tag based on a concept relation network is disclosed. A tagging module collects input tags from users to create a tag table accordingly. A count of each tag used is calculated and compared with a predefined threshold value to generate two tag count tables. Relations between each tag and others are calculated. Additionally, an incremental concept is applied to maintain tags in the concept relation network. |
| US08073842B2 |
Deriving cross-organizational relationships from LDAP source data
Alternative views for a selected distinguished name entry in current view are identified through subviews. Each subview corresponds to an attribute defined by a dynamic view object in a schema for a lightweight directory access protocol directory. The subviews are searched to find those that have entries that match the value of the selected distinguished name entry. In one aspect, the attribute is a virtual attribute. |
| US08073840B2 |
Querying joined data within a search engine index
Techniques and systems for indexing and retrieving data and documents stored in a record-based database management system (RDBMS) utilize a search engine interface. Search-engine indices are created from tables in the RDBMS and data from the tables is used to create “documents” for each record. Queries that require data from multiple tables may be parsed into a primary query and a set of one or more secondary queries. Join mappings and documents are created for the necessary tables. Documents matching the query string are retrieved using the search-engine indices and join mappings. |
| US08073827B2 |
Processing device and processing method
A processing device inputs a first processing-descriptive document and generates a second processing-descriptive document by deleting at least one description part illustrating processing performed, so as to call the next processing device, from the first processing-descriptive document. Further, the processing device calls the next processing device by using the second processing-descriptive document. |
| US08073824B2 |
Data indexing and compression
A method of indexing multidimensional data obtains (302) a data set (210) describing features defined over at least one dimension other than time. Index data (212) comprising at least one value corresponding to the at least one non-time dimension is also obtained. The data set is compressed (306) and the index data is associated (308) with the compressed data set such that the compressed data set is identifiable by the index data. |
| US08073822B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing electronic messages
A method is provided for the storage-efficient management of electronic messages, wherein a message that is to be managed is first received, the message is decomposed into a basic structure and file attachments contained in the message, a unique identification value is calculated for each file attachment, the file attachment is stored as a file with a respective identification value for which no file exists in the storage, or a reference counter of the file attachment for whose identification value a file already exists in the storage, is incremented, and the basic structure with references to the files in the storage, which references correspond to the file attachments originally contained in the message, is stored. |
| US08073819B2 |
System and method for storing element information
A system and method are disclosed for storing element information. A method incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, creating a structured text object that includes information representing a collection of metrics for a tracked network node. The network node may be, for example, a computing device, a communication link, and/or an interface mechanism. In practice, the text object may be compressed into a binary element, and the binary element may be stored in a data store. |
| US08073818B2 |
Co-location visual pattern mining for near-duplicate image retrieval
Described is a technology in which image near-duplicate retrieval is performed using similarities between patterns of query image words and patterns of database image words. In general, the image retrieval problems resulting from visual polysemy are reduced by using such visual patterns. Visual word vectors and visual pattern vectors are determined for the query image and a database image. These four vectors are used to determine similarity between the database image and the query image. The similarity scores may be used for ranking and/or re-ranking the database image similarity to the query image relative to other database images' similarity scores. Also described is expanding a query visual word of the query image to a set of visual words that are visual synonyms with the query visual word, to help reduce image retrieval problems resulting from visual synonymy. |
| US08073815B1 |
Backup server architecture
A method for managing archived data includes creating a plurality of images of storage devices of computing systems and for, different users, each image being associated with a restore point of a particular storage device; storing the images for the different users in different storage locations, the storage locations being controlled by a single backup server and belonging to storage pools. Multiple locations of one user are stored in different pools on different storage devices. The method also involves moving contents of locations of one user from one pool to another in predefined direction, simultaneously with reorganizing images within the locations. Each image is a backup of one user's data. At least some of one location's content is frozen so that it is never moved from one pool to another. The storage devices of locations of different pools differ from each other by type, such that storage devices in a first pool are hard disk drives, storage devices in the next pool are SAN, or an NAS, and a storage device in the next pool is a network disk drive accessible through a network and a storage device in the next pool is a magnetic tape drive. |
| US08073813B2 |
Refresh and filter anchors
Structured data on a device is synchronized with structured data on a host if the device and the host have a matching refresh anchor. Structured data on the device is additively synchronized with structured data on the host if the device and the host have different refresh anchors. Additive synchronization combines structured data from the device with structured data on the host without deleting structured data from the device or the host. |
| US08073810B2 |
Shared view of customers across business support systems (BSS) and a service delivery platform (SDP)
An identity management tool provides identity management across multiple domains, providing a single access point not only for information for runtime, network, and service layer information, but also for systems such as business support systems (BSS), operational support systems (OSS), and third party systems. The identity management tool creates a unified user profile that maps customer identities across the various domains, and presents the information in a virtual directory wherein the information appears to come from a single source, creating a central data hub for the various systems. This aggregation provides for the same experience and service across various access networks and using various channels. Such an architecture allows billing and service information to be shared with subscription and customer information, even though the data is substantially unrelated data from disparate data sources, without the need to combine schemas or aggregate the data into a single data store. |
| US08073800B2 |
Valuing future information under uncertainty
The invention relates to a method of performing an oilfield operation of an oilfield having at least one well having a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation for extracting fluid from an underground reservoir therein. The method steps include analyzing the oilfield operation to generate a decision tree comprising a first decision and a second decision, wherein a first outcome of the first decision dictates acquiring information relevant to the second decision, formulating a figure of merit of the oilfield operation according to the decision tree based on the information and uncertainties associated with the oilfield, determining a value of the figure of merit by modeling the oilfield operation using statistical sampling, and performing the oilfield operation upon making the first decision based on the value of the figure of merit. |
| US08073798B2 |
Dynamic domain abstraction through meta-analysis
A modeled-based reasoning system and method including dynamic domain abstraction, includes the use of an abstraction determining module configured to identify an appropriate abstraction level for a system model of a real-world system to be analyzed, from a plurality of potential abstraction levels. A system reasoning module is configured to perform analysis on the system model of the real-world system at the abstraction level determined to be appropriate by the abstraction determining module. |
| US08073794B2 |
Social behavior analysis and inferring social networks for a recommendation system
Systems and methods are provided for determining items or people of potential interest to recommend to users in a computer-based network. Implied social networks may be determined based at least in part on obtained social behavior information. Items or people of potential interest to users may be determined based at least in part on implied social network information. Vocabulary taxonomies may be associated with, or used in determining, implied social networks. |
| US08073786B2 |
Calculating relationship strengths between users of a computerized network
A set of values is first determined. Such values include: a relative total value with respect to other users that is based on a total quantity of electronic interactions between a first user and a second user of the computerized network; a relative exclusive value with respect to other users that is based on a total quantity of electronic interactions exclusively between the first user and the second user; a relative longevity value with respect to the other users that is based on a length of time the first user and the second user have been electronically interacting; and a relative recency value with respect to the other users that is based on a recency of electronic interactions between the first user and the second user. Once determined, the values are weighted to yield normalized values. To calculate the relationship strength that includes a value indicating how strong a relationship between the first user and the second user is with respect to a relationship between the first user and other users, the normalized values are summed and compared to a predetermined standard. |
| US08073784B2 |
Multi-function code activated product and service delivery
A system for providing a wide range of telecommunications initiated data fulfillment services in which a multi-function code, such as “*#” (star, pound), input into an originating telecommunications device, such as a conventional land-line or wireless telephone, triggers the treatment of the input sequence as a multi-function code service request rather than a dialed directory number. The multi-function code is followed by an input data string to complete the multi-function code service request, which the user typically enters into the telecommunications device just like a conventional telephone call, except that the input string begins with the multi-function code. The telecommunications system recognizes the multi-function code as a trigger, and in response takes one or more actions, such as automatically terminating the call to an announcement and routing a data message to a data fulfillment center, which responds to the message by implementing a response action indicated by the multi-function code service request. For example, the data fulfillment center may respond by transmitting a message over a wireless data network or the Internet to implement a service, such as activation of a vending machine, remote control of device, delivery of a message over the Internet or wireless data network, initiation of an interactive Internet session with the originating device, or a wide range of other services. In addition, a charge for this service may be automatically charged to an account associated with the originating telecommunications device, which may be billed separately or incorporated on the user's conventional monthly telecommunications invoice. |
| US08073782B2 |
Advanced crypto round dater
There is provided a cryptographic round dater and its method of use. By capturing customer profile information and encoding the information on a label affixed to the customer's submitted mailpiece, fraudulent or criminal use of the mail may be deterred by providing traceability to the source of the mail piece. The information attached to the mailpiece may be both human readable and machine readable, said machine readable portion being optionally encrypted to protect the privacy and security of the encoded information. Further benefit is provided by allowing the handling of a mailpiece to be traced, allowing for effective remediation or investigation in the event of an unauthorized use of mail. |
| US08073773B2 |
Technique for identifying probable billers of a consumer
A technique for identifying a candidate electronic biller having bills available for electronic presentment to a consumer is provided. An electronic commerce service provider receives location information of a first consumer. The service provider accesses information associated with providing a payment service to a second consumer located near the first consumer. This accessing is based on the received location information. At least one potential biller of the first consumer is identified in the accessed information. |
| US08073772B2 |
Systems and methods for processing transactions using multiple budgets
Facilitating commercial transactions using a payment system directory are disclosed. A payment directory and/or wireless point of sale (POS) device may be configured to use predetermined rules, a multitude of data items and/or conditions to locate a payment system, and transmit a payment authorization request from a remote location to at least one payment system, either directly, or via a payment system directory and/or a SSL Gateway. |
| US08073771B2 |
Method and system for payer-centric payment using mobile terminal
Provided are a method and system for payer-centric payment using a mobile terminal through which payment is made while information about a payer is not released to a participating store. Specifically, a terminal of the participating store transmits payment information including a payment amount and participating store identification information to an auxiliary terminal, the auxiliary terminal transmits the payment information to the mobile terminal of the payer, the mobile terminal of the payer transmits the payment information and information about a payment means to pay the payment amount to a payment processing system, and finally, the payment processing system pays the payment amount by using the payment means and then transmits information about a result of payment processing to the mobile terminal of the payer and the terminal of the participating store. |
| US08073766B2 |
Truth revealing market equilibrium
To use market clearing methods to determine market equilibrium, a market clearing situation is established by determining a number of items to be sold at the market price and allotting a number of pseudo items assignable to bids below the market price. Once bids are received for the items, using the number of pseudo items and the actual items as the supply side, and the total funds bid as the demand side, a market clearing price is determinable using a market clearing equilibrium model. Funds assigned to pseudo items are returned or not charged. Further, by selling items only to bids exceeding the market clearing price, such as by setting the market price incrementally above the market clearing price, bidders are encouraged to submit bid prices bid reflecting what the items are worth to them instead of attempting to bid strategically to guess or set the market price. |
| US08073764B2 |
System and method for hybrid spreading for risk management
A risk management system and method is disclosed which utilizes a flexible and configurable set of spreading techniques which may be incorporated into existing risk management software to enhance functionality, flexibility and accuracy. In the disclosed embodiments, multiple different types of spreading are combined to allow for a more accurate assessment of risk. In one exemplary embodiment, a subset of the derivative products held by a futures trader are first analyzed by the scanning based spreading methodology. Typically, futures products in the same class of products (e.g. equity futures or agricultural futures) would be analyzed together by the scanning based spreading methodology. Then an average delta would be calculated for that subset. Using that delta, that subset would then be analyzed in relation to the remaining derivative products (not in the subset) using a delta based spreading methodology. The delta for the subset could be computed in a variety of ways including scaling the deltas for each product, tying the delta to a fixed time period or other methods. |
| US08073763B1 |
Trade execution methods and systems
The present invention is directed to the field of securities trading. One embodiment of the present invention relates to securities trading using electronic systems. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a computer implemented trade execution method, comprising: sending from an execution venue to each of a plurality of smart order routers a notification message; receiving at each of the smart order routers the notification message sent thereto, wherein the notification message notifies each of the smart order routers about the presence of a non-displayed priced order at the execution venue; sending from at least one of the smart order routers to the execution venue at least one order to execute against the non-displayed priced order; receiving at the execution venue each order sent from each of the smart order routers; and executing at least one order received from at least one of the smart order routers against the non-displayed priced order. |
| US08073758B2 |
Risk management system
The present invention provides a method and system for re-allocating financial risks. The system includes computer modules for assessing the behavior of a financial product by a financial institution, modeling the risks associated with providing the financial product by the financial institution, assessing the market risks associated with providing the financial product by a derivative counterparty and assuming, by the derivative counterparty, market risks associated with providing the financial product. |
| US08073749B2 |
Digital content billing via multiple channels
Embodiments related to billing for digital content via multiple billing channels with different permissible prices are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment comprises a digital content server configured to receive from a content provider an input of a digital content item, send to the content provider a list of suggested prices that are permissible in each billing channel, and then receive an input of a selected price for the content item. If the selected price is from the list of suggested prices, then billing is enabled via each of the billing. On the other hand, if the selected price for the digital content item is not from the list of suggested prices, then billing is enabled via a first subset of billing channels for which the selected price is permissible, and not enabled via a second subset of billing channels for which the selected price is not permissible. |
| US08073743B2 |
Self-distribution methods, coded self-distribution methods, and systems for distributing information
A self-distribution method for distributing information content among network connected devices of a communications network includes receiving a query having a code against a database from a wireless communications device, the code uniquely representing one of an advertising campaign, a product, or a service. The method also includes generating a result set by querying the database with the code, forwarding a link associated with the result set to a user-preferred remote location, the link being sent in an electronic message, wherein activation of the link directs a user to a first version of information content of the result set. A plurality of options to purchase user-preferred items from the first version of information content, the options including at least “purchase now” and “purchase later” features. A reminder message is forwarded to the wireless communications device if a user at the remote location selects the “purchase later” feature. The user is enabled to conduct a purchase transaction from at least the remote location or the wireless communications device. Systems for self-distributing information are also provided. |
| US08073741B2 |
Method, device, and system for analyzing and ranking web-accessible data targets
A method, system, and computer program product for locating a relevant product via a computer network includes receiving, at a client terminal, a search topic from a user and one or more attributes associated with the topic and assigning a rating to at least one of the attributes. A server is used to locate, at one or more information locations, at least two separate instances of the topic and at least two information fields, each field related to one of the instances the topic. Content in each of at least two of the information fields is associated with at least one of the attributes and the content in each of the at least two information fields associated with an attribute is compared against each other. A score to the content of each compared instance of content is assigned based on the comparing. The attributes are prioritized and the located instances of the topic are ranked based on the prioritizing and the score of content associated with the topic. |
| US08073728B2 |
Multi-color billing process
Embodiments herein include a method that begins by receiving a print job for a customer from an intermediary program such as a print driver. The print job comprises instructions to print a document for the customer and includes, for example, data and print characteristics. The method then evaluates the colorspace of each page of the print job to determine whether any multi-color items are included within the print job. The method ignores classifications of the print job as either a multi-color print job (e.g., color print job) or a single color print job (e.g., black and white) from the print driver and, instead, classifies the print job as either a multi-color print job or a single color print job based only on whether the multi-color items are included within the print job. Then, the method provides the billing information for the customer to an appropriate entity that bills the customer. |
| US08073727B2 |
System and method for hierarchical weighting of model parameters
A computer-implemented method estimates model parameters for a product. The method includes storing transaction data from customer sales in a database. The transaction data includes a product and a store. The database includes a hierarchical categorization of the products or the stores. The method includes generating a model for each product at each store in the database. The models include model parameters. The method includes aggregating first and second sets of model parameters from a first set of products occupying a first node of the hierarchical categorization and a second set of products occupying a second node of the hierarchical categorization, weighting the first and second sets of model parameters, and storing the average of the weighted first and second sets of model parameters in the database as the model parameters for a model of a product. |
| US08073726B1 |
System and method for generating solutions based on associated operational penalties for allocating crew members
A system and method for allocating crew is disclosed. A plurality of legs are identified, wherein at least two legs of the plurality of legs are broken. A first crew and a first sequence associated with the first leg of the at least two broken legs are identified. A second crew and a second sequence associated with the second leg of the at least two broken legs is identified. A plurality of new sequences for the first crew and the second crew using deadheads is generated. A solution for each crew is generated using a mixed integer program. |
| US08073725B2 |
Appointment scheduling system
The instant invention relates to an appointment scheduling system that allows inviters to define various activities for appointments and to invite invitees to select said appointments. The system utilizes multiple visual user interfaces to allow inviters, invitees and other users to interact with the appointment scheduling system. The system allows for inviter selection of time windows in which appointments may be allowed as well as for the customization of these properties in terms of how often and until when these defined time windows will recur. The system also utilizes various techniques to associate invitees with particular appointment activities received by the invitee through email and/or other correspondence means. |
| US08073723B1 |
System and method for determining delivery time schedules for each of multiple carriers
The present invention provides apparatus, systems and methods for determining from a set of delivery times for each of a plurality of services for each of a plurality of carriers a potential delivery schedule for each of the plurality of services for each of the plurality of carriers in response to a request by each of a plurality of users, according to an input by each particular user of a shipping date, a set of parcel specifications for shipping a particular parcel, a set of shipping requirements for shipping the particular parcel, a particular origin postal code and a particular destination postal code. Each user accesses the present invention over a global communications network using a client computer device, and each user client computer device has an individual electronic connection to the global communications network. |
| US08073722B2 |
Methods and systems for a multi-level scheduling framework
A method for providing a planning framework for use in managing a project to be planned in a supply chain, comprising providing a first software layer for storing and manipulating planning data relative to the planning project; providing a second software layer for communicating with the first software layer, the second layer arranged for pre processing, preparing and post processing a predetermined planning method. By such a multilayered framework, the invention is able to execute a planning algorithms to solve multi-level planning problems, wherein generic modules can be executed as fast modules in an environment that is highly optimized in terms of load on time and system resources and specifically adapted modules are embodying a particular planning strategy that can operate on a different level that is highly flexible. |
| US08073720B2 |
System and method for reduction of cost of ownership for wireless communication networks
Systems and methods to assist wireless telecom service providers to determine the optimal core network evolution plan in a network planning time period. Total cost of ownership of wireless core networks is generally modeled to include capital expenditure, customer acquisition and retention cost, network operational cost and staffing and engineering cost. The total cost of ownership model is used to determine the optimal core network evolution plan at different layers of the core networks, which are modeled as a number of abstract networks in mathematical terms. A core network evolution optimization algorithm determines the optimal number of core network configurations and when to deploy the configurations in the planning period in order to minimize the total cost of ownership. A multi-level serving area optimization algorithm determines an optimal core network configuration at a given point of time. |
| US08073718B2 |
Automation of auditing claims
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for automation of auditing claims. Data indicative of a vehicle make and model is received, the data comprising one or more make fields and one or more model fields. The one or more model fields are prepared for translation. The one or more make fields are prepared for translation by applying one or more rules from the plurality of rules. Each field of the one or more make fields is associated with one or more make model entries from a plurality of predetermined make model entries. Each field of the one or more model fields is associated with one or more make model entries from the plurality of predetermined make model entries. The data is automatically translated into one or more vehicle identifiers based on the associated make model entries. |
| US08073712B2 |
Method for consolidating medical records through the world wide web
Medical records, clinical observations, and medical imagery are organized and aggregated into a common database, enabling the data to be viewed and/or updated by medical practitioners world-wide. The information may also be viewed and monitored by patients or their relatives for accuracy, also regardless of their location. The invention further allows the records to be updated by manually controlled or automated instrumentation which measures medical parameters whether located in a doctors office, in a hospital setting, in the patient's home, or worn by the patient. Common access and point-to-point data transmission is via the global grid, or over public access common data networks supporting TCP/IP, most often referred to as the Internet. The same approach can be using insider an organization over an internal network or Intranet. |
| US08073708B1 |
Aggregating personal healthcare informatoin
A method of aggregating an individual's healthcare information under the individual's control in a personal information aggregator includes receiving a request from a healthcare-related entity to provide the individual's healthcare information. Authorization is received from the individual to receive and store the healthcare information. One or more data feeds containing the individual's healthcare information are received from the healthcare-related entity. At least a portion of the healthcare information contained in the data feeds is stored under the control of the individual. |
| US08073706B2 |
Examination reserve system, maintenance service system, medical imaging apparatus, examination reserve method, and maintenance service method
An examination reserve system receipts a reserve request for an examination using a medical imaging apparatus. The examination reserve system receives information concerning a failure from the medical imaging apparatus. When a failure occurs in the medical imaging apparatus, the system lists receipted examination reserve requests. |
| US08073704B2 |
Conversion device
A plurality of pairs of segments to be weighted/added are selected non-linearly with respect to a time axis of audio data. A speed conversion is achieved by performing the weighting/addition on the selected pairs of segments. The non-linear selection is performed by (a) obtaining all possible pairs of segments constituting the audio data, (b) calculating a degree of similarity pertaining to each possible pair, (c) ranking the all possible pairs of segments according to the degrees of similarity, and (d) overlapping at least one of the all possible pairs of segments that holds the highest degree of similarity. |
| US08073703B2 |
Acoustic signal processing apparatus and acoustic signal processing method
To provide an acoustic signal processing apparatus which can reduce the amount of calculation in matrix arithmetic. An acoustic signal processing apparatus converts down-mixed acoustic signals of NI channels to acoustic signals of NO channels, where NO>NI. The acoustic signal processing apparatus includes: a first matrix arithmetic unit for performing arithmetic on a matrix with K rows and NI columns, where NO>K≧NI, for the down-mixed acoustic signals of the NI channels, and outputting K signals obtained after the matrix arithmetic; K decorrelation units for generating signals incoherent, in terms of time characteristics, with the signals obtained after the matrix arithmetic, while maintaining frequency characteristics of the signals obtained after the matrix arithmetic; and a second matrix arithmetic unit for performing arithmetic on a matrix with NO rows and (NI+K) columns for the down-mixed acoustic signals of the NI channels and for the K incoherent signals, and outputting the acoustic signals of the NO channels. |
| US08073700B2 |
Retrieval and presentation of network service results for mobile device using a multimodal browser
A method of obtaining information using a mobile device can include receiving a request including speech data from the mobile device, and querying a network service using query information extracted from the speech data, whereby search results are received from the network service. The search results can be formatted for presentation on a display of the mobile device. The search results further can be sent, along with a voice grammar generated from the search results, to the mobile device. The mobile device then can render the search results. |
| US08073697B2 |
Establishing a multimodal personality for a multimodal application
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products are described for establishing a multimodal personality for a multimodal application that include selecting, by the multimodal application, matching vocal and visual demeanors and incorporating, by the multimodal application, the matching vocal and visual demeanors as a multimodal personality into the multimodal application. |
| US08073693B2 |
System and method for pronunciation modeling
Systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable media for generating a pronunciation model. The method includes identifying a generic model of speech composed of phonemes, identifying a family of interchangeable phonemic alternatives for a phoneme in the generic model of speech, labeling the family of interchangeable phonemic alternatives as referring to the same phoneme, and generating a pronunciation model which substitutes each family for each respective phoneme. In one aspect, the generic model of speech is a vocal tract length normalized acoustic model. Interchangeable phonemic alternatives can represent a same phoneme for different dialectal classes. An interchangeable phonemic alternative can include a string of phonemes. |
| US08073690B2 |
Speech recognition apparatus and method recognizing a speech from sound signals collected from outside
A voice recognition system (10) for improving the toughness of voice recognition for a voice input for which a deteriorated feature amount cannot be completely identified. The system comprises at least two sound detecting means (16a, 16b) for detecting a sound signal, a sound source localizing unit (21) for determining the direction of a sound source based on the sound signal, a sound source separating unit (23) for separating a sound by the sound source from the sound signal based on the sound source direction, a mask producing unit (25) for producing a mask value according to the reliability of the separation results, a feature extracting unit (27) for extracting the feature amount of the sound signal, and a voice recognizing unit (29) for applying the mask to the feature amount to recognize a voice from the sound signal. |
| US08073686B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer program product for feature extraction
A feature extraction apparatus includes a spectrum calculating unit that calculates, based on an input speech signal, a frequency spectrum having frequency components obtained at regular intervals on a logarithmic frequency scale for each of frames that are defined by regular time intervals, and thereby generates a time series of the frequency spectrum; a cross-correlation coefficients calculating unit that calculates, for each target frame of the frames, a cross-correlation coefficients between frequency spectra calculated for two different frames that are in vicinity of the target frame and a predetermined frame width apart from each other; and a shift amount predicting unit that predicts a shift amount of the frequency spectra on the logarithmic frequency scale with respect to the predetermined frame width by use of the cross-correlation coefficients. |
| US08073680B2 |
Language detection service
Language detection techniques are described. In implementation, a method comprises determining which human writing system is associated with text characters in a string based on values representing the text characters. When the values are associated with more than one human language, the string is compared with a targeted dictionary to identify a corresponding human language associated with the string. |
| US08073678B2 |
Translation device, translation method, and storage medium
A translation device has a dictionary that stores a set of words and their corresponding meanings in plural languages; an input unit that inputs a document; a recognizing unit that recognizes text in the inputted document; an analyzing unit that devides the text recognized by the recognizing unit into words; a translating unit that translates each of the words obtained by the analyzing unit into a translated term by using the dictionary; and an output unit that outputs an output image containing the translated term for a key word. |
| US08073674B2 |
SCSI device emulation in user space facilitating storage virtualization
A method for storage virtualization in user space. The method includes providing a first emulation module running in the OS kernel and providing a second emulation module in the user space of the computer, which may emulate a media changer or other SCSI or other storage device. The method continues with a kernel-resident driver receiving a packet of data at a port of the computer that is linked to a data communications network (such as a SAN). The packet of data may include command data for a particular data storage device (e.g., a SCSI command for a SCSI device). The method includes operating the first emulation module to communicate with the driver and to then pass through the packet of data to the second emulation module, allowing the second emulation module to run in user space but efficiently receive data from the kernel-resident driver via the first emulation module. |
| US08073672B2 |
Managing communication bandwidth in co-verification of circuit designs
Related communication signals between a simulator and an emulator are organized into logical channels. The signals in each channel are then be transmitted only as needed, reducing the use of the communication pathways between the simulator and the emulator. Further, the circuit components that will receive the communication signals to be shared on a channel are be physically located close together within the emulator, thereby reducing the time required to select and enable components of the emulator to receive the signals sent by the simulator. Similarly, emulator components that send communication signals to be shared on a channel are physically located close together within the emulator, thereby reducing the time required to select and enable components of the emulator to send these signals to the simulator. |
| US08073669B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting clock gating opportunities in a pipelined electronic circuit design
A pipeline electronic circuit and design methodology enables power conservation in the stages of the pipeline via a simulation that identifies clock-gating opportunities among the stages of the pipeline. In one embodiment, simulation results assist a designer in the design of the pipeline electronic circuit to achieve power conservation by incorporating clock-gating circuitry among the stages of the pipeline at clock gating opportunity locations that the simulation identifies. |
| US08073667B2 |
System and method for using first-principles simulation to control a semiconductor manufacturing process
A method, system and computer readable medium for controlling a process performed by a semiconductor processing tool includes inputting data relating to a process performed by the semiconductor processing tool, and inputting a first principles physical model relating to the semiconductor processing tool. First principles simulation is then performed using the input data and the physical model to provide a first principles simulation result, and the first principles simulation result is used to control the process performed by the semiconductor processing tool. |
| US08073666B2 |
Systems and methods for ordering oligonucleotides
A system is described for ordering oligonucleotides through a network, such as the Internet. The system provides a mechanism for validating the data provided by a customer, and then displaying graphical images to represent any data that has errors. The system can also pool multiple oligonucleotide samples together by providing graphical images representing oligonucleotide containers, and allowing the customer to select the proper containers to pool. |
| US08073664B2 |
Systems and methods for improved positioning of pads
Systems and methods for the automated positioning of pads and orienting of slot templates for the pads. The systems and methods also include automated adjustment of well path plans from a pad to selected well targets. |
| US08073660B2 |
Analyzing model creating apparatus and method, and computer-readable storage medium to create a model using a minimum part interval between parts
An analyzing model creating apparatus includes an interval acquiring part to acquire intervals of a plurality of parts that are mounted on a PCB for an electronic equipment, from design data of the PCB, a comparing part to compare a minimum part interval between the parts and a first mesh size which is preset, and a computing part to compute a value which is ½ the minimum part interval between the parts as a second mesh size if the minimum part interval between the parts is less than 2 times the first mesh size. A generating part is provided to generate an analyzing model of the printed circuit board based on the second mesh size. |
| US08073659B2 |
Decomposition of nonlinear dynamics using multiple model approach and gap metric analysis
Multiple models for various stages of a non-linear process control are developed by clustering perturbation data obtained from the nonlinear process so as to permit multiple local data regions to be identified as a function of substantial similarity between the data, wherein the data of first data set represent the non-linear process. A discrete model corresponding to each of the local data regions is generated. The number of the discrete models may be reduced as a function of prediction error between actual outputs of the process and predicted outputs of the models and as a function of a gap metric based on closed loop similarity and frequency response similarity between the models. |
| US08073655B2 |
Quantifying the impact of network latency on the end-to-end response time of distributed applications
A method for measuring system response sensitivity, using live traffic and an analysis that converts randomly arriving stimuli and reactions to the stimuli to mean measures over chosen intervals, thereby creating periodically occurring samples that are processed. The system is perturbed in a chosen location of the system in a manner that is periodic with frequency p, and the system's response to arriving stimuli is measured at frequency p. The perturbation, illustratively, is with a square wave pattern. |
| US08073652B2 |
Method and system for pre-processing data using the mahalanobis distance (MD)
A computer-implemented method for pre-processing data. The method may include detecting one or more erroneous vectors in a plurality of vectors, detecting one or more erroneous elements in the one or more erroneous vectors, and deleting the detected one or more erroneous elements. The method may also include detecting one or more missing elements in the plurality of vectors. Further, the method may include populating one or more offending vectors that include one or more missing elements and/or deleted erroneous elements with one or more elements that are based on a distance metric. |
| US08073650B2 |
Dimension measuring apparatus
An exemplar dimension measuring apparatus includes a objective, a stage for fixing a workpiece, a projecting member located between the objective and the stage, a light source under the stage, configured for illuminating the workpiece such that a projection of the workpiece is formed on the projection member, an eyepiece coupled with the objective, and a processing unit. The eyepiece has a reticle, configured for viewing opposite extremities of the projection and facilitating alignment of the reticle with each of the extremities of the projection. The processing unit is configured for storing X-coordinates of the extremities of the projection on a Cartesian coordinate system, and calculating a difference between X-coordinates of the opposite extremities of the projection. |
| US08073649B2 |
Portable electronic apparatus, operation control method, operation control program, signal generation apparatus and signal generation method
A portable electronic apparatus includes an acceleration detection unit, an evaluation-signal generation unit, and a control unit. The acceleration detection unit is configured to detect an acceleration generated in the portable electronic apparatus. The evaluation-signal generation unit is configured to carry out a predetermined process based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit in order to generate an evaluation signal representing the amplitude and positive or negative polarity of the acceleration. The control unit is configured to produce a result of determination as to whether or not the portable electronic apparatus has been driven to make a predetermined movement on the basis of the evaluation signal and carrying out a predetermined operation on the basis of the result of determination. |
| US08073646B2 |
Plasma processing apparatus, radio frequency generator and correction method therefor
A plasma processing apparatus includes a radio frequency generator capable of adjusting a target output power level based on the set power level and the offset level to output radio frequency power; a chamber in which a plasma process is performed; and a power detection unit for measuring radio frequency power level fed to the matching unit. The plasma processing apparatus further includes a generator control unit for controlling the radio frequency power such that the radio frequency power level fed to the matching unit reaches the set power level by calculating the offset level based on the difference between the set power level and the power level measured by the power detection unit and transmitting the set power level and the offset level in digital form to the data input terminal of the radio frequency generator. |
| US08073644B2 |
Automatic voltage-identifying power supply device and method thereof
An automatic voltage-identifying power supply device has a control module, a voltage regulation circuit, a current load measuring circuit electrically connected with an external post-stage power-receiving device, a power supply circuit and a pre-stage power supply device. After the post-stage power-receiving device is electrically connected with the current load measuring circuit, the control module can control the voltage regulation circuit to output a test voltage signal to the post-stage power-receiving device so that the test voltage signal is altered according to a preset sequence (e.g. progressively increasing) and the current load measuring circuit measures a response current signal of the post-stage power-receiving device corresponding to the test voltage signal. When a variation of the response current signal or a power variation is stable, the control module sets up the stable test voltage signal as an input voltage to the post-stage power-receiving device. |
| US08073639B2 |
Method for identifying a convolved peak
A method for identifying a convolved peak is described. A plurality of spectra is obtained. A multivariate analysis technique is used to assign data points from the plurality of spectra to a plurality of groups. A peak is selected from the plurality of spectra. If the peak includes data points assigned to two or more groups of the plurality of groups, the peak is identified as a convolved peak. Principal component analysis is one multivariate analysis technique that is used to assign data points. A number of principal components are selected. A subset principal component space is created. A data point in the subset principal component space is selected. A vector is extended from the origin of the subset principal component space to the data point. One or more data points within a spatial angle around the vector are assigned to a group. |
| US08073638B2 |
Method for determining the ignitability of fuel with an unknown fuel quality
The invention relates to a method for determining the ignitability of fuel, particularly of diesel, biodiesel, gas-to-liquid or biomass-to-liquid fuel, with an unknown fuel quality for an internal combustion engine. Provision is made for the density of the fuel to be ascertained and for the ignitability to be derived from this. |
| US08073637B2 |
Energy flow measurement in gas pipelines
Thermodynamic properties of a natural gas stream can be determined in real time utilizing modeling algorithms in conjunction with one or more sensors for quantifying physical and chemical properties of the natural gas. Related techniques, apparatus, systems, and articles are also described. |
| US08073636B2 |
Method and device for determining the composition of a gas mixture of a fuel tank of a motor vehicle filled with CNG
Systems and methods for determining the gas composition of a gas mixture in a fuel tank of a motor vehicle filled with a compressed natural gas (CNG) mixture are provided. A pressure sensor and a temperature sensor are used to measure a gas pressure and a gas temperature in the fuel tank A processor may execute an algorithm to determine, based at least on the measured gas temperature and the measured gas pressure in the fuel tank, a current vapor pressure of each of at least one component of the CNG mixture in the fuel tank. If the measured gas pressure in the fuel tank falls below a threshold, a corresponding current composition of the CNG mixture in the fuel tank may be determined. |
| US08073631B2 |
Device and method for responding to influences of mind
In the field of direct mind-machine interactions, prior art devices and methods do not provide sufficiently fast and reliable results. Mental influence detectors (100, 140, 400, 430) and corresponding methods provide fast and reliable results useful for detecting an influence of mind and hidden or classically non-inferable information. An anomalous effect detector (100) includes a source (104) of non-deterministic random numbers (110), a converter (114) to convert a property of numbers, a processor to accept converter output (118) and to produce an output signal (124) representative of an influence of mind. The processor output signal (124) contains fewer numbers than the input (110). A quantum computer (400) includes a physical source of entropy (404) to generate output numbers (405); a source (406) of test numbers (407); a measurement processor 410) to accept output numbers (405) and to measure a relationship between process numbers and at least one test number to produce an output (414) representative of an influence of mind. |
| US08073626B2 |
Biopolymer array reading
A method for processing biopolymer arrays and apparatus and computer program products for executing the method. The method may include reading a different array identifier for each biopolymer array from a tag associated with that array. At least some of the biopolymer arrays are read and results from each read array saved in a memory linked with the read identifier for that array. Different communication addresses and a selection of an array identifier for each, are received. For at least some of the arrays, the saved results for each are matched with one of the different communication addresses using the identifier, and the saved results transmitted for those arrays to the matched different communication addresses. A method of processing data from the reading of biopolymer arrays is also provided. |
| US08073623B2 |
System and method for real-time quality control for downhole logging devices
An illustrative embodiment of a method is disclosed for assessing image quality of a down hole formation image, the method comprising collecting acquisition system data from a plurality of sensors down hole; applying a set of rules to the acquisition system data to obtain an acquisition quality indicator; and presenting the acquisition quality indicator at a surface location. A system is disclosed for performing the method. |
| US08073620B2 |
On-vehicle display system and display panel control device
An instrument panel display system includes a liquid crystal panel and a liquid crystal controller arranged to generate display data to be inputted into the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal controller includes a graphic LSI arranged to autonomously create screen data from imaging data read out from a memory and image data inputted in the graphic LSI, and a control LSI arranged to receive vehicle data and create an imaging operation switching command according to the vehicle data. The graphic LSI creates the screen data in response to the imaging operation switching command, and outputs the screen data as the display data. This configuration can reduce the load on a processor connected to the vehicle network. |
| US08073617B2 |
Map information generating systems, methods, and programs
Systems, methods, and programs store map information including a road network. The systems, methods, and programs gather traveling information including a plurality of loci, each locus representing a vehicle traveling along a road that is not included in the stored road network. The systems, methods, and programs separate the loci within the gathered traveling information into groups, each group related to a same road and generate new road information relating to a single new road for each group of loci. |
| US08073612B2 |
Rotational generation type wireless oxygen sensor
An oxygen sensor for a motor vehicle having an electrode within an outer shell measures oxygen in exhaust gas exiting the vehicle and generates a signal based on the oxygen measurement. A communication device, powered by a battery or capacitor, wirelessly transmits the measured amount of oxygen from the electrode to a powertrain control module. The flow of exhaust gas through the exhaust system spins blades to spin a generator in a rotational power generation device to generate electrical current to be stored and used by the battery or capacitor. The rotational power generation device may be located in the exhaust pipe, such as through an exhaust pipe wall, and either be connected to the oxygen sensor shell or separate and connected only with electrical wires between the generator and the battery or capacitor. |
| US08073610B2 |
Method and apparatus to control warm-up of an exhaust aftertreatment system for a hybrid powertrain
An internal combustion engine is controlled to achieve a preferred temperature of the exhaust aftertreatment system and to minimize a total engine energy loss. A transmission is controlled to achieve a torque output based upon the preferred engine operation. |
| US08073603B2 |
Method for controlling an automatic transmission
An automatic transmission control method in which at least one of a starting clutch, a clutch coupling and transmission elements, for selection as well as engagement and disengagement of a gear step, are determined as a function of respectively existing variables representing the driving situation as well as the driver's wishes can be activated by actuators which are controlled by a control and regulation device. The method comprising the steps of collecting and normalizing the input variable into standard input variables; weighting with weighting factors and summarizing; converting the weighted input variables into intermediate variables; selecting a specific range of values which represents a specific shifting sequence; and implementing the shifting operation. |
| US08073598B2 |
Vehicular device control system
An in-vehicle device wirelessly sends a request signal to an assistance-possible area in which a user of a welfare-use seat device can be assisted. When a wireless portable key device, i.e., a remote control is present inside of the assistance-possible area, the portable key device returns a response signal containing an ID code. When receiving the response signal, the in-vehicle device executes a collation relative to the ID code contained in the response signal. When the collation is successfully completed, a short-depression movement mode is designated. When a short-time manipulation or depression is once applied to an operation instruction switch of the wireless portable key device under the short-depression movement mode being designated, the movement of a welfare-use seat device is started toward a movement end position without need further continued manipulation or depression to the operation instruction switch. |
| US08073596B2 |
System and method for deploying a safety system
A system and method are provided for deploying a safety system when a vehicle involved in a front crash may be experiencing rotational velocity. The vehicle may include a number of acceleration and rotational sensors. The vehicle may further include a controller that may be configured to determine if the vehicle is involved in a frontal crash using a combination of the acceleration and rotational sensors. The controller may also be configured to determine if the vehicle experiences rotational energy during the frontal crash using a combination of the acceleration and rotational sensors. The controller may also be configured to deploy vehicle safety systems, including at least one side safety system, if it is determined that the vehicle is involved in a frontal crash and the vehicle is experiencing rotational energy. |
| US08073594B2 |
Trailer articulation angle estimation
A method for operating a vehicle includes acquiring position information including an azimuth angle between a non-contacting sensor and a wheeled axle of an attached trailer, determining a trailer tongue length correlated to the position information, determining a track width of the attached trailer correlated to the position information, and calculating a trailer hitch articulation angle corresponding to the trailer tongue length and the track width of the attached trailer. |
| US08073585B2 |
Method and apparatus for setting or modifying programmable parameters in power driven wheelchair
A collection of diagnostic and troubleshooting information associated with a power driven wheelchair is stored for access by a microcontroller to be displayed to a user to assist in troubleshooting the power driven wheelchair. A log of fault codes transmitted by various fault-detecting mechanisms is compiled. A user may request display of diagnostic information associated with a selected fault code. The operating instructions of a power driven wheelchair may be updated by using portable storage media onto which a latest version of operating instructions is loaded to transfer the updated operating instructions to wheelchair controller memory. The calibration of a power driven wheelchair can be simplified by providing functionality within the wheelchair controller to change calibration parameters or to transfer calibration parameters from portable storage media. |
| US08073577B2 |
Electronic control apparatus for controlling on-vehicle devices when vehicle is about to be submerged in flooded area
An electric control apparatus, mounted on a vehicle, has a height direction and comprises an electronic circuit board, a submersion sensor, and a controller. The electric circuit board has a mounting surface and is mounted in the vehicle so that the mounting surface is along the height direction of the vehicle. The submersion sensor, which is mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board, senses a condition that the vehicle is about to be submerged in a flooded area and outputs an electric signal showing the condition. The controller, which is mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board, performs control for securing safety of an occupant of the vehicle when the controller receives the electric signal from the submersion sensor. The submersion sensor is lower in a mounted position on the mounting surface of the circuit board than the controller along the height direction. |
| US08073575B2 |
Vehicle
To provide a vehicle which can move independently as an own independent vehicle and can run integrally in linkage with another vehicle. A plurality of single-seat vehicles which can move independently are combined and they move integrally while a predetermined formation is maintained through linkage among respective vehicles. One of all the vehicles moving in linkage serves as a host vehicle and an occupant in the host vehicle becomes a driver in the linkage moving. A host vehicle 1 runs with speed/direction according to running operation conducted by an occupant. Simultaneously therewith, the host vehicle 1 instructs following vehicles 2 to 4 to synchronize (follow) the host vehicle. The host vehicle 1 transmits a speed, a direction, and a relative position to the host vehicle to the following vehicles 2 to 4 as moving information in order to synchronize the following vehicles with the host vehicle (maintain linkage relationship). The following vehicles 2 to 4 move based upon a follow-up instruction and feed status information including speeds and directions of the following vehicles, and their own positions back to the host vehicle 1 as own vehicle information. |
| US08073568B2 |
Device utilizing a PID controller, control method thereof, and robot utilizing the controller
A control method utilizing a PID controller includes detecting the position of an object and obtaining the position deviation by comparison with a predetermined position value, detecting the vibration of the object and obtaining a vibration value, adjusting the control parameters of the PID controller by analyzing the position deviation, the vibration value, and a predetermined performance of the PID controller, and the PID controller responding to the adjusted control parameters. |
| US08073567B2 |
Production system provided with a production control apparatus
A production control apparatus of a production system provided with a storing means for storing in advance a production system model comprised of workpiece information regarding workpieces and program information regarding a plurality of work programs of robots and a plurality of machining programs of machine tools, an updating means for updating the production system model based on run status signals showing run statuses of the robots and machines tools and workpiece signals from the detectors, and an instructing means for selecting one work program and one machining program based on the updated production system model and instructing running of the selected work program and work program to the robot and machine tool. Due to this, by calling up a work program of the robot etc. in accordance with the state of the production system, it is possible to change the program and restore the system from error. |
| US08073565B2 |
System and method for alerting a first mobile data processing system nearby a second mobile data processing system
Provided is a fully automated web service with location based services generally involved in transmission of situational location dependent information to automatically located mobile receiving data processing systems. The web service communicates with a receiving data processing system in a manner by delivering information to the device when appropriate without the device requesting it at the time of delivery. There are varieties of configurations made by different user types of the web service for configuring information to be delivered, and for receiving the information. The web service maximizes anonymity of users, provides granular privacy control with a default of complete privacy, and supports user configurable privileges and features for desired web service behavior and interoperability. The web service is fully automated to eliminate human resources required to operate services. Integrated with the web service are enhanced location based services providing map solutions, alerts, sharing of novel services between users, and complete user control for managing heterogeneous device interoperability through the web service. |
| US08073563B2 |
Handling of multi-use item systems, methods, and devices
Systems, methods, and devices are described related to the assignment and management of patient-specific bins. A dispensing device at a healthcare facility includes a number of bins for storage of medical supplies, with some of the bins designated as patient-specific bins allocated to be assigned to patients for storage of their medications or certain other supplies. A central server computer system, in communication with a computer of the dispensing device, may monitor and assign current and future patient-specific use of the bins for the dispensing device. The assignment and management of patient-specific bins may be performed by devices distributed through the system. |
| US08073560B1 |
Method for creation of detailed body measurement parts from extrapolation of standard chart data based on generic body attributes
A method for modifying standard ANSI body sizing charts extrapolation sizes outside of the standard sizes if necessary. In a subsequent step, the user may incorporate different upper and lower body sizes. Correction factors are then applied if a tall/short, full/slender body type is selected. A new chart is output to the user in human readable form. |
| US08073559B2 |
Material transport systems using autonomous controls
A plurality of autonomous control processes, with each controlling one or more components of the material transport (or processing) system, is used to radically simplify the controller software. Each autonomous control process is responsible for the actions of only a subset of the cluster tool components. For example, in one embodiment, a separate autonomous control process is used to control each automated component in the material handling system. However, other embodiments in which a control process controls a plurality of components are also contemplated. |
| US08073558B2 |
Critical resource notification system and interface device
A system and device that communicates critical resource information is described. The resource notification system comprises a resource distributor, a resource notification server, and a networked interface device. The resource distributor generates a demand response action that is associated with a particular resource. The resource distributor is also communicatively coupled to a wide area network. The resource notification server, which is also communicatively coupled to the wide area network, receives and processes the demand response action and generates a demand response event signal that is communicated to a customer list. The networked interface device comprises at least one indicator. The networked interface device receives the demand response event signal that triggers at least one indicator corresponding to the demand response action generated by the resource distributor, wherein the indicator provides a real-time indication that corresponds to the usage of the particular resource. |
| US08073556B2 |
System and method for controlling a machine
A system for controlling a machine includes a first controller, a second controller, and a comparator. During a first cycle, the first controller generates a control signal to the machine while the second controller generates a predicted parameter signal. During the first cycle, the comparator transmits a feedback signal to the second controller if a predetermined threshold is not met. A method for controlling a machine includes transmitting a control signal from a first controller to the machine and generating a predicted parameter value in a second controller. The method further includes transmitting a feedback signal to the second controller if a predetermined threshold is not met. |
| US08073555B2 |
Basepoint estimator
A method of estimating a basepoint includes a plurality of goals, wherein each goal has a desired value, receiving a plurality of sensor feedback signals from a controlled system, and receiving a plurality of predicted output values of the controlled system from a mathematical model. A desired change for a plurality of basepoint values is estimated in response to the goals, the feedback, and the predicted ooutput values. An actual change in basepoint values is calculated in response to a plurality of limits and the desired change for the plurality of basepoint values. The desired change is modified as necessary to hold the limits. The actual change in basepoint values is combined with last pass values of the plurality of basepoint values to produce an updated basepoint estimate. |
| US08073547B2 |
Guiding apparatus and method for cochlear implant
A guiding apparatus and a method for cochlear implant are disclosed. In one embodiment, the guiding apparatus for cochlear implant comprises i) an optical tube for transmitting an optical signal, ii) an optical signal emitting module for converting an electrical signal into the optical signal and emitting the optical signal through another end of the optical tube, iii) an optical signal detecting module for receiving the optical signal that is reflected by an obstacle or an inner wall of cochlear through another end of the optical tube and converting the received optical signal into an electrical signal and iv) a central processor for analyzing optical emission energy information and optical detection energy information to generate inserting route information. According to one embodiment, it is possible to decrease injuries to the inner wall of a cochlear canal and optimize the position of an electrode to be inserted into the cochlear canal. |
| US08073543B2 |
Method of using spinal cord stimulation to treat gastrointestinal and/or eating disorders or conditions
The present invention involves a method and a system for using electrical stimulation to treat gastrointestinal and/or eating disorders. More particularly, the method comprises surgically implanting an electrical stimulation lead that is in communication with predetermined thoracic vertebral segments to cause spinal nervous tissue stimulation, thus treating a wide variety of gastrointestinal disorders. |
| US08073539B2 |
Heart treatment device
Provided is a heart treatment device (1) including a heartbeat detecting unit (2) that detects heartbeats by using an electrode disposed at a heart (A), a pulse transformer (5) having a primary winding (5a) and a secondary winding (5b), the heartbeat detecting unit (2) being disposed on the side of the primary winding (5a) and the secondary winding (5b) being connected to the vagus nerve (B), and a pulse generating unit (8) that supplies an electric pulse to the primary winding (5a) of the pulse transformer (5) on the basis of the heartbeats detected by the heartbeat detecting unit (2), the electric pulse having a pulse width not exceeding the voltage-time product of the pulse transformer (5). |
| US08073536B2 |
Method and apparatus for post-processing of episodes detected by a medical device
A method and system for determining undersensing during post-processing of sensing data generated by a medical device that includes transmitting a plurality of stored sensing data generated by the medical device to an access device, the stored sensing data including sensed atrial events and sensed ventricular events. The access device determines, in response to the transmitted data, instances where the medical device identified a cardiac event being detected in response to the sensing data, and determines whether one of a predetermined number of undersensing criteria have been met in response to the transmitted data. |
| US08073534B2 |
Automated detection of sleep and waking states
Determining low power frequency range information from spectral data. Raw signal data can be adjusted to increase dynamic range for power within low power frequency ranges as compared to higher-power frequency ranges to determine adjusted source data valuable for acquiring low power frequency range information. Low power frequency range information can be used in the analysis of a variety of raw signal data. For example, low power frequency range information within electroencephalography data for a subject from a period of sleep can be used to determine sleep states. Similarly, automated full-frequency spectral electroencephalography signal analysis can be useful for customized analysis including assessing sleep quality, detecting pathological conditions, and determining the effect of medication on sleep states. |
| US08073533B2 |
Heart rate monitor with cross talk reduction
A heart rate monitor determines a heart rate for a primary subject by reducing noise and cross-talk from unwanted signal transmission sources. A set of pulse peaks having about the same amplitude and an amplitude greater than any other set of peaks are processed to determine a subject's heart rate, while data having an amplitude below that of the set of peaks is ignored. To retrieve enough data to determine a peak amplitude, the signal having heart rate information is sampled at a frequency higher than a normal sampling frequency. In some embodiments, if no data is received for a set time period which is in or above the range, the threshold resets to zero under an assumption that the primary subject is no longer within transmitting range. |
| US08073529B2 |
Needle guide system for use with ultrasound transducers to effect shallow path needle entry and method of use
An ultrasound needle guide system for use with an ultrasound transducer and method of use of the guide system to provide predictable trajectories for puncture devices at various depths. The needle guide system basically consists of a bracket and a needle guide. The bracket is arranged to be releasably secured to the ultrasound transducer. The transducer/bracket assembly is then placed into an isolating sterile cover. The needle guide is arranged to be readily attached, e.g., snap-fit, to the transducer/bracket with the cover interposed therebetween. The needle guide can be provided in various versions for differing puncture device sizes and various entry angles in relation to the transducer. In one embodiment the needle guide is arranged to establish plural predetermined entry angles. |
| US08073528B2 |
Tool tracking systems, methods and computer products for image guided surgery
In one embodiment of the invention, a tool tracking system is disclosed including a computer usable medium having computer readable program code to receive images of video frames from at least one camera and to perform image matching of a robotic instrument to determine video pose information of the robotic instrument within the images. The tool tracking system further includes computer readable program code to provide a state-space model of a sequence of states of corrected kinematics information for accurate pose information of the robotic instrument. The state-space model receives raw kinematics information of mechanical pose information and adaptively fuses the mechanical pose information and the video pose information together to generate the sequence of states of the corrected kinematics information for the robotic instrument. Additionally disclosed are methods for image guided surgery. |
| US08073527B2 |
Field generating unit of a combined MR/PET system
An RF antenna arrangement of a combined MR/PET system is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the RF antenna arrangement includes a first part installed in the examination tunnel in a fashion fixed to the system such that it is arranged underneath the couch board when the latter is introduced, and a second part, which can be placed onto the couch board and be introduced into and withdrawn from the examination tunnel together with the couch board. In at least one embodiment, the second part is of dimensionally stable design and has a clear cross section that is adapted to the object to be examined. Consequently, the time outlay for applying the RF antenna is reduced, and the fixed position of the RF antenna enables a correction of the attenuation of gamma rays. Furthermore, a number of second parts having various diameters can be provided. |
| US08073526B2 |
Method and system for computerized drawing and writing during functional magnetic resonance imaging
The present invention provides a method and device to record and visualize drawing and writing movements during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of brain activity. The system includes a touch-sensitive tablet, an elevated mounting platform, a stylus, and a controller box, as well as the necessary cabling and software. All equipment residing inside the magnet room is non-ferromagnetic and does not interfere with scanner operation and does not affect fMRI data quality. Individuals lying inside the scanner interact with device in a natural, intuitive way, similar to writing with pen and paper. Drawing motions captured by the tablet are displayed through a pair of fMRI-compatible goggles or by using a projector and screen. Other visual stimuli can be concurrently presented with the drawing motions for the purpose of assessing specific aspects of human behavior. The system allows for a plurality of experiments to be performed, all while brain activity is measured and recorded. |
| US08073525B2 |
Combined PET/MRT unit and method for simultaneously recording PET images and MR images
A combined PET/MRT unit is disclosed that includes a PET detector which is reduced by comparison with the prior art, and that consists, for example, of a PET detector with a polygonal arrangement of the detector elements or with a PET detector ring. The PET detector is reduced in an axial direction by comparison with the detectors of the prior art, as a result of which the costs for producing the expensive PET detectors are lowered. The reduction of the PET detector is possible because the MR measurement usually lasts longer than the PET measurement, and so a reduced PET detector can be used for the temporally sequential recording of a number of PET tomograms by mechanical displacement of the PET detector. Since the MR measurement lasts substantially longer, this mechanical displacement does not lead to a lengthening of the measuring time. The invention also relates to methods for simultaneously recording MR and PET tomograms in which the PET/MRT units according to the invention are used. |
| US08073522B2 |
Method and magnetic resonance apparatus for dynamic magnetic resonance imaging
The invention concerns a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for acquisition and generation of a time-resolved image series of an anatomical organ with a quasi-periodical movement in a subject, k-space is sampled in segments with a number of partial data sets, with the sampling points of each partial data set corresponding to grid points of a Cartesian sampling grid of a k-space segment, and the Cartesian sampling grids of the k-space segments being rotated relative to one another. A series of sub-data sets is incompletely acquired for each partial data set using alternating sampling schemes. Each incomplete sub-data set is associated with one of the individual images. For at least some of the partial data sets, complete sub-data sets are reconstructed from the incomplete sub-data sets. For the reconstruction of the individual images, in each of the individual images, at least some of the complete sub-data sets that are associated with this individual image are used. |
| US08073517B1 |
System and method for measuring blood constituents using a catheter
A system and method for confirming the proper placement of a penetrating catheter into a venous region using principles of oximetry in which blood is subjected to light of a plurality of wavelengths and detected for absorption levels. The result is analyzed by a processor and the level oxygen saturation of the blood is indicated. The characteristic level of saturation informs the practitioner whether oxygenated arterial blood is present due to an inadvertent puncture. The catheter is introduced using an introduction needle and thereafter removed to allow blood to communicate with sensing elements that consist of a light-emitter and opposed photodetector. Light in the infrared and visible red wavelengths can be provided by separate LED units. Aspiration of blood through the catheter by an attached syringe allows the processor to compute the level of oxygen saturation or other blood constituent, based upon detected light absorption of passing blood. |
| US08073515B2 |
Multi-mode programmable antenna with configuration control and methods for use therewith
An antenna configuration controller configures a programmable antenna via a configuration procedure. The configuration procedure includes evaluating first candidate antenna configurations, based on quality data corresponding to each configuration, wherein the quality data includes mode interference data. A selected antenna configuration is identified when the quality data corresponding to the selected antenna configuration compares favorably to a quality threshold. A first proper subset of the first candidate antenna configurations is selected when the quality data corresponding to the first candidate antenna configurations compares unfavorably to the quality threshold; and second candidate antenna configurations are generated, based on the first proper subset. The second candidate antenna configurations are evaluated, based on the quality data corresponding to each of the configurations; and a selected antenna configuration is identified from the second candidate antenna configurations, when the quality data corresponding to the selected antenna configuration compares favorably to the quality threshold. |
| US08073513B2 |
Wireless communication device
A wireless communication device includes an earphone, a frequency modulation integrated circuit, a microphone, an analog switch, and a main processor. The main processor includes a software amplifier operable to amplify signals from the analog switch and output the amplified signals. The wireless communication device amplifies audio signals by the software amplifier of the main processor. |
| US08073511B2 |
Sliding mechanism for electronic device
An electronic device includes a first body and a second body. The second body is slidably connected to the first body. The second body includes a rolling assembly. The rolling assembly includes a rolling member contacting to the first body. When the second body slides relative to the first body, the rolling member rolls on the first body. |
| US08073508B2 |
Slide module and mobile terminal having the same
A slide module includes a base, at least one rail receiving part is formed; a slider includes at least one rail part slidably and facing the base; and a friction reducing unit formed on at least one of the base and the slider to reduce friction generated when the slider is slidably moved over the base. The sliding operation can be more smoothly and silently performed. |
| US08073507B2 |
Communication device
A communication device includes a base body, a display located on the base body, and a host removably secured to the base body. A microphone and a speaker are located on the host. The host is movable between a first state, where the host is electronically connected to the display for providing power to the display, and a second state, where the host is removed from the base body. |
| US08073505B2 |
Portable electronic apparatus with dual hinges
A portable electronic apparatus includes a first module, a second module, and a first hinge assembly. The first hinge assembly is connected to the first module and the second module. The first hinge assembly includes a first hinge, a second hinge and a first swing member. The first hinge is installed inside the first module and pivotally connected to the first module, and the second hinge is pivotally connected to the second module. The first swing member connected to the first hinge and the second hinge. When the first module and the second module are close, the first module and the second module cover the first hinge assembly together. |
| US08073503B2 |
Personal health modules supported by portable communication devices
A wireless device having a remote station portion, such as a cellular telephone, PDA, laptop computer, handheld computer, or the like and a removably connectable medical device portion, such as a blood glucose monitor or the like, is provided. The medical device portion is separated from the remote station portion by an isolation circuit and electromagnetic shielding to inhibit the electronics and radio frequency transmission of the remote station portion interfering with the medical device. Moreover, a control processor in the remote station portion has a battery management module to disable functions as the charge in the power source falls to provide sufficient power for operation of the medical device. |
| US08073502B2 |
Hinged portable radio communication equipment with a double action hinge
A portable radio communication equipment includes an upper cover part, a lower cover part, a first set of elongate arms having first ends and second ends, said first ends being connected to said upper part by a first set of joints and said second ends being connected to said lower part by a second set of joints. The equipment may include a second set of arms having first ends and second ends, said first ends being connected to said upper part by a third set of joints, and said second ends being connected to said lower part by a fourth set of joints, wherein said joints provide at least three axes of rotation between said arms and said cover parts. |
| US08073501B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing haptic feedback to non-input locations
Methods and Apparatus for providing haptic feedback to non-input locations are described. One described apparatus comprises a first surface, an input element distinct from the first surface, the input element operable to generate an input signal, and an actuator configured to provide haptic feedback to the first surface based at least in part on the input signal. |
| US08073500B2 |
Detecting the presence of multiple communication access technologies
A multimode wireless communication device and method for having the device detect a communication access technology is described. The multimode wireless device comprises a multimode transceiver module, a CAT detection module, and at least one CAT threshold level corresponding to each CAT. The multimode transceiver module is operatively coupled to a first antenna. The multimode transceiver module comprises at least two communication access technology (CAT) receiver modules operatively coupled to at least one antenna, wherein each CAT receiver module complies with a receiver requirement. The CAT detection module is operatively coupled to one of the CAT transceiver antenna and the CAT detection module is configured to detect a plurality of CAT RF energy levels associated with each CAT receiver module without activating the corresponding CAT transceiver module. |
| US08073499B2 |
Battery-less electronic device
Automated software loading into a battery-less mobile phone is accomplished through attachment of a special non-standard USB On-The-Go cable to a serial connector of the mobile phone, thereby delivering power supply and unique signals for placing the phone in a special mode of operation used for production or distribution. In operation, when a unique non-standard voltage is asserted on the identification (ID) pin of the USB connector interface, it is detected by special circuitry in the serial connector. The circuitry then enables power supply to the battery-less phone and generates a turn-on signal directing the mobile phone to automatically power-on and enter into a particular state of operation, for example a test or software loading mode. Because this process is automatic, the efficiency of software loading or testing during production or distribution of the mobile device is improved. |
| US08073496B2 |
Helmet type hands free system with radio communication function
A helmet-type hands free system with a radio communication function is provided, in which a hands free function key input unit for executing a hands free function is mounted on a handle of a vehicle. Accordingly, it is possible to operate a hands free module without taking a hand off the handle and to establish radio communication between neighboring hands free modules without communicating with a base station. As a result, safer driving is possible and radio communication costs are reduced. |
| US08073489B2 |
Method for dynamic uplink sounding region allocation
The present invention discloses a method for allocating an uplink sounding region dynamically to obtain downlink channel quality information (CQI) about a downlink channel. The method comprises receiving a downlink transmission request and retrieving an identification information from the downlink transmission request, searching one or more databases using the retrieved identification information as a key, identifying the CQI about the downlink channel from the one or more databases, wherein the uplink sounding region needs not to be allocated when the CQI corresponding to the downlink transmission request is identified in the databases. |
| US08073484B2 |
Mobile terminal device, remote notification method and recording medium
When detecting that an other cellular phone device 1 is present in the vicinity of a local cellular phone device 1 through a short-range wireless communication unit 24, a CPU 11 receives and acquires a communication-partner ID from the other cellular phone device 1 through the short-range wireless communication unit 24. Next, the CPU 11 creates a e-mail indicating that the communication partner is present in the vicinity of the local cellular phone device based on the communication-partner ID. Further, the CPU 11 sends a predetermined communication terminal 4 of the created e-mail from a telephone communication unit 15 through a public mobile communication network 2. |
| US08073475B2 |
Method and system for transmission and display of rich-media alerts
There is provided a method and system of generating a rich-media message using a short message service (SMS) message. In one aspect, the method comprises encoding data and rich-media content information to generate an encoded rich-media message, and formatting the encoded rich-media message into a rich-media SMS message. In one aspect, the method includes transmitting the rich-media SMS over a network. In another aspect, the method includes receiving the rich-media SMS by a mobile device, decoding the SMS, and displaying the message. The method may include obtaining rich-media content from a server. In one embodiment, a system for communicating a rich-media message to a mobile device comprises an alerts generator configured to encode a rich-media message and format the message into a rich-media SMS, a content server configured to provide rich-media content to a mobile device configured to decode and display the rich-media SMS. |
| US08073473B2 |
Method for processing a message
A method of processing a message in a short message service in which a router or alternatively a gateway makes a first attempt to deliver the message, the deliver attempt failing the router or gateway sends the message and other supporting information to a service center that can store the message and re-attempt delivery of the message. The supporting information provided by the router or gateway enables the service center to process the message in an efficient manner. The supporting information can include a failure type indicator, a charge indicator, a charge reference number, a virtual mobile indicator and a reply indicator. |
| US08073468B2 |
System and method for providing locally applicable internet content with secure action requests and item condition alerts
Optimized delivery of locally applicable Internet content to users. A cache of locally applicable Internet content is maintained in a local content server, based upon a monitoring of locations of users requesting Internet content. Requests for Internet content are received from user equipment through a wireless network base station, and served from the local content server, which is logically proximate to the wireless network base station. The caching of locally applicable Internet content may be maintained on a layered basis. Secure action request receipt and corresponding performance, and item condition alerts are also described. |
| US08073467B2 |
WiFi and GSM landmarks and neighborhoods for location based services
A system for capturing and delivering location-based information and services captures wireless landmark information sent by mobile devices to build a map of locations based on the relationship between wireless landmarks that are visible to the mobile device at the same time. A wireless landmark may be a cellular telephone base site or local network (WiFi/Bluetooth) access point. The mobile device may capture a location signature using identifiers for all wireless local area networks in range as well as one or more cellular telephone transmitters. A location service resolves the location signature into a relative location that an application service may use to record incoming information or to send location-specific information such as traveler comments, reviews, or advertisements. The distance between two mobile devices may be calculated using weighted edge values, representing a number of ‘hops’ between location signatures. |
| US08073465B2 |
Reciever, frequency deviation measuring unit and positioning and ranging system
In a system for measuring a time difference of arrival of signals for positioning, an accurate time difference is measured by a receiver which is reduced in power consumption, size, and cost. The system comprises a node (under measurement) for transmitting a positioning signal, a reference station for transmitting a reference signal, and a plurality of access points for receiving the positioning signal and reference signal, and a server connected to the plurality of access points through a network. Each of the plurality of access points measures a time difference between the reception of the positioning signal and the reception of the reference signal, and a frequency deviation from the reference station, using a clock signal and a signal for shifting the clock signal, and the server calculates the position of the node based on the measured time difference and frequency deviation. |
| US08073458B2 |
System and method for automated optimization of spectrum allocation
The present disclosure describes systems and methods that facilitate the allocation of spectrum for wireless communications. A database may be maintained that includes spectrum that has been offered by spectrum holders for use by spectrum users. Portions of the offered spectrum that have been allocated to spectrum users may be identified, the remainder of the offered spectrum being unallocated spectrum. A request specifying aspects of desired spectrum may be received from a user. A lack of available spectrum from the offered spectrum that fulfills the specified aspects in the request may be identified. Unallocated spectrum from a corresponding spectrum offer may be apportioned to fulfill the request with unallocated spectrum that matches the time duration and the geographic area aspects of the request and that has a frequency range that is shifted from the frequency range of the request for at least a portion of the time duration. |
| US08073457B2 |
Device and method for controlling overload
An overload control device and a method thereof in a radio network controller are disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention includes i) a load measuring unit, measuring a load of a radio network controller every predetermined time, ii) an overload determining unit, determining whether an overload is generated by comparing the measured load with a predetermined critical value, iii) a parameter setting unit, setting a parameter of a call admission ratio according to an overload level if the overload is generated as the result of determining, the call admission ratio indicating a ratio of a maximum transmitting output as compared with an admitted transmitting output of a base station and iv) a call connection setting control unit, transmitting to the radio network controller a call connection setting signal to limit new call connection setting of a base station having a total transmitting output value which is larger than an admitted transmitting output value set by the parameter of the call admission ratio of the base station among all base stations pertained to the radio network controller. |
| US08073456B2 |
Methods and arrangements for estimating uplink coverage in wireless communication networks with dynamic cell coverage
The present invention relates to methods and arrangements in cellular communication networks exhibiting dynamic cell coverage, in particular, to estimate the uplink coverage in a network in operation. According to the method of the present invention a received rate is determined from at least one mobile terminal being in a communication session, by measuring the number of received transport blocks during a predetermined time interval. The received rate is compared with a predetermined expected rate, and if the received rate is below the expected rate poor coverage is identified. Since the coverage is potentially load dependent an estimate of the uplink coverage has been obtained. |
| US08073453B2 |
Apparatus and method for handling system information in mobile telecommunications system user equipment
Apparatus and method for handling system information in mobile telecommunications system user equipment, wherein updates are applied in a defined order. In particular, in 3G UMTS systems, when System Information Block (SIB) SIB 11 and SIB 12 are received with information elements relating to cell information list (e.g. “intra-frequency cell info list”, “inter-frequency cell info list” and “Inter-RAT cell info list”) then the system information associated with the system information block information element in SIB 11 is applied before the system information associated with the system information block information element in SIB 12. |
| US08073447B2 |
System and method to identify voice call continuity (VCC) subscriber
A mobile device, method, and machine instructions for mobile device communication are provided. The mobile device includes a voice call continuity status checker to determine a voice call continuity status and use the voice call continuity status to determine whether to initiate voice call continuity related activities. The method includes determining a voice call continuity status and using the voice call continuity status to determine whether to initiate voice call continuity related activities. When executed, the machine instructions perform a method that includes determining a voice call continuity status and using the voice call continuity status for voice call continuity related activities. |
| US08073446B2 |
Radio network controller, wireless access gateway, radio communication system, and communication method for radio communication system
A radio network controller outputs a context required for a terminal capable of communicating with a mobile communication network and a wireless local area network to communicate with the wireless local area network to the terminal among pieces of information input from wireless access gateways that control connection with one or more wireless local area networks and provide seamless handover of packet communication between the mobile communication network and the wireless LAN. |
| US08073442B2 |
Binding a device to a provider
A pay-per-use or pay-as-you-go computer uses a secure memory to store individual unique program identifiers. Each unique program identifier is associated with a particular hardware or software component, or service, or the entire computer available to a user. By combining the unique program identifier with a computer hardware identifier uniquely identified transactions may be tracked for both billing and reconciliation. Certificates associated with each unique program identifier, and coupled to the hardware identifier, provide a cryptographic basis for mutual verification of messages, requests, configuration instructions, and provisioning. |
| US08073427B2 |
Remotely requesting an alert from a lost or stolen wireless device
A wireless device may be alerted. For example, a message may be received from an invoking party and parsed for request data. Then a determination may be made as to whether identification data in the received message matches identification data resident in the wireless device. Next, the wireless device may be alerted when the received identification data matches the identification data resident in the wireless device and when the request data includes a request to alert the wireless device. A return message may be sent to the invoking party when the request data includes the request to alert the wireless device. The return message may indicate that the wireless device as been alerted. Alerting the wireless device may comprise causing the wireless device to perform a function configured to indicate to a subject that the wireless device has been lost. |
| US08073423B2 |
Intelligent information control repository
Systems and methods are disclosed for alleviating the network congestion inherent in monitoring several million subscribers' usage by incorporating an Information Control Repository (ICR) at the user-level, ideally within the mobile device in the form of a software program. This Micro Intelligent Information Control Repository (MIICR) augments the user profile typically stored in the network-level IICR. The MIICR collects usage information at the user level such as keystrokes, application usage, and other information, and generates a sub-profile that can be stored on the device itself. This sub-profile may consequently be used to provide the user with an enhanced Adaptive User Interface, that dynamically changes based on the usage of the device. Additionally, the sub-profile may be used in conjunction with the network-level user profile stored on the IICR to provide enhanced services customized for the individual user. |
| US08073413B2 |
Systems and methods for receiving and processing multiple carrier communications and navigation signals
Methods and systems for signal analysis in multiple radio carrier environments are provided. In one embodiment, a radio receiver comprises: an adaptive pass band filter that operates over a pass band of frequencies, the adaptive pass band filter subdividing the pass band into a plurality of sub-channels each comprising a narrower bandwidth than the pass band; and a signal analyzer receiving the plurality of sub-channels, the signal analyzer providing feedback to the adaptive pass band filter, wherein the adaptive pass band filter divides the pass band into the plurality of sub-channels based on the feedback; wherein the signal analyzer selectively generates an output comprising of at least one of the plurality of sub-channels. |
| US08073411B2 |
System and method for detecting radio frequency signals over a range of powers
The present invention is directed to a power detection circuit for use in a wireless transmitting device. The circuit makes use of multiple gain paths so that two or more scaling factors are provided. Each scaling factor allows the detector circuit to provide more ADC levels per dB and thus provide accurate power control over a wider power range than through the use of a single gain path and a single scaling factor. |
| US08073410B2 |
System and method for closed loop power control calibration
A system for calibrating a closed power control loop includes an adder configured to inject a test signal into an adjustable element, a first peak detector configured to determine an amplitude of the injected test signal, a second peak detector configured to determine an amplitude of a return test signal, a comparator configured to determine the difference between the injected test signal and the return test signal, and a calibration engine configured to adjust the adjustable element so that the return test signal is offset from the injected test signal by a predetermined amount. |
| US08073408B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit including a mixer and wireless communication apparatus
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first input terminal configured to input a baseband signal, a second input terminal configured to input a local oscillation signal, an output terminal configured to output a modulating signal, a first amplifier circuit configured to receive the baseband signal through the first input terminal and to output a first amplified signal of the baseband signal, a 2-multiplying circuit configured to receive the local oscillation signal through the second input terminal and to output a 2-multiplied signal of the local oscillation signal, an adder configured to add the 2-multiplied signal and the first amplified signal and to output an addition signal, a second amplifier circuit configured to receive the addition signal and to output a second amplified signal of the addition signal, and a mixer configured to multiply the second amplified signal and the local oscillation signal and to output the modulating signal to the output terminal. |
| US08073407B2 |
Radio communication device and power supplying method for radio communication device
A radio communication device in which the output transmission signal of a high-frequency power amplifying part is sent out to an antenna via a circulator, a high-frequency signal reflected from the antenna is transferred via the circulator to a rectifying part to obtain a direct current power, and the direct current power is supplied to a power amplifying part or another constituent part in the radio communication device as an aid to the power supply from a power supply unit. |
| US08073405B2 |
MIMO transmitter
A MIMO transmitter capable of highly efficient power amplification over a wide dynamic range or for a high PAPR signal. In the MIMO transmitter (100), an amplifier (150) amplifies an input signal and outputs the amplified signal to an antenna (170). An amplifier (160) amplifies an input signal and outputs the amplified signal to an antenna (180). A peak detection part (130) detects an envelope of a first transmission sequence. A branch switching part (140) switches over to input all of the first transmission sequence to the amplifier (150) or to input part of the first transmission sequence together with a second transmission sequence to the amplifier (160) based on comparison results between the envelope detection result of the first transmission sequence and a threshold value. This constitution can reduce a peak of the input signal of the amplifier, and thus the amplifier can be efficiently used. As a result, the MIMO transmitter capable of highly efficient power amplification for a high PAPR signal and the like can be realized. |
| US08073404B2 |
Mobile communication method, mobile station and base station
An object of the present invention is to specify how a transmission diversity station that implements an EUL should apply a transmission antenna diversity to an E-HICH, an E-RGCH and an E-AGCH. The present invention relates to a mobile communication method for transmitting a signal from a base station to a mobile station via a downlink. In the method, a closed loop transmission antenna diversity is applied to a dedicated channel of the downlink, and an open loop transmission antenna diversity is applied to a control channel of the downlink in conformity with an uplink high efficient transmission method. |
| US08073399B2 |
Device and method for matrixed adaptive equalizing for communication receivers configured to an antenna array
An apparatus and method for signal optimization is disclosed. This disclosure relates to improved device and method for improving performance and reducing cosite interference for an antenna array. More particularly, this description relates to a device and method for equalizing signals for communication receivers, and more particularly, to a device and method for matrixed adaptive equalizing configured to a plurality of antennas for receiving one or more signals each designated for one of a plurality of receivers. |
| US08073395B2 |
Channel sensing based on self-signal suppression
A method and apparatus for channel sensing in a wireless communication device is provided. A self-signal intentionally transmitted to a first wireless device by another wireless communication device is detected in a signal received by the first wireless device. An original self-signal transmitted by the second wireless device is reconstructed from the detected self-signal. The reconstructed self-signal is then suppressed in the received signal and channel sensing is performed on the remaining signal. If the self-signal cannot be detected and verified in the received signal, the second wireless device may be requested to retransmit a modified self-signal and a predetermined number of attempts made to detect and verify the self-signal. Results of channel estimation performed on the received signal may be used in reconstructing the original self-signal. The channel estimation may include information from a plurality of frames in the received signal. |
| US08073393B2 |
Methods and systems for least squares block channel estimation
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques for channel estimation without resorting to the channel second-order statistics. Methods and systems are proposed for improving the performance of an un-constrained least squares channel interpolator by using available side information of the channel, such as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), Doppler frequency and/or delay spread. |
| US08073392B2 |
Transmitter architecture based on antenna parasitic switching
The invention is a radio transmitter that includes an antenna having at least one driven element and at least one reflector element. The driven element is electrically coupled to a radio carrier source. At least one of the driven elements or the at least one reflector element, includes at least one switch to modulate the radio carrier. Also, a secure communication system includes a radio transmitter configured to transmit a modulated signal within an information beam width. Also, a method for modulating a radio signal includes the steps of causing the transmitted carrier signal to be modulated by the modulation signal in response to switching the at least one reflector switch. Also, a method for selecting desirable antenna reflector switch combinations includes performing a mathematical simulation to determine whether the combination of reflector switch positions results in a modulated signal that can be demodulated within an information beam width. |
| US08073389B2 |
Dual-mode mobile communication device capable of sharing bluetooth module to perform communication
A dual-mode mobile communication device capable of sharing Bluetooth module to perform communication is disclosed. The dual-mode mobile communication device includes a first communication module, a second communication module and a Bluetooth module. The Bluetooth module of the dual-mode mobile communication device is electrically connected with a Bluetooth device. The first communication module is electrically connected with the second communication module and the Bluetooth module respectively. |
| US08073388B2 |
Method and system for dynamically changing poll timing based on Bluetooth activity
Methods and systems for dynamically changing poll timing based on Bluetooth activity are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include determining synchronous Bluetooth activity between a Bluetooth master device and at least one Bluetooth slave device. The synchronous Bluetooth activity may comprise, for example, transmission of packets by the Bluetooth master device via a SCO link and/or a eSCO link. The Bluetooth master device may dynamically adjust a polling period based on the synchronous Bluetooth activity. For example, the polling period may be less when there is synchronous activity than when there is no synchronous activity. The polling periods for when there is synchronous activity and when there is no synchronous activity may be default values. The default polling periods may be changed to different values, for example, by the user. |
| US08073382B2 |
Communication device, communicate method for communication device, and communication program for communication device
A processing unit detects whether externally input user personal information has been stored in a storage medium. A network interface transmits a transmission of available/unavailable request information identifying a broadcast station that broadcast received broadcast information, if the externally input user personal information has not been stored in the storage medium. The network interface receives available/unavailable information in a reply to the transmission. The available/unavailable information shows whether an external device offers a service providing related information about contents included in the received broadcast information. The network interface transmits the externally input user personal information to the external device to request a user registration in accordance with the available/unavailable information, if the processing unit detects that the externally input user personal information is not stored in the storage medium. The network interface transmits request information that requests the related information about the contents. |
| US08073381B2 |
Radio communication system and base station
A radio communication system includes a grouping unit for grouping a plurality of base stations into a plurality of groups (Soft Handoff Groups) and a determining unit for selecting base stations belonging to one and the same group selected from the groups produced by the grouping unit and for determining the base stations as base stations to send communication packets to an access terminal. |
| US08073379B2 |
RF signal of karaoke data receiving pack and karaoke system using thereof
Disclosed are an RF signal of karaoke data receiving pack and karaoke system using thereof. The RF Karaoke data receiving pack includes an RF receiver for receiving a voice signal and key data signal radio-transmitted from a wireless microphone device via a receiving antenna; an audio/key data signal separator for separating the voice signal and key data signal from the signal demodulated by the demodulator, a receiver MCU controlling the internal operation of the RF karaoke data signal receiving pack while transmitting the digital voice signal and key data signal to the external computing device; and an extension pack in which additional songs are recorded, the extension pack being connected to an extension pack slot to transmit data of the additional songs under the control of the receiver MCU. |
| US08073378B2 |
Xerographic station deskew mechanism
In a color marking assembly, a series or plurality of ROS-imaging station units are aligned above an endless image transfer belt. Since there are a plurality of units, image alignment between the several station units is important. To accomplish this, skewing of each of the stations is necessary. The present invention involves a fixed ROS unit and a movable or skewable imaging station. This imaging station is movable on at least three spheres, one sphere below the imaging station and on its inboard side, the other spheres are located on a track below the imaging station and on its outboard side. This arrangement reduces vibration of these stations while at the same time providing an easily skewable xerographic imaging station. |
| US08073367B2 |
Toner cartridge and image forming apparatus using the same
An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor drum, a charger, an exposure device, a developing device, a toner cartridge for supplying toner to the developing device, a transfer device and a fixing device. The toner cartridge includes: a toner container, a toner discharge port, a toner discharger having a toner agitator. The toner discharger includes a toner discharger rotary shaft, around which a helical magnet is provided; and magnetic particles that form a helical magnetic brush along the magnet on the surface of the toner discharger rotary shaft. |
| US08073366B2 |
Developing unit and image forming apparatus having the same
A developing unit of an image forming apparatus includes a developer cartridge detachably mounted on the developing unit, a developing case in which a developing member and a first supply member are provided, a developer supply passage to supply a developer stored in the developer cartridge to the developing case, and a developer supplement unit mounted in a portion connecting the developing case and the developer supply passage, to agitate the developer supplied through the developer supply passage and to supply the agitated developer to the developing case. |
| US08073365B2 |
Ion generating device, charging device, and image forming apparatus
An ion generating device is arranged such that a heater electrode is wired so as to heat (i) a creeping discharge area and (ii) areas where respective terminal sections of an induction electrode, a discharge electrode, and the heater electrode are provided. This allows prevention of dew condensation and nitric acid generation in the vicinities of the respective terminal sections. |
| US08073361B2 |
Preset case, development apparatus, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A developing apparatus has: a developer container including a developer transportation unit that transports, while mixing, a developer containing a toner and a carrier along an axis of rotation by a rotatable mixing transportation member; and a cover member provided in part of the developer transportation unit so as to cover an upper portion of the mixing transportation member. A preset case disposed on top of the developer transportation unit has: a developer feed port provided on that bottom surface of the preset case which lies on a side of the developer container; and a sealing member that seals a developer feed port, the sealing member being mounted so as to be removable, when putting the preset case to use, longitudinally of the mixing transportation member. The developer feed port is provided except for a position that lies opposite to the cover member. |
| US08073360B2 |
Color electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus having an apparatus main body to which a plurality of cartridges are detachably mounted adjacently in one direction for forming a color image on a recording medium, wherein each of the plurality of cartridges has a gripping portion disposed on a rear end of the corresponding cartridge in a mounting direction in which the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus main body, the gripping portion being protruding from the rear end to an upstream side, wherein when the corresponding cartridge is mounted to and detached from the apparatus main body, a user grips the gripping portion, and wherein in a state in which the plurality of cartridges are mounted to the apparatus main body, at least one gripping portion is disposed out of line with a gripping portion of an adjacent cartridge in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction. |
| US08073354B2 |
Image forming apparatus that controls the number of printed sheets
An image forming apparatus is described. The image forming apparatus may be for printing sheets on the basis of a print instruction input therein, including: a limit quantity storage unit storing a predetermined limit quantity; an accounting storage unit storing an accounting for printing one sheet; and a printing authorization unit authorizing execution of printing, when the print instruction is input, after a quantity of a consumer product consumed by printing reaches the limit quantity stored in the limit quantity storage unit, on condition that a user pays a price obtained by multiplying the number of sheets which should have been continuously printed on the basis of the print instruction by the accounting with reference to the accounting storage unit. |
| US08073353B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A controlling section controls an image forming section to form a calibration pattern on an object. The calibration pattern includes a plurality of first patterns and a plurality of second patterns. Each of the first patterns includes at least one pair of marks. Each of the at least one pair of marks has different colors and overlaps with each other in a first direction. The first patterns have different degrees of overlapping from each other. Each of the second patterns is formed between one of the first patterns and another one of the first patterns in the moving direction. The detecting section detects the first and second patterns formed on the object. The correcting section corrects the image forming position in the first direction based on detection results of the first patterns, and corrects the image forming position in a second direction based on detection results of the second patterns. |
| US08073350B2 |
Developing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge
A disclosed developing apparatus employs a flare roller that is a toner carrier in which electrodes of two different phases are provided at fine intervals. Density irregularities or scumming in a developed image due to a potential difference between the flare roller and a latent image carrier are prevented by maintaining a constant potential on the flare roller surface. A voltage is applied to the electrodes on the flare roller such that an electric field that varies with time is generated between the electrodes, whereby a toner cloud is produced by the movement or hopping of toner over the flare roller. Thereby the toner attaches to a latent image on the latent image carrier, thus developing the latent image. In one embodiment, a bias with an average potential equal to an average potential of the bias applied to the electrodes is applied to a toner layer thickness regulating member. |
| US08073349B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus capable of keeping reproducibility and gradation in balance and outputting high-quality images. A primary electrostatic charger charges a photosensitive drum. A polygon scanner irradiates the drum with a laser beam to form an electrostatic latent image on the drum. A developing device develops the latent image into a toner image by applying a developing bias to the drum. In performing development by the developing device at a preset environmental contrast potential, a CPU determines a required contrast potential for obtaining a target maximum density. The CPU compares between the environmental contrast potential and the required contrast potential. Further, the CPU sets an upper limit value for a set contrast potential to be set to the developing device according to the result of the comparison, and sets an output level of the laser light to be output from the developing device. |
| US08073345B2 |
Frequency estimation in an intradyne optical receiver
A method for determining symbols PSK modulated on an optical carrier includes interfering a first polarization component of the modulated optical carrier and a reference optical carrier in a first optical mixer and interfering the first polarization component of the modulated optical carrier and the reference with a different relative phase in a second optical mixer. The method also includes sampling the interfered carriers from the first optical mixer to produce first digital sampled values and sampling the interfered carriers from the second optical mixer to produce second digital sampled values. The first and second digital sampled values of a sampling period form a first complex sampling value thereof. The method also includes offsetting a phase of a complex signal value corresponding to each first complex sampling value to correct for a phase error caused by a frequency offset between the modulated and reference optical carriers. |
| US08073339B2 |
Optical device, optical modulation method, and optical transmitter
An optical modulation device including waveform shapers that waveform-shape input data signals in synchronism with a rising or falling timing based on comparison with a reference level of an input clock signal, a multi-level phase modulator that generates a multi-level-phase-modulated optical signal based on the data signals waveform-shaped by the plurality of waveform shapers, and outputs the generated optical signal, and a level ratio controller that varies a relative level ratio of the reference level to an amplitude level of the clock signal input to the waveform shapers, based on the optical signal output from the multi-level phase modulator. |
| US08073338B2 |
Modulation scheme with increased number of states of polarization
A modulation method for optical communication comprises the step of generating an optical signal modulated between a plurality of different states of polarization and between different phase states. The plurality of states of polarization comprises first states of polarization. The first states of polarization define a single great circle on the Poincaré sphere. The method is characterized in that the plurality of states of polarization further comprise one or more second states of polarization located outside the great circle. Such additional second states of polarization increase the symbol alphabet. |
| US08073333B2 |
Multiplex delay unit
According to one embodiment, a multiplex delay unit comprises an optical all-pass filter (OAPF) adapted to apply continuously tunable group delay to a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) signal so that all of its WDM components are delayed by substantially the same delay time. The OAPF has a free spectral range (FSR) that matches spectral separation between carrier wavelengths of the WDM signal. Advantageously, an optical multiplex synchronizer suitable for feeding a synchronous optical switch fabric can be implemented as an integrated waveguide circuit using a plurality of such multiplex delay units. |
| US08073316B2 |
Oven for semiconductor wafer
An oven is described that can more evenly heat the semiconductor wafer, even though the wafer may warp during heating. The oven may provide relatively uniform heating even though the type and location of warping may be unpredictable for any given wafer. The oven may have a heating surface divided into a plurality of heating zones that may each independently provide a given amount of heat to the wafer. The amount of heat provided by each zone may be determined using signals from sensors that sense the warping of the wafer. |
| US08073315B2 |
Radiant heater for heating the building material in a laser sintering device
A radiant heating for heating the building material in a laser sintering device and a laser sintering device having such a radiant heating are described. The radiant heating has a sheet-like heat radiating element (113, 213, 313), which is characterized in that it is made of a material, that has a low thermal inertia with a thermal diffusivity of preferably more than 1.5·10−4 m2/s and preferably has a thickness of 2 mm or less. |
| US08073310B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting information, and reproducing apparatus, receiving apparatus and recording medium for the information, and transmission data thereof
An output control (OPC) information is recorded on the magnetic tape 1 in conjunction with an MPEG stream. The OPC information is composed of two bits and is extracted from a reproduced signal by the output control circuit 9 and controls the digital interface (D. I/F) 7 and the switch circuit 11. In case a first bit of the OPC information is “0”, the output control circuit 9 makes the D. I/F 7 enabled and permits the output of a digital signal. In a case of “1”, the output control circuit 9 prohibits to output the digital signal. Further, when the second bit of the OPC information is “0”, the output control circuit 9 turns the switch circuit 11 off, preventing the output of an analog component signal. In case its “1”, the output control circuit 9 permits the output of the analog component signal. |
| US08073309B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting information, and reproducing apparatus, receiving apparatus and recording medium for the information, and transmission data thereof
An output control (OPC) information is recorded on the magnetic tape 1 in conjunction with an MPEG stream. The OPC information is composed of two bits and is extracted from a reproduced signal by the output control circuit 9 and controls the digital interface (D. I/F) 7 and the switch circuit 11. In case a first bit of the OPC information is “0”, the output control circuit 9 makes the D. I/F 7 enabled and permits the output of a digital signal. In a case of “1”, the output control circuit 9 prohibits to output the digital signal. Further, when the second bit of the OPC information is “0”, the output control circuit 9 turns the switch circuit 11 off, preventing the output of an analog component signal. In case its “1”, the output control circuit 9 permits the output of the analog component signal. |
| US08073308B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting information, and reproducing apparatus, receiving apparatus and recording medium for the information, and transmission data thereof
An output control (OPC) information is recorded on the magnetic tape 1 in conjunction with an MPEG stream. The OPC information is composed of two bits and is extracted from a reproduced signal by the output control circuit 9 and controls the digital interface (D. I/F) 7 and the switch circuit 11. In case a first bit of the OPC information is “0”, the output control circuit 9 makes the D. I/F 7 enabled and permits the output of a digital signal. In a case of “1”, the output control circuit 9 prohibits to output the digital signal. Further, when the second bit of the OPC information is “0”, the output control circuit 9 turns the switch circuit 11 off, preventing the output of an analog component signal. In case its “1”, the output control circuit 9 permits the output of the analog component signal. |
| US08073305B2 |
Recording medium containing moving picture data and additional information thereof and reproducing method and apparatus of the recording medium
The present invention relates to a recording medium containing moving picture data and additional information thereof and to reproducing method and apparatus of the recording medium. The present recording medium has script files including additional information about moving picture data, e.g., scene descriptive text and introduction of characters, etc. In addition, information linking each script file with a section of moving picture data to be presented with contents of the script file is included in a link data file or is contained in a filename of the script file. In reproduction of the recording medium, a script file linked with presently reproduced moving picture data section is determined and searched for based on the link data file or every filename of the script files, and contents of the found script file are presented together with the presently reproduced moving picture data. Furthermore, previously presented additional information is removed depending on data or filename of the found script file. |
| US08073304B2 |
Portable recorded television viewer
An approach to recording of television programming for later viewing makes use of a small and relatively inexpensive handheld portable viewer. One or more television programs are loaded into the viewer from a receiver, such as a cable television set-top box. Later, the user selects a loaded program for viewing on the handheld viewer |
| US08073295B2 |
Material for substrate mounting optical circuit-electrical circuit mixedly and substrate mounting optical circuit-electrical circuit mixedly
A material for an optical circuit-electrical circuit mixedly mounting substrate comprises a light permeable resin layer, and an optical circuit forming layer that is made of a light permeable resin of which refractive index increases (or decreases) when irradiated with an activating energy beam and is disposed adjacent to the light permeable resin layer, wherein a refractive index of a portion of the optical circuit forming layer is higher (or lower) than that of the light permeable resin layer when the material for the optical circuit-electrical circuit mixedly mounting substrate is irradiated with an activating energy beam so that said portion is irradiated. |
| US08073293B2 |
Sensing device having a large diameter D-shaped optical waveguide
An optical sensor formed from an optical waveguide having at least one core surrounded by a cladding and a large diameter generally D-shaped portion is disclosed. Axial or compressive strain across the D-shaped cross section may be determined by measuring the change in polarization or birefringence of the light output from the sensor. A layer responsive to a parameter may be disposed on a flat portion of the D-shaped portion of the sensor. The refractive index of the layer changes and/or the layer applies a strain on the sensor in response to the parameter. Changes in the refractive index of the layer alters the light output from the sensor, which is measured over time and correlated to the parameter. |
| US08073284B2 |
Thresholding gray-scale images to produce bitonal images
Thresholding gray-scale images to produce bitonal images. In one example embodiment, a method for thresholding a gray-scale image to produce a bitonal image includes several acts. First, a first portion of gray-scale pixels of the gray-scale image are thresholded based on a global threshold and edge strength information. Next, a second portion of the gray-scale pixels are thresholded based on the global threshold and local pixel information. Finally, a third portion of the gray-scale pixels are thresholded based on a local threshold. |
| US08073279B2 |
Automated atmospheric characterization of remotely sensed multi-spectral imagery
A method for processing remotely acquired imagery data includes identifying a region of lowest intensity in each of a plurality of different images for a plurality of different spectral bands and estimating first values for upwelling path radiance for each of the different images according to an intensity in the region in each of the different images. The method further includes selecting a visibility value and calculating second values for the upwelling path radiance for each of the different images, each of the second values based on a radiation transfer model, the radiation model generated using the visibility value and the meta-data. The method can also include comparing the first and the second values for the upwelling path radiance for the different images, adjusting the visibility value based on the comparison, and repeating the calculating, the comparing, and the adjusting steps until a termination condition is met. |
| US08073275B2 |
Image adaptation with target size, quality and resolution constraints
A computer-implemented method for image adaptation includes accepting a digitally-represented input image and a target size requirement. The input image is modified by optimally determining at least one of a resolution of the input image and a quality of the input image, the quality defining an amount of information allocated to represent each pixel value of the input image, so as to produce a compressed output image meeting the target size requirement. |
| US08073273B2 |
Moving image receiving apparatus
A moving image receiving apparatus has a moving image decoding apparatus (303) for decoding received moving image data. The moving image decoding apparatus (303) comprises: a media buffer (401) for storing moving image data; an intra-map memory (402) for storing an intra-map indicating a location of an intrablock included in an interframe of the moving image data; a pseudo intraframe generator (404) that, based on an intra-map stored in the intra-map memory (402), extracts an image of an intrablock included in an interframe in order from a latest interframe accumulated in the media buffer (401), combines images of intrablocks extracted from a plurality of interframes, and thereby generates a pseudo intraframe; and a decoder (406) that starts to decode moving image data, using a pseudo intraframe. The moving image receiving apparatus can thus decode received moving image data from an arbitrary frame. |
| US08073271B2 |
Method and device for condensed image recording and reproduction
A method for reproducing image data in a recording medium, and including selecting one or more camera digital data streams for reproduction, the one or more camera digital data stream including intra coded image data and/or predictive coded image data, the intra coded image data is capable of being a reference image for decoding the predictive coded image data, the predictive coded image data includes identifying information for identifying the reference image among images and is capable of being decoded based on the identified reference image by the identifying information, and decoding and reproducing the one or more camera digital data streams based on the selection. |
| US08073270B2 |
Image decoding apparatus and method
An image decoding apparatus is provided, including a parser and an AC decoder. The parser is provided for parsing a bit stream to acquire a first unit. The first unit includes a DC code and a plurality of AC codes respectively corresponding to a DC coefficient and AC coefficients for a first block of the image. The AC decoder generates a plurality of first AC coefficients for the first block by decoding the plurality of AC codes of the first unit, and determines whether the number of the plurality of first AC coefficients exceeds a predetermined parameter. If so, the AC decoder obtains a second unit of the bit stream corresponding to a second block following the first block by performing an AC bypassing process on the first unit. Each AC code comprises a Huffman code and a VLI code. |
| US08073269B2 |
Image decoding apparatus and image decoding method
An image decoding apparatus obtains the prediction error or a restored image of the encoding object image by inverse processing of the encoding processing of encoded image data encoded by motion compensation predictive coding, in which a restored image is obtained by adding the prediction error and a reference image, a reduced size image of the restored image is generated and stored along with the restored image; wherein, when an image is encoded by an encoding mode that uses reference pixels that include two times or more number of pixels of a region of a predetermined number of pixels, a reference image is obtained by reading out and expanding the stored reduced size image of the restored image, and when an image is encoded using reference pixels of less than two times a number of pixels of the predetermined number of pixels, the reference image is obtained from the stored restored image. |
| US08073267B2 |
Apparatus and method for transforming between discrete cosine transform coefficient and discrete wavelet transform coefficient
Provided is an apparatus and method for transforming between a DCT coefficient and a DWT coefficient. The transforming apparatus includes a first fundamental matrix calculating unit, a second fundamental matrix calculating unit, and a DWT coefficient calculating unit. The first fundamental matrix calculating unit calculates a first fundamental matrix by multiplying an N×N forward DWT transform matrix and an N×N matrix that has diagonal components corresponding to a transpose matrix of an 8×8 DCT transform matrix and the remaining components corresponding to an 8×8 matrix with all elements being zero. The second fundamental matrix calculating unit calculates a second fundamental matrix by multiplying an M×M matrix, which has diagonal components corresponding to an 8×8 DCT transform matrix and the remaining components corresponding to an 8×8 matrix with all elements being zero, and a transpose matrix of an M×M forward DWT transform matrix. The DWT coefficient calculating unit calculates a 2-dimensional 1-level DWT coefficient by multiplying the first fundamental matrix, a 2-dimensional 8×8 DCT transform coefficient, and the second fundamental matrix. |
| US08073266B2 |
Dynamic image encoding device, dynamic image decoding device, dynamic image encoding method, dynamic image decoding method, dynamic image encoding program, and dynamic image decoding program
An image encoding device including an input section inputting an input image constituting an encoding target; a reference image accumulation section accumulating a reference image; a reference image accompanying information accumulation section accumulating reference image accompanying information that accompanies the reference image; an encoding section modifying the reference image and the reference image accompanying information in accordance with the input image, generating a predictive signal for the input image, and encoding the input image; and an output section outputting, as encoded data, compressed data obtained by the encoding by the encoding section together with modification method information indicating a modification method for the reference image. Thereby, image information can be encoded/decoded more efficiently by generating an appropriate predictive signal. |
| US08073261B2 |
Camera tampering detection
A method and a module for identifying possible tampering of a camera view. The method comprising receiving an image for analysis from an image sequence, converting the received image into an edge image, generating a similarity value indicating a level of similarity between said edge image and a reference edge image, indicating possible tampering of the camera view if the similarity value is within a specified tampering range, and updating the reference edge image by combining a recently analyzed edge image with the reference edge image in case of each one of a predetermined number of consecutively analyzed images does not result in an indication of possible tampering. |
| US08073258B2 |
Using handwriting recognition in computer algebra
Systems and methods for use in handwriting recognition in computer algebra are provided. One disclosed method includes receiving handwriting input from a user via a handwriting input device, the handwriting input representing a mathematical expression. The method further includes, at a recognizer, processing the handwriting input to recognize a plurality of candidates and ranking the plurality of candidates to form initial candidate data. The method may further include, at an application program, scanning the plurality of candidates for segments that match application-level criteria, and adjusting a rank of one or more of the plurality of candidates based on the matching, to form a processed candidate list. The method may further include displaying the processed candidate list via a graphical user interface. |
| US08073256B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method therefor
Replacement target image data and image data for replacement are stored, character images of the replacement target image data and character images of the image data for replacement are extracted, and character recognition is performed for each page on character strings contained in the extracted character images. Then, a comparison is performed for each page of the character strings of pages of the replacement target image data and the character strings of pages of the image data for replacement, which have undergone character recognition, and a degree of similarity therebetween is determined. Then, based on a determination result, at least a portion of pages of the replacement target image data is replaced with at least a portion of pages of the image data for replacement. |
| US08073255B2 |
Keyword generation process
An apparatus includes a content acquisition unit configured to acquire content data contained in image data, an extraction unit configured to extract a keyword from the image data, a setting unit configured to set acceptance or rejection of modification of the keyword according to a keyword extracted by the extraction unit, and a storage unit configured to store the data of the content, the keyword, and the setting of acceptance or rejection of modification in association with each other. |
| US08073254B2 |
Methods and systems for detecting objects of interest in spatio-temporal signals
Methods and systems detect objects of interest in a spatio-temporal signal. According to one embodiment, a system processes a digital spatio-temporal input signal containing zero or more foreground objects of interest superimposed on a background. The system comprises a foreground/background separation module, a foreground object grouping module, an object classification module, and a feedback connection. The foreground/background separation module receives the spatio-temporal input signal and, according to one or more adaptable parameters, produces foreground/background labels designating elements of the spatio-temporal input signal as either foreground or background. The foreground object grouping module is connected to the foreground/background separation module and identifies groups of selected foreground-labeled elements as foreground objects. The object classification module is connected to the foreground object grouping module and generates object-level information related to the foreground object. The object-level information adapts the one or more adaptable parameters of the foreground/background separation module, via the feedback connection. |
| US08073251B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method including page-background process capability, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium for causing computer to function as the same
An image processing apparatus includes: a document type automatic classification section which determines whether input image data is image data for a text document or not; a newspaper document classification section which determines whether the input image data is image data for a newspaper document or not; a segmentation process section which identifies a page-background region in the input image data; and a color correction section for, if the input image data is classified as the text document and but not the newspaper document and if a page-background removal process is to be performed to the input image data, performing a first page-background removal process to the image data, but if the input image data is classified as the text document and the newspaper document, not performing the first page-background removal process to the image data. This makes it possible to prevent deterioration of visual sharpness of the text in the document image printed on the newspaper. |
| US08073250B2 |
Method and system for removal of red eye effects
A method of performing red eye correction in an image including storing a high resolution image on a server computer, transmitting a low resolution image derived from the high resolution image, from the server computer to a client computer, displaying the low resolution image on a display device connected to the client computer, receiving from a user an indication of a selected location within the displayed low resolution image, partially automatically defining an outline of an area in the low resolution image within which area red eye correction is to be carried out, by the client computer, based on the user's selected location, carrying out red eye correction on the low resolution image only within the area, by the client computer, and transmitting parameters of the area from the client computer to the server computer. A system is also described and claimed. |
| US08073245B2 |
Card identifying apparatus
A card identifying apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention has a light-receiving portion that reads a card on a pixel basis of a predetermined area as a unit including color information having brightness, RAM that stores image data comprised of a plurality of pixels read by the light-receiving portion, a pixel data increasing/decreasing processing section that increases/decreases the number of pixels of the image data, and card identifying means for identifying authentication of the card based on the image data increased/decreased by the pixel data increasing/decreasing processing section. |
| US08073243B2 |
Replacing image information in a captured image
Described herein are systems and methods for expanding upon the single-distance-based background denotation to seamlessly replace unwanted image information in a captured image derived from an imaging application so as to account for a selected object's spatial orientation to maintain an image of the selected object in the captured image. |
| US08073242B2 |
SEM system and a method for producing a recipe
This invention relates to a SEM system constructed to create imaging recipes or/and measuring recipes automatically and at high speed, and improve inspection efficiency and an automation ratio, and to a method using the SEM system; a method for creation of imaging recipes and measuring recipes in the SEM system is adapted to include, in a recipe arithmetic unit, the steps of evaluating a tolerance for an imaging position error level at an evaluation point, evaluating a value predicted of the imaging position error level at the evaluation point when any region on circuit pattern design data is defined as an addressing point, and determining an imaging recipe and a measuring recipe on the basis of a relationship between the tolerance for the imaging position error level at the evaluation point and the predicted value of the imaging position error level at the evaluation point. |
| US08073236B2 |
System and method for detecting blemishes on image sensor package
A system for detecting blemishes on an image sensor package includes an initialization module configured for initializing a suspected blemish standard mean value range and a blemish standard deviation value; an image capturing module configured for capturing an image produced by the image sensor package and acquiring a brightness value of each of pixels of the image; a calculation module configured for calculating a mean value and a standard deviation of differences of brightness values of a pixel and any other pixels surrounding the pixel; a comparison module configured for respectively comparing the mean value and the standard deviation with the suspected blemish standard mean value range and the blemish standard deviation value; and a marking module configured for marking the suspected blemish which is inside the suspected blemish standard mean value range and the blemish which is larger than the blemish standard deviation value. |
| US08073233B2 |
Image processor, microscope system, and area specifying program
An image processor that can suitably specify a predetermined area of a grayscale image is provided. An extreme value coordinate acquiring unit performs scanning on at least one of a plurality of pixels including a target pixel from the target pixel in accordance with gradient information corresponding to a change in a pixel value, and acquires a coordinate of the scanned pixel corresponding to an extreme value of the pixel value as a coordinate of an extreme value pixel corresponding to the target pixel. An area specifying unit labels each target pixel with an area identification mark used for specifying an area to which the each pixel belongs. The area specifying unit 103 labels each of different pixels corresponding to coordinates of extreme value pixels located close to each other within a particular range with an area identification mark indicating an identity of the area to which the pixels belong. Accordingly, the area to which each pixel belongs is able to be specified based on the area identification mark. |
| US08073232B2 |
Method and system for diaphragm segmentation in chest X-ray radiographs
A method and system for segmenting diaphragm regions in a chest X-ray radiograph is disclosed. The diaphragm regions are segmented based on left and right lung lobe regions and a heart region in the chest X-ray radiograph. A right diaphragm region is segmented in the chest X-ray radiograph based a boundary of the right lung lobe. A left diaphragm region is segmented in the chest X-ray radiograph based on the heart region and a boundary of the left lung lobe. |
| US08073226B2 |
Automatic detection and monitoring of nodules and shaped targets in image data
A method for detecting a nodule in image data including the steps of segmenting scanning information from an image slice to isolate lung tissue from other structures, resulting in segmented image data; extracting anatomic structures, including any potential nodules, from the segmented image data, resulting in extracted image data; and detecting possible nodules from the extracted image data, based on deformable prototypes of candidates generated by a level set method in combination with a marginal gray level distribution method. Embodiments of the invention also relate to an automatic method for detecting and monitoring a nodule in image data, where the method includes the steps of determining adaptive probability models of visual appearance of small 2D and large 3D nodules to control evolution of deformable models to get accurate segmentation of pulmonary nodules from image data; modeling a first set of nodules in image data with a translation and rotation invariant Markov-Gibbs random field (MGRF) of voxel intensities with pairwise interaction analytically identified from a set of training nodules; modeling a second subsequent set of nodules in image data by estimating a linear combination of discrete Gaussians; and integrating both models to guide the evolution of the deformable model to determine and monitor the boundary of each detected nodule in the image data. |
| US08073223B2 |
In vivo autonomous camera with on-board data storage or digital wireless transmission in regulatory approved band
A capsule camera apparatus includes a swallowable housing, a light source within the housing, a camera within the housing for capturing a first digital image and a second digital image of a view of the camera illuminated by the light source, a motion detector that detects a motion of the housing the first digital image and the second digital image, and a motion evaluator that selects a disposition of the second digital image, based on a metric on the motion. The disposition may include writing the second image into an archival storage or providing the second digital image to the outside by a wireless communication link. |
| US08073217B2 |
Structure segmentation via MAR-cut
A method for segmenting image data includes creating a plurality of marching regions within the medical image data. Region-wise segmentation is performed on the plurality of marching regions. Region-wise segmentation may include a normalized cut performed on a graph wherein each marching region represents a node. Region-wise segmentation may also include or may alternatively include a min cut performed on a graph wherein each marching region represents a node. Voxel-wise segmentation is performed on a subset of the plurality of marching regions. |
| US08073215B2 |
Automated detection of planes from three-dimensional echocardiographic data
A plane position for a standard view is detected from three-dimensional echocardiographic data. The position of the plane within the volume is defined by translation, orientation (rotation), and/or scale. Possible positions are detected and other possible positions are ruled out. The classification of the possible positions occurs sequentially by translation, then orientation, and then scale. The sequential process may limit calculations required to identify the plane position for a desired view. |
| US08073210B2 |
Methods of smoothing segmented regions and related devices
Automated methods for segmenting and smoothing volumes of interest, such as the mediastinal boundary of a lung. Devices and systems configured to perform the automated methods. |
| US08073208B2 |
Method and system for classifying scene for each person in video
A method of classifying a scene for each person in a video, the method including: detecting a face within input video frames; detecting a shot change of the input video frames; extracting a person representation frame in the shot; performing a person clustering in the extracted person representation frame based on time information; detecting a scene change by separating a person portion from a background based on face extraction information, and comparing the person portion and the background; and merging similar clusters from the extracted person representation frame and performing a scene clustering for each person. |
| US08073202B2 |
Method of bioimage data processing for revealing more meaningful anatomic features of diseased tissues
The present invention discloses a method for generating elevation maps or images of a tissue layer/boundary with respect to a fitted reference surface, comprising the steps of finding and segmenting a desired tissue layer/boundary; fitting a smooth reference surface to the segmented tissue layer/boundary; calculating elevations of the same or other tissue layer/boundary relative to the fitted reference surface; and generating maps of elevation relative to the fitted surface. The elevation can be displayed in various ways including three-dimensional surface renderings, topographical contour maps, contour maps, en-face color maps, and en-face grayscale maps. The elevation can also be combined and simultaneously displayed with another tissue layer/boundary dependent set of image data to provide additional information for diagnostics. |
| US08073201B2 |
Position/orientation measurement method and apparatus
This invention relates to a position/orientation measurement apparatus which can measure a position and orientation while achieving both high stability and precision. An image including indices laid out on a space is captured, and the indices are detected from the captured image. When a plurality of indices are detected, their distribution range is calculated, and an algorithm to be applied in position/orientation calculations is selected according to the size of the range (S3033, S3050, S3060). For example, when the indices are distributed over a sufficiently broad range, six parameters of the position and orientation of an image capture device are calculated as unknowns (S3070). As the distribution range of the indices becomes smaller, the degrees of freedom of unknown parameters to be calculated are reduced (S3035, S3025). |
| US08073199B2 |
Method for minimizing scintillation in dynamic images
A scintillation removal in an image of a scene is provided by collecting a plurality of images, dividing the plurality of images into subsets of images, averaging each of the subsets of images to produce corresponding averaged images, differencing the averaged images, masking the difference images, and combining the masked images to produce a composite image. |
| US08073194B2 |
Video entity recognition in compressed digital video streams
A method and system for detection of video segments in compressed digital video streams is presented. The compressed digital video stream is examine to determine synchronization points, and the compressed video signal is analyzed following detection of the synchronization points to create video fingerprints that are subsequently compared against a library of stored fingerprints. |
| US08073188B2 |
Image generation apparatus, computer readable medium, computer data signal, information generation method, information reading system, electronic pen and recording medium
An image generation apparatus includes an additional image information generation section and a superposition information generation section. The additional image information generation section generates additional image information in which control information, which controls operation of a machine for reading information recorded on a recording medium, is placed as second image information in partitions formed by two-dimensionally placing position information, which are unique to positions on the recording medium or unique to recording positions of a document image recorded on the recording medium as first image information. The superposition information generation section converts acquired document information into third image information and superposes the third image information and the additional image information generated by the additional image information generation section to generate superposition information. |
| US08073184B2 |
Speaker device
In a speaker device, cutting wiring electrically connected to a conductive wire of an electronic component and a voice coil, and the conductive wire and the wiring are electrically connected without a speaker terminal lug. The speaker device includes wiring electrically connected to the voice coil, an electronic component having a component wire, and a frame. The frame has a conductive wire fixing part for fixing the conductive wire, and the conductive wire is fixed to the conductive wire fixing part to be directly connected to the wiring. Thereby, even if a vibration is transmitted to the frame at the time of driving the speaker device, the conductive wire never vibrates, and the conductive wire does not pull the wiring. Therefore, the conductive wire and wiring are not cut. Also, since the conductive wire is the speaker terminal lug, cost of the speaker device can be reduced. |
| US08073183B2 |
Audio playing device
An audio playing device includes an audio player and a soft speaker. The soft speaker has features such as light weight and flexibility, and a combination of the soft speaker and the audio player is convenient for carrying and accommodation, such that diversified structures, for example, fan, umbrella, or flag etc. are designed by reason of the flexibility. |
| US08073182B2 |
Mounting apparatus for speaker
A mounting apparatus for mounting a speaker to a computer case, includes a base plate assembled on the computer case, a fixing member configured to fix two corners on a top edge of the speaker, and an elastic sheet configured to fix a bottom edge of the speaker. |
| US08073181B2 |
Passive headphone equalizing
An electrical equalization module that is second order or higher. The equalization module is used to achieve a desired frequency response for audio headphones. The equalization module includes capacitors or inductors. The equalization module is a bridged-T circuit, parallel RLC circuit, or series RLC circuit. |
| US08073179B2 |
MEMS microphone package with RF insensitive MEMS microphone chip
A micro-electro-mechanical-system microphone package includes a substrate, a micro-electro-mechanical-system microphone chip mounted on the substrate, and a cover attached to the substrate to cover the micro-electro-mechanical-system microphone chip. The cover is provided with a sound inlet through which the micro-electro-mechanical-system microphone receives external sound. The micro-electro-mechanical-system microphone chip includes a conductive base connected to a constant voltage, a shielding layer supported by the conductive base and connected to the constant voltage, a diaphragm disposed between the conductive base and the shielding layer, and a back plate also disposed between the conductive base and the shielding layer. |
| US08073178B2 |
Microphone
A microphone includes a casing having an open side and a lid mounted to and covering the open side of the casing. A circuit board and a mounting plate are mounted in the casing. An audio conversion unit and a switch are mounted on the circuit board and electrically connected with each other such that activation of the switch controls on/off of the audio conversion unit. The lid includes a pivotal portion pivotably engaged with an end of the mounting plate distant to the switch, allowing the other end of the lid to pivot relative to the mounting plate between an activating position for pressing against and activating the switch and a non-activating position disengaged from the switch. A returning member is mounted between the lid and the casing for returning the other end of the lid to the non-activating position. |
| US08073177B2 |
Film-type audio output apparatus
A film-type audio output apparatus includes an audio output device, at least one speaker unit, and at least one film. The at least one speaker unit is positioned at any side of the audio output device. The speaker unit can be an embedded speaker unit. The at least one film can be positioned at any or more places of an inner side and an outer side of the audio output device. When the speaker unit of the audio output device releases sound, the film positioned on the audio output device can get vibration of the sound so that the inside of the audio output device can generate resonance. Thus, the audio output apparatus can generate softer undertone and wider diapason. |
| US08073172B2 |
Speaker and wireless charging system using same
A speaker includes a casing, a sound emitting portion, a conductive coil received in the casing, and a circuit board. The casing includes a side wall. The sound emitting portion received in the casing includes a diaphragm including a first end fixed to the casing and an opposite second end. The conductive coil includes a front end fixed to the side wall, and a rear end fixedly connected to the second end of the diaphragm. The circuit board includes an audio processing module, a charging module and a controlling module. The audio processing module is configured for receiving an audio signal and controlling the conductive coil to vibrate in response to the received audio signal. The charging module is configured for electrifying the conductive coil using alternating current. The controlling unit is configured for selectively connecting the conductive coil to the audio processing module electrically or to the charging module. |
| US08073171B2 |
Method for making a wireless communication link, antenna arrangement and hearing device
So as to adapt an antenna arrangement (13) for RF-signal transmission in a hearing device (5) to different needs of different types of signal-transmission, the bandwidth BW of the antenna arrangement (13) is manually (M) and/or automatically (A) adjusted. |
| US08073168B2 |
Compact open baffle speaker system
A speaker system is presented. The speaker system has a front speaker driver, a shroud mounted to the front speaker driver substantially encasing a cylinder volume on a rear portion of the front speaker driver. A rear speaker driver having similar dimensions to the front speaker is axially aligned with the front speaker driver and secured at a determined distance behind the front speaker driver and the shroud providing an air gap between the shroud and the rear speaker driver. An acoustically treated enclosure encloses a volume on a rear portion of the rear speaker driver. Electrical connections connect the front speaker driver and the rear speaker driver to terminals for connection to an external driving source such that like excursions occur on the front speaker driver and the rear speaker driver when the external driving source is operable and the front speaker driver functions in an open baffle system. |
| US08073167B2 |
Comb sense microphone
A miniature microphone, comprising a diaphragm, supported for displacement in response to acoustic waves, from which a plurality of projections extend; a plurality of projections extending from a surface; a body, supporting the surface to maintain the plurality of projections from the diaphragm and the plurality of projections from the surface in close proximity; and an electromagnetic sensor adapted to sense an electromagnetic interaction between the plurality of projections from the diaphragm and the plurality of projections from the surface and produce an electrical signal in response thereto. The interaction may be detected substantially without inducing a force which tends to substantially displace the diaphragm, since the electrostatic force is substantially parallel to the diaphragm surface. |
| US08073165B2 |
Thermoacoustic device
A sound wave generator includes one or more carbon nanotube film. The carbon nanotube film includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes joined end to end by van der Waals attractive force therebetween. At least part of the one or more carbon nanotube film is supported by a supporting element. The one or more carbon nanotube film produces sound by means of the thermoacoustic effect. |
| US08073163B2 |
Thermoacoustic device
A sound wave generator includes a carbon nanotube film. The carbon nanotube film comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes entangled with each other. At least part of the carbon nanotube film is supported by a supporting element. The carbon nanotube film produces sound by means of the thermoacoustic effect. |
| US08073161B2 |
Audio apparatus
An audio apparatus includes an input, a first resistor, a first capacitor, an amplifier, a second resistor, a second capacitor, and an output. The input is used for inputting audio signals. The first resistor and the amplifier are serially connected to the input; wherein the first resistor is connected to the inverting input of the amplifier and the non-inverting input of the amplifier is connected to ground. The first capacitor has one end connected to a node between the first resistor and the inverting input of the amplifier, the other end connected to ground. The second resistor has one end connected to a node between the first resistor and the inverting input of the amplifier, the other end connected to the output of the amplifier. The second capacitor is connected between the inverting input and the output of the amplifier. The output is connected to the output of the amplifier, for outputting the audio signals after processing. |
| US08073151B2 |
Dynamically configurable ANR filter block topology
In an ANR circuit, possibly of a personal ANR device, each of a feedback ANR pathway in which feedback anti-noise sounds are generated from feedback reference sounds, a feedforward ANR pathway in which feedforward anti-noise sounds are generated from feedforward reference sounds, and a pass-through audio pathway in which modified pass-through audio sounds are generated from received pass-through audio sounds incorporate at least a block of filters to perform those functions; and may each incorporate one or more VGAs and/or summing nodes. For each of these pathways, ANR settings for selections of quantities and types of filters for each filter block, bit sizes of coefficients and/or coefficient values of each of the filters, along with still other ANR settings, are dynamically configurable wherein dynamic configuration is performed in synchronization with the transfer of one or more pieces of digital data along one or more of the pathways, at least within one or more of the filter blocks. |
| US08073149B2 |
Loudspeaker device
The loudspeaker device according to the present invention comprises a loudspeaker; a feedforward processing section for performing feedforward processing on an electric signal to be inputted to the loudspeaker based on a preset filter coefficient so that non-linear distortion which occurs from the loudspeaker is removed; and a feedback processing section for detecting vibration of the loudspeaker, and performing feedback processing on an electric signal concerning the vibration with respect to the electric signal to be inputted to the loudspeaker. The feedback processing section performs feedback processing on the electric signal concerning the vibration so that the non-linear distortion which occurs from the loudspeaker is removed and so that a frequency characteristic concerning the vibration of the loudspeaker becomes a predetermined frequency characteristic. |
| US08073139B2 |
Method of compressing a cryptographic value
A method of compressing a cryptographic value. The method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a secret value; (b) performing a cryptographic operation on the secret value to generate the cryptographic value; (c) determining whether the cryptographic value satisfies the pre-determined criteria; and (d) repeating the sequence of steps starting at step (a) until the cryptographic value satisfies the pre-determined criteria. |
| US08073138B2 |
Information input device, and electronic apparatus using same
An information input device is provided which is to make input of information by operating a disk-shaped rotating member. The device includes the rotating member (36) which is rotatable with one main side thereof being operated, rotation detecting means (23, 32) for detecting a rotation of the rotating member (36), a central switch activator (26) provided at the center of rotation of the rotating member (36), a central switch (270) which is activated by operating the central switch activator (26), and a plurality of peripheral switches (27) which are turned on when a portion, apart from the center of rotation, of the rotating member (36) is pressed. Rotating the rotating member and pressing the apart portion makes input of information, and operating the central switch activator sets the information thus entered. |
| US08073133B2 |
Echo canceler and echo canceling method
An echo canceler has an adaptive filter that generates an echo replica signal from a far-end signal. The filter coefficients of the adaptive filter are updated according to a residual error signal, which is obtained by subtracting the echo replica signal from a near-end signal to cancel echo. A background noise estimator estimates the near-end background noise power level from the residual error signal. A step size calculator uses the estimated near-end background noise power in determining the step size of the adaptive updating of the filter coefficients. When the estimated near-end background noise level is high, a small step size is used, which improves echo cancellation under these conditions. When the estimated near-end background noise level is low, a larger step size is used to permit rapid convergence of the filter coefficients. |
| US08073132B2 |
Echo canceler and echo canceling program
An echo canceller uses an adaptive filter to remove an echo of an incoming far-end signal from an outgoing near-end signal. Filter coefficients are calculated and updated while the far-end signal is active so as to minimize the residual echo. In addition, the far-end signal and near-end signal are sampled to generate simulated far-end and near-end signals, from which substitute filter coefficients are similarly calculated while the far-end signal is silent. When the far-end signal changes from silent to active, the substitute filter coefficients are swapped in as initial values for the filter coefficients, thereby speeding up subsequent convergence of the filter coefficients without significant added computational cost. |
| US08073125B2 |
Spatial audio conferencing
Audio in an audio conference is spatialized using either virtual sound-source positioning or sound-field capture. A spatial audio conference is provided between a local and remote parties using audio conferencing devices (ACDs) interconnected by a network. Each ACD captures spatial audio information from the local party, generates either one, or three or more, audio data streams which include the captured information, and transmits the generated stream(s) to each remote party. Each ACD also receives the generated audio data stream(s) transmitted from each of the remote parties, processes the received streams to generate a plurality of audio signals, and renders the signals to produce a sound-field that is perceived by the local party, where the sound-field includes the spatial audio information captured from the remote parties. A sound-field capture device is also provided which includes at least three directional microphones symmetrically configured about a center axis in a semicircular array. |
| US08073122B2 |
Message recall using digital rights management
Email messages are recalled in accordance with restrictions attached to the message. Use of the message is limited per the restrictions. Example restrictions include printing restrictions, forwarding restrictions, exporting restrictions, copying restrictions, reading restrictions, and a expiration time of the message. |
| US08073119B2 |
Shared usage telecommunications billing system and method
A telecommunications billing system includes a customer database, a usage database and a billing module. The customer database is configured to store subscription data identifying a pricing plan including an allotment of shared telecommunication units in connection with at least one of a first telecommunications service and a second telecommunications service. The usage database is configured to store a first set of telecommunications service usage data associated with the first telecommunications service and a second set of telecommunications service usage data associated with the second telecommunications service. The billing module is configured to calculate excess charges when a cumulative usage that includes a sum of the first set of telecommunications service usage data and the second set of telecommunications service usage data exceeds the allotment of shared telecommunications units. |
| US08073114B2 |
Message handling
The invention relates to handling a message addressed to a client terminal, which client terminal comprises a messaging client for handling said messages. The method comprises the steps of receiving (300) a message addressed to the client terminal, said message comprising content destined to an “upper level” application, the “upper level” application being an application, which is separate from the messaging client, obtaining (301, 204) capability information relating to said client terminal, checking (302, 303, 205)whether said capability information comprises information about “upper level” applications the client terminal supports, and conducting (304, 305) an action responsive to said checking phase. |
| US08073111B2 |
Systems and methods for providing 9-1-1 services to nomadic internet telephony callers
A system for facilitating 9-1-1 service delivery to internet telephony customers is provided. The system includes a server device for receiving a 9-1-1 call from a user device via a data network, where the 9-1-1 call are based on “9-1-1” digits dialed at the user device. The server device is configured to forward the received 9-1-1 call to an operator services interface operatively connected to the server device. |
| US08073108B2 |
X-ray generator and the use thereof in an X-ray examination device or X-ray inspection device
An X-ray generator having a housing and having components located inside the housing for generating one or more X-ray beams, wherein the housing is composed of a tube body that is made of ceramic. |
| US08073103B2 |
Systems and methods for optimization of on-line adaptive radiation therapy
Methods and systems are disclosed for radiation treatment of a subject involving one or more fractional treatments. A fractional treatment comprises: obtaining fractional image data pertaining to a region of interest of the subject; performing a fractional optimization of a radiation treatment plan to determine optimized values of one or more radiation delivery variables based at least in part on the fractional image data; and delivering a fraction of the radiation treatment plan to the region of interest using the optimized values of the one or more radiation delivery variables as one or more corresponding parameters of the radiation treatment plan. A portion of performing the fractional optimization overlaps temporally with a portion of at least one of: obtaining the fractional image data and delivering the fraction of the radiation treatment plan. |
| US08073094B2 |
Device and method for simulation of magnetohydrodynamics
A magnetohydrodynamic simulator that includes a plasma container. The magnetohydrodynamic simulator also includes an first ionizable gas substantially contained within the plasma container. In addition, the magnetohydrodynamic simulator also includes a first loop positioned adjacent to the plasma container, wherein the first loop includes a gap, a first electrical connection on a first side of the gap, a second electrical connection of a second side of the gap, and a first material having at least one of low magnetic susceptibility and high conductivity. The first loop can be made up from an assembly of one or a plethora or wire loop coils. In such cases, electrical connection is made through the ends of the coil wires. The magnetohydrodynamic simulator further includes an electrically conductive first coil wound about the plasma container and through the first loop. |
| US08073093B2 |
Phase synchronous device and method for generating phase synchronous signal
Disclosed are a phase synchronous device for improving jitter of an output signal and a method for generating a phase synchronous signal. The phase synchronous device includes a phase detector detecting a phase difference between first and second signals to output a phase detection signal and a locking signal; a control signal generator adjusting a slope of the phase detection signal in response to the locking signal; and a charge pumping unit outputting a control voltage in response to an output of the control signal generator. The speed of a control signal applied to the charge pumping unit is adjusted in response to the locking signal, so that a peak current is reduced, and thus jitter of an output signal is improved by being reduced or minimized. |
| US08073088B2 |
Method and communication device for interference cancellation in a cellular TDMA communication system
A system and method for interference cancellation of received data via a communication channel in a cellular communication system having corresponding channel impulse response coefficients. Linear filtering of the received data is performed and thereafter a non-linear detection is executed to get detected data by non-linear signal processing. Filter coefficients are determined for linear pre-filtering of the received data to suppress non-Gaussian interference. The pre-filtered data is further processed by non-linear detection to get detected data. |
| US08073085B1 |
Analog to digital converter bit width and gain controller for a wireless receiver
A gain controller for a wireless communication system sets the receiver gain during the initial time duration of a preamble, and for each subsequent symbol computes a new gain value, which is applied at the end of each symbol. An analog to digital converter resolution controller sets the resolution of the ADC to a high resolution during a preamble interval and a first symbol interval, and to a comparatively lower resolution thereafter until the end of the frame. When a new zone is entered, the first symbol of the new zone is sampled at a higher resolution than the subsequent symbols. |
| US08073084B1 |
Correlation apparatus and method for accommodating spreading code frequency offset
An apparatus and method for correlating a signal over a correlation interval while accommodating spreading code frequency offset is described. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a plurality of correlators, where each correlator forms a correlation result corresponding to a unique code frequency offset hypothesis. Each correlator selects samples from a tapped delay line at a tap position moved along the delay line at a rate corresponding to the correlator unique code frequency offset hypothesis. |
| US08073072B2 |
Multiple-input multiple-output system and method
A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system can transmit on multiple antennas simultaneously and receive on multiple antennas simultaneously. Unfortunately, because a legacy 802.11a/g device is not able to decode multiple data streams, such a legacy device may “stomp” on a MIMO packet by transmitting before the transmission of the MIMO packet is complete. Therefore, MIMO systems and methods are provided herein to allow legacy devices to decode the length of a MIMO packet and to restrain from transmitting during that period. These MIMO systems and methods are optimized for efficient transmission of MIMO packets. |
| US08073070B2 |
Multi-pilot generation method and detection method in multi-antenna communication system
Provided are a multi-pilot generation method and a detection method in a multi-antenna communication system. In the method, a transmission side superimposes a first preamble sequence and a third preamble sequence to generate a second preamble sequence, which is subjected to serial/parallel conversion before the first preamble sequence and the second preamble sequence are successively transmitted from a plurality of antennas by time division. A reception side receives the first preamble sequence and the second preamble sequence by a plurality of antennas, separates the third preamble sequence from the second preamble sequence by a spatial division process, and performs a pilot correlation process by using the first preamble sequence and the separated third preamble sequence. |
| US08073063B2 |
Methods and systems for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) multiple zone partitioning
Aspects of the invention include methods and devices for inserting data and pilot symbols into Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) frames having a time domain and a frequency domain. A method involves inserting in at least one zone of a first type a two dimensional array of data and pilot symbols in time and frequency and inserting in at least one zone of a second type a two dimensional array of data and pilot symbols in time and frequency. In some implementations the zone of the first type includes common pilot symbols that can be detected by all receivers receiving the OFDM frame. In some implementations the zone of the second type includes dedicated pilot symbols that are only detectable by a receiver that is aware of pre-processing used to encode the dedicated pilot symbols. |
| US08073061B2 |
Radio communication apparatus and radio communication method
There is provided a radio communication device capable of suppressing increase of power consumption of a relay station device. In this device, a channel information extraction unit (31) extracts channel information (channel information in the mobile station device of the signal transmitted from the base station device) from the reception signal from a base station device; a sub carrier selection unit (32) selects a sub carrier of low received quality according to the channel information; a relay data extraction unit (33) extracts data to be relay-transmitted according to the selection result in the sub carrier selection unit (32); and a sub carrier allocation unit (35) allocates data to be relay-transmitted to the sub carrier for relay transmission. |
| US08073059B2 |
Picture encoding method and picture decoding method
A picture encoding method of the present invention is a picture encoding method of predictively encoding an input picture with reference to pictures stored in a picture buffer, decoding the encoded input picture, judging whether or not the decoded picture is a picture for reference and whether or not the decoded picture is a picture for output which needs to be stored until its display time, and storing, in the picture buffer, the picture for reference and the picture for output based on the determination result. |
| US08073058B2 |
Memory device and device and method for detecting motion vector
This invention relates to a memory device and the like that are preferably applied to a case where motion vector is detected using a block matching. Pixel data of a first frame (a reference frame) is stored in a unit A of memory cell array portion 20a in straight binary format. Pixel data of a second frame (a search frame) is stored in a unit B of memory cell array portion 20b in two's complement format. The units A and B have a plurality of memory cells, respectively. Word lines WL related to the pixel data of the first and second frames are simultaneously activated so that charges accumulated in capacitors of each of the memory cells can be combined along one bit line BL. A/D converter 53 outputs a digital signal (absolute difference value) having a value that corresponds to a total amount of charges. When reading the pixel data, a subtraction and a conversion into the absolute difference value are simultaneously performed. |
| US08073055B2 |
Biased motion vector interpolation for reduced video artifacts
In a video processing system where motion vectors are estimated for a subset of the blocks of data forming a video frame, and motion vectors are interpolated for the remainder of the blocks of the frame, a method includes determining, for at least at least one block of the current frame for which a motion vector is not estimated (204), whether a block to the left or right has an estimated zero motion vector (206), determining whether the at least one block had an estimated zero motion vector in a previous frame (206), and if both determinations are affirmative (208), providing a predetermined motion vector for the at least one block. The predetermined motion vector may be a zero motion vector (208). |
| US08073053B2 |
Image encoding device that encodes an arbitrary number of moving pictures
An image encoding device encodes moving pictures, a moving picture count acquisition unit acquires a moving picture count of encoding target moving pictures corresponding to an arbitrary number of input moving pictures, a moving picture acquisition unit acquires one or plural encoding target moving pictures, a processing method designation unit, in accordance with the acquired count, designates processing methods relating to encoding processing that affect a computation amount, and an encoding processing unit performs encoding processing with respect to the acquired one or plural moving pictures, using time division when the plural moving pictures are plural. The encoding unit performs encoding processing using the designated methods. |
| US08073050B2 |
Encoding device and encoding method
When creating SBR data in a the low-resolution mode, an encoding device divides a high-frequency component of input audio data being encoded by SBR method into a high-frequency band and a low-frequency band, and calculates an average high-frequency power value that indicates the average value of the power in the high-frequency band of the audio data, as well as an average low-frequency power value that indicates the average value of the power in the low-frequency band of the audio data. The encoding device then compares the average high-frequency power value and the average low-frequency power value, selecting the smaller of the two. The encoding device then corrects the power of the high-frequency component of the signal being encoded by the SBR method so that it equals the selected average power value. |
| US08073042B1 |
Recursive range controller
A method and apparatus for detecting out-of-specification data streams and voltage controller oscillator operation. Data may be received over evaluation periods. Each evaluation period is segmented into n sub-periods. Each n sub-period has the same length. Each n sub-period spans a portion of the data. The corresponding data period starting at each of the n sub-period is evaluated. The sub-period interval counts may be stored in a first-in-first-out register. |
| US08073039B2 |
Reception apparatus using spread spectrum communication scheme
In a reception apparatus, a matched filter that has conventionally been arranged in a searcher unit is mounted on an acquisition unit together with a large scale memory. The large scale memory once stores reception chip signals, and thereafter outputs them to the matched filter and to the delay profile calculation unit. A setting register receives an acquisition signal and outputs it to the matched filter. The matched filter performs acquisition of the reception chip signals outputted from the large scale memory, and outputs a despread timing signal to a despread circuit, a code generation circuit and the delay profile calculation unit. |
| US08073037B2 |
Base station apparatus and response signal receiving method
A wireless communication apparatus capable of minimizing the degradation of the separation characteristic of response signals to be code-multiplexed. In the apparatus, a control part (209) controls both a ZC sequence to be used for the primary spread in a spreading part (214) and a Walsh sequence to be used for the secondary spread in a spreading part (217) according to the associations between sequences and CCEs established in accordance with the probability of using response signal physical-resources corresponding to CCE numbers. The spreading part (214) performs the primary spread of the response signal by use of the ZC sequence established by the control part (209). The spreading part (217) performs the secondary spread of the response signal, to which CP has been added, by use of the Walsh sequence established by the control part (209). |
| US08073033B2 |
Optical semiconductor device and driving method thereof
Objects are achieved by an optical semiconductor device comprising: a structure 61 including a substrate 50, a diffraction grating 52a, an active layer 54 and a refractive index control layer 60; and an laser element 100 including an electrode 92a for the active layer, an electrode 92b for the refractive index control layer and an electrode 92c for switching, wherein a pre-bias current is previously supplied from the electrode 92a for the active layer to the active layer 54 in a state where a switching current is not supplied from the electrode 92c for switching to the active layer 54, and then while a current Idrive for activation is supplied from the electrode 92a for the active layer to the active layer 54, the laser element 100 is turned on by supplying the switching current Isw from the electrode 92c for switching to a part of the active layer 54, as well as turning off the laser element 100 by halting the supply of the switching current Isw. |
| US08073031B2 |
Laser diode with improved heat dissipation
A laser diode structure that includes two different insulator layers, one to maintain good optical confinement, typically located at the sides of the laser ridge, and another to improve the heat dissipation properties, typically located on the etched surfaces away from the ridge. |
| US08073030B2 |
Shunt driver circuit for semiconductor laser diode
A driver circuit for the laser diode is disclosed. The driver circuit has the shunt configuration with a switching transistor connected in parallel to the laser diode to shunt the current flowing in the laser diode. In the present invention, the bias for the switching transistor is varied as the operating temperature of the laser diode. In addition, the gate bias for the switching transistor is compensated for the temperature dependence of the switching transistor. |
| US08073025B2 |
Laser light source
The present invention relates to a laser light source having a structure for narrowing a wavelength bandwidth of output light. The laser light source comprises, at least, a laser resonator, a pumping light source, an optical path switch device, a diffraction grating, and a total reflection mirror. The laser resonator has a light amplifying fiber for output of emission light arranged on a resonance optical path thereof. The optical path switch device has a first port and a second port on the resonance optical path of the laser resonator. The diffraction grating spectrally separates the emission light outputted from the second port. The total reflection mirror reflects a specific wavelength component out of wavelength components spectrally separated by the diffraction grating, so as to feed the specific wavelength component back to the second port. Particularly, the optical path switch device controls a light transmittable state of the emission light outputted from the light amplifying fiber, at the second port. |
| US08073020B2 |
Wavelength tuning apparatus and method thereof
A wavelength tuning apparatus and method that maintain highest efficiency with a single angle manipulation without changing a position of input/output light. For this, the wavelength tuning apparatus and method include a transmission-type diffraction grating and a mirror that are constructed in one-body type so that a light path that enables an optimal efficiency diffraction angle of the diffraction grating can be formed, and rotates the one-body construction to obtain a desired wavelength. Accordingly, efficiency and precision of manipulation and control can be increased, and costs can be reduced. |
| US08073019B2 |
810 nm ultra-short pulsed fiber laser
Methods and systems for generating ultra-short fiber laser pulses are disclosed, including generating a signal laser pulse from a seed fiber laser; using a pulse stretcher comprising an input and an output, wherein the signal laser pulse is coupled into the input of the pulse stretcher; using a Tm:ZBLAN fiber comprising an input and an output, wherein the stretched signal laser pulse from the output of the pulse stretcher is coupled into the input of the Tm:ZBLAN fiber; using a pump laser coupled to either the output or the input of the Tm:ZBLAN fiber to amplify the stretched signal laser pulse; and using a compressor comprising an input and an output, wherein the output of the Tm:ZBLAN fiber is coupled to the input of the compressor and the output of the compressor emits the amplified signal laser pulse. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08073018B2 |
Laser pulse generating apparatus and method
Jitter and waveform are improved by reducing the wavelength spectrum width of a laser beam pulse. In a laser pulse generating apparatus according to the present invention, a semiconductor laser device, a polarization maintaining optical fiber, an optical reflection filter having bandpass characteristics using an FBG whose passband can be changed by changing a tension, and an optical isolator are connected via an optical fiber. A driving circuit drives the semiconductor laser device to generate a pulse. The optical reflection filter performs filtering by transmitting a specific component of the wavelength spectrum of the pulse, reflects a portion of the optical power, and outputs the remaining optical power except the reflected portion to the outside via the optical isolator. The reflected pulse is fed back to the semiconductor laser device to thereby reduce the wavelength spectrum width of the laser beam, and improve the jitter and waveform. |
| US08073016B2 |
Apparatus and method for channel coding and multiplexing in CDMA communication system
A channel coding and multiplexing apparatus and method in a CDMA communication system is disclosed. In the channel coding and multiplexing apparatus, each of a number of radio frame matchers (equal in number or greater than the number of transport channels) has a radio frame segmenter and segments each of transport channel frames that may have different transmission time intervals to radio frames. A multiplexer multiplexes the radio frames to form a serial data frame. |
| US08073013B2 |
Method and apparatus for collecting survey data via the internet
A method and apparatus for conducting a survey independent of location and participant schedules is disclosed herein. An exemplary method of the present invention comprises sending a multi-media data file to a plurality of survey participants, receiving reactionary feedback from a plurality of participants via a wide area network, and compiling the reactionary feedback to generate the survey results. Subsequently, a viewer synchronously displays the compiled survey results with the corresponding streamed media from the multi-media data file. |
| US08073009B2 |
Adaptive allocation of I/O bandwidth using a configurable interconnect topology
Apparatus and methods allocate I/O bandwidth of an electrical component, such as an IC, by configuring an I/O interface into various types of interfaces. In an embodiment of the present invention, an I/O interface is configured into either a bi-directional contact, unidirectional contact (including either a dedicated transmit or dedicated receive contact) or a maintenance contact used in a maintenance or calibration mode of operation. The I/O interface is periodically reconfigured to optimally allocate I/O bandwidth responsive to system parameters, such as changing data workloads in the electronic components. System parameters include, but are not limited to, 1) number of transmit-receive bus turnarounds; 2) number of transmit and/or receive data packets; 3) user selectable setting 4) number of transmit and/or receive commands; 5) direct requests from one or more electronic components; 6) number of queued transactions in one or more electronic components; 7) transmit burst-length setting, 8) duration or cycle count of bus commands, and control strobes such as address/data strobe, write enable, chip select, data valid, data ready; 9) power and/or temperature of one or more electrical components; 10) information from executable instructions, such as a software application or operating system; 11) multiple statistics over respective periods of time to determine if using a different bandwidth allocation would result in better performance. The importance of a system parameter may be weighted over time in an embodiment of the present invention. |
| US08073008B2 |
Subnetwork synchronization and variable transmit synchronization techniques for a wireless medical device network
A fluid infusion system as described herein includes a number of local “body network” devices, such as an infusion pump, a handheld monitor or controller, a physiological sensor, and a bedside or hospital monitor. The body network devices can be configured to support communication of status data, physiological information, alerts, control signals, and other information between one another. In addition, the body network devices can be configured to support networked communication of status data, physiological information, alerts, control signals, and other information between the body network devices and “external” devices, systems, or communication networks. The networked medical devices are configured to support a variety of wireless data communication protocols for efficient communication of data within the medical device network. In addition, the wireless medical devices may be configured to support a number of dynamically adjustable wireless data communication modes to react to current operating conditions, application-specific data content, or other criteria. |
| US08073007B2 |
Method and apparatus for intertechnology IPv6 address configuration
Methods and apparatus for resolving incompatible network configurations are described herein. A mobile device having peripheral devices connected thereto receives a request from a peripheral device, determines whether the address configuration protocol associated with the peripheral device is compatible with the network to which the mobile device is connected, and if not compatible, the mobile device translates the address configuration protocol of the peripheral device to one compatible with the network. |
| US08073005B1 |
Method and apparatus for configuring signal lines according to idle codes
A method and apparatus for configuring signal lines with idle codes is disclosed. According to one embodiment, data transmission system (100) may include encoders (112, 114, 116 and 118) that transmit data over signal line lanes (Lane 0 to Lane n). In an idle state, an encoder (112, 114, 116 and 118) may output one of at least two idle codes (IDLE A and IDLE B). One idle code (IDLE A) may indicate a first lane of a group of lanes. Another idle code (IDLE B) may indicate subsequent lanes of a group of lanes. |
| US08072997B2 |
Packet receiving management method and network control circuit with packet receiving management functionality
A method of network packet receiving management includes: providing a buffer unit which includes a plurality of data blocks with a first packet number and a plurality of data blocks with a second number of packets, wherein the data blocks with the first packet number are for storing a plurality of first network packets according to a first array data structure, respectively, the first array data structure has a plurality of first packet descriptors corresponding to the first packet number, and the data blocks with the second number of packets do not correspond to any packet descriptor; and when a first data block corresponding to a first packet descriptor successively receives a first network packet, changing the first packet descriptor corresponding to the first data block to indicate a second data block which does not correspond to any packet descriptor. |
| US08072984B2 |
Ethernet switching and forwarding method, system and apparatus
An Ethernet switching and forwarding method, and at least one Ethernet forwarding mode of standard Ethernet forwarding, multiplex Ethernet forwarding, layer-3 routing and forwarding, across-VLAN multicast forwarding plane, point-to-point VLAN forwarding, or point-to-point double VLAN forwarding. The method includes: an Ethernet message entering a user side port or a network side port; processing, by the port, the message to provide the message with a VLAN tag allocated uniformly by the port; determining, by the port, a forwarding mode for the message and sending the message to a corresponding forwarding plane; determining, by the forwarding plane, an egress port of the message and processing the specific Ethernet control message in accordance with a control message capturing policy table; and forwarding the message to the egress port and encapsulating the message in accordance with an attribute table of the egress port. |
| US08072976B2 |
Packet routing and vectoring based on payload comparison with spatially related templates
An Internet infrastructure with network devices and end point devices containing service module manager and service modules, that supports packet routing and vectoring based on payload comparison with spatially related templates. The network device that supports packet content analysis on arriving packet, consists of a plurality of packet switched interface circuitries, user interface circuitry, local storage comprising the service module manager software and a plurality of local service modules, and processing circuitry communicatively coupled to each of the packet switched interfaces, local storage and user interface circuit. The processing circuitry executes service module manager and thus analyzes the packet content and applies one or more selected local service module processing using the packet. The service module manager contains, for comparisons, header templates, spatially related payload trigger templates and spatially related payload supplemental templates. The spatially related templates attempt to identify a target data with certainty. The processing circuitry takes one or more actions on the packet of a target data, by applying selected service modules. |
| US08072974B1 |
Method and apparatus for improving packet processing performance using multiple contexts
A network processing device having multiple processing engines capable of providing multi-context parallel processing is disclosed. The device includes a receiver and a packet processor, wherein the receiver is capable of receiving packets at a predefined packet flow rate. The packet processor, in one embodiment, includes multiple processing engines, wherein each processing engine is further configured to include multiple context processing components. The context processing components are used to provide multi-context parallel processing to increase throughput. |
| US08072967B2 |
VoIP call routing information registry including hash access mechanism
A VoIP call routing information registry including a hash access mechanism. In particular implementations, a method includes receiving a telephone number; computing a hash of the telephone number; accessing a registry wherein the registry comprises a plurality of entries, and wherein each entry comprises a hash of a telephone number and data associated with that telephone number, or a prefix and data associated with that prefix; searching the registry for a matching entry; and until a matching entry is found or the telephone number has been stripped down to a minimum number of digits, stripping the last digit of the telephone number, re-computing a hash of the stripped-down telephone number, and re-searching the registry for a matching entry. |
| US08072966B2 |
Method and system of partitioning a signaling protocol
Systems and methods for partitioning session initial protocol (SIP) processing among execution units are disclosed. An exemplary device comprises: a plurality of execution units and a plurality of session initiation protocol (SIP) processes. The SIP processes comprise: a SIP transport process; a SIP location server process; and a plurality of SIP core processes. The SIP transport process executes on a first one of the execution units. The SIP location server executes on a second one of the execution units. Each of the SIP core processes executes on a different remaining one of the execution units. An exemplary method comprises: executing a SIP transport process on a first one of the execution units; executing a SIP location server on a second one of the execution units, and executing each of the SIP core processes on a different remaining one of the execution units. |
| US08072964B2 |
Communication apparatus for connecting to another apparatus in accordance with occupancy of beacon slots and communication method for the same
In a communication system in which a plurality of communication apparatuses form a wireless network and communicate with each other, a communication apparatus establishes timing synchronization by transmitting and receiving a beacon to and from other communication apparatuses. The communication apparatus determines whether or not beacon slots for transmitting the beacon are occupied, and if the beacon slots are occupied, connects to another communication apparatus without transmitting the beacon. |
| US08072960B2 |
Networking method of single frequency network in TD-SCDMA system
A networking method of single frequency network in a TD-SCDMA system includes the steps of: (1) deciding a networking configuration scheme by a universal mobile telecommunications system terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN), (2) based on the decided networking configuration scheme, configuring an intra-frequency cell info list information element and an inter-frequency cell info list information element in system information and measurement control messages by the UTRAN, (3) transmitting signals over a servicing area by the UTRAN, and (4) receiving the system information and measurement control messages by a user equipment (UE) from the UTRAN, acquiring working mode configuration information of each frequency and each timeslot of a serving cell and neighboring cells, and judging whether there are duplicated cell information elements in the intra-frequency cell info list information element or the inter-frequency cell info list information element. |
| US08072958B2 |
Reverse link pilot integrated with block codes
A technique for encoding digital communication signals. Data symbols are augmented in pilot symbols inserted at predetermined positions. The pilot augmented sequence is then fed to a deterministic error correction block encoder, such as a turbo product coder, to output a coded sequence. The symbols in the error correction encoded sequence are then rearranged to ensure that the output symbols derived from input pilot symbols are located at regular, predetermined positions. As a result, channel encoding schemes can more easily be used which benefits from power of two length block sizes. |
| US08072957B2 |
System and method for incorporating dynamic orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing into wireless network protocols
A method for incorporating dynamic orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (“OFDM”) in wireless networks is provided. Information about a wireless channel between a transmitter and one or more receivers communicating according to a wireless protocol is acquired. Dynamic OFDM allocations are generated based on the acquired information about the wireless channel. The dynamic OFDM allocations are transmitted to the one or more receivers according to the wireless protocol. |
| US08072951B2 |
Method and system for providing routing protocols in a frequency hopping spread spectrum network
A method and system for providing a network and routing protocol for utility services are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises discovering a utility network, wherein a utility device (for example, a constant powered meter) sends network discovery messages to find the utility network. Neighboring meters are discovered and the device listens for advertised routes for one or more networks from the neighbors. The device is then registered with one or more utility networks, receiving a unique address for each network registration. Also illustrated in this invention disclosure is how each device of a class of devices (for example, battery powered meter) finds and associates itself with another device (for example, constant powered meter). The constant powered meter also registers its associate battery powered meter with the utility networks. The constant powered meter registers itself with the access points and the upstream nodes in the path out of each network. Each upstream node can independently make forwarding decisions on both upstream and downstream packets i.e. choose the next hop according to the best information available to it. The constant powered meter can sense transient link problems, outage problems, and traffic characteristics. It uses the information to find the best route out of and within each network. Each network device thus maintains multi-egress, multi-ingress network routing options both for itself and the device(s) associated with it. |
| US08072950B2 |
Collaborative mobile ad hoc network infrastructure
A system for providing collaboration among a plurality of devices in a mobile ad hoc network is disclosed. The system consists of a module within each of the devices that is operable to perform login, synchronization, data loss recovery, and conflict avoidance and resolution functions. |
| US08072945B2 |
Link layered networks
A method and system for optimizing and keeping operational a wireless link layered network in which a system control and modifying message (SCMM) is elicited from nodes receiving information packets and based upon whether the node originating the SCMM is from a link layer level which is equal to or less than the link layer level eliciting the SCMM, rerouting or adjusting future transmissions can be effected or items like a current time at a receiving node and a most recent utilization rate of a receiving node can be adjusted, recorded or set. |
| US08072944B2 |
Staggering forward and reverse wireless channel allocation timing
An apparatus and method for staggering forward and reverse channel time slot allocation in a wireless communication allows a wireless communication unit, such as a base station processor or a subscriber access unit, to transmit a return message in less than a full time slot interval. Forward and reverse channel allocation occurs as a cycle of time slots occurring at periodic timing intervals. Transmission of a wireless frame carrying a message payload occurs at the beginning of the time slot. Since the forward and reverse channel allocation cycles need not be concurrent, or in phase, these cycles may be staggered with respect to each other. By staggering the forward and reverse channel allocation timing interval, the return message is sent after only a portion of a full timing interval, rather than being delayed up to one complete timing interval. |
| US08072942B2 |
Code channel management in a wireless communications system
Systems and techniques are disclosed relating to communications. The systems and techniques involve separating a plurality of subscriber stations into first and second groups, a different first code from a plurality of orthogonal codes to each of the subscriber stations in the first group, assigning each of the subscriber stations in the first group either its allocated first code or a first sub-code derived from its allocated first code, to support a dedicated channel, and assigning a second sub-code derived from one of the first codes to support a communications channel to one of the subscriber stations in the second group. A second code may be used to support a dedicated channel to the second subscriber station. |
| US08072941B2 |
Method and apparatus of system scheduler
Briefly, according to embodiments of the invention, there is provided a wireless communication system and a method to receive by a base station from a first mobile station a first chain of data symbols transmitted by at least two antennas and having a first transmit diversity, to receive from a second mobile station a second chain of data symbols transmitted by at least two antennas and having a second transmit diversity. Both first and second chains of data symbols are transmitted from the first and second mobile stations at the same time, modulated according to an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) scheme and encoded by a space time block codes scheme. |
| US08072938B2 |
Method for handover in mobile communication system
A method and apparatus is provided to enable a network to more efficiently determine whether additional reverse links can be assigned. Various methods are presented that allow a network to determine either the transmission power or power headroom of a mobile terminal based on information that is provided at session startup and information provided periodically. The number of additional reverse links that can be assigned to the mobile can then be estimated from the transmission power and head-room of the mobile terminal. |
| US08072931B2 |
Base station, communication terminal, transmission method and reception method
A base station includes: means configured to manage frequency blocks; means configured to determine, for each frequency block, scheduling information for assigning one or more resource blocks to a communication terminal being in a good channel state; means configured to generate a control channel including the scheduling information for each frequency block; and means configured to frequency multiplexing control channels within the system frequency band and to transmit it. In addition, the base station transmits the control channel by separating a non-specific control channel to be decoded by a non-specific communication terminal and a specific control channel to be decoded by a communication terminal to which one or more resource blocks are assigned. |
| US08072930B2 |
Communication unit, system and method for saving power therein
A communication unit comprises a receiver for receiving a message sent on an allocation channel, packet identifying logic, capable of identifying a data type of the received message, operably coupled to buffer logic for buffering data packets to be sent to the second communication unit. In an active mode of operation, the receiver of the communication unit is capable of intermittently receiving the message sent on the allocation channel and transition to continuously receive the message sent on the allocation channel in response to either: the buffer logic identifying that data packets are to be transferred to the second communication unit; or the packet identifying logic receiving a communication resource allocation message and identifying resource allocation data therein. |
| US08072929B2 |
Method, apparatus, software and system for handling intercell interference
A method of handling intercell interference applies physical layer (L1) scheduling decisions to ensure that L1 hybrid automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) retransmissions will not experience the same interference conditions. The retransmission is scheduled in a sub-frame portion that does not include previously tracked allocations of a plurality of users. Potential intercell interference is also handled by applying a time-shift of the L1 H-ARQ retransmissions, such that the bit positions impacted by inter-cell interference will change and thus assure a more robust performance. |