| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08109376B2 |
Device for operating a shifting element of a drive mechanism
A device for operating a shifting element of a drive mechanism, having a piston positioned in a piston space to slide between first and second end positions. The piston is operated hydraulically and depends on the hydraulic pressure in the piston space and a force of a resetting mechanism acting on the piston, which opposes the activating force that is equivalent to the hydraulic pressure in the piston space. The transmission capacity of the shifting element is reduced by a force acting on the piston in the direction of the first end position and is increased by a force acting on the piston in the direction of its second end position. The piston is held by a mechanical holder against a force acting on the piston in the direction of the first end position in at least one preset position which is different from the first end position. |
| US08109367B2 |
Counterweight and suspension for an elevator without an engine room
In an elevator, with an elevator car, a counterweight, a drive unit arranged below the counterweight and provided with a drive pulley, and an elevator support device, which is guided over the drive pulley and at least one deflecting pulley and which supports and moves the elevator car and the counterweight in opposite directions, at least one run of the support device, which leads to the drive pulley, is led through a cut-out in the counterweight. |
| US08109366B2 |
Lubricating structure for static hydraulic continuously variable transmission
A lubricating structure for a static hydraulic continuously variable transmission includes a central oil path axially formed at a center of a shaft of the transmission. A circumferential oil path is arranged at an inner circumferential part of a retainer between the retainer and an outer circumferential part of the transmission shaft. A diametrical oil path is in communication with the circumferential oil path and the central oil path of the shaft of said transmission. The diametrical oil path is provided with an orifice. A lubricant oil ejection hole is arranged at the retainer to eject lubricant oil from the circumferential oil path. |
| US08109359B2 |
Ear protector
The invention describes an ear protector (1) comprising a resilient band (2), the free ends of which each have arranged thereon an earplug (4). The band (2) includes a first area (2a) whose center line (2a′) merges under an angle α with an additional area (2b). When in use, the band is pivotable in the user's ears about an axis of rotation (3′) extending through the earplugs (4). In order to implement such an ear protector in a structurally simple manner such that noise disturbance caused when the band (2) rubs on a piece of clothing can be reduced or eliminated, it is suggested to implement a chin area (2a) and a cheek area (2b) between which the angle α is provided, said angle α ranging from 35° to 90°, preferably from 45° to 70° and even more preferably from 50° to 60°. The length (L) of the cheek area (2b) is dimensioned such that an extension of the center line (2a′) of the chin area (2a) and a line (5), which is parallel to said center line (2a′) and which extends through the point of penetration (D) of the axis of rotation (3′) through the band (2), are spaced apart at a distance (A) which ranges from 30 to 80 mm, preferably from 40 to 60 mm and even more preferably from 45 to 55 mm. |
| US08109357B1 |
Method and apparatus for liquid driven turbine engine for vehicles
Method and apparatus for a propulsion system for a vehicle or the like having a two part turbine system comprising a main turbine portion for driving the vehicle drive train and a smaller, accessory turbine system to provide auxiliary power for other components of the engine and vehicle. The turbines are both liquid driven by having a two-stage pressure system wherein the first stage raises the pressure to approximately 50 psi and the second stage system raises the pressure to approximately 3,000 to 5500 psi which pressurized fluid is then sprayed or injected onto the blades of a turbine so as to make the turbines rotate about a central drive axle. The fluid chosen as the hydraulic fluid of the present invention is extended life antifreeze. |
| US08109356B2 |
Auxiliary hydraulic flow control system for a small loader
A vehicle having an auxiliary power system for supplying power to an implement is disclosed. The power system includes a power enablement device having an enablement component that allows or prevents supplying power to the implement, and an auxiliary actuator operably coupled to the power enablement device. The auxiliary actuator can be manipulated between a first, de-actuated position and a second, actuated position. An operator actuable continuous actuation device is moveable between engaged and disengaged positions, providing an actuation signal indicative of its position. A continuous enablement actuator is capable of engaging the enablement component when the enablement component is in the actuated position to discourage the enablement component from moving to the de-actuated position. The continuous enablement actuator engages the enablement component when the actuation signal indicates one of the engaged and disengaged positions and is disengaged from the enablement component when the actuation signal indicates the other position. |
| US08109355B2 |
Hydrostatic transaxle and hydraulically driven vehicle
A hydraulically driven vehicle comprises: a first transaxle disposed at one of front and rear portions of the vehicle, wherein the first transaxle incorporates a first hydraulic motor for driving a first axle; a second transaxle disposed at the other of the rear or front portion of the vehicle, wherein the second transaxle incorporates a second hydraulic motor for driving a second axle; a hydraulic pump for supplying fluid to the first and second hydraulic motors; a mower; a duct for transferring grass mowed by the mower, wherein the first transaxle is disposed above the duct; and a vertical power train interposed between the first axle and an axial center shaft of a wheel driven by the first axle, wherein the power train is disposed on a lateral outside of the duct. |
| US08109352B2 |
Children's ride-on vehicles with window mechanisms
Children's ride-on vehicles having window mechanisms, and window mechanisms for such vehicles. In some embodiments, the window mechanism is a manual window mechanism, and in some embodiments the window mechanism is a powered, or motorized, window mechanism. The window mechanism includes a window drive assembly that selectively drives movement of a window member relative to the vehicle body. In some embodiments, the window drive assembly is a powered window drive assembly that includes a window motor assembly and a window linkage to couple the output of the window motor assembly to the window member. In some embodiments, the window drive assembly is a manual window drive assembly. In some embodiments, the window member includes a receiving region coupled to the window linkage. In some embodiments, the window mechanism includes a window support assembly that maintains the window member in a predetermined orientation relative to the vehicle body. |
| US08109350B2 |
Polycrystalline abrasive composite cutter
A polycrystalline abrasive composite cutter, including a tool body with a top cutting surface and a flank surface. The composite cutter, joined to a substrate, constitute a shear cutter for a PDC bit, roller-cone bit insert, or other tool that can be highly useful for petroleum drilling or other applications. The body of the polycrystalline abrasive composite cutter includes a plurality of polycrystalline abrasive layers (90) and a plurality of arresting layers (100). The polycrystalline abrasive layers (90) and the arresting layers (100) are arranged to alternate throughout the tool body in a direction normal to the top cutting surface (92) and in a direction normal to a flank surface (94). |
| US08109346B2 |
Drill bit supporting multiple cutting elements with multiple cutter geometries and method of assembly
A drill bit has cutting elements with multiple cutting surface geometries that are positioned so that their cutting profiles overlap, but do not completely contain or engulf one another. The different cutting surface geometries and the specific overlap create a zone of high density in the middle regions of the cutting profiles and low density in the periphery, resulting in a cutting profile that becomes sharper with increasing wear. Such an arrangement is more effective and stable as the drill bit encounters hard and abrasive formation materials. Moreover, cutting elements with larger axial volumes may be combined with cutting elements having smaller axial volumes. |
| US08109345B2 |
System and method for drilling a borehole
A system and method is provided for drilling a wellbore using a rotary drill bit with a bit body having a plurality of mechanical cutters to cut away formation material as the wellbore is formed and a directed energy mechanism to direct energy into the formation. The energy from the directed energy mechanism is used to enhance the cutting of the mechanical cutters by fracturing surrounding material to facilitate drilling in the direction of the directed energy. |
| US08109344B1 |
Auxiliary rotary tool drive for hand-held power tools
An auxiliary rotary tool drive apparatus mounted on, or an integral component of, hand-held rotary power tool has an extendable and retractable auxiliary drive shaft and a gear assembly that is selectively operatively engaged with the power transmitting shaft and gear assembly of the power tool and driven thereby using only the hand grasping the power tool for driving screws, fasteners, bits or other work performing members attached to the auxiliary drive shaft without having to move or remove the existing work performing member from the holding member of the power tool. |
| US08109341B1 |
Method and high-capacity apparatus for producing fire fighting foam and foam expanding spreading device
Method for producing fire fighting foam using a composition is prepared consisting of foaming agent, water and gaseous medium. The composition is prepared via dissolving or emulsifying the components in one another under overpressure, the composition prepared this way is stored under overpressure at the required place for the required period of time, transported if necessary maintaining the overpressure, and it is expanded via decompressing it on the spot and at the time of application. The apparatus for producing the fire fighting foam comprises a high-pressure foam source (10), a foam expanding spreading device (60) and a pressure resistant pipeline (40) connecting the high-pressure foam source (10) with the foam expanding spreading device (60). A foam expanding spreading device comprises an admission opening and a discharge mouth, a tubular distributing body (63) suitably forming a closed loop of tubes, preferably of torus shape, the discharge mouth, suitably a slit (65) or a set of holes, is situated on the nappe of the tube along its length, preferably along its generating line. |
| US08109339B2 |
Zero backlash downhole setting tool and method
A zero backlash downhole setting tool including a mandrel; a body lock ring at the mandrel; a setting sleeve in operable communication with a device to be set; a rotary take-up in tensile force transmissive contact with the device to be set; and a follower housing configured to follow the rotary take-up in a first mode of operation and extend away therefrom in another mode of operation, the follower being engaged with the body lock ring and method. |
| US08109338B2 |
Pipe section guide system with flexible member
A pipe handling system includes a lifting mechanism coupled to an upper end of a pipe above a free end of the pipe, and a guide system operable to engage the pipe and control lateral movement of the pipe as it is moved between a storage position and a well center position, the guide system including a pair of support members including extendable end portions and a flexible pipe guide coupled between the extendable end portions. In some embodiments, the guide system includes a pair of rotatable support arms having first pivot ends and second ends and an expandable pipe guide connecting the second ends. |
| US08109334B2 |
Sampling and evaluation of subterranean formation fluid
A method of sampling a subterranean formation fluid may comprise extracting a first fluid sample from a portion of the subterranean formation, altering a temperature of the portion of the subterranean formation, and extracting a second fluid sample from the portion of the subterranean formation having altered temperature. The temperature of the portion of the subterranean formation may be altered based on the relative position of a subterranean formation fluid temperature and the multiphase region envelope in the phase diagram of the subterranean formation fluid. The method may further comprise determining a property of the subterranean formation fluid. |
| US08109329B2 |
Split-coil, redundant annular coupler for wired downhole telemetry
An annular coupler for transmitting data across a tool joint may include a first coupler segment spanning a first portion of the circumference of the annular coupler. The annular coupler may further include a second coupler segment, electrically insulated from the first coupler segment, which spans a second portion of the circumference of the annular coupler. In selected aspects, the first and second portions do not overlap one another along the circumference. In certain aspects, the first and second coupler segments each span about fifty percent of the circumference of the annular coupler. Thus, each coupler segment may make up roughly half of the annular coupler. |
| US08109326B2 |
Heat transfer plate for plate heat exchanger with even load distribution in port regions
The invention relates to a heat transfer plate (1) intended to constitute, together with other heat transfer plates, a plate stack (2) with permanently connected plates for a heat exchanger (3), which heat transfer plate (1) has a first long side (4) and an opposite second long side (5), a first short side (6) and an opposite second short side (7), a heat transfer surface (8) exhibiting a pattern (9) of ridges (10) and valleys (11), first and second port regions (12 and 13), the first port region (12) being situated in a first corner portion (14) formed at the meeting between the first long side (4) and the first short side (6), the second port region (13) being situated in a second corner portion (15) formed at the meeting between the second long side (5) and the first short side (6), and the first port region (12) being connected to a number of ridges (10a-d) and valleys (11a-e), which ridges (10a-d) and valleys (11a-e) have in principle an extent from the first port region (12) diagonally towards the second long side (5). |
| US08109325B2 |
Heat transfer system
A thermodynamic system includes a cyclical heat exchange system and a heat transfer system coupled to the cyclical heat exchange system to cool a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system. The heat transfer system includes an evaporator including a wall configured to be coupled to a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system and a primary wick coupled to the wall and a condenser coupled to the evaporator to form a closed loop that houses a working fluid. |
| US08109324B2 |
Microchannel heat exchanger with micro-encapsulated phase change material for high flux cooling
A microchannel cooler containing a slurry having a particulate liquid/solid phase change material is provided balancing the interdependent factors of microencapsulated particle size with microchannel size and shape and flow conditions for the removal of high heat flux with low space and low power requirements. |
| US08109323B2 |
Heat dissipation device having a clip
A heat dissipation device removing heat from a heat generating electronic device on a printed circuit board includes a base, a plurality of fins attached to the base and a clip for mounting the base and the fins onto the heat generating electronic device. Each of the fins defines a closed through hole therein. The holes of the fins cooperatively define a channel. The clip includes a locking beam extending through the channel of the fins and two fasteners engaging the locking beam mounting the base and the fins onto the heat generating electronic device. |
| US08109322B2 |
Heat plate type cooler module
A heat plate type cooler module includes a heat plate, which is formed of a bottom cover plate and a top cover plate and having a working fluid filled in a vacuum chamber between the top cover plate and the bottom cover plate; heat pipes each having a cold end and a top end; a locating plate covered on the heat plate to hold the hot end of each heat pipe in contact with the heat plate; and radiation fins fastened to the cold ends of the heat pipe by press-fitting. |
| US08109321B2 |
Modular heat sink assembly comprising a larger main heat sink member thermally connected to smaller additional floating heat sink members
A modular heat sink assembly is disclosed. The heat sink assembly includes a main (larger) heat sink member having one or more voids through the member. The heat sink assembly also includes one or more additional (smaller) heat sink members that fit within the voids of the main heat sink member and are able to move (float) within the voids while thermally connected to main heat sink member. The thermal connection to the main heat sink member may be accomplished by incorporating heat pipes as a bridge between the heat sink members, so that heat spreading, and regulation thereof, occurs over the additional heat sink members and the main heat sink member. |
| US08109320B2 |
Method and apparatus for the continuous casting of preliminary steel sections
In a method and apparatus for the continuous casting of preliminary steel sections, the liquid or molten steel is introduced substantially vertically into an open-ended die. The cross section of the cavity of the die is made up of a web part and one or more flange parts, for example, such as in preliminary double-T sections. The liquid core of the strand of the preliminary section is set in agitating motions transversely to the direction of continuous casting by selectively using electromagnetically-induced forces in the regions of the flange parts and/or of the web part. The agitating motions have the effect of exchanging the liquid steel in the molten crater of the strand of the preliminary section in and between flange parts and the web part. This allows the flow and temperature conditions in the liquid steel crater within the strand of the preliminary section to be actively influenced in a targeted manner and stabilization of the region of the surface of the liquid metal to be brought about, along with favorable and controllable flow conditions. |
| US08109317B2 |
Device with shutter and element for the reinsertion of a shutter into a guide slide
Device with a shutter and element for the reinsertion of a shutter into a guide slide. Device with a shutter for the closing-off of a bay (1), comprising a slide (7, 8); a deformable shutter (3) comprising a lateral flange (10, 11, 27) which is mounted slidingly in the slide; and a means for reinserting the flange into the slide, after it has been pulled out of the slide, this means comprising at least one pair of rollers (17) which are placed on either side of the shutter and which, while the shutter is moved opposite the bay in order to uncover the latter, roll on the flange which has come out of the slide and push it back into the latter. |
| US08109315B2 |
Accordion partition
An accordion partition has a pair of panels having adjacent vertical inner and outer side edges interconnected by a hinge. Horizontal and generally parallel upper ceiling and lower floor tracks extend above and below the pair of panels, and upper and lower trolley hardware on each of the panels rides in the respective tracks so that the panels can move horizontally relative to one another. Respective latches on each of the outer edges can move between locked positions engaged in one of the tracks and an unlocked position clear of the one track. Coupling elements on both of the latches interengage only in the extended use position for shifting both of the latches synchronously between the respective locked and unlocked positions. An actuator on only one of the latches manually shifts the one latch between the locked and unlocked position. |
| US08109314B1 |
Air clamp
A portable air clamp for use during lamination of substrates is provided. The clamp includes a top clamp plate, a bottom clamp plate and at least one flexible, expandable tube within a housing of the clamp. The top clamp plate is adjacent to a top housing and the bottom clamp plate is adjacent to a bottom housing. An expandable tube or bladder may be disposed in the top housing or the bottom housing. The clamp may also include alignment devices and mechanisms for ensuring proper alignment of the substrates during the laminating procedure. The clamp is adapted to provide uniform pressure along the surfaces of the substrates to be laminated. |
| US08109311B2 |
Bookbinding apparatus and image forming system
A bookbinding apparatus for bookbinding a sheet by applying adhesive including, an adhesive tank for storing adhesive; first and second heaters for heating the adhesive; a first adhesive temperature sensor for detecting temperature of the adhesive at a first position; a second adhesive temperature sensor for detecting temperature of the adhesive at a second position; an agitation member for agitating the adhesive in the adhesive tank; and a control device, wherein the control device operates, the agitation member after the heaters are turned on, then turns off the second heater and continues to have the first heater on after the second heater has been turned off when the second adhesive temperature sensor detects that adhesive temperature has reached a first temperature that is higher than an application temperature, and then completes a warm-up when the first adhesive temperature sensor detects that adhesive temperature has reached the application temperature. |
| US08109310B2 |
Rotational vacuum press with a membrane
The rotational vacuum press with a membrane; according to the invention, is aimed at veneering of profiled surfaces and laminating of wooden elements and other materials according to a modem facilitated with pressure generated by vacuum and applied on the surface through the membrane. It is consisted of the main construction (21) on which central axis (16) is placed on which at least four turning working tables are placed (12) with moveable frame (14) which has an elastic rubber membrane fixed on (13) under which, on the working table (12), a working piece (15) is placed preheated in the heating chamber (31) with heaters (36), which is placed on rails in the low down part of the construction (21). On the surface of the table (12) there are canals (11) for vacuum, connector (18) and the vacuum conduit (17) linked by the vacuum conduit (10) through the irreversible valve (4) and entry filter (2); with vacuum pump (1) which has an outlet filter on (3) and is fixed on the carrier (27): Locking of the working table (12) is achieved by the mechanism (22) with lever (23) and handle (24). The press and heating chamber (31) are linked with the control cabinet (26). |
| US08109308B2 |
Tension-based non-pneumatic tire
A non-pneumatic tire for supporting a load by working in tension comprising a generally annular inner ring, a generally annular outer ring, and an interconnected web having a plurality of web elements and comprising a plurality of generally polygonal openings. Web elements are sized, oriented and comprised of a material that facilitates buckling when subjected to a compressive load. By buckling, those elements in a deformed portion of the tire between a wheel and a footprint region where the tire contacts a surface can assume a significantly reduced portion of the load, if any. This causes web elements in other portions of the interconnected web to operate in tension to support the load. |
| US08109305B1 |
Log splitter attachment
A log splitter attachment for attaching to a machine such as an excavator or backhoe boom to facilitate splitting of large diameter logs into multiple triangular wedges includes a central portion and an attachment portion coupled to the central portion such that the central portion is designed for attachment to the boom arm of a machine such as a back hoe or excavator. A plurality of planar sections is coupled to the central portion. The planar sections are arranged to extend radially outward from the central portion. A plurality of distal wedge members is provided. Each distal splitting wedge member is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of planar sections. A central wedge splitting member has a plurality of radial wedge portions. The central wedge splitting member is coupled to a base of the central portion. |
| US08109304B2 |
Mobile hand-held cutting device guide and support apparatus
A nimble and free moving guide and support apparatus for hand-held cutting devices. The device utilizes vertical support members to maintain contact with a work surface, while a base plate maintains contact with the material to be cut. Above said base plate is mounted a cutting device, such as a router, where the cutting members of said cutting device pass through an opening in said base plate. The nimbleness and free movement of this apparatus are provided by a movement mechanism, such as a ball bearing housed at the end of the vertical support members. |
| US08109293B2 |
Valve cartridge with isolated friction and cartridge loads
A one-handle valve cartridge includes a spring that isolates frictional forces between dynamic sealing elements in the valve cartridge and loads applied to the valve cartridge and transmitted to the dynamic sealing elements from an actuating mechanism of the valve cartridge. |
| US08109290B2 |
Pipe joint
A pipe joint is equipped with a socket and a plug, which are attachable and detachable from each other, wherein a pressure fluid introduced from the plug flows toward the socket through second holes formed in a plug valve. In addition, the pressure fluid flows smoothly along outer circumferential surfaces of the plug valve and a socket valve, and along inner circumferential surfaces of a plug body and a socket body. Further, the pressure fluid flows from the socket body to a back body, through first holes formed in the socket valve. |
| US08109288B2 |
Flow rate control system and shower plate used for partial pressure control system
A partial pressure control system 45 includes two valves 2 which are branched from an operation gas supply pipe 44 and which variably control operation gas, pressure sensors 3 which are respectively connected to the each valves 2 in series and which detect pressure of the operation gas, and a controller 25 which proportionally controls the operation of the valves 2 based on detection result of the pressure sensors 3, thereby relatively controlling pressures P1 and P2 of the two valves. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce wastefull consumption of the operation gas, and to enhance the responsivity with respect to change of setting and the like. |
| US08109287B2 |
Controlled release of additives in fluid systems
A container (1) for releasing a chemical additive (7) in a fluid material selected from a lubricant or hydraulic fluid composition comprises a fluid material-impermeable casing (3) having a hollow interior and an additive composition (7) comprising at least one fluid material-soluble additive. The additive (7) is held within the container (1) by a least one fluid material-permeable element (11) provided at or near an opening (13) in the casing (1) and is effective to provide for release of additive(s) (7) into the fluid material. Methods of releasing additives (7) into fluid material are also provided. |
| US08109283B2 |
Apparatus and process for the dry removal of the scale found on the surface of the metal products
An apparatus and process for the dry removal of the scale from the surface of a metal product comprising at least one heating area that does not reduce the specific surface of the material to be treated and does not cause oxidation, at least one reducing area for performing the reaction between a specific reducing gas (normally hydrogen) and at least the scale, at least one cooling area for cooling the metal product, means for heating the metal product, means for heating the reducing gas, means for controlling the fluid dynamics of the boundary layer produced by the flow of said reducing gas over the surface of the metal product, means for removing the reaction products front the reducing gas after the reaction, means for cooling the metal product, and means for removing the reaction products from the treated surface of the metal product. |
| US08109279B2 |
Hair clip with flexing comfort features
A hair clip has two body members pivotally coupled together by a spring-biased hinge mechanism. Each body member has a handle section and a hair-gripping section with the hinge mounted between them. The hair clip can have at least one handle-deflecting opening in each handle section to form at least one handle-flexing region where the handle sections can deflect outwardly into a low-profile flexed position. A mechanical stop may be provided to limit inward deflection. The hair clip can also have at least one teeth-deflecting opening in each hair-gripping section to form at least one teeth-flexing region where the hair-gripping sections can deflect into a low-profile flexed position. |
| US08109278B2 |
Dye container and hair dyeing device using the same
This invention relates to a device for performing dyeing operation such as bleaching, coloring, and coating using an electric power with a dye container attached. Main components of the invention are comprised of a body, a comb assembly, a pump and a piping member. The body composed of handle and head is equipped with a motor, battery and switch. The comb assembly composed of a plurality of teeth having respective conduits is rotatably fixed to the body. The pump is connected to the motor so as to feed the dye from the container attached to the body to the respective comb of the comb assembly with an enforced and uniform flow. The piping member is disposed at a flow path between the pump and the comb assembly so as to maintain a uniform flow of dye through the conduits of the comb assembly. |
| US08109277B2 |
Smoking article filter with annular restrictor and downstream ventilation
A smoking article includes a tobacco rod adapted to produce mainstream smoke, and a filter having an upstream end portion and a downstream end portion. The filter includes a ventilated cavity and a flow restrictor segment having an impermeable insert at least partially surrounded by a tubular segment of an air transmissive material upstream of the cavity. In an embodiment, the tubular segment at least partially defines the cavity. |
| US08109275B2 |
Combination smoking device and lighter
A pipe lighter includes a lighter apparatus coupling with an inhaler apparatus. The inhaler apparatus includes a crucible unit coupled with the housing sidewall of the lighter housing and a tubular inhaling guider extended from the crucible unit, wherein the crucible unit has a substance chamber positioned adjacent to a flame opening of the lighter apparatus for retaining a smoking substance in the substance chamber, such that the lighter apparatus is actuated to produce a flame for a combustion of the smoking substance to be smoked and for an inhalation of smoked through the inhaling guider. |
| US08109272B2 |
Carbon dioxide-sensing airway products and technique for using the same
An airway device is provided that may track the flow of respiratory gases through the device with sensing elements at a plurality of locations along the gas flow path of the device. Such a device may be useful for assessing a variety of clinical states, for adjusting patient ventilator settings, or for determining whether or not an airway device has been properly inserted into a patient airway. |
| US08109268B2 |
Device for detecting a gas volume flow
A device is provided for detecting a gas volume flow, especially for a respirator. The device includes a flow sensor, which surrounds a lumen for guiding the gas volume flow, and the flow sensor has an ultrasound transmitter with a sound generator (20) and an ultrasound receiver. The device has a connection sensor (17, 19), which is designed to detect a connection, especially an installation position or correctness of the connection or both, of the ultrasound transmitter to the transmitter mount and/or a connection of the ultrasound receiver to the receiver mount and to change at least one of its electrical properties as a function of the connection, or to generate a connection signal, which represents the connection, and to output this signal on the output side. |
| US08109266B2 |
Nebulizer having flow meter function
In accordance with non-limiting examples, a nebulizer includes a main body comprising an air channel section and further comprising a mixing chamber and a venturi positioned to be placed within the patient's oral cavity and configured to receive medicine and air and mix the medicine and air within the mixing chamber and receive the air flow through the venturi and cause the medicine entering the mixing chamber to be atomized by the action of air flowing through the venturi. An air flow sensor is associated with the main body and configured to measure the air flow created by the patient's one of at least inhaling and exhaling air. |
| US08109253B2 |
Method for ascertaining the noise emission of an internal combustion engine
Methods for ascertaining the combustion noises of an internal combustion engine need only a structure-borne noise sensor and may be carried out using little computing power. |
| US08109252B2 |
Rotary engine combustion chamber
An apparatus for facilitating combustion in a rotary engine with planetary rotors orbiting inside a housing containing a main rotor. In various embodiments, the planetary rotor has a multi-faceted face that engages a bridge during the transition from the compression cycle to the combustion cycle with the bridge and face forming a dynamic seal; the planetary rotor has a face engaging a bridge during the transition from the compression cycle to the combustion cycle such that the bridge and face have a gap that allows gas flow from the trailing volume to the leading volume and the gap is sufficiently small to quench flame propagation from the leading volume to the trailing volume; and/or the face of the planetary rotor opposite a fuel injector has a pocket that allows the fuel cloud to expand without impinging or wetting the face of the planetary rotor. |
| US08109244B1 |
Crankdisk bearing alternatives for the Waissi type opposed piston internal combustion engine
An improvement to the Waissi type opposed piston internal combustion engine is proposed. The engine has at least one pair of aligned and opposed cylinders with one reciprocating double-headed piston assembly in each cylinder pair. The reciprocating motion of the piston is transmitted to the driveshaft by a rotating crankdisk, which is rigidly and off-centered mounted to the driveshaft. The high friction metal to metal contact between the crankdisk and the piston contact wall is replaced by a combination of a roll resistance and friction under hydrodynamic conditions resulting to a significantly reduced total resistance between the piston and the crankdisk. This is accomplished by utilizing a bearing ring assembly slidably installed on the annular perimeter surface of the crankdisk. When the crankdisk rotates the bearing ring is held in place by U-profile flanges, which are either part of the bearing ring or part of the crankdisk. Alternatively, the bearing ring is replaced by a roller bearing or ball bearing. |
| US08109241B2 |
Dog boot
A dog boot is provided comprising a generally vertical and cylindrical elongated tubular legging portion ending in and connected to a toe-box portion both of which are attached within a generally horizontal non-slide sole portion. The legging portion extends upwardly from the toe-box portion and defines an offset longitudinal slit providing adjacent, opposite, overlapping flap portions that are equipped with loop and hook fastening material allowing for ease of insertion and extraction of the dog's leg and paw. The generally tubular legging portion has two adjustable fastening straps for cinching the legging portion securely at two separate points around the dog's leg. Within the non-slide portion is a removable sole insert shaped to receive the pads of the dog's paw wherein the removable sole insert works as a shock absorber for the dog and adds comfort and stability during wear. |
| US08109235B2 |
Pet food holder, pet food containing module and method
A pet food holder and pet food containing module releasably carried by the holder that includes seeds or sprouts in a plug or pellet of food containing material in a cup of the module that germinate and grow into a plant that is edible by an animal. The holder includes a mounting arrangement used to releasably mount the holder to an object and a cradle that releasably receives the module. The mounting arrangement includes a mounting plate to which at least one mount is attached that can be a suction cup or hanger. The module includes a cover that is removed to enable germination of the seeds or sprouts. After germination, growth and being eaten by an animal, the module can be removed and replaced with a refill module. |
| US08109230B2 |
Apparatus and method for coating and drying multiple stents
A coating and drying apparatus for the application of a coating substance to a stent and drying the stent is provided. The apparatus can include a cartridge. The cartridge can comprise a core, a plurality of stent mandrels, a first clutch, and a second clutch. The core can extend outwards from a circumference of the core. Each stent mandrel can be capable of supporting a stent. The first clutch can be coupled to the core and capable of being removeably coupled to a first shaft such that rotation of the first shaft enables rotation of the core. The second clutch can be coupled to the plurality of stent mandrels and capable of being removeably coupled to a second shaft such that rotation of the second shaft enables rotation of the stent mandrels. |
| US08109228B2 |
Paint coating system
A cartridge changer (41) is composed of a swing arm (48) with a cartridge gripper (48B) for gripping a paint cartridge (24), and an arcuate moving portion (46) for putting the swing arm (48) in swinging movements in a horizontal plane. The cartridge changer (41) is adapted to pick up a replenished paint cartridge (24) on the mount deck (42) by the cartridge gripper (48B) and transfer the swing arm (48) to a changing position “O” by the arcuate moving portion (46). By the operation, a used paint cartridge (24′) will be replaced by the replenished paint cartridge (24) between the mount deck (42) and a common body (15) which is located in the changing position “O” of the atomizing head changing and washing device (31). |
| US08109224B2 |
Submarine with underwater exhaust discharge during snorkeling mode
A submarine or surface watercraft is equipped with at least one, preferably supercharged charging diesel engine, which serves to charge the vessel's batteries and which is operated in a controlled and regulated manner during submarine snorkeling mode or during the normal operation of surface watercraft. In at least one embodiment, the exhaust gases produced during the operation of the charging diesel engine are mixed with a flow of water, which is drawn from the water surrounding the vessel and delivered in a regulated manner by a pump while interacting with a negative-pressure generating device, and, in a mixed state, are discharged under water. The operation of the formed negative-pressure generating and mixing device ensues while interacting with the controlling and regulating of the charging diesel engine. |
| US08109218B2 |
Waste treatment process and apparatus
A process for the treatment of waste, the process comprising either a gasification step or a pyrolysis step to produce an offgas and a non-airborne, solid char material; followed by a plasma treatment step. An associated apparatus having a plasma treatment unit which is separate from the gasification unit or pyrolysis unit. |
| US08109217B2 |
Method, device and system for enhancing combustion of solid objects
A system, device and method for enhancing burning of a solid object in a combustion process is provided where one or more incineration devices (101) for burning a solid object (101), at least one sonic device (301) and wherein said at least one sonic device (301) is a transmitter of high intensity-ultrasound adapted to, during use, apply high intensity ultrasound to said solid object (101) thereby removing ash from said solid object (101) and increasing the speed of the burning of said solid object (101). |
| US08109215B2 |
Desk top panel and a desk with the same
Provided is a desk top panel, which normally protects privacy in a complete shielding form, permits facing persons to converse and documents and the like to be passed and received by opening a lower space of the desk top panel as needed, and permits a wiring cover to be easily attached/removed or opened/closed. A desk having such desk top panel attached thereon is also provided. A desk top panel is attached to the rear portion of a top board of a desk to stand, for blocking the visual fields of sitting persons. The desk top panel is provided with a panel-like main body; a pair of right and left attaching sections, which vertically extend downward from the both lower end portions of the main body by having the lower end sections attached to the top board or a top board supporting body of the desk; and a closing plate, attached to the lower end of the main body to be opened/closed, so that a space formed between the main body and the upper surface of the top board of the desk can be opened/closed when both the attaching sections are attached to the desk. |
| US08109214B2 |
Platform screen doors
An apparatus and method for controlling the operation of a screen door system. The apparatus includes a first transceiver adapted to be mounted on a train, a second transceiver adapted to be mounted on either a train platform or a portion of the platform screen door system. The first and second transceivers are configured to communicate with each other such that when a train is stopped at the train platform within a predetermined distance of and adjacent to a door of the platform screen door system, a signal is transmitted from the first transceiver to the second transceiver to open the door. When passenger embarkation and debarkation is complete, a signal is transmitted from the first transceiver to the second transceiver to close the door, and when the door is closed and locked, a signal is transmitted to the train to depart. |
| US08109213B1 |
Multipurpose target breaching warhead
A single multipurpose ammunition projectile/warhead is provided, which has the capability of clearing a variety of different types of hardened targets. The single projectile of this invention may be used for breaching steel reinforced concrete walls; may be used against light armor targets; may be used for defeating bunkers; and may also be used for antipersonnel applications. Huge savings in time, money, inventory and logistics are realized through utilizing only this one multipurpose ammunition against all these types of targets. This multipurpose projectile, among other superb capabilities, is able to puncture an eight inch double steel reinforced concrete wall timed to then have its warhead explode into fragments. This allows fragmentation in a more effective, nearly ideal direction. The projectile warhead of made of extremely thick walled 300M steel; with the projectile center of gravity to be located equidistant between a pair of bourrelets, for increased stability. |
| US08109211B2 |
Method of gravure printing with liquid radiation curable inks
The invention relates to a gravure printing ink and a method of multi-color gravure printing on flexible substrates with liquid radiation curable inks. Individual colors are transferred via direct contact between engraved gravure cylinder and a substrate. Each color is dried such that the sequentially printed ink layers transfer through the press without distortion of the printed image during multiple web turns around turn bars. Finally the printed substrate is cured by exposing an electron beam unit. The gravure printing ink comprises an admixture of a) a water dispersible pigment; b) a water dispersible, ethylenically unsaturated monomer, ethylenically unsaturated oligomer or ethylenically unsaturated polymer which is polymerizable or crosslinkable by the application of sufficient electron beam radiation; c) a defoaming agent; d) sufficient water to form a dispersion with components a), b) and c), which dispersion has a viscosity of from about 25 cps to about 200 cps. |
| US08109208B2 |
Cheese vat having adjustable shaft seal assembly
A cheese process vat is disclosed. The cheese process vat includes an enclosure and a shaft assembly, preferably a shaft assembly having a shaft and a plurality of agitator panels arranged on the shaft. The cheese process vat preferably further includes an adjustable shaft seal assembly that adjustably seals the joint between the shaft and the enclosure. Methods of using the respective cheese process vats are also disclosed. |
| US08109204B2 |
Steam cooker and steam generator
A steam cooker includes a steam generator for generating steam, a steam temperature-raising device for raising a temperature of steam coming from the steam generator, and a heating chamber in which an object to be cooked is heated by steam supplied from the steam temperature-raising device. The steam generator has a pot (41) to which water is supplied, a heater (42) placed in the pot (41), a water level sensor (43) and a temperature sensor (48) placed in the pot (41). The water level sensor (43) and the temperature sensor (48) are placed at opposed side surfaces in the pot (41) that correspond to the short sides of an elongated roughly rectangular planar shape of the pot (41). An exposed state of the heater (42) from the water in the pot (41) is judged by the water level sensor (43) and the temperature sensor (48). |
| US08109201B2 |
Kitchen appliance for heating foodstuff
A kitchen appliance for heating foodstuff includes a container defining a heating cavity therein. The container is positioned on a supporting surface during heating of the foodstuff. The kitchen appliance further includes a utensil for manipulating the foodstuff. The utensil has a first and opposite second end. A tray is slidably positioned within a portion of the container. The tray is movable between a storage position in which the tray is substantially within the container and a use position in which the tray is at least partially removed from the container. The tray has a concave portion on a top surface thereof. The concave portion is sized and shaped to support at least a portion of the first end of the utensil above the supporting surface. |
| US08109199B2 |
Reciprocating compressor
A reciprocating compressor comprises: a cylinder having an oil pocket on an inner circumferential surface of a piston insertion hole for inserting a piston with a predetermined width and depth; and a piston having a bearing portion protruding so as to slidably contact an inner circumferential surface of the piston insertion hole, and inserted into the piston insertion hole of the cylinder, wherein the bearing portion is formed to have a length shorter than that of the oil pocket of the cylinder. Accordingly, a frictional loss between the cylinder and the piston is reduced. |
| US08109198B2 |
Hydraulic control apparatus
A hydraulic control apparatus 1 includes a switch valve 11, a valve support chamber 35, a flow control valve 12 movable within the valve support chamber 35, an on-off valve 13 movable within the communication path chamber 12a, and a valve control device 14. The flow control valve 12 has a communication path chamber 12a and a back pressure chamber 12d. The on-off valve 13 is capable of opening and shutting off a communication path X between a cylinder line 32 and a switch valve line 33. A restrictor is formed between the flow control valve 12 and a wall defining the valve support chamber 35. The restrictor connects the cylinder line 32 and the communication path chamber 12a to each other. The opening degree of the restrictor is changed in correspondence with movement of the flow control valve 12. When the switch valve 11 is located at the neutral position or the supply position, the valve control device 14 applies a fluid pressure in the cylinder line 32 to the back pressure chamber 12d for urging the on-off valve 13 in a direction for shutting off the communication path 12a. When the switch valve 11 is located at the drainage position, the valve control device 14 applies a pilot pressure lower than the fluid pressure in the cylinder line 32 to the back pressure chamber 12d, thereby moving the on-off valve 13 in a direction for opening the communication path X. |
| US08109197B1 |
Hydraulic control system and method
A control system for controlling the movement of a system such as a hydraulic servo controlled gimbal systems. The system includes a plurality of actuators and sensors that sense the position of the actuators. On start up, a control system determines the present orientation of the system and compared it to a user defined desired orientation. The system operates in a first mode on start up where the control system moves the actuators so that the system is moved form the present orientation to the desired orientation at a controlled rate. Once the desired orientation is reached, control is then passed to a user controlled device such as a joystick. |
| US08109194B2 |
Clamped gas block for barrel
A gas block clamping apparatus for a firearm includes a plurality of sections, each including a shaped upper section, and a lower cylindrical section to which the shaped upper section is attached. A plurality of clamp sections are symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of a barrel of the firearm, each clamp section having an upper surface for attaching the gas block to the barrel, a curved surface that aligns the clamp section to an outer surface of the barrel when the clamp sections are tightened, and a lower surface that aligns with the shaped upper section of the gas block. A plurality of fasteners are disposed through a plurality of openings in the lower surface of the clamp sections and the shaped upper surface of the gas block for securing each clamp section to both the barrel and gas block. |
| US08109193B2 |
Gas piston assembly and bolt carrier for gas-operated firearms
A kit for modifying a bolt carrier group actuating apparatus of a firearm manufacturer-configured with a gas-driven bolt carrier comprises a gas expansion assembly, an operating rod driven bolt carrier and an operating rod. The gas expansion assembly is configured for receiving combustion gases from an as-manufactured OEM gas block of the firearm and for facilitating expansion of said gases for generating a bolt carrier driving force. The operating rod driven bolt carrier includes an operating rod engaging lug. The operating rod driven bolt carrier is configured for being operably engaged within an as-manufactured OEM receiver body of the firearm with the operating rod engaging lug located in a gas tube lug receiving portion of the as-manufactured OEM receiver body. The operating rod is engagable between the gas expansion assembly and the operating rod engaging lug. |
| US08109191B1 |
Remote digital firing system
A remote digital firing system for selectively firing a plurality of remote mission payloads. The remote digital firing system includes a first set of firing circuits communicatively coupled to and operative to fire a corresponding first set of remote mission payloads and a second set of firing circuits communicatively coupled to and operative to fire a corresponding second set of remote mission payloads. The remote digital firing system includes a firing control panel communicatively linked to the first and second sets firing circuits, a first digital code plug configured to be integrated in communicative combination with each firing circuit of the first set and the firing control panel, a second digital code plug configured to be integrated in communicative combination with each firing circuit of the second set and the firing control panel, and a payload selector switch for selecting a remote mission payload. |
| US08109188B2 |
Modified slicing shoes and method for making food product shavings
Modified slicing shoes and method for making food product shavings. A conventional slicing shoe for insertion into a slicing head assembly used in conjunction with a centrifugal type slicing machine is modified. The modified slicing shoes comprise a cutting edge having top and bottom ends that protrude towards the interior of a slicing head assembly as a vertex protrudes away from the interior such that the blade is not confined to one plane. In one embodiment, the slicing shoe blade cutting edge and its components comprise a V-shape having an angle that ranges from between about 90° to about 140°. In a second embodiment, the slicing shoe and its components are curvilinear having a curvature ranging from about 1.5 cm to about 2.0 cm. The shape of the blade and its corresponding components allow for the production of snack chips having folded or curled shapes. |
| US08109187B2 |
Tissue harvesting device and method
A tissue harvesting method and device for obtaining micrograft tissue particles within the size range of 50-1500 microns, and more preferably 500-1000 microns, and most preferably 600 microns. The particles may be processed after a piece of donor tissue has been excised from the donor site, or processed into the desired size directly at the donor site, and thereafter excised. Cutters having blades or cutting edges spaced in the range of 50-1500 microns are utilized to obtain particles within the desired size range. An elastomer is positioned between the cutting edges to push the excised particles out of the blades for ease of use. |
| US08109184B2 |
Method and device for cutting fresh tissue slices
The method and device for cutting fresh tissue slices utilizes a vibrating microtome. The vibrating microtome uses a cutting blade that vibrates in a horizontal direction. The microtome has a base, a specimen holder attached to the base, and a diagonal slide carriage and support arm that are supported on the base for movement diagonally with respect to the specimen holder. A vibrating blade support is located on the support arm and moves horizontally with respect to the specimen holder. A cutting blade is mounted on the vibrating blade support and moves in a compound diagonal and vibrating motion with respect to the specimen holder. |
| US08109183B2 |
Impact resistant tool bit and tool bit holder
An impact resistant tool or tool bit holder has an active end for driving a fastener and a shanking end for securing to a power tool. The active end includes a body with a bore to receive the shank and a pocket to receive a damping mechanism. The shank includes an end to engage the bore in the body, and a pocket to receive the damping mechanism. The shank is received in the bore in the body for limited rotation with respect to the body. A damping mechanism is positioned in the pockets to provide damping between the body and the shank during torque loading. |
| US08109175B2 |
Transmission between a drive element and wheels and vehicle comprising such a transmission
A transmission between a drive element and a drive shaft of the wheels of a self-propelled tractor vehicle includes generally housed at least partially inside a box, a progressive friction clutch that includes at least one rotary driving element and two driven elements that are carried by the drive shaft and are integral in rotation therewith. These driving and driven elements are, under the action of a control element, brought into variable-tightening support contact to obtain a variation of the torque transmitted to the shaft. The drive shaft is formed by two half-shafts mounted to rotate freely relative to one another, each able to be connected, directly or indirectly, to one of the wheels of the vehicle, whereby each of the driven elements is carried by one of the two half-shafts. |
| US08109173B2 |
Parallel robot provided with wrist section having three degrees of freedom
A parallel robot including a movable-section drive mechanism having a parallel mechanism configuration and operating to allow a movable section to perform a three-axis translational motion with respect to a base section, and a wrist-section drive mechanism operating to allow a wrist section to perform a three-axis orientation-changing motion with respect to the movable section. The wrist section includes a first rotary member supported on the movable section and rotatable about a fourth rotation axis different from axes of the three-axis translational motion of the movable section, a second rotary member connected to the first rotary member and rotatable about a fifth rotation axis orthogonal to the fourth rotation axis, and a third rotary member connected to the second rotary member and rotatable about a sixth rotation axis orthogonal to the fifth rotation axis. The third rotary member is provided with an attachment surface to which a tool is attached. The attachment surface is inclined with respect to the sixth rotation axis at a predetermined angle. |
| US08109172B2 |
Wrist assembly for robotic arm
A wrist assembly (311) for a robotic arm or other mechanical device is provided. The wrist assembly comprises a first arm (313) which terminates in a first radius (317), a second arm (315) which terminates in a second radius (319), and a first band (331) that is devoid of weld joints and that extends around a portion of each of said first and second radii. |
| US08109171B2 |
Parallel mechanism
An end effecter is positioned with high precision by stabilizing its attitude. Included are arms each having a pair of rods arranged in parallel, a bracket having the end effecter attached thereto and retained by the pair of rods, ball joints and each including a first joint element having a ball and displaceably connecting the bracket with the arm and a second joint element having a socket for retaining the ball, a connecting member for connecting the pair of parallel rods together and restricting rotation of the rods about an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal direction thereof, and a biasing member for providing a biasing force for retaining the ball in the socket. |
| US08109170B2 |
Umbilical member motion limiting device and robot having the device
An umbilical member motion limiting device is provided on a robot which has a forearm, a wrist portion, an operating tool attached to the end of the wrist portion, and the umbilical member connected to the operating tool through the forearm, for limiting the motion of the umbilical member corresponding to the motion of the robot. The motion limiting device comprises a swing portion attached to the wrist portion so as to swing around a swing axis and a limiting portion arranged on the swing portion for limiting the motion of the umbilical member. Thus, the motion limiting device can minimize interference due to surplus length of the umbilical member and avoid contact of the umbilical member with external equipment. |
| US08109163B2 |
Actuator
An actuator comprises a first actuator arrangement operable to allow relative axial movement to occur between a first component and a second component, a second actuator arrangement operable to allow relative axial movement to occur between a third component and a fourth component, brake means operable to prevent extension of the first and/or second actuator arrangement, and damping means operable to control the rate of extension of at least one of the first and second actuator arrangements. |
| US08109162B2 |
Pig detector
A device for indicating the passage of a pig beyond a predetermined location in a pipeline comprising a pig detector connected to a pipeline and communicating with the interior of the pipeline through an opening at the location. A means for divorcing the pressure inside the pipeline from the pressure outside the pig. A trigger mounted in the pig detector and adapted to project into the interior of the pipeline through the opening, an indicator associated with the pig detector, a cylindrical indicator being slidably mounted within the indicator housing, catch fingers mounted in the housing for movement toward and away from the central axis of the housing, a catch spring for urging the fingers towards the central axis, an indicator spring mounted within the housing for urging the indicator beyond the indicator housing so as to be visible and to provide an indication that a pig has passed. |
| US08109161B2 |
Methods and apparatus for monitoring deposit formation in gas systems
Solids deposition in a gas environment, such as a gas transmission line or pipeline are measured using metal-coated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) in a QCM probe within a high pressure gas chamber in the gas environment. The metal coated on the QCM may be iron, iron alloys and/or iron oxide. The weight measurements are conducted at a constant (ΔT) or controlled (T=f(t)) temperature between the high pressure gas chamber and the QCM probe. The weight gain during a CE cycle is associated with the solids formation rate. |
| US08109160B2 |
Inspection apparatus
An inspection apparatus may include an arm member, a vacuum pump, a contact member, and at least one probe. The contact member may be connected to the arm member and connected to the vacuum pump for contacting and applying vacuum pressure from the vacuum pump to a workpiece surface being inspected. The at least one probe may be connected to the arm member for emitting signals against the workpiece surface being inspected and for receiving signals from the workpiece surface being inspected. |
| US08109158B2 |
Sampling apparatus
A sampling apparatus for sampling a fluid enriched in a selected phase from a multiphase fluid mixture flowing into a main pipe, the multiphase fluid mixture containing at least the selected phase and one other phase, the apparatus comprising: —a sampling arrangement: for taking a fluid sample of the multiphase fluid mixture flowing into the main pipe, —a sample chamber having a variable volume for collecting the fluid sample of the multiphase fluid mixture and letting settle by gravity the fluid sample into the fluid enriched in the selected phase and at least another phase enriched fluid, and —a valve manifold coupling the sampling arrangement to the sample chamber for driving the fluid sample in the sample chamber and for driving the fluid enriched in the selected phase to a sample outlet and the other phase enriched fluid back to the main pipe. |
| US08109157B2 |
Methods and apparatus of downhole fluids analysis
A fluid sampling and analysis module for a downhole fluid characterization apparatus configured for operation downhole, within a borehole. The fluid sampling and analysis module comprises a primary flowline for fluids withdrawn from a formation to flow through the fluid sampling and analysis module, a bypass flowline in fluid communication with the primary flowline and a single valve, interconnecting the primary flowline and the bypass flowline, operable to a first position for formation fluids to flow in the primary flowline and to a second position for formation fluids to flow, via the bypass flowline, in the primary flowline. |
| US08109154B2 |
Dual-driver vibratory flowmeter
A dual-driver vibratory flowmeter (100) is provided according to the invention. The dual-driver vibratory flowmeter (100) includes a first flowtube (102A) and a second flowtube (102B) positioned substantially adjacent to the first flowtube (102A). The first and second flowtubes (102A, 102B) include a longitudinal length L. The dual-driver vibratory flowmeter (100) further includes a first driver (121) comprising first and second driver portions (121A, 121B) and affixed to the first and second flowtubes (102A, 102B), with the first driver (121) being located at a third longitudinal location Y along the first and second flowtubes (102A, 102B) and a second driver (122) comprising first and second driver portions (122A, 122B) and affixed to the first and second flowtubes (102A, 102B), with the second driver (122) being located substantially at the third longitudinal location Y and substantially spaced-apart from the first driver (121). The first driver (121) and the second driver (122) vibrate the first and second flowtubes (102A, 102B) substantially in unison. |
| US08109153B2 |
Method for measuring and/or monitoring a flow parameter and corresponding device
A method and apparatus for measuring and/or monitoring at least one flow parameter of a medium, which medium flows through a measuring tube, wherein the measuring tube is contacted by at least two transducer elements, by means of which the measuring tube is excitable to execute mechanical oscillations and by means of which mechanical oscillations of the measuring tube are receivable. Each of the at least two transducer elements is applied, offset in time, alternately, for exciting the measuring tube to execute mechanical oscillations and for receiving the mechanical oscillations of the measuring tube. |
| US08109149B2 |
Contact stress sensor
A contact stress sensor includes one or more MEMS fabricated sensor elements, where each sensor element of includes a thin non-recessed portion, a recessed portion and a pressure sensitive element adjacent to the recessed portion. An electric circuit is connected to the pressure sensitive element. The circuit includes a thermal compensator and a pressure signal circuit element configured to provide a signal upon movement of the pressure sensitive element. |
| US08109147B2 |
Method and device for an imaging ultrasonic inspection of a three-dimensional workpiece
A method for an imaging ultrasonic inspection of a three-dimensional workpiece, in which ultrasonic waves are coupled into the workpiece with at least one ultrasonic transducer and ultrasonic waves reflected within the workpiece are received by ultrasonic transducers and converted into ultrasonic signals forming the basis of the non-destructive imaging ultrasonic inspection. |
| US08109142B2 |
Inertial sensing system with a curved base and a diamagnetic mass
An inertial sensing system includes a diamagnetic mass, a plurality of permanent magnets positioned to form a curved base, wherein the plurality of permanent magnets are configured to provide an inhomogeneous magnetic field upon which the diamagnetic mass becomes levitated above the plurality of permanent magnets within the curved base and wherein the curved base also provides a confinement potential to substantially prevent the diamagnetic mass from exiting an interior of the curved base, and a tracking apparatus for monitoring at least one of a position and an orientation of the diamagnetic mass with respect to the curved structure. |
| US08109137B2 |
Device for detecting cam top position of high pressure pump
A device detects the cam top position in an in-line type high pressure pump with a decreased amount of time required to detect the rotation position of the cam top position in an engine starting operation, thereby decreasing the time for starting an engine. A cam for driving a plunger has a plurality of cam lobes, and a plurality of cam top position pointers are attached to the outer periphery of the camshaft or to the outer periphery of a flywheel connected to the camshaft such that each of the pointers corresponds to each of the cam lobes of the cam in number and angle phase, respectively. A cam top position detector is located to face the pointers when the camshaft rotates so that the pointers are detected by the detector. |
| US08109136B2 |
Sensor for recognizing a position when starting an internal combustion engine
In order to acquire the angular position of a shaft of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, in particular a crankshaft or a camshaft, a shaft angle sensor and a shaft angle sensor system are proposed. The shaft angle sensor has a magnetic transducer element and a magnetic sensor element. Either the magnetic transducer element or the magnetic sensor element is capable of being connected fixedly to the shaft. The magnetic sensor element produces at least one angle signal that is transmitted wirelessly to a base station by a transmitter device. |
| US08109133B2 |
Method and device for measuring liquid absorption
The invention concerns a method and a device for measuring the ability of a material to absorb a liquid, whereby a liquid is brought into contact with a surface of a test specimen (P) of the material, and wherein the amount of liquid that has been absorbed in the test specimen is calculated. A certain amount of liquid is supplied to a liquid chamber unit, which on one side is limited by said surface, such that an amount of liquid which is absorbed by the test specimen leaves the liquid chamber unit and a representation comprising an indication of the reduction of the amount of liquid in the liquid chamber unit is produced. |
| US08109132B2 |
Method for detachably connecting a sensor for fluid analysis to a body containing said fluid, and corresponding apparatus
The apparatus (1) comprises a sensor (3) having a sensor axis (A), for monitoring at least one property of a fluid; a body (2) for comprising said fluid; and a connecting system for detachably connecting said sensor to said body; wherein said connecting system comprises a fixing member (9) arranged at said body, rotatable around an axis (R) of rotation; and a retaining member (6) arranged at said sensor, interacting with said fixing member; wherein said axis of rotation is arranged substantially perpendicular to said sensor axis. The method is a method for detachably connecting a sensor (3) for monitoring at least one property of a fluid to a body (2) containing said fluid, said sensor having a sensor axis (A). Said method comprises the step of rotating a fixing member arranged at said body in a first sense of rotation around an axis (R) of rotation, thus causing said fixing member to interact in such a way with a retaining member arranged at said sensor, that said retaining member moves in a substantially translational way substantially parallel to said sensor axis. Said axis of rotation is arranged substantially perpendicular to said sensor axis. Preferably, said fixing member has a cross-section having substantially the shape of a section or a segment of an ellipse, in particular it has a substantially semi-circular cross-section. |
| US08109123B2 |
Riveting unit for electric rivet gun
A riveting unit is assembled with an electric rivet gun, including a transmission unit, a clamping jaw having a locating portion driven by the transmission unit to be moveable between a first position and a second position, a first sensor detecting whether the locating portion of the clamping jaw is located at the first position, and a second sensor detecting whether the locating portion of the clamping jaw is located at the second position. When the locating portion of the clamping jaw is located at the first position, a blind rivet can be installed in the clamping jaw, and when the locating portion of the clamping jaw is located at the second position, the blind rivet can be ejected, and meanwhile the second sensor can allow the transmission unit to stop the movement of the clamping jaw, thereby preventing the clamping jaw from moving backwards excessively. |
| US08109122B2 |
Programmable lock having incidental change control
A key-operated cylinder lock for operating a bolt or a latch, that can be programmed for use with one of a plurality of user keys without disassembling the lock or replacing the tumblers, with reduction or elimination of incidental or accidental re-keying of the lock. The lock has a rotating plug having one or more retainer cavities formed into the periphery, and lock configuration change balls, movable within the lock between a first position within a driver chamber and a second position within a corresponding retainer cavity when the plug is in a programming position. The positioning of the change balls within either the pin chambers or the retainer cavities determines the key configuration that can operate the lock. The lock employs a means for isolating selectively the retainer cavities from the corresponding driver chambers when the plug is in the programming position, to prevent incidental or accidental movement of the change members from the driver chamber into the retainer cavities. |
| US08109119B2 |
Steam generating device and washing machine having the same
A steam generating device and a washing machine having the same are disclosed. The steam generating device includes a lower housing, which contains water, in which a heater is arranged, and which has a vertical length longer than a horizontal length, an upper housing including a steam chamber for containing steam generated as the water is heated, a water level sensor for sensing a water level of the water chamber, and a receptacle for covering the water level sensor, the receptacle including an opening for allowing water to be introduced into the receptacle. In accordance with this configuration, it is possible to easily install the steam generating device, to achieve a superior performance, to prevent the water level sensor from malfunctioning, and to prevent spots from being formed on laundry. |
| US08109115B2 |
Refrigeration apparatus for cooling pressurized beverages
Refrigeration apparatus comprising a cold storage compartment, accessible from the outside, and provided internally with a sealed container adapted to accommodate a flexible and compressible receptacle holding a beverage; there are provided pneumatic or air-compression means to generate a selectively controllable pneumatic pressure inside said container, but outside said flexible receptacle, and said sealed container is capable of being opened from the outside by means of a closure applied on a face thereof, wherein said closure is provided with a through-aperture, through which there extends a drawing-off conduit. Whenever a need arises for beverage to be drawn off the receptacle, a pressure increase is triggered inside the sealed container, and said pressure increase will act upon the walls of the internal receptacle so that the latter is caused to collapse and reduce its volume, thereby causing the beverage to be ejected therefrom and, therefore, drawn off. |
| US08109108B2 |
Automotive ventilation apparatus and automotive ventilation method
A ventilation flow path through which air present in an internal space at an instrument panel is drawn and discharged to the outside of the cabin as a blower fan operates is formed in a ventilation mode without forming an air-conditioning flow path for blowing inside air or outside air into the cabin and the air-conditioning flow path is formed without forming the ventilation flow path in a mode other than the ventilation mode. |
| US08109106B2 |
Malfunction preventing device for refrigerator and method thereof
The present invention relates to a malfunction preventing device and a method thereof, which ignores an input signal produced by electricity capacity variation because of moisture to prevent a malfunction of a refrigerator. A malfunction preventing device for a refrigerator includes an inputting part in which a static electricity switch is provided to produce an input signal, and a controlling part that ignores a first input signal inputted in a wait mode, wherein there is no inputted signal from the inputting part for a predetermined delaying time period in the wait mode. A method for preventing a malfunction of a refrigerator includes performing a wait mode in that there is no input signal produced by static electricity for a predetermined delay time period, and ignoring a first input signal inputted in the wait mode. |
| US08109104B2 |
System and method for detecting decreased performance in a refrigeration system
Systems and methods are provided for detecting performance degradation in a refrigeration system. Specifically, the present invention provides systems and methods for detecting, at a very early stage, a low refrigerant charge and degradation in condenser performance of a refrigeration system. |
| US08109103B2 |
Load driving device, outdoor unit of air conditioner, and driving method of load
After the power source to the control substrate is turned on, power is supplied to the compressor driver and the fan driver. Then, when it is determined that an indoor unit is in operation, the compressor driver and the fan driver are operated. Meanwhile, when it is determined that the indoor unit is not in operation, after the lapse of ten minutes or twenty minutes under a predetermined setting, the power to the compressor driver and the fan driver is cut. When the operation of the indoor unit is started again, power is supplied to the compressor driver and the fan driver. |
| US08109100B2 |
Magnetocaloric refrigerant
The invention provides the use of a material of general formula (I): [(AyCo1-y)]u(Mn1-zCz)[(Si1-xBx)]v (I) as a magnetocaloric material, wherein the material is orthorhombic and wherein: A is selected from Ni, Cr, Fe, Al, P, Se, Ga and Sb and mixtures thereof; B is selected from Ge, Sn, Al, P, Se, Ga and Sb and mixtures thereof; C is selected from Ni, Cr, Fe, Al, P, Se, Ga and Sb and mixtures thereof; x, y and z are the same or different and are numbers in the range 0 to 0.2; and u and v are the same or different and are numbers in the range 0.5 to 1.5. The invention also provides a method of making materials of formula (I) and a magnetocaloric refrigeration device comprising such materials. |
| US08109097B2 |
High efficiency dual cycle internal combustion engine with steam power recovered from waste heat
A high efficiency combined cycle internal combustion and steam engine includes a cylinder with a combustion chamber outward of a piston, a cylinder cap slideably mounted within the piston and a steam expansion chamber inside the piston. The cap can be heated to reduce condensation of steam. Steam remaining when a steam exhaust valve closes can be recompressed prior to admitting the next charge of steam. One valve or a pair of steam inlet valves connected in series act in cooperation to help maximize efficiency. The amount of steam admitted each stroke is regulated by shifting the phase of one steam admission valve of a pair to vary their overlap for determining the steam mass admitted each cycle. Other valves balance steam displacement with the steam generator output to use steam more efficiently. |
| US08109095B2 |
Method and an apparatus for producing and regulating electrical power
A method of producing electrical power for delivery on an electrical power supply grid includes (a) providing a combined heat and power plant generating heat and electrical power from one or more of biomass, fossil fuel, and nuclear fuel; (b) providing a fuel producing plant for generating a carbon-based fuel and/or a nitrogen-based fuel using electrical power from the combined heat and power plant and a combination of two or more materials selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, hydrogen, carbonaceous gasses, carbonaceous liquids, and nitrogen; (c) determining the need for electrical power on the electrical power supply grid and delivering needed electrical power on the grid; and (d) delivering any excess electrical power to the fuel producing plant. |
| US08109077B2 |
Dual injector system for diesel emissions control
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for injecting fluid, such as an aqueous urea solution, into an exhaust stream in order to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions from diesel engine exhaust. More particularly, the present invention provides a dual-injector system for diesel emissions control and corresponding methods. |
| US08109075B2 |
Lateral flow high voltage propellant isolator
A high voltage propellant isolator includes at least two different types of isolator rings or segments, in alternating lateral arrangement, that direct the flow of propellant, such as xenon gas, in a tortuous path through the isolator. |
| US08109073B2 |
Hybrid propulsive engine including at least one independently rotatable compressor stator
A hybrid propulsive technique includes providing a flow of a working fluid through at least a portion of an at least one jet engine. The hybrid propulsive technique comprises extracting energy from the working fluid that is at least partially converted into electrical power, and converting at least a portion of the electrical power to a torque. The hybrid propulsive technique also comprises rotating an at least one independently rotatable compressor stator at least partially responsive to the converting the at least a portion of the electrical power to the torque. |
| US08109072B2 |
Synthetic rope formed of blend fibers
A rope structure comprising a plurality of rope subcomponents, a plurality of bundles combined to form the rope subcomponents, a plurality of first yarns and a plurality of second yarns combined to form the bundles. In one embodiment, the first yarns have a tenacity of approximately 25-45 gpd and the second yarns have a tenacity of approximately 6-22 gpd. In another embodiment, the first yarns have a breaking elongation of approximately 2%-5% and the second yarns have a breaking elongation of approximately 2%-12%. |
| US08109068B2 |
Agricultural harvester with accelerated draper belt unload
An agricultural harvester includes a base unit and a header coupled with the base unit. The header includes a frame; at least one draper belt; a header lift detector providing an output signal indicating a lift state of the header; and a draper belt accelerator receiving the output signal from the header lift detector and accelerating each of the draper belts upon receipt of the output signal. |
| US08109065B2 |
Automated method for placing sliced food stacks in packages
A system and method are provided that allow meat logs to be manually loaded into a slicing station and thereafter be continuously automatically processed at the slicing station, a harping station, and an insertion station for automated packaging thereof without the need for handling of the meat stacks by workers. To this end, the slicing station is effective to form smaller sections or chubs from the meat logs and to do so such that the chubs are provided with substantially parallel flat end-faces to ensure that high quality meat slices are generated therefrom. The chubs are then transported to the harping station where each of the chubs undergoes a single cutting operation, thus simultaneously forming the meat slices therefrom and substantially maintaining the slices in the configuration of the chubs for generating well-formed stacks of the slices. Thereafter, the stacks are received at the insertion station where they are transferred to their packages, on an automated basis without the need for manual handling thereof. This is enabled due to the well-formed stacks generated by the harping station which allows the stacks to be dropped into the packages aligned therebelow. |
| US08109063B2 |
Movable sealer
An envelope sealing apparatus for sealing an envelope having a main body and a sealable flap foldable about a hinge between the flap and main body, and sealable thereto. The apparatus comprises a feed path along which an envelope can be fed; a driving means associated with the feed path for feeding an envelope along the feed path; a flap securing means cooperative with the driving means to secure an open envelope flap in contact with the driving means; and a flap sealing means cooperative with the driving means to seal the flap to the main body when the driving means drives the envelope in a flap sealing direction along the feed path. A mail piece creation device incorporating such an envelope sealer is further provided, along with corresponding methods. |
| US08109059B2 |
Multifunction finishing set for a floor covering including a modular profile
The multifunctional finishing set for a floor covering includes: a modular profile with at least one groove arranged therein for separation of the profile into two distinct modules, a decorative film which is applied to the profile and covers the separation groove and a fixed reinforcement means housed in the separation groove which permits a reinforcement of the modular profile in the region of the separation groove. |
| US08109057B2 |
Tower foundation system
Described herein are various embodiments of a tower foundation system for an above-ground tower. For example, according to one representative embodiment, a tower for supporting a structure above the ground includes a foundation and a second support column section. The foundation includes a first support column section and a plurality of arms that extend radially outward away from an outer surface of the first support column. Additionally, the foundation includes a plurality of elongate anchors coupled to the plurality of arms. The first and second support column sections include each include a plurality of engagement elements engageable with each other to splice the first and second support column sections together. More specifically, the second support column section is insertable into and rests upon the first support column section such that the plurality of engagement elements engage each other. |
| US08109056B2 |
Frame construction arrangement forming an opening in a wall of a low-rise building
A frame construction for a low rise building. In the construction, a wall frame panel is made of thin light-gauge section steel by bonding together a surface member, a lower frame member, vertical frame members and an upper frame member. Roof or floor support girders are made of heavyweight section steel having H-shape or channel shape. The girders are coupled to frame construction panels by bolts or hold-down fasteners. |
| US08109053B2 |
Door frame assembly
A welded door frame assembly including a hinge jamb joined to a lock jamb via a frame head jamb, all of which are joined with existing studs and an existing wall. The hinge jamb has a bottom end and a top end and includes a door side base, a door contact flange, and a non-door side trim attachment track including one or more fastener holes. A hinge jamb trim piece includes a connector portion configured to be removably retained within the non-door side trim attachment track and is adapted to cover the non-door side trim attachment track, any fastener holes, and any fasteners. Both the lock jamb and frame head jamb include a door side base, a door contact flange, and a connection flange including one or more fastener holes. A lock jamb or frame head jamb trim piece covers the connection flange, any fastener holes, and any fasteners. |
| US08109052B2 |
Monolithic fenestration construction member and wall and fenestration assembly using the same
A fenestration construction member includes a monolithic frame having a front surface, a rear surface, and peripheral wall extending between the front and rear surfaces. The peripheral wall having an inward facing surface and an outward facing surface. The inward facing surface of the peripheral wall defining a through opening into which is positionable a window assembly in sealing contact with the inward facing surface. The monolithic frame further having a sill pan flange extending continuously around the interior facing surface in a direction inwardly therefrom. The monolithic frame further having a fastening flange extending in a direction outwardly from the outward facing surface. The monolithic frame being positionable in a wall frame having a rough opening defined by a sill, a header and a pair vertical jambs extending therebetween with the peripheral wall extending into the rough opening and with the fastening flange abutting an exterior surface of the wall frame. |
| US08109049B2 |
Solar battery module device
A solar battery module device includes a solar cell module formed by arranging a plurality of solar battery cells; a rack-shaped frame having a substantially rectangular shape supporting an outer-edge portion of the solar cell module by surrounding a whole periphery of the outer-edge portion; and a reinforcing frame that is bridged over between two opposite sides of the rack-shaped frame by forming a predetermined gap between the reinforcing frame and a back surface of the solar cell module, and supports the solar cell module by being brought into contact with the back surface of the solar cell module when the solar cell module is bent. The reinforcing frame is engaged with engagement notches formed on the back surface of the rack-shaped frame. |
| US08109046B2 |
Water drainage device
A construct for making a drainage device for a basement waterproofing system is made from a sheet of waterproof material with two generally parallel sides. A series of longitudinal slots is provided parallel to one of the sides, and a series of tabs that fit in the slots is provided along the other side. The bottom surface is scored to provide a series of fold lines to facilitate folding the construct into a rectangular tubular shape, with the tabs fitting into the slots to hold the shape. Perforations are provided in the device to allow water to flow easily through three of the sides of the device when folded to its rectangular tubular shape. A portion of the device may be folded upward to cover the lower portion of a building wall, or a separate piece may be used to bridge the gap between the device and the wall. |
| US08109043B2 |
Secure data center having redundant cooling and blast protection for protecting computer servers by the positioning of air handling units, fiber optic cable and a fire suppressiion system
This application relates to improvements to data centers, including protection from: (1) vandalism, (2) high winds, (3) earthquake, (4) storms, (5) water used for cooling or fire suppression, and (6) explosions emanating from inside or outside of the building. |
| US08109035B2 |
Apparatus and method of mosquito control
A mosquito control trap taking advantage of the normal stages of development for a mosquito. The trap including stagnant water trapped within a container by a weeping platform floating on top of the water. A series of holes in the weeping platform provide exposure of the water to form brood cups in which female mosquitoes lay eggs. In order to develop through the larva and pupa stage the developing insects must enter the larger reservoir of stagnant water, since there is insufficient room in the brood cups. However, the holes are too small to permit escape of the adult mosquito, thus preventing any of the eggs from developing. This device provides a means for controlling mosquitoes without the use of pesticides and is especially suitable for use in lesser developing countries. |
| US08109031B2 |
Electronic sight and manufacturing method thereof
The electronic sight includes a base, an optical window, a point light source, a photomask and a low-reflective layer. The optical window is disposed on a first end of the base. The point light source, disposed on a second end of the base, provides a lightbeam. The photomask is disposed between the point light source and the optical window, and the low-reflective layer is formed thereon. The lightbeam passes through the photomask along a first direction, hits the optical window, and is reflected toward a second direction by the optical window. The method for manufacturing the electronic sight includes: providing a base; providing an optical window disposed on a first end of the base; providing a point light source disposed on a second end of the base; providing a photomask; forming a low-reflective layer on the photomask; and positioning the photomask between the point light source and the optical window. |
| US08109027B2 |
Weapon forend support pad
A weapon support pad comprising a pad comprising a fastening mechanism to attach to the forend of a weapon, such as a rifle to provide support and absorb unwanted vibrations, among other advantages. The pad may be quickly and easily attachable and detachable from the weapon. A variety of fastening mechanisms may be utilized, including the hook-and-loop. |
| US08109024B2 |
Trigger activated switch
A trigger activated switch for a firearm is disclosed. The switch comprises a Hall-effect sensor configured to be mounted in the housing or frame of the firearm, and a magnet disposed on a retractable member coupled to the trigger of the gun. The trigger comprises a firing module rotatably coupled to the housing to have a range of motion with respect to the housing from a non-firing position to a firing position. The retractable member is moveably coupled to the firing module and articulates between a non-engaged position and engaged position with respect to the firing module. The Hall-effect sensor is attached to the firearm housing in proximity to the magnet when the retractable member is in the non-engaged position. Motion of the retractable member from the non-engaged position to the engaged position causes the magnet to articulate away from the sensor, which then activates an auxiliary device upon sensing motion of the retractable member. |
| US08109023B2 |
Shot counter
A shot counter includes a firearm with a loaded chamber indicator and a striker status indicator. A first switch operates with the loaded chamber indicator and a second switch operates with the striker status indicator. When the loaded chamber indicator moves it activates the first switch and when the striker status indicator moves it activates the second switch. If one of the first and second switches is activated, an electrical signal is sent to a processor and the processor interprets the electrical signal as an indication that a shot has been fired. If the electrical signal is from the first switch, the processor actually counts a number of cartridges going in and out of a chamber of the firearm, and if the electrical signal is from the second switch, the processor actually counts a number of times the firearm was cocked. |
| US08109022B2 |
Device having a stand with ejection mechanism
A device includes a housing defining a first opening, and a casing fixed within the housing defining a second opening opposite to the first opening. The device also includes a sliding member slidably received in the casing, and a stand pivotally connected to the sliding member including an end received in the first opening. A retaining member is slidably connected to the casing to magnetically attract the sliding member to retain the sliding member at a predetermined position. An ejection mechanism is arranged within the casing to be pushed by the retaining member to push the sliding member to move the end out of the first opening. |
| US08109021B2 |
Wrap around self laminating wristband
A wrap around, self laminating wristband comprises a substantially transparent laminate strap with an imaging area for receiving printed information and one or more layers of adhesive adjacent the imaging area so that as the strap is wrapped around itself to overlie the imaging area it laminates it. Alternate embodiments provide for a snap closure to secure the wristband instead of adhesive, forming the imaging area with a coating of a thermally sensitive or active print material, adding one or more labels for common use with the wristband, forming the wristband in a page of multiple wristbands or with labels or separately, forming the wristband as part of a printer processable business form, and providing the wristband forms either with or without labels in a continuous fan fold or roll format. |
| US08109020B2 |
Illuminated sign
An illuminated sign that includes a base configured to face a front direction and configured to be placed in a first orientation and a second orientation when the base faces the front direction. A first character is configured to rotate with respect to the base between a first position facing the front direction and a second position facing the front direction. A second character is configured to rotate with respect to the base between the first position facing the front direction and the second position facing the front direction. A rotation mechanism is configured to enable at least one of the first character and the second character to rotate between the first and the second positions. |
| US08109018B2 |
Iron tote
An iron tote includes a soleplate rest, an iron seat, a cord guide, and a wall stand. The soleplate rest defines a soleplate resting surface for the soleplate of an associated iron. The iron seat connects with and projects generally forwardly from the soleplate rest. The iron seat defines a heel resting surface oriented generally normal with respect to the soleplate resting surface. The cord guide connects with the soleplate rest above the iron seat. The cord guide can have a contoured contact surface along which an electrical cord of the associated iron rides during operation of the iron. The wall stand connects with and projects generally rearwardly from the soleplate rest. A method of operating an iron and a kit are also disclosed. |
| US08109017B2 |
Steaming system
A steaming system (100) comprises a steam generator (120), a removable water tank (130) for holding and supplying water to the steam generator (120); and a dosing device (140) for supplying an amount of a water treatment agent to the water tank (130). The dosing device is configured to be triggered by a movement of the water tank (130) relative to the steam generator (120). |
| US08109015B2 |
Sports shoe particularly for cycling
A sports shoe, particularly for cycling, comprising a sole and a vamp in which is identified a heel area having a rear part from which extend respective walls juxtaposed and spaced for bilaterally encircling the heel of the user; in the heel area it comprises a pair of presser arms extending like a pincer, each behind the corresponding vamp wall at an upper part thereof, distal with respect to the sole, and located normally above the heel of the user. |
| US08109013B2 |
Protective cover device for a skate boot
A protective cover device for a skate boot comprises a panel member including a central portion spanning part of the skate tongue and two side portions extending outwardly and downwardly from the central portion to span towards respective inner and outer sides of the skate. Anchor members at the outer side anchor the panel member to the skate boot using apertures which receive portions of the skate laces therethrough. The anchor members at the outer side also form hinges onto which the panel member is pivotally coupled for selectively providing access to the laces for fastening. An anchor member at the inner side comprises a strap which is selectively fastened to a mating fastener on a bottom side of the skate boot. |
| US08109012B2 |
Article of footwear with drainage features
An article of footwear configured to drain water away from a foot wearing the article of footwear includes a plurality of drainage holes positioned between ribs formed on the sole. The drainage holes are formed along a centerline of the sole. The drainage holes are substantially vertical channels formed entirely through the sole. The ribs include raised center portions disposed at or near the inlets to the drainage holes to lift the foot away from the drainage holes. |
| US08109007B2 |
Object profile sensing
A method for sensing an object profile shape involves relatively sweeping (whisking or translating) in angular or translational increments an elongated whisker element having a deflectable cantilever region and an object so that the cantilever region bends as a result of sliding along an object periphery. The moment (torque) at a base region of the whisker element as a result of the bending is determined. The method then iteratively determines successive contact point locations on the object periphery based on small successive increments in angle or position of the whisker element and the sensed moment (torque). |
| US08109002B2 |
Wire stripping back bar knife
A wire stripping knife having a back bar which cooperates with the handle to strip wire. In one form the back bar is a lock back bar to lock the knife in an open orientation, and in yet another form the back bar is biased to a closed orientation when the blade is in an extended orientation. |
| US08108997B2 |
Methods and apparatus for replacing objects on horizontal shafts in elevated locations
An apparatus for stabilizing a shaft in an essentially horizontal position while an anchoring object at one end of the shaft is replaced without removal of an object at the opposite end of the shaft that would otherwise tend to destabilize the shaft from its essentially horizontal position includes a half-spool member configured to clamp above and around the shaft to resist torque around the rotor, under supports configured to attach to the half-spool member and clamp an underside of the shaft below the half-spool member, and a hydraulic or mechanical brake configured to resist torque on the shaft when the brake is engaged. |
| US08108992B2 |
Method of making a microwave field director structure having V-shaped vane doublets
A method of making a self-supporting field director structure for use in heating an article in a microwave oven comprises in any operative order, the steps of folding a first and a second elongated vane blank along a central fold line to form at least two V-shaped vane doublets; inserting each of the vane doublets into a slotted annular support member so that each vane in each vane doublet extends through an adjacent slot in the annular support member; and attaching the vane doublets at their vertices to define a vane array. |
| US08108986B2 |
Method for manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic write pole having a large bevel angle
A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic recording, the write head having a write pole with an increased bevel (taper) angle. The write pole is constructed by forming a mask structure over a magnetic write pole material, and then performing a combination of sweeping or rotation with static (non-rotating, non-sweeping) ion milling at an angle relative to normal. The ion milling is performed while moving the wafer laterally within the ion milling tool to ensure that the ion milling is performed uniformly across the wafer during static milling. |
| US08108985B2 |
Method for manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic write head
A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic recording. The method includes forming a write pole, and then depositing a refill layer. A mask structure can be formed over the writ pole and refill layer, the mask structure being configured to define a stitched pole. An ion milling or reactive ion milling can then be performed to remove portions of the refill layer that are not protected by the mask structure. Then a magnetic material can be deposited to form a stitched write pole that defines a secondary flare point. The stitched pole can also be self aligned with an electrical lapping guide in order to accurately locate the front edge of the secondary flare point relative to the air bearing surface of the write head. |
| US08108983B2 |
Method of manufacturing a rotary motor
The disclosure relates to the realization of stable electrical connections between coils and a commutator without causing slackening of the coils wound on individual magnetic teeth. An armature of a rotary motor includes an armature core structured splittably into magnetic tooth members which are individually wound by concentrated-winding type coils, and a commutator having the same number of segments as the number of the magnetic tooth members, the individual segments having connecting terminals, wherein an end portion of the coil concentratedly wound on one of the magnetic tooth members is connected generally in a straight line to the connecting terminal of the segment which is located at a position offset in a circumferential direction by a specific angle from the aforementioned one magnetic tooth member, and a conductor line connected to the connecting terminal of the segment is concentratedly wound on another magnetic tooth member adjacent to the aforementioned one magnetic tooth member. |
| US08108982B2 |
Compound mold tooling for controlled heat transfer
In one embodiment, a tool for forming an article in a molding operation has a tool body formed from a non-particulate material, with a particulate material bonded to the body. The body provides a forming surface for forming the article. The particulate material, or the particulate material and the tool body collectively provide a duct for conveying a fluid for transfer of heat with the forming surface. In another embodiment, the tool has a tool body formed from a non-particulate material with a cavity and the particulate material is disposed within the cavity. A heat transfer material is disposed in the cavity bonding the particulate material to the tool body. Methods for manufacturing such tools are also disclosed. |
| US08108979B2 |
Using a stiffener to repair a part for an aircraft engine
A method of repairing a part, which has a first side, a second side opposite of the first side, and an aperture that makes the part susceptible to cracking, includes the steps of forming a slot in the first side of the part near the aperture, inserting a stiffener into the slot, and attaching at least one repair ply onto the first side of the part to cover the stiffener. |
| US08108978B2 |
Apparatus for accurately positioning and supporting modular tooling
A tooling apparatus for positioning end effector tooling for engagement with a workpiece to facilitate the performance of work operations on the workpiece. The apparatus includes an elongated rectangular tubular backbone member, a plurality of tubular collars positioned over and secured to the backbone member at predetermined longitudinally spaced locations along the backbone member, and a plurality of support structures secured to a side of one or more of the collars utilizing a plurality of fasteners engaging apertures in the collars and aligned apertures in the underlying backbone member. |
| US08108976B2 |
Impact resistant seat belt buckle
A buckle for a seat belt that resists unintentional unlatching when subjected to rapid acceleration or deceleration. The buckle assembly includes a female buckle and a removable male tongue plate. The female buckle includes a spring-loaded pawl that lockingly engages a slot in the removable tongue plate. The spring urges the pawl into locking engagement with the slot in the tongue plate. The present invention discloses a pawl-loading spring made from a material that resists elastic deformation when the buckle is subjected to a force perturbation such as the sudden acceleration or deceleration of the buckle that occurs during a crash. The spring material exhibits resistance to deformation when loaded at a high loading rate. |
| US08108973B2 |
Side buckle of swimming goggles
A side buckle of swimming goggles is approximately formed into a strip shape. The side buckle has a retaining clip and a retaining groove respectively at two ends thereof. The retaining clip has two shaft rods and a step-shaped urging portion. The retaining groove has two shaft holes and a belt hole. A connecting portion is formed between the retaining clip and the retaining groove. The retaining clip and the retaining groove may be locked to each other after the connecting portion is bent. Thereby, the side buckle of swimming goggles is fitted at side edges of a pair of swimming goggles and connected to a belt. The connecting portion is pressed to trigger the operation of the retaining clip to loosen or fasten the belt, so as to quickly adjust a length of the belt. |
| US08108971B2 |
Hinge for a roof window with a pivot sash
A pivot hinge for roof windows with a sash pivoting around the axis located between the upper and the lower member of a window, has a balancing system, which ensures the state of equilibrium of a window sash when its centre of gravity is located outside the sash rotating axis and the friction spring of the hinge is unable to hold the sash pivoted in each its position. At the same time the window fittings, its assembly, installation in a roof and its appearance remain unchanged. Also the method of separating of both hinge parts (taking a sash out of a window frame) remains unchanged. |
| US08108969B2 |
Checker-equipped door hinge device for vehicle
A checker-equipped door hinge device for vehicle includes: a first bracket fixed to one of a body and a door; a second bracket fixed to another one of the body and the door; a hinge pin connecting the first and second brackets to each other, and allowing the brackets to be relatively rotatable; an inner cylinder connected integrally to the first bracket and disposed coaxially with the hinge pin; an outer cylinder connected integrally to the second bracket and disposed so as to surround the inner cylinder in a manner of being rotatable relative to the inner cylinder; and a checking-force generating mechanism provided between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, the checking-force generating mechanism generating a checking force against the door at a predetermined opening position of the door, wherein an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder are eccentric to each other, so that a thick wall portion having a large distance between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface is formed in the outer cylinder, and the checking-force generating mechanism is provided in the thick wall portion. Thereby the door hinge device can be compact, in which the checking-force generating mechanism can be disposed in the outer cylinder without increasing the diameter of the outer cylinder. |
| US08108967B2 |
Handle assembly for a cleaning appliance
A handle assembly for a cleaning appliance includes a slidably extendible wand and a connecting portion that includes a first locking arrangement releasably securing the handle assembly to the main body of the cleaning appliance, a second locking arrangement releasably locking the wand in a pre-determined position with respect to the connecting portion and an actuator. The actuator is adapted and arranged to move the first and second locking arrangements between locked and unlocked positions. The first locking arrangement is movable independently of the actuator. This arrangement allows a single actuator to be operated by a user to unlock both the first and second locking arrangements simultaneously. However, because the first locking arrangement can move independently of the second locking arrangement, it is possible to secure the handle assembly to the main body of the cleaning appliance while keeping the wand in a locked position. |
| US08108964B2 |
Sealed pick-up head for a mobile sweeper
A sealed pick-up head for a mobile sweeper comprises a housing defining a substantially hollow interior and a suctioning bottom opening. A suctioning front opening is for receiving debris into the substantially hollow interior of the housing. A door frame surrounds the suctioning front opening. A rotatable door has at least a first door portion and a second door portion joined together at a central pivot axis, and is operatively mounted at the central pivot axis in rotatable relation on the pick-up head at the suctioning front opening. A seal is operatively disposed between the rotatable door and the door frame for sealing the rotatable door with respect to the door frame, to thereby substantially preclude air from ingressing into the substantially hollow interior of the housing through the suctioning front opening, as the rotatable door rotates to permit debris to enter the substantially hollow interior of the housing. A dust and debris outlet in the housing permits dust and debris to be suctioned from the substantially hollow interior of the housing into a hopper. |
| US08108963B2 |
Wash bucket with integral measuring
A wash bucket for use with detergent and water to ensure that the detergent and water are mixed in a predetermined ratio. The wash bucket has a cup within the wash bucket cavity. In some embodiments the cup is attached to the wash bucket structure and not easily removed by hand. In other embodiments the cup is removably attached to the wash bucket structure. A proper detergent to water ratio is achieved by filling the cup to a point indicated on the cup and then filling the wash bucket to a point indicated on the wash bucket. |
| US08108962B2 |
Toothbrush and method of using the same
A toothbrush is provided having an elongated handle and a brush head supported by the handle. The brush head has a base and a plurality of bristles that are arranged in sections. Each section has bristles that extend from the base to form a contact surface elevated from the base. One or more of the sections include bristles that extend to varying lengths from the base to form a contact surface that inclines or declines relative to the base. The sections of bristles further include a first outside section having a contact surface that declines inwardly, an inside section, adjacent the first outside section, having a contact surface that declines outwardly toward the first outside section, and a second outside section positioned adjacent an opposite side of the inside section from the first outside section. The second outside section has a contact surface that declines inwardly toward the inside section. |
| US08108958B2 |
Apparatus for continuous collection of human waste products and method for incontinence management
According to at least one embodiment, an apparatus for continuous collection of human waste products is disclosed. The apparatus may include a bed frame, a lower plate having a container coupled thereto, an upper plate having an aperture defined therein, a mattress having an aperture defined therein, a mattress cover having an aperture defined therein and an absorbent pad or drawsheet having a bag coupled thereto. The apparatus may further facilitate preventing human waste products from contacting the skin of the patient, thereby substantially reducing the occurrence of pressure ulcers. The apparatus for continuous collection of human waste products may also provide continuous zero pressure in the area of the buttock while maintaining the patient in a comfortable position. As a result, the apparatus can prevent and treat pressure ulcers that frequently occur in the area of the buttock. |
| US08108957B2 |
Pulmonary mattress
A patient support surface including a cover defining an interior region, a layer of three dimensional material, located at the interior region, and an air circulation device disposed adjacent the layer of three dimensional material. The patient support surface includes at least one of a percussion device and a vibration device, located at the interior region. |
| US08108956B2 |
Fastener concealment cap for grab bar assembly
A grab bar assembly includes tabs which engage respective pockets to position a cap within a grab bar recessed area. The tabs and pockets position the cap while a locking tab secures the cap within the recessed area. |
| US08108951B2 |
Wearable protective body appliance
A wearable protective body appliance for reducing the likelihood of injury to a wearer. One embodiment provides a wearable protective body appliance having an articulating protective shell assembly that includes one or more first shell members formed from a first material having a first hardness, and a second shell member directly connected to the first shell member and formed from a second material having a second hardness less than the first hardness. The second shell member is flexible and enables the one or more first shell members to articulate relative to one another, yet still provide impact protection. Another embodiment provides a body appliance including a padding assembly that defines a ventilation hole and includes an inner engagement member. The inner engagement member can surround the ventilation hole and can be adapted to frictionally engage the skin of a wearer to substantially prevent the appliance from moving relative thereto. |
| US08108949B2 |
Waterproof moisture-permeable fabric for clothing and clothing
Waterproof moisture-permeable fabric for clothing which includes, on one side of a polyester fabric A, a waterproof moisture-permeable layer B including a colorless transparent polyester film stacked, and a white or gray resin C partially stacked, and clothing including the waterproof moisture-permeable fabric. Preferably, a moisture-permeable polymer resin D containing inorganic fine particles is stacked on the waterproof moisture-permeable layer B, and the white or gray resin C is partially stacked thereon. |
| US08108948B2 |
Method and apparatus for keeping a shirt collar aligned and fastened, magnetically
A method and apparatus for holding a shirt collar in a desired position and orientation, magnetically, against a shirt front. The apparatus includes a collar stay insertable into a conventional collar stay pocket or attachable to an inside surface of a collar, and a magnet magnetically attachable or couplable to the collar stay through the shirt front, and the pocket, if applicable, for holding the shirt collar in the selected position and orientation. The collar stay and the magnet can be optionally interlockable and/or include detents for preventing undesired relative movements thereof, which can include particularly, relative longitudinal movements, but which can also include twisting and sideward movements. For collars which do not include any collar stay pocket, or where a collar stay pocket is not desired to be used, the collar stay can include an adhesive on an outer surface thereof adapted for adhesive attachment to the inside surface of a collar. |
| US08108947B2 |
Protective bodysuit
The invention is for a bodysuit for clothing of a human to assist in comfortable wearing of an orthotic brace. Trouserette sections, an elliptical sanitary voiding aperture, and a loincloth with a pelvic girdle flap elongated end releasably joined to a body sleeve provide the wearer with comfort, modesty, and convenience in sanitary voiding. Stretch cotton/spandex knit cloth, externally overlocked seaming, coverstitched stitches, flat zigzag stitchery, and hook and loop tape fasteners enhance quality and comfort in various embodiments. |
| US08112809B2 |
Method and system for locally activating a DRM engine
A method for locally activating a DRM engine is disclosed. A preprocessing operation is performed, wherein rights objects are bound with digital content files with a first format. The digital content files with the first format are converted to the digital content files with a second format. The digital content files with the second format file are encrypted and a corresponding decryption key is generated. The encrypted digital content files and the decryption key are stored in a memory device. An application is designed and installed on the electronic device and the memory device is installed to the electronic device. The application is authorized according to the rights objects bound in the digital content files, decrypts the encrypted digital content files using the decryption key, wherein the digital content files with the second format can be recovered from the third format, and activates a DRM engine of the electronic device. The DRM engine binds an IMEI code of the electronic device with the digital content files, enabling the digital content files to only be accessed by the specific electronic device. |
| US08112808B2 |
Server apparatus and installation information making method
A license server generates USB serial IDs for USB memory secured in a multi-function machine and then makes electronic signature files using the USB serial IDs and firmware that is the target of installation at the multi-function machine. The license server further makes electronic signature files using the firmware installer and SD card serial IDs. The license server then stores data for installation use including the electronic signature files in an SD card inserted in a client device connected to the license server. |
| US08112799B1 |
Method, system, and computer program product for avoiding cross-site scripting attacks
A system and method for protecting a user against a cross-site scripting attack or other network attack that relies on scripting code embedded within a uniform resource locator (URL) are described. Validation software executing on a client computer system may intercept a URL in response to a user providing the URL to a web browser or other client application. The validation software may analyze the URL to determine whether the URL includes scripting code. If the URL includes scripting code then the validation software may block the client application from accessing the URL or may otherwise inhibit access to the URL. |
| US08112797B2 |
System and method to provide built-in and mobile VPN connectivity
A system and method for facilitating the establishment of a virtual private network between a network and a remote computer, the system having: a mobile device connectable to the remote computer and storing a user profile, virtual private network information, and password information; virtual private network software being located on one of the mobile device and the remote computer; an access point communicating with the network; and communication means for communications between the access point and one of the mobile device and the remote computer, wherein the user profile, virtual private network information, and password information is passed to the virtual private network software upon connection of the mobile device to the remote computer, the virtual private network software using the user profile, virtual private network information, and password information to establish a virtual private network through the communications means and the access point to the network. |
| US08112796B2 |
Secure federation of data communications networks
Techniques for secure federation of data communications networks are provided. The techniques employ an edge proxy server to route messages depending on a federation mode. In Direct federation mode, an edge proxy server of a network is configured to exchange messages with a specified set of entities, such as other networks, servers, other devices, or users. In Automatic federation mode, an edge proxy server may accept all incoming messages from entities that have a valid certificate. In Clearinghouse federation mode, the edge proxy server forwards all outgoing messages to a specified, trusted clearinghouse server. |
| US08112794B2 |
Management of multiple connections to a security token access device
A security token access device, a user device such as a computing device or communications device, and a method for managing multiple connections between multiple user devices and the access device. The access device maintains connection information, including security information, for each user device securely paired with the access device. Each time a new user device is paired with the access device, the access device transmits a notification to the user devices already paired to the user device. A user may provide instructions to the access device to terminate a pairing with one of the user devices by overwriting at least a portion of the connection information associated with the designated user device. A user device may further request a listing of all user devices currently paired with the access device. |
| US08112792B2 |
Network node and method for providing internet services on internet marketplaces
A network node provides an Internet service executed in a server for Internet marketplace users. An outer connector receives a request initiated in a user computer, and transmits to the user computer a result from the provider server. The service is requested via an Internet marketplace website on a server connected to the user computer. The outer connector is adapted to change the format of the request and the result for the Internet marketplace. A transformation unit is connected to the outer connector, and adapted to ascertain a provider server for the service based on the request, and addressing the request to the provider server. The node comprises a unit adapted to verify user authorization to access the service, based on an Internet marketplace profile. An inner connector is connected to the transformation unit for transmitting the request to, and receiving the result from, the provider server. |
| US08112791B2 |
Secure launching of browser from privileged process
Methods and apparatus include securely launching a web browser from a privileged process of a workstation to minimize enterprise vulnerabilities. The workstation includes a web browser pointed toward a web server and a Logon API for use with a password/credential. An executable file is wrapped about the browser and imposes restrictions, such as preventing the writing to a registry or installing ActiveX controls. It also has functionality to prevent users from linking to web locations in other than an https protocol or following links beyond an original host. Upon indication of a forgotten password/credential, a DLL logs onto a user account which invokes the executable file to launch the web browser in the https protocol. Upon authentication of identity, the user changes their password/credential for later logging-on to the workstation via the Logon API, but in a capacity without the limited functionality or the imposed browser restrictions. |
| US08112790B2 |
Methods and apparatus for authenticating a remote service to another service on behalf of a user
Methods and apparatus are provided for authenticating a remote service to another service on behalf of a user. A user client authorizes a remote application client to perform one or more actions with a server on behalf of the user client. The user client provides one or more keys to a remote authentication service; receives an identifier of the remote application client, where the remote authentication client is remote from the server; and notifies the remote authentication service that the remote application client is authorized to obtain a response from the remote authentication service regarding a challenge from the server, where the response is based on at least one of the one or more keys stored by the remote authentication service on behalf of the user client. The remote application client provides a challenge that is received from a server that the remote application client is attempting to access for the user client and an identifier of the user client to a remote authentication service and receives a response to the challenge from the remote authentication service, wherein the response is based on one or more keys stored by the remote authentication service on behalf of the user client. |
| US08112788B2 |
Systems and methods of controlling network access
A new approach to network security includes manipulating an access point such that an initial communication from an external device is passed to a restricted subset of a computing network including a gatekeeper. The gatekeeper is configured to enforce a security policy against the external device before granting access to a less-restricted subset of the computing network. If requirements of the security policy are satisfied, then the gatekeeper reconfigures the access point such that further communication from the external device may be received by elements of the less-restricted subset. Enforcement of the security policy optionally includes performing a security audit of the external device. |
| US08112786B2 |
Security policy generation
The invention provides security policy generation methods and devices for generating a security policy that is set up for an information processing apparatus comprises a step of generating an application model having a transmitter and a receiver of a message decided, for each of a plurality of messages that are communicated, a step of storing in advance a plurality of security patterns with a signer of electronic signature appended to the message as an undecided parameter, a step of selecting a security pattern that is a model of security policy to be set up for the transmitter or receiver of the message, corresponding to each of the plurality of messages included in the application model, and a step of substituting the identification information of the transmitter or receiver of each message included in the application model for the undecided parameter of the security pattern selected corresponding to the message. |
| US08112781B2 |
Content delivery system having an edge resource manager performing bandwidth reclamation
A method is provided for reclaiming bandwidth from an edge device. The method includes communicating a bandwidth query message to at least one session manager. The bandwidth query message specifies an amount of bandwidth that needs to be reclaimed from a single one of a plurality of edge devices in order to establish at least one additional session that delivers a digital service to a subscriber in a service group serviced by the plurality of edge devices over an access network. In response to communication of the bandwidth query message, a bandwidth query response message is received from the session manager identifying an edge device from which at least the specified amount of bandwidth can be reclaimed. A response is communicated to the session manager requesting the session manager to reclaim the specified amount of bandwidth from the edge device that has been identified. |
| US08112779B2 |
Automatic reporting of antenna installation
A method for validating antenna installation to a broadcast provider to ensure proper alignment of the antenna with the broadcast provider's satellite system. The feedback provided by the customer, the installer, and signal strength and quality information communicated from the receiver to the broadcast provider are used to confirm proper installation. Upon confirmation of proper installation, the data can be used to troubleshoot equipment, or issue payment to the installer. |
| US08112778B2 |
Video mail and content playback control with cellular handset
The playback of video content delivered over a wireless network can be controlled by the provision of various control functions that can be actuated by the user. The controlled playback can be implemented on a system level, in which the delivery of the video content is controlled in response to receiving control actuation signals from a receiver device or can be implemented at the receiver device level by storing the video content and controlling the rendering of the content based on user actuations. In either implementation, the playback control can include pausing, stopping, fast-forwarding, rewinding, reversing, fast-reversing and skipping of the video content. |
| US08112777B2 |
Method of controlling and apparatus of receiving mobile service data
A data transmission system for minimizing the number of errors during Tx/Rx times of mobile service data under mobile environments, and a data processing method for the same are disclosed. The system additionally codes mobile service data, and transmits the resultant coded mobile service data. As a result, the mobile service data has a strong resistance to noise and channel variation, and can quickly cope with the rapid channel variation. |
| US08112776B2 |
Interactive computer system for providing television schedule information
The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule and/or listing information to a viewer, and for allowing the viewer to link, search, select and interact with information in a remote database, e.g., a database on the internet. The television schedule and/or listing information can be displayed on a variety of viewer interfaces, such as televisions screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and the like. The television schedule and/or listing information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule and/or listing information may be downloaded from a remote database to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV. |
| US08112775B2 |
IPTV receiver and method of providing channel details information
An IPTV receiver and a method of providing channel details information are provided. A network interface transmits and receives an IP packet through a network. An IP network stack checks a destination of the received IP packet and classifies the IP packet according to a protocol. A Service Information (SI) decoder parses a channel map record included in the IP packet to read a channel map instance included in the channel map record, parses a channel details record included in the IP packet to read the channel details information included in the channel details record, wherein the channel map instance includes channel details reception information. an IPTV terminal function (ITF) operation controller controls the reception of the channel details record based on the channel details reception information. |
| US08112772B2 |
Electronic apparatus
The present invention is an electronic apparatus including: an electronic apparatus main body 1; a panel main body that has a first guided component guided by a first guide groove C1 formed in the electronic apparatus main body, and moves in an inclined state with respect to the electronic apparatus main body; and a hold plate 6 that has a second guided portion guided by a second guide groove C2 formed in the electronic apparatus main body, and slidably holds the panel main body. According to the present invention, a mechanism for tilting the panel main body and a mechanism for sliding the panel main body are provided separately from each other, so that the panel main body having an increased weight can be operated smoothly in the inclined state. |
| US08112770B2 |
Providing alternative content in a windowed environment
The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture or extension to a window manager. In particular, the extension can provide for a window rotation feature that can be exposed as a rotate button. Additionally or alternatively, the rotation feature can be activated based upon a diverse set of conditions, events, and/or commands. Upon activation of the rotation feature, the window manager can rotate a window about an axis to expose a secondary surface that can be populated with alternative content that is distinct from the content of the primary surface of the window. In addition, the architecture provides techniques for identifying both double-sided graphical objects and potentially double-sided objects. |
| US08112769B2 |
System and method for implementing and/or operating network interface devices to achieve network-based communications
A computer system, and related components including network interface devices, as well as methods for implementing and/or operating network interface devices to achieve network-based communications, are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the computer system includes a network interface device, and a bus driver in communication with the network interface device. The bus driver has access to a plurality of driver programs, and the bus driver is capable of causing an installation of one such driver program on the network interface device. Also, in at least some embodiments, the bus driver facilitates communications between multiple network interface devices and an operating system of the computer system, and/or between the network interface devices and user mode applications implementing graphical user interfaces. Further, in at least some embodiments, the bus driver governs operation of the network interface devices, for example, in relation to power management and/or interrupt handling. |
| US08112759B2 |
Grouping resource allocation commands in a logically-partitioned system
A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that in an embodiment determine a group associated with a command, wherein the command comprises a resource-allocating command in a logically-partitioned electronic device and determine when to perform the command based on the group. By grouping commands and scheduling the commands based on the group to which they belong, in an embodiment commands may be performed at an appropriate time when their impact on the performance of the logical partitions will be reduced. |
| US08112757B2 |
Apparatus and method of dynamically repartitioning a computer system in response to partition workloads
A method, system and apparatus for dynamically repartitioning a partitioned computer system in response to workload demands are provided. In one embodiment, a monitoring software is used to monitor workloads on all resources in all the partitions. If a workload on a resource in a partition is determined to exceed a maximum threshold, a similar resource is allocated to the partition. The similar resource is preferentially an unassigned or unallocated resource. However, resources from other partitions may also be used. In another embodiment, a workload schedule is stored in a workload profile. If a scheduled workload in any of the resources of a partition is to exceed a maximum threshold, additional similar resources will be allocated to the partition before the scheduled workload. |
| US08112754B2 |
Controlling body-bias voltage and clock frequency in a multiprocessor system for processing tasks
In case of a task scheduling processing that assigns plural divided execution program tasks to plural processor units, a multiprocessor system using SOI/MOS transistors employs two processes; one process is to determine an order to execute those tasks so as to reduce the program execution time and the other process is to control the system power upon task scheduling so as to control the clock signal frequency and the body-bias voltage to temporarily speed up the operation of a processor unit that processes another task that might affect the processing performance of one object task if there is dependency among those tasks. |
| US08112749B2 |
Dynamic, temporary resource pools for use in virtualization
A method of implementing virtualization involves dynamic, temporary resource pools. A virtualizing subsystem is capable of partitioning a plurality of physical resources to create resource pools. The virtualizing subsystem is further capable of creating separate environments that logically isolate applications from each other, and assigning a created separate environment to a created resource pool. A separate environment is configured by defining properties of the separate environment. Configuring the separate environment includes specifying at least one resource pool attribute. When the separate environment is started, a temporary resource pool is created from available physical resources and the separate environment is assigned to the temporary resource pool. The temporary resource pool is created in accordance with the at least one resource pool attribute specified when the separate environment was configured. The temporary resource pool may be destroyed when the separate environment is shutdown. |
| US08112746B2 |
Method for upgrading application data according to a new application definition
A method is disclosed for upgrading preexisting application data according to a new application definition, the method comprises parsing the preexisting application data to provide parsed preexisting application data and converting the parsed preexisting application data according to the new application definition to thereby provide application data compliant with the new application definition. |
| US08112742B2 |
Method and system for debugging data integration applications with reusable synthetic data values
A method and system for debugging data integration applications with reusable synthetic data values. The method includes receiving a specification for a data integration application comprising transformation rules, receiving synthetic data values to use as test values for the inputs of the transformation rules, and using the synthetic data values for testing the functionality of the transformation rules. |
| US08112740B2 |
Core object-oriented type system for semi-structured data
A type system employing structural subtyping is disclosed herein. A core type system supports several structural types, such as stream, choice, intersection and sequence. Also part of the core type system is a new invariant type, which denotes values whose dynamic type is the same as its static type, and type restrictions for limiting a range of a base type. Furthermore, a streamlined structural version of delegates, called structural delegates and a validation method thereof are introduce into the type system. To further facilitate type safety, strict statically checked interface casts are introduced. |
| US08112737B2 |
Contact resistance and capacitance for semiconductor devices
A method generates a design layout for an integrated circuit. A design is provided for an integrated circuit. Library cells are selected according to the design. The library cells are mapped into a chip area map. Unmapped cells are filled with filler cells. Critical cells of the library cells are selected. The selected critical cells are altered with respect to contact resistance and/or contact capacitance. The map including the altered cells is provided as the design layout. |
| US08112736B2 |
Differential voltage defectivity monitoring method
A method uses a differential voltage response to identify fabrication process defects that would result if an IC design is fabricated (without re-designing to correct such defects). The method uses two stacks, whose respective outputs may be compared by a comparator, and comparator's output used to determine defectivity. In some embodiments, each stack includes a first-type device (e.g. a p-channel device) and at least two second-type devices (e.g. n-channel devices). The first-type device is used as a current source or as a select switch (depending on the mode of operation of the differential voltage defectivity monitoring circuit). One second-type device may be used as a select switch and for back-bias control, while another second-type device may be used as a blocking switch and/or a select switch. The method may use an addressable array of multiple test structures that have digitally multiplexed control lines, in some embodiments. |
| US08112730B2 |
Various methods and apparatuses for memory modeling using a structural primitive verification for memory compilers
A structural primitive verification tool for memory compilers is described. A first set of memory structural primitives are supplied by a designer by filling in fields of a presented user interface. The first set of structural primitives describe certain physical layout features of a proposed memory array in an integrated circuit. A first model of a memory instance derived from the first set of memory structural primitives supplied by the designer is compared to a second model of a memory instance derived from a memory layout file from a memory compiler under-test. The first model is verified against the second model to verify to an integrity of the first set of memory structural primitives supplied by the designer compared to the memory layout file derived from a second set of memory structural primitives configuring that memory instance from the memory compiler. |
| US08112729B2 |
Method and system for selective stress enablement in simulation modeling
A method and system for modeling an integrated circuit. The method includes converting a representation of the integrated circuit into design shapes of design levels of a design of the integrated circuit; adding control shapes to the design, the control shapes not defining any physical part of the integrated circuit; extracting layout-dependent stress parameters of the devices from the design levels of the design based on the control shapes and the design shapes; converting the layout-dependent stress parameters to stress parameters using a stress algorithm; generating stressed device parameters from the stress parameters using a compact model; and simulating performance of the integrated circuit using the stressed device parameters in a simulation model of the integrated circuit design. |
| US08112727B2 |
Method and system product for implementing uncertainty in integrated circuit designs with programmable logic
Disclosed is a method, system and computer program product to specify an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a hardwired specific logic technology portion and a programmable specific logic technology portion. The method includes generating a hybrid logic network by mapping each uncertain logic function to an abstract programmable logic element implementation thereof and by mapping each known logic function to a technology-independent logic element implementation thereof; simplifying the hybrid logic network using logic synthesis optimizations; mapping the simplified hybrid logic network to a specific technology by mapping the abstract programmable logic element implementation to the specific programmable logic technology and the technology-independent logic element implementation to the specific logic technology; and further includes optimizing the mapped network to meet performance constraints. Generating involves using integrated circuit specification language extensions that include an Uncertain Function that is used in place of a logic function or operator, an Uncertain Function Assertion for imposing at least one constraint on the Uncertain Function, an Uncertain Register for a register having a programmable size within a specified range and an Uncertain Constant. |
| US08112723B2 |
Previewing next state based on potential action in current state
A method, program and system for displaying the consequence of an input in a graphical user interface (GUI) are provided. The invention comprises displaying a GUI including a plurality of interaction control mechanisms (controls) having a selected or a deselected state. An input to a first control may cause a change in state to at least one other of the plurality of controls. Responsive to a first input at the first control (e.g., holding down a mouse button with the pointer on the first control), the invention displays a preview of the change in state of the plurality of controls that would occur if a second input is made at the first control (e.g., releasing the mouse button with the pointer still on the first control). If the user does not want the previewed change in state to occur, the user has simply to avoid making the second input (e.g., move the pointer off the first control before releasing the mouse button). |
| US08112721B2 |
Image reproduction device and method thereof
An image reproduction device comprises: a thumbnail image read device which reads a thumbnail image file having recorded thereon two or more types of thumbnail images produced based on a stereo image composed of a plurality of images obtained by capturing the identical subject from a plurality of viewpoints; a thumbnail image selection device which selects one thumbnail image to be used for displaying from among the plurality of thumbnail images recorded on the read thumbnail image file; and a thumbnail image reproduction device which causes the selected thumbnail image to be displayed on a display device. Thereby, the device enables to reproduce in a short length of time, an optimum one of different thumbnail images of plural types, or a thumbnail image of a type desired by a user. |
| US08112717B1 |
Automatic formatting of display screen to reflect past correlative changes to data display windows
A method for automatically formatting a display screen upon initialization or refresh to reflect a user's prior resizing of frames with respect to one another. |
| US08112714B2 |
Customizing application page loading in a discovery interface
A system provides customized user interface data to a media application, such as a media discovery interface, or to any application for that matter, thereby extending the original application. Via a network connection, elements of the user interface can be downloaded to the application in a package of markup data and resources, including images, text, and links. A user interface framework of the media application processes the markup data from the downloaded package and utilizes packaged resources, local code components, and externally-obtained (e.g., Web resources) to render a customized application page for the media application. Based on a wide variety of computing system and user parameters, the offerings and application pages presented to the user can be filtered and/or reordered to be more appropriate for the computing system and user. |
| US08112711B2 |
System and method of playback and feature control for video players
A method and a system of displaying a user interface to control playback and features that may be associated with a prerecorded media. A media player, such as a DVD player, a personal computer, a home media server, a high definition video player, an optical player, a hard drive based player, or a software DVD-ROM player receives streams of video from different media and displays its content. Simultaneously, and without interrupting the video playback, a user interface is overlaid on the video image. The user interface may include menu selections to control the playback of the video including scene selection, settings, and viewing rights. The user interface may include menu selections to control features associated with the video such as Documentaries, Games, Purchases, Activities, Commentaries, Outtakes, Karaoke, Trailers, Songs, Wishlists, and Events. |
| US08112704B2 |
Method for loading large XML documents on demand
Systems and methods for loading XML documents on demand are described. The system provides a Wrapper class for the XML Document class and the Element class. A user application then utilizes the Wrapper class in the same way that the Element class and Document class would be used to access any element in the XML Document. The Wrapper class loads external components as required. The external component retrieval is completely transparent to the user application and the user application is able to access the entire XML document as if it were completely loaded into a DOM object in memory. Accordingly, each element is accessible in a random manner. In one configuration, the XML document components or external components are stored in a database in a BLOB field as a Digital Document. The system uses external components to efficiently use resources as compared to systems using Xlink and external entities. |
| US08112699B2 |
Error detecting/correcting scheme for memories
A method for detecting and correcting errors in a memory having a read/write paradigm is presented. In these implementations, various approaches to detect errors on a per word or per group of words basis and correct errors on a per group of words or per page basis, respectively, in relation to a memory and its associated differing read/write operations, are provided. For instance, in one implementation, errors are detected on a per word basis and corrected on a per page basis for a NOR Flash Memory having differing read/write operations of reading on a per word basis and writing on a per page basis. Advantageously, benefits of the various implementations include reduced encoder/decoder complexities, reduced parity overhead requirements, and reduced performance degradation. |
| US08112697B2 |
Method and apparatus for buffering an encoded signal for a turbo decoder
A method and apparatus for buffering an encoded signal having a plurality of codewords for a turbo decoder is provided. The method comprises de-interleaving each sub-block of the codeword received at the turbo-decoder; and storing LLRs of the de-interleaved codeword LLRs into an input buffer. Thereafter, each of punctured locations, if any, in the de-interleaved codeword is indicated to a read logic for enabling the latter to fill in each of those locations with a pre-determined LLR value as and when a read request corresponding to one of those locations arrives. This method obviates the need for storing the pre-determined LLRs at the punctured locations into the input buffer and thereby cuts down the input latency of turbo decoder significantly for higher code rates. |
| US08112694B1 |
System and method for reliably communicating information without explicit acknowledgements including retransmission of older, missed commands
A system and method communicates commands from a command originator to receiving devices, yet the receiving devices do not confirm receipt of the command. The most current command (e.g. the one with the highest sequence number) is rebroadcast by the command originator and the receiving devices, tending to be more frequent upon detection of an event indicating that the most current command was not received by at least one other device, and less frequently upon detection of an event indicating that the most current command was provided with sufficient duplication that if another device could receive it, the device likely did receive it, subject to a maximum and minimum rate. |
| US08112693B2 |
Error control code apparatuses and methods of using the same
An Error Control Code (ECC) apparatus applied to a memory of a Multi-Level Cell (MLC) method may include: a bypass control signal generator generating a bypass control signal; and an ECC performing unit that may include at least two ECC decoding blocks, determining whether to bypass a portion of the at least two ECC decoding blocks based on the bypass control signal, and/or performing an ECC decoding. In addition or in the alternative, the ECC performing unit may include at least two ECC encoding blocks, determining whether to bypass a portion of the at least two ECC encoding blocks based on the bypass control signal, and/or performing an ECC encoding. An ECC method applied to a memory of a MLC method and a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for implementing an EEC method applied to a memory of a MLC method are also disclose. |
| US08112692B2 |
Flash memory device error correction code controllers and related methods and memory systems
An ECC controller for a flash memory device storing M-bit data (M: a positive integer equal to or greater than 2) includes an encoder and a decoder. The encoder generates first ECC data for input data to be stored in the flash memory device using a first error correction scheme and generates second ECC data for the input data using a second error correction scheme. The input data, the first ECC data, and the second ECC data are stored in the flash memory device. The decoder calculates the number of errors in data read from the flash memory device and corrects the errors in the read data using one of the first ECC data and the second ECC data selectively based on the number of the errors. |
| US08112691B1 |
Method for efficient generation of a Fletcher checksum using a single SIMD pipeline
The generation of Fletcher/Alder partial checksums are transformed from a space that requires integer multiplications and additions to a space that requires only integer additions and shifts on a single SIMD pipeline capable processor. This transformation permits the use of Fletcher/Alder checksums on processors where the performance of SIMD instructions are sub-optimal, on CMT processors that support a single SIMD pipeline as well as other processors that can be configured by executing software to implement SIMD operations for a single SIMD pipeline. The implementation of the process with this transformation on a general-purpose computer system transforms that general-purpose computer system into a special-purpose computer system that uses a single SIMD pipeline to generate a Fletcher/Alder checksum. The elimination of integer multiplications in the generation of the partial checksums results in a significant improvement in performance. |
| US08112690B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product for connection state recovery after fault
A method, system, and computer program product for connection state recovery of a connection after fault in a networked channel-to-channel computer system are provided. The method includes identifying essential data in response to detecting a state change in a channel of the computer system, the essential data including connection state information used in performing a recovery operation. The method also includes separating the essential data from transient or incidental data, augmenting the essential data with validation data, and storing the augmented essential data in a memory location of a control unit in communication with the channel. In response to initiation of a recovery operation, the method includes retrieving the augmented essential data and validating contents of persistent data fields containing the essential data. The method further includes using the contents to restore the connection to an operational state when it is determined that the contents of the persistent data fields are valid. |
| US08112688B2 |
Data-transmission control method and transmission device
A data-transmission control method is implemented when transmitting data after dividing the data into a plurality of blocks and performing error correction when performing data transmission. The method includes obtaining additional information indicating a result of error correction process of received data and a result of data transmission (ACK/NACK) from a reception station, and deciding a data length of data to be retransmitted when NACK is obtained as the result of data transmission so that a rate of occurrence of transmission errors upon retransmission is minimized, based on a number of blocks in which error correction has failed indicated by the additional information. |
| US08112687B2 |
Systems and methods for mitigating impulse noise
Various embodiments for mitigating impulse noise are disclosed that cooperatively use impulse noise statistics to utilize retransmission, forward error correction (FEC), and blanking to mitigate the effects of a wide variety of impulse noise sources. |
| US08112686B2 |
Deterministic logic built-in self-test stimuli generation
Techniques for storing and using compressed restrict values for selected scan chains and flip-flops, such that the states that need to be applied to those flip flops need not be solved by a linear equation system solver, such as a linear equation system solver provided by an automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) tool. Selected restrict values can then be injected into test patterns for those flip-flop combinations that need to be set in a certain shift cycle or those flip-flops that need to be initialized one after another (e.g., for serial settings in one scan chain). |
| US08112683B1 |
System and application debugging
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for system and application debugging are described herein. A tested platform may include a debug event monitor in a boundary scan interface that detects a debug event in a process and determines a characteristic associated with the debug event. The debug event monitor may trigger an application debug event or a boundary scan debug event based at least in part on the determined characteristic. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08112674B2 |
Device activity triggered device diagnostics
A diagnostic control methodology provides reduced disruption of device operation when performing diagnostics on devices within a computer system. A diagnostic application notifies a device driver that controls a particular device that diagnostics should be performed during a period of low activity on the device. In response to receiving the notification, the device driver waits for a time of low activity and either notifies the application to unload the device driver and load a diagnostic device driver, or enters a diagnostic mode directly if such operation is supported by the functional device driver. A timeout duration can be specified, and may be set by the notification, so that the diagnostics will be performed within the timeout period even if a time of low activity has not occurred by the expiration of the timeout. |
| US08112667B2 |
Automated system problem diagnosing
Embodiments of the invention relate to automated system problem diagnosing. An index is created with problem description information of previously diagnosed problems, a diagnosis for each problem, and a solution to each diagnosis. System states, traces and logs are extracted from a source system with a new problem. The problem diagnosis system generates problem description information of the new problem from the system states, traces and logs. Problem description information of the new problem is compared with problem description information in the problem description index. A search score is computed for each document in the problem description index. The search score is a measure of similarity between each document in the index and the description of the new problem. A matching score is assigned to each previously diagnosed problems based on the search score. The matching score is a measure of similarity between the new problem and each previously diagnosed problem. The system determines a diagnosis and solution of the new problem based on a diagnosis and solution of one of the previously diagnosed problems. |
| US08112665B1 |
Methods and systems for rapid rollback and rapid retry of a data migration
Methods and systems for rapidly rolling back and retrying a data migration between a first and a second storage system. In one embodiment, upon receiving a request at a provisioning manager to perform a rollback of a first data migration, the first storage system merges, to a baseline dataset, a first incremental dataset received by the second storage system after the first data migration. In another embodiment, upon receiving a request at a provisioning manager to perform a retry of the data migration, the second storage system merges, to the data received by the second storage system during and immediately after the first data migration, a second incremental dataset received to the first storage system after performance of the rollback. Throughout the migration rollback and retry, the data of the baseline dataset, first incremental dataset, and second incremental data set is made available to the client. |
| US08112662B2 |
Portable electronic apparatus, processing apparatus for portable electronic apparatus, and data processing method in portable electronic apparatus
A smart card comprises a storage unit in which various data are stored, a communication unit to perform data communication with an external apparatus, and a processing unit which executes processing corresponding to a command received via the communication unit. The processing unit of the smart card detects data judged to have data abnormality from the data stored in the storage unit in a case where the command received from the external apparatus is an abnormal data confirmation command, and notifies the external apparatus of response data including information indicating the data in which the data abnormality has been detected by the detection. |
| US08112660B2 |
Router synchronization
Example systems and methods associated with router synchronization are described. One example method includes reducing a likelihood that a first network device will be favored over a peer device as a router. This likelihood may be increased after the first network device has received a threshold amount of routing information from the peer device. This may allow the first network device to begin performing non-routing related tasks after it starts up without causing interruption of data streams for which the first network device does not have current routing information. |
| US08112656B1 |
Clock distribution chip
In one embodiment, a clock distribution chip includes a first clock input adapted to receive a first single-ended input clock signal, a second clock input adapted to receive a second single-ended input clock signal, and input buffer circuitry coupled to the first and second clock inputs. The input buffer circuitry is adapted to select an input clock signal among the first single-ended input clock signal, the second single-ended input clock signal, and a differential input clock signal derived from the first and second single-ended input clock signals. A phase-locked loop (PLL) is adapted to receive an input clock signal selected by the input buffer circuitry and to generate a PLL clock signal based on the selected input clock signal. A clock output provides an output clock signal based on the PLL clock signal. |
| US08112655B2 |
Mesosynchronous data bus apparatus and method of data transmission
A memory system is described, where the transmission time of data between memory modules is managed so that the overall time delay between specified points in the memory system is maintained a constant. Each lane of a multilane bus may be separately managed, and a data frame evaluated at the destination module, without a need for deskewing at intermediate modules. The time delay in propagation of the data through a module, which may have a switch to route the data, is reduced by operating the data path through the module at one or more submultiples of the bus serial data rate, and selecting the sampling point of the received data so that variations in time delay due to temperature changes or ageing are accommodated. |
| US08112652B2 |
Multiprocessor system power management of shared memories powering down memory bank only when all processors indicate not powering that memory bank
This invention manages power down and wakeup of shared memories in a multiprocessor system. A register for each shared memory has bits corresponding to each master. When a master wants to power down a memory, it sets its corresponding bit in the register. A hardware power down controller for the memory bank powers the memory bank if any processor signals powering the memory bank. The hardware power down controller for the memory bank powers down the memory bank only if all processor signal powering down the memory bank. The hardware power down controller waits for all masters to set their corresponding bits in the register before initiating power down of the memories. Software running on any processor has a view of the shared memory independent of the other processors and no inter-processor communication is needed. |
| US08112651B2 |
Conserving power in a computer system
A power management unit (PMU) may determine an optimal power saving state using a break-even period of a power saving state and an expected idle duration based on a first policy. The PMU may determine the optimal power saving state using a first break even period and actual idle duration based on a second policy. The break-even period may equal a minimum time a computer system should remain in a power saving state to compensate for the power consumed by the system to enter and exit that power saving state. The expected idle time duration is determined as an average of idle duration and a recent sample of idle duration. The actual idle duration is the difference of a first and second time point that represents entry and exit points to and from the power saving state. The PMU may transition the system to the optimal power saving state. |
| US08112644B2 |
Dynamic voltage scaling scheduling mechanism for sporadic, hard real-time tasks with resource sharing
A dynamic voltage scaling scheduling method executes one of the steps. When one task in the delayed task set requires for being executed, a working voltage required for executing the task is increased, and the task is removed from the delayed task set; when one task in the delayed task set requires for sharing resources, the working voltage required by the task is set as the current working voltage or a larger one in the minimum upper bounds of all the works requiring for sharing resources; and when one task does not belong to the delayed task set, but the waiting time has exceeded the period of the work, the working voltage for executing the task is reduced, and the task is added in the delayed task set. |
| US08112643B2 |
Methods and apparatus to selectively power functional units
A processing engine fetches one or more lines of software instructions into an instruction cache. Based on the contents of the cache, potentially needed functional units are identified as functional units that are operable to execute at least one software instruction stored within the instruction cache. Unneeded functional units are identified as functional units that are not operable to execute a software instruction stored within the instruction cache. A power increase is initiated for selected ones of the potentially needed functional units that are determined to be in a low power state. A power decrease is initiated for selected ones of the unneeded functional units that are determined to be in an operable power state. |
| US08112642B2 |
Method and system for controlling power in a chip through a power-performance monitor and control unit
A system and method for controlling power and performance in a microprocessor system includes a monitoring and control system integrated into a microprocessor system. The monitoring and control system includes a hierarchical architecture having a plurality of layers. Each layer in the hierarchal architecture is responsive to commands from a higher level, and the commands provide instructions on operations and power distribution, such that the higher levels provide modes of operation and budgets to lower levels and the lower levels provide feedback to the higher levels to control and manage power usage in the microprocessor system both globally and locally. |
| US08112637B2 |
System and method for programming a data storage device with a password
There is provided a system and method for programming a data storage device with a password. Specifically, there is provided a method comprising initiating a password programming routine for a data storage device, and programming the data storage device with the password associated with an external storage medium, wherein the data storage device is configured to condition access to the data stored on the data storage device based on the password. |
| US08112628B2 |
Using a portable computing device as a smart key device
A first data processing system, which includes a first cryptographic device, is communicatively coupled with a second data processing system, which includes a second cryptographic device. The cryptographic devices then mutually authenticate themselves. The first cryptographic device stores a private key of a first asymmetric cryptographic key pair and a public key of a second asymmetric cryptographic key pair that is associated with the second data processing system. The second cryptographic device stores a private key of the second asymmetric cryptographic key pair and a public key of the first asymmetric cryptographic key pair that is associated with the first data processing system. In response to successfully performing the mutual authentication operation between the two cryptographic systems, the first data processing system is enabled to invoke sensitive cryptographic functions on the first cryptographic device while the first data processing system remains communicatively coupled with the second data processing system. |
| US08112625B2 |
Systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection
The present invention provides systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection. Electronic appliances such as computers equipped in accordance with the present invention help to ensure that information is accessed and used only in authorized ways, and maintain the integrity, availability, and/or confidentiality of the information. Such electronic appliances provide a distributed virtual distribution environment (VDE) that may enforce a secure chain of handling and control, for example, to control and/or meter or otherwise monitor use of electronically stored or disseminated information. Such a virtual distribution environment may be used to protect rights of various participants in electronic commerce and other electronic or electronic-facilitated transactions. Distributed and other operating systems, environments and architectures, such as, for example, those using tamper-resistant hardware-based processors, may establish security at each node. These techniques may be used to support an all-electronic information distribution, for example, utilizing the “electronic highway.” |
| US08112623B2 |
Communication terminal apparatus, server terminal apparatus, and communication system using the same
A communication terminal apparatus includes a storage section configured to store a library function in which a first specific instruction is executed a process to be executed prior to a communication with a communication target and a second specific instruction is executed before returning to a call source, a client application, an attribute value group of the client application, and an permissible address range of the first specific instruction. A communication instruction execution control section controls execution of a communication instruction based on the attribute value group of the client application, when the client application executes the communication instruction to generate an internal interruption. A security gate entering section checks whether or not an address of the first specific instruction is within a permissible address range when the client application executes the first specific instruction to generate the internal interrupt, and changes the attribute value group of the client application when the address of the first specific instruction is within the permissible address range. A security gate exiting section returns the attribute value group of the client application to an original state when the client application executes the second specific instruction to generate the internal interrupt. |
| US08112618B2 |
Less-secure processors, integrated circuits, wireless communications apparatus, methods and processes of making
An integrated circuit (122) includes an on-chip boot ROM (132) holding boot code, a non-volatile security identification element (140) having non-volatile information determining a less secure type or more secure type, and a processor (130). The processor (130) is coupled to the on-chip boot ROM (132) and to the non-volatile security identification element (140) to selectively execute boot code depending on the non-volatile information of the non-volatile security identification element(140). Other technology such as processors, methods of operation, processes of manufacture, wireless communications apparatus, and wireless handsets are also disclosed. |
| US08112617B2 |
Information processing device, and method of starting information processing device
In an information processing device, a screen display control part displays an operation screen, and a firmware update part updates a firmware of the screen display control part. An operating state holding part stores an operating state of the information processing device at a time of displaying the operation screen after the firmware is updated by the firmware update part. A high-speed starting part starts the information processing device and displays the operation screen based on the stored operating state. |
| US08112616B2 |
Reduced instruction set baseband controller
In wireless communications such as in the Bluetooth communication system, an execution unit sequentially receives software instructions for execution. Prior to completing each instruction, the execution unit issues an interrupt indicating the upcoming completion of the instruction execution and awaits receipt of the next instruction. A Link Manager issues limited instructions, and a Link Controller includes a hardware execution unit for executing the limited instructions. A processing unit in the Link Manager performs remaining functions under control of a software program. |
| US08112613B2 |
Selecting broadcast SIMD instruction or cached MIMD instruction stored in local memory of one of plurality of processing elements for all elements in each unit
Disclosed is a mixed mode parallel processor system in which N number of processing elements PEs, capable of performing SIMD operation, are grouped into M (=N÷S) processing units PUs performing MIMD operation. In MIMD operation, P out of S memories in each PU, which S memories inherently belong to the PEs, where P |
| US08112612B2 |
Processing system with interspersed processors using selective data transfer through communication elements
A processing system comprising processors and the dynamically configurable communication elements coupled together in an interspersed arrangement. The processors each comprise at least one arithmetic logic unit, an instruction processing unit, and a plurality of processor ports. The dynamically configurable communication elements each comprise a plurality of communication ports, a first memory, and a routing engine. For each of the processors, the plurality of processor ports is configured for coupling to a first subset of the plurality of dynamically configurable communication elements. For each of the dynamically configurable communication elements, the plurality of communication ports comprises a first subset of communication ports configured for coupling to a subset of the plurality of processors and a second subset of communication ports configured for coupling to a second subset of the plurality of dynamically configurable communication elements. |
| US08112610B2 |
Partition bus
A method and system are provided for integrating partitions in a virtual machine environment. Specifically, a partition bus is provided, where the partition bus operatively connects partitions in such a way that it functions as a data transport mechanism allowing for data transfer and device sharing between partitions. The partition bus relies on virtualizing software in order to establish itself and to establish channels of communication between partitions and to inject interrupts to partitions where it is appropriate to do so. Furthermore, the partition bus employs such mechanisms ring buffers, transfer pages, and memory map changes to transfer information (requests and data). Furthermore, it uses policy agents to decide when information should be transferred or when devices should be shared among partitions. Lastly, it employs various mechanisms to ensure smooth integration between partitions, which includes remote services that have proxy devices and device versioning functionalities. |
| US08112608B2 |
Variable-width memory
Described is a memory system in which the memory core organization changes with device width. The number of physical memory banks accessed reduces with device width, resulting in reduced power usage for relatively narrow memory configurations. Increasing the number of logic memory banks for narrow memory widths reduces the likelihood of bank conflicts, and consequently improves speed performance. |
| US08112604B2 |
Tracking load store ordering hazards
A method and system for processing data. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a plurality of stores into a store queue, where each store is a result from a processor, and where the plurality of stores are destined for at least one memory address. The method also includes marking a most recent store of the plurality of stores for each unique memory address, comparing a load request against the store queue, and identifying only the most recent store for each unique memory address for the purpose of handling load-hit-store ordering hazards. |
| US08112603B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for file relocation on a data storage device
A method, system, and computer program product for file relocation on a data storage device are provided. The method includes initiating file relocation in response to invoking a cleaner function for a data storage device. The method also includes examining metadata associated with a file on the data storage device to determine an access frequency of the file, and classifying the file as a function of the access frequency. The method further includes relocating the file to a fast region of the data storage device when the file is classified as frequently accessed, and relocating the file to a slow region of the data storage device when the file is classified as infrequently accessed. |
| US08112599B2 |
Method and apparatus for increasing an amount of memory on demand when monitoring remote mirroring performance
A method and storage system for increasing an amount of memory in a queuing area on. The storage system includes first and second storage subsystems connected to each other via a path. A primary volume in the first storage subsystem and a remote secondary volume in the second storage subsystem are mirrored and operated in the asynchronous mode. A queuing area having memory is provided in the second storage subsystem for temporarily storing data transferred to the second storage subsystem from the first storage subsystem in response to a write input/output (I/O) issued by a host to write data in the primary volume. Data temporarily stored in the memory is retrieved and stored in the remote secondary volume. An unused area of the queuing area is monitored and the memory increased if the unused area becomes less than a predetermined amount. |
| US08112587B2 |
Shared data prefetching with memory region cache line monitoring
A method, circuit arrangement, and design structure for prefetching data for responding to a memory request, in a shared memory computing system of the type that includes a plurality of nodes, is provided. Prefetching data comprises, receiving, in response to a first memory request by a first node, presence data for a memory region associated with the first memory request from a second node that sources data requested by the first memory request, and selectively prefetching at least one cache line from the memory region based on the received presence data. Responding to a memory request comprises tracking presence data associated with memory regions associated with cached cache lines in the first node, and, in response to a memory request by a second node, forwarding the tracked presence data for a memory region associated with the memory request to the second node. |
| US08112586B1 |
Predicting and optimizing I/O performance characteristics in a multi-level caching system
A predictive model specifies a workload to be applied to a hierarchy of caches having multiple levels of caches. The predictive model defines a configuration for the hierarchy of caches by specifying cache characteristics of each level of the hierarchy of caches and the underlying storage pool and applies the workload to the configuration. For each level of the configuration, the predictive model computes a performance metric based on a portion of the workload satisfied at the level and the cache characteristics of the level. The predictive model computes resource allocation metrics based on the performance metric for the levels and a cost associated with the configuration. Based on the workload, the configuration, performance metrics, and resource allocation metrics, the predictive model creates a design time recommendation for the hierarchy of caches, a configuration time recommendation and run time recommendation for the hierarchy of caches. |
| US08112585B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically switching cache policies
A method implements a cache-policy switching module in a storage system. The storage system includes a cache memory to cache storage data. The cache memory uses a first cache configuration. The cache-policy switching module emulates the caching of the storage data with a plurality of cache configurations. Upon a determination that one of the plurality of cache configurations performs better than the first cache configuration, the cache-policy switching module automatically applies the better performing cache configuration to the cache memory for caching the storage data. |
| US08112584B1 |
Storage controller performing a set of multiple operations on cached data with a no-miss guarantee until all of the operations are complete
Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, data structures, computer-readable media, mechanisms, and means for a storage controller (e.g., memory controller, disk controller, etc.) performing a set of multiple operations on cached data with a no-miss guarantee until the multiple operations are complete, which may, for example, be used by a packet processor to quickly update multiple statistics values (e.g., byte, packet, error counts, etc.) based on processed packets. Operations to be performed on data at the same address and/or in a common data structure are grouped together and burst so that they arrive at the storage system in contiguous succession for the storage controller to perform. By not allowing the storage controller to flush the data from its cache until all of the operations are performed, even a tiny cache attached to the storage controller can reduce the bandwidth and latency of updating the data. |
| US08112582B2 |
Redundant array of inexpensive disks configuration using simple network management protocol
A method of configuring a storage device is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) receiving a single data unit over a communication network, the data unit (i) being transferred via the communication network using a standard communication protocol, (ii) defining both (a) a plurality of new configuration items that define a new configuration of the storage device and (b) a command to be performed by the storage device and (iii) having a standard markup language format, (B) calculating at least one configuration change from a plurality of current configuration items to the new configuration items, the current configuration items defining a current configuration of the storage device, (C) adjusting the storage device into the new configuration based on the at least one configuration change and (D) performing a requested operation with the storage device in the new configuration in response to the command. |
| US08112578B2 |
Low power, hash-content addressable memory architecture
A comparand word is input to a plurality of hash circuits, with each hash circuit responding to a different portion of the comparand word. The hash circuits output a hash signal which enables or precharges portions of a content addressable memory CAM. The comparand word is also input to the CAM. The CAM compares the comparand word in the precharged portions of the CAM and outputs information responsive to the comparison. When Internet addresses are processed, the output information is either port information or an index for locating port information. |
| US08112577B2 |
Concurrently communicating refresh and read/write commands with a memory device
Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, computer-readable media, mechanisms, and means for communicating with a memory device, such as by a memory controller, a refresh command at least partially overlapping in time with a read and/or write command. The refresh command typically specifies a group of locations (e.g., a bank) for being at least partially refreshed. |
| US08112573B2 |
Non-volatile memory with erase block state indication in a subset of sectors of erase block
An improved Flash memory device with a distributed erase block management (EBM) scheme is detailed that enhances operation and helps minimize write fatigue of the floating gate memory cells of the Flash memory device. The Flash memory device of the invention combines the EBM data in a user data erase block by placing it in an EBM data field of the control data section of the erase block sectors. Therefore distributing the EBM data within the Flash memory erase block structure. This allows the Flash memory to update and/or erase the user data and the EBM data in a single operation, to reduce overhead and speed operation. The Flash memory also reduces the process of EBM data structure write fatigue by allowing the EBM data fields to be load leveled by rotating them with the erase blocks they describe. |
| US08112569B2 |
Integrated circuit and electronic device
An IC (100) for communicating over a data communication bus (220) comprising a first pair of conductors including a data signal conductor (SDA) and a synchronization signal conductor (SCL), e.g. an I2C bus, is disclosed. The IC comprises a group of address pins (106a-c) for defining the bus address of the integrated circuit (100), each address pin being arranged to be coupled to a conductor from a group of conductors comprising the first pair of conductors and a second pair of conductors including a conductor for carrying a fixed high potential (Vdd) and a conductor for carrying an fixed low potential (GND). The IC (100) further comprises first and second further pins (102, 104) for being coupled to the data signal conductor (SDA) and the synchronization signal conductor (SCL) respectively and a bus address decoder (110) comprising, for each address pin, first means (118) for distinguishing between the first pair of conductors and the second pair of conductors and second means (112, 116) for distinguishing between the conductors belonging to the same pair of conductors. The IC (100) of the present invention provides an area-efficient implementation of an address decoder (110) capable of decoding addresses in an enhanced addressing scheme. In addition, an electronic device (200 comprising a data communication bus (220) and an IC (100) coupled to the data communication bus (220) is disclosed. |
| US08112568B1 |
Cable presence detection system
The present invention is a system and method for detecting the presence of a cable in a connector. The system may comprise one or more of the following features: (a) a first circuit contact; (b) a second circuit contact; (c) a first capacitive element; (d) an electrical ground; (e) a voltage source; and (f) a logical output. The second circuit contact may be connected to ground. The capacitive element may be driven to ground by connection of the first and second circuit contacts to corresponding cable contacts. |
| US08112562B2 |
Path changeover support device and method
Port management information is prepared for managing information related to the status of each of a plurality of ports possessed by a storage system in a unified manner. Change of the status related to any one of a plurality of ports from “normal” to anomalous is detected. For a subject external device which is using the anomalous path as an I/O path, a “normal” port is selected, on the basis of the port management information, from one or more ports related to one or more paths which are being used as alternate paths. And information related to this “normal” port which has been selected is notified to the subject external device. During path changeover, the subject external device selects as an I/O path an alternate path which is related to the “normal” port specified from the notified information. |
| US08112561B2 |
Updating I/O capability of a logically-partitioned computer system
A hosting partition update mechanism allows updating I/O capability of a logically-partitioned computer system in a way that minimally affects the performance and availability of I/O in the computer system. When an update is needed, a new hosting partition is created with the desired update(s). I/O adapters in the current hosting partition are then migrated to the new hosting partition. The migration of an I/O adapter from the current hosting partition to the new hosting partition is relatively fast, thereby minimally impacting system performance and availability of I/O. Once all of the I/O adapters have been migrated to the new hosting partition, the current hosting partition may be kept as a backup, or may be eliminated. Providing a new or backup hosting partition allows updates to be performed in the new or backup hosting partition in a non-disruptive manner while the current hosting partition continues to service I/O requests. |
| US08112558B2 |
Frame buffer management program, program storage medium and management method
This is a computer-readable portable storage medium which is used by a computer managing a plurality of frame buffers and which stores a program enabling the computer to execute a process, and the process comprises preparing an area in which data of a valid chain indicating a connection among frame buffers storing valid image data of the plurality of frame buffers and data of a vacant chain indicating a connection among frame buffers storing no valid image data, is stored, on memory and generating/updating data of the valid chain and the vacant chain when valid image data is stored in one of the plurality of frame buffers and storing it in the memory. |
| US08112555B2 |
Peripheral adapter interrupt frequency control by estimating processor load at the peripheral adapter
Interrupt frequency control by estimating processor load in the peripheral adapter provides adaptive interrupt latency to improve performance in a processing system. A mathematical function of the depth of one or more queues of the adapter is compared to its historical value in order to provide an estimate of processor load. The estimated processor load is then used to set a parameter that controls the frequency of an interrupt generator, which may be controlled by setting an interrupt queue depth threshold, packet frequency threshold or interrupt hold-off time value. The mathematical function may be the ratio of the transmit queue depth to the receive queue depth and the historical value may be predetermined, user-settable, obtained during a calibration interval or obtained by taking a long-term average of the mathematical function of the queue depths. |
| US08112554B2 |
Method and devices for transmitting data on a data line between a control device and at least one decentralized data processing device
A method of transmitting data on a data line between a central control device and a decentralized data processing device. During a normal operation of the system, the central control device periodically sends synchronization pulses to the at least one data processing device via the data line in order to request data packets, and the decentralized data processing device sends the data thereof to be transmitted, as data packets, to the central control device, following the synchronization pulse. The data line is embodied as a data bus. Each of the decentralized data processing devices is configured by the central control device before the first transmission of data packets to the central control device. In order to configure the system, a bi-directional communication is carried out between the central control device and the at least one decentralized data processing device. |
| US08112551B2 |
Addressing scheme to allow flexible mapping of functions in a programmable logic array
A programmable processing device comprises a plurality of universal digital blocks (UDBs) in a UDB linear array. Each register in each UDB is associated with a plurality of memory addresses, where each memory address is from each of the different memory address spaces associated with different access mode widths of different digital peripheral functions. A digital peripheral function of an access mode width is mapped to one or more contiguous UDBs starting with a first UDB in the UDB linear array. Based on the access mode width, one of the associated memory addresses is chosen for the first UDB. |
| US08112550B2 |
System and method for preserving consumer choice
Methods and systems for preserving user attribute data by way of managing and synchronizing redundant storage locations. |
| US08112549B2 |
Alert mechanism for notifying multiple user devices sharing a connected-data-set
System and method for notifying a user status of communications between a server and the user having one or more user devices in a communication network are disclosed. The system includes a server for communicating with the user, where the server includes a connected-data-set and the one or more user devices share portions of the connected-data-set, logic for monitoring communications between the server and the one or more user devices for a predetermined set of notification conditions, and logic for sending a notification message to the one or more user devices when a notification condition is detected. |
| US08112547B2 |
Efficiently hashing packet keys into a firewall connection table
A method for increasing the capacity of a connection table in a firewall accelerator by means of mapping packets in one session with some common security actions into one table entry. For each of five Network Address Translation (NAT) configurations, a hash function is specified. The hash function takes into account which of four possible arrival types a packet at a firewall accelerator may have. When different arrival types of packets in the same session are processed, two or more arrival types may have the same hash value. |
| US08112539B2 |
Methods and systems to fast fill media players
Methods and systems are provided to fast fill media players and buffers associated with media players. A bandwidth associated with initial startup of a media player is overloaded to rapidly fill the buffer and initiate the media player. Alternatively, multiple simultaneous data communication sessions are established with a media data source device, and the media data are concurrently received from the simultaneous sessions into the buffer or transferred of out the buffer at startup, thereby decreasing the latency associated with initiating the media player. |
| US08112535B2 |
Securing a server in a dynamic addressing environment
A dynamic address router may provide dynamically updated routing to a device with a dynamic network address as well as provide a security certificate for the device. The device may be routed using a subordinate domain name. The principal domain name and a security certificate may be held by a single service provider that may enable a simple setup and configuration mechanism, as well as to guarantee the authenticity of the security holder even though the holder may connect through a dynamic address connection. |
| US08112534B2 |
Apparatus and method for remote power control
An apparatus for remotely controlling power includes an information handling system platform a plurality of devices disposed on the platform, an interface in data communication with the first platform that receives a device request from a second platform, a monitor circuit that monitors one or more parameters, and a controller that controls a plurality of devices disposed on the platform, the control being based at least in part on the monitored one or more parameters and the device request. A method includes receiving at a first platform a device request from a second platform, monitoring one or more parameters, and controlling a plurality of devices disposed on the first platform using at least in part the monitored parameters and the device request. |
| US08112531B2 |
Grouping of session objects
An object delivery session, such as a File Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (FLUTE) session, is joined and a description of a plurality of objects provided by the session are provided. The description indicates one or more groupings of the plurality of objects. An interesting object is determined from the plurality of objects. Based on the interesting object and the description of the plurality of objects, one or more of the plurality of objects are identified for downloading. |
| US08112530B2 |
Active medium for reserving resources in a communication network
A method for reserving resources in a packet communication network, preferably an IP protocol network. The method includes sending an active packet containing a request for reservation of resources for an active data flow, receiving the packet by an active node in the network, and reserving resources of the node according to the request. In this method, an active packet communication network node, in particular an IP active router, reserves resources for processing data of an active data flow according to a resource reservation request for this active data flow contained in this active packet received by the node. |
| US08112523B2 |
Group access to IP multimedia subsystem service
A method of facilitating access to services of an IP Multimedia Subsystem network by user terminals located behind an access point to said network. The access point is associated with a subscription to the IP Multimedia Subsystem network. The method comprises including within an Implicit Registration Set defined for said subscription, a wildcarded Public User Identity or Public User Identity sub-domain representative of a range of Public User Identities. At IP Multimedia Subsystem registration of said access point with the IP Multimedia Subsystem network, the Public User Identities contained in the Implicit Registration Set are distributed to a Serving Call Session Control Function allocated to said access point and to a Proxy Call Session Control Function to which said access point is attached. |
| US08112520B2 |
Method of assigning service and information processing apparatus for implementing the method
To provide a method for assigning a service wherein power consumption can be reduced, and an information processing apparatus for implementing the method. The method includes: receiving a request of a service provided by a device connected to a network; checking whether or not a device providing the requested service is in a sleep state; selecting a device to be used based on the checked sleep state of the device, a service table that stores a combination of a service provided via the network and a device connected to the network and providing the service, and a power consumption table that stores a device connected to the network and power consumption of the device, under conditions of a time until the service is provided and power consumption; and issuing an instruction of providing the service to the selected device. |
| US08112517B2 |
Relay system, relay program, and relay method
A technique is provided to dynamically change priority, according to content of communication data, when the communication data is relayed between a client device and a host device. A communication gateway (102) is a relay system for relaying the communication data between a thin client device (101) and the host device (103). The communication gateway (102) monitors communication performed by the host device (103) in response to a request from the thin client device (101). The communication gateway (120) determines priority of the communication that is returned to the client device by the host device (103) in response to the request, based on a protocol for the communication performed by the host device (103). |
| US08112515B2 |
Reputation management system
A reliable reputation management system in which the users of the services vote for reputation. The votes are collected to a reputation server which computes reputation for specific services. When a large group of users have voted, the result will be reliable. The reputation server is independent in order to guarantee objective reputation management. If the user does not vote but keeps using the service, the system will compute a vote by itself. The user may change the vote later. |
| US08112507B2 |
Remote node list searching mechanism for storage task scheduling
According to one embodiment, a device is disclosed. The device includes a first protocol engine (PE) to process tasks to be forwarded to a first remote node, a remote node search unit (RNSU) having a three-dimensional (3-D) task list corresponding to tasks to be forwarded to the two or more sub-nodes, and a connection pointer to maintain a connection between the first PE and the first remote node. |
| US08112506B2 |
System and method for automatically setting up configurations of home network
Provided are a system and method for automatically setting up configurations of a home network. The system includes a setting information manager, placed within an individual home, for collecting and managing setting information associated with configurations of the home network. The setting information manager shares the setting information with a remote setting information management server or another setting information manager. Since customized setting information of an individual home is shared, setting information of home network configurations can be effectively managed, thereby reducing costs and efforts required for maintenance and repair of the home network. |
| US08112503B2 |
Content delivery method, server, and terminal
In hybrid peer-to-peer type content delivery, a server confirms user's intension as to content disclosure, guarantees content delivery by mutual authentication between a client to which content has been delivered and a client to which content has not been delivered, and guarantees the integrity of content having been delivered. Further, the server configures delivery connection based on the network relationship between the clients and priority factors taking account of a reservation status. |
| US08112502B2 |
Interactive server side components
Server side internet applications are created by placing interactive server side components (ISSC's) on internet pages. ISSC's encapsulate dynamic page functions including processing of user responses on the server and thus can be reused, which drastically reduces programming effort. The ISSC technique remembers information (in form of an ISSC object) about each ISSC during dynamic page generation on the server. Then, it generates HTML code in a way such that the ISSC event is sent to the server using a conventional HTTP GET or POST request. On the server, the event is then passed to the corresponding ISSC object. All components work without disturbing each other, even when nested or combined. A browser based editor can also be used to place ISSC's on pages and to modify their properties. During dynamic page generation, scripts and handles are embedded into the page that permit editing of the page itself. |
| US08112497B1 |
Online educational software
The invention relates to a method of educating a user about the use of a website. The method includes the step of obtaining interactive web content from the website, and displaying the interactive web content to the user, along with information educating the user about how to interact with the website. The method then further includes receiving user input for a user interaction with the web content. The user interaction is assessed, to determine if it is in accordance with the information presented to the user. If so, the interaction is transmitted to the website. The present invention has particular application to social networking websites, and educating a user about behavioral and ethical issues associated with social networking online. |
| US08112496B2 |
Efficient algorithm for finding candidate objects for remote differential compression
The present invention finds candidate objects for remote differential compression. Objects are updated between two or more computing devices using remote differential compression (RDC) techniques such that required data transfers are minimized. An algorithm provides enhanced efficiencies for allowing the receiver to locate a set of objects that are similar to the object that needs to be transferred from the sender. Once this set of similar objects has been found, the receiver may reuse any chunks from these objects during the RDC algorithm. |
| US08112495B2 |
Transmitting information about distributed group memberships
A method, system, and computer usable program product for transmitting information about dynamic group memberships of an entry stored in a computer memory are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A set of dynamic group filters is received from a server in a distributed data environment. The set of dynamic group filters provides a set of attributes. A determination is made whether the entry includes a subset of the set of attributes. A request for dynamic group memberships of the entry is sent to the server. The request includes the subset of attributes and excludes attributes not used by any of the dynamic group filters. Information about at least one dynamic group of which the entry is a member is received for evaluation. A proxy server may receive the request for dynamic group filters and distribute the request to one or more servers in a distributed data environment. |
| US08112494B2 |
Systems and methods for provision of content data
A method for content data management and provision. The method includes receiving a registration message from a user, the registration message containing user identification information. The user may registered, the registering including storing the received user identification information. A blank message may be received, the blank message being addressed to a number associated with a broadcast entity. A user identity is determined based upon the received blank message, at least one of a date or a time of transmission of the blank message is determined, and a broadcast entity is determined based upon the blank message. The at least one determined date or time is compared with content broadcast information associated with the broadcast entity, and at least one piece of content data is identified based upon the comparing. The at least one piece of identified content data is transmitted to the user. |
| US08112493B2 |
Programmatic role-based security for a dynamically generated user interface
The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for programmatically applied role-based security in a dynamically generated user interface. In accordance with the present invention, a server page can be configured for processing by a server page engine. The server page can include at least one markup language fragment defining a user interface for a first view and an additional markup language fragment defining a link to a second view. A custom tag can be included in the additional markup language fragment to conditionally include the link to the second view only if a role detected for an end user attempting to access the first view also has been defined in a deployment descriptor as an authorized role for accessing the second view. Notably, in a preferred aspect of the invention, the first and second views can be JSPs and the deployment descriptor can be a configuration file for an application framework incorporating the JSPs. In this regard, the application framework can be the Struts framework. |
| US08112492B2 |
Shared object stores for a networked computer system
A store of interfaced software objects are distributed between a server computer and multiple client computers to support an object oriented application communication environment that provides communication between software applications on each client computer. The application communication environment may include a central shared object store of interfaced software objects that operate on a server computer and communicate with one or more software applications on the server computer. A local shared object store of interfaced software objects operates on each client computer and communicates with the central shared object store and one or more software applications on that client computer. Changes to interfaced software objects in the local shared object stores may be automatically propagated to the interfaced software objects in the central shared object store. A local private object store of interfaced software objects may operate on a client computer and communicate with one or more software applications on the client computer. |
| US08112491B1 |
Methods and systems for providing direct DMA
A method and system for efficient direct DMA for processing connection state information or other expediting data packets. One example is the use of a network interface controller to buffer TCP type data packets that may contain connection state information. The connection state information is extracted from a received packet. The connection state information is stored in a special DMA descriptor that is stored in a ring buffer area of a buffer memory that is accessible by a host processor when an interrupt signal is received. The packet is then discarded. The host processor accesses the ring buffer memory only to retrieve the stored connection state information from the DMA descriptor without having to access a packet buffer area in the memory. |
| US08112488B2 |
Methods and computer programs for formulating messaging platform capacity projections
Computer-executable methods and programs for formulating a planning recommendation for a messaging platform. Mailbox data is received specifying a projected maximum number of mailboxes. Growth assumption data is received that specifies a change in average message size of messages. Traffic assumption data is received that identifies a portion of message traffic projected to occur during any recurring time interval for which message traffic has previously exceeded a threshold. Baseline data is received specifying maximum performance capabilities of the messaging platform. Messaging platform data is received specifying a quantity of messages accepted, stored, deleted, and/or retrieved. A planning recommendation is generated by applying an algorithm to the mailbox data, traffic and growth assumption data, baseline data, and messaging platform data. The planning recommendation is placed into a physically tangible, humanly discernible form by printing the recommendation, displaying the recommendation, or outputting the recommendation in audible form. |
| US08112486B2 |
Signature generation using message summaries
Systems and methods for processing a message are provided. A message may be processed to generate a message summary by removing or replacing certain words, phrases, sentences, punctuation, and the like. Message signatures based upon the message summary may be generated and stored in a signature database, which may be used to identify and/or classify spam messages. Subsequently received messages may be classified by signature and processed based on classification. |
| US08112485B1 |
Time and threshold based whitelisting
In response to a user sending an electronic mail message to a recipient, a whitelist manager creates a temporary whitelist entry for the recipient on the user's whitelist. The temporary whitelist entry is set to expire after a set period of time. During the period of time that the temporary whitelist entry is in effect, electronic mail messages from the recipient are passed to the user without being subject to security screening. The whitelist manager keeps track of email traffic between the user and the recipient during this time period. If the nature of this email traffic is sufficient to establish that the recipient is legitimate, the whitelist manager converts the temporary entry to a permanent one. Otherwise, the whitelist manager disables the temporary entry, after which email from the recipient to the user is subject to normal security processing. |
| US08112480B2 |
Signaling support for sharer switching in application sharing
Architecture for seamless role switching in application sharing. A multipoint control unit (MCU) can be used for connecting multiple clients over a network. An application sharing component establishes an application sharing session over the MCU, and application content is exchanged from a sharer client to one or more viewer clients. Each client can communicate a media connection preference to the session. Client sharer and viewer roles are defined during creation of the application sharing session. A client can seamlessly switch roles during the session from a viewer to a sharer, and vice-versa, so that different application content can be shared to the session viewers. The session can be restricted to only one sharer so that the viewing clients view one sharer client at a time. |
| US08112478B2 |
Email and discussion forum system
Systems, methods, and media associated with coordinating a discussion forum application and an email application are described. One example system includes a data store and a coordination logic. The data store may store a discussion forum message in a data structure accessible to both an email logic and a discussion forum logic. The coordination logic may provide access to the discussion forum message for the email logic and the discussion forum logic. The coordination logic may also maintain read status consistency for the discussion forum message and cause threading information associated with the discussion forum message to be honored. |
| US08112473B2 |
Method for the server side processing of user interactions with a web-browser
The present invention relates to a method and system for client-side interacting with a server-side web application in a web-based client-server environment, in which a client-side web browser is used as a user interface for displaying web pages sent by the web application within a browser application frame and for converting events triggered by one or more user actions within said application frame into a request directed to said server-side web application, wherein an executable program object for example a Java Script is used at the client side as a part of the client-side web application user interface.In order to improve the user interface it is proposed to use an additional frame in the browser which communicates with the server and which prevents the displayed document from being reloaded when the server sends its response. Instead, only delta information (50) is displayed within the frame. |
| US08112470B2 |
Virtual javascript object notation
A client receives an object definition defining an object and an array of elements from a server. Each of the elements in the received array includes data representing objects associated with a data store of the server. The client instantiates a plurality of objects based on the received array and based on the received object definition. The objects are then accessed via a web application executing on the client. |
| US08112466B2 |
Field programmable gate array
An efficient implementation of DSP functions in a field programmable gate array (FPGA) using one or more computational blocks, each block having of a multiplier, an accumulator, and multiplexers. The structure implements most common DSP equations in a fast and a highly compact manner. A novel method for cascading these blocks with the help of dedicated DSP lines is provided, which leads to a very simple and proficient implementation of n-stage MAC operations. |
| US08112462B2 |
Distributed garbage collection in a dataflow system
A method and system for distributed garbage collection in a pipelined workflow environment comprising a plurality of processing nodes that pass item references to each other. Each node maintains a reference list of local item references and a reference dictionary of remote item references, and periodically synchronizes the reference list with the reference dictionaries of other nodes in the workflow, so that item references are not marked for garbage collection while other processing nodes may still have outstanding references to them. |
| US08112460B2 |
Framework for applying rules
Generally described, the present invention is directed to a network operating system that provides more effective ways of leveraging the connectivity of computer networks. In one embodiment, an XML virtual machine is implemented that accepts high-level application code written in an XML programming language as input. Functionality is provided to interpret or translate the application code written in an XML programming language into code that is suitable for execution across computer platforms. Moreover, the XML virtual machine supports the Model View Controller (MVC) design paradigm that facilitates true data abstraction from applications to a common data model. Multi-instance applications, with each instance potentially supporting multiple views, may be created and executed. |
| US08112456B1 |
Implicit ranking of audio content
A media player device configured to store and play content for a user uses an implicit rank to add and delete content from the device. The rank is determined implicitly by gathering available information about a user directly and by monitoring user listening activity. The gathered information about the user and the monitored information are used to determine the user rank. Content is managed by comparing content stored on the media player device to the user rank to determine a preference order for storing content on the device; receiving content at the media player device; deleting one or more stored content objects from a computer readable storage medium so there is sufficient space to store the received content; and storing the received content on the computer readable storage medium. |
| US08112455B2 |
Fort.22 file creation tool
A method for creating a fort.22 input file is provided that comprises the steps of receiving a plurality of user parameters, the plurality of user parameters comprising one or more meteorological data sources, a defined date range, and a data processing request. Then, the one or more meteorological data sources are read for the defined date range. A properly formatted fort.22 file is prepared based on the reader data. Next, it is determined whether a data processing request is present, and if a data processing request is present, an extension/ramping processing program is performed. Finally, the fort.22 file is outputted to a user. |
| US08112452B2 |
Serverless distributed file system
A serverless distributed file system manages the storage of files and directories using one or more directory groups. The directories may be managed using Byzantine-fault-tolerant groups, whereas files are managed without using Byzantine-fault-tolerant groups. Additionally, the file system may employ a hierarchical namespace to store files. Furthermore, the directory group may employ a plurality of locks to control access to objects (e.g., files and directories) in each directory. |
| US08112447B2 |
System and method for parsing a text file
A method for parsing a text file defines a tree pattern and a plurality of character string patterns. A tree structure corresponding to the text file is determined according to the tree pattern, and the desired data are retrieved from the text file according to the character string patterns. The retrieved desired data are output into a storage system. |
| US08112439B2 |
Data processing method and system capable of reducing required memory
A data processing system is disclosed. The system includes a processor, a transformer, a first memory buffer, a second memory buffer, a first filter, and a second filter. An obtained transmission signal symbol is first transformed to first data. The first memory buffer stores the first data. The processor obtains peak data based on the first data according to a predetermined threshold. The transformer transforms the peak data to second data and stores the second data in the second memory buffer. The first filter filters the second data to determine reserved data of the second data and removes the reserved data from the second data to generate third data. The transformer transforms the third data to fourth data and stores the fourth data in the second memory buffer. The processor merges the first and fourth data to generate fifth data. The second filter filters the fifth data based on the transmission signal symbol and a previously obtained transmission signal symbol. |
| US08112437B1 |
Automatically maintaining an address book
Techniques are disclosed for automatically generating and maintaining personal data, such as an address book, a financial portfolio, a discussion groups or blogs book, or other types of personal data stores, based on a person's structured search data and/or usage data (e.g., browsing) and/or other sources of personal data (e.g., emails the user receives). Related metadata can also be used in the generating and/or maintaining of the personal data. Dynamic personal data ranking and/or autocomplete functions are also provided, which can be used in conjunction with the automatic generation and maintenance of the user's personal data, to further ease the user's burden in managing and/or handling such data. |
| US08112431B2 |
Method and system for processing search requests
Methods and system for processing search requests are described. In one embodiment, a term of a search request may be received. A determination of whether the term is a meta-keyword may be made. One or more linguistically transformed keywords associated with the meta-keyword may be obtained. A search may be run on at least one of the one or more linguistically transformed keywords to obtain a result of the search. |
| US08112430B2 |
System for modifying a rule base for use in processing data
A system for modifying a rule base for use in processing data, wherein an instance of an entity comprises associated data, for use with a parser for identifying a first instance of an entity in data associated with a document set in accordance with a first rule and for using the first instance of the entity to identify a second instance of the entity in the data associated with the document set. The system comprises an accessor for accessing data associated with the second instance of the entity; and a generator for using the data associated with the second instance of the entity to generate a second rule. |
| US08112429B2 |
Detection of behavior-based associations between search strings and items
A system and method are disclosed for automatically detecting associations between particular sets of search criteria, such as particular search strings, and particular items. Actions of users of an interactive system, such as a web site, are monitored over time to generate event histories reflective of searches, item selection actions, and possibly other types of user actions. An analysis component collectively analyzes the event histories to automatically identify and quantify associations between specific search strings (or other types of search criteria) and specific items. As part of this process, a decay function reduces the weight given to a post-search item selection event based on intervening events that occur between the search event and the item selection event. |
| US08112428B2 |
Clustering image search results through voting: reciprocal election
A search results page contains images that are organized based on the visual features of those images; images that have common visual features are grouped together using either a folding or a reciprocal election technique. Images that pertain to a particular meaning of a query term are less likely to be scattered across the page. A group of images that have common visual features is represented on the page by a single representative image from that group. Consequently, space for more representative images becomes available on the image search results page. Thus, search results page contains visually diverse representative images; space on the results page is not wasted by repeatedly showing the same image. The initial image search results page also therefore is more likely to contain representative images that otherwise would have occurred too far down a relevance-ranked list to be included within the initial search results page. |
| US08112425B2 |
Time series search engine
Methods and apparatus consistent with the invention provide the ability to organize, index, search, and present time series data based on searches. Time series data are sequences of time stamped records occurring in one or more usually continuous streams, representing some type of activity. In one embodiment, time series data is organized into discrete events with normalized time stamps and the events are indexed by time and keyword. A search is received and relevant event information is retrieved based in whole or in part on the time indexing mechanism, keyword indexing mechanism, or statistical indices calculated at the time of the search. |
| US08112423B2 |
Fast primary cluster recovery
A cluster recovery process is implemented across a set of distributed archives, where each individual archive is a storage cluster of preferably symmetric nodes. Each node of a cluster typically executes an instance of an application that provides object-based storage of fixed content data and associated metadata. According to the storage method, an association or “link” between a first cluster and a second cluster is first established to facilitate replication. The first cluster is sometimes referred to as a “primary” whereas the “second” cluster is sometimes referred to as a “replica.” Once the link is made, the first cluster's fixed content data and metadata are then replicated from the first cluster to the second cluster, preferably in a continuous manner. Upon a failure of the first cluster, however, a failover operation occurs, and clients of the first cluster are redirected to the second cluster. Upon repair or replacement of the first cluster (a “restore”), the repaired or replaced first cluster resumes authority for servicing the clients of the first cluster. This restore operation preferably occurs in two stages: a “fast recovery” stage that involves preferably “bulk” transfer of the first cluster metadata, following by a “fail back” stage that involves the transfer of the fixed content data. Upon receipt of the metadata from the second cluster, the repaired or replaced first cluster resumes authority for the clients irrespective of whether the fail back stage has completed or even begun. |
| US08112420B2 |
Information search system, information processing apparatus and method, and information search apparatus and method
The present invention relates to an information search system, an information processing apparatus and method, and information search apparatus and method. A PC extracts, from the mail document transmitted/received by a user, words corresponding to the user's interests and records the interest data. In steps S121 and S122, upon logged in by the user, an HDD recorder requests the acquisition of interest data. On the basis of this request, the PC sends the interest data corresponding to the login user. In steps S123 and S124, the HDD recorder sends the received interest data to a server. In step S131, the server searches for the program information that matches the received interest data. In step S125, on the basis of the program information contained in the search result, the HDD recorder sets the timer-recording of a program. The present invention is applicable to programs which are installed in personal computers. |
| US08112415B1 |
Optimized field unpacking for a data stream management system
Two methods and computer-readable medium for obtaining information using field group unpacking functions. The first method obtains information using field group unpacking functions by identifying an optimized unpacking function from field group unpacking functions, and an optimized unpacking function is used to unpack a field associated with the data stream. The second method obtains information using field group unpacking functions by identifying an optimized unpacking function from the field group unpacking functions. Then, a prefilter is applied and associated with the optimized unpacking functions and used to unpack a field associated with the data stream. The computer-readable medium obtains field group unpacking functions for execution by a computing device using field group unpacking functions that identify an optimized unpacking function from the field group unpacking functions, and use an optimized unpacking function to unpack a field associated with the data stream. |
| US08112405B2 |
Method and system for securing user identities and creating virtual users to enhance privacy on a communication network
A method of enabling a real entity to access a service on a communication network using a virtual entity, the method including the steps of establishing a user account including at least first data corresponding to the identity of the real entity and second data corresponding to the virtual entity and not identifying the real entity, storing the first and second data in a first database, linking between the first and second data in the first database, storing the second data at a second database, associating the second database with a communication network site, connecting the communication network site to the communication network, receiving the second data from an unidentified user on the communication network site, identifying the unidentified user as the virtual entity based on receiving the second data, and allowing the virtual entity to access the service. |
| US08112403B2 |
Providing a rating for a web site based on weighted user feedback
A method of (and associated system and computer program product for) providing a rating for a web site (205). The rating is obtained from a plurality of member users. A member user (405) submits (320) feedback data (215), that may be stored in a database (220), using an interface (415) provided on a member user terminal (210), the feedback data (215) related to the web site. A member user submitting feedback data (215) has a member user weighting, a member user weighting is preferably obtained (330) from one or more other member users, or may be initially allocated as a default weighting. The rating for the web site (205) is determined (340) at least partially based on the feedback data (215) and the member user weighting of the member user who submitted the feedback data (215). The rating may be determined or adjusted by feedback data and respective member user weightings received from other member users. |
| US08112398B1 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for selectively marking and retrieving data from an event log file
Methods, systems, and computer program products for selectively marking and retrieving data from an event log file are described. One method includes providing a first syntax for user insertion of at least one bookmark into an event log file associated with a computing system, wherein the event log file records event data that pertains to the computing system. The first syntax is received and, in response, the at least one bookmark is inserted into the event log file. The method also includes providing a second syntax for retrieving a user-specified portion of the event log file using the at least one bookmark. The second syntax is received and, in response, the user-specified portion of the event log file is retrieved. |
| US08112395B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a distributed file system utilizing metadata to track information about data stored throughout the system
The intelligent distributed file system enables the storing of file data among a plurality of smart storage units which are accessed as a single file system. The intelligent distributed file system utilizes a metadata data structure to track and manage detailed information about each file, including, for example, the device and block locations of the file's data blocks, to permit different levels of replication and/or redundancy within a single file system, to facilitate the change of redundancy parameters, to provide high-level protection for metadata, to replicate and move data in real-time, and so forth. |
| US08112392B1 |
Methods and systems for creating snapshots of virtualized applications
A method may include identifying a virtualized application that has a read-only virtualization sublayer and a read-write virtualization sublayer. The read-only virtualization sublayer may represent a base state of the virtualized application and the read-write virtualization sublayer may be configured to store changes to the base state of the virtualized application. The method may also include determining a first difference between the read-only virtualization sublayer and the read-write virtualization sublayer at a first point in time and using the first difference between the read-only virtualization sublayer and the read-write virtualization sublayer to create a first snapshot that represents a state of the virtualized application at the first point in time. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08112389B2 |
Extended transactions
Multiple atomic “component” database transactions are combined into a single extended transaction through message passing. The multiple component transactions that comprise a single extended transaction may, in combination, perform a single computation. The component transactions may pass messages to each other by writing and reading records to and from one or more databases. The resulting extended transaction may be distributed and/or long-lived. |
| US08112388B2 |
Dependency processing of computer files
A method and apparatus for dependency processing of computer files. An embodiment of a method for dependency processing of computer files includes receiving a data stream input at a scanner component, where the data stream input represents multiple computer files. The data stream input is scanned for data types, where scanning the data stream input includes encountering a definition of a data type; determining whether to process program elements within the data type, and, if there is a determination to process the program elements in the data type, scanning the program elements of the data type to identify usages of the data type. The identified data type definition and data type usages are provided to a listening component. |
| US08112384B2 |
System and method for problem solving through dynamic/interactive concept-mapping
The present invention provides a computer-implemented method of problem solving that includes graphically displaying a plurality of concepts, dynamic links between the concepts, and solving a problem based on the displayed concepts and dynamic links. Other embodiments include: a computer-readable medium having instructions thereon for causing a suitably programmed information-processing apparatus to perform a method of the problem solving that includes graphically displaying a plurality of concepts, displaying dynamic links between the concepts, and solving a problem based on the displayed concepts and dynamic links. Still other embodiments include a computerized apparatus that includes a display output unit, a display drive unit that causes a plurality of concepts to be displayed on the display unit, and that causes dynamic links between the concepts to be displayed, and a solution unit that solves a problem based on the displayed concepts and dynamic links, and that displays the solution. |
| US08112372B2 |
Prediction by single neurons and networks
An artificial neuron integrates current and prior information, each of which predicts the state of a part of the world. The neuron's output corresponds to the discrepancy between the two predictions, or prediction error. Inputs contributing prior information are selected in order to minimize the error, which can occur through an anti-Hebbian-type plasticity rule. Current information sources are selected to maximize errors, which can occur through a Hebbian-type rule. This insures that the neuron receives new information from its external world that is not redundant with the prior information that the neuron already possesses. By learning on its own to make predictions, a neuron or network of these neurons acquires information necessary to generate intelligent and advantageous outputs. |
| US08112371B1 |
Systems and methods for generalized motion recognition
Techniques for performing motion recognition using generalized motion recognition capability are disclosed. At least two types of sensors are used to generate sensor signals about a motion made by a user. The sensor signals are then transformed to device-independent motion signals that may be used to build generalized motion recognizers or used with one or more generalized motion recognizers responsive to the sensors. At least one of objects in a virtual interactive environment is responsive to a recognition signal determined from the motion signal and the generalized motion recognizers. |
| US08112370B2 |
Classification and policy management for software components
A method, system, and computer usable program product for classification and policy management for software components are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A metadata associated with an application or component is identified. A mapping determination is made whether the metadata maps to a classification in a set of classifications. A policy that is applicable to the classification is identified and associated with the classification. If the mapping determination is deterministic, the component is assigned to the classification and the policy associated with the classification is associated with the component. If the mapping determination is not deterministic, a user intervention may be necessary, the component may be classified in a default classification, or both. Because of the policy being associated with the classification, associating the policy with the component may occur based on the metadata of the application or component and its resultant classification. |
| US08112366B2 |
Expert system and visualization for multi-server capacity management
A system is disclosed that includes an interface to receive a resource governance rule applicable to one or more hardware resources supporting a monitored software application. The system includes utilization logic to measure usage of a particular hardware resource by the monitored software application. An available utilization of the particular hardware resource is determined based on the resource governance rule, and a total utilization of the particular hardware resource is also determined. One or more utilization metrics are determined based on historical usage of the particular hardware resource as compared to a governed capacity and a non-governed capacity available to the particular hardware resource. The system also includes recommendation logic to determine a recommended action to be taken with respect to the monitored software application. |
| US08112364B2 |
Pre-authenticated identification token
An identification token such as a proximity payment device may be integrated with a wristwatch. For security purposes, the identification token may be disabled when removed from the user's wrist. The identification token may be re-enabled by interaction with a docking station or personal computer at the user's residence. |
| US08112363B2 |
Selecting, ordering and accessing copyrighted information from physical documents
A method and associated computer program product for processing edited objects associated with a physical document. The method is for use in a user workstation by a user. The method includes: determining a position of a point pressed on a touch foil to select an item on a page of the physical document; identifying the selected item by correlating the determined position of the pressed point with a position of the selected item in a list of item positions recorded in an edited objects table; identifying a first edited object in the edited objects table from an association of the first edited object with the selected item identified by the correlating; ascertaining, that the user does not have a license to use and/or copy the first edited object; and sending, from the user workstation to an edited objects server, a request for information concerning the first edited object. |
| US08112361B2 |
Method and system for dynamic, real-time addition of advertisement to downloaded static content
A method and system for dynamic, real-time addition of advertisements to downloaded static content. The method comprises seamlessly combining a downloaded original content file with personalized information on a user device, and allowing the user either to use the combined original content and personalized information without possibility of personalized information removal, or to remove the personalized information after a fee payment. The seamless combination and removal operations are done by a player located in the user device. |
| US08112357B2 |
Systems and methods for preventing duplicative electronic check processing
Preventing duplicate ICL files and/or ICL file elements, including duplicate ICLs, items, and item bundles, from being processed for payment and/or presentment. A duplicate detection module can assign a predictable and repeatable unique identifier to each ICL file and/or ICL file element. The duplicate detection module can determine whether each ICL file and/or element is a duplicate by comparing the identifier associated with the ICL file and/or element with information stored in a record of already processed files/elements. In response to determining that an ICL file and/or element is a duplicate, the duplicate detection module can determine not to process the file/element for payment and/or presentment. In response to determining that the ICL file and/or element is not a duplicate, the duplicate detection module can store information regarding the file/element in the record. For example, the stored information can include the unique identifier associated with the file/element. |
| US08112352B2 |
Electronic system and method for executing a trade
An Internet based investment account management system that consists of data, a rules database, a business logic manager and user profiles is described. The rules database stores information about system responses to modifications of the data. The user profiles store information concerning the availability of information and displays depending upon the user. Automatic updates to user profiles in response to modifications to the data are performed. The business logic manager can be configured to define whether the trader is authorized to execute a trade and whether sufficient holdings are available at a custodian bank in order to execute trade. A data exchange link may then be used to send data to a broker/dealer system to execute the trade. |
| US08112350B2 |
Computerized trading system
The present invention relates to computerised trading systems and associated methods, particularly those that implement trades in basis trading where the two instruments have different and non-universally agreed pricing mechanisms and metrics, such as futures crosses in the European derivative markets. The present invention allows traders to enter orders expressed in terms of their own metrics. These orders are then converted to be expressed according to a standardised metric such that comparisons may be made and orders matched. Once matching orders are identified, these orders can be reported back to the traders, expressed in terms of their own metrics. |
| US08112348B2 |
Trading system with price improvement
Traders in an electronic trading system are provided an opportunity to improve prices for an item trading in an active market are provided. After a trader hits a bid or lifts an offer, a market becomes active. When the market is active, traders can submit orders that improve on the price of the current market price of an item. Whenever a price improvement order is currently available for use in a transaction order, a price improvement indicator is displayed to indicate to other traders that price improvement is occurring. When a price improvement order is used to fill a transaction order, a portion of the difference between the market price and the price improvement price may be divided between the trader associated with the price improvement order, the trader associated with the transaction order, and the system host. |
| US08112340B2 |
Collateralized debt obligation evaluation system and method
A computerized system and method for evaluating collateralized debt obligations receives user input selecting a scenario or feature, loads data related to a portfolio of securitized assets on to the computer storage medium, determines a scenario default rate using at least one of a beta distributed recovery, a counterparty risk, a loss given default, or a non-zero inter-sector correlation, or models at least one of a short position scenario, a nth to default basket, a forward start date and an equity default swap, and reports a result relating to the scenario default rate. |
| US08112337B2 |
Method and system for clearing financial instruments
A method and system for electronically clearing financial instruments may include receiving electronic files of items containing data scanned from financial instruments including an amount of each instrument, and applying a rule to sort the items by determining whether the item may be stored or forwarded for clearing without storage. The rule may include determining whether an amount of the instrument exceeds a predetermined value, and if so, forwarding the instrument for clearing, or if not, storing the item for forwarding at a later time when the per item fee for clearing is lower. The system may include a control for receiving electronic files from a scanning device and applying a rule to sort the files by determining whether each file should be stored or forwarded and an image export server for converting the files to a preferred format and transmitting them for clearing. |
| US08112334B2 |
Method and system for converting an annuity fund to a life insurance policy
A method and system for converting an annuity fund to a life insurance policy at a predetermined conversion date comprising the following steps: establishing an annuity fund of a predetermined and purchasing a fixed annuity for the annuity fund, establishing an irrevocable life insurance conversion plan including selecting the predetermined conversion date, selecting a predetermined mortality death benefit at the predetermined conversion date and purchasing a guaranteed insurability option to guarantee the availability of the predetermined mortality death benefit at the predetermined conversion date, accruing fixed investment income within the annuity fund on a tax deferred basis until the predetermined conversion date, converting the annuity fund to the life insurance policy with the predetermined mortality death benefit at the predetermined conversion date, accruing income within the life insurance policy until the death of the insured under the life insurance policy and disbursing the death benefit consisting of mortality insurance and accrued cash values to the beneficiary at the death of the insured under the life insurance policy. |
| US08112332B1 |
Financial assessment systems and methods
Financial assessment systems, methods and graphical user interfaces are described. Financial information for an individual is received and integrated in a financial plan. A synopsis view of the financial plan is graphically presented. The synopsis view of the financial plan may include one or more financial recommendations for the individual. The recommendations and the synopsis view may be updated in real-time in response to a change in the financial information. The recommendations and the synopsis view may be used by the individual who is the subject of the financial plan or may be used by financial advisors. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08112327B2 |
Method and system of bidirectional marketing with feedback
The invention discloses a method and system of bi-directional marketing with feedback, comprising: building up a consuming net system that promotes the business between customer and seller. The consuming net system signs a contract with customer, then the consumer built up, on the other hand, said system signs contract with seller, then the provider built up. The consuming net system receives commission from the provider and returns interest to the consumer according to the contract. The method and system adds the steps of interest distributing and information distributing during circulate service, so that customer can get balanced information during consuming, and also he can get balanced interest. The present invention changes the way of information dissemination and unfair distributing system. It eludes the economic crisis at all. |
| US08112319B2 |
System and method for generating exponential expansion of commerce
A system and method for turning a buyer into a prospective seller in an electronic marketplace. After the buyer enters into a binding agreement to purchase an item, the buyer is provided with an option of re-listing the purchased item for resale. The purchased item is re-listed if the buyer opts to re-list it. An ecommerce listing to sell the purchased item is automatically generated based on the previous listing. The user only needs to provide the selling price to complete the listing. The purchased item can be re-listed in the same marketplace where the item was purchased or in a different marketplace. |
| US08112311B2 |
Systems and methods for distribution of entertainment and advertising content
A device for generating audiovisual display signals, including a first input terminal receiving content signals representative of an audiovisual event, the signals including insertion points indicating the output of an advertisement, a second input terminal receiving ad signals representative of an advertisement, a first buffer storing the ad signals, and a processor converting the content signals into display signals of the event and converting ad signals stored in the first buffer into display signals of an advertisement upon detection of an insertion point. |
| US08112310B1 |
Internet advertising system that provides ratings-based incentives to advertisers
An ad placement system provides functionality for users to rate advertisers associated with particular ads they view, and/or to rate particular ads. The ratings supplied by individual users in association with a given advertiser are used by the system to generate an average or other aggregate rating for the advertiser. This aggregate rating is exposed to users in association with the advertiser's ad or ads, allowing users to efficiently take the advertiser's reputation into consideration in deciding whether to click through or otherwise select such ads to access the advertiser's web page or site. For example, in one embodiment, each ad is displayed with a corresponding visual indication of the aggregate rating of the advertiser. |
| US08112305B2 |
Systems and methods for distribution-transition estimation of key performance indicator
Systems and methods for distribution-transition estimation of key performance indicator (KPI). Exemplary embodiments include a method including establishing a state-space model in a computer memory, the model for handling measurement errors and modelling errors as noise, wherein time-varying indices have historical data and a correlation with KPI, adaptively estimating parameters related to the time varying indices, and obtaining residuals from the adaptive estimate of the parameters, estimating a probability distribution in order to generate random numbers from the probability distribution, generating random numbers related to the estimated probability distribution, thereby enabling prediction of future indicator distributions through a Sequential Monte Carlo method, providing models to input KPI intensity levels for a scenario level and to predict future values for a plurality of scenarios as point estimates and distributing and synthesizing the point estimation results for the plurality of scenarios based on KPI estimated probability distributions. |
| US08112300B2 |
Production optimizer for supply chain management
One embodiment of the invention provides a method for optimizing a supply chain management (SCM) problem. A genetic algorithm optimization technique may be used to generate a production solution for the production side of an SCM problem and an ant colony optimization technique may be used to generate a solution for the distribution side of the SCM problem. Together, the genetic algorithm optimization technique and the ant colony optimization technique operate to quickly identify high-quality solutions to an SCM problem. |
| US08112296B2 |
Modeling of job profile data
A job profile class is defined that represents a job profile and identifies relationships of the job profile with various entities related to the job profile. |
| US08112291B2 |
User interface for prioritizing opportunities for clinical process improvement
Methods and user interfaces are provided for prioritizing opportunities for optimizing clinical processes within clinical facilities. An optimized practice process model may be defined for a particular clinical procedure, setting forth an optimal clinical process. In addition, critical levers may be identified within the optimal clinical process, representing the activities that have the greatest impact on outcomes. Clinical facilities may collect current measures for the critical levers, and the current measures may be compared against an optimal, benchmark, and/or target measure. Based on the comparison, opportunities for clinical process optimization may be identified. User interfaces are provided for prioritizing the opportunities, for example, based on benefit indexes and effort indexes determined for each opportunity. |
| US08112289B2 |
Method for electronic examination of medical fees
Disclosed is a method for electronic examination of medical fees, and more particularly to a method for electronic examination of medical fees using a system for electronic examination of medical fees. The system includes a transmit/receive server, a bill examination server, a management terminal and examiner terminals, and communicates with each medical institution server and a national health insurance corporation server. The bill examination server checks any error in medical bills and specifications received from each medical institution server through description inspection, automatic inspection, specialist inspection and computational examination. The bill examination server returns, corrects or adjusts any erroneous bill or specification, or inserts a message into the erroneous bill or specification. The management terminal distributes medical bills and specifications on which computational examination has been completed to the examiner terminals. Each examiner terminal produces a statement of examination adjustment according to the examination results inputted by an examiner during on-screen examination and sends the statement to the bill examination server. Then the bill examination server generates an examination decision file based on the examination results and sends the file to the corresponding medical institution server and simultaneously to the national health insurance corporation server. |
| US08112283B2 |
In-vehicle audio apparatus
An audio apparatus has a function of correcting an audio signal in response to a noise level. The audio apparatus includes a correction unit that corrects an input audio signal on the basis of a weighting factor, an output unit that produces a played-back audio sound on the basis of the corrected audio signal, a microphone for receiving an external sound that includes the played-back audio sound and noise, a noise-extracting unit that extracts a noise signal from an external sound signal, the noise-extracting unit including a speech-removing unit that removes a speech signal from the noise signal on the basis of noise spectrum data, and a weighting factor calculation unit that calculates the weighting factor on the basis of the extracted noise signal and supplies the calculated weighting factor to the correction unit. |
| US08112274B2 |
Method of determining model-specific factors for pattern recognition, in particular for speech patterns
A method for recognizing a pattern that comprises a set of physical stimuli, said method comprising the steps of: providing a set of training observations and through applying a plurality of association models ascertaining various measuring values pj(k|x), j=1 . . . M, that each pertain to assigning a particular training observation to one or more associated pattern classes; setting up a log/linear association distribution by combining all association models of the plurality according to respective weight factors, and joining thereto a normalization quantity to produce a compound association distribution; optimizing said weight factors for thereby minimizing a detected error rate of the actual assigning to said compound distribution; recognizing target observations representing a target pattern with the help of said compound distribution. |
| US08112273B2 |
Voice activity detection and silence suppression in a packet network
The present invention is a system and method that improves upon voice activity detection by packetizing actual noise signals, typically background noise. In accordance with the present invention an access network receives an input voice signal (including noise) and converts the input voice signal into a packetized voice signal. The packetized voice signal is transmitted via a network to an egress network. The egress network receives the packetized voice signal, converts the packetized voice signal into an output voice signal, and outputs the output voice signal. The egress network also extracts and stores noise packets from the received packetized voice signal and converts the packetized noise signal into an output noise signal. When the access network ceases to receive the input voice signal while the call is still ongoing, the access network instructs the egress network to continually output the output noise signal. |
| US08112272B2 |
Sound source separation device, speech recognition device, mobile telephone, sound source separation method, and program
A sound source signal from a target sound source is allowed to be separated from a mixed sound which consists of sound source signals emitted from a plurality of sound sources without being affected by uneven sensitivity of microphone elements. A beamformer section 3 of a source separation device 1 performs beamforming processing for attenuating sound source signals arriving from directions symmetrical with respect to a perpendicular line to a straight line connecting two microphones 10 and 11 respectively by multiplying output signals from the microphones 10 and 11 after spectrum analysis by weighted coefficients which are complex conjugate to each other. Power computation sections 40 and 41 compute power spectrum information, and target sound spectrum extraction sections 50 and 51 extract spectrum information of a target sound source based on a difference between the power spectrum information. |
| US08112258B2 |
PDC drill bit using optimized side rake angle
A fixed cutter drill bit and a method for designing a fixed cutter drill bit includes simulating the fixed cutter drill bit drilling in an earth formation. A performance characteristic of the simulated fixed cutter drill bit is determined. A side rake angle distribution of the cutters is adjusted at least along a cone region of a blade of the fixed cutter drill bit to change the performance characteristic of the fixed cutter drill bit. |
| US08112257B2 |
Semantic extensions of business process modeling tools
A method and a system directed to semantically annotating business process modeling components of a business process model are described. For example, a definition of a business process modeling component and an association of a domain element with the business process modeling component are received. Then, the definition of the business process modeling component is semantically annotated using the domain element. |
| US08112255B2 |
Method and apparatus for computer-aided design of three-dimensional objects to be fabricated
A computer-aided design apparatus generates a tree structure of coordinate systems defining the topology of a three-dimensional object to be fabricated. The coordinate systems are positioned and orientated in accordance with mathematical functions. The mathematical function positioning child coordinate systems has the identity of the parent coordinate systems as a variable so that the positions of the child coordinate systems relative to their parent coordinate systems vary in accordance with the identity of the parent coordinate systems. Data defining the coordinate systems and connections therebetween is stored in a graph. Bases having a defined relationship are identified and three-dimensional content objects are added thereto. The content objects are added using the same mathematical function to generate a three-dimensional content object in each of a plurality of coordinate systems. The mathematical function for generating the content objects has the identity of the coordinate systems as a variable thereof to generate the content object in each coordinate system with a different shape. |
| US08112253B2 |
Energy management system that provides real time situation awareness of a potential energy management failure
An energy management system has a control center at a utility company, and logic resources coupled to the power system that provide a real time notice of conditions which effect energy management of the utility company. At least one user interface is provided at the control center that is coupled to the logic resources. The user interface provides a real time situation awareness of a potential energy management failure. |
| US08112249B2 |
System and methods for parametric test time reduction
A parametric test time reduction method for reducing time expended to conduct a test program flow on a population of semiconductor devices, the test program flow comprising at least one parametric test having a specification defining a known pass value range characterized in that a result of the test is considered a passing result if the result falls within the known pass value range, the method including: computing an estimated maximum test range, at a given confidence level, on a validation set including a subset of the population of semiconductor devices, the estimated maximum test range including the range of values into which all results from performing the test on the set will statistically fall at the given confidence level and at least partly disabling the at least one parametric test based at least partly on a comparison of the estimated maximum test range and the known pass value range. |
| US08112246B2 |
Apparatus for and a method of determining surface characteristics
Light reflected by a sample surface region and a reference surface interfere. A detector senses light intensity at intervals during relative movement along a scan path between the sample surface and the reference surface to provide a series of intensity values representing interference fringes. A data processor receives first intensity data comprising a first series of intensity values resulting from a measurement operation on a surface area of a substrate and second intensity data including a second series of intensity values resulting from a measurement operation on a surface area of a thin film structure. A gain is determined for each thin film of the thin film structure. Substrate and apparent thin film structure surface characteristics are determined on the basis of the first and second intensity data, respectively. The apparent thin film structure surface characteristic is modified using the substrate surface characteristic and the determined gain or gains. |
| US08112242B2 |
Paving-related measuring device incorporating a computer device and communication element therebetween and associated method
A system for determining a property of a paving-related material is provided. Such a system comprises a measuring device for selectively and directly measuring the property. A computer device is capable of executing a software program product and communicating with the measuring device. The computer device directs the measuring device to measure the property of the paving-related material according to a parameter determined by the software program product, and to receive data comprising the measured property from the measuring device. A communication element operably engaged between the measuring device and the computer device allows communication therebetween. The communication element is configured to allow the computer device to be spaced apart from the measuring device, thereby allowing the computer device to be prepared, to include the parameter and to manipulate the data, in spaced apart relation with respect to the measuring device. An associated method is also provided. |
| US08112239B2 |
Method and system of performing a functional test of at least one embedded sub-element of a wind turbine
A method of performing a functional test of at least one embedded sub-element of a wind turbine, the wind turbine being controlled by a control algorithm of a wind turbine controller, includes the steps of: executing a predefined event pattern activating at least one sub-element of the wind turbine, obtaining measure data on the basis of measurements of at least one sub-element according to the predefined event pattern, and relating the measure data to predefined reference data and establishing a test result indicating the condition of the embedded sub-element on the basis thereof. The predefined event pattern is executed by a test algorithm overriding the control algorithm of the wind turbine controller at least partly. It is a very advantageous feature according to the present invention that the sub-elements may be tested while being embedded in the wind turbine. |
| US08112236B2 |
Device for accurately measuring amplifier's open-loop gain with digital stimuli
A device capable of receiving one or more digital stimulus signals and accurately measuring an open-loop gain of an amplifier comprises: a digital charge converter (DCC), a charge integrator, an A/D converter, a control logic circuit and an arithmetic logic unit (ALU). The DCC and the charge integrator are composed of a plurality of switches, one or more sampling capacitor, at least one integrating capacitor and an operational amplifier under test (OPAUT) with a single-ended output or differential-ended outputs. The DCC, the charge integrator, and the A/D converter are controlled by control signals generated by the logic control circuit and can be reconfigured as a first-order Sigma-Delta modulator capable of receiving at least one of the digital input stimulus signals. The ALU calculates the open-loop gain of the OPAUT with single-ended output or differential-ended outputs according to the digital stimulus signals and the digital output of the first-order Sigma-Delta modulator. |
| US08112235B2 |
State and topology processor
A State and Topology Processor (STP) may be communicatively coupled to one or more intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) communicatively coupled to a electrical power system to obtain one or more current measurements, voltage measurements, and dynamic topology data therefrom. The STP may receive the measurement data and may determine a current topology and a voltage topology therefrom. A current processor may use the current topology and the current measurements to refine the measurements, perform KCL, unbalance, symmetrical component, and consistency checks on the electrical power system. The voltage processor may use the voltage topology and the voltage measurements to perform similar checks on the electrical power system. One or more alarms may be generated responsive to the checks. The data may be displayed to a user in a display of a human machine interface and/or may be transmitted to a user programmable task module, and/or an external control unit. |
| US08112231B2 |
Method and apparatus for storing and processing molecular information
To provide a molecular information providing system that allows the molecular information to be shared by providing high precision information without depending on the format of atomic arrangement notation from a terminal unit.The molecular information providing system of the invention has the terminal units to including molecular structure input/output means, and a molecular information providing apparatus connected via a network to the terminal units and including a database storing a molecular structure, an intermediate representation generated from the molecular structure, and a characteristic decided depending on the molecular structure. The molecular information providing apparatus comprises a coordinate system transforming part for calculating the principal axes of inertia from an atomic arrangement notation specifying the molecular structure, and registering in the database an intermediate representation that is a coordinate transformation of the atomic coordinates into a coordinate system in the directions of the principal axes of inertia, and a retrieval executing part for retrieving the molecular structure stored in the database, employing the intermediate representation. |
| US08112228B2 |
Statistical correction for standoff in two-terminal imager operating in oil-based mud
An apparatus, method and computer-readable medium for estimating a resistivity property of an earth formation in a borehole filled with oil-based mud. The method includes conveying a logging tool into a borehole; measuring a plurality of impedance values of the earth formation, each of the plurality of impedance values being obtained at one of a plurality of measure electrodes on the logging tool; determining a coefficient related to an electrical property of the mud from a plurality of pairs of impedance values; estimating the resistivity property of the formation from the determined coefficient; and recording the resistivity property on a suitable medium. |
| US08112227B2 |
Processing of multi-component induction measurements in a biaxially anisotropic formation
Measurements made by a multi-component logging tool in a borehole are inverted to obtain three principal resistivities (or conductivities) and three associated angles of a bi-axially symmetric formation traversed by the borehole. |
| US08112225B2 |
Method and system for collision avoidance
A method for collision avoidance for a host vehicle includes the following steps; receiving input data relating to a set of objects external to the host vehicle, wherein an object position (r,Φ), and an object velocity ({dot over (r)}) are associated with each object by a sensor system arranged on the host vehicle, then estimating future trajectories of each external object, while considering influence by the future trajectories of the other external objects. |
| US08112220B2 |
Management of traffic signals at road intersection to avoid blocking vehicles
A computer controlled system for managing traffic signals at the intersection of at least two traffic lanes to avoid collisions between motor vehicles in intersecting lanes. An implementation for controlling traffic signals at the intersection to permit vehicles in each of the intersection traffic lanes a time period to pass through the intersection, detecting the presence of a vehicle in the intersection beyond the permitted time period, and responsive to a detection of the presence of the vehicle, controlling the traffic signals to stop other vehicles from passing through the intersection. |
| US08112219B2 |
System for and method of monitoring real time traffic conditions using probe vehicles
A system and method for updating and communicating traffic information to at least one receiving vehicle includes a traffic information center and at least one probe vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, major road sections are represented as links, the center stores and updates a parent map database of links that are associable with a first value of a condition, each probe vehicle is configured to receive a copy of the database either periodically or upon request, determine a second value of the condition, and compare the first and second values to determine a condition discrepancy. Where the discrepancy surpasses a threshold, each probe vehicle is further configured to upload at least the second value to the center, so as to update the parent map database. |
| US08112216B2 |
Late lean injection with adjustable air splits
A gas turbine engine is provided and includes a combustor having a first interior in which a first fuel is combustible, a turbine into which products of at least the combustion of the first fuel are receivable, a transition zone, including a second interior in which a second fuel and the products of the combustion of the first fuel are combustible, a plurality of fuel injectors which are configured to supply the second fuel to the second interior in any one of a single axial stage, multiple axial stages, a single axial circumferential stage and multiple axial circumferential stages, a compressor, by which air is supplied to the first and second interiors for the combustion therein, and a control system configured to control relative amounts of the air to the first and second interiors and relative amounts of the first and second fuels supplied to the first and second interiors. |
| US08112206B2 |
Method for controlling a powertrain system based upon energy storage device temperature
A powertrain system includes an engine coupled to an input member of a transmission device operative to transmit torque between the input member and a torque machine and an output member. The torque machine is connected to an energy storage device. A method for controlling a powertrain system includes monitoring a temperature of the energy storage device, selecting a candidate powertrain system operating point, determining an output power from the energy storage device associated with the candidate powertrain system operating point, determining a power loss for operating the powertrain system at the candidate powertrain system operating point, and determining operating costs for operating the powertrain system at the candidate powertrain system operating point associated with the power loss and based upon the temperature of the energy storage device. |
| US08112203B2 |
System for assisting fuel-efficient driving
A system for assisting fuel-efficient driving includes a storage unit for storing a shift pattern map, a collection unit for collecting the driving state information of a vehicle, a driving state calculation unit for calculating a current driving state and a target driving region on the basis of the information from the collection unit and the shift pattern map, and a display control unit for displaying the current driving state and the target driving region on a display to make it possible to compare the current driving state and the target driving region on the basis of at least acceleration or speed. |
| US08112199B2 |
Suspension control device, vehicle comprising said device, production method thereof and associated program
The invention relates to a device for controlling the suspension of the body shell of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, the device comprises: a means for measuring the travel (DEB(A)) and travel speed (VDEB(A)) of the right and left wheels on a front and/or rear axle system in relation to the body shell, a means (61, 62) for detecting a wide range of wheel movement when the travel (DEB(A)) and speed values exceed a threshold, and a means (64) for calculating a set value (ERGD) for the shock absorber actuator when a wide range of wheel movement is detected. |
| US08112197B2 |
Wiper apparatus control method and wiper control system
A wiper apparatus includes: a wiper blade driven by a first motor; and a wiper blade driven by a second motor. The motors are drive-controlled by control microcomputers, respectively. The control microcomputers are connected to each other through a communication line. While exchanging position information of the wiper blades through the communication line, the control microcomputers synchronously drive the motors on the basis of a position relationship between both of the wiper blades. When an abnormality occurs in a communication state of an in-vehicle LAN, a setting state of a wiper switch is grasped through a switch signal line directly connected to the wiper switch, and wipers are prevented from being stopped when such communication abnormality occurs. |
| US08112193B2 |
Virtual tensioner travel sensor for a serpentine belt tensioner assembly
A control module of a vehicle comprises a drive diagnostic module and a hybrid control module. The drive diagnostic module determines a load energy of an accessory drive system of the vehicle and determines a slip percentage of a belt of the accessory drive system based on an engine speed and a motor speed. The hybrid control module determines a requested motor torque based on at least one of the load energy and the slip percentage. The control module controls a motor of the vehicle based on the requested motor torque. |
| US08112191B2 |
System and method for monitoring the effectiveness of a brake function in a powered system
A system is provided for monitoring the effectiveness of a braking function in a powered system. The system includes a sensor configured to measure a parameter related to the operation of the powered system. Additionally, the system includes a processor coupled to the sensor, to receive data related to the parameter. Subsequent to activating the braking function, the processor is configured to determine the effectiveness of the braking function of the powered system, based upon whether the parameter data varies by a predetermined threshold. A method and a computer software code are also provided for monitoring the effectiveness of a braking function in a powered system. |
| US08112187B2 |
Formation flight control method
The invention relates to a method for controlling the formation flight of at least two aircraft (1,2). The first aircraft (1) includes means of transmitting its position, its velocity and its flight plan. The flight plan has predictions of altitude, velocity and time for at least one next waypoint (WPT). The second aircraft (2) includes means of receiving the information transmitted by the first aircraft (1). According to the invention, the second aircraft (2) determines its future flight plan as a function of the information received from the first aircraft (1) in order to maintain a constant separation (T) from the first aircraft (1). |
| US08112183B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method
A substrate processing apparatus detects malfunction of mechanisms in MFC. An inert gas supply line, a first shut-off valve shutting off the inert gas supply, a process gas supply line, and a second shut-off valve shutting off the process gas supply are installed upstream of the MFC. A gas supply pipe connected to a process chamber, a third shut-off valve shutting off gas supply to the gas supply pipe, an exhaust vent line which is exhaustible, and a fourth shut-off valve shutting off gas supply to the exhaust vent line are installed downstream of the MFC. A main control unit determines that the MFC is abnormal if a transition time exceeds a previously set time when the MFC transitions from a closed state to an opened state while the shut-off valves are in a closed state. |
| US08112182B2 |
Mass flow rate-controlling apparatus
A mass flow rate-controlling apparatus including a mass flow rate-detecting mechanism 8 a flow rate-controlling valve mechanism 10 and a mechanism 44 for controlling the flow rate-controlling valve mechanism based on a flow rate-setting signal S0 input from outside and a flow rate signal S1, the flow path being provided with a pressure-detecting mechanism 42 for detecting the pressure of the fluid to output the detected pressure signal, so that the controlling mechanism selectively switches a first control mode for controlling the mass flow rate based on the flow rate signal and the flow rate-setting signal without using the detected pressure signal, and a second control mode for controlling the mass flow rate based on the detected pressure signal, the flow rate signal and the flow rate-setting signal, based on a pressure variation obtained from the detected pressure signal. |
| US08112181B2 |
Automatic mold and fungus growth inhibition system and method
Apparatus for automatic environmental control includes an enclosed, zoned structure. A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is incorporated into the structure. Each zone includes separate controls, separately-controlled air flow into and out of each zone, and separate intake, vent, damper, thermostat and humidistat for each zone. Temperature and humidity are separately controllable for each zone, and controller is in communication with HVAC system for controlling HVAC system and for controlling the damper for each zone, the controller having a map comprising a plurality of relative humidity and temperature combinations and one or more actions for automatic execution based on the combinations of temperature and humidity. A temperature sensor, a relative humidity sensor are included in each zone, and an indicator array/interface panel is in communication with the controller. The system provides for the automatic elimination of environmental conditions favorable to mold and fungus growth for each zone individually. |
| US08112172B2 |
Method and system for gash parameter extraction of a cutting tool
A method for extracting gash parameters of a cutting tool, comprises positioning the cutting tool on a moveable stage, scanning two or more gash sections of the cutting tool to generate two or more gash section scanning point clouds, indexing multiple points of the gash section scanning point clouds, detecting multiple gash features using the indexed gash section scanning point clouds, projecting multiple point clouds of the gash features of the indexed gash section scanning point clouds to form one or more projected gash feature point clouds, identifying one or more types of the one or more projected gash feature point clouds, segmenting the one or more projected gash feature point clouds based on the type identification, and extracting one or more gash parameters based on the segmentation of the one or more projected gash feature point clouds. A system for extracting the parameters is also presented. |
| US08112169B2 |
Polishing apparatus and polishing method
A polishing apparatus has a polishing table having a polishing surface and a top ring for pressing a substrate against the polishing surface while independently controlling pressing forces applied to a plurality of areas on the substrate. The polishing apparatus has a sensor for monitoring substrate conditions of a plurality of measurement points on the substrate, a monitor unit for performing a predetermined arithmetic process on a signal from the sensor to generate a monitor signal, and a controller for comparing the monitor signal of the measurement points with the reference signal and controlling the pressing forces of the top ring so that the monitor signal of the measurement point converges on the reference signal. |
| US08112164B2 |
Low maintenance spa control system
A spa control system designed to reduce maintenance cost by providing modular construction for major control functions, with built-in diagnostic capabilities for isolating defective spa components. Multi-colored LEDs on the spaside panel constantly report the status of each component of the spa as well as the status of the functional modules themselves. Each time a component is activated, measurements of operational parameters, such as load currents, are instantly made and evaluated so that the proper LED color can be presented at the spaside. Since major functions such as audio, LED control, wireless, and spa logic are separated into removable modules, repair of the control system requires less time and less skilled personnel. Other design improvements, such as direct monitoring of heater element temperature and the purging of pumps on an as-required-basis, enhance the spa's overall reliability and thus reduce the need for maintenance. |
| US08112163B2 |
Embedded dynamic alarm control system
A system and method of modeling, prediction, optimization and controlling an embedded alarm control having a plurality of independently controlled, manipulated variables, at least one controlled variables and one or more disturbance variables. The method includes determining simultaneously a set number of dynamic moves of the manipulated variables along with steady state values of the manipulated and controlled variables with steady state constraints relating to the manipulated and controlled variables as well as dynamic constraints relating to the manipulated and controlled variables including relating to the disturbance variables. Embedding alarm controls in the simultaneous dynamic control and steady state optimization with varying type of alarming situations and aiding operator in recovery actions. Performing a receding horizon form of control wherein the optimization and control is performed at successive time interval by monitoring and feedback of process responses resulting from the control actions applied at previous time intervals. |
| US08112161B2 |
Implantable electrode with variable mechanical modulation wiring
A cochlear implant electrode is described. A basal electrode lead carries electrical stimulation signals from an implant housing to a cochleostomy opening, and a portion of the electrode lead has a periodically recurring lead shape. An apical electrode array at the cochleostomy end of the electrode lead passes into a cochlea scala and includes electrode contacts for applying the electrical stimulation signals to target neural tissue. A portion of the electrode array has a periodically recurring array shape different from the lead shape. |
| US08112159B2 |
Kit for implantation of therapy elements
This disclosure describes a kit to facilitate implantation of therapy elements into a patient, and techniques for percutaneously inserting therapy elements into a patient. In particular, embodiments of the invention are directed to techniques for percutaneously inserting two or more therapy elements into a patient via a single needle. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a kit to facilitate implantation of therapy elements into a patient. The kit comprises a needle defining a lumen a first therapy element sized to pass through the lumen, and a second therapy element sized to pass through the lumen. The lumen is sized to receive both of the first and second therapy elements simultaneously. The first and second therapy elements are separate and not attached to one another such that distal ends of the first and second therapy elements can be positioned to provide therapy in distinct locations of the patient. |
| US08112154B2 |
Systems and methods for neuromodulation using pre-recorded waveforms
Methods for neuromodulation using waveform signals. In certain embodiments, an input waveform is obtained from a signal source site in a source subject and an output waveform is applied to a target site in a target subject. The source subject is a human or animal and the signal source site is in the nervous system, including the brain. The source subject and target subject are the same subjects or different subjects. The output waveform is identical to the input waveform or derived from the input waveform. In some embodiments, the output waveform is modified in response to physiologic feedback. Also provided are systems for neuromodulation using waveform signals. |
| US08112149B2 |
System and method for heart and activity monitoring
A system and method determining physiological status of a patient. A determination is made whether the patient is sleeping. The amplitude and change in voltage over time of any intramyocardial electrogram is measured for a right ventricle and a left ventricle of a heart of the patient for a predefined number of heartbeats at a specified time interval in response to determining the patient is asleep. The measurements are averaged for the right ventricle and left ventricle. The averaged measurements are transmitted to a receiver for communication to an intended recipient. |
| US08112148B2 |
System and method for monitoring cardiac signal activity in patients with nervous system disorders
A medical device system and method for monitoring cardiac signal activity in patients with nervous system disorders. In some embodiments, a brain signal and a cardiac signal are received by a processor, brain events are identified in the brain signal, and the brain events are used to identify portions of the cardiac signal. In some embodiments, Event portions of the cardiac signal are identified corresponding to brain event time periods, and Inter-event portions are identified corresponding to time periods between brain events. An Inter-event heart-rate variability (HRV) calculation is performed using Inter-event portions of the cardiac signal, and an output of the medical device system is modified based upon the calculated Inter-event HRV according to certain embodiments of the invention. An Event HRV may also be calculated according to certain embodiments, and an output modified based on comparisons of the Event HRV to the Inter-event HRV, for example. |
| US08112147B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating determination indexes for identifying ECG interfering signals
A method for generating determination indexes for identifying ECG interfering signals includes acquiring ECG signals to obtain a sequence of data values representing original ECG signals; dividing the sequence of data values acquired during a period of time into groups and collecting all the minimum data values in their respective groups on a statistical basis; determining the minimum and the maximum data values in a minimum set made up of all the minimum data values in their respective groups; and using the difference between the minimum and the maximum data values as a first baseline drift determination index to identify at least one of low frequency interference and irregular interference. |
| US08112145B2 |
MRI method for assessing myocardial viability
An assessment of myocardial viability in a subject is performed by acquiring an MR image which distinguishes infarcted myocardium from normal myocardium. A contrast agent is used and after a waiting period, a cardiac-gated segmented inversion recovery gradient-recalled radial sampling technique is employed to acquire NMR data over a substantial portion of the cardiac cycle. By interleaving the radial sampling patterns, images can be reconstructed over a range of possible TI intervals enabling the optimal TI for maximum contrast to be retrospectively selected. |
| US08112143B2 |
Using magnetic resonance images for locating anatomical targets
A novel MR method and system is described for using MR images for planning radiotherapy treatment. The images are obtained by a scanner which generates a magnetic field with a magnetic center (isocenter). First at least one fiducial marker (4; 5) is applied to the body (1) of the patient at a predetermined distance from the isocenter. The patient is repositioned within said scanner such that an anatomical target (2) is located in close vicinity of said isocenter. A first image of said target (2) is obtained and then the patient (1) is shifted such that the fiducial marker (4; 5) is close to the isocenter. A second image is obtained at the shifted position, in which the fiducial marker has an accurate geometrical position, that is merged into said first image. |
| US08112141B2 |
Method and device for quick press on EEG electrode
Embodiments relate to methods and systems for monitoring bioelectric potentials. In some instances, an electrode is applied to a patient's skin. The electrode may be at least partly inserted into the patient's skin, such as by inserting at least part of one or more teeth underneath the skin. |
| US08112139B2 |
Skin screw electrode
Electrodes providing excellent recording and physical stability. Electrodes that include a plurality of small teeth that possess a novel design shape and orientation are disclosed. The shallow and relatively long teeth preferably run parallel to the rim of the electrode that presses against the patient's skin. When the electrode is twisted onto skin, the teeth penetrate nearly horizontally under the stratum corneum. The electrodes cause minimal discomfort to the patient since the teeth do not extend to the pain fibers which are located in deeper layers of the skin. The electrodes may house a diversity of electronic components to enable numerous experimental and medical implementations. The electrodes may also be used wirelessly without electrode leads. The electrodes may be fabricated using precision photo-chemical etching techniques that are well known in the art. An electrode installation device that preferably employs the electrodes is also disclosed. |
| US08112130B2 |
Receiver acoustic system
A mobile communications device has an outer housing with a front wall in which an acoustic opening is formed. A tub is disposed inside the housing, wherein an acoustic opening is formed in a bottom of the tub and is positioned to be aligned with the acoustic opening in the outer housing. A receiver is disposed within the tub so that a sound port hole of the receiver faces an inside face of the tub and is aligned with the acoustic openings in the outer housing and in the tub. A plate piece is disposed between an inside face of the housing and the face of the receiver in which the sound port hole is formed. An acoustic opening is formed in the plate piece and positioned to be aligned with the sound port hole of the receiver and the acoustic openings in the outer housing and in the tub. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08112126B2 |
System and method for changing instant messaging presence of a user profile relative to the active call mode of a communication device
The present invention is a method and system for changing the presence of a user profile logged into a communication device on a communications network relative to the active call mode of the communication device. In the first embodiment, the communication device first receives an indication that an event involving the communication device has triggered active call mode. The communication device next determines the new presence corresponding to the event triggering active call mode, and communicates the new presence to the communications network. In the second embodiment, the communication device is coupled to a client device. The client device receives an indication that an event involving the communication device has triggered active call mode and determines the new presence for the user profile corresponding to the event. The new presence for the user profile logged into the communication device is then communicated to the communications network. |
| US08112122B2 |
Mobile communication terminal having a context sensitive keypad and method thereof
A mobile communication apparatus comprising a numeric keypad is disclosed, wherein a number of functions are associated with keys of said keypad. The functions are related to a context of a present application running on said mobile communication apparatus, and associated with one or more further applications, wherein actuation of any of said keys results in activation of any of said one or more further functions to perform said related function by said associated applications. |
| US08112118B2 |
System and method for using a temporary electronic serial number for over-the-air activation of a mobile device
A system and method for activating a subscriber identification module (SIM) based mobile device in a PCS/ANSI type wireless network. The method comprises pre-programming the SIM card of the mobile device with temporary activation identifiers, such as an international mobile station identity (IMSI) and/or a mobile identification number (MIN), and a temporary electronic serial number. The temporary electronic serial number, rather than the mobile device actual electronic serial number, is used to identify the mobile device during registration and activation. The network identifies the temporary electronic serial number associated with the SIM vendor and invokes an over-the-air activation procedure especially for the SIM card mobile devices. A SIM-over-the-air-activation processor is notified to perform the activation for that mobile device on the PCS wireless network. Authentication of the mobile device may be bypassed and the mobile device is instructed to transmit its actual electronic serial number for future registrations. Once the activation process is completed, the temporary activation identifiers are overwritten. |
| US08112115B2 |
Portable base station device and charging method
A mobile base station device and billing method, which can provide an incentive for use at a specific position, while securing convenience for users, are provided. In a mobile base station device 10, upon installation by an owner, registered user terminal-specific information transmitted from a network N, and installation position information specifying the installation position, are stored. When there is transmission from a portable terminal 30, judgment is made as to whether the user of the portable terminal 30 is a registered user and as to whether transmission is from within a prescribed area; only when these conditions are satisfied, a communication connection is established at a flat rate. By this means, in the mobile base station device 10, an incentive can be provided to users for use in a specific position. Further, billing adjustments are made for use at other than the specific position, but communication service is not completely forbidden, and user convenience is secured. |
| US08112113B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal includes a reception unit to receive, from at least one of a plurality of communication systems, an initial beacon containing information for establishing communication according to each of the plurality of communication methods, a request unit to generate a request by use of the initial beacon to transmit the request to the at least one of the plurality of communication systems, and a determination unit to determine, based on information as a response to the request, the communication method and the frequency band, which are to be used in a time zone by the mobile terminal. |
| US08112108B2 |
Methods and apparatus facilitating and/or making wireless resource reuse decisions
Methods and apparatus related to reuse of a wireless resource are described. Various methods and apparatus are well suited to wireless communications systems lacking centralized control, e.g., an ad hoc peer to peer wireless communications system. A first wireless device of a first connection generates and transmits one or more control signals to be used by a wireless device of a second connection to make a resource reuse decision. The first connection is, e.g., an existing active connection and the second connection is, e.g., a potential connection. A transmission power level of a control signal is set based upon a predetermined relationship to at least one other signal previously communicated on the first connection, e.g., a peer discovery or paging signal. In some embodiments, the control signal is a single tone signal. The transmitted control signal facilitates the estimation of an expected SINR by a device of the second connection. |
| US08112107B2 |
Wireless communication system for updating logic-circuit data for implementing logic circuit in variable logic circuit unit
A transmission source device transmits a test signal to a transmission destination device and a transmitting device by wireless communication. The transmission destination device and the transmitting device add to a received test signal an identification number thereof and a receiving time and return the data-added test signal to the transmission source device. The transmission source device determines a communication route with a shortest communication time based on the received data-added test signal. The transmission source device transmits logic-circuit update data to the transmission destination device via the determined communication route. |
| US08112105B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for estimating channels
A method, an apparatus and a system for estimating channels are disclosed. A method for estimating channels includes: receiving downlink signals inclusive of reference signals from two or more Access Points (APs), where the relative frequency shift between reference signals sent by different APs is zero; and performing channel estimation according to the reference signals. Another method for estimating channels includes: receiving downlink signals inclusive of reference signals from two or more APs, where for a first AP and a second AP among the two or more APs, a specific time-frequency lattice in the downlink signals sent by the first AP does not include data signal, and the specific time-frequency lattice corresponds to a time-frequency lattice utilized by the second AP to send a reference signal; and performing channel estimation according to the reference signals. The technical solution disclosed herein eliminates the interference between the reference signal and the data signal, enables the UE to estimate the channel value between the UE and the cooperative APs accurately, and improves the UE performance. |
| US08112104B1 |
Adaptable communication techniques for electronic devices
Improved approaches for users of electronic devices to communicate with one another are disclosed. The electronic devices have audio and/or textual output capabilities. The improved approaches can enable users to communicate in different ways depending on device configuration, user preferences, prior history, etc. In one embodiment, the communication between users is achieved by short audio or textual messages. |
| US08112094B1 |
Radio access layer management
Architecture that efficiently adds additional carrier(s) (e.g., UMTS) to a wireless operator's network which allows the additional carrier(s) network to co-exist with other technologies by sharing the spectrum in geographically adjacent sites. When employing UMTS, the UMTS is CDMA-based such that all users utilize the same frequency 5 MHz band. With this innovation, additional carriers (e.g., a 2nd 5 MHz UMTS carrier) can be added when capacity is needed on a site-by-site basis without clearing an additional 5 MHz of spectrum. |
| US08112091B2 |
Allocating radio resources in mobile communications system
Allocating radio resources in a mobile communication system, comprises transmitting first information to a network, wherein the first information is utilized by the network to allocate radio resources to a mobile terminal for allowing communication between the mobile terminal and the network, and receiving second information from the network, wherein the second information is related to an allocation of radio resources for the mobile terminal. |
| US08112087B2 |
Method and apparatus for setting up radio resource control connection
A method and apparatus for establishing an RRC connection are provided, in which a UE compares the strength of a signal received from a serving cell with a threshold, upon receipt of a request for RRC connection establishment, transmits an RRC connection request message to a RAN, measures the strengths of signals from neighbor cells during a first time period and monitors a downlink channel of the serving cell to receive a response message for the RRC connection request message during a second time period, if the signal strength of the serving cell is less than the threshold, and receives the response message from the RAN on the downlink channel. |
| US08112085B2 |
Anchor selection in distributed networks
Various embodiments are described relating to selecting anchor nodes among nodes in a wireless network. In an example embodiment, a topological arrangement of a first wireless node and one or more other wireless nodes neighboring to the first wireless node in a wireless network may be determined by the first wireless node. A second wireless node may be selected to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node based on the determined topological arrangement. For example, the first wireless node may select itself to perform the anchor node operations based on the determined topological arrangement. |
| US08112084B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for performing mobile internet protocol deregistering
A method, a system and an apparatus for performing mobile Internet protocol deregistering, includes that the network element in the ASN to which the terminal attaches detects whether the MS terminates unconventionally, and sends the message with the MS identifier of the MS which terminates unconventionally to the ASN GW/DP. The ASN GW/DP instructs the ASN GW/FA to release the link resource with the MS and release the link resource with the HA proving service for the MS. |
| US08112080B2 |
Broadcast/multicast service system and method providing inter-network roaming
A method and system for providing a broadcast/multicast (BCAST) service, are provided. The method includes obtaining, by the terminal, at least one BCAST service from a visiting network when the terminal roams in the visiting network. |
| US08112077B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting media data
Media data from a first communication session and media data from a second communication session are received by a unit in the communication network and are combined therein to form at least one combined media data stream which contains the media data from the two communication sessions. The combined media data stream is sent to the communication terminal. |
| US08112075B2 |
HARQ-aware CQI reporting
The invention provides a method or system where the UE sends the CQI to the base station (Node B) based on whether a HARQ retransmission is expected. For example, if a HARQ retransmission is expected, then the UE can reduce the CQI information to sending less (or no) bits in the uplink. In effect, the UE will automatically stop sending CQIs to the base station (Node B) for time-periods where it is known that HARQ retransmissions will be scheduled. The method or system may include one or more steps or elements for implementing this functionality in the UE. |
| US08112070B2 |
Electronic device and method for searching a merchandise location
An electronic device and method for searching a merchandise location include creating a database to store merchandise maps, and receiving the name of a searched shopping location and the merchandise name of a searched merchandise as search keywords. The electronic device and method further include downloading a merchandise map of the searched shopping location comprising the searched merchandise from the server, if the database does not have any search result, and displaying the downloaded merchandise map on a display. |
| US08112069B2 |
System and method for establishing automated call back using a mobile communication device
A communication system for receiving incoming communications from mobile communication devices and for initiating a call-back is disclosed. The communication system receives incoming communications from a mobile communication device, such as data requests. The data requests may be for a list of providers or companies and for a list of corresponding queues related to customer services, such as billing, for example. Further, the communication system typically includes components and queues for initiating a call-back sequence to a communication receiving device and placing an identifier associated with the communication receiving device in a user-selected queue. The communication system also determines the wait time in a queue and places an outgoing call to the communication receiving device. Also, a method for initiating a call-back to a communication receiving device is disclosed. The method includes receiving data from a mobile communication device and placing an identifier associated with a communication receiving device in a user-selected queue. The method further includes determining and sending the expected wait time in the queue to the mobile communication device. If a call back request is received from the mobile communication device, a call back to the communication receiving device is placed based upon the assigned placeholder in the queue. |
| US08112068B2 |
Updating of intelligent message waiting notification
A system, computer-readable medium system, and method which provide for delivering notifications to a mobile device where the provider has first and second mobile technology types. Initially, a notification is received from a notification sub-system. A first communication of the notification to the mobile device is then attempted via the first technology type. Where the mobile device has the second technology type, an error signal is received that the attempt has failed. Next, a second communication of the notification to the mobile device is attempted via the second technology type. Where the mobile device has the second technology type and receives the notification, a delivery signal that the attempt was successful is received. After the delivery signal is received, logging of the second technology type of the mobile device is made so that thereafter, any new notification is attempted using the logged second technology type. |
| US08112067B2 |
Profile-driven response to communication events
A method includes storing a setting in a profile of a wireless device to cause an automatic message response to incoming calls. When the profile is set as the active profile and an incoming call is received, an automatic response is provided to the incoming call in accordance with the setting. |
| US08112065B2 |
Mobile authentication through strengthened mutual authentication and handover security
A method of mobile authentication with enhanced mutual authentication and handover security is disclosed. The method of mutual authentication in a mobile network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: generating at least one service ticket and session key corresponding to a mobile station in accordance with an authentication data request for the mobile station; encrypting the service ticket and the session key by using a user security key pre-assigned in accordance with the mobile station; sending the encrypted service ticket and session key to the mobile station by using a control message; and authenticating the mobile station by analyzing user mutual authentication information received from the mobile station. The present invention, therefore, can provide a more powerful and effective mutual authentication method in a mobile network. |
| US08112062B2 |
System and method for sending threshold notification in real time
A mobile station user is informed of reaching of at least one threshold level of data usage via a wireless communication network in real time. An account of the mobile station user has a maximum data plan limit defined by a user's plan and a data usage balance reflecting an amount of data usage remaining under the plan. When required data usage corresponding to requested data session does not cross the threshold level, a slice of data for the data session is allocated. When required data usage corresponding to the requested data session crosses the threshold level, reduced slice of data is allocated. Data usage is counted in real time during the data session, and a notification of reaching the at least one threshold level of data is sent to the mobile station in real time, at the time when data usage under the mobile station user's account reaches the at least one threshold level. |
| US08112059B2 |
Mixer circuit, integrated circuit device and radio frequency communication unit
A mixer circuit comprises an input stage arranged to convert an input voltage signal received at an input of the mixer circuit into at least one current signal, and a frequency conversion stage comprising at least one switching element arranged to convert a signal component of the at least one current signal from an input frequency to a output frequency. The input stage comprises at least one resistance connected between the input of the mixer circuit and the at least one switching element. The at least one switching element and the at least one resistance are arranged such that the at least one switching element comprises a ‘turn-on’ resistance that exhibits a resistivity that is a factor less than the at least one resistance connected thereto. |
| US08112055B2 |
Calibrating receive chain to reduce second order intermodulation distortion
Embodiments of apparatuses, articles, methods, and systems for calibrating receive chain to reduce second order intermodulation distortion are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a reference sensing chain is used to generate reference second-order intermodulation distortion signals that may be used to adjust a calibration code. In some embodiments, a calibration code may be adjusted using one or more feedback loops of a baseband amplifier. The embodiments may be employed, e.g., to manage power in wireless networks. Other embodiments and usages may be described and claimed. |
| US08112054B2 |
Tri-stating a phase locked loop to conserve power
In a system with an intermittently operating radio, the frequency of which is controlled by a Phase Locked Loop (PLL), a method and system for reducing the power consumed by the PLL by tri-stating the control capacitor in the PLL after the PLL has stabilized at a design frequency. After the capacitor is stabilized, power to some of the components in the PLL is reduced. |
| US08112042B2 |
Wireless communication device capable of measuring quality of wireless signal at variable time intervals
A wireless communication device is disclosed in which signal quality values C[t] of a wireless signal received by the wireless communication device is successively measured at variable time intervals Δt, mean value μ of the successively-measured signal quality values C[t] is calculated, standard deviation σ of the successively-measured signal quality values C[t] is calculated, a determination is made as to whether the signal quality value C[t] at present time satisfies a predetermined inequality which represents that a signal quality value C[t] at arbitrary time lies within k times the standard deviations σ away from the mean value μ, and lengths of the time intervals Δt for the measurement device are controlled based on the determination. |
| US08112040B2 |
Method for measuring variable bandwidth wireless channel and transmitter and receiver therefor
Provided are a method for measuring a variable bandwidth wireless channel, and a transmitter and a receiver therefore. The transmitter, includes: a pre-processing unit for performing variable over-sampling and band-limited filtering on an original sequence for measuring the wireless channel according to a pre-determined digital-to-analog (D/A) operation speed and measurement bandwidth, and creating and storing a probing sequence whose frequency is up-converted into a fixed transmitting intermediate frequency; and a real-time processing unit for transmitting a probing signal that the stored probing sequence is converted according to the D/A operation speed to the wireless channel. |
| US08112039B2 |
System and method for detecting radar signals in wireless communications access points
A system and method for providing radar signal detection in a communications system. In an example method, a raw energy detect signal is received and analyzed to determine if the raw energy detect signal contains a valid radar pulse. A bit is stored in a bit sequence storage device such that the bit has a first value if a valid radar pulse was detected or a second value indicating that a valid pulse was not detected. A set of bits in the bit sequence storage device are accessed to determine if a plurality of waveform-indicating locations in the bit sequence storage device includes valid pulses. In another aspect of the invention, a system detects a radar signal in a communications device. The system includes a pulse detector to detect pulses in a raw energy signal having a pulse width within a predetermined minimum and maximum pulse width. The system includes a frequency detector having a bit sequence storage device to store the bits output by the pulse detector. The frequency detector detects whether the detected pulses conform to a waveform type by determining if the bits are stored in the bit sequence storage device in waveform-indicating locations. |
| US08112036B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless communication device, wireless communication method and program
A wireless communication method implemented by a wireless communication device includes performing a non-contact communication with an other wireless communication device. The method also includes receiving predetermined setting data from the other wireless communication device. Further, the method includes establishing a wireless connection with the other wireless communication device by using the predetermined setting data. The method additionally includes storing the predetermined setting data in a storage medium before the wireless connection is released. In addition, the method includes releasing the wireless connection. The method further includes establishing a wireless reconnection with the other wireless communication device by using the predetermined setting data stored in the storage medium. The wireless connection is not necessarily released by the wireless communication device while power is being supplied from outside. |
| US08112035B2 |
Sensor device, sensor network system, and sensor device control method
Disclosed are a sensor device and a sensor device control method. The sensor device comprises a reader for requesting a tag information and detecting an interference channel, and a short range wireless communication module for sharing a information of the interference channel through short range wireless communication, and reallocating channels to be used for the reader. |
| US08112034B2 |
Method and system for using PSK sync word for fine tuning frequency adjustment
In RF transceivers, a method and system for using phase shift key (PSK) sync word for fine tuning frequency adjustment are provided. One aspect of the invention provides for adjusting a local oscillator frequency in a radio frequency (RF) receiver when a residual DC offset remains after a coarse frequency offset adjustment if performed. The fine adjustment may be necessary because of the synchronization required with a PSK-based modulated portion of a Bluetooth packet. A residual phase shift detected in a sync sequence portion of the Bluetooth packet may be utilized to determine a residual or fine frequency adjustment. This approach may allow an RF receiver to operate, in some instances, without the need for an equalizer. In this regard, the power consumed by the RF receiver may be minimized and/or the overall cost of the RF receiver may be reduced. |
| US08112030B2 |
Ionizing communication disruptor unit
An apparatus includes a voltage generator and a superstructure. The voltage generator includes a conductive base, an insulating spacer and a conductive top. The superstructure includes a platform and an antenna system. The voltage generator provides a voltage difference between the conductive base and the conductive top that is greater than 10,000 volts. |
| US08112029B1 |
Method for developing writing skills by creating customized books using a network
A method for creating a book using a network, comprising using a processor to create a website to entice a user to become a subscriber. Computer instructions are used to provide a welcome message, provide a security feature to the user, provide a free tour of the service for creating the book, and offer a search tool to browse a dynamic information database containing artwork, text, characters, contact information for artists and authors to provide commissioned work, and rules of usage. The computer instructions also offer viewing of artwork having high viewing frequency, provide a payment selection to become a subscriber, and process payment by the user. A subscriber is then allowed to create a unique book, store selections and work under an account having a secure account number, and print at least a portion of the unique book on a printer owned, controlled, or designated by the subscriber. |
| US08112024B2 |
Heat fixing apparatus
The heat fixing apparatus includes a fixing heater and a pressure roller. The fixing heater has a plurality of resistance-type heat generation layers which are different in heat distribution in the longitudinal direction perpendicular to the direction of conveying a recording material. The recording material P is heated when passed through a fixing nip portion formed between the fixing heater and the pressure roller. The pressurization conditions between the fixing heater and the pressure roller can be changed. The heat fixing apparatus includes a fixing member which adjusts the lengthwise heat distribution of the fixing heater by changing the applied current proportion of the plurality of resistance-type heat generation layers according to the pressurization conditions between the fixing heater and the pressure roller. |
| US08112023B2 |
Image forming apparatus and fixing device
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier to carry a toner image and a fixing device to fix the toner image transferred from the image carrier onto a recording medium by applying at least heat to at least one of the toner image and the recording medium. Such a fixing device includes: a magnetic flux generator to generate a magnetic flux; and a heat generating member disposed at least partially in the magnetic flux. The heat generating member includes a heat generating layer to generate heat via eddy currents therein induced by the magnetic flux, magnitudes of the eddy currents varying according to positions thereof in a width direction of the heat generating layer. Included within the heat generating layer is a magnetic layer having a Curie point in a range, e.g., from about 100 degrees centigrade to about 300 degrees centigrade. |
| US08112015B2 |
Belt unit and image forming apparatus
At least one of a plurality of rollers supporting an endless belt includes a flange arranged on an end portion of the roller. The flange includes a cylindrical portion that is inserted into an opening portion of the roller at its end. Outer circumference of the cylindrical portion makes contact with inner circumference of the roller, and inner circumference of the flange makes contact with a rotation shaft of the roller. The inner edge of a surface where the flange is in contact with the rotation shaft is located on the inner side of the outer edge of a surface where the cylindrical portion is in contact with the roller in the longitudinal direction of the rotation shaft. |
| US08112014B2 |
Color electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein a plurality of cartridges is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, includes a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position which is inside the main assembly and an outside position which is outside the main assembly, supporting the cartridges, wherein the cartridges are mounted to and dismounted from the cartridge supporting member placed in the outside position, and wherein the cartridge supporting member is movable between the inside position and the outside position intersecting a feeding path of a recording material. |
| US08112009B2 |
Electrophotographic apparatus having fuser temperature control and corresponding methods
Disclosed are a method of forming images on media in an electrophotographic apparatus, and corresponding electrophotographic apparatus. The method includes measuring a temperature of the media with a sensor after the toner particles have been fused to the media, and controlling a temperature of the heater device with a controller based on the measured temperature of the media, wherein the temperature is controlled to obtain a desired gloss level for subsequent media to be fused. |
| US08112008B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, which has a plurality of image forming units, comprises a plurality of cartridges adapted to supply developer; a plurality of supply members adapted to supply developer to the image forming units from a plurality of the cartridges; a drive unit adapted to drive a plurality of the supply members; and a control unit adapted to supply developer from a plurality of the cartridges by selectively operating a plurality of the supply members based on the amount of developer accommodated in the cartridges. |
| US08112007B2 |
Image forming apparatus, tone correction method using tone patches and alignment markers, and computer-readable recording medium recorded with a tone correction program using tone patches and alignment markers
The present invention aims to provide an image forming apparatus and the like that perform a highly-accurate tone correction in a relatively short time and includes the following: a pattern former, with use of each image forming unit, on a sheet, forming tone patches in the main or sub scanning direction (41k,c,y,m) and aligning markers, which indicate positions of the tone patches, in the same direction as the tone patches (42k,c,y,m); a pattern reader reading the sheet with the tone patches and markers formed thereon; a coordinate determiner determining coordinates of the tone patches in the direction of the aligned tone patches based on the read markers (42k,c,y,m); a density determiner determining densities of the tone patches (41k,c,y,m) read based on the determined coordinates; and an updating part updating the tone correction table based on relationships between the determined densities and tone levels. |
| US08112005B2 |
Optical receiver scheme with all-optical decision element
A receiver scheme for optical signals in Return-to-zero (RZ) systems comprises a conventional receiver at the input of which is placed an all-optical decision element realized with nonlinear optical elements. This allows obtaining a substantial increase in performance compared with a simple conventional receiver optimized for NRZ signals. In particular, an optical decision is made up advantageously of two non-linear optical loop mirrors (NOLMs) arranged in cascade with an optical amplifier at the input and a pass-band filter at the output. The loops lengths may be different, as may be the splitting ratios of the couplers of the NOLMs. |
| US08111999B2 |
Inter-transceiver module communication for firmware upgrade
An operational optical transceiver configured to update operational firmware using an optical link of the transceiver. The optical transceiver includes at least one processor and a system memory capable of receiving firmware. The optical transceiver receives an optical signal over the optical link containing the update firmware. The optical transceiver then recovers the firmware from the optical signal. Finally, the optical transceiver provides to the system memory the recovered firmware, which when executed by the at least one processor alters the operation of the transceiver. |
| US08111994B2 |
Balanced bypass circulators and folded universally-balanced interferometers
The invention generally relates, in one aspect, to an interferometer system. The interferometer system includes a splitter/combiner element (SCE), a first bi-directional optical path, and a second bi-directional optical path. |
| US08111991B2 |
N-way broadcast / narrowcast combiner
Systems and methods are described for an optiplex. A method includes: conveying a first narrowcast signal to a first optical combiner; conveying a second narrowcast signal to a second optical combiner; tapping into said first narrowcast signal; monitoring a first characteristic of said first narrowcast signal; tapping into said second narrowcast signal; monitoring a second characteristic of said second narrowcast signal; combining a broadcast signal with the first narrowcast signal using the first optical combiner; and combining said broadcast signal with the second narrowcast signal using the second optical combiner. An apparatus includes: a first optical input; an optical splitter connected to said first optical input; a first optical waveguide connected to said optical splitter; a second optical waveguide connected to said optical splitter; a first optical combiner connected to said first optical waveguide; a second optical combiner connected to said second optical waveguide; a second optical input; an optical demultiplexer connected to said second optical input; a third optical waveguide connected to said optical demultiplexer; a fourth optical waveguide connected to said optical demultiplexer; a first tap coupler connected to said third optical waveguide and said first optical combiner; a second tap coupler connected to said forth optical waveguide and said second optical combiner; a first optical signal sensor coupled to both said first tap coupler and a signal processing unit; and a second optical signal sensor coupled to both said second tap coupler and said signal processing unit. |
| US08111988B1 |
Method for monitoring wavelength-division multiplexed signal
A method for monitoring wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) signal for detecting signal drift of objective signals, including generation of one or more objective signals and a guard signal. The guard signal has a wavelength that is within a range defined by a guard channel. The first and second objective signals and the guard signal are wavelength-division multiplexed to generate a wavelength-division multiplexed signal. The first objective signal, the second objective signal, and the guard signal are assigned to a first multiplexed objective channel, a second multiplexed objective channel, and a multiplexed guard channel, respectively. The wavelength-division multiplexed signal is received by a monitor and then the error rate of the multiplexed guard channel is determined. |
| US08111986B1 |
Testing of transmitters for communication links by software simulation of reference channel and/or reference receiver
A transmitter for a communications link is tested by using a (software) simulation of a reference channel and/or a reference receiver to test the transmitter. In one embodiment for optical fiber communications links, a data test pattern is applied to the transmitter under test and the resulting optical output is captured, for example by a sampling oscilloscope. The captured waveform is subsequently processed by the software simulation, in order to simulate propagation of the optical signal through the reference channel and/or reference receiver. A performance metric for the transmitter is calculated based on the processed waveform. |
| US08111983B2 |
Camera
A camera includes a display device capable of displaying on a single screen a plurality of images, each of which can be observed from one of a plurality of directions; a selection device that selects any one of a plurality of operating modes; and a display control device that displays at the display device the plurality of images each correlated to the operating mode selected via the selection device. |
| US08111982B2 |
Imaging device and electronic camera
An imaging device includes an arrayed imaging element group configured to receive light passing through a photographic lens, wherein the imaging element group includes a plurality of photographic elements used for photographic image data generation and a plurality of phase difference detection elements used for phase difference detection for focus detection of the photographic lens, each of the photographic elements and each of the phase difference detection elements include: an on-chip microlens configured to collect light passing through the photographic lens; a photoelectric conversion element configured to receive the light passing through the on-chip microlens; and an internal microlens disposed between the on-chip microlens and the photoelectric conversion element, the photographic element is configured such that an optical axis of the on-chip microlens matches an optical axis of the internal microlens, and the phase difference detection element is configured such that the optical axis of the on-chip microlens is shifted from the optical axis of the internal microlens. |
| US08111981B2 |
Focus detection apparatus and focus detection method
This invention includes accumulation units (102a, 102b) which accumulate signals obtained by sensing units (111a, 111b), an area determination unit (103, 100) which sets the size of an area of a sensing unit to be segmented into a plurality of areas on the basis of the information of a lens to be focus-detected, accumulation control units (104a-104c, 105) which control, for each of the areas, accumulation of signals obtained in a plurality of areas by the accumulation units, and a defocus detection unit (100) which detects defocus states in the respective areas from accumulated signals from a plurality of areas. |
| US08111975B2 |
Multimedia visual progress indication system
A multimedia visual progress indication system that provides a cache bar that is overlaid onto the program material or displayed on a dedicated display. A cache bar indicates the length of a recording session or the length of stored program material and expands to the right when material is being recorded. Index and/or bookmark indicators are displayed next to the cache bar. A position indicator moves within the cache bar and tells the user visually where his current position is within the program material. Numeric time or counter mark of the current position is displayed in the vicinity of the cache bar. The trick play bar and its associated components are displayed for a predetermined time period. |
| US08111974B2 |
Enabling complete viewing content for selected programming
Enabling complete viewing of selected programming content is provided. In response to receiving an input data stream from a programming service provider, the input data stream is stored in a supplemental storage. In response to a user selecting a programming channel after a program starts to air, the input data stream is stored in a programming storage. Then, the stored data stream is outputted from the supplemental storage to a viewing device. |
| US08111972B2 |
Recording device, computer readable medium and recording method
A hard disk of a recording device is registered with in-advance setting data specifying a sports genre, a detection team/player and a detection period. A sports information service server accessible via a network N from the recording device includes a winning/losing outcome database recorded with information specifying a genre to which a game belongs and an outcome of wining or losing in each game with respect to the respective games held domestically and overseas. A CPU of the recording device, when reaching the detection time defined in the in-advance setting data, specifies the defined genre and the detection team/player, then receives the winning/losing data from the sports information service server, and determines whether the detection team/player defined in the in-advance setting data lost in the game or not. Then, when determining that the detection team/player lost in the game, a scheme is to prevent the already recorded data of the broadcast program of the game from remaining on the hard disk. |
| US08111969B2 |
Methods of fabricating light guide members and backlight units
A light guide member capable of guiding light received from at least a first light source and second light source, wherein the first light source is spaced a distance D3 from the second light source. The light guide member may include a first side including a plurality of first grooves extending along a first direction and a plurality of second grooves extending along the first direction, wherein the first grooves may have a first pitch and the second grooves have a second pitch, the first pitch being different from the second pitch. |
| US08111968B2 |
Optical devices for guiding illumination
Optical devices for guiding illumination are provided each having a body of optical material with staircase or acutely angled ramp structures on its top surface for distributing light inputted from one end of the device from the front exit faces of such structures along certain angular orientations, while at least a substantial portion of the light is totally internally reflected within the body until distributed from such front exit faces. Optical devices are also provided each have a body of optical material having a bottom surface with acutely angled ramp structures and falling structures which alternate with each other, such that light is totally internally reflected within the device until reflected by such ramp structures along the bottom surface to exit the top surface of the device or transmitted through the ramp structures to an adjacent falling structure back into the device. Acutely angled ramp structures may be provided on both top and bottom surfaces of optical devices for distributing light along such top surface. Illumination apparatuses are also provided using such optical devices. |
| US08111966B2 |
Wall box adapted to be mounted at a mid-span access location of a telecommunications cable
A wall box includes an enclosure having a base and a cover connected to the base. The base and the cover enclose an interior region. The wall box further includes a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted to the enclosure. The fiber optic adapters include an inner port positioned inside the interior region and an outer port positioned at an outer surface of the enclosure. A tray stack is mounted within the interior region. The tray stack includes a tray mount pivotally connected to the enclosure. The tray mount includes a top surface and an oppositely disposed bottom surface. A first splice tray mounting area is disposed on the top surface and a second splice tray mounting area is disposed on the bottom surface. A plurality of trays is disposed in the first splice tray mounting area. A tray is disposed in the second splice tray mounting area. |
| US08111965B2 |
Waveguide for thermo optic device
A waveguide and resonator are formed on a lower cladding of a thermo optic device, each having a formation height that is substantially equal. Thereafter, the formation height of the waveguide is attenuated. In this manner, the aspect ratio as between the waveguide and resonator in an area where the waveguide and resonator front or face one another decreases (in comparison to the prior art) thereby restoring the synchronicity between the waveguide and the grating and allowing higher bandwidth configurations to be used. The waveguide attenuation is achieved by photomasking and etching the waveguide after the resonator and waveguide are formed. In one embodiment the photomasking and etching is performed after deposition of the upper cladding. In another, it is performed before the deposition. Thermo optic devices, thermo optic packages and fiber optic systems having these waveguides are also taught. |
| US08111962B2 |
Optical fiber connection structure and single-mode fiber
An optical fiber connection structure which reduces MPI in the use of an optical fiber with a bend resistance improved by forming holes in the fiber, and a single-mode fiber which reduces MPI are provided. A second cladding portion of a second single-mode fiber 20 includes holes 28, and thus, the second single-mode fiber 20 has low bending loss. A portion of the second single-mode fiber 20 connected to a first single-mode fiber 10a is made solid by filling corresponding portions of the holes 28 over the length L0, and light in a mode LP11 is significantly attenuated in this portion, thereby reducing MPI. |
| US08111961B2 |
Accelerated aging of phosphorus-doped optical fibers
Adverse hydrogen aging limitations in multiply-doped optical fibers are overcome by passivating these optical fibers using a deuterium passivation process. This treatment essentially pre-reacts the glass with deuterium so that the most active glass sites are no longer available to react with hydrogen in service. Optical fibers of main interest are doped with mixtures of germanium and phosphorus. Optimum passivating process conditions are described. |
| US08111953B2 |
Optical power modulation vital sign detection method and measurement device
A vital sign measurement device includes a sensor fixation device, a sensor frame, an optical sensing system, and an output unit. The sensor fixation device is adapted to be placed against an anatomical location of a subject. The optical sensing system includes an optical waveguide, an optical source device to supply optical energy to the optical waveguide, and an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting the optical waveguide. The optical sensing system is adapted to sense an arterial pulse from the compression or flexing of at least a portion of the optical waveguide resulting in reduction of the amount of light exiting the optical waveguide. The output unit is configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of light exiting the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the vital sign based at least in part on the received signal. |
| US08111950B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method to generate reduced image
An image processing apparatus and method are provided in which a reduced image is generated by removing some of a plurality of pixels of an original image. A pixel value of a pixel to be removed is reflected into a pixel value of an adjacent pixel and a reduced image is generated using the reflection result and the removal result. |
| US08111949B2 |
Image processing device, image projection apparatus, image processing method, recording medium, and computer data signal
A captured image projection apparatus obtains projection parameters and image effect correction parameters from a moving image captured at a low resolution in a task different from a task in which capturing of a high-resolution still image is to be performed, when a change ceases to occur in the moving image and before the capturing of the high-resolution still image is started. The apparatus changes the scale of the obtained projection parameters from one for low-resolution image to one for high-resolution image. The apparatus applies an image conversion process and an image effect process to the captured high-resolution still image by using the projection parameters and image effect correction parameters obtained before the still image is captured. Thereby, the captured image projection apparatus shortens the time required from the capturing of the image to projection thereof. |
| US08111945B2 |
System and method for providing a blended picture
A method, a system and a computer program product for generating a blended picture, the system includes: a storage unit, adapted to store pixels of a first picture, pixels of a second picture and alpha data; and a device, coupled to the storage unit via at least one data channel; wherein the device includes: a relevancy determination module, that is adapted to determine a relevancy of pixels of at least one of the first picture and the second picture based upon values of alpha data associated with the pixels of the first picture; wherein the alpha data represents a degree of transparency of the pixels of the first picture to be overlaid over the second picture; an access controller, coupled to the relevancy determination module, adapted to prevent a transfer of irrelevant pixels from the storage unit; and a blending unit that is coupled to the access controller, adapted to provide a blended picture in response to values of the alpha data, by blending relevant pixels of the first and second picture. |
| US08111944B2 |
Method and system for optimizing web page images
In computer multimedia technology, a system, method and computer program product for optimizing images and transmission of images of a web-page transmitted over the Internet and furthermore, optimizing images of a web page on a network server. The method includes detecting the images in the web page to determine the relationship among the images; in response to the determination of the relationship among the images, combining two or more related images into a combinational image; and updating the web page to replace references to the related images with a reference to the combinational image. By optimizing web page images, the server's work required for handling heavy amount of HTTP requests in transmitting the web page images is decreased and the bandwidth requirement for transmitting the web page images is reduced. The quality of the original image is not lowered. And there is no need to make any change to the operation at the client side. |
| US08111936B2 |
Method and device for processing of images using a digital filter
A system, device and a method to perform bilateral filtering using linear convolution by way of an FFT or a recursive sequence method. Proper selection of functions for the photometric and spatial components of a bilateral filter may reduce the computational cost of the bilateral filter while preserving the bilateral filter de-noising and edge detection capabilities. Such functions may reduce the computational cost of a bilateral filter to substantially O(1). |
| US08111935B2 |
Image processing methods and image processing apparatus utilizing the same
An image processing method applied in an image processor for processing an image including first pixels each having a pixel value, a first reference pixel value representing a mean value of the pixel values of the first pixels, the pixel values of the first pixels being distributed within a first distribution range bounded between a second reference pixel value and a third reference pixel value. Second pixels are selected from the first pixels. The pixel values of the second pixels are distributed within a second distribution range. The second distribution range of the second pixels is smaller than the first distribution range of the first pixels. A local characteristic of the image is obtained according to the second pixels. A parameter of the image is adjusted according to the local characteristic. |
| US08111934B2 |
Extension of two-dimensional variable length coding for image compression
A method and an apparatus to encode a series of quantized coefficients of a transform of a block of image data. The transform is such that 0 is the most likely coefficient amplitude and 1 is the next most likely coefficient amplitude. The method includes forming symbols (called events) from the series of quantized transform coefficients. An event is a run of none or more zero-valued coefficients followed by a run of one of a predefined set of sequences, each sequence in the set being either a single coefficient of amplitude greater than one, or a sequence of 1's and 0's starting with a coefficient of amplitude 1. The method includes forming a codeword for each formed event. Relatively short codewords are formed to represent events that are relatively more likely to occur, and relatively long codewords are formed to represent events that are relatively less likely to occur. In one implementation, each event is a run of none or more zero-valued coefficients followed by one of a predefined set of sequences, each sequence in the set being either a single coefficient of amplitude greater than one, or a sequence of 1's and 0's starting with a coefficient of amplitude 1. |
| US08111932B2 |
Digital image decoder with integrated concurrent image prescaler
According to some embodiments, encoded information associated with an image is received at a decoder. The encoded information may be decoded at the decoder to generate full-sized first image pixels representing a full-sized version of the image. Moreover, the full-sized pixels may be scaled at the decoder to generate scaled image pixels representing a scaled version of the image. |
| US08111931B2 |
Image processing device
An image processing device and method decodes encoded image data, and converts a resolution of the decoded image data. The encoded image data is formed by encoding image data partitioned into blocks, each block including a plurality of pixels aligned in a matrix shape. The image processing device includes a decoding section that decodes and cuts out a portion of the decoded image data corresponding to a preset cut-out area and outputs the portion of the decoded image data on a block-by-block basis, a block buffer section that temporarily stores the portion of the decoded image data output, a horizontal resolution conversion section that converts the resolution of the decoded image data in the horizontal direction, a line buffer section that temporarily stores the horizontal-resolution-converted image data, and a vertical resolution conversion section that converts the resolution of the horizontal-resolution-converted image data in the vertical direction. |
| US08111929B2 |
Method and system to detect and quantify blockiness in video files
A method and system for detecting and quantifying blockiness in a video file is disclosed. The video file is a file that has been decompressed by using standard DCT algorithms. The method includes segmenting each frame of the video file into multiple blocks. The method also involves comparing the intensity gradients of each block with one or more threshold values. The one or more threshold values represent predefined intensity variation characteristics. Further, the method includes determining the intensity variation parameters of each block, based on the comparison. Thereafter, a blockiness index is calculated for each block, after which a blockiness value is calculated for each frame. Finally, a blockiness level is assigned to each frame, based on its blockiness value. The blockiness level is a comparative measure of the blockiness of a frame that represents the blockiness content in the frame. |
| US08111927B2 |
Shape clustering in post optical character recognition processing
Systems, methods and computer program products for shape clustering and applications in processing various documents, including an output of an optical character recognition (OCR) process. Clip images defined in a received OCR output are classified into a plurality of clusters of clip images. Clip images in each of the plurality of clusters are processed to generate a cluster image for each cluster. Shape differences between the cluster images of a first cluster and a second cluster and between the cluster images of the first cluster and a third cluster are used to determine a level of confidence in one or more first OCR character codes assigned to the first cluster. |
| US08111925B2 |
System and method for identifying object in image
According to one aspect, a method for identifying an object in an image includes steps of determining a center of the object; calculating a radius for scanning the image; scanning along a scan circle defined by the center and the radius; and identifying the object according to scanned data of the image along the scan circle. |
| US08111924B2 |
Remote sensing and probabilistic sampling based method for determining the carbon dioxide volume of a forest
A remote sensing and probabilistic sampling based method for determining carbon dioxide volume of a forest can correlate aerial data, such as LiDAR, CIR, and/or Hyperspectral data with actual sampled and measured ground data to facilitate obtainment, e.g., prediction, of an accurate forest inventory, and corresponding carbon dioxide volume thereof. |
| US08111923B2 |
System and method for object class localization and semantic class based image segmentation
An automated image processing system and method are provided for class-based segmentation of a digital image. The method includes extracting a plurality of patches of an input image. For each patch, at least one feature is extracted. The feature may be a high level feature which is derived from the application of a generative model to a representation of low level feature(s) of the patch. For each patch, and for at least one object class from a set of object classes, a relevance score for the patch, based on the at least one feature, is computed. For at least some or all of the pixels of the image, a relevance score for the at least one object class based on the patch scores is computed. An object class is assigned to each of the pixels based on the computed relevance score for the at least one object class, allowing the image to be segmented and the segments labeled, based on object class. |
| US08111917B2 |
Method for segmenting and computing the pattern of a road
The present invention relates to a method for subdividing the road pattern in digital road maps into segments, in which, starting from the digital road maps in which the road pattern is subdivided into successive segments, new segment borders are established via new segment starting points and segment end points, by selecting the segment starting points and the segment end points in such a way that the shape of the segments between the segment starting points and the segment end points does not change. The invention also relates to the computation of the road pattern with the aid of digital road maps, in which the road is subdivided into successive segments, to each of which one segment starting point and one segment end point is assigned. The shape of the segment is established and, from its relative position, its pattern is computed with the aid of the number of support points situated between the segment starting points and the segment end points, and/or with the aid of transition conditions between the segments and/or the consideration of attributes. |
| US08111916B2 |
Device of gathering statistics of gray distribution of image and method thereof
A device of gathering statistics of the gray distribution of an image and a method thereof are provided. The device includes a comparing unit, a count unit, a memory unit, and a data allotment unit. The comparing unit determines gray information of a plurality of gray data of the input image, and output a respective count signal accordingly. The count unit includes a plurality of counters. Each counter corresponding to predetermined gray information has a count value. The counters update the count values according to the respective count signals. When the count value exceeds a predetermined value, the count unit outputs a pulse signal corresponding to the predetermined gray information. The data allotment unit updates the statistics of the gray distribution of the image stored in the memory unit according to the pulse signal. The present invention reduces the number of the registers the counters require and decreases hardware costs. |
| US08111909B2 |
Dental CAD/CAM system for obtaining a position match of 3D data sets
Disclosed is a method for designing tooth surfaces of a digital dental prosthetic item existing as a 3D data set using a first 3D model of a preparation site and/or of a dental prosthetic item and a second 3D model, which second model comprises regions which match some regions on the first 3D model and regions which differ from other regions of the first 3D model, the non-matching regions containing some of the surface information required for the dental prosthetic item, wherein at least three pairs (P1, P2, P3) of points (P11, P12; P21, P22; P31, P32) corresponding to each other are selected on the matching region on the first 3D model (A) and the second 3D model (A′), that the positional correlation of the second 3D model with reference to the first 3D model is determined with reference to the at least three pairs (P1, P2, P3), and that portions of the non-matching regions of the first and second 3D models are implemented for designing the tooth surface of the dental prosthetic item taking into consideration the positional correlation of these models relative to each other. |
| US08111905B2 |
Autofocus video tool and method for precise dimensional inspection
A refined autofocus method provides optimized lighting between iterative autofocus operations, to reliably provide the best possible autofocus Z-height precision. The method includes a quantitative initial focus Z-height determination based on initial focus curve data from initial autofocus images acquired using initial light control parameters. Then, the camera is set at that initial focus Z-height such that well focused images are provided. Refined (optimized) light control parameters are then determined based on at least one respective image acquired using respective light control parameters at that Z-height, such that an image acquired using the refined light control parameters provides a near-optimum value for a contrast-related metric (e.g., a focus metric) at that Z-height. Then, refined autofocus images are acquired using the refined light control parameters and a refined precise Z-height is quantitatively determined base on the resulting focus curve. |
| US08111902B2 |
Method and apparatus for inspecting defects of circuit patterns
The present invention relates to a defect inspection apparatus for inspecting defects in patterns formed on a semiconductor device, on the GUI of which for the confirmation of the inspection results an area is provided for displaying any one of or facing each other the features amount of defects, and the image during inspection or the reacquired image, and on the GUI of which a means is provided for setting the classification class and importance of the defects, and based on the classification class and the importance of the defects information set by this setting means, the classification conditions or the defect judging conditions are automatically or manually set so that the inspection conditions may be set easily. |
| US08111899B2 |
Substrate-check equipment
A substrate-check equipment has a conveyer, at least two lamps, at least two image acquisition units and a control unit. The conveyer conveys a substrate. The lamps are mounted respectively above and below the conveyer to respectively shine light onto the substrate. Each lamp has an adjusting unit for adjusting intensity of the lamp. The image acquisition units correspond to the lamps and are mounted respectively above and below the conveyer to respectively capture images of the substrate and generate image signals. The control unit is electronically connected to the lamp and the image acquisition units. Emitted light intensity of the lamps is adjusted to ensure consistent image quality and speed up procedures for checking the substrate. |
| US08111896B2 |
Method and system for automatic recognition of preneoplastic anomalies in anatomic structures based on an improved region-growing segmentation, and commputer program therefor
A process for the automatic recognition of anomalies in anatomical structures, as well as a processing system and a computer program for implementing the process are described, the process comprising the steps of: acquisition (10) of a plurality of two-dimensional images of at least a portion of a patient's body, which are suitable for forming a three-dimensional representation of at least one anatomical structure under observation, segmentation (20) of a region of interest of the three-dimensional representation, potentially bearing the anomalies, selection (30, 40) of the volume image elements (voxels) of the segmented region that are candidates for belonging to anomalies of the anatomical structure represented, on the basis of predetermined morphological parameters, and classification (70) of the voxels as elements suspected of belonging to anomalies or elements not belonging to anomalies, in which the segmentation (20) takes place by progressive growth of the region of interest by aggregation of voxels in accordance with a predetermined criterion of similarity, starting with seed voxels situated within the region of interest, the region growth step comprising a first volume growth stage in which the growth is carried out on the basis of a predetermined global criterion of similarity between voxels in each direction of growth, and a second fine growth stage for the definition of a boundary of the region of interest, in which the growth is carried out on the basis of local similarity criteria for each respective direction of growth. |
| US08111884B2 |
Medical diagnostic and data processing system
A medical diagnostic and data processing system is disclosed. The system includes, in at least one embodiment, an arithmetic logic unit and an imaging diagnostic device that can be connected to the latter for data purposes, and a data memory in which data describing anatomical structures including lymph nodes are stored. The arithmetic logic unit is set up programmatically in such a way to produce an automatic assignment between a lymph node recorded by way of the imaging diagnostic device and data describing the lymph node that are stored in the data memory. |
| US08111883B2 |
System and method for per-patient licensing of interventional imaging software
A method for implementing per-use licensing for image processing software includes acquiring image data from an image scanner. Processed image data is calculated from the image data using an image processing module. The processed image data is exported. The use of the image processing module is logged in an accounting database when the processed data are exported. Access to the accounting database is provided for account settlement. |
| US08111881B2 |
Image pickup device, face detection method, and computer-readable recording medium
An image pickup device can effectively detect a face in accordance with an object without causing a user to do bothersome setting. A speed preference mode and a person-number preference mode both having different detection conditions of a face region are prepared beforehand as face detection modes. The user is caused to select a desired face detection mode, and minimum values of a face size set as detectable in a face detection and a maximum number of face regions to be detected are set to values corresponding to the face detection mode selected by the user. In a case where an image-pickup preparation is set by pressing a shutter key halfway, when the face detection mode is the speed preference mode, the mode is forcibly changed to the person-number preference mode. |
| US08111875B2 |
Method of and apparatus for taking solid image and computer program for causing computer to execute the method
A solid image taking apparatus includes a plurality of image taking portions which obtain a plurality of images at each sight point by taking a plurality of images of objects from different sight points, a distance measuring portion which measures object distances which are distances to the objects from the plurality of image taking portions, and a classifying portion which classifies the objects included in the images into a plurality of groups according to the object distances and outputs the result of classification. |
| US08111872B2 |
Image maze generating system and method thereof
The present invention discloses an image maze generating system. The system is suitable for use with a digital camera to generate a maze of photographs. The system specially includes an image processing module and an image maze generating module. The image processing module assigns numbers to the photographs. And then the image maze generating module pieces the photographs together on a template which is attached to maze path information according to its numbers to generate the maze of photographs. |
| US08111868B2 |
Speaker device
A drive cone 11 and a diaphragm 14 are integrally driven by a voice coil 6 movably disposed in a magnetic gap 5. Peripheral edge portions of the drive cone 11 and the diaphragm 14 are supported by a frame 12 via different edge portions 13 and 15, respectively.The drive cone 11 is provided with a rising-up portion 11a which rises up toward an acoustic radiation direction from a inner circumferential end, and a rising-down portion 11b which rises down toward a direction reverse to the acoustic radiation direction. An inner circumferential edge of the diaphragm 14 is fixed at an annular top formed between the rising-up portion and the rising-down portion. Moreover, a first rib 11c and a second rib 11d are formed on the drive cone 11 in such a manner as to rise up toward the acoustic radiation direction integrally with the drive cone. The diaphragm 14 is supported also at the tips of the ribs. |
| US08111867B2 |
Electronic device with a speaker
An electronic device (100) having a speaker (30) located in a sealed and separate speaker enclosure is described. The electronic device includes a housing (20), a circuit board (70), a cover (60), and two connecting bodies (50). The housing includes a cavity (22) defined therein for receiving the speaker. The circuit board is electrically connected to the speaker. The cover has through holes (622) defined thereon and is disposed between the housing and the circuit board. In addition, one end of the connecting bodies connects to the speaker, and the other end of the connecting bodies is configured to resist the circuit board via the through holes to electrically connect the speaker and the circuit board. |
| US08111864B2 |
Earbud adapter
Adapters for use with sound devices and methods for making and using the same. In some embodiments, an example adapter may include an adapter body having a first side, a port or projection extending from the first side, and a second side. The second side is generally configured to be attachable to a sound device such as an earbud or earbud-type of headphone. The projection may include a sleeve attached thereto. The projection and sleeve are generally configured to at least in part extend into the ear canal of a user during use. |
| US08111860B2 |
Recreational bone conduction audio device, system
A waterproof recreational audio device and method that transmits sound via transcutaneous bone conduction provides high fidelity musical signals to a user. The device can be worn on the head of a user and integrated into various types of headgear. The device is tunable for sound quality and comfort by adjusting and moving the sound transmitting transducers around the head of the user. The present invention uses commercially available transducers to produce sounds in the low, mid and high frequency ranges. A sound source for the musical signal can also be provided as part of the waterproof recreational audio device. Controls enable the user to select volume levels for the high, mid and low frequency ranges, while a volume limiter restricts the mid range to a preset maximum volume level to allow external ambient sounds to be heard via the ear canal and protects the hearing of the user. |
| US08111858B2 |
Supra-aural headphone noise reducing
An earphone for a supra-aural noise reducing headphone, with a front cavity that includes a foam portion and an open passageway. The foam portion supplements the volumetric dimension of the passageway to improve passive attenuation. |
| US08111851B2 |
Hearing aid with adaptive start values for apparatus
Fine customization of a hearing aid to the individual hearing environments and habits of a user are to be simplified and improved. To this end, when the hearing aid is turned on or when the hearing aid is switched to a particular operating mode, neither the value most recently valid for the parameter prior to turning off or switching to a different operating mode nor the parameter value transferred to the hearing aid at the beginning of programming is set. Rather, from the changes to the value of the parameter taking place during operation of the hearing aid a new start value is ascertained and stored, which value is then set automatically after turning on or switching mode. |
| US08111849B2 |
Hearing aid
A hearing aid which achieves a comfortable feeling to use while preventing generation of howling includes a microphone for converting an environmental sound to an electric signal, a hearing aid processor for hearing aid processing of an output signal of the microphone, an earphone for converting an output signal of the hearing aid processor to a sound signal, an external ear canal microphone converting a sound within an external ear canal to an electric signal, and an adaptive filter for comparing an output signal of the external ear canal microphone and the output signal of the hearing aid processor to automatically adjust the output signal of the hearing aid processor in such a manner that the output signal of the external ear canal microphone approaches the output signal of the hearing aid processor. The output signal of the hearing aid processor functions as an input signal and a desired signal of the adaptive filter, and the output signal of the external ear canal microphone functions as a response signal of the adaptive filter. |
| US08111839B2 |
Always on headwear recording system
A system that records audio and stores the recording is provided. The system includes first and second monitoring assemblies mounted in an earpiece that occludes and forms an acoustic seal of an ear canal. The first monitoring assembly includes an ambient sound microphone (ASM) to monitor an ambient acoustic field and produce an ASM signal. The second monitoring assembly includes an ear canal microphone (ECM) to monitor an acoustic field within the ear canal and produce an ECM signal. The system also includes a data storage device configured to act as a circular buffer for continually storing at least one of the ECM signal or the ASM signal, a further data storage device and a record-activation system. The record-activation system activates the further data storage device to record a content of the data storage device. |
| US08111827B2 |
Cryptographic processing apparatus and cryptographic processing method
A cryptographic processing apparatus for performing arithmetic operation on an FL function and an FL−1 function in a cryptographic process includes a first arithmetic gate is configured to receive a first input bit string and a first extended key bit string, a first XOR gate configured to receive an output of the first arithmetic gate and a second input bit string, a second arithmetic gate configured to receive an output of the first XOR gate and a second extended key bit string, a second XOR gate configured to receive an output of the second arithmetic gate and the first input bit string, a third arithmetic gate configured to receive an output of the second XOR gate and the first extended key bit string, and a third XOR gate configured to receive an output of the third arithmetic gate and an output of the first XOR gate. |
| US08111825B2 |
Encryption apparatus and method therefor
A modified implementation of the Kasumi algorithm executes on a 32-bit processor using full 32-bit operations. The implementation comprises a series of four rounds, each round including an intermediate sub-function executed between two executions of an FL sub-function. The intermediate sub-function is functionally equivalent to two consecutive 16-bit FO sub-functions. |
| US08111823B2 |
Method, device and system for realizing universal personal number ring back tone service
A method for realizing the universal personal number ring back tone service comprises: determining the ring back tone played according to the called information, and determining the media resources for playing the ring back tone according to the calling information, the media resources information and the said ring back tone information; the said media resource plays the said ring back tone. The present invention also discloses a device and a system for realizing the universal personal number ring back tone service. On the basis of the present invention, UPT users are supported to assign the different ring back tone for each destination number, respectively, and the ring back tone information of each media resource is dynamically updated in accordance with the using situation of the ring back tone, therefore realizing that the UPT ring back tone service utilizes the network resources effectively. |
| US08111822B1 |
System and method for mapping a voice identity across multiple telephony networks with time attributes
A system and method for mapping a voice identity to a telephone number includes: one or more phone systems; at least one policy processor coupled to the one or more phone systems; and a voice identity mapping data structure accessible to the at least one policy processor. The voice identity mapping data structure includes: search voice identities transitively mapped to one or more target voice identities, where the voice identity matches a first search voice identity, the first search voice identity is mapped by the policy processor to a first target voice identity according to a first mapping policy, the first target voice identity matches a second search voice identity of a second mapping policy, the second search voice identity is mapped by the policy processor to a second target voice identity according to the second mapping policy, where the voice identity includes a non-phone number voice identity. |
| US08111820B2 |
Audio conference platform with dynamic speech detection threshold
The present invention comprises a method for audio/video conferencing. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises using a dynamic threshold value to determine whether there is speech on a line. One aspect, the method comprises determining a dynamic threshold value based on one or more characteristics of signals received on a port, associating that dynamic threshold value with the port; and comparing one or more characteristics of signals subsequently received on the port to the dynamic threshold value. Signals received over a plurality of ports are summed, but for ports whose signal characteristics have a specified relationship to the dynamic threshold value associated with that port, signals are not contained in the sum. |
| US08111805B2 |
Clutch and mammography device
A clutch with a first clutch disk and a second clutch disk is provided. The first clutch disk includes at least one cylindrical shaft, in which a sphere is mounted in a displaceable fashion in each instance so as to press against a spring. The second clutch disk, which, for each shaft of the first clutch disk, includes a recess for partially receiving a sphere. |
| US08111804B2 |
Graded resolution field of view CT scanner
A CT scanner comprising: a rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation: an X-ray source mounted to the rotor having a focal spot from which an X-ray beam emanates; an X-ray detector array comprising a plurality of X-ray detectors for detecting X-rays in the X-ray beam; wherein the detector array has at least one high resolution region in which detectors have a high packing density and at least one low resolution region in which detectors have a low packing density and are separated by X-ray insensitive regions substantially larger than insensitive regions resulting from septa between detectors that function to reduce detector cross talk. |
| US08111803B2 |
Method for energy sensitive computed tomography using checkerboard filtering
Methods for energy-sensitive computed tomography systems that use checkerboard filtering. A method of enhancing image analysis of projection data acquired using a detector configured with a checkerboard filter includes disposing in a system a detector to receive a transmitted beam of X-rays traversing through an object, where the system is configured so the detector receives both high- and one of total- and low-energy projection data; receiving the high- and one of total- and low-energy projection data at the detector; and then estimating an effective atomic number of the object and/or processing the projection data so as to mitigate reconstruction artifacts. The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiment(s), and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appended claims. |
| US08111802B2 |
Inspection, maintenance, repair, and operating methods for nuclear reactors
A method of inspecting, performing maintenance on, or repairing a nuclear reactor may include operatively connecting a fixing device, a first track, an arm including one or more second tracks, and an effector to form an apparatus; inserting the apparatus into the reactor; fixing the apparatus within the reactor; and operating the apparatus. At least one of the one or more second tracks may include at least three track sections. The arm may have a contracted length. The arm may have an expanded length. The expanded length may be greater than two times the contracted length. The first track may include one or more motors configured to move the arm relative to the first track. A method of operating a reactor may include shutting down; inspecting, performing maintenance on, or repairing the reactor; and starting up the reactor. |
| US08111800B2 |
Frequency ratio detection
A system and method are provided for determining a frequency ratio in a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit feedback path. The method accepts a reference signal having a predetermined first frequency and a PLL output signal having a non-predetermined second frequency. The reference signal cycles are counted, creating a first binary count. Likewise, the PLL output signal cycles are counted, creating a second binary count. The second binary count is sampled at an interval responsive to the first binary count, and a right-shifted second binary count is supplied as a ratio of the second frequency divided by the first frequency. More explicitly, the sampling is performed when a first binary count sampling threshold of 2n first frequency cycles is reached. Then, the radix point in the second binary count is shifted n number of radix places to the left. |
| US08111799B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for reducing power consumption at low to midrange resolution settings
A method for reducing power consumption in an information handling system (IHS) where the method includes receiving main data through a main link, wherein the main link provides at least one data lane. The IHS also receives a reference clock corresponding to the main data through an auxiliary channel and provides the reference clock to a first phase-lock loop, wherein the first phase-lock loop outputs a stream clock. |
| US08111797B2 |
Enhanced system and method for detecting the leading edge of a waveform
The present invention is an improved system and method for detecting the leading edge of a waveform. More specifically, the invention relates to detecting the leading edge of an ultra wideband waveform. The invention requires locking to the ultra wideband waveform at a lock reference time, and sampling the ultra wideband waveform during one or more time windows relative to the lock reference time to identify one or more leading edge candidate times based on one or more detection criterion. The ultra wideband signal is sampled at a band limited Nyquist rate that avoids aliasing within a band of interest of the ultra wideband waveform, but allows aliasing outside of the band of interest to minimize the number of samples for leading edge detection processing. |
| US08111795B2 |
Method and system for a multi-channel signal synchronizer
Certain aspects of a multi-channel signal synchronizer may comprise receiving a plurality of clock signals from a plurality of clock signal sources, wherein a portion of the received plurality of clock signals may be out of synchronization with a remaining portion of the received plurality of clock signals. A plurality of data signals may be received from a plurality of data signal sources, wherein a portion of the received plurality of data signals may be out of synchronization with a remaining portion of the received plurality of data signals. The received portion of plurality of clock signals and data signals may be synchronized to the received remaining portion of plurality of clock signals and data signals utilizing bit alignment and sample alignment. A plurality of synchronized output signals may be generated based on the synchronized received plurality of clock signals and synchronized received plurality of data signals. |
| US08111791B2 |
Differential evolution design of polyphase IIR decimation filters
A method for designing a digital filter, includes: (a) selecting a predetermined number of current sets of coefficients for the digital filter; (b) selecting a metric for evaluating coefficients of the digital filter; (c) computing a metric for each current set of coefficients; (d) deriving a next set of coefficients based on a subset of the current set of coefficients; (e) computing the metric for the next set of coefficients; (f) replacing a selected one of the current set of coefficients based on comparing the metric for the next set of coefficients with the metric for the selected current set of coefficients; and (g) iterating steps (a) to (e) until a termination criterion is met. In one embodiment, the selected metric represents a desired stop band response. The next set of coefficients may be derived by adjusting a first current set of coefficients by a weighted difference between a second current set of coefficients and a third current set of coefficients. The weighted difference may be obtained by multiplying a predetermined factor to the difference between the second current set of coefficients and the third current set of coefficients. In one embodiment, a scaling is performed such that the next set of coefficients does not include a pole outside of the unit circle. |
| US08111790B2 |
Mitigating interference in a coded communication system
A technique weights noise power used in a demodulation/demapping process using on an estimate of interference and its associated power. Using this technique the effect of partial interference can be ameliorated. For example, a value, σ2, can be used to represent the estimated noise and interference power, and σ2 can be used to modify a received signal to ameliorate the effects of noise and interference. σ2 can be adjusted in response to partial interference, and can be represented by the formula: σ2=σN2+q σI2, where σN2 is “noise power,” σI2 is “interference power,” and q is an interference correction factor. |
| US08111788B2 |
Apparatus for estimating and correcting baseband frequency error in a receiver
An apparatus for estimating and correcting baseband frequency error in a receiver is disclosed. An equalizer performs equalization on a sample data stream and generates filter tap values based on the equalization. An estimated frequency error signal is generated based on at least one of the filter tap values. A rotating phasor is generated based on the estimated frequency error signal. The rotating phasor signal is multiplied with the sample data stream to correct the frequency of the sample data stream. Alternatively, a channel estimator performs channel estimation and generates Rake receive finger weights based on at least one of the finger weights. An estimated frequency error signal is generated based on at least one of the finger weights. |
| US08111787B2 |
OFDM channel estimation method and apparatus
Smaller patterns of regularly-spaced pilot symbols are discerned from a larger pattern of irregularly-spaced pilot symbols transmitted in the time-frequency domain. Accordingly, the irregularly-spaced pilot symbols can be partitioned into at least two different groups of regularly-spaced pilot symbols in the time-frequency domain. Each group of regularly-spaced pilot symbols is individually processed with lower complexity and the results combined to generate an accurate time-frequency channel response estimate. According to an embodiment, a set of irregularly-spaced pilot symbols is transmitted over a time-frequency window. Channel response is estimated based on the pilot symbols by grouping the pilot symbols into subsets of regularly-spaced pilot symbols. An intermediate quantity is generated for each subset of regularly-spaced pilot symbols as a function of the pilot symbols included in the subset. The channel response is estimated over the time-frequency window as a function of the intermediate quantities. |
| US08111784B1 |
On-chip data signal eye monitoring circuitry and methods
Methods and apparatus for gathering information about the eye of a high-speed serial data signal include sampling each bit of a repeating, multi-bit data pattern at several eye slice locations. For any given eye slice location, each bit in the data pattern is compared in voltage to a base line reference signal voltage to establish a reference value for that bit. Then the reference signal voltage is gradually increased while the voltage comparisons are repeated until for some bit a result of the comparing is different than the reference value for that bit. This establishes an upper value for the eye at the eye slice location. The reference signal voltage is then gradually decreased to similarly find a lower value for that eye slice. |
| US08111778B2 |
Method for suppressing peak power of orthogonally multiplex signal, peak power suppressing circuit, and transmitter
To suppress the peak of the orthogonal multiplex transmission signal which is small in deterioration of the quality of the reception signal by generating the cancellation waveform in synchronization with the timing of the symbol of the transmission signal. There is provided a peak suppressing method that suppresses peaks of an orthogonally multiplexed signal whose orthogonality is ensured in given time units, the method comprising: a first step of detecting the peaks of the orthogonally multiplexed signal; a second step of generating a peak cancellation waveform based on the detected peaks of the orthogonally multiplexed signal; and a third step of removing the peak of the orthogonally multiplexed signal from the orthogonally multiplexed signal using the generated peak cancellation waveform. The second step comprises generating the peak cancellation waveform in said time units of the orthogonally multiplexed signal. |
| US08111775B2 |
Communication device adopted for multi-input multi-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system and method thereof
A communication device adopted for a multi-input multi-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM) system and a method thereof are provided. The MIMO-OFDM system comprises the communication device and a corresponding communication device, and they communicate with each other. The communication device comprises a transceiving module, a singular value decomposition (SVD) operation module, and an interpolation operation module. The transceiving module receives a channel state information (CSI) from the corresponding communication device, wherein the CSI comprises CSIs of a plurality of selected subcarriers. For each of the selected subcarriers, the SVD module performs an SVD decomposition operation on the channel matrix representing the CSI of the selected subcarrier to obtain a decomposed result, wherein the decomposed result comprises a beamforming matrix, an SVD matrix, and a decoding matrix. The interpolation operation module performs interpolations on the beamforming matrices of the selected subcarriers to derive beamforming matrices of the unselected subcarriers. The interpolation operation module performs interpolations on the decoding matrixes of the selected subcarriers to derive obtain decoding matrices of the unselected subcarriers. |
| US08111774B2 |
Method for transmitting/receiving signal in MIMO system
Disclosed is a method for transmitting a signal in a mobile communications system using a plurality of transmit/receive antennas. A method for transmitting a signal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: a receiving end's calculating a signal to interference noise ratio (SINR) with respect to every antenna pairs configuring STTD pairs to be transmittable from a transmitting end; feedbacking information indicating an antenna pair having the greatest SINR to the transmitting end; and the transmitting end's performing a D-STTD transmission through the antenna pair determined by the feedbacked information. A method for transmitting a signal in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: a receiving end's feedbacking information of an antenna pair and/or an eigenvector (weight vector) of a channel matrix with respect to transmit antennas included in the space-time multiplexing (STTD) pair to a transmitting end; and the transmitting end's forming beam by multiplying a symbol with respect to each STTD pair by the eigenvector, and thereafter transmitting the beam through each transmit antenna (in case of using two antennas) or a transmit antenna pair (in case of using more than four antennas) determined by the information of the antenna pair. |
| US08111773B2 |
Transmission method for multiple antenna system
A transmission method for a multiple antenna system including a first device having M (>1) transmitting antennas and a second device having N (>1) receiving antennas is disclosed. The method includes determining whether there is a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission scheme satisfying a condition that it consumes less energy than a single-input single-output (SISO) transmission scheme to transmit a frame at a given transmission power, among one or more MIMO transmission schemes available to the first device and the second device, the one or more MIMO transmission schemes being determined by the numbers of activated transmitting and receiving antennas, and MIMO code; determining a transmission mode as a MIMO mode when there is the at least one MIMO transmission scheme satisfying the condition, and otherwise determining the transmission mode as a SISO mode; and performing frame transmission from the first device to the second device in the determined transmission mode. Thus, frame transmission with power saving can be performed. |
| US08111772B2 |
Method and apparatus for multi-antenna transmitting based on spatial-frequency encoding
The present disclosure relates to communication technologies and discloses a method and apparatus for multi-antenna transmitting based on spatial-frequency encoding. The method includes: performing spatial-frequency encoding on input data and outputting encoded data; mapping the encoded data to the same sub-carrier of each antenna in an antenna group; adding a phase shift to the encoded data on different sub-carriers of each antenna; OFDM-modulating the phase-shifted encoded data on each antenna; and transmitting the OFDM-modulated data by transmit antennas. |
| US08111771B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and method using beamforming
A wireless transmitting method includes calculating a beamforming channel matrix which is a channel matrix generated at a time when a transmitting apparatus applies a beamforming matrix to a data signal and transmits the data signal to receiving apparatuses, selecting a parameter to be used while transmitting the data signal based on the beamforming channel matrix and noise information fed back from the receiving apparatuses, and transmitting the data signal by using the selected parameter. |
| US08111768B2 |
Digital broadcast transmitter/receiver having an improved receiving performance and signal processing method thereof
A digital broadcast transmitting/receiving system, and a signal processing method thereof, includes a randomizer for randomizing a transport stream into a specified position of which stuff bytes are inserted, a stuff-byte exchanger for replacing the stuff bytes included in data output from the randomizer with specified known data, an RS encoder for performing an RS-encoding of data output from the stuff-byte exchanger, an interleaver for interleaving data output from the RS encoder, a trellis encoder for performing a trellis encoding of data output from the interleaver, an RS parity generator for generating a parity by performing an RS encoding of data output from the RS encoder, and outputting the generated parity to the trellis encoder, and a modulator/RF converter for modulating data output from the trellis encoder and performing an RF up-converting of the modulated data. The digital broadcast receiving performance can be improved even in an inferior multi-path channel by detecting the known data from the received signal and using the known data for synchronization and equalization in a digital broadcast receiver. |
| US08111764B2 |
Method for transmitting channel quality information
There is provided a method for transmitting channel quality information in a wireless communication system. Over-all band of the wireless communication system is divided by a plurality of sub-bands. The method includes selecting a first sub-band having the highest CQI among the plurality of sub-bands, transmitting CQI of the first sub-band and transmitting CQI of a second sub-band, the second sub-band having the CQI lower than the first sub-band, wherein the number of CQI levels of the second sub-band is less than that of CQI levels of the first sub-band. Overheads incurred by CQI feedback can be reduced. |
| US08111757B2 |
Method and apparatus for video signal processing
A first video signal processor (103) receives a first encoded video signal from which a video unit (201) generates a second encoded video signal, where the second encoded video signal is a reduced data rate version of the first encoded video signal. An error encoder (203) generates error redundancy data for the second encoded video signal and a multiplexer (207) generates output video data comprising the first encoded video signal and the error correcting data but not comprising the second encoded video signal. A second video processor (105) receives the output video data and a video unit (303) regenerates the second video signal from the first video signal. An error unit (305) detects errors for at least a first segment of the second video signal in response to the error redundancy data. A combiner (307) then generates combined video data by combining corresponding segments of the first encoded video signal and the second encoded video signal. |
| US08111755B2 |
Method and system for low-complexity Slepian-Wolf rate estimation in Wyner-Ziv video encoding
A method and system for low-complexity Slepian-Wolf rate estimator in a hybrid Wyner-Ziv video encoder determines the minimum Slepian-Wolf code rate required to allow correct decoding. The Slepian-Wolf estimator does not assume ideality of source and side-information statistics and does not require the presence of a feedback channel from the decoder to the encoder in order to determine the correct Slepian-Wolf coding rate. Instead, it adapts to the statistical properties of the video steam. The Slepian-Wolf estimator provides very efficient compression performance while avoiding Slepian-Wolf decoding failures. |
| US08111747B2 |
Picture coding method, picture decoding method, picture coding apparatus, picture decoding apparatus, and program thereof
A picture coding method of the present invention codes a picture signal and a ratio of a number of luminance pixels and a number of chrominance pixels for the picture signal, and then one coding method out of at least two coding methods is selected depending on the ratio. Next, data related to a picture size is coded in accordance with the selected coding method. The data related to the picture size indicates a size of the picture corresponding to the picture signal or an output area, which is a pixel area to be outputted in decoding in a whole pixel area coded in the picture signal coding. |
| US08111745B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding video signal according to directional intra-residual prediction
A method and apparatus for encoding and decoding a video signal according to directional intra-residual prediction. The video encoding method of the present invention includes calculating first residual data by performing directional intra-prediction on a first block of a base layer with reference to a second block of the base layer, calculating second residual data by performing directional intra-prediction on a third block of an enhancement layer that corresponds to the first block of the base layer with reference to a fourth block of the enhancement layer that corresponds to the second block of the base layer, and encoding the third block according to the directional intra-residual prediction by obtaining third residual data that is a difference between the first residual data and the second residual data. |
| US08111742B2 |
Data processing method, equalizer, receiver, communication system, network element, and terminal using simplified channel matrix inversion
The invention is related to a communication terminal, comprising: means (618) for creating at least one channel matrix assuming predetermined interfering signals as a part of a desired signal; means (618) for dividing the at least one channel matrix into multiple sub-matrices; means (618) for diagonalizing the sub-matrices by using a transformation matrix; means (618) for forming at least one block-diagonalized matrix using diagonalized sub-matrices; means (618) for inverting the at least one block-diagonalized matrix; and means (618) for generating channel equalizer coefficients by using at least one inverted block-diagonalized matrix. |
| US08111736B2 |
Rapid acquisition methods and apparatus for GPS signals
A method and apparatus for receiving a signal from transmitters such as GPS satellites, for fixing the location of the receiver. Each of the transmitted signals includes a unique periodically-repeating sequence. A received signal is stored by the receiver for at least two repetitions of the periodically-repeating sequence. FFT operations are performed, and the resulting data frequency samples are pruned responsive to a hypothesized residual frequency, a procedure which significantly reduces the total number of subsequent calculations and therefore significantly reduces processing time. A correlation series is determined from the pruned samples and reference frequency samples corresponding to a hypothesized transmitter. If a match is found in the examination of this series, a code phase offset is determined; if not the process is repeated with another hypothesized residual frequency. Multiple correlation series similarly obtained may also be incoherently combined prior to this examination. The apparatus and method disclosed herein is particularly useful for combined position location and communication systems, especially those that are unsynchronized, such as assisted GPS (“A-GPS”) utilized on GSM and UMTS cellular telephone systems. |
| US08111735B2 |
GNSS data/pilot correlator and code generator thereof
A correlator for a GNSS receiver and a code generator used in the correlator as well as a correlation method are disclosed. In the GNSS, each satellite transmits a data signal and a pilot signal. The correlator is adaptable for executing correlation to the data signal, the pilot signal and various combinations thereof, such as non-coherent and coherent combinations. The code generator generates primary ranging codes of the data and pilot signals as well as various combinations thereof, such as sum or difference of the primary ranging codes of the data and pilot signals. By using the various codes, the correlator is adaptable and flexible for different correlation requirements. |
| US08111731B2 |
Block scrambling for orthogonal frequency division multiple access
A method of transmitting signals in a communication system over at least two time periods including generating a base signal comprising of at least two samples in each time period, selecting a scrambling sequence of length equal to or greater than the number of time periods, scaling all samples in said signal in a time period with one element of said scrambling sequence and transmitting the scaled signal in said time period. Different elements of the scrambling sequence are used to scale the base signal in different time periods. The signal in each time period is obtained by scaling a base signal. The scrambling sequence is preferably a pseudo-random sequence. The step of scaling all samples in said signal in a time period consists of multiplying all samples of said signal with an element of said scrambling sequence. |
| US08111730B2 |
3D optoelectronic packaging
An optoelectronic (OE) package or system and method for fabrication is disclosed which includes a silicon layer with a wiring layer. The silicon layer has an optical via for allowing light to pass therethrough. An optical coupling layer is bonded to the silicon layer, and the optical coupling layer includes a plurality of microlenses for focusing and or collimating the light through the optical via. One or more first OE elements are coupled to the silicon layer and electrically communicating with the wiring. At least one of the first OE elements positioned in optical alignment with the optical via for receiving the light. A second OE element embedded within the wiring layer. A carrier may be interposed between electrical interconnect elements and positioned between the wiring layer and a circuit board. |