| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08113421B2 |
Dedicated self-service return terminal and method of operating a dedicated self-service return terminal for receiving returned media on which entertainment data is stored
A dedicated self-service return terminal is provided for receiving returned media on which entertainment data is stored. The dedicated self-service return terminal comprises a reader arranged to read data associated with returned media on which entertainment data is stored, a media transporter mechanism having a media return slot for receiving returned media, a shutter mechanism having a shutter door movable between an open position which allows returned media to be inserted through the media return slot and a closed position which blocks the media return slot and prevents returned media from being inserted through the media return slot, and a controller arranged to (i) move the shutter door to the open position to allow returned media to be inserted through the media return slot when a determination is made that returned media is being returned to the correct location based upon data read from returned media, and (ii) maintain the shutter door in the closed position to prevent returned media from being inserted through the media return slot when a determination is made that returned media is not being returned to the correct location based upon data read from returned media. |
| US08113419B2 |
Processing device for value documents
An apparatus for processing documents of value having a checking device for checking documents of value in a processing area, an intermediate repository arranged in an intermediate area for intermediately storing documents of value, a transport device for transporting the documents of value to the intermediate repository, a final storage device for storing documents of value from the intermediate repository, an intermediate-area housing enclosing the intermediate area having a first opening that receives documents of value coming from the checking device, a second opening, through which the documents of value are transportable from the intermediate repository into the final storage area, and an intermediate-area housing element which can be moved back and forth between an open position, which allows access to the intermediate repository, and a close position, which prevents access to the intermediate-area housing, and a locking device for locking the intermediate-area housing element in the close position. |
| US08113416B2 |
Hermetically sealed paperboard container with enhanced barrier performance
A hermetically sealed paperboard container including a container body component including upper and lower ends, the body component being formed from a blank including a paperboard layer having first and second major sides, a first sealant layer on the first major side, a barrier layer on the second major side, and a second sealant layer on the barrier layer, wherein the blank includes first and second longitudinal ends, the first longitudinal end being skived to a predetermined thickness for a predetermined width, the skived portion being folded over onto the blank and heat-sealed to the first sealant layer to form a folded first longitudinal end, and wherein the body component includes an overlapped seam including the folded first longitudinal end positioned inside the second longitudinal end, a bottom component sealed to the lower end; and a lid component hermetically sealed to the upper end. |
| US08113414B2 |
Method of brazing an aluminum alloy material and method of producing an aluminum alloy heat exchanger
A method of brazing an aluminum alloy material, which is a Nocolok brazing method of the aluminum alloy material, in which the method satisfies the condition: Ts≦Tf≦Ts+15° C. in which Tf represents an incipient fluidization temperature of a filler material, and Ts represents an incipient fluidization temperature of flux. |
| US08113406B2 |
Surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staple sizes
A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge. |
| US08113405B2 |
Surgical instrument with indicator
A surgical stapling instrument including a handle assembly, an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly, a head portion and an indicator. A firing trigger is movable between first and second positions. The head portion includes an anvil assembly and a shell assembly. The anvil assembly is movable in relation to the shell assembly between spaced and approximated positions. The indicator is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the handle assembly and is movable between a first position and a second position in response to movement of the anvil assembly towards its approximated position. The indicator is movable between the second position and a third position in response to firing of the instrument. |
| US08113401B2 |
Apparatus for cutting liquid crystal display panel
An apparatus for cutting liquid crystal display panels is disclosed in the present invention. The apparatus includes at least one table receiving bonded mother substrates having a plurality of unit liquid crystal display panels, at least one cutting wheel forming a scribing line on a surface of the bonded mother substrates, and a suction unit coupled to the at least one cutting wheel and sucking in glass debris on the surface of the bonded mother substrates. |
| US08113397B2 |
Load stop for supporting a load on a load carrier
A load stop (1) for supporting a load being transported on a load carrier arranged on a vehicle. The load carrier includes at least one load carrying tube (2) with at least one groove (6) for fastening the load stop on the load carrying tube. The load stop includes an essentially rigid bracket (9) intended to be supportingly arranged adjacent the load. A fastening portion (11) is also provided for mounting the load stop to the load carrying tube. The bracket (9) is pivoted in at the fastening portion (11), wherein the load stop (1) is foldable between at least a raised working position and a folded transporting position. |
| US08113392B2 |
Lower neck indicator for wire hook hangers
A lower neck sizer for a garment hanger and a combination of a turnable wire hook hanger and the lower neck sizer are disclosed. The sizer has a body dimensioned to surround a lower neck portion of the hanger, where a hook of the hanger joins a body of the hanger. The sizer also has an inwardly extending tab secured to the sizer body for engaging the hanger at the lower neck portion to resist removal. |
| US08113390B2 |
Gas generation dispenser apparatus and method for on-demand fluid delivery
An on-demand fluid dispenser to dispense fluid in response to gas generation by a gas cell. The on-demand fluid dispenser includes an expandable gas chamber, a fluid chamber, and an on-demand gas cell. The expandable gas chamber includes a moveable plunger forming a wall of the expandable gas chamber. The moveable plunger also forms a wall of the fluid chamber. The on-demand gas cell is configured to generate the gas on demand. The on-demand gas cell is also configured to direct the gas to the expandable gas chamber to expand the expandable gas chamber. Expansion of the expandable gas chamber moves the moveable plunger to reduce a volume of the fluid chamber and to dispense an amount of fluid from the fluid chamber. |
| US08113389B2 |
Anti drip fluid dispenser
The present invention provides a dispenser for dispensing a fluid which has an anti-drip feature. To achieve this anti-drip feature, the dispenser is provided with a suck back mechanism which is separate and independent from a pump in the dispenser. The suck back mechanism uses a resilient member capable of storing fluid. |
| US08113387B2 |
Water dispenser for a kitchen wall partition
A water dispenser is adapted to be disposed in a kitchen wall partition that is formed with an opening and that has a sink unit disposed thereon. The water dispenser includes a housing retained in the opening, a pipe unit disposed in the housing to fluidly communicate with the sink unit, a heating unit disposed in the housing for boiling and storing water from the pipe unit, a face panel, and a control unit. The face panel is retained detachably on the housing, and has a hot water supply pipe extending from the heating unit into a dispensing cavity, and a drain unit connected to the sink unit. The control unit includes a heating circuit for controlling heating operation of the heating unit, a first valve for controlling water flow into the heating unit, and a second valve for controlling water flow through the hot water supply pipe. |
| US08113386B2 |
Device and method for on-demand dispensing of spoonable or drinkable food products having visual appearance of multi-components
A dispensing system and method for the on-demand dispensing of spoonable or drinkable food products into a container. Single servings or larger portions of these products can be dispensed. The system and method achieve dispensing of the product with a visual differentiation of the components in the container. The container may be translucent or transparent so that the consumer can view the visually differentiated product therein. The products form yet another embodiment of the invention. |
| US08113381B2 |
Pet waste bags dispenser
A pet waste bags dispenser provided for dispensing animal waste bags, having a collapsible container, a dispenser cavity cover and a dispensing means, wherein the dispensing means allows waste bags placed within the waste bags dispenser to be dispensed to a user easily and conveniently. The collapsible waste bags dispenser is made of a collapsible material, such that the dispenser is easy to store, light in weight, simple to manufacture, and has the flexibility to contain different amounts of waste bags within the collapsible container, wherein rolls of or individually wrapped waste bags are allowed to be dispensed. The collapsible waste bags dispenser further has external connecting means for connecting the waste bags dispenser to a foreign object, so as to facilitate the user to easily obtain a waste bag from the dispenser. |
| US08113380B2 |
Ergonomic serving tray
An ergonomic serving tray with a unique design, which allows the user to lift, carry, and set down said ergonomic serving tray with a single hand, without tilting the ergonomic serving tray, comprising an ergonomic serving tray 100 equipped with at least one leg 106 that elevates the tray, allowing the user to easily insert a single hand under the ergonomic serving tray and lift it, and which is further equipped with a unique grip 108 that is ergonomically shaped to comfortably increase both the user's lifting capacity and the user's control over the ergonomic serving tray, said grip being located substantially adjacent to the center of gravity, to facilitate lifting, balancing, and carrying of the ergonomic serving tray. |
| US08113376B2 |
Static electricity discharge tank cap
A tank cap includes: a synthetic-resin cap body (20) mounted on a fuel supply port cylinder (18) of a conductive fuel tank, (T); a conductive cap shell (22) coupled to an upper part of the cap body (20); and a gasket (23) provided in the cap body (20) and in close contact with a sealing surface (18a) of the fuel supply port cylinder (18). The cap body (20) and the cap shell (22) are linked to be mutually rotatable. A ratchet mechanism (35) is mounted between the cap shell (22) and the cap body (20). An elastic contact piece (38) elastically and slidably contacting an inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical peripheral wall (22a) of the cap shell (22) is integrally projectingly provided on an outer periphery of the gasket (23). Thus, it is possible to cause static electricity carried by an operator to escape to a fuel tank through the gasket. |
| US08113375B2 |
Easily openable can lid having a movable portion
A can lid of a can provided with an easily openable opening means is disclosed wherein the can lid is equipped with a can lid which is fastened by winding tightly on the can main body and the top end opening of the can main body, a score section installed around the territory of the prearranged opening area and a tab for severing the score section. In the can lid, there is formed a protrusion protruding upward from the can lid in front of the can opening during manufacturing of the can lid, in which it is a collapsing protrusion where the protrusion elastically deforms into the can main body by depressing motion of the user and thereby enables forming of a concave section for easy insertion of the user's finger. |
| US08113374B2 |
Closure for container having removable portion and sealing membrane
A closure for a container includes a base having an aperture therethrough, a membrane attached to the bottom of the base and adapted to be attached to the container to seal the opening, a pull tab positioned within the aperture and connected to the base around at least a portion of an inner periphery of the aperture by a frangible portion, and a cap connected to the base by a hinge. The base is adapted to be connected to the container such that the aperture is positioned over the opening. The pull tab is connected to the membrane, so that when a user pulls on the pull tab, the frangible portion breaks to allow removal of the pull tab to open the aperture, and removal of the pull tab causes the portion of the membrane to tear away to unseal the opening of the container. The cap is pivotable about the hinge between an open position and a closed position. |
| US08113372B2 |
Collapsible storage container
A collapsible cargo container is disclosed wherein end walls are pivoted into the container when empty and locked against the roof, and then side walls buckle via hinges into a folded configuration. The folded configuration is achieved easily with a modified spreader without the need to otherwise disassemble or deconstruct the container, leaving no loose parts or tools. The cargo container preferably constructed with an improved light weight panel that facilitates loading of the container while improving strength and reducing weight. |
| US08113366B2 |
Child resistant container closure package with multiple twist and turn configuration
A maze type package that includes a cylindrical container member that has a plurality of mazes thereon is disclosed. The package includes a coaxial closure member that employs studs for engaging the mazes and to releasably secure the closure to the container. |
| US08113363B2 |
Adjusting mechanism for a winch
An arrangement includes a winch that is preferably used for hoisting loads as well as an adjusting mechanism for the winch. In the assembled state, the winch is mounted on a crane boom so as to be movable by a limited degree between an operating position and a transported position by means of the adjusting mechanism. The adjusting mechanism is equipped with at least one linear drive unit which cooperates with a lever gear to adjust the winch. |
| US08113352B1 |
Storage frame for tool rack packages
A storage frame for tool rack packages has two side walls and a middle wall arranged between the side walls. Each side wall has two side bars and a side board connecting the side bars. Each side bar has multiple side mounts respectively corresponding to the side mounts of the other side bar. Each side mount has two side tabs and a side gap defined between the side tabs. The middle wall has two middle bars and a middle board connecting the middle bars. Each middle bar has multiple middle mounts respectively mounted on two side surfaces of the middle bar and respectively corresponding to the middle mounts of the other middle bar and respectively corresponding to the side mounts of the side bars. Each middle mount has two middle tabs and a middle gap defined between the middle tabs. |
| US08113349B2 |
Sharps dispensing and disposal system
A sharps dispensing and disposal system includes a sharps dispensing container and a sharps disposal container within the sharps dispensing container. In one embodiment, the sharps disposal container is mounted at least partially within the sharps dispensing container, with a chamber surrounding at least a portion of the sharps disposal container. In another embodiment, a sharps dispensing and disposal system includes a sharps disposal container having an inner wall and an inlet for depositing used sharps into the sharps disposal container. The sharps dispensing container includes an outer wall that surrounds at least a portion of the sharps disposal container and forms a buffer zone. In another embodiment, a sharps dispensing and disposal system includes at least one elastic support member that elastically suspends a sharps disposal container in the interior of a sharps dispensing container. A cover detachably couples the sharps disposal container with the sharps dispensing container. |
| US08113345B2 |
Media packaging
A compact disk package, printable on a single paper board blank. The printed package is foldable into at least three sections, namely a front section, a back section connected to the front section along a common, foldable side edge and a CD-holding section attached to the top edge of the back section by a foldable flap. The CD-holding section according to one aspect of the invention is generally square shaped, with a width greater than the diameter of the CD. Two curved slits are cut into the CD-holding section, the arc of the slits corresponding to the curvature of the CD. |
| US08113340B1 |
Modular conveyer belt
A modular member for a conveyer belt is provided that includes an elongated main base, at least one attaching rod and a plurality of hooks. The at least one attaching rod is coupled proximate a first side of the main base. The plurality of aligned hooks are coupled proximate a second side of the main base. Each hook includes a slot defined by an inner surface. The slot of each hook is configured to receive an attaching rod of another modular member. The inner surface that defines the slot of at least one hook has an attaching rod relief cutout section. The attaching rod relief cutout section limits wear between the attaching rod of another modular member that is received in the slot of the at least one hook and the inner surface of the slot of the at least one hook. |
| US08113338B2 |
Wear-resistant, continuous, flexible transfer belt
A continuous, flexible transfer belt is disclosed. The transfer belt may be used in a transfer system for a progressive press, and is particularly suited for the transfer of easy open can ends. The transfer belt includes at least one lane that extends along an axis of the belt. The at least one lane has a plurality of openings therein that are configured to receive an easy open end. The transfer belt includes a flexible material and has a wear resistant layer that includes a wear resistant material. The wear resistant layer is disposed proximate an upper surface of the belt and extends outwardly from the opening, wherein the wear resistant layer underlies an outer rim of the easy-open end. |
| US08113337B2 |
Apparatus and method for separating flat objects by use of two separators and a length detector
An apparatus and a method separate flat objects, including flat mail items. The apparatus has a first and a second separator. Each separator extends a plurality of overlapping objects in a direction parallel to the object planes. The second separator has a transport element and a retaining element. The second separator can be operated optionally in a separating mode, in which it is capable of separating objects, and a transport mode. An overlap detection device checks whether an item which is transported by the second separator contains a single object or a plurality of overlapping objects. The overlap detection device measures the respective length of the transported item at at least two instants. If the length changes, the item contains a plurality of overlapping objects. If a plurality of objects has been detected, the second separator is switched over into the separating mode and it separates the objects. |
| US08113331B2 |
Rotating materials handling chute
A chute for directing materials from a source conveyor to a plurality of discharge conveyors, the chute comprising an upper chute section having a central vertical axis; a chute body movable between a raised position and a lowered position and rotationally connected below the upper chute section by rotation means for rotating the chute body about the central vertical axis between at least two selected rotational positions; and a plurality of lower chute sections, each lower chute section reversibly connectable at an upper end to a lower end of the chute body at one of the selected rotational positions, and at a lower end to a conveyor. |
| US08113320B2 |
Fire evacuation support system and fire door control device
Provided, on each floor of a building, are an elevator installation zone, in which an elevator is installed, a neighboring zone which neighbors the elevator installation zone, and is in communication with the elevator installation zone through a first communication port, and an external zone which is in communication with the neighboring zone through a second communication port different from the first communication port. The first communication port is opened and closed by a first fire door, and the second communication port is opened and closed by a second fire door. A fire evacuation support system manages an operation of the elevator based on information from a plurality of fire detectors provided on each floor when a fire occurs in the building. Further, the fire evacuation support system includes an evacuation operation command section in which implementation of an evacuation operation for transporting a person left in the building to an evacuation floor is allowed for the elevator when contamination due to the fire is avoided in both the elevator installation zone and the neighboring zone, and in which the implementation of the evacuation operation is stopped when at least anyone of the elevator installation zone and the neighboring zone is contaminated due to the fire. |
| US08113318B2 |
Elevator machine with integrated brake surface
An elevator machine (10) includes a machine shaft (14, 14′) and a sheave (26) that rotates with the machine shaft (14, 14′). A motor (12) selectively rotates the machine shaft (14, 14′). A brake (30) having at least one brake armature (36) selectively moves a brake rotor (28) coupled for rotation with the shaft (14, 14′) between a braking position and a released position. The brake rotor (28) selectively contacts a braking surface (44) formed directly on a housing (20, 22, 84, 90) to resist rotation of the machine shaft (14, 14′). |
| US08113317B2 |
Electric motor driven lubrication pump control system and method that accomodates turbomachine windmill operation
A system and method are provided to selectively control lubricant supply flow to one or more rotating machines in an aircraft when the rotating machines are windmilling. A controller determines if the rotating machines are windmilling. When the rotating machines are windmilling, the controller at least selectively energizes an electric motor driven lubrication pump, to thereby supply lubricant to the windmilling turbomachine. |
| US08113313B2 |
Pipe assembly with scoop for directing fluid into a standpipe and for mitigating acoustic and vortex coupled resonance
A piping assembly for directing fluid and mitigating acoustic and vortex coupled resonance is provided that includes a main pipe delivering fluid in a first direction; a standpipe coupled to the main pipe at an intersection; and a scoop positioned at the intersection directing the fluid towards the standpipe. A scooping insert and a method for disrupting vortex shedding in a piping assembly are also provided. |
| US08113309B2 |
Method for operating a drivetrain
A method for operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle. The drivetrain includes at least a hybrid drive with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, a clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, and a transmission arranged between the hybrid drive and a drive output. When the vehicle is at rest, the clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor is filled at least with filling pressure and then, when the vehicle is started, if the starting torque desired by the driver is above a limit value, the internal combustion engine is immediately turned over and started up by the electric motor, whereas, when starting, if the starting torque desired by the driver is below the limit value, then on starting, the internal combustion engine is not turned over by the electric motor. |
| US08113308B2 |
Integrated electric motor differential for hybrid electric vehicles
An electro-mechanical drive train for a hybrid electric vehicle. The electro-mechanical drive train includes a housing and a pinion shaft having a first end disposed within the housing and a second end in communication with a combustion engine. A differential is disposed within the housing and in combination with the end of the pinion shaft. An electric motor is also disposed within the housing and in actuating combination with the pinion shaft. |
| US08113303B2 |
Modified cutters and a method of drilling with modified cutters
A cutter for a fixed cutter drill bit including a substrate and an ultrahard material layer disposed on an end surface of the substrate, the ultra hard material layer having an upper surface opposite the substrate end surface and a peripheral surface such that the upper surface intersects the peripheral surface along a peripheral edge. The peripheral edge continuously increases and decreases in height as measured from a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cutter. |
| US08113301B2 |
Jetted underreamer assembly
An underreamer for earth boring operations has a tubular body with a passage extending through it. Arms are pivotally mounted to the body and movable between retracted and extended positions. An actuator mandrel, located within the passage in the body, pushes the arms outward when drilling fluid is pumped downward in the drill string. Ports are located in the sidewall of the body and in the actuator mandrel. The ports align with each other when the mandrel moves to its downstream position. The ports divert a portion of the drilling fluid out to jet it across the cutting elements on the arms. The remaining portion of the drilling fluid passes downward to the drill bit and out nozzles of the drill bit. |
| US08113300B2 |
Impact excavation system and method using a drill bit with junk slots
A method and system for excavating a subterranean formation including pumping a fluid through a nozzle such that an exit velocity of the fluid is greater than an entrance velocity of the fluid. A plurality of solid material impactors may be circulated with the fluid through the nozzle. A substantial portion by weight of the solid material impactors has a mean diameter of approximately 0.100 inches or less. The substantial portion by weight of solid material impactors exit the nozzle, contact the formation and rebound into a junk slot. |
| US08113299B2 |
Drill mast articulation assembly
A jib assembly for use with a drill rig includes a jib boom having a first end and a second end. The jib boom is to rotate about the first end and the second end is configured to be coupled to a mast assembly mount. The jib assembly also includes an articulation assembly having at least one variable length link having a first end and a second end. The first end of the variable length link is offset from the jib boom and the second end is configured to be pivotingly coupled to the mast assembly mount. |
| US08113296B2 |
Anti-rotation device for an impact tool
An anti-rotation device resists relative rotation between a shank and a tool head within which the shank is supported in an impact tool, for example a rivet gun. The anti-rotation device includes a first anchor portion arranged to grip the shank between the mounting end and the working end of the shank and a second anchor portion arranged to grip the tool head in which the first and second anchor portions are formed integrally with one another of resilient material. |
| US08113295B2 |
Conservation tillage implement, system and method
A conservation tillage implement having three or more rows of individual coulter wheel assemblies laterally spaced apart and removably mounted on a cultivator frame, a coulter wheel assembly in a given row being staggered with respect to the coulter wheel assemblies in a longitudinally adjacent row. The coulter wheel assemblies may be laterally adjustable and may be mounted to the cultivator frame using a mounting means that permits rotation about a vertical axis. The coulter wheel assemblies may comprise a coil spring having a horizontal spring axis to permit upward deflection in response to impact with an obstacle. Leveling attachments may optionally be mounted to the cultivator frame, along with additional field working tools. The implement is used in the management of crop residue as part of a minimum tillage strategy. The implement is particularly resistant to plugging and can be operated at high speeds without undue damage upon impact with obstacles. Advantageously, the implement can be operated in standing water, as found in the growing of rice. |
| US08113289B2 |
Flow regulator for downhole progressing cavity motor
A system for regulating the flow of fluid through a progressing cavity motor includes an annulus restriction (22) for restricting flow through the annulus passageway, and an annular biasing member (24) for biasing the annular restriction toward a closed position. Fluid flow in the annulus passageway creates an opening force on the annulus restriction. A central restriction (28) within the motor provides a restricted flow through the motor. A central biasing member (26) biases the central restriction toward an open position, with fluid flow in a central passageway exerting a closing force on the central restriction. |
| US08113288B2 |
System and method for optimizing production in gas-lift wells
The system and method are utilized to control the flow of crude oil, natural gas, and field produced salt water to optimize production from an oil or gas well. The invention is suitable for use with a well that utilizes gas-lift as artificial lift. The equipment is designed to regulate the flow of injection gas into the production tubing to optimize production of the well. |
| US08113286B2 |
Downhole barrier valve
A ball type downhole barrier valve capable of bidirectional sealing features a ball rotating on its axis to open or close with control line pressure to an actuating rod piston assembly. The ball is also shiftable to a locked open position. A cage surrounds the ball and retains opposed seats to it. The cage is made from one piece and tangential holes are drilled and tapped before the piece is longitudinally split with a wire EDM cutting technique. Fasteners to rejoin the cut halves properly space them to the original one piece internal dimension. Auxiliary tools allow determination of spacing of internal components so that a desired spring preload on the seats against the ball can be achieved. Seals on the sleeves that form ball seats help prevent leakage due to ball distortion at high differential pressures when the valve is closed. |
| US08113285B2 |
Agitated wellbore cleaning tool and method
A wellbore cleaning assembly is run into a wellbore to be cleaned on a work string. The cleaning assembly comprises a number of cleaning elements for cleaning a wall of the wellbore; and an oscillator coupled to the at least one cleaning element by a force transmission element, for generating an axial oscillating movement of the at least one cleaning element relative to the work string. |
| US08113284B2 |
Use of distributed temperature sensors during wellbore treatments
The invention relates to a method for treating subterranean formation comprising providing distributed temperature sensors, injecting a treatment fluid and monitoring the temperature across the treatment interval during the injection process. |
| US08113281B2 |
Method and apparatus for in situ extraction of bitumen or very heavy oil
A method to extract bitumen or very heavy oil in situ from oil sand seams close to the Earth's surface is provided. Energy is introduced via at least two pipes at a given, repeatable distance from the seam, a predefined geometry is maintained in relation to the well pair. The associated apparatus includes at least one additional pipe which is alternatively designed as an electrode or also for feeding vapor and is placed above the injection pipe. |
| US08113278B2 |
System and method for enhanced oil recovery using an in-situ seismic energy generator
Disclosed is a system and method for enhanced oil recovery using at least one in-situ seismic energy generator for generating seismic acoustic waves. More particularly the system and method employ a downhole electro-hydraulic seismic pressure wave source to enhance the recovery of oil from reservoirs. |
| US08113276B2 |
Downhole apparatus with packer cup and slip
A downhole apparatus and for use in a well bore and associated method are disclosed. The downhole apparatus includes a center mandrel. A slip means is disposed on the mandrel. The slip means can include teeth or the like for grippingly engaging the well bore when in a set position. A packer cup is also disposed on the mandrel. The packer cup is provided for sealing an annulus between the mandrel and the well bore. The packer cup is slidable relative to the mandrel, and can be controlled to slide along the mandrel in order to move the slip to the set position. Also disclosed is a downhole assembly that includes a downhole tool and a setting apparatus. The setting apparatus can be used for lowering the downhole apparatus to a desired setting depth and then releasing the downhole apparatus. |
| US08113272B2 |
Three-phase heaters with common overburden sections for heating subsurface formations
A heating system for a subsurface formation is described. The heating system includes three substantially u-shaped heaters with first end portions of the heaters being electrically coupled to a single, three-phase wye transformer and second end portions of the heaters being electrically coupled to each other and/or to ground. The three heaters may enter the formation through a first common wellbore and exit the formation through a second common wellbore so that the magnetic fields of the three heaters at least partially cancel out in the common wellbores. |
| US08113271B2 |
Cutting tool for cutting a downhole tubular
The tubular cutting tool for severing downhole tubulars, the tool having a drive system, a pivoting system, a cutting head, a cutting member, and a lubricant delivery system. Cutting may be accomplished by rotatingly actuating the cutting head with an associated motor and extending the cutting member away from the cutting head. The lubricant delivery system lubricates the respective contacting surfaces of the cutting member and the tubular and is actuated when the cutting member extends from the cutting head. |
| US08113267B2 |
Twin-roll casting machine
Provided is a twin-roll casting machine capable of suppressing irregularities in crosswise thickness distribution of a strip. The twin-roll casting machine comprises chilled rolls, side weirs, and nozzle pieces. A plurality of openings for supply of molten metal to between the chilled rolls are formed alternately on portions of each of the nozzle pieces adjacent to the one and the other rolls, respectively, and are spaced apart from each other axially of the rolls. |
| US08113264B2 |
Tensioned roller shade system having a conical, grooved spool
A tensioned roller shade system for installation in an opening, such as a window or a skylight, comprises a frame, a roller tube rotatably mounted between side channels of the frame adjacent a first end of the frame, a conical, grooved spool mounted adjacent the roller tube, and a shade fabric is windingly received around the roller tube. A tensioning cord is operatively coupled between the spool and a fabric end of the shade fabric. The spool has a single groove, which wraps around the spool and windingly receives about the tensioning cord. A pulley is operatively coupled to the frame adjacent a second frame end and windingly receives the tensioning cord. The tensioning cord is adapted to bias the second fabric end toward the second frame end, such that the second fabric end of the shade fabric is adapted to move between the first and second frame ends as the roller tube is rotated. |
| US08113262B2 |
Accessory for wand for window treatment blinds
An accessory wand handle for use on existing control wands. An elongated handle with a bore is fitted over the end of an existing wand for blinds. The handle is secured on the existing wand by a frictional fit between the outside surface of the existing wand and the inner surface of the bore in the accessory wand handle. The wand handle is larger than a wand to provide a mechanical advantage for users to turn the wand. The wand handle itself can be constructed to compliment the appearance of the wand. There is sufficient space between the wand and the walls of the bore for placement of decorative items. The handle itself may be decorated or inscribed with logo or other promotional materials. |
| US08113260B2 |
Articulation device for awning arm elbow
An articulation device for an awning arm elbow includes a forearm elbow part defining a fork between the branches of which a core configured around an axis is supported. A flexible tie rod is coupled to the core and is connected to an elastic member. An arm elbow part defines a surrounding wall around the core. Bearings act to guide relative rotation between the forearm and arm elbow parts and to support the forearm on the arm. The bearings include at least one bearing unit which includes a first annular element fixed to the forearm elbow part and a second annular element fixed to the arm elbow part. These first and second annular elements include respective facing surfaces which cooperate in the functions of the bearings. |
| US08113257B2 |
Method and device for the multi-lane application of labels
A method and device for the multi-lane and multi-row application of labels on articles such as packages or the like, which are guided in parallel lanes, in which the labels are dispensed from a backing film by a label dispenser, taken up by a conveyor belt, which is guided transversely over the lanes and transferred by a transfer device from the conveyor belt onto the articles. The labels are transferred in consecutive rows from the conveyor belt to a section of a transfer belt which extends transversely to the conveyor belt over and beyond the lanes, until a set with a specified number of label rows on this transfer belt section is completed and the transfer belt, during an advance of the lanes, is driven to dispense the set of label rows onto the articles. |
| US08113247B2 |
Bottom fillable bottles and systems for charging the same
A valve assembly for charging/recharging containers and the like, from a bottom surface thereof is provided. The valve assembly includes a dispenser manifold including a nipple extending from an upper surface thereof and defining a lumen through the nipple; a fitting extending from a bottom surface of the dispenser manifold, the fitting defining an opening therethrough which is in fluid communication with the lumen of the nipple; and a plunger reciprocally disposed within the lumen of the nipple and within the opening of the fitting, wherein the plunger has a first position in which the lumen of the nipple is occluded and a second position in which the lumen of the nipple is not occluded. |
| US08113244B2 |
Adhesive and peripheral systems and methods for medical devices
Fill stations and base stations are provided for personal pump systems. The fill stations may be opened and closed to accept a reservoir and to allow fluid to be introduced into the reservoir for use with personal pump systems. The fill stations may hold the reservoir at a tilt relative to an underlying surface and may discourage overfilling of the reservoir. The filling stations may also include viewing windows having fluid lines marked thereon for indicating volume of fluid within the reservoir. |
| US08113243B2 |
Apparatus and methods for filament crimping and manufacturing
Apparatus and methods for filament crimping. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a body and a filament crimp element. The filament crimp element comprises a first set of cavities disposed at a spacing which creates a first set of features and a second set of cavities disposed at a spacing which creates a second set of features. The first and second set cavities are substantially opposite one another. The first set of features are adapted to be placed at least partially within the second set of cavities and the second set of features are adapted to be placed at least partially within the first set of cavities. Methods and apparatus for the manufacture of the device are also disclosed. In addition, methods for automated placement and manufacture of assemblies using the crimp elements are also disclosed. |
| US08113235B2 |
Apparatus and methods for facilitating prosthesis donning, doffing, retention, and fit
Apparatus and methods for improved prosthesis donning, doffing, retention, and fit. A valve located in a prosthetic socket port includes a body, a core, a spring located partially within the core, a diaphragm, and a maintained operator. The operator includes a recess and a protrusion. The operator may be indexed to a displacement or vent position. When the operator is indexed to the displacement position, a tip of the core is pressed against the recess via the spring, and the diaphragm displaces any air that enters into the prosthetic socket when a load is applied to the residual limb. When the operator is laterally actuated, it is indexed to the vent position and the core tip moves from the recess to the protrusion. In this position, the diaphragm opens the socket cavity to the external atmosphere via valve vents, thereby facilitating prosthesis donning and doffing. |
| US08113234B2 |
Stem-mounted tire inflation pressure regulator
The specification discloses a tire inflation pressure regulator facilitating precise tire inflation. The regulator includes a body, a two-position valve within the body, and a rotational lock. The body includes an air inlet, an air outlet, and an air vent. In one position, the valve directs air from the air inlet to the air outlet when the tire pressure is below a preset level; and, in a second position, the valve directs air from the air inlet to the air vent when the tire pressure exceeds the preset level to prevent overfilling. The valve moves rapidly between the two positions, and is unstable between the two positions. The valve includes a regulator enabling the preset level to be adjusted. The rotational lock enables the regulator to be screwed onto a tire stem, but prevents removal of the regulator from the tire stem without a key. The regulator preferably includes a cap removably sealed over the air inlet and the air vent to prevent the undesired loss of air. |
| US08113233B2 |
Hydraulic circuit of option device for excavator
A hydraulic circuit of an option device for an excavator is disclosed, which can constantly supply hydraulic fluid to an option device, such as a breaker and so on, selectively mounted on the excavator, irrespective of the size of a load occurring when the option device operates, and control respective flow rates required for various kinds of option devices. The hydraulic circuit includes a variable hydraulic pump, an option device, a first spool shifted to control hydraulic fluid fed to the option device, a poppet and a piston, an option spool shifted to control hydraulic fluid fed to the option device via the first spool, a second spool shifted to control hydraulic fluid fed to a back pressure chamber of the poppet, and a control means installed in the poppet and controlling hydraulic fluid passing through an orifice of the poppet when the piston and the poppet are pressed by the hydraulic fluid fed from the hydraulic pump, through the shifting of the second spool. |
| US08113232B1 |
Flood prevention system and associated method
A water flow control system for regulating water traveling through an existing water supply line preferably includes a housing connected to an existing water line. A user interface may be coupled thereto and remotely attached. A mechanism may automatically prevent water from flowing through the housing upon detection of a triggering event. A controller may be situated within the housing along with motion sensors. A rotatable fan may be situated within the housing along with a plurality of tracks, triggers, and resilient spring members anchored to the triggers and tracks respectively. The rotation speed of the fan may be commensurate with the real-time water flow rate of the water flowing through the housing. A control logic algorithm operates to close a restrictor valve if the water flow rate exceeds limits set by the user interface. A manually-actuated lever may also be attached to open or close the restrictor valve. |
| US08113231B2 |
Device for controlling water level
Disclosed herein is a water level controlling device for intercepting the supply of water to the water reservoir of a water purification system. The water level controlling device includes a water reservoir having a plurality of diaphragms which are provided on the lower surface of the water reservoir in such a way as to move up and down. A flow body is mounted to the lower surface of the water reservoir and defines a water circulation path, with a plurality of control parts provided in the circulation path to block the flow of water by the corresponding diaphragms. A plurality of floaters moves up and down in the water reservoir according to the water level. An actuator moves each of the diaphragms to the corresponding control part as each of the floaters rises, thus intercepting the flow of water passing through the control part. |
| US08113222B2 |
Dishwasher with driven spray arm for upper rack
An automatic dishwasher having a tub defining a wash chamber for receiving utensils to be washed, a first rack located within the wash chamber, a second rack located within the wash chamber above the first rack, a rotatable spray arm associated with the second rack, a liquid recirculation system for selectively supplying liquid to the rotatable spray arm, and a drive system for driving the rotatable spray arm. |
| US08113221B2 |
Substrate cleaning method, substrate cleaning apparatus and computer readable recording medium
After a rinse process on a wafer W is performed by feeding pure water to the surface of the wafer W at a predetermined flow rate while rotating the wafer W in an approximately horizontal state, a feed amount of the pure water to the wafer W is reduced, and a pure-water feed point is moved outward from the center of the wafer W. In this manner, the wafer W is subjected to a spin dry process while forming a liquid film in a substantially outer region of the pure-water feed point. |
| US08113215B2 |
Smoking article filter having liquid additive containing tubes therein
Provided are filters including at least one impervious additive containing tube. A barrier, such as a liquid barrier, seals each end of the tube so as to contain additives, such as a liquid additive, within the additive containing tube. The one or more additive containing tubes are inserted into filters for smoking articles. Drawing action during a puff causes breach of the barrier and release of the additive into the surrounding filter material. |
| US08113214B2 |
Apparatus for conditioning of organic materials
Apparatus for conditioning of organic materials including an inlet gate, an outlet gate, a conditioning chamber having a set of nozzles for supplying thermodynamic medium, and an immobilizing device. The set of nozzles and the immobilizing device are arranged in relation to each other such that thermodynamic medium flowing through the set of nozzles places organic material in the immobilizing means and flows over conditioned organic material placed in the immobilizing means. |
| US08113213B2 |
Lighted portable safety ashtray
An article of manufacture is disclosed, a lighted portable safety ashtray, comprising: at least one hollow outer body of a suitable height, width and depth, and; at least one hollow inner body of a suitable height, width and depth, smaller than and inserted into the hollow outer body, and; at least one removable receptacle top disposed on the inner hollow body and outer hollow body further comprising an opening in the receptacle top, and; at least one light source, and; at least one power supply, and; at least one electrical circuit in communication with the light source and the power supply, and; at least one electrical switch to open or close the electrical circuit in communication with the light source and the power supply. Optional timer and electroluminescence light source is also disclosed. |
| US08113210B2 |
Medical tube and system for locating the same in a body using passive integrated transponders
A medical tube has one or more permanent passive integrated transponders associated therewith that are capable of being located by a detection apparatus which senses the electromagnetic field strength gradient generated by each passive integrated transponder associated with the medical tube and indicates the value of the gradient to the user. In one embodiment, the passive integrated transponder is associated with the distal end of an endotracheal medical tube in a fixed orientation with an electromagnetic field pointing at a preferred angle of no more than 15 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the medical tube. The passive integrated transponder's static electromagnetic field is sensed by the detection apparatus and indicates the location of the distal end of the medical tube within a body. |
| US08113209B2 |
Sub-dermal laser skin treatment
A method and system for skin tightening comprises a hollow cannula that contains an optical fiber connected to a laser source. The cannula is inserted subcutaneously into a patient so that the end of the fiber is located within the tissue underlying the dermis. The source emits an output pulse that is conveyed by the fiber to the dermis, where the pulse causes collagen destruction and shrinkage within the treatment area. Radiation from the skin surface is detected to prevent non-reversible damage to the dermis, such as skin necrosis and excessive collagen melting. This method of sub-cutaneous laser treatment can also be used to treat striae, or stretch marks. |
| US08113207B2 |
Self-conforming sound attenuation earplug
A self-conforming sound attenuation earplug for location in an ear canal. The earplug includes a stem. At least one support is joined with the stem and located between the stem ear end and the stem user end, and extends radially outward from the stem. A shell is made of a deformable-resilient shell material and has a tapered exterior that increases in circumference when moving from the stem ear end to the stem user end. The shell engages at least a portion of the support and engages at least a portion of the stem located between the stem ear end and the stem user end. At least a portion of the support is free from contact with the shell and the support material is a different type of material than the shell material. |
| US08113202B2 |
Cushion inside a cushion patient interface
A patient interface device including a cushion assembly having a cushion-in-a-cushion arrangement and a system for supplying a flow of gas to a patient using such an interface device. The patient interface includes a mask shell having a patient side and an outer side opposite the patient side adapted for receiving a supply of gas. A seal cushion contacts a first area of a patient's face to form a seal therewith. A support cushion is disposed outside the seal cushion and includes a first end portion that contacts a second area of a patient's face. |
| US08113201B2 |
Collapse resistant respirator
A respirator including a collapse-resistant means for resisting collapse of the respirator main body due to respiration of a user during use of such a respirator is disclosed. Specifically, in various embodiments, the collapse-resisting means may be a deflection member, a stiffening material, fastening components configured to apply an outward-facing deflection force when the respirator is worn, or any combination thereof. Additionally, a dual exhalation vent assembly adapted for use in a collapse resisting respirator is also disclosed. |
| US08113195B2 |
Bringing a multi-component jet into the visual field of a user
A device for supplying a multi-component jet into the visual field of a user, wherein the device has a line, an outlet opening and a transport unit. An oxygen-containing component and a water-containing component can be supplied to the line. The transport unit can be used to transport a mixture consisting of the oxygen-containing component and the water-containing component through the line to the outlet opening, so that the mixture streams out of the outlet opening directly toward the visual field of the user. |
| US08113189B2 |
Compressed gas gun having gas governor
A paintball marker has an inline cylinder that includes a gas governor that reduces gas flow from a compressed gas source to a valve area when the bolt is in a firing position; this increases efficiency in the marker because only the required air is used to fire the paintball. This bolt operates independent of the valve pin, which increases cycle speed and enables the governor to open and close at an optimum time in the firing cycle. Further, when the bolt/piston is recocking, the gap between the valve pin and governor valve pin enables low pressure gas driving the piston to start pressurizing the cylinder and driving the piston rearwards without resistance from the high pressure gas. The marker also allows a user to remove the inline cylinder without tools, and provides a convenient carrying handle for holding the paintball marker, which is commonly called a “snatch grip.” |
| US08113187B2 |
Delay compensation systems and methods
A steady-state (SS) delay module determines a SS delay period for SS operating conditions based on an air per cylinder. A dynamic compensation module determines a predicted delay period based on first and second dynamic compensation variables for dynamic operating conditions, the SS delay period, a previous predicted delay period. The first dynamic compensation variable corresponds to a period between a first time when fuel is provided for a cylinder of an engine and a second time when exhaust gas resulting from combustion of the fuel and air is expelled from the cylinder. The SS and predicted delay periods correspond to a period between the first time and a third time when the exhaust gas reaches an exhaust gas oxygen sensor located upstream of a catalyst. A final equivalence ratio module adjusts fuel provided to the cylinder after the third time based on the predicted delay period. |
| US08113186B2 |
Multifuel internal combustion engine
A multifuel internal combustion engine in which single low boiling point component fuel and at least one kind of fuel having properties different from those of the single low boiling point component fuel are introduced into a combustion chamber CC separately or together thereby operating the multifuel internal combustion engine, includes lubricant-oil temperature detecting unit means (temperature sensor 91) that detects a temperature of lubricant oil, or lubricant-oil temperature estimating unit means that estimates the temperature, and purge control unit means (electronic control unit 1) that prohibits purge control by an evaporation gas purge apparatus (evaporation gas passage 42, check valve 43, canister 44, on-off valve 45) or reduces a purge flow rate of evaporation gas in the purge control, when the detected or estimated temperature of the lubricant oil is near a boiling point temperature of the single low boiling point component fuel at which it is necessary to reduce a fuel injection amount from a fuel injection valve to a predetermined amount or less to adjust an air/fuel ratio of the combustion chamber to a target air/fuel ratio. |
| US08113179B1 |
Programmable diesel fuel injector
An apparatus for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a solid magnetostrictive material with a favored direction of magnetostrictive response formed into a shape with ends that are substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the favored direction of magnetostrictive response. A fuel control valve element is located coaxial to the favored direction of magnetoelastic response of the magnetostrictive material, the element opening inwardly. A solenoid coil is located concentric with the magnetostrictive material and coaxial to the favored direction of magnetoelastic response, the solenoid coil adapted to excite the magnetostrictive material into mechanical motion. An excitation signal is provided within the solenoid coil consisting of a main current signal with a superposed alternating signal approximately the width of a hysteresis loop of the solid magnetostrictive material. Finally, a magnetic return path circuit in magnetic communication with the solid magnetostrictive material is provided. |
| US08113178B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling quantity of fuel over common rail diesel engine
An apparatus for controlling the quantity of fuel over a common rail diesel engine includes a wave speed correction map correcting a wave speed and a time corrector, a first adder multiplying the corrected wave speed by an injection time difference, a base correction map using an output of the first adder and a former injection quantity as input variables, an amplitude map using a following injection quantity and a rail pressure as input variables, and a second adder multiplying a base correction map value of the base correction map by an amplitude map value of the amplitude map, and outputting a finally corrected value of the fuel quantity. |
| US08113171B2 |
Engine intake system
An engine intake system is provided that includes a sensor unit (16) formed by mounting a throttle sensor (18) and a negative pressure sensor (20) on a sensor housing (17) mounted on a mounting face (15) on one side of a throttle body (1), and a negative pressure transmission path (35) providing communication between an intake path (2) and the negative pressure sensor (20) is formed in a crank shape from a first passage (35a) having one end opening on a peripheral face of an upper half of the intake path (2) in proximity to a horizontal plane (H) containing the axis of the intake path (2), a groove-shaped second passage (35b) formed between mating faces of the throttle body (1) and the sensor housing (17) so as to extend while bending upward from the other end of the first passage (35a) at substantially right angles, and a third passage (35c) formed in the throttle body (1) so as to extend from the upper end of the second passage (35b) in a direction opposite to the first passage (35a) and reach the negative pressure sensor (20). It is thus possible to prevent fuel, foreign matter such as carbon, or blow-back gas from entering the negative pressure sensor via the negative pressure transmission path. |
| US08113170B2 |
Method for idle speed control
A method is disclosed for controlling engine output in a vehicle having a hydraulic power steering system. The method may include, during an idle condition where an engine speed is set to an idle speed, adjusting engine output based on a learned absolute steering wheel angle to compensate for changes in engine load caused by operation of the hydraulic power steering system. The learned absolute steering wheel angle may be based on a steering wheel angle relative to a steering wheel position at vehicle startup and operating conditions from previous vehicle operation before the vehicle startup. |
| US08113169B2 |
Device for controlling heating of a throttle valve of an internal combustion engine
In an embodiment, conductance of electricity to a heating element (4) for heating a throttle valve (2) of an automobile engine and a peripheral section thereof is performed only during a period wherein this heating can be performed effectively. Specifically, a controller (53) receives an output signal from an air flow sensor (54), and when a quantity of intake air is equal to or less than a predetermined “intake air quantity criterion for heating”, conduction of electricity to the heating element (4) is carried out. Conversely, when the quantity of intake air is greater than this “intake air quantity criterion for heating”, conduction of electricity to the heating element 4 is prohibited. |
| US08113168B2 |
Engine unit and vehicle including the same
An engine unit includes a V-type engine and a throttle body assembly. The throttle body assembly has front and rear throttle bodies, an actuator and a second rotational shaft. The front throttle bodies include front throttle valves that open and close front cylinders. The rear throttle bodies include rear throttle valves that open and close rear cylinders. The actuator is disposed, in a longitudinal direction, between center axes of the front cylinders and center axes of the rear cylinders. A shaft center of the second rotational shaft is located to the front of or to the rear of a shaft center of a first rotational shaft. |
| US08113166B2 |
Auto choke device for an engine
An auto choke device for an engine includes a choke valve for varying the opening of an intake passage of the engine, and a starter motor for starting the engine. Upon activation of the starter motor, the choke valve starts valve opening motion from a fully closed position. The choke valve continues the valve opening motion at a certain valve opening speed until it achieves a start opening set based on the temperature of the engine. |
| US08113163B2 |
Concentric camshaft and method of assembly
A camshaft may include a first shaft, a stop member, and a first lobe member. The first shaft may include an outer radial surface having a first recess extending radially therein. The stop member may be axially fixed within the first recess. The first lobe member may define an inner bore located on the outer radial surface of the first shaft. The first lobe member may include a second recess extending radially into the inner bore. The stop member may extend into the second recess to axially locate the first lobe member on the first shaft. |
| US08113161B2 |
Multi-cam electric valve mechanism for engine
A multi-cam electric valve mechanism for engine is disclosed, which comprises: a motor fixed on a cylinder; a motor shaft wherein one side of it connected to the motor and rotated accordingly and the other side of it symmetrically provided with a plurality of rotors whose shafts are perpendicular to the motor shaft; a ring-shaped cam with a plurality of wave-shaped grooves on the circumference thereof corresponding to the rotors and for setting same; a rotation-stopping lever connected to the cylinder and cam respectively to let the cam linearly move along with it; and a valve lever wherein one side of it connected to the cam and the other side of it connected to a valve. |
| US08113156B2 |
Energy recovery system for an added motion system
A hydraulic circuit is disclosed. The hydraulic circuit includes an actuating mechanism having an engine valve and an engine valve spring, an added motion valve system having a cam system, a valve in fluid communication with the actuator mechanism, and a dump valve and at least one check valve in fluid communication with the valve to allow a recovery of energy stored in an engine valve spring during closing movement of the engine valve associated with the added motion system. A method for controlling a hydraulic circuit is also disclosed. |
| US08113153B2 |
Return temperature stabilizer assembly
A return temperature stabilizer assembly or metering means is provided for a boiler that facilitates the mixing of cooler, inlet return fluid with the heated fluid within the boiler chamber whereby the temperature striations within the boiler chamber are reduced or eliminated, and wherein the temperature stabilizer assembly is modular in design, and therefore capable of easily accommodating boilers of differing sizes. |
| US08113146B2 |
Animal waste pad holder
A device for holding animal waste pads having raised peripheral sidewalls surrounding a base for containing a waste pad, and sidewall extensions attachable to the sidewalls to contain and direct an animal to an appropriate position in the use of the animal waste pads. |
| US08113136B2 |
Convertible seat assembly for a watercraft
A watercraft has a deck connected to a hull, the deck having a wall, and a reboarding platform connected to at least one of the hull and the deck. The watercraft has a convertible seat assembly wherein a first panel is connected to the wall, and a second panel is movably connected to at least one of the wall, the reboarding platform and the first panel. The convertible seat assembly has a first configuration wherein the second panel is disposed on a reboarding platform side of the wall, and a second configuration wherein the first panel forms a generally vertical seat back and the second panel forms a generally horizontal seat bottom. A convertible seat assembly for a watercraft is also disclosed. |
| US08113130B2 |
Folding assembly and foldaway table
A folding mechanism for a folding table is described. The folding table includes a table top, a supporting portion and a leg portion with two legs and a fixing rod mounted between the two legs. The two legs form a rotatable connection with the table top. The supporting portion includes a supporting rod and a locking member. The locking member has a U-shaped sheet and a locking element disposed in the supporting rod. The U-shaped sheet includes a central vertical sheet and two side vertical sheets. The central vertical sheet and the two side vertical sheets are fixed to the fixing rod. The central vertical sheet has a sliding opening for accommodating the supporting rod so that the supporting rod rotates relative to the sliding opening during sliding. One end of the supporting rod is rotatably connected to a lower surface of the table top. The other end passes through the sliding opening. When the folding mechanism is in a locked position, the locking element in the supporting rod engages the two side vertical sheets of the U-shaped sheet fixed to the fixing rod. |
| US08113129B1 |
Pallet system
Pallet systems are described that can be formed of corrugated paperboard without the necessity of any attachment materials such adhesives, staples, or the like. Individual stringers of a pallet matrix are interwoven together, with stringer notches interlocking with notches of crossing stringers from both above and below any one stringer. Systems can be easily and quickly assembled and, should the need arise, can be quickly repaired, for instance by replacement of one or more individual runners. Systems can also exhibit extremely high strength, and can withstand greater than about 20,000 pounds of static compression at less than about ⅜ inch deflection. |
| US08113127B2 |
Cleaning tray
A cleaning tray for the improved cleaning of surfaces is provided. The tray is releasably engagable with a plurality of different shaped horizontal surfaces, and allows the horizontal surface to overhang at least a portion of a collecting portion, with detritus easily swept from the horizontal surface into the collecting portion, and then into a waste container. |
| US08113122B2 |
Trestle support apparatus
A trestle support apparatus for use with a model track assembly is provided. The model track assembly includes track sections and trestles of a first configuration and separate track sections and trestles of a second configuration. The trestle support apparatus includes an elongated base including an elongated channel dimensioned to releasably receive and support a trestle of a first configuration. First and second stanchions are releasably mounted to the base. |
| US08113117B2 |
Energetic material initiation device
An initiator that includes a header body, an insulating spacer, an initiator, a plurality of terminals and a plurality of contacts. The insulating spacer is coupled to the header body. The initiator forms at least a portion of an exploding foil initiator and includes a plurality of electric interfaces. The initiator is secured to a side of the insulating spacer opposite the header body. The terminals extend through the header body. The contacts electrically couple the electric interfaces to the terminals. |
| US08113115B2 |
Liquid transfer member pressing force adjusting method and apparatus of rotary stencil printing plate liquid coating machine
A rotary screen printing press includes, a rotary screen cylinder which supports a screen printing form and is supported rotatably; an impression cylinder which is provided to oppose the rotary screen cylinder, and is supported rotatably; and a squeegee which is located within the rotary screen cylinder and, during printing, contacts an inner peripheral surface of the screen printing form, while being pressed against it, to transfer ink stored within the rotary screen cylinder to a material to be printed, which is held on the impression cylinder, via holes of the screen printing form. The printing press has a squeegee throw-on and throw-off control device which controls the pressing force of the squeegee acting on the inner peripheral surface of the screen printing form during printing in accordance with the type and thickness of the material to be printed. |
| US08113113B2 |
Discharged bale control device and control method
A baler for making large cylindrical bales is equipped with a device for controlling the placement of a bale after it is discharged. The bale control device is coupled to fixed forward side wall sections of the baling chamber and is selectively operated such that front and rear bale control members of the device are respectively located behind and forward of a space into which a completed bale may be discharged. Thereafter, the bale control members are moved to the rear in to a location wherein the front bale control member holds the discharged bale to the rear of a path traced by the discharge gate when it swings between a raised discharge position and a lowered baling position. The rear bale control member engages a discharged bale so as to halt the rolling inertia imparted to the bale during discharge, the front and rear bale control members thus cooperating for locating the bale at rest. Once the bale is at rest, the rear bale control member is moved to a bale-clearing position wherein the rear bale control member may move forwardly relative to the bale without coming into contact with the bale. |
| US08113110B2 |
Square baler for simultaneously forming multiple bales
A square baler includes a crop feed duct defining a pre-compression chamber which is curved upwardly and rearwardly from an open forward end and an inlet located across the bottom of a baling chamber. A pair of vertical partitions extend between top and bottom walls of the pre-compression chamber and divide it into three equal sized channels. Respectively located in fore-and-aft alignment with front edges of the pair of partitions is a pair of stationary knives forming part of a crop cutter arrangement including a pre-cutter rotor carrying two pairs of blades, with one of each pair cooperating with one of the stationary knives to cut incoming crop into three segments which are respectively moved into the three channels by a packer arrangement. Once the crop in the pre-compression chamber attains a preselected density, a stuffer arrangement is actuated to lift separate charges of crop from the three channels and force them into the baling chamber where they are compressed into three separate, side-by-side flakes by the baler plunger. When sufficient charges have been compressed to form three bales having a desired thickness in one embodiment, or a desired length in another embodiment, two lengths of twine are tied about each of the three bales. |
| US08113109B2 |
Machine for heat exchange with a product
The present invention relates to a machine for heat exchange with a product including a vat, with a first end, a second end and an outer surface, for containing the product to be treated, a shaft, at least one element for heating or cooling a product and for being coupled in the shaft and at least one scraper blade. The machine for heat exchange with a product additionally includes a plurality of separators configured to be coupled in the shaft, at least one separator being located between two contiguous elements. Between two contiguous elements there may be located inner scraper blades anchored in structures fixed to the shaft of the machine at their ends, which in their rotation movement will scrape the outer surfaces of the elements and separators. Additionally, outer scraper blades may be arranged between the structures and the vat to scrape the inner surface of said vat. |
| US08113108B2 |
Method and device for storing, treating and dispensing items of food by means of supports
The invention relates to a device for storing, treating and dispensing items of food, especially baked products, which device comprises at least two sections (2, 3). The inventive device is characterized by a plurality of supports (12) for receiving the items of food (9, 10) and a transport device (17, 20, 21, 22) that configures a closed transport cycle of the supports (12) between the sections (2, 3). |
| US08113104B2 |
Ceramic components with diamond coating for armor applications
An improved ceramic armor system comprising a ceramic component and a diamond powder based slurry bonded to a strike surface of the ceramic component, the diamond powder based slurry including a diamond powder and a base selected from the group consisting of a silicate and a phosphate base. |
| US08113103B2 |
Trigger apparatus for use with firearms
Trigger apparatus for use with firearms are described herein. An example electronic trigger apparatus described herein includes a first actuation drive to move an actuation member between an initial position and an operating position at which the actuating member is to activate a trigger lever of the firearm to discharge the firearm. A clutch is movable between a first position to operatively couple the first actuation drive to the actuation member and a second position to releasably couple the first actuation drive from the actuation member. A second actuation drive is operatively coupled to the actuation member and biases the actuation member to the initial position when the first actuation drive is releasably coupled from the actuating member via the clutch. |
| US08113102B2 |
Programming process for the fuse of a projectile and programming device enabling the implementation of such process
The invention relates to a programming process and device for a fuse of a projectile using a programming coil transmitting by induction a programming signal to reception means integral with the fuse. This process is characterized in that the programming signal is transmitted from at least one second programming coil that is separate from the first one, each coil being linked individually to electronic control means and the two coils being arranged so as to be able to lie in proximity to the fuse of the projectile when the latter passes in the feed means of the weapon, the coils being arranged such that the projectile fuse passes successively in front of each coil, particularly adapted to the programming of medium caliber projectiles. |
| US08113100B1 |
Wood cutting band saw blade
A wood cutting band saw blade includes a cutting edge and a back edge, wherein the cutting edge is defined by a plurality of teeth spaced relative to each other. The plurality of teeth include a plurality of set teeth each having a tip, each defining a bend plane, and each including a shelf located at least partially between the tip and the bend plane for reducing saw dust passing to the kerf and accumulating on the band saw blade. Each of the set teeth may define a relief surface and a cutting surface where the relief surface extends from one side of the tip in a direction opposite that of the movement of the band saw blade and the cutting surface extends from another side of the tip. The shelf includes a shelf surface extending from the cutting surface and may terminate in a shelf tip. |
| US08113098B1 |
Automated shingle milling system
Saw mill for machine vision detection of undesirable features in the wood in shingles being cut from billets and automated optimized saw operation are disclosed. The saw mill includes a transport system that carries the billet through a butt-trimming saw, past a machine vision station, into an transition station for changing direction of travel of the billet and aligning the billet for travel into the subsequent gang rip saw station. The machine vision station determines any defects in the billet, grades the billet according to order-specific parameters, determines the optimal saw cut to maximize the value of the shingle, and sends control data to the gang rip saw controller, to position the saw blades for the optimal saw cut(s) for the shingle. A sorting system receives instructions from the visual imaging system and automatically shunts the product coming from the gang rip saw station into the appropriate container. |
| US08113097B2 |
Protective device
A protective device for use with table-top circular saws that operate a tool designed as a rotating, disk-shaped sawing tool includes at least one actuator unit and at least one protective unit. The at least one actuator unit moves the protective unit into a protective position on the tool. |
| US08113092B2 |
Push-type ratchet wrench
A push-type ratchet wrench may be easily operated. At least one end of a handle has a head, in which a driving body for rotating a workpiece and an engaging block capable of selectively switching the rotation direction of the driving body are provided. Also, a control member for actuating the engaging block is provided on the head. The control member includes a base disposed in the head, and an actuating block pivotally mounted on the base. The actuating block has an actuating sheet passing through the base and extending toward the engaging block. A clamping slot is formed at a location corresponding to the engaging block so that the actuating sheet can be clamped by the engaging block, and the user can press the actuating block leftward/rightward to achieve the object of switching and to prevent the conventional problems of easily breaking and uneasily actuating. |
| US08113088B2 |
Torque proportioning differential
A differential gear mechanism including a gear case having a body defining a gear chamber having a pair of opposed openings with a pair of output gears rotatably supported in the gear chamber adjacent to the openings. At least one of the output gears has a hub with a tapered portion facing an adjacent opening. At least one of the openings includes an inner chamfer portion that corresponds to an adjacent tapered portion. The gear case and gear set cooperate to move the output gear such that the tapered portion is disposed in frictional, torque translating engagement with a chamfered portion to bias torque translated through the differential to the output shafts under predetermined conditions. |
| US08113086B2 |
Parking brake with separate pedal pivot
A park brake includes a brake lever that is movable about a primary and secondary pivot. The brake lever selectively rotates about the primary and secondary pivots changing a ratio of rotation of the brake lever relative to a cable. |
| US08113082B2 |
External gear shift for a manual transmission
An external gear shift for the gear selection in a manual transmission is provided that includes, but is not limited to a gearshift/selector lever, which is guided in a link plate and which is movable along a selector track and a plurality of shifting tracks, and a measuring sensor to detect an instantaneous position (s, w) of the gearshift/selector lever. Guide fingers of the link plate disposed between shifting and selector tracks each have flanks oriented obliquely to the shifting and selector tracks. |
| US08113076B2 |
Mechanical positioner for reclining seat assembly
A mechanical linear actuator having a tubular member that is defined by a housing for rotatably and axially supporting a circular nut, a lead screw is mated to the circular nut so that it can move axially in and out of the tubular member. A torsion spring clutch brake is wound about the circular nut to normally brake the nut and thus prevent the lead screw from moving into or out of the tubular member. An unlocking mechanism can remotely unwind the torsion spring clutch brake to sufficiently release the circular nut and thus allow the lead screw to pass in and out of the tubular member. An adjustable stop is provided for adjusting the stroke of the actuator. |
| US08113073B2 |
Lead screw nut support arrangement
A lead screw nut support arrangement includes a wall having a width and a through hole that passes through the wall. A support bushing passes through the through hole in the axial direction, leaving an amount of play, and having a length greater than the thickness of the wall. The support bushing is supported in the through hole movably in the axial direction. A lead screw nut is also included whose end face adjoins a first end face of the support bushing on the inner side of the wall. The support arrangement also includes a mount that braces a second end face of the support bushing against the lead screw nut such that the lead screw nut is elastically loaded in the direction away from the wall. |
| US08113070B2 |
Sight glass with a flow directing assembly
A sight glass with a flow directing assembly is used to detect the presence of entrained liquids in natural gas during spot sampling procedures. The flow directing assembly directs at least a portion of the gas flow to impinge upon a first transparent window and swirl around in a chamber of the sight glass which may cause droplets of liquid to form on the inside of the window and may cause a fog to form inside the chamber, all of which make it easier to see the existence of liquids in the natural gas. At least one embodiment of this sight glass also acts as a fluid separator, collecting the liquids in the chamber which may then be periodically drained. |
| US08113067B2 |
Pipette
A pipette and a process for producing a pipette (10) with a capacity of from 1 to 50 ml from a thermoplastic polymer. An essentially cylindrical pipette shaft (12) with an internal diameter (di) and an essentially cylindrical cup-shaped pipette reservoir (16) with an internal diameter (Di) are produced in an injection molding process. The pipette shaft (12) has, at one end, a pipette tip (14) which narrows to a suction/exit orifice (20), and, at the other end, a conical widening (18). The pipette reservoir (16) has a suction nozzle (24) abutting coaxially from the bottom of the pipette reservoir (16). The conical widening (18) is welded or adhesive-bonded at the end and coaxially to the pipette reservoir (16). The ratio of the total pipette length (L) to the arithmetic mean of the internal diameters (di and Di) of the pipette shaft (12) and of the pipette reservoir (16) is at least 15. The pipette may have a suction nozzle (24) with a retainer, such as a radially inward jutting rib (34) for a cotton wool bud. |
| US08113065B2 |
Force sensor
A force sensor 1 includes: a force sensor chip 2 including an action portion 21, a connecting portion 23 on which strain resistive elements are disposed, and a support portion 22 for supporting the action portion 21 and the connecting portion 23; an attenuator 3 including an input portion 30 to which an external force is input, a fixing portion 32 for fixing the force sensor chip 2, and a transmission portion 31 for attenuating the external force and transmitting the attenuated external force to the action portion 21; a first glass member 11 disposed between the action portion 21 and the transmission portion 31 and a second glass member 12 disposed between the support portion 22 and the fixing portion 32, through which glass members 11, 12 the force sensor chip 2 and the attenuator 3 are joined. A single or more glass beams 13 joins the first glass member 11 and the second glass member 12 together as a single member. |
| US08113064B2 |
Vibration-type measuring transducer as well as measuring device with such a measuring transducer
A measuring transducer comprising at least one measuring tube for conveying a flowing medium. The measuring tube vibrates at least at times during operation. A sensor arrangement, which serves to register oscillations of the at least one measuring tube. The measuring tube extends with an oscillatory length between an inlet-side, first measuring tube end, and an outlet-side, second measuring tube end, and, during operation, oscillates about an oscillation axis, which is parallel to or coincides with an imagined connecting axis which imaginarily connects the two measuring tube ends. By means of a first oscillation sensor, the sensor arrangement produces a first primary signal of the measuring transducer representing vibrations of the measuring tube, and by means of a second oscillation sensor the sensor arrangement produces a second primary signal of the measuring transducer representing vibrations of the measuring tube, wherein a length of a region of the first measuring tube extending between the first oscillation sensor and the second oscillation sensor defines a measuring length of the measuring transducer. The oscillation sensors of the sensor arrangement are placed in the measuring transducer in such a way that a measuring transducer sensitivity, SACT, referenced to a theoretical sensitivity at a maximum measuring length corresponding to the oscillatory length, as well as a signal amplitude, of the primary signals actually achieved during operation, referenced to a theoretically maximum possible signal amplitude, AMAX, at the location of maximum oscillation amplitude, fulfill the condition ℛ = A ACT A MAX · S ACT S MAX = ! Max . |
| US08113062B2 |
Tilt sensor for use with proximal flow sensing device
A tilt sensor is provided that is generally adapted to detect tilted and non-tilted states of an object associated therewith, which in some cases is a ventilation circuit component. The tilt sensor may correspond to a pneumatically operated tilt sensor that can be used in conjunction with a ventilator to help prevent compromised measurements from certain elements which can be used in a ventilator patient circuit. |
| US08113061B2 |
Materials testing
Methods of and apparatus for testing a material are described. The testing involves providing a material across a region of a support member which is arranged to define an opening and moving a force applying device relative to the material to apply a force to the material. The force applying device moves towards, passes into and/or passes through the opening prior to, during or after applying the force to the material. |
| US08113058B2 |
Piezoelectric pressure transducer
To render possible a high-quality, yet cost-effective provision suitable for mass production of a piezoelectric pressure transducer (1) with at least one piezoelectric measuring element (3, 3′, 3″) arranged on a housing base part (2), which measuring element is connected on the opposite side to a diaphragm (4), the measuring element (3, 3′, 3″) is fixed on an electrode sheet (5, 5′, 5″, 5″′) or directly on the base part 2 or the diaphragm 4, wherein the electrode sheet (5, 5′, 5″, 5″′) wraps conductively and positively as well as in a manner fixing the layers around a contact pin (7) insulated with respect to the base part (2) and projecting outwards. |
| US08113051B2 |
Angular velocity measuring device
An oscillator is oscillated at a predetermined oscillation frequency. A detecting unit exerts Coriolis force on the oscillator. A repetitive control system applies an external force to the oscillator so as to cancel out the Coriolis force to achieve an angular velocity measuring operation at a high sensitivity and a high S/N ratio. |
| US08113050B2 |
Robust six degree-of-freedom micromachined gyroscope with anti-phase drive scheme and method of operation of the same
A method of operating an anti-phase six degree-of-freedom tuning fork gyroscope system comprises the steps of driving a first three degree-of-freedom gyroscope subsystem, and driving a second three degree-of freedom gyroscope subsystem in an anti-phase mode with the first gyroscope subsystem at an anti-phase resonant frequency. Acceleration or an angular rate of motion is sensed by the first and second three degree-of-freedom gyroscope subsystems operating in a flat frequency response range where the anti-phase resonant frequency is designed. Response gain and phase are stable and environmental and fabrication perturbations are avoided by such operation. A anti-phase six degree-of-freedom tuning fork gyroscope system which operates as described is also characterized. |
| US08113049B2 |
Method and a machine for balancing vehicle wheels
A method and a machine for balancing vehicle wheels with weights (18), the method comprising stages of: using a video camera (5, 6, 206) to frame a portion of a surface of a hub (101) of a wheel on which a weight (18) is to be applied, locating, in images of the hub (101) taken by the camera (5, 6, 206), at least a balancing plane (E1, E2) which is perpendicular to a rotation axis (A) of the wheel, piloting at least a pick-up device (8, 9, 209) such as to direct the at least a pick-up device (8, 9, 209) onto a point (P1, P2) of the hub (101) belonging to the balancing plane (E1, E2), detecting, by means of the pick-up device (8, 9, 209) characteristic geometric parameters of the hub (101) at the balancing plane (E1, E2), measuring an imbalance of the wheel, calculating, by means of an electronic calculator (4, 204) an entity of at least a weight (18) to be applied to the hub (101) at the balancing plane (E1, E2), and also calculating an angular position (T1, T2) of the weight (18) in the balancing plane (E1, E2). |
| US08113048B2 |
Dynamic imbalance detection apparatus and method using linear time-varying angular velocity model
Provided is a dynamic balancing apparatus using a linear time-varying angular velocity model, which includes a rotational shaft on which a rotational body having a rotating unbalanced mass is installed; a linear time-varying angular velocity generator which allow the rotational shaft to be rotated at a linear time-varying angular velocity; a support for supporting both sides of the rotational shaft; and a transducer for measuring applied force or vibration transferred to the support by revolution of the rotational shaft having a linear time-varying angular velocity. |
| US08113047B2 |
Ultrasonic measuring device for a container
The invention relates to an ultrasound measuring device for a container. A coupling device supporting an ultrasound transducer serves for coupling and asymmetric alignment of the ultrasound transducer with respect to the container. This causes a sound field of the interfering signal in an ultrasound measurement to propagate within the container in an asymmetric fashion with respect to planes of symmetry of the container, whereby the interfering signal that is received at the site of injection is attenuated relative to a useful signal. |
| US08113046B2 |
Sensor assembly with hydrophobic filter
The present disclosure relates generally to sensors, and more particularly, to methods and devices for reducing moisture, dust, particulate matter, and/or other contaminates entering a sensor. In one illustrative embodiment, a sensor assembly includes a housing with an inlet flow port and an outlet flow port. The housing defines a fluid channel extending between the inlet flow port and the outlet flow port, with a sensor positioned in the housing and exposed to the fluid channel. The illustrative sensor is configured to sense a measure related to the flow rate of a fluid flowing through the fluid channel. A hydrophobic filter may be situated in the fluid channel, sometimes upstream of the sensor. When so configured, and during operation of the sensor assembly, a fluid may pass through the inlet flow port, through the hydrophobic filter, across the sensor, and through the outlet flow port. The hydrophobic filter may be configured to reduce the moisture entering the fluid channel of the sensor. |
| US08113039B2 |
Method for testing the operation of a pressure sensing unit of an injection system of an internal combustion engine
In a method for testing the operation of a pressure sensing unit of an injection system of an internal combustion engine, the injection system has no high-pressure valve. An error is detected when a pressure gradient value falls below a pressure gradient limit while at the same time the most recently detected pressure is higher than a pressure limit. |
| US08113035B2 |
Method for the detection of gaseous impurities in materials
Disclosed is a method for detecting hydrogen in steel. According to the method, hydrogen contained in steel is transferred into and preferably concentrated in at least one second material. Representative second materials include metals such as vanadium, niobium, tantalum, and their alloys. Upon transfer to the second material, the hydrogen is detected and preferably quantitatively determined. The data obtained with the method enables conclusions to be drawn about the presence of hydrogen in steel. Preferably, the concentration of hydrogen in steel is quantitatively determined from information obtained about the presence of hydrogen in the second material. |
| US08113034B2 |
Gas sensor with piping for the introduction of inspection gas
An apparatus includes a gas sensor configured to detect a specific gas which is a subject for detection, and inspection gas introduction piping configured to lead an inspection gas to the gas sensor, wherein at least a portion of the inspection gas introduction piping serves as ventilating piping configured to ventilate an inside of a ventilation-requiring device. |
| US08113030B2 |
Methods for manufacturing flanged article
Methods are taught for manufacturing a work having a peripheral flange by pressing a sheet material may include half die cutting the material so as to simultaneously form inner and outer circumferential surface of the peripheral flange while the peripheral flange is simultaneously subjected to isostatic pressures that are directed from the flange inner surface to the flange outer surface or from the flange outer surface to the flange inner surface. |
| US08113024B2 |
Double-system lock apparatus
A double system lock apparatus comprises a lock shell, a combination lock, a key lock, and a control piece set. The lock shell has a panel and a main base assembled with each other. The combination lock has a plurality of rotating discs, coupling springs, couplings, and a shaft. The key lock has a lock cylinder and a sleeve set. From back to front, the control piece set has a first control piece, a second control piece, and a third control piece. By means of the control piece set working between the combination lock and the key lock, a double system lock apparatus of simple structure but well function has been formed. |
| US08113021B2 |
Door lock with an improved structure
A door lock with an improved structure is disclosed. It has a turning device that includes a positioning base. The positioning base is mounted with a circular spacer with a lock control device therein. A connecting shaft for driving the lock control device is provided with a limiting element that has a protruded stopping part at its end. The lock has a lock core whose one end allows the insertion and turning of a key. Its other end is connected with the connecting shaft and has grooves, so that the stopping part of the limiting element blocks the lock core when the door is locked. |
| US08113015B2 |
Control of the bow of a glass ribbon
Methods for controlling the bow (shape) of a vertical glass ribbon (13) produced by a downdraw process are provided. The methods involve passing the ribbon (13) through a gas-filled vertical enclosure (23), e.g., a draw tower, whose bottom (31) is open to the atmosphere. The ribbon (13) acts as a septum that divides the enclosure's internal volume (29) into a first sub-volume (25) and a second sub-volume (27). Using the stack effect, a positive pressure difference is produced between the first sub-volume (25) and the second sub-volume (27) along at least a portion of the length of the enclosure (the DDZ). The edges of the ribbon (13) are constrained so that they do not move into the second sub-volume (27) over at least the DDZ. As a result, the ribbon bows with its concavity facing the first sub-volume (25) and its convexity facing the second sub-volume (27). |
| US08113006B2 |
System for the fuel storage and fuel delivery of cryogenic fuel
A system for cryogenic storage and delivery of fuel, particularly for supplying an internal-combustion engine driving a motor vehicle, includes at least a cryotank having an inner reservoir for receiving the cryogenic medium, which inner reservoir is held in a heat-insulated manner in an outer reservoir, a coolable cooling shield between the inner reservoir and the outer reservoir of the cryotank, and a heat sink. As a thermal-energy storage device, the heat sink is in heat-transmitting contact with the cooling shield. A filling and removal device has at least one pipe penetrating the outer reservoir and leading into the inner reservoir. At least for the filling with or for the removal of cryogenic medium, the heat sink is in heat-transmitting contact with the pipe for the cryogenic medium, in order to reduce the entry of heat from the environment into the inner reservoir while emitting heat. The inner reservoir has a recess in which at least the heat sink and the pipe for the cryogenic medium are housed such that they are situated essentially within the circumferential contour of the inner reservoir. |
| US08112998B2 |
Apparatus and method for cooling a turbine using heat pipes
The turbine section of the turbine engine is provided with a flow of cooling air which is taken from a compressor section of the turbine engine. The air received from the compressor section is itself cooled before the air is delivered to the turbine. Heat is removed from the flow of air by a plurality of heat pipes which conduct heat away from the flow of air to lower the temperature of the air before it is provided to the turbine. |
| US08112996B2 |
Systems and methods for collecting solar energy for conversion to electrical energy with multiple thermodynamic engines and piezoelectric generators
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for collecting and converting solar energy into electrical energy by using solar collectors with multiple closed-cycle thermodynamic engines and/or piezoelectric generators. The solar collectors are configured to collect solar energy and to distribute the collected solar energy in a pulsating manner directly into multiple closed-cycle thermodynamic engines, piezoelectric generators, and the like. The pulsating manner means that the solar energy is allowed to enter into a particular engine or generator periodically, for a predetermined period of time, similar to turning a switch ON and OFF. Advantageously, this enables more efficient use of the collected solar energy. |
| US08112995B2 |
Turbocharger with variable turbine geometry
A turbocharger with variable turbine geometry comprising of a turbine housing having an exhaust gas inlet and an outlet, a volute connected to the inlet, and a nozzle wall adjacent the volute, carrying a turbine wheel and is attached to a shaft with a plurality of improved aerodynamic profiled stator blades that are disposed within the turbine housing between the exhaust gas inlet and turbine wheel. |
| US08112992B2 |
Jay gravi-buoyant balls
This is an energy or electricity generation process or system that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy comprised of a design using gas or air, liquid or water and solids in high, rectangular and sealed chambers where specially designed mainly solid, spherical, buoyant bodies, objects or devices circulate up and down using the full potential of gravity to drop down, activate a mechanism to initiate an alternator in one chamber and then employ the process and power of buoyancy in water in another chamber to lift back up to it's original point at the top to start all over again circulating continuously wherefore supplying energy continuously. |
| US08112991B1 |
Hydrostatic transmission
A hydrostatic transmission includes a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor, and a center section. The center section is formed therein with first and second fluid passages connecting kidney ports opened at a pump mounting surface to kidney ports opened at a motor mounting surface. The first and second fluid passages include respective straight portions parallel to the pump mounting surface and the motor mounting surface. When the center section is viewed to face the motor mounting surface, the straight portions of the first and second fluid passages substantially entirely overlap each other. When the center section is viewed to face the pump mounting surface, the straight portion of the first fluid passage is disposed between both ends of the second fluid passage, so that the straight portion of the first fluid passage and the ends of the second fluid passage are aligned on a substantially straight line. |
| US08112990B2 |
Low exhaust temperature electrically heated particulate matter filter system
A system includes a particulate matter (PM) filter, a sensor, a heating element, and a control module. The PM filter includes with an upstream end that receives exhaust gas, a downstream end and multiple zones. The sensor detects a temperature of the exhaust gas. The control module controls current to the heating element to convection heat one of the zones and initiate a regeneration process. The control module selectively increases current to the heating element relative to a reference regeneration current level when the temperature is less than a predetermined temperature. |
| US08112988B2 |
System and method for desulfating a NOx trap
A method is described for controlling an engine with a NOx trap. The method may include adjusting timing of subsequent desulfation based upon a delay between initiating the desulfation process and a temperature increase in the NOx trap. |
| US08112987B2 |
Process for reducing NOx emissions from engine exhaust using LNT and SCR components
A method of reducing NOx in a vehicle exhaust operating by alternating exhaust flow between two lean NOx traps and directing the emerging exhaust to a downstream SCR catalyst system. While exhaust predominantly flows through one of the lean NOx traps, a reductant is provided to the other NOx trap so as to produce ammonia that is also directed to the SCR catalyst system. An exhaust system implementing the method of the invention is also provided. |
| US08112986B2 |
Managing reductant slip in an internal combustion engine
A method for controlling operation of vehicle system including an internal combustion engine and a catalytic emission control device coupled in an exhaust of the engine, the method including delivering, which may include injecting into the exhaust, reductant to the emission control device responsive to vehicle operating conditions, and increasing emission control device inlet-NOx in response to reductant release from the emission control device. |
| US08112985B2 |
Hydrocarbon retaining system configuration for combustion engine
Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described. |
| US08112984B2 |
Method and device for the diagnosis of the effectiveness of a catalytic converter
In a method and a device for the diagnosis of the effectiveness of a catalytic converter in the exhaust gas line when using a very late afterinjection or secondary injection, in order to provide a sensitive and yet robust diagnostic method while saving costs for additional exhaust gas temperature sensors and with fuel consumption increased only to a minimum extent, the diagnostic method delivering reliable results with only little delay, and a corresponding device which can also easily be used in various concepts for internal combustion engines, an increased compressor output, caused in the course of the test injection, of an exhaust gas turbocharger used downstream of the catalytic converter produce a higher charge pressure or a marked increase in the air mass flow (mL) such that the effectiveness of the catalytic converter is determined from a change in the intake air quantity of the internal combustion engine. |
| US08112980B2 |
Finish for synthetic filament yarn processed in friction false-twist texturing and application thereof
A finish for synthetic filament yarn which decreases broken filaments and ends down in friction false-twist texturing includes 40 to 98 wt % of a polyether compound, and essentially comprises components (A) and (B); wherein the component (A) is at least one member selected from the group consisting of (A1) a C1-C10 fatty acid, (A2) a C1-C10 hydroxyfatty acid, (A3) a sarcosine derivative, and salts thereof, and the amount of the component (A) in the finish ranges from 0.05 to 5 wt %; and wherein the component (B) is an alkylphosphate salt and the amount of the component (B) in the finish ranges from 0.01 to 3 wt %. |
| US08112979B2 |
Crop lifter
A crop lifter for a mower of a harvesting machine with at least one mowing finger (2) has a carrier rail (5) and a stalk lifter (8). A first end (6) of the carrier rail (5) can be fixed to the mower. The stalk lifter (8) is connected to a second end (7) of the carrier rail (5). The stalk lifter (8), together with the carrier rail (5), encloses an acute angle. |
| US08112977B2 |
Disc mower narrow transport frame
A wheel-supported frame for an agricultural harvester header having a tongue and a pivotally connected transverse frame, a retractable transport wheel connected to the tongue, and a pivoting mechanism for pivoting one of the supporting wheels approximately 90 degrees to align with the deployed transport wheel. The invention enables the harvester to be easily reconfigured between an operating configuration and a transport configuration. By rotating the transverse frame to align its transverse width with the direction of travel during transport, deploying the transport wheel, and aligning one of the normal support wheels with the transport direction of travel, the harvester is reoriented for transport along its lateral axis. The lateral transport apparatus is easily reconfigured by a single individual and requires no additional equipment beyond that integral to the harvester in order to reconfigure the harvester between transport and operational modes. |
| US08112976B1 |
Selectively usable roller striper for lawn mower
A rotary cutting deck has a roller striper along a rear side thereof. The roller striper comprises a pivotal frame that rotatably journals a roller made from a plastic roller body. Torsion springs surround the pivots for the frame. The springs put enough downforce on the plastic roller body to lay the cut grass over in a rearward direction as the cutting deck moves forwardly over the ground. The roller striper can be selectively moved into and out of engagement with the ground by a pivotal handle that can be manipulated by an operator from a seat of the lawn mower on which the cutting deck is installed. |
| US08112973B2 |
Method of making a packaged antimicrobial suture
A method of making a packaged antimicrobial suture having improved shelf life. The method comprising the steps of providing an inner package having a source of antimicrobial agent, providing an adsorbent material effective to adsorb a portion of the antimicrobial agent over time, positioning a suture within the inner package, the suture comprising one or more surfaces, covering the inner package with an outer package having an inner surface and subjecting the suture, the inner package and the inner surface of the outer package to time, temperature and pressure conditions sufficient to vapor transfer an effective amount of the antimicrobial agent from the antimicrobial agent source to the suture and the inner package, thereby substantially inhibiting bacterial colonization on the suture and the inner package, wherein the packaged antimicrobial suture exhibits improved shelf life. A packaged antimicrobial suture and a method of increasing the shelf life of a packaged antimicrobial medical device are also provided. |
| US08112971B2 |
Valve for sealing an evacuation port of a container
A valve (20) is provided for sealing an evacuation port (16) in a port area (18) of a wall structure (12) of a container. The valve (20) comprises a casing (22) having a shell portion (30) which is deformable from an open condition, whereat the shell portion (30) forms a chamber (32) over the port area (18), and a closed condition, whereat the shell portion (30) contacts the port area (18). When the shell portion (30) is in its open condition, gas exits from the chamber (32) through gas-releasing holes (24) in the casing (22). When the shell portion (30) is deformed to its closed condition, a port-sealing adhesive (26) adheres to the port area (18) to thereby seal the evacuation port (16). |
| US08112961B2 |
Two part grille with interlocking connections for assembly in doors or the like
A two part grille with interlocking connections molded from opaque plastic allows one or more screens or filters supported inside the grille and provides a configuration which allows its parts to be fitted on opposite sides of an opening in a wall or a door locked together by a mortise and tenon joint so that no screws are necessary, and the two part grille further has intermediate spacers used to accommodate differing thickness of a wall or the like. |
| US08112955B2 |
Building having a reinforced stud wall and method for reinforcing a stud wall
A building comprises first and second floors and respective first and second ceilings; a foundation; and a stud wall extending between the second floor and the second ceiling. A cross member is operably attached within the stud wall. A tie rod anchor is anchored in the foundation. A series of interconnected tie rods has one end secured to the tie rod anchor and an end portion extending through the cross member, the interconnected tie rods extending within the stud wall through the second floor. A nut is secured to the end portion of the interconnected tie rods. A loaded spring is disposed between the nut and the cross member to maintain the interconnected tie rods under tension when a slack develops on the interconnected tie rods. |
| US08112954B2 |
Lock and seal system for sliding doors
Implementations of the present invention relate generally to systems and components for sealing and locking doors, including sliding doors for use with modular walls. A locking system can be configured to secure and release a sliding door. In particular, the locking system can include a sliding door with one or more receiving channels configured to receive a pin extending from a floor's surface. A locking mechanism can be included and configured to selectively drive a shaft to capture and release a pin that has been received by the receiving channel. The sealing system is configured to seal a gap between a modular wall and an adjacent sliding door. In particular, the sealing system can include a connector configured to connect trim to a wall panel wherein the connector includes an integrated gasket seal configured to seal the gap. |
| US08112951B2 |
Permanent form assembly and method for swimming pool user support structures
A permanent form assembly and method for creating and forming swimming pool user support structures within a swimming pool includes one or more of a vertical elongated support, one or more of a lateral brace, and a plurality of support structure risers that when assembled create a permanent support structure form having a volume for receiving a filler within the volume. |
| US08112949B2 |
Segmented dock seals for truck loading docks and associated systems and methods
Segmented dock seals for truck loading docks are described herein. An elongate, compressible pad member for use with a loading dock seal is positioned to compliantly conform to an aft end of a trailer positioned proximate to an opening in a building. The pad member includes a body portion having a front side and a back side. The body portion is composed of a compressible foam material. The pad member further includes a plurality of individual fingers projecting away from the front side of the body portion. The individual fingers are integral with the body portion and are spaced apart from each other. |
| US08112938B2 |
Gate system with automatic locking and unlocking feature
A controlled gate system is comprised of a barrier arm which is pivotally connected to a first fixed support. A motion detector is secured to a second fixed support spaced a predetermined distance from the first fixed support and in alignment therewith to create a restricted passageway with the barrier arm normally resting in an obstructing position within the passageway. The barrier arm is arrested at the obstructing position by a solenoid actuated latch which is disengaged by the motion detector. The arc of displacement of the barrier arm is also restricted to permit passage through the passageway in a single direction. Under certain conditions a controller will permit the barrier arm to be disengaged to permit passage in the passageway in opposed directions. The motion detector of the preferred embodiment is constituted by a further barrier arm. |
| US08112935B2 |
Method for producing a powder containing xylitol crystal particles with another polyol
A method for producing a powder containing xylitol crystal particles and another polyol including a mixture containing a xylitol syrup and another polyol, whose dry material content is equal to or greater than 95% by weight, xylitol content ranges from 85 to 97.5% by weight and the other polyol content ranges at least from 15 to 2.5% by weight with respects to the dry material. The method includes: obtaining the mixture by simultaneously dispersing the xylitol and the other polyol syrup and xylitol-containing germs in an open rotating vessel containing xylitol-based granules, mixing the xylitol and the other polyol syrup and xylitol-containing germs on the surface of the xylitol-containing germs contained in the vessel, removing the xylitol-based granules and the other polyol from the vessel and crystallizing the xylitol and other polyol contained in the granules. |
| US08112930B2 |
Firearm with enhanced corrosion and wear resistance properties
This invention encompasses articles, compositions, and methods that provide enhanced corrosion resistance and wear resistance to firearms, firearm components, and firearm accessories. In one aspect, for example, a substrate comprising a firearm component is coated with a first layer of a corrosion-resistant material such as a first metal, followed by a second thin film layer of an abrasion-resistant material such as a second metal, a ceramic material such as a metal nitride, diamond-like carbon material, or other materials. |
| US08112926B2 |
Reversible stop hook for a gun magazine and kit for a gun
A reversible stop hook (26) for a magazine (16) of a gun (10) is adapted to be housed in the gun transversally to the magazine to be locked and comprises a coupling portion (28) being provided with a button-shaped end (30) and a stop end (32) for the magazine. The coupling element comprises at least a first component (42) and a second component (40) partially inserted one inside the other along a longitudinal direction of the stop hook. The first component (42) comprises a coupling portion (50) which is either deformable or yielding, in order to mutually fasten the first and second components along the longitudinal direction. A third component (60) is inserted into the coupling portion (50) of the first component (42) in order to prevent the first and second components from mutually unfastening. |
| US08112923B2 |
Method of and system for two-way see-through banner and window imaging
A two-way see-through banner. The two-way see-through banner includes a first side having a first image printed thereupon, a second side having a second image printed thereupon, and a plurality of perforating holes through the banner. The perforating holes are created only after the first image and the second image have been printed on the first and second sides of the banner. |
| US08112922B2 |
Reflective material for signage, buildings and vehicles
A reflective sheet material for use on exterior signs and exposed surfaces includes a sheet member having a series of adjacent, parallel primary grooves extending across at least one surface. Each group is defined by first and second elongate facets forming an angle of at least 90 degrees in a plane perpendicular to the surface and to the length of the facets. A thin opaque, reflective layer extends over the surface in the region of the grooves and conforms to the series of grooves so as to form a series of associated angular grooves. A transparent material extends over and substantially fills these angular grooves, thereby forming a substantially smooth outer surface which is located at or close to the top edges of the grooves. The sheet material can be flexible or rigid. |
| US08112903B2 |
Household clothes drying machine with additional condenser
A clothes drying machine comprises a drum (1), a first fan (5) blowing a first flow of drying air through a drying-air conduit, a condenser (3) through which said flow of drying air passes, a cooling-air conduit conveying a second flow of fresh air through said condenser, said second flow being circulated by a second fan (6), and a motor adapted to drive said fans. There is provided an additional condensation element (11) run in parallel of said conduit of drying air, and a respective second air conduit connecting said additional condensation element to said drying air conduit; said additional condensation element is cooled by air at room temperature inside the dryer machine and/or by a wall of it, and the water there condensed is being passed to a common condense recovery reservoir (10). |
| US08112892B2 |
Hair removal apparatus
A hair removal apparatus with a housing and an actuator head movable in the housing. The actuator head accommodates an actuator system that removes the hairs and is adapted to be driven by an electric drive mechanism arranged in the hair removal apparatus. The actuator system is movable into at least one active position for hair treatment. The actuator head has only one of its ends rotatably mounted on the housing. The actuator head is readily accessible from the one side, thus enabling hairs in problem areas of the skin surface to be removed. |
| US08112891B2 |
Method for manufacturing floorboard having surface layer of flexible and resilient fibers
A method is provided for manufacturing floorboards with a surface layer and a core for making a floating flooring. The floorboards are mechanically lockable, and have pairs of opposing connectors along their edge portions for locking adjoining floorboards to each other both vertically and horizontally. The method includes joining a surface layer of flexible and resilient fibers to a wood-fiber-based core to form a floor element, and linearly displacing the floor element relative to a set of tools in order to machine the joint edges of the floor element to provide at least part of upper joint edges of the floorboard. |
| US08112889B2 |
Method of manufacturing an ink jet printhead
A method of manufacturing an ink jet printhead, including: arranging a nozzle plate in which there is formed a plurality of nozzles, the nozzle plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface being on the side of the ejection of ink drops and the lower surface being opposite to the upper surface; depositing on the upper surface a first coating including a first layer including silicon carbide, while maintaining the nozzle plate at a first deposition temperature not larger than 250° C.; depositing on the lower surface a second coating including a second layer including silicon carbide, while maintaining the nozzle plate at a second deposition temperature not larger than 250° C.; positioning the nozzle plate onto the ink barrier layer by bringing into contact the second coating layer with the ink barrier layer. The first layer is deposited before the second layer. |
| US08112886B2 |
Production method of contact mat for an actuator
A production method for a contact mat for electrical contacting of an actuator uses a contact mat roll including (a) a plurality of terminal posts spaced apart from each other and extending in a first direction and (b) a plurality of electrically-conductive wires extending parallel to each other in a second, perpendicular direction, such that each wire extends across the terminal posts. The method includes unwinding the contact mat roll; connecting the wires to a metallization strip of an actuator; separating the wires at a location between adjacent terminal posts in the mat, such that a contact mat, including a single terminal post and the wires extending from the metallization strip to the terminal post, is connected to the actuator; and winding a free end of the contact mat including the terminal post at least partially around the actuator and securing the terminal post in position. |
| US08112880B2 |
Method for manufacturing multilayer printed circuit boards
A method for manufacturing a printed circuit board (PCB) includes: providing a first PCB substrate, a second PCB substrate and an adhesive layer, the first PCB substrate having a first main portion and a first unwanted portion divided by a first imaginary boundary, the second PCB substrate including a second main portion and a second unwanted portion divided by a second imaginary boundary; forming an opening in the adhesive layer; filling an filling mass in the opening; laminating the first PCB substrate, the second PCB substrate and the adhesive layer such that the adhesive layer is sandwiched between the first PCB substrate and the second PCB substrate, and the first, second imaginary boundaries are misaligned, a projection of each of the first and second imaginary boundaries in the adhesive layer being within the opening; and cutting the first and second PCB substrates along the first and second imaginary boundaries respectively. |
| US08112878B1 |
Assembly auxiliary jig
An assembly auxiliary jig facilitates assembly of an electronic device having a casing, a first fitting, a second fitting, and a wire. The assembly auxiliary jig includes: a base having therein a receiving space for positioning and receiving the casing and an accessing recess configured to communicate with the receiving space and facilitate access to the casing; a first platform disposed at the base and having a positioning groove in communication with the receiving space to thereby receive the first fitting; a first lid hinged to the first platform and configured to close the positioning groove; a second platform disposed at the base and defined with a positioning recess in communication with the receiving space to receive the second fitting; and a second lid hinged to the second platform and configured to close the positioning recess. |
| US08112874B2 |
Stent island removal system
A tool, system, and method for removing islands from a stent is disclosed. The tool includes a tube with at least one exit hole in communication with the interior of the tube, and the tube being connected to a pressurized fluid source. A stent island is located over the exit hole and is removed by the force of the exiting fluid from the exit hole. |
| US08112870B2 |
Bone screw and method for manufacturing the same
A faceted bone screw and a method for manufacturing the same includes a screw thread configuration having facets that are substantially transverse to the thread. The facets are generally made up of a plurality of transitioning peaks and valleys which vary the depth of the thread and are disposed in one or more locations throughout the threaded portion of the bone screw. The facets operate to reduce the torque required to drive the bone screw into bone, while at the same time operate to assist in anchoring the bone screw within the bone once inserted therein, and thereby reduce the possibility for the screw backing out after insertion. |
| US08112860B2 |
Method of treating glazing panels
The present invention relates to a method of treating a glazing panel from an inside location. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method of treating glazing panels used in windows and patio doors. Initially, a hole is formed on both inside and outside panes on windows and on the side and outside frames of patio doors. Next, a filter is attached to the outside pane to cover the hole whereby the filter membrane is designed to allow the passage of air and inhibit the ingress of moisture. Finally, a seal is used to cover the hole on the inside pane or to ensure that the building air does not enter the interior of the glazing panel. Where the panes are tempered glass, the hole(s) may be drilled through the frame. If necessary, one or more tubes may be inserted through the hole. Various kinds of filters are disclosed. |
| US08112858B2 |
Method for transforming a container into an article
An apparatus, a system and a method transform a container into an article. The apparatus, the system and the method operate as a vending machine that allows a user to deposit the container and/or money into the vending machine. After receiving the container and/or the money, a shape of the container, a barcode on the container, and/or a weight of the container are analyzed to determine whether to accept the container or to reject the container. If the container is rejected, the container and/or the money are returned to the user. If the container is accepted, the apparatus, the system and/or the method cuts, washes and/or dries the container. The apparatus, the system and/or the method further cuts, presses, flanges and/or wraps the container into an article. The article may be a toy car and/or other novelty item. A window allows the user to observe the container transformed into the article. A decal may be delivered to the user to decorate the article. |
| US08112857B2 |
Stent crimping device
A system for crimping a prosthesis is disclosed, comprising a plurality of wheels. Each wheel has an outer circumferential surface configured to be placed in contact with the prosthesis. When in contact with the prosthesis, each wheel is configured to be rotated, thereby to apply a radially inward force on the prosthesis so as to reduce the diameter of the prosthesis. More than one set of wheels may be provided, so that the prosthesis is crimped first by one set of wheels, then by a subsequent set of wheels. |
| US08112856B2 |
Clamp of anti-vibration spring
A clamp of an anti-vibration spring includes a pipe body and a sheathing element fixed to an end the pipe body. Another end of the pipe body is fixed to a covering element. The sheathing element is passed through the external periphery of the pipe body. The pipe body includes a screw rod screwed at the moving element, and an end of the screw rod is protruded from an end of the covering element and fixed at a driving element. A connecting element between the sheathing element and the moving element positions the sheathing element and the moving element. Each sheathing element has a connecting portion including a transversal slot, two clamping disc, and an insert portion on the clamping disc connected to the transversal slot and fixed by a positioning element. By turning the driving element, the anti-vibration spring is compressed or released between the two clamping discs. |
| US08112850B2 |
Buckle
A buckle includes a male member and a female member. The male member is provided with a base, a pair of legs and an engaging portion provided on a distal ends of the legs. The female member is provided with an insertion port, a guide that elastically deforms the distal end of each of the legs inserted through the insertion port in a direction in which the distal ends come closer to each other and a pair of engaged portions formed on both sides of a remote side of the guide. Each of the engaged portions displaces each of the engaging portions in the direction in which the engaging portions get apart with each other and is provided by a concave that has an abutment wall on a rear portion in the releasing direction to be abutted by each of engaging portions. Each of the abutment walls is formed as a slant surface that inclines in the direction in which the abutment walls come closer to each other toward the releasing direction of the male member. |
| US08112849B2 |
Device for fixing a stretched fabric
A device for fixing a fabric includes a frame of polygonal shape that is able to accommodate at least one insert, whereby the fabric is wedged between the frame and the insert, the frame includes a groove with a shrunken mouth, and the insert includes a horseshoe-shaped body that can be deformed elastically and can be inserted forcibly into the groove, characterized in that the body includes, on the one hand, a first wall that delimits a housing that opens toward the outside, and, on the other hand, a second wall that defines a retaining surface that can work with the groove, whereby a recess is arranged between the two walls (26, 32) so as to make the deformations of each wall (26, 32) independent, whereby junction zones are provided to connect the first wall and the second wall on both sides of the mouth of the housing. |
| US08112845B2 |
Method and apparatus for separating foreign matter from fibrous material
An apparatus for cleaning foreign matter from separated tufts of fiber uses a transfer cylinder intermediate a revolving open reel type structure mounted within a porous housing to separate a conveying air stream from tufts of fiber conveyed thereby and a toothed cleaning cylinder to separate air flow through said revolving reel from said cleaning cylinder such that air is not drawn through said cleaning cylinder into said porous housing. |
| US08112841B2 |
Ultraviolet vacuum cleaner with safety mechanism
A combination vacuum cleaner and ultraviolet disinfecting device is presented having a vacuum for cleaning a cleaning medium, such as a carpet, and a UV light source for radiation of the cleaning medium to eradicate the medium of infestation agents such as molds, viruses, bacteria and dust mites. The device provides a multiple of safety switches to prevent power supply to the UV light source under certain conditions. Safety switches are provided requiring a constant activation of a switch by the user on the device handle, activation of contact switches indicating the device is in contact with the cleaning medium, activation of a switch indicating the device is in an in-use position, and a tilt sensor to prevent power supply to the UV light if the device, or a portion thereof, is tilted beyond a preselected degree. |
| US08112836B2 |
Positioning mechanism of a bed
A positioning mechanism of a bed comprising height adjustable lifters that are mounted between the undercarriage and patient surface frame. The first lifter is arranged so that its axis intersects the longitudinal axis of the frame. The first lifter is connected to frame oscillatingly around the longitudinal axis of the frame and in a sliding way in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the frame. The second and the third lifters are interconnected with an arm, oriented transversally to the longitudinal axis. The arm is oscillatingly connected to the frame and is connected at one end to the second lifter both oscillatingly around an axis, in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the frame and in a sliding way transversally to the frame. The other end the arm is connected to the third lifter, oscillatingly around the axis, in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the frame. |
| US08112832B2 |
Attachment of a sanitary washstand fitting to a washstand
The invention relates to a sanitary washstand fitting, comprising a housing which is detachably secured to a washstand with the aid of a fixing device. The fixing device comprises a base which can be fixed to the washstand, an insertion device enabling the housing to be placed on the base from the top, and a clamping device enabling the housing thus arranged to be clamped against the base. The clamping device comprises a spring ring which is received in a groove of the base and which is radially expandable by means of a threaded pin such that it can also be engaged in a complementary counter groove in the housing. |
| US08112830B2 |
Neck guard for use in a hair-washing sink
A neck guard for a salon/barber industry sink, wherein the sink has an indentation in a lip of the sink to accommodate a person's neck. The neck guard includes a lower layer, a cushioning layer and a cover layer. The lower layer is flexible and incorporates fasteners such as suction cups configured to removably attach the lower layer to the sink. The cushioning layer is bonded to the lower layer and has a surface that is suitable for having the cover layer attached to it by means such as a low-tack, pressure-sensitive adhesive. The neck guard is sufficiently flexible to wrap around and conform to the indentation in the lip of the sink and to enable attachment of the fasteners to the sink, thereby securing the neck guard within the indentation in the lip of the sink. |
| US08112826B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling opening and closing unit by using counter electromotive force of motor
An apparatus for controlling a rotational movement of an opening and closing unit by using a counter electromotive force of a motor includes: a motor driving unit that drives an electric damper by driving a motor to operate the opening and closing unit; a position detecting unit that detects the position of the opening and closing unit operated by the motor driving unit; a power intercepting unit that receives a signal of detecting the position of the opening and closing unit from the position detecting unit, and cuts off power if it determines that the opening and closing unit is at a pre-set position based on the received position detect signal; and a counter electromotive force generating unit that generates a counter electromotive force of the motor when the power intercepting unit cuts off power. |
| US08112824B2 |
Dosing device for a toilet
A dosing device for dosing chemicals (9) into outlet water for flushing a toilet having a toilet bowl. The dosing device comprises a place of dosing, at which outlet water and the chemicals are mixed during a flushing of the toilet. The place of dosing is arranged between an inlet to an overflow pipe (5) and an inlet to the toilet bowl. |
| US08112822B2 |
Toilet stool for odor removal which applies the reserving energy as power source
An odor removal toilet stool using a preserving energy as a power source, capable of removing bad smell air and preventing its back flow in which the cleaning water (supplying water) stored in a water storage tank is supplied at two stages such as an initial standby water level and later full water level, wherein during supplying water to the full water level, air transference method using hydrodynamic operation occurred from a high speed injection with a injection nozzle is used without electric energy. |
| US08117666B2 |
File system operation and digital rights management (DRM)
File system interaction with digital rights management (DRM) is facilitated by enabling one or more file system components to be DRM-aware. These one or more file system components may be part of a computer operating system. An exemplary system implementation includes: one or more processors; and one or more media in operative communication therewith, the media storing one or more file system components that are configured to provide content having DRM controls to a requesting program in either a raw form or a decrypted form in dependence on whether the DRM controls comprise simple DRM content controls or complex DRM content controls. In another exemplary system implementation, the one or more file system components are configured to provide files with simple DRM content controls to requesting applications in a decrypted form and to provide files with complex DRM content controls to requesting applications in an unaltered form. |
| US08117662B2 |
Smartcard system
A programmable smartcard device (10) carries a file system (22, 24) and operating software enabling the on-device file system to interface with at least one off-device file and/or application. It also has a script engine (32) capable of running one or more Application Protocol Data Units (1APDUs') associated with a particular form of transaction so as to modify the structure and/or content of the file system, or the commands to be used for accessing the file system or any security conditions associated therewith. The smartcard device (10) is provided with comparator means (34) configurable by a security APDU run by the script engine (32) so that it operates in use to compare the commands carried out in implementing the transaction with one or more reference commands and to restrict or prevent further access or modifications to the on-device data, file system, commands or security conditions in dependence on the outcome of the comparison carried out by the comparator means (34). Thus, the smartcard device can, because the comparator (34) is configured for each different kind of transaction to be carried out, provide improved security within the contraints of memory storage and processing power available on the smartcard device itself. |
| US08117661B2 |
Encryption based silicon IP protection
A method and system for protecting silicon IPs from unauthorized use, transfer and sale, and for hiding confidential technology information contained in silicon IPs is described. The method and system create a content-encrypted silicon IP layout database from its original layout database. Both the layout database may be GDSII files, OASIS files, or other format layout database file, in which multiple records sequentially build the layout database. In accordance with one preferred embodiment, first, the original layout database is parsed and saved as sequential records in the memory. Next, the structure records, which construct structures in the original layout database, are selected from the saved records. Once the structure records have been selected, the data of the structure records may be compressed with using a public compressing method, and may be encrypted with using a public cryptography algorithm. Next, each byte of the data after compression and encryption is mapped to one or two printable ASCII characters for building up multiple new text element records in a new structure. Finally, the newly created structure records replace the selected structure records in the original layout database to create the content-encrypted silicon IP layout database. |
| US08117659B2 |
Malicious code infection cause-and-effect analysis
A malware analysis system for automating cause and effect analysis of malware infections is provided. The malware analysis system monitors and records computer system activities. Upon being informed of a suspected malware infection, the malware analysis system creates a time-bounded snapshot of the monitored activities that were conducted within a time frame prior to the notification of the suspected malware infection. The malware analysis system may also create a time-bounded snapshot of the monitored activities that are conducted within a time frame subsequent to the notification of the suspected malware infection. The malware analysis system provides the created snapshot or snapshots for further analysis. |
| US08117655B2 |
Detecting anomalous web proxy activity
A method, system and apparatus for detecting anomalous web proxy activity by end-users are disclosed. The techniques include analyzing records from a web proxy log and determining whether the records contain anomalous end-user activity by inspecting a uniform resource locator and a connect instruction included therein. The techniques also include generating an alert in response to the analysis. |
| US08117652B1 |
Password input using mouse clicking
Digits are randomly distributed into any number of a first group of sets. A type and frequency of a user input action, such as clicking a computer mouse, is associated with each set. Next, all the digits from each set are randomly distributed into a second group of sets. Each of the second group of sets may contain at most a single digit from one of the first group of sets, but may contain any number of digits total. A user input action, is also associated with each set in the second group. To input a particular digit in the password, the user selects one set of the first group of sets that contains the correct digit and selects one set of the second group of sets that also contains the same digit. Selection may occur by mouse clicking, key pressing or touching a screen. Once all digits of the password have been selected in this manner, the software determines the correct digits of the password by comparing the user selections for each digit in the password. The software outputs a result or stores the input password. |
| US08117651B2 |
Method and system for authenticating an accessory
A method, system, and connector interface for authenticating an accessory. The method includes performing a first authentication operation on the accessory by the media player, where an authentication certificate is validated; and performing a second authentication operation on the accessory by the media player, where an authentication signature is validated. According to the system and method disclosed herein, the media player and accessory may utilize a plurality of commands in a variety of environments such as within a connector interface system environment to control access to the media player. |
| US08117648B2 |
Secure information storage and delivery system and method
A system for secure information storage and delivery includes a vault repository that includes a secure vault associated with a user, wherein the secure vault is associated with a service level including at least one of a data type or a data size limit associated with the secure vault, the secure vault being adapted to receive and at least one data entry and securely store the at least one data entry if the at least one of a size or a type of the at least one data entry is consistent with the service level. A mobile vault server coupled to the vault repository creates a mobile vault on a mobile device based on the secure vault and is capable of authenticating the mobile device based on user authentication information. The mobile vault server includes a mobile device handler that communicates with the mobile device. A synchronization utility determines whether the at least one data entry on the secure vault is transferable to or storable on the mobile vault based on at least one of the size or the type of the at least one data entry and transfers the at least one data entry from the secure vault to a corresponding data entry on the mobile vault if the at least one data entry on the secure vault is determined to be transferable to or storable on the mobile vault. |
| US08117646B2 |
Method and system for providing online records
A method is provided for providing a user with the ability to access and collect records associated with the user in a secure and private manner. The method includes assigning a phone number to the user for private fax and voice communications from service providers, associating access information with the user for the user to use to access a web site, receiving a private fax communication comprising a record associated with the user for which the user has requested and given permission to the service provider to send to the phone number, converting the private fax communications into an image file format, storing the record encoded in the image file format, and providing the user with access to the web site using the access information and providing on the web site an interface to the records of the user for the user to access the record. |
| US08117644B2 |
Method and system for online document collaboration
A method and system for online document collaboration includes the steps of establishing on a server computer coupled to the Internet an account for each of a plurality of users; storing on the server computer a document created by a first user; associating a set of access restrictions with the document, said access restrictions including an ability to access the document for modification by one of a first group of users, said first group of users being users whose identities are known to the server computer; receiving, from a second user, a request to modify the document, wherein said request to modify accompanies the second user's identification information; verifying the identity of the second user; permitting the second user to modify the document based on a set of access rights granted to the second user; receiving approval or disapproval for the modifications from one or more users; and storing identifying information of the one or more users who approved or disapproved the modifications to the document. In alternative embodiments, the method further includes the step(s) of storing the modified document, storing the identity of the user who modified the document, notifying one or more members of a group if the document is modified or transmitting the modified document to one or more members of a group. |
| US08117643B2 |
Mathematical definition of roles and authorizations in RBAC system
A process, apparatus and program product create a new role in a Role Based Access Control (RBAC) system by using mathematical operators with either one or more authorizations, or one or more existing roles, or a combination thereof. |
| US08117640B1 |
Systems and methods for analyzing application security policies
A system and method for analyzing application security policies is provided. One or more application security policies are retrieved. An optimized policy is then generated utilizing the one or more application security policies. One or more queries related to the one or more application security policies are received. The one or more queries are decomposed. The one or more decomposed queries are then processed utilizing the optimized policy. |
| US08117638B2 |
System and method for improved multi-stream multimedia transmission and processing
A method for efficiently transmitting several multimedia streams to one or more multimedia receivers comprises transmitting a first plurality of channels within a first plurality of frequency blocks having a first frequency range, said first frequency range being the range to which a legacy group of multimedia receivers are capable of tuning; and simulcasting said first plurality of channels within one or more alternate frequency blocks having an alternate frequency range, said alternate frequency range being the range to which an alternate group of multimedia receivers are capable of tuning. |
| US08117631B2 |
Pickup with asymmetrically arranged lens for accessing moving storage media and drive having the pickup
A pickup for accessing moving storage media carrying substantially parallel information tracks has a carrier, an actuator with a lens and suspension wires extending from the rear of the carrier and joining the carrier and the actuator. The actuator is movable in the focus direction and in a tracking direction and has a substantially rectangular flat board carrying the lens and a counter weight. The flat board is arranged orthogonal to a focus direction and carries tracking and focus coils. The pickup has a magnet configuration connected to the carrier with at least two tracking magnets, which are arranged in the tracking direction at opposite sides of the flat board and extend orthogonal to the focus direction above and/or under the flat board, and with at least two focus magnets, which are arranged in front of and behind the flat board and extend orthogonal to the direction of the tracks. According to the invention, the lens is arranged asymmetrically in reference to an axis through a center of the flat board parallel to the direction of the tracks while the lens and the counter weight are symmetrically arranged in reference to the center of the flat board. |
| US08117630B2 |
Optical disk player with head feeding mechanism
An optical disk player includes a chassis, an optical pick-up head including a support member defining a guiding slot, and a guiding member molded integrally with the chassis, wherein the guiding member is received in the guiding slot and the optical pick-up head is slidably supported on the guiding member. |
| US08117624B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing real-time commands in a non real-time operating system environment
A method and apparatus is disclosed for performing real-time execution of a plurality of commands in a non real-time operating system environment using a driver, running at the privileged level and which comprises a command dispatcher, receiving a plurality of commands provided by a user application, and a command queue storing the plurality of commands provided by the user application for further providing the plurality of commands to a target unit for execution. |
| US08117623B1 |
System and method for providing notices to users of a computer program in a flexible way
A system and method provides messages received from a program to a user in an area used for displaying messages from multiple programs. The message may be received with an indication that the user is to be notified upon receipt of the message, however the user can disable or enable such notifications. |
| US08117621B2 |
Simulating a multi-queue scheduler using a single queue on a processor
A method and system for scheduling tasks on a processor, the tasks being scheduled by an operating system to run on the processor in a predetermined order, the method comprising identifying and creating task groups of all related tasks; assigning the tasks in the task groups into a single common run-queue; selecting a task at the start of the run-queue; determining if the task at the start of the run-queue is eligible to be run based on a pre-defined timeslice allocated and on the presence of older starving tasks on the runqueue; executing the task in the pre-defined time slice; associating a starving status to all unexecuted tasks and running all until all tasks in the run-queue complete execution and the run-queue become empty. |
| US08117620B2 |
Techniques for implementing a communication channel with local and global resources
Apparatus, system, and method including a local resource to transfer information between a first processing unit and a second processing unit; and a global resource to transfer information between said first processing unit and said second processing unit, and to transfer information between said first processing unit and a third processing unit if said local resource is full are described. |
| US08117618B2 |
Forward progress mechanism for a multithreaded processor
A processing device includes a storage component configured to store instructions associated with a corresponding thread of a plurality of threads, and an execution unit configured to fetch and execute instructions. The processing device further includes a period timer comprising an output to provide an indicator in response to a count value of the period timer reaching a predetermined value based on a clock signal. The processing device additionally includes a plurality of thread forward-progress counter components, each configured to adjust a corresponding execution counter value based on an occurrence of a forward-progress indicator while instructions of a corresponding thread are being executed. The processing device further includes a thread select module configured to select threads of the plurality of threads for execution by the execution unit based a state of the period timer and a state of each of the plurality of thread forward-progress counter components. |
| US08117613B2 |
Optimized virtual machine migration mechanism
A virtual machine management system may perform a three phase migration analysis to move virtual machines off of less efficient hosts to more efficient hosts. In many cases, the migration may allow inefficient host devices to be powered down and may reduce overall energy costs to a datacenter or other user. The migration analysis may involve performing a first consolidation, a load balancing, and a second consolidation when consolidating virtual machines and freeing host devices. The migration analysis may also involve performing a first load balancing, a consolidation, and a second load balancing when expanding capacity. |
| US08117609B2 |
System and method for optimizing changes of data sets
A system and method for generating an update data set to be sent to remote terminals. The update data set comprises operators describing differences between two data sets, so that a remote terminal is able to transform an old data set into a more recent data set. The system comprises a comparator for comparing data elements in the data sets, and a selector for selecting operators based on a change parameter stored in a memory. |
| US08117606B2 |
System and method for application migration in a grid computing environment
A system and method for assessing performance of a software application migrated to a grid infrastructure is provided. The system comprises a grid code analyzer for generating a directed acyclic graph (DAG) corresponding to the software application by performing static and dynamic analysis; a grid task generator for reducing the DAG generated by the grid code analyzer; and a grid simulator for simulating performance of the software application on one or more predetermined grid infrastructures. The grid simulator accepts the reduced DAG as input and produces performance data as output. |
| US08117605B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving transactional memory interactions by tracking object visibility
In a multi-threaded computer system that uses transactional memory, object fields accessed by only one thread are accessed by regular non-transactional read and write operations. When an object may be visible to more than one thread, access by non-transactional code is prevented and all accesses to the fields of that object are performed using transactional code. In one embodiment, the current visibility of an object is stored in the object itself. This stored visibility can be checked at runtime by code that accesses the object fields or code can be generated to check the visibility prior to access during compilation. |
| US08117601B2 |
Internal test and manipulation of an application
System(s) and method(s) facilitate testing and manipulating an application internally within a client-server configuration coordinated by a communicator object. A client test-object conveys a test to a server test-object through a remoting channel and over disparate processes, e.g., a test process and designer process. A service in an application developer intermediates communication across a communicator thread and a designer thread. In response to a test, information is received in the client end as a serialized wrapper object. Manipulation is accomplished by deserializing and modifying the received information, and then transmitting the information in a serialized object through the remoting channel across processes, and via the intermediary service component across threads in the designer process. Testing and manipulation can facilitate optimizing an application, improving application's functionality as well as a user experience. |
| US08117594B2 |
Graphical editor with incremental development
Techniques for developing a graphical editor using an incremental development approach. Externally-stored descriptors are used to specify information on which a graphical editor engine operates to create a graphical editor. Developers can thus redefine the look and feel of the graphical editor by modifying these descriptors, effectively re-configuring the elements of visual models without changing the code of the graphical editor engine. Visual models for modeling a domain can be created and used, without first requiring the domain model to be defined. |
| US08117591B1 |
Graphical model for test case viewing, editing, and reporting
Various techniques for interacting with a test case via a graphical model are disclosed. For example, one method involves displaying a first icon, which represents a first testing activity within a test case; displaying a second icon, which represents a second testing activity within the test case; and displaying a connector, which couples the first icon and the second icon. An assertion (e.g., against test results obtained by performing the first testing activity) is associated with the connector. |
| US08117590B2 |
Program developing apparatus, program developing method and computer readable medium
There is provided a method including: dividing codes included in a first source code into a plurality of groups virtually; partitioning each arranged group into one or more sections made up of one or more codes which should be sequentially executed; store the sections in a storage; setting constraints of an execution order among the sections on a basis of the first source code; exhibiting contents of the storage to a user; exhibiting constraint information representing the constraints of the execution order to the user; editing the contents of the storage based on a first editing command from the user; editing the constraint information based on a second editing command from the user; and synthesizing the first source code and edited contents of the storage into a second source code according to edited constraint information. |
| US08117588B2 |
Spatial iteration node for a graphical program
A system and method for creating a distributed application using graphical programming techniques are disclosed. The distributed application may comprise a first graphical program and a second graphical program, where a host computer system executes the first graphical program, and a plurality of remote computer systems or computing devices each execute an instance of the second graphical program. In some embodiments the first graphical program may utilize a node that represents the second graphical program. The node may be operable to exchange data with a plurality of instances of the second graphical program executing on a plurality of remote devices. |
| US08117587B1 |
Microcontroller-resident software development environment supporting application-level asynchronous event handling, interactive debugging and pin variables for embedded systems
An operating system including a software development environment is programmed into the on-chip flash memory of a system-on-a-chip type microcontroller. The software development environment is configured to reside entirely in the microcontroller's on-chip flash memory and includes an editor, a line-by-line bytecode compiler, a flasher, and an interactive debugger. A user operating a terminal emulator on a host computer connects to the microcontroller chip by means of a serial (USB) connection based on an FTDI protocol, or other serial link, in order to develop a BASIC program for the embedded system. The operating system is configured to permit external I/O pins on the microcontroller chip to be mapped to special “pin variables” for manipulation or examination by the user program, and to manage internal peripherals (timers, UARTs) of the microcontroller chip so as to permit application-level interrupt handling. |
| US08117584B2 |
Method of implementing low ESL and controlled ESR of multilayer capacitor
Disclosed is a method of implementing controlled equivalent series resistance (ESR) having low equivalent series inductance (ESL) of a multi-layer chip capacitor which includes a plurality of internal electrodes each having first polarity or second polarity which is opposite to the first polarity, and dielectric layers each disposed between the internal electrodes of the first polarity and the second polarity, wherein the internal electrodes having the first polarity and the internal electrodes having the second polarity are alternated at least once to form one or more blocks being stacked. |
| US08117583B2 |
Determining macro blocks terminal for integrated circuit layout
Provided is an integrated circuit layout design supporting device which can reduce the wiring length by avoiding bypass wirings when a plurality of same-type macro blocks are used. The integrated circuit layout design supporting device includes a terminal coordinate calculation control unit and a layout processing control unit. The terminal coordinate calculation control unit considers the plurality of same-type macro blocks included in a plurality of types of macro blocks as each of different types of macro blocks, and calculates the optimum coordinate positions of each macro terminal of each macro block. The layout processing control unit performs various types of wiring layout processing related to each of the macro terminals based on each of the macro terminal positions calculated by the terminal coordinate calculation control unit. |
| US08117582B2 |
Method for placing dummy patterns in a semiconductor device layout
Disclosed is a method for placing dummy patterns in a semiconductor device layout. More specifically, the method places the dummy patterns densely between main patterns in accordance with a sequence and configuration. The method includes placing vertical dummies having a greater length than width in a region other than main patterns to form a first layout, removing the vertical dummies within a first distance from the main patterns to form a second layout, placing horizontal dummies having a greater length than width in a vacant space of the second layout to form a third layout, and removing the horizontal dummies within a second distance from the main patterns in the third layout. The method prevents and/or inhibits pattern deformation. |
| US08117580B1 |
Multiple bitstreams enabling the use of partially defective programmable integrated circuits while avoiding localized defects therein
Memory devices and data structures including multiple configuration bitstreams for programming integrated circuits (ICs) such as programmable logic devices (PLDs), thereby enabling the utilization of partially defective ICs. A user design is implemented two or more times, preferably utilizing different programmable resources as much as possible in each configuration bitstream. The resulting configuration bitstreams are stored in a memory device. Test bitstreams associated with the user bitstreams are optionally also included in the memory device. Under the control of a configuration control circuit, the various bitstreams are sequentially loaded into a partially defective IC and tested using an automated testing procedure. When a bitstream is found that enables the design to function correctly in the programmed IC, i.e., that avoids the defective programmable resources in the IC, the configuration procedure terminates. When separate test bitstreams are used, the configuration procedure programs the IC with an associated user bitstream before terminating. |
| US08117578B2 |
Static hazard detection device, static hazard detection method, and recording medium
There is provided a check target extraction unit that receives logic circuit information describing a logic circuit, and extracts at least one set of a start point register and an end point register from registers in the logic circuit, the start point register outputting an exception signal to be supplied to the end point register via the propagation control circuit, and a static hazard detection unit that determines whether, for the at least one set extracted by the check target extraction unit, there are a plurality of paths through which propagation of an exception signal from a start point register to an end point register is possible when the propagation control circuit, in response to a control signal, inhibits propagation of the exception signal. |
| US08117576B2 |
Method for using an equivalence checker to reduce verification effort in a system having analog blocks
A computer-implemented method of performing an equivalence check on a mixed-signal circuit is performed on a server system, and includes responding to a verification request. In the method, the following operations are performed. A static analysis is performed on a first netlist, and a synthesizable section and non-synthesizable section of the first netlist are identified. A functional equivalence is determined between the non-synthesizable section of the first netlist and a corresponding non-synthesizable section of a second netlist, and a logical equivalence is determined between the synthesizable section of the first netlist and a corresponding synthesizable section of a second netlist. An equivalence result is provided based on the determined functional equivalence and the determined logical equivalence. |
| US08117575B2 |
System and method for on-chip-variation analysis
Apparatus is provided for performing timing analysis on a circuit. A first storage device portion stores a state dependent stage weight for each of a rising time arc and a falling time arc of each of a plurality of cells in a cell library. An adder is provided for calculating a sum of the state dependent stage weights for each of the cells that are included in a circuit path. A second storage device portion stores a table containing on chip variation (OCV) derating factors. The table is indexed by values of the sum. A total path delay is calculated for the circuit path, based on the OCV derating factor corresponding to the sum of the state dependent stage weights for the cells in the circuit path. |
| US08117573B2 |
Verification-scenario generating apparatus, verification-scenario generating method, and computer product
Hardware blocks respectively of an arbitrary access origin and an arbitrary access destination that are mutually accessible are extracted from among a plurality of hardware blocks constituting a bus system to be verified, and a path reaching from the access-origin hardware block to the access-destination hardware block is searched for. For each path found, a verification scenario is generated to verify transactions of the access-origin hardware block for a case where access to an address range assigned to the access-destination hardware block occurs, and the verification scenario is output being correlated with the path that corresponds thereto. |
| US08117570B2 |
Integrated circuit design phase technique with virtual power switch
An integrated circuit design system able to generate circuit data enabling a clear grasp of power switch cells and circuit cells whose power is cut off without obstructing the efficiency of the design, a method of same, and a program of same, wherein in the description of RTL data generated at an RTL data generation unit, a hierarchical block of an upper level with a lower level comprised of a hierarchical block corresponding to a circuit whose power should be cut off in response to a control signal and a predetermined virtual power switch cell to which this control signal is input is prepared. By obtaining a grasp of the relationship between the virtual power switch cells in the description of the RTL data and the hierarchical blocks of the same level as the virtual power switch cells, the relationship between the power switch cells and the circuits whose power should be cut off in a real circuit can be clearly grasped. |
| US08117567B2 |
Structure for implementing memory array device with built in computation capability
A design structure embodied in a machine readable medium used in a design process includes computational memory device having an array of memory cells arranged in rows and columns, and a pair of read word lines associated with each row of the array. The array is configured to implement, for a given cycle, either a read operation of data contained in a single selected row, or one of a plurality of different bit wise logical operations on data contained in multiple selected rows. |
| US08117563B2 |
Three-dimensional motion graphic user interface and method and apparatus for providing the same
A three-dimensional motion graphic user interface (MGUI) and a method and apparatus for providing the same. The apparatus includes a control module which creates a polyhedron component that can be opened and that has at least one opening face and an internal space containing at least one information object related to information displayed on a face of the polyhedron component. A storing module stores the polyhedron component created by the control module, and an input module inputs data about a user's action with respect to the polyhedron component. A user interface module assigns predetermined attributes to at least one of a plurality of subordinate faces, maps information displayed on an information face according to the predetermined attributes, processes motion of the polyhedron component according to the input data, changes an information display according to the motion, and manages at least one group of a plurality of polyhedron components. An output module displays a processing result of the user interface module. |
| US08117556B2 |
Target-alignment-and-drop control for editing electronic documents
A target-alignment-and-drop control for an electronic document editing tool which ensures that objects are inserted only in valid drop target areas and are aligned according to predetermined alignment rules. |
| US08117554B1 |
Seamless integration of non-native widgets and windows with dynamically scalable resolution into native operating system
A method, system and computer program product recorded on a computer-readable medium for execution on at least one processor, for seamless integration of a non-native application into a host OS, including launching a first Virtual Execution Environment (VEE) on a computing system that has a host operating system and a host desktop displayed to a user; displaying a window corresponding to the VEE on the host desktop; upon a user invoking a user application that is non-native to both the host OS and the first VEE, (a) installing a second VEE that is compatible with the user application, (b) installing the user application into the second VEE, (c) launching the application inside the second VEE, and (d) displaying the non-native application window within a window of the second VEE. The VEE can be a Virtual Private Server or a Virtual Machine. |
| US08117551B2 |
Computer system and method of using presence visualizations of avatars as persistable virtual contact objects
Computer method and apparatus represent users by respective avatars in a subject virtual environment. The invention system displays the avatars in the virtual environment, and for each avatar, displays in proximity to the avatar, a respective trail of virtual contact objects. The respective trail of virtual contact objects is associated with the user represented by the avatar and serves as a visual indication of presence and activeness (level of activity) of the user in the subject virtual environment. Each virtual contact object in the respective trail stores and provides user contact data of the user and is persistable upon end-user command. |
| US08117549B2 |
System and method for capturing user actions within electronic workflow templates
The invention provides an electronic workflow method and system that includes a client workstation having a high-resolution image displaying device and an input device, that captures actions that are performed on the image displaying device. The performed actions may include actions that are performed in an interpretation process of medical images displayed by the displaying device. An extensible markup language (XML) schema may be employed to capture and represent the tasks or subtasks. The XML schema records the condensed audit trail of the user actions that are performed during the image review and interpretation process. The invention stores the instructions or actions of the electronic workflow system, although the actions may be stored as an entire “movie” of the electronic workflow system. Thus, the invention dramatically reduces storage, transmission, and time requirements for play back, among providing other benefits. |
| US08117548B1 |
Image preview
A method, apparatus, and system are provided for displaying a graphical representation of at least a portion of a file by interfacing with a graphical interface relating to the file. A request for viewing a file content is received. A window for viewing a graphical representation of at least a portion of the content of a file is provided. |
| US08117547B2 |
Environment-interactive context-aware devices and methods
Location-aware methods and systems are described. In one embodiment, a portable computing device determines its location by accessing one or more hierarchical tree structures each of which comprising multiple nodes that represent physical or logical locations, and traversing at least one node on the one or more hierarchical tree structures to ascertain the location. The device then acquires digital data associated with the determined location and that can permit the device to interact with a location environment. The device then enables interaction with the location environment based, at least in part, on the acquired digital data. |
| US08117545B2 |
Hosted video discovery and publishing platform
A hosted system provides any Internet user with the ability to quickly set up and customize a video channel, preferably as a web page or site that can be reached from any Internet-accessible device having a web browser. The solution includes tools for use by channel site creators to customize the look, feel, and page design. A particular web page or site may be associated with a given subject. As used herein, a page or site that has such an association is sometimes referred to as “subject-specific.” Once a subject-specific channel is created, a site administrator or individual visitors can search across the web and choose to bring those search results into the channel architecture. The system also enables a multiplatform search as an integrated part of a library build; if desired, search results are automatically populated into the channel content. The system also enables the characterization of the material returned, preferably according to a user-generated taxonomy. |
| US08117544B2 |
System and method for detecting user actions in a video stream
Embodiments of the present invention include a video server that can detect and track the image of a pointing indicator in an input video stream representation of a computer display. The video server checks ordered frames of the video signal and determines movements for a pointing indicator such as a mouse arrow. Certain motions by the pointing indicator, such as lingering over a button or menu item or circling a button or menu item can provoke a control action on the server. |
| US08117541B2 |
Rendering of two-dimensional markup messages
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and apparatuses configured to receive or retrieve markup data associated with a message formatted for two-dimensional (2D) rendering, virtually render, by a first rendering module, the message in a non-displayed image in accordance with the markup data, and render, by a second rendering module, a three-dimensional (3D) object in a 2D display environment including texturing the non-displayed image on a surface of the 3D object in order to render the message. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08117540B2 |
Method and device incorporating improved text input mechanism
The invention relates to a method and device incorporating an improved text input mechanism. The text input method comprising the steps determining a list of candidates for the present context, a candidate being a possible textual continuation of the present context and having a relevance score assigned; arranging the candidates in groups, each group having a group designator; displaying the group designators; prompting the user to select a group and receiving the user selection; displaying candidates of the selected group, the displayed candidates being arranged according to their respective scores; prompting the user to select a candidate and receiving the user selection; accepting the selected candidate as text input and updating the context. |
| US08117538B2 |
Method for dynamically converting voice XML scripts into other compatible markup language scripts based on required modality
In a contact center, a routing interface for enabling redirection of interactions from one scripted resource type to another includes a language transformation engine executable from a browser application resident on a digital medium installed on or accessible to a computing appliance, and an interactive panel accessible through the browser application the panel containing selectable modality options. The language transformation engine has network access to a language server, and a routing strategy server, and wherein VXML scripts downloaded to the browser are transformed into scripts expressed in another markup language for presentation and wherein the transformed scripts are used at an end resource that the interaction is redirected to. |
| US08117532B2 |
Reformatting regions with cluttered hyperlinks
A method for presenting a page, having a set of links, on a data processing system is provided. The page is preprocessed to form a processed page, wherein the processed page is unpresented within the data processing system. A determination is made as to whether or not the links within the page fall within a proximity policy. Responsive to a determination that the page falls outside of the proximity policy, the page is reformatted to fall within the proximity policy. The mechanism of the present invention includes a preprocessing process and a policy structure for reformatting an electronic document page. The policy structure of the present invention allows the user to specify the appearance of the electronic document page. The policy structure as defined by the user is stored such that when the user returns to the page, the page may be displayed according to the policy structure defined by the user. |
| US08117525B2 |
Method for parallel data integrity checking of PCI express devices
An apparatus and method for supporting PCI Express is disclosed. A physical layer has a PCI Express interface for receiving data from a PCI Express compatible communication medium. The data is in the form of a packet. A data link layer is disclosed for verifying a CRC value and a sequence number received within the packet. A transaction layer is disclosed for receiving the packet from the data link layer and for processing thereof. The transaction layer processes at least some of the packet data in parallel to the data link layer. |
| US08117521B2 |
Implementation of recycling unused ECC parity bits during flash memory programming
Methods for recycling unused error correction code (ECC) during flash memory programming, comprise generating ECC from user data to form a syndrome and storing the syndrome into volatile memory. ECC is re-encoded corresponding to the syndrome read from the memory with new user data. Re-encoding ECC comprises comparing new ECC with the most recent ECC of the previous syndrome, correcting a bit error in the new ECC, and indicating if the new ECC has failed. |
| US08117515B2 |
Methodology and apparatus for soft-information detection and LDPC decoding on an ISI channel
A system comprising a plurality of channel detectors (CDs) receiving quantized and equalized ISI channel information indicative of an LDPC codeword. The channel information is split for input to the CDs, such that each CD receives channel information indicative of a portion of the LDPC codeword. Each CD outputs at least first soft information for bits of the codeword portion of that CD. The first soft information for the codeword is received by an LDPC decoder, which uses the soft information to produce a user bit sequence and second soft information about the user bit sequence. The system can cause the second soft information to be input to the plurality of CDs, such that iterative processing can occur for the codeword. Other aspects include a system providing clocking of one or more CDs at a frequency selected to balance codeword throughput of the CDs with codeword throughput of an LDPC decoder clocked by a second clock, and methods according to each system. |
| US08117513B2 |
Test method and test program of semiconductor logic circuit device
In a combinational portion, when there is one or more unspecified bits in pseudo external input lines and there is no unspecified bit in pseudo external output lines, an assigning operation is carried out. In the combinational portion, when there is one or more unspecified bits in the pseudo external output lines and there is no unspecified bit in the pseudo external input lines, first and second justifying operations are carried out, and a necessary logic value is determined for an unspecified bit of the test cube. In the combinational portion, when there are one more unspecified bits not only in the pseudo external input lines but also the pseudo external output lines, an assigning operation, a justifying operation or first and second assigning/justifying operations are performed upon a focused bit pair. |
| US08117511B2 |
Communication device and method of correcting the same
A communication device includes a reference clock generator that generates a first reference clock signal, and a super frame timer that clocks a period of super frame based on the first reference clock signal generated by the reference clock generator. The communication device further includes a physical layer that performs wireless communication and generates a second reference clock signal, and a timer correcting part that corrects an error in the clocking in the super frame timer based on the first reference clock signal generated by the reference clock generator and the second reference clock signal generated by the physical layer. |
| US08117510B1 |
Circuits, architectures, apparatuses, systems, methods, algorithms, software and firmware for using reserved cells to indicate defect positions
A circuit including a memory and an error correction code circuit. The memory including (i) a plurality of data storage cells and (ii) at least one reserved cell configured to store status information identifying a status of one or more of the plurality of data storage cells. Each of the data storage cells is configured to store a plurality of data bits. Each of the at least one reserved cell includes a multi-bit cell configured to store a lower density of information than each of the data storage cells. The error correction code circuit is configured to indicate, in a data stream formed from the memory, positions of data from the data storage cells for which status information is stored. |
| US08117498B1 |
Mechanism for maintaining cache soft repairs across power state transitions
A processor core includes one or more cache memories and a repair unit. The repair unit may repair locations in the cache memories identified as having errors during an initialization sequence. The repair unit may further cause information corresponding to the repair locations to be stored within one or more storages. In response to initiation of a power-down state of a given processor core, the given processor core may execute microcode instructions that cause the information from the one or more storages to be saved to a memory unit. During a recovery of the given processor core from the power-down state, the processor core may execute additional microcode instructions that cause the information to be retrieved from the memory unit, and saved to the one or more storages. The repair unit may restore repairs to the locations in the cache memories using the information. |
| US08117496B2 |
Detecting and recovering from silent data errors in application cloning systems
A method, system, and article for resolving a silent error is disclosed. A primary program copy runs on a primary host, and a secondary program copy runs on a secondary host. The primary and secondary copies communicate to maintain synchronized execution. A third copy of the data is stored on a storage device as a write operations log and maintained in memory on the primary host while the program is running. The primary copy is synchronized with the secondary copy by computing a first checksum of data on the primary host in response to a read operation local to the primary host, computing a second checksum of data on the secondary host in response to a read operation local to the secondary host, and periodically communicating the first checksum to the secondary host, and resolving any discrepancies between the first and second checksum of data reflecting a silent data error. |
| US08117493B1 |
Fast recovery in data mirroring techniques
One or more data mirroring techniques are provided in which data storage units are pre-connected to a host node in a clustered network, in preparation for a potential data access failure. One or more data storage units are mirrored (e.g., replicated) between a source volume and a destination volume. A destination host node is pre-connected to the one or more mirrored data storage units in a destination volume prior to a data access failure at the source volume. After a data access failure occurs at the source volume (e.g., due to a hardware failure) access to the mirrored one or more data storage units is granted in an efficient manner due to the pre-connection of the destination node to the one or more mirrored data storage units. |
| US08117488B2 |
Cluster neighborhood event advisory
Database server instances in a database server cluster broadcast, to other instances in the cluster, information concerning certain problem events. Because each server instance is aware of problems that other server instances are experiencing, each server instance is enabled to make more intelligent decisions regarding the actions that it should perform in response to the problems that the server instance is experiencing. Instead of terminating itself, a server instance might opt to wait for a longer amount of time for an operation to complete. The server instance may do so due to the server instance having received information that indicates that other server instances are experiencing similar problems. Whenever the information received from other server instances makes it appear that a problem is unlikely to be solved in the cluster as a whole by terminating a server instance, that server instance may continue to wait instead of terminating itself. |
| US08117482B2 |
Timer unit circuit having plurality of output modes and method of using the same
First and second counter circuits output a signal based on a trigger signal and a clock signal respectively. A selection circuit selects first to fourth signals as the trigger signal, the clock signal, the trigger signal and the clock signal. In a first output mode, an output circuit outputs signals exhibiting normal-phase and reversed-phase PWM waveforms based on both of the signals of the first and second counter circuits. In a second output mode, the output circuit outputs signals that are each based only on either of the signals of the first and second counter circuits. |
| US08117480B2 |
Dependent temperature control within disk drive testing systems
A method of controlling a temperature of a subject test slot in a cluster of test slots includes evaluating a request for a temperature change for the subject test slot to determine if sufficient power is available to achieve the requested temperature change, and inhibiting the requested temperature change unless or until sufficient power is determined to be available to achieve the requested temperature change. |
| US08117478B2 |
Optimizing power usage by processor cores based on architectural events
A method and apparatus to monitor architecture events is disclosed. The architecture events are linked together via a push bus mechanism with each architectural event having a designated time slot. There is at least one branch of the push bus in each core. Each branch of the push bus may monitor one core with all the architectural events. All the data collected from the events by the push bus is then sent to a power control unit. |
| US08117474B2 |
CPU clock control during cache memory stall
An instruction detecting section (235) detects whether or not there is any succeeding instruction executable regardless of an order based on a data dependency relationship between a presently executed instruction and a succeeding instruction following the presently executed instruction. A clock switch judging section (236) receives notification of the start and end of a memory stall, determines whether or not a memory stall is occurring, and judges whether to switch a clock signal to be supplied to a CPU (200) to a low clock signal (239) or to stop the clock signal based on a detection result of the instruction detecting section (235) if it is judged that the memory stall is occurring. A clock switching section (237) switches the clock signal based on judgment by the clock switch judging section (236). By this construction, power consumption can be reduced without reducing performance. |
| US08117472B2 |
Semiconductor device
Semiconductor device reduces power consumption of total display system. A display memory 12 is operated by a power RVDD and stores display data WD at a determined timing based on various signals from a logic section 11. The display memory 12 outputs the stored display data WD as display data RD to a source driver 15 based on the various signals from the logic section 11. A bias circuit 14 detects a memory write signal MAW and a memory read signal MAR of the logic section 11 to the display memory 12 and controls bias of a power section for memory 13a based on detected result. The power section for memory 13a is configured by an analog amplifier and steps down voltage of a power terminal VCC and keeps constant and supplies the constant voltage as the power RVDD to the display memory 12. A driving capacity of the power section for memory 13a can be varied by changing a bias current by controlling the bias circuit 14. |
| US08117471B2 |
Power management method for handheld electronic device using G-sensor
A power management method for a handheld electronic device is provided. In the present method, a G-sensor is used for detecting a normal vector of a plane of the handheld electronic device. The normal vector is then determined whether being directed toward a downward direction. When the normal vector is determined as being directed toward the downward. Accordingly, the handheld electronic device can be controlled to enter the power saving mode timely according to the positioned state of the device without going through complicated procedures such as operating a menu, so as to provide a more intuitive and convenient way for power management. |
| US08117469B2 |
Automatically determining operating parameters of a power management device
Automatically determining operating parameters of a power management device is described. |
| US08117465B2 |
Mobile device and power control method thereof
A power control method of a mobile device includes the following steps. First, a power management module receives an externally triggered power control signal and accordingly generates an interrupt request (IRQ) at a first time point. Next, a processing unit receives the IRQ and accordingly executes a synchronization processing procedure. A file system timely stores data from a temporary cache area to a permanent storing area according to the synchronization processing procedure. Furthermore, a calculating unit calculates a first time period between a present time point and the first time point and determines whether the calculating unit reaches a maximum waiting period. When the maximum waiting period is reached, the power management module performs a power operation according to the power control signal. |
| US08117464B1 |
Sub-volume level security for deduplicated data
A network storage server receives write requests from clients via a network and internally buffers data blocks written by the write requests. At a consistency point, the storage server commits the data blocks to nonvolatile mass storage. In the consistency point process, a storage operating system in the network storage server compresses the data blocks, encrypts selected data blocks, and stores the compressed and (possibly) encrypted data blocks in the nonvolatile mass storage facility. Data blocks can also be fingerprinted in parallel with compression and/or encryption, to facilitate deduplication. Data blocks can be indexed and classified according to content or attributes of the data. Encryption can be applied at different levels of logical container granularity, where a separate, unique cryptographic key is used for each encrypted data container. To facilitate deduplication, the system creates an additional, shared encryption key for each data block duplicated between two or more logical containers. |
| US08117462B2 |
Delivery point validation system
Systems and methods consistent with the present invention encode a list so users of the list may make inquiries to the coded list without the entire content of the list being revealed to the users. Once each item in the list has been encoded by an encoder, a bit array with high and low values may be used to represent the items in the list. The bit array may be embodied in a validation system for allowing users to query the list to determine whether an inquiry item is on the list. The validation system determines which bits to check by executing the same coding process executed by the encoder. If all the bits are high, then the inquiry item is determined to be part of the list, if at least one of the bits is low, then the inquiry item is determined not to be part of the original list. |
| US08117458B2 |
Methods and systems for graphical image authentication
Systems and methods for providing authentication using an arrangement of dynamic graphical images, which may display a popup element while a pointing device indicator is over a graphical image. The graphical images can be arranged as a grid or matrix for presentation on a device display for authentication of a user. The kinds of graphical images can be derived from a designated authentication category and non-authenticating categories. A series of password elements corresponding to the graphical images can be displayed with the graphical images. The user may enter the series of one or more password elements corresponding to graphical images from the authentication category which combine to form a password entry. An authentication server can compare the password entry to an authentication password corresponding to the particular arrangement of dynamic graphical images. The selection of graphical images, their arrangement and their corresponding password elements, may dynamically change in between authentication processes. |
| US08117456B2 |
Network system, server and information terminal for list matching
A method, apparatus and system to ensure the security in the information exchange and to provide list matching with higher efficiency and practicality. In a particular embodiment, each of lists to be subject to list matching is represented as a polynomial having roots equivalent to the items of the list. Then, polynomials generated for the lists to be subject to list matching are added according to a distributed secret computation. A list containing an item equivalent to a root of a polynomial resulting from the addition is created and output as the list of a common item. |
| US08117455B2 |
Object authentication from a signature part
A method of authenticating an object in which a computer system receives indicating data from a sensing device. The indicating data is generated in response to sensing of coded data provided on or in a surface associated with the object and is indicative of an identity of the object and at least part of a signature. The signature is in turn a digital signature of at least part of the identity. The computer system uses the indicating to determine a received identity and a received signature part, before using the using the received identity to determine at least a determined signature part. The determined signature part is then compared to the received signature part to authenticate the object. |
| US08117453B2 |
Customization of an electronic circuit
A method and a system of customization and authentication of an electronic circuit for an application implementing an asymmetrical algorithm and using a certification authority, including use of an authentication channel of another application implementing the same asymmetrical algorithm and using another certification authority. |
| US08117449B2 |
Method to detect man-in-the-middle (MITM) or relay attacks
A method for detecting a communication relay attack involves the steps of counting a number of clock cycles occurring in a clock signal between transmission of two predetermined elements of data with a data transmission device, counting a number of clock cycles occurring in the clock signal between receipt of the two predefined elements of data and comparing the number of clock cycles counted by the data transmission device with the number of clock cycles counted by the data receiving device. |
| US08117447B2 |
Authentication method employing elliptic curve cryptography
Disclosed is an authentication method employing elliptic curve cryptography (ECC), applicable to a mobile broadcast TV system having one or more head end systems, at least a transmitter, and at least a mobile set. The authentication method comprises at least one request message from mobile sets simultaneously or in a short period of time arriving at a head end system for authentication; manipulating each broadcast authentication message by ECC; manipulating each service request message by ECC and pairing operation; performing a mutual authentication between the head end system and mobile sets by ECC and pairing operation; and broadcasting one group of authentication messages to all the mobile sets of many requests arrived at the head end system simultaneously or in a short period of time for the same service. |
| US08117446B2 |
Method and system for secured real time protocol in scalable distributed conference applications
A method of providing secured teleconference in a distributed teleconference system including providing one or more servers interconnected in a distributed structure, providing at least two participants which include at least one speaker; where each participant is a listener. Each participant is connected to a server and is associated with a secured teleconferencing application, encrypting the data that is created by the speaker's application, building an authentication tag by the speaker application, transmitting a media packet by the speaker's application to the connected server, checking authentication tag validity by each server that receives a media packet and selectively distributing the media packet if the authentication tag check succeeded and checking authentication tag validity by each listener that receives a media packet and decryption of the encrypted data provided that the authentication tag validity check succeeded. |
| US08117445B2 |
Near field communication, security and non-volatile memory integrated sub-system for embedded portable applications
An architecture is presented that facilitates integrating memory, security functionalities and near field communication (NFC) capabilities in a mobile device. A memory module is provided that comprises non-volatile memory that stores security software, sensitive data, and keys and a security processor that accesses the security software from the nonvolatile memory and performs security functions based on the security software stored. A NFC radio frequency transmitter and receiver (RF) is directly integrated into the security processor to facilitate NFC capabilities within the secure environment of the memory module. Further, the non-volatile memory directly interfaces to an NFC antenna positioned outside of the memory module via the integrated NFC RF. The integration of the security processor, memory, and NFC RF into the memory module provides a trusted environment for the manipulation and decryption of data received through the NFC antenna. |
| US08117443B1 |
Method and apparatus for generating location independent unique identifiers
Universal Unique Identifiers (UUIDs) are generated using a variety of algorithms and these algorithms are themselves encoded into the UUID. Each UUID includes two parts: a first part that is an identifier, which is unique to the second part. The second part identifies the algorithm that was used to generate the identifier. Thus, the uniqueness of the identifier is based on how the identifier was created not the entity that created it. The identity of two UUIDs is determined by comparing both the generator algorithm ID and the relative ID. |
| US08117440B2 |
Methods and apparatus for enabling unified (internet protocol version) IPV6/IPV4 routing services over IPv4-only interfaces
Some embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus that provides routing services between a red network and a black network. The apparatus includes a red router within the red network, a black router within the black network, and an IP encryptor having a red side IPv4-only interface and a black side interface, with the red side interface operatively coupled to the red router and the black side interface operatively coupled to the black network. The apparatus is configured to provide unified IPv6/IPv4 OSPFv3 routing over IPv4-only interfaces using cross-layer extensions. |
| US08117437B2 |
System for providing services for applications available under different protocols
In a service providing system, a plurality of application users can work together in real time, and an application can be created which can handle a plurality of protocols. In the system where the web-AP and SIP server environments are cooperative with each other, a web-AP execution server executing a web application associated with a web context is connected to a web context manager managing a context of the HTTP protocol. A SIP-AP execution server is connected to a SIP context manager managing a context of the SIP protocol for executing a SIP application associated with a SIP context related to a web context. A handler manager passing a message between HTTP and SIP handlers is connected to the web-AP execution server. The web and SIP context managers have cooperation managers working together. |
| US08117435B2 |
Method and system for secured dynamic bios update
In some embodiments, the invention involves providing a secure BIOS update to selective user operating systems in a platform conforming to virtualization technology. In an embodiment, a provision agent in a service operating system identifies requests for BIOS updates received from a management console and forwards authorized update requests to a virtual machine monitor (VMM) for processing the updates according to platform policy. An update may be applied immediately to some user operating systems and be delayed in others. Some updates may require an immediate reboot of the platform. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08117427B2 |
Motherboard, storage device and controller thereof, and booting method
A motherboard, a storage device and a controller thereof and a booting method are provided. In the present invention, when powered on, an unfetch signal is transmitted to a central processor unit (CPU) by a controller such that an operation of the CPU is suspended. Next, a system firmware in the storage device is loaded by the controller. After the system firmware is loaded, a fetch-done signal is transmitted to the CPU by the controller such that the CPU starts executing a booting procedure. |
| US08117424B2 |
Systems, devices, and/or methods for managing programmable logic controller processing
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a programmable logic controller, which can comprise a Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) processor. The RISC processor can be adapted to, responsive to a received request to process a Boolean operation, execute a single processor data access instruction addressed to a region of a memory-mapped register corresponding to the Boolean operation. |
| US08117419B2 |
Storage apparatus and method for eliminating redundant data storage using storage apparatus
A storage apparatus provides, in a dynamic provisioning system, a virtual logical device (DP-LDEV) that is a virtual logical device configured of a real logical device (N-LDEV). In the storage apparatus, a storage area of a real logical device is managed by being divided into unit cache areas (SLCBs), which are predetermined management units. A storage area of a virtual logical device is managed by being divided into virtual unit areas (PSCBs), which are predetermined management units. Multiple virtual unit areas having the same data stored therein are made to correspond to the same unit cache area, and thereby data stored in a storage device is managed. The correspondence is established with at the timing of, for example, destaging data from a cache memory. |
| US08117418B1 |
Method and system for managing virtual addresses of a plurality of processes corresponding to an application
The present invention provides a method and system for managing virtual addresses of a plurality of processes corresponding to an application. The method comprises designating a first set of ranges of virtual addresses to the plurality of processes, wherein the virtual addresses of the first set of ranges map to a memory region shared among the plurality of processes. Further, the method comprises designating a second set of ranges of virtual addresses to the plurality of processes, wherein the virtual addresses of the second set of ranges map to a memory region independently used by a process of the plurality of processes. Furthermore, the method comprises adding or removing virtual address ranges from one of the first set of ranges and the second set of ranges based on requirements of the application, wherein the addition or removal is performed in virtual addresses of the plurality of processes. |
| US08117417B2 |
Dynamic address translation with change record override
What is provided is an enhanced dynamic address translation facility. In one embodiment, a virtual address to be translated and an initial origin address of a translation table of the hierarchy of translation tables are obtained. A segment table entry obtained from a segment table contains a format control field. If the format control field is enabled, a segment-frame absolute address of a large block of data in main storage is obtained from the segment table entry. Each 4K byte block of data within the large block has an associated storage key. Store operations associated with the virtual address are performed to the desired block of data. If the change recording override field is disabled, the change bit of the storage key associated with the desired 4K byte block is set to 1. An indication is then provided that the desired 4K byte block has been modified. |
| US08117415B2 |
Storage device estimating a completion time for a storage operation
A storage device or system provides to a host processor an estimation of a completion time of a storage operation. The completion time may be based on the duration of automatic storage operations, which are not administered by the host processor. The storage device includes a non-volatile memory and a controller. The storage system includes: a storage device having a non-volatile memory; and a controller module. The controller or controller module estimates the completion time of a storage operation and provides to the processor the estimated completion time before the storage operation completes. |
| US08117414B2 |
Method for prioritized erasure of flash memory
A method for prioritized erasure of a non-volatile storage device, the method including the steps of: providing at least one flash unit of the storage device, wherein each flash unit has a plurality of blocks; writing data into the plurality of blocks; assigning an erasure-priority to each block, wherein the erasure-priority correlates with an erasure-priority of the data; and erasing the data in each block according to the erasure-priority of each block upon receiving an emergency-erase command. Preferably, the step of writing data into the plurality of blocks is performed in an arbitrary order in a first flash unit, and the step of writing into subsequent flash units is performed in correlation with the order in the first flash unit. Preferably, the step of erasing includes aborting erasure, before completing the erasure, for at least some of the plurality of blocks. |
| US08117411B2 |
Storage system and remote copy recovery method
Data written in the primary logical volume of the first storage device are transmitted to the third storage device via the second storage device, the data being written in the same location as the primary logical volume within the secondary logical volume in the third storage device; when transmission of the data stops among the first to the third storage devices, the respective second storage device and the third storage device manage locations in the secondary logical volume where the data held thereby are to be written; and, when transmission of the data resumes among the first to the third storage devices, the locations in the secondary logical volume managed by the respective second and the third storage devices are aggregated, the data to be written in the respective aggregated location in the secondary logical volume being transmitted from the first storage device to the third storage device via the second storage device. |
| US08117408B2 |
Buffer for object information
A buffer that is state-aware and/or node-oriented. In a state-aware buffer, one or more operations relating to a state can be performed. In a node-oriented buffer, instances of a node can be accessed without regard to an object structure in which the instance is included. |
| US08117407B2 |
Information storage medium, recording/reproducing apparatus, and recording/reproducing method
A recording/reproducing apparatus is configured to record a replacement block by logical overwrite (LOW) for updating data recorded on an information storage medium in a first area of the medium, record a replacement block for replacing a defect block generated on the medium in a second area of the medium, and record a second replacement block for replacement by defect of a first replacement block in the second area if the defect is detected while the first replacement block is being recorded in the first area to perform the logical overwrite of an original block recorded in a predetermined area of the medium, generate a defect list (DFL) entry including location information of the original block and location information of the second replacement block in order to indicate the replacement state, and move location information of the first replacement block in the second replacement block. |
| US08117406B2 |
Method of storing data into flash memory in a DBMS-independent manner using the page-differential
The present invention proposes an effective and efficient method of storing data called page-differential logging for flash-based storage systems. The primary characteristics of the invention are: (1) it writes only the page-differential that is defined as the difference between an original page in flash memory and an up-to-date page in memory; (2) it computes and writes the page-differential only when an updated page needs to be reflected into flash memory. When an updated page needs to be reflected into flash memory, the present invention stores the page into a base page and a differential page in flash memory. When a page is recreated from flash memory, it reads the base page and the differential page, and then, creates the page by merging the base page with its page-differential in the differential page. This invention significantly improves I/O performance of flash-based storage systems compared with existing page-based and log-based methods. |
| US08117405B2 |
Storage control method for managing access environment enabling host to access data
A computer system wherein a first access environment program converts an application data created by the first application program, according to access environment information, and sends the converted application data to a first volume, wherein a management computer stores the access environment information, and relationship between the second volume and the access environment information, wherein, when the management computer receives a request to access the second volume from the second host computer, the management computer identifies the access environment information based on the relationship, and sends the access environment information to the second host computer, and wherein the second host computer configures a second access environment program stored in the second host computer based on the access environment information, and wherein and a second application program stored the second host computer, accesses to the second volume via the second access environment program configured by the access environment information. |
| US08117402B2 |
Decreasing shared memory data corruption
The shared memory includes a header section and a data section, wherein said header section includes at least two headers in which control information is stored. The method comprises the steps of: judging whether or not there is data corruption in one of said at least two headers; and copying the control information in any one of other headers to said one header if there is data corruption in said one header. A method for controlling access to a shared memory is also disclosed. |
| US08117397B2 |
Victim cache line selection
A cache memory includes a cache array including a plurality of congruence classes each containing a plurality of cache lines, where each cache line belongs to one of multiple classes which include at least a first class and a second class. The cache memory also includes a cache directory of the cache array that indicates class membership. The cache memory further includes a cache controller that selects a victim cache line for eviction from a congruence class. If the congruence class contains a cache line belonging to the second class, the cache controller preferentially selects as the victim cache line a cache line of the congruence class belonging to the second class based upon access order. If the congruence class contains no cache line belonging to the second class, the cache controller selects as the victim cache line a cache line belonging to the first class based upon access order. |
| US08117395B1 |
Multi-stage pipeline for cache access
Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a command processing pipeline to be operatively coupled to a shared cache, the command processing pipeline comprising a command processing pipeline operatively coupled to the N-way cache and configured to process a sequence of cache commands, wherein a way of the N ways of the cache with which an address of a cache command matches is a hit way for the cache command in case the cache command is a hit. In one embodiment, the command processing pipeline may be configured to receive a first cache command from one of the plurality of processing cores, select a way, from the N ways, as a potential eviction way, and generate, based at least in part on the received first cache command, N selection signals corresponding to the N ways, wherein each selection signal is indicative of whether the corresponding way is (A). the hit way and/or the eviction way, or (B). neither the hit way nor the eviction way. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08117394B2 |
Consistency model for object management data
A method and apparatus are provided for maintaining cache coherency of object management data in a computer system. The computer system is configured with a bit mask to represent changes in object management data. All changes in an object are reflected by setting an associated bit in the bit mask. A cache update of object management data is limited to the bit(s) set in the bit mask. |
| US08117392B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient ordered stores over an interconnection network
A physically distributed cache memory system includes an interconnection network, first level cache memory slices, and second level cache memory slices. The first level cache memory slices are coupled to the interconnection network to generate tagged ordered store requests. Each tagged ordered store requests has a tag including requester identification and a store sequence token. The second level cache memory slices are coupled to the interconnection network to execute ordered store requests in-order across the physically distributed cache memory system in response to each tag of the tagged ordered store requests. |
| US08117391B2 |
Storage system and data management method
A storage system, which is coupled to a computer, includes a storage device, a controller, a plurality of cache memory units, and a connecting unit. Each of the plurality of cache memory units includes: a cache memory for storing data; an auxiliary storage device for holding a content of data even after shutdown of power; and a cache controller for controlling an input/output of data to/from the cache memory and the auxiliary storage device. The cache controller store data stored in the cache memory, which is divided into a plurality of parts, into a plurality of the auxiliary storage devices included in the plurality of cache memory units. |
| US08117389B2 |
Design structure for performing cacheline polling utilizing store with reserve and load when reservation lost instructions
A design structure for performing cacheline polling utilizing store and reserve and load when reservation lost instructions is disclosed. In one embodiment a method is provided which comprises storing a buffer flag busy indicator data value within a first cacheable memory location and setting a load/store operation reservation on said first cacheable memory location via a store and reserve instruction. In the described embodiment, a data value stored within the first cacheable memory location is accessed via a conditional load instruction in response to a determination that the load/store operation reservation on the first cacheable memory location has been reset. Conversely, execution of the conditional load instruction is stalled in response to a determination that the load/store operation reservation on the first cacheable memory location has not been reset. |
| US08117385B2 |
System and method of maximization of storage capacity in a configuration limited system
A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for providing management of serial attached small computer system interface (SAS) storage devices. A host computer comprises a storage controller connected to a SAS port expander comprising a plurality of ports that are logically assigned to target storage devices. The device ports of all storage devices physically attached to the SAS port expander are bypassed to remove their logical SAS expander port assignments. The storage controller unbypasses the device ports, allowing it to recognize the presence of all physically attached storage devices. The recognized storage devices are inventoried and storage devices that are not logically assigned a SAS expander port are designated as being spare storage devices. SAS expander ports are logically assigned to the non-spare storage devices and SAS storage operations are performed. |
| US08117384B2 |
Searching a content addressable memory with modifiable comparands
A method includes searching a content addressable memory based on a comparand. The comparand includes a collection of bits. A modified comparand is generated by modifying the comparand. The modified comparand is based at least in part on a comparand overlay data value. The content addressable memory is also searched with the modified comparand. |
| US08117377B2 |
Flash memory device having secure file deletion function and method for securely deleting flash file
Disclosed is a flash memory device having a secure flash file deletion function and a method for securely deleting a flash file. Data and object headers as actual contents of the flash file are separately stored in data blocks and header blocks. At this time, the data is encrypted and stored, and a decryption key is included in an object header and stored in a header block. When the flash file is deleted, the object header is deleted by searching the header block where the object header including the decryption key is stored. In order to search the header block, a binary tree structure is used in which a terminal node indicates an LSB of a file ID. Disclosed may be applied to an embedded system where a flash memory is used as a storage medium. In particular, disclosed is suitable for a NAND flash memory device. |
| US08117372B2 |
Virtualization of a host computer's native I/O system architecture via internet and LANs
A hardware/software system and method that collectively enables virtualization of the host computer's native I/O system architecture via the Internet and LANs. The invention includes a solution to the problems of the relatively narrow focus of iSCSI, the direct connect limitation of PCI Express, and the inaccessibility of PCI Express for expansion in blade architectures. |
| US08117370B2 |
IC for handheld computing unit of a computing device
An IC includes a processing module, on-chip memory, one or more block input/output (I/O) interfaces for coupling to one or more off-chip block I/O devices, one or more character I/O interfaces for coupling to one or more off-chip character I/O devices when active, a main memory interface for coupling to off-chip main memory, a baseband processing module, an RF section, a processing module interface, and an IC bus structure. The processing module interface couples the processing module to an off-chip connection structure, wherein, when a handheld computing unit that includes the IC is docked to an extended computing unit, the off-chip connection structure couples the handheld computing unit to the extended computing unit such that the IC is in a docked mode. |
| US08117362B2 |
Programmable multi-function Z-wave adapter for Z-wave wireless networks
The present invention provides a programmable multi-function adapter for a wireless network that includes a wireless communications module, a control module, a data communications interface and a programmable non-volatile memory. The data communications interface is coupled to the control module, while the programmable non-volatile memory is coupled to the control module and the wireless communications module. The programmable non-volatile memory stores information accessible by the control module and the wireless communications module. |
| US08117361B2 |
Dynamic compression of systems management data
A method, system, and medium for compressing systems management information in a historical data store. Dynamically determining the appropriate compression algorithm to apply based on the type of data being compressed and stored. As further input is received for any particular measurement, the appropriate compression algorithm will be automatically selected from the set of available compression algorithms or be defined by a user configuration parameter. The amount of historical data stored with the minimal amount of data loss is optimized by the system dynamically changing the compression algorithm used for the given input data over a particular time span. The system engineer is therefore presented with the pertinent information for monitoring, administrating and diagnosing system activities. |
| US08117357B2 |
System core for transferring data between an external device and memory
Details of a highly cost effective and efficient implementation of a manifold array (ManArray) architecture and instruction syntax for use therewith are described herein. Various aspects of this approach include the regularity of the syntax, the relative ease with which the instruction set can be represented in database form, the ready ability with which tools can be created, the ready generation of self-checking codes and parameterized test cases. Parameterizations can be fairly easily mapped and system maintenance is significantly simplified. |
| US08117355B2 |
Data processing apparatus and method that monitors and controls mounting and unmounting of a removable storage device
A data processing apparatus includes an operating system that performs a mounting and an unmounting of a removable external storage device; a plurality of application programs each configured to independently access the external storage device; and an external-storage-device monitoring unit that instructs the operating system, based on a request for mounting or unmounting the external storage device, which is output from each of the application programs, to perform the mounting and the unmounting of the external storage device. |
| US08117354B2 |
Automatically disabling input/output signal processing based on the required multimedia format
A system and method operable to automatically disable input/output signal processing based on the required data format is provided. The need for an input/output module, such as an encoder, required to process input signal having a first data format (i.e. multimedia format) and produce an output signal having a second format (i.e. multimedia format) is determined. When the input/output module is not required to produce the output signal in the second format, the input/output module is disabled. |
| US08117350B2 |
Configuration space compaction
The described embodiments provide a system for accessing values for configuration space registers (CSRs). This system includes a CSR data storage mechanism with an address input and a CSR data output. The CSR data storage mechanism includes a memory containing a number of memory locations for storing the true or actual values for CSRs for functions for corresponding devices. In these embodiments, the memory locations are divided into at least one shared region and at least one unique region. In these embodiments, in response to receiving an address for a memory location on the address input, the CSR data storage mechanism accesses the value for the CSR in the memory location in a corresponding shared region or unique region. |
| US08117348B2 |
User interface apparatus, digital apparatus connected to the same, data transmitting system including the user interface, and user interface method
Provided is a user interface apparatus including a plurality of regions and method for operating the same. The user interface apparatus may be configured to respond to a digital apparatus being disposed in a region, by sending information associated with the region. The information indicative of a command for the digital apparatus to execute to interact with a host apparatus. The digital apparatus may include an information recognizing unit configured to recognize the command indicated by the information provided by the information providing units; and a control unit configured to transmit data or receive data based on the command. Thus, a user can input a user control signal to a digital apparatus in a user friendly manner. |
| US08117347B2 |
Providing indirect data addressing for a control block at a channel subsystem of an I/O processing system
An computer program product, apparatus, and method for facilitating input/output (I/O) processing for an I/O operation at a host computer system configured for communication with a control unit. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes the host computer system obtaining a transport command word (TCW) for an I/O operation. The TCW specifies a location of one or more I/O commands and a flag. The flag is set to indicate that the location is an indirect address. The host computer system extracts the location of the one or more I/O commands and the flag from the TCW. The host computer system gathers the one or more I/O commands responsive to the location specified by the TCW and the flag, and then forwards the one or more I/O commands to the control unit for execution. |
| US08117345B2 |
Signal processing device and method, program, and signal processing system
A signal processing device is a predetermined signal processing device among signal processing devices which perform signal processing on an input signal that is input to any one of the signal processing devices in such a manner that the signal processing devices share signal processing. The signal processing device includes a signal processing section that performs signal processing on a first-bandwidth signal, which is included in the input signal, in accordance with a processing capability of the signal processing device to generate a first output signal; and a signal integration section that integrates a second output signal with the first output signal, and that outputs the integrated signal to a second different signal processing device, the second output signal being generated in a first different signal processing device by performing signal processing on a second-bandwidth signal, which is included in the input signal. |
| US08117344B2 |
Global server for authenticating access to remote services
A client stores a first set of workspace data, and is coupled via a computer network to a global server. The client may be configured to synchronize portions of the first set of workspace data with the global server, which stores independently modifiable copies of the portions. The global server may also store workspace data which is not downloaded from the client, and thus stores a second set of workspace data. The global server may be configured to identify and authenticate a user seeking global server access from a remote terminal, and is configured to provide access to the first set or to the second set. Further, services may be stored anywhere in the computer network. The global server may be configured to provide the user with access to the services. The system may further include a synchronization-start module at the client site (which may be protected by a firewall) that initiates interconnection and synchronization with the global server when predetermined criteria have been satisfied. |
| US08117343B2 |
Landmark chunking of landmarkless regions
A computer-executed method for forming data chunks from a sequence of data values comprises determining whether processing of the sequence of data values has entered a landmark-free region. If processing has entered a landmark-free region, a data chunk is produced using a specialized landmark chunking technique that is specialized for landmark-free regions. Otherwise, the method comprises producing a data chunk using a standard-data landmark chunking technique. |
| US08117341B2 |
Determining and presenting communication device proximity information
A location and mapping application takes device information and produces location information for display on a communication-enabled computing device (e.g., a personal digital assistant or wireless phone). A current location of a wireless device may be provided with an announcement of an incoming call or message and may be in the form of a street address or a map. Location information for a wired (or fixed-location) device may be provided in the form of a map. Location information for nearby wireless and wired devices may also be provided. Location information may be updated for wireless devices that are moving. |
| US08117338B2 |
Border gateway protocol procedures for multi-protocol label switching and layer-2 virtual private networks using Ethernet-based tunnels
Described are a network device and method for distributing routing information for a virtual private network (VPN) application through a packet-switched network (PSN) from a first provider edge (PE) router to a second provider edge (PE) router. An Ethernet switched path (e.g., a Provider Backbone Transport (PBT) tunnel) is established between the first and second PE routers. The first PE router is at a source end of the Ethernet switched path and the second PE router is at a destination end of the Ethernet switched path. A BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) message is sent from the first PE router to the second PE router. The BGP message contains routing information for a VPN route in a VPN supported by the PSN. An association between the VPN route in the VPN and the Ethernet switched path is determined from the routing information in the BGP message. |
| US08117334B2 |
System and methods for workflow management
The workflow management system includes various modules that manipulate incoming messages from a variety of clients, translate and route the messages to the appropriate backend applications, monitor completion by the backend applications and provide responses to the clients. A common database is operatively connected to the applications and modules to manage and monitor the workflow of an enterprise over time and provide support of service. |
| US08117332B2 |
Network streaming over multiple physical interfaces
The present disclosure is directed to controlling a sending of a single data stream from a sending endpoint to a receiving endpoint. Both of the endpoints each have multiple physical interfaces connecting each endpoint to one or more networks. A buffer size is selected for a buffer at the receiving endpoint, and an estimation is made by the receiving endpoint of a fill rate of the buffer. The estimated fill rate is then compared with a target fill rate. Feedback is then sent by the receiving endpoint over one or more of the physical interfaces instructing the sending endpoint to reduce or increase a rate at which data is being sent, if the estimated fill rate is more than the target fill rate or the estimated fill rate is less than the target fill rate, respectively. The splitting and sending of data is then adjusted according to the feedback. |
| US08117330B2 |
Information processing device for relaying streaming data
According to one embodiment, a method is described for relaying streaming data from a first external device and to transmit streaming data to a second external device. The method comprises (i) receiving a first delay time to be needed by the second external device from the second external device, (ii) calculating a third delay time by adding the first delay time to a second delay time to be needed in the information processing device, and (iii) transmitting the third delay time to the first external device. |
| US08117328B2 |
System and method for automatically recovering from failed network connections in streaming media scenarios
Automatically recovering from broken network connections in streaming media scenarios. Server software executing on the server communicates with client software executing on the client during the streaming media session. If the streaming media session is interrupted, the server software and the client software exchange messages to associate the client with a client state stored by the server and to re-synchronize playback of the content. |
| US08117320B2 |
Allocation of tracker resources in a computing system
A number of caching agents are interconnected by a ring. A number of trackers of a home agent are pre-allocated to each of the number of caching agents. A tracker provides a permit for a caching agent to issue a request to the home agent. In case a caching agent needs to issue more requests to the home agent, the caching agent may borrow a tracker from another caching agent by sending a message via the ring to other caching agents. A caching agent receiving the borrowing message may either respond the borrowing message by lending a tracker pre-allocated to the corresponding caching agent, or deny the borrowing request by forwarding the borrowing message to another caching agent. |
| US08117319B2 |
Domain name service resolver
A content delivery network (CDN) for providing content objects and domain resolution. The CDN includes a connection with a terminal device, a second domain name service (DNS) system, an IP address store for holding authoritative Internet protocol (IP) addresses, and a content store holding at least one of the first or second content object. A first request to resolve a first domain name is received by the second DNS system at a second location. A second request to resolve a second domain name is received by the second DNS system at the second location. The first domain name is associated with a first content object, and the second domain name is associated with a second content object. The first and second requests are relayed with the terminal device, which receives Internet access from an access network. The access network comprises a first DNS system that functions in a recursing DNS mode. The content object is realized in a first location that is different from the second location of the terminal device. The second DNS system operates in a recursing DNS mode to retrieve a first IP address corresponding to the first domain name. The first IP address for the first domain name is returned from the second DNS system to the terminal device to fulfill the first request. The second DNS system operates in an authoritative DNS mode to retrieve a second IP address from the IP address store. The second IP address for the second domain name is returned from the second DNS system to the terminal device to fulfill the second request. |
| US08117317B2 |
Systems and methods for integrating local systems with cloud computing resources
In one embodiment the present invention includes systems and methods for integrating local systems with cloud computing resources. In one embodiment, shared security information is stored on a local system and on a cloud computer system to allow secure communications between software applications on the two systems. In another embodiment, a tunnel agent client on a local system and a tunnel agent server on a cloud computer system are used to establish a secure connection point between the two systems. |
| US08117316B2 |
Terminal shift management system and method thereof
The present invention relates to a terminal control system, and more particularly, to a system and a method which allows a user to shift an IP service from a terminal to which the service is currently provided to a user's other terminal, thereby enabling the user to continuously using the IP service without disconnection. The system comprises: an authentication authorization accounting (AAA) interface unit which receives unique information having fixed properties with respect to a terminal authenticated by a subscriber terminal authentication system and a user of the authenticated terminal; a terminal interface unit which receives status information having variable properties with respect to the authorized terminal and a currently used service; a unique information managing unit which stores and manages the unique information; a status information managing unit which stores and manages the status information; and a terminal shift management control unit which provides information regarding terminals available for the current service with reference to the unique information and the status information, when there is a terminal shift request, generates service session information which is required when the currently used service is sent to a terminal selected from the information and sends the generated service session information to the selected terminal to which the service is to be shifted. Accordingly, the user of the terminal can conveniently change the terminal to continuously use the IP service without disconnection while using the IP service. |
| US08117314B2 |
Methods and systems for providing remote access to a computing environment provided by a virtual machine
A method for providing remote access to a computer environment provided by a virtual machine includes the step of receiving authentication information associated with a user of a client machine. Based on the received authentication information, a computer environment provided by a virtualized operating system and already associated with the user is identified. A connection is established between the client machine and the identified computing environment. |
| US08117313B2 |
System and method for adaptive formatting of image information for efficient delivery and presentation
A content server distributes image information to networked devices. The content server receives a request for delivery of information to a networked device, including image information. The content server determines, based on at least one of an image delivery parameter and an image presentation parameter associated with the networked device, an image format for the image information for delivery of the image information to the networked device and for presentation of the image information at the networked device. The content server sends a response to the networked device, responding to the request, the response comprising at least a portion of the image information in the image format. The image delivery parameter corresponds to at least one network communication link type and the image presentation parameter corresponds to at least one presentation platform type. |
| US08117310B2 |
Method for the central control of resources in expandable medical platforms
A method of at least one embodiment uses a central instance for receiving all orders within the platform. A meta interface regulates the assignment of resources to orders. In addition, in at least one embodiment, each order is performed by at least one process handler. This assures the deadlock-free use of resources within the platform. Furthermore, at least one embodiment of the invention allows controlled stopping of active process handlers and hence interruption of running processes. |
| US08117306B1 |
Optimizing content management
A system and method for monitoring the performance associated with fulfilling resource requests and determining optimizations for improving such performance are provided. A processing device obtains and processes performance metric information associated with processing a request for an original resource and any embedded resource. The processing device uses the processed performance metric information to determine a CDN service provider for alternatively hosting at least a portion of the original resource and/or any embedded resources. In some embodiments, in making such a determination, the processing device assesses performance metric information collected and associated with subsequent resource requests for the original resource and any embedded resources using each of a variety of alternative CDN service providers. The processing device may also consider CDN selection criteria obtained from the original content provider. Aspects of systems and methods for generating recommendations associated with monitoring the operation and performance of CDN service providers with respect to specific resource requests are also provided. |
| US08117303B2 |
Systems, methods, devices, and computer program products for downloading content for offline browsing
Systems, methods, devices and computer program products are provided for: receiving an indication that an electronic device is to be communicatively disconnected from a network; downloading information from the network in response to the received indication, but before the electronic device is disconnected from the network; and storing the downloaded information in the electronic device so that the information is available for offline browsing. For example, a user may instruct an electronic device to disconnect from a network. The user may also specify an amount of time before the device must disconnect from the network. The device may then begin pre-caching network content until the specified amount of time expires. When the specified amount of time expires, the device may disconnect from the network, but the user can continue to browse network content offline by browsing the pre-cached network content stored in a local memory. |
| US08117300B2 |
Supporting both asynchronous and synchronous data transfers between production event information sources and a production information database
A production information reporting/recording system is disclosed herein including a number of features to ensure efficient, flexible and reliable recording of production data in a manufacturing system. Such features include validating the content of event messages to ensure compliance of event report information with a standard. The system also supports caching IDs associated with particular aspects of an event message (e.g., a production request, a process segment) as well as a unique ID corresponding to the ID assigned by the production event database to reduce the need to access the database when assigning unique database IDs to received events. The production event messaging system also supports both asynchronous and synchronous transactional messaging between the sources of events and the production database service. Furthermore, the system supports including extensions to a base production message schema through the inclusion of metadata that designates a particular production server to parse and apply/store the extension information. |
| US08117296B2 |
Domain name resolution using a distributed DNS network
A distributed DNS network includes a central origin server that actually controls the zone, and edge DNS cache servers configured to cache the DNS content of the origin server. The edge DNS cache servers are published as the authoritative servers for customer domains instead of the origin server. When a request for a DNS record results in a cache miss, the edge DNS cache servers get the information from the origin server and cache it for use in response to future requests. Multiple edge DNS cache servers can be deployed at multiple locations. Since an unlimited number of edge DNS cache servers can be deployed, the system is highly scalable. The disclosed techniques protect against DoS attacks, as DNS requests are not made to the origin server directly. |
| US08117295B2 |
Remote apparatus management system, remote apparatus management method and remote apparatus management program
In an environment such as the Internet where a wide variety of electronic apparatuses should be managed and which includes many electronic apparatuses, connection must be modified smoothly according to a status change. An apparatus status collection unit collects apparatus status such as types, loads and positions of electronic apparatuses. A communication status collection unit collects communication status such as a type, path and load of communication. A connection rule retention unit retains beforehand a connection rule indicating a communication connection method being relevant to certain apparatus status, communication status and terminal status. A connection method decision unit compares apparatus status, communication status and terminal status with connection rules to extract a connection rule indicating an appropriate connection method. Then, the connection method decision unit causes an apparatus driver unit, the protocol conversion unit and a network communication unit to set the units to the decided connection method. |
| US08117288B2 |
Optimizing layout of an application on a massively parallel supercomputer
A general computer-implement method and apparatus to optimize problem layout on a massively parallel supercomputer is described. The method takes as input the communication matrix of an arbitrary problem in the form of an array whose entries C(i, j) are the amount to data communicated from domain i to domain j. Given C(i, j), first implement a heuristic map is implemented which attempts sequentially to map a domain and its communications neighbors either to the same supercomputer node or to near-neighbor nodes on the supercomputer torus while keeping the number of domains mapped to a supercomputer node constant (as much as possible). Next a Markov Chain of maps is generated from the initial map using Monte Carlo simulation with Free Energy (cost function) F=Σi,jC(i,j)H(i,j)− where H(i,j) is the smallest number of hops on the supercomputer torus between domain i and domain j. On the cases tested, found was that the method produces good mappings and has the potential to be used as a general layout optimization tool for parallel codes. At the moment, the serial code implemented to test the method is un-optimized so that computation time to find the optimum map can be several hours on a typical PC. For production implementation, good parallel code for our algorithm would be required which could itself be implemented on supercomputer. |
| US08117284B2 |
Unsolicited and unconfirmed computing platform service information
An apparatus and a system, as well as a method and article, may operate to receive solicited or unsolicited computing platform service information associated with services offered by a plurality of service points in a range area, store some portion of the received information, and periodically transmit, with or without confirmation, some portion of the stored information to one or more potential subscribers. |
| US08117268B2 |
Hosted voice recognition system for wireless devices
Methods, systems, and software for converting the audio input of a user of a hand-held client device or mobile phone into a textual representation by means of a backend server accessed by the device through a communications network. The text is then inserted into or used by an application of the client device to send a text message, instant message, email, or to insert a request into a web-based application or service. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of initializing or launching the application on the device; recording and transmitting the recorded audio message from the client device to the backend server through a client-server communication protocol; converting the transmitted audio message into the textual representation in the backend server; and sending the converted text message back to the client device or forwarding it on to an alternate destination directly from the server. |
| US08117267B2 |
System and method for provisioning an email account using mail exchange and address records
A system for provisioning an electronic mail (email) account of a user for allowing access to an electronic mailbox from a remote device to retrieve email includes a communications module that receives email address parameters entered by the user and transmits a domain name system (DNS) query to the Internet for returning mail exchange (MX) and address (A) records corresponding to the entered email address parameters of the user. A configuration module processes any returned MX and A records to determine whether the email address parameters entered by the user are valid before attempting to provision the email account of the user. |
| US08117265B2 |
Identifying and using identities deemed to be known to a user
The people a user is presumed to know or be associated with may be determined using a number of techniques. This information about people that the user knows is used in relation to the user's communications. For example access to a user's online presence may be restricted based on the known people such that access to presence is provided only to those people that the user knows. |
| US08117262B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for locating an application during a collaboration session
In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses include requesting an expert during a collaboration session; determining a subject matter of the collaboration session; detecting a potential participant to serve as the expert; and inviting the potential participant to join the collaboration session. |
| US08117254B2 |
User name mapping in a heterogeneous network
A user information management service including features and/or methods for user information mapping. |
| US08117251B2 |
Computation of a multiplication operation with an electronic circuit and method
A computing method and circuit for computing a modular operation with at least one operand having a binary representation. Iteratively for each bit of this operand, doubling the value of an intermediate result stored in a first memory element by shifting the bits of the intermediate result towards the most significant bit and, while the most significant bit of the intermediate result is one, updating this intermediate result by subtracting a modulus stored in a second memory element. |
| US08117249B1 |
Equalizer systems and methods utilizing analog delay elements
Systems and methods provide analog delay elements, which may be utilized in isolation or in a cascade, such as for use within equalizers or other types of applications. For example, a delay element may include a broadband amplifier and a passive, programmable filter, which may provide a desired magnitude and group delay response over a wide frequency range while being tolerant of process variations. An equalizer, for example, may include the delay element within its feed forward filter and/or within its other circuits, such as within its adaptive coefficient generator or slicer input time-align circuit. |
| US08117245B2 |
System and method for using demographic organization and segmentation to manage large scale projects
A method and system is provided to demographically represent and implement one or more projects associated with an entity such as a corporation in a database so that the views into the database reflect a defined hierarchy of the demographics of the project or entity. The views may be created to reflect various aspects such as technological components, physical attributes of the entity, processes, or other attributes. The processes reflected by the views may also provide action based data elements for supporting the activities necessary to accomplish the processes over time. The project and associate views may also be organized by language or geographic requirements. In use, the invention may provide for management and control for large scale projects such as a migration from one organizational state to another. |
| US08117235B1 |
Techniques for binding resources for use by a consumer tier
Described are techniques for configuring resources of a data storage system. A definition for each of one or more tiers is provided. Each of the tiers corresponds to a different class of consumer of data storage system resources and has a different corresponding definition including a set of one or more clauses and a priority of each clause in said set relative to other clauses in said set. Each of the clauses in the set is one of a plurality of predefined types of clauses. One or more data storage consumers are associated with each tier. A first set of data storage system resources is associated with a first of said one or more tiers in accordance with a corresponding first definition for said first tier. The first set is used when processing storage provisioning requests and I/O requests for data storage consumers associated with the first tier. |
| US08117229B1 |
Fast identification of complex strings in a data stream
A method for detecting and locating occurrence in a data stream of any complex string belonging to a predefined complex dictionary is disclosed. A complex string may comprise an arbitrary number of interleaving coherent strings and ambiguous strings. The method comprises a first process for transforming the complex dictionary into a simple structure to enable continuously conducting computationally efficient search, and a second process for examining received data in real time using the simple structure. The method may be implemented as an article of manufacture comprising at least one processor-readable medium and instructions carried on the at least one medium. The instructions causes a processor to match examined data to an object complex string belonging to the complex dictionary, where the matching process is based on equality to constituent coherent strings, and congruence to ambiguous strings, of the object complex string. |
| US08117225B1 |
Drill-down system, method, and computer program product for focusing a search
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for focusing a search. In operation, a first search is performed. Additionally, first search results of the first search are displayed. Further, at least one term of the first search results is identified. Still yet, a second search is performed, based on the at least one term of the first search results. In addition, second search results of the second search are displayed. |
| US08117222B2 |
Method and apparatus for representing an interest priority of an object to a user based on personal histories or social context
A method and apparatus assigns a quantitative variable to each object (or set of objects) in a collection available to a user. The quantitative variable is referred to as the Interest Priority Value (IPV). The IPV defines a range of states of the object, between ‘accessed’ and ‘unaccessed’, and is calculated based on one or more attributes of the object. A object with the highest IPV is the most ‘unaccessed,’ and the object with the lowest IPV is the least ‘unaccessed.’ The IPV may be used in a visual representation of the collection of objects, thereby permitting a user to readily identify and obtain those objects of greatest interest to the particular user. |
| US08117219B2 |
Generation of updatable anonymized data records for testing and developing purposes
A mechanism is described for the computer-aided generation of anonymized data records for developing and testing application programs that are intended for use in a productive network (12). A method according to the invention comprises the provision of at least one productive database (14) containing data records that contain productive data elements to be anonymized, provision of at least one non-productive database (22) containing data records that likewise contain data elements, the generation of an assignment between data records of the non-productive database (22) and data records of the productive database (14), and also the generation of an anonymized data record by replacing the data elements to be anonymized in a data record from the productive database (14) with the data elements of an assigned data record from the non-productive database (22). The assignment is maintained during a later generation of new anonymized data records and/or during an updating of already generated anonymized data records in order to be able to maintain the test data and in order to make simpler error analysis possible. |
| US08117218B2 |
Methods and systems for automated data mapping and analysis
A method for automated data mapping and analysis is described. The method includes receiving test data from a plurality of test objects at a data storage facility, selecting a test environment and analysis parameters from a user interface, retrieving a portion of the test data from the data storage facility based on the selected test environment and analysis parameters, ensuring the retrieved test data is in a common format, and analyzing the retrieved test data to generate at least one of a trending profile, an overlay profile, and a maintenance profile for the test objects for the selected analysis parameter. |
| US08117217B2 |
Information processing apparatus and encoding method
There is provided an information processing apparatus for providing encoding technology that enables data size reductions and analysis processing speed improvements even for data including elements having complex attribute values. The apparatus includes a file input unit that inputs a file including elements having a data stream of a predetermined format as an attribute value, a hierarchy information setting unit that sets hierarchy information indicating hierarchical positions for each of one or more delimiters included in the data stream, a structure information generating unit that generates structure information that defines mutual relations between hierarchy information, a designating unit that designates a region of a data stream of a predetermined format from the input file, and an encoding unit that detects delimiters from the designated region and, based on detected delimiters and structure information, encodes a data stream of the designated region based on a preset structured description language. |
| US08117213B1 |
Method and apparatus for fast similarity-based query, self-join, and join for massive, high-dimension datasets
A method and apparatus for fast similarity-based query, self-join, and join for massive, high-dimension datasets have been disclosed. |
| US08117203B2 |
Method and system for automatically extracting data from web sites
In accordance with an embodiment, data may be automatically extracted from semi-structured web sites. Unsupervised learning may be used to analyze web sites and discover their structure. One method utilizes a set of heterogeneous “experts,” each expert being capable of identifying certain types of generic structure. Each expert represents its discoveries as “hints.” Based on these hints, the system may cluster the pages and text segments and identify semi-structured data that can be extracted. To identify a good clustering, a probabilistic model of the hint-generation process may be used. |
| US08117195B1 |
Providing blog posts relevant to search results
A device identifies a search result document based on a search query, and searches a blog post repository to identify a blog post relevant to the search result document. The device also rejects the blog post if the blog post has insufficient length, contains outgoing links located a predetermined distance from the beginning of the blog post, has a large out-degree, was created before or after a predetermined time, or has incoming links with a low link-based score. The device further provides the blog post in connection with the search result document if the blog post was not rejected. |
| US08117193B2 |
Tunersphere
Methods and systems are provided for identifying one or more media items played within a geographic area selected by a user. In one embodiment, a media service tracks play histories for a number of users registered with the media service, where each play history identifies media items played by the corresponding user as well as the locations at which at least a subset of the media items were played by the corresponding user. The media service enables a requesting user to select or otherwise define one or more geographic areas of interest. Then, based on the play histories, the media service identifies one or more media items played within the one or more geographic areas of interest. The media service then provides data reflecting the one or more media items played within the one or more geographic areas of interest to a device of the requesting user. |
| US08117190B2 |
Method of pattern searching
Structural join mechanisms provide efficient query pattern matching. In one embodiment, tree-merge mechanisms are provided. In another embodiment, stack-tree mechanisms are provided. |
| US08117183B2 |
Accurate content-based indexing and retrieval system
The computer algorithm described which indexes and retrieves images. A query in the form of an image object or an image facilitates image retrieval in order to retrieve several images close to user's request. A thumbnail form of rank ordered images is provided for viewing. The user selects the images and down loads the images for inclusion in the job. The images are then ripped and printed. |
| US08117178B2 |
Natural language based service selection system and method, service query system and method
The present invention relates to a natural language based service selection system for complementing incomplete queries, which comprises a semantic analyzing device which analyzes an incomplete query from a user semantically, a service selecting device which complements the incomplete query based on the semantic-analyzed query so as to acquire the corresponding selected service, and a retrieving device which retrieves an answer according to the selected service. The present invention also relates to a natural language based service selection to method as well as a service query system and method thereof, and thus can process an incomplete query from a user and provide a selected service. |
| US08117173B2 |
Efficient chunking algorithm
The present invention provides a method for chunking an object. The method is arranged to provide efficient chunking of objects such that objects can be efficiently updated between a remote machine and a local machine over a network. The chunking algorithm is applicable in networked application such as file synchronization using remote differential compression (RDC) techniques. The chunking algorithm provides enhanced efficiencies by locating chunk boundaries around local maxima. |
| US08117170B2 |
Transient range versioning based on redirection
A method (and an article of manufacture having computer readable program code to implement the method) is disclosed to version a node range and locate a versioned node range in a storage architecture, wherein the method comprises: maintaining a set of node ranges, with each node range being formed from a range of node ID values assigned to each node among a plurality of nodes, receiving a node modification request for a node range from a database system, versioning the node range by copying (to a storage) a node range to which the node modification request is to be made, labeling the copied node range with a timestamp, locating the labeled node range via the timestamp and a hash on the node range, and outputting the located labeled node range. Optionally, versioning is done by shadowing nodes in the range to a version hash table based on a range identifier. |
| US08117169B2 |
Performing scheduled backups of a backup node associated with a plurality of agent nodes
Provided are a system and article of manufacture for performing scheduled backups of a backup node associated with a plurality of agent nodes. Backup data sets on at least one machine in a network are associated with a backup node and a plurality of agent nodes in the network are associated with the backup node. The agent nodes are associated with machines in the network capable of backing up the backup data sets associated with the backup node. A schedule indicating a scheduled backup to backup scheduled data sets associated with the backup node is processed. At least one of the agent nodes is contacted to request the at least one agent node to perform the scheduled backup and backup the scheduled data sets, wherein the at least one contacted agent node performs the scheduled backup to backup the scheduled backup sets. |
| US08117166B2 |
Method and system for creating snapshots by condition
A data management method in a storage device system having a control device connected to a computer, and a storage device connected to the control device. The control device saves data stored in an area corresponding to a write request, and then writes the data to the area specified in the write request in accordance with the write request, if a file corresponding to the write request is a file meeting the conditions included in the request. Alternatively, the control device writes the data to the area corresponding to the write request in accordance with the write request, if a file corresponding to the write request is not a file meeting the conditions. |
| US08117165B1 |
Disk-to-disk backup of database archive logs
An archived log backup solution is introduced to perform backups of archived database logs from a primary storage location towards a secondary storage location on disk-to-disk basis. The backed up archived logs are organized on the secondary in such a way that allows recovering a database from these logs by directly mounting the secondary storage location to a host where the archived logs are needed in order to perform a recovery. In addition, the archived log backup solution is implemented in such a way that backup network traffic is separated from the servers and their network. |
| US08117164B2 |
Creating and utilizing network restore points
The creation and utilization of network restore points is provided by a schema associated with a structured data set that can be conveniently backed up by periodically taking snapshots of the structured data to establish a series of restore points that can be used in the event that the primary structured data becomes lost or corrupted. In general, the snapshots are only taken after the structured data set has undergone a change in content, although they may be taken at other times as well. The snapshot may be taken by a network restore point engine that can be accessed by a user over the Internet. In addition, the snapshot may be stored on an Internet-based storage medium or it may be pushed to or pulled by the client so that the snapshot resides on a client-resident storage medium. |
| US08117162B2 |
Determining which user files to backup in a backup system
A backup program, method and system is disclosed that monitors changes to a file in a storage, checks whether backup settings related to the file already exist and requests and applies backup settings related to the file in response to the file being changed if they do not. The backup settings are applied to control operation of a backup system to make one or more backup copies of the file. The backup settings may be electively saved to be applied automatically in the event of future changes to the file without requesting the settings. One or more lists may be used to identify (e.g. include or exclude) files for backup. Files may be identified by different categories including file name, file type, or file type group associated with a particular application. A typical backup system may save backup copies to a storage area network, e.g. controlled by a backup server. |
| US08117160B1 |
Methods and apparatus for creating point in time copies in a file system using reference counts
Embodiments of the invention relate to maintaining reference counts in a file system to track when a block is available to be freed. When a snapshot copy of a file is created, rather than copying all the blocks of the file for the snapshot copy, the snapshot inode is given pointers to the blocks of the file. Rather than updating the reference counts for all these blocks to indicate that they are now in use by more than one file, the update of reference counts for at least some of these blocks may be deferred until a later time. |
| US08117157B2 |
External evaluation processes
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for managing data. The technique includes defining a secondary data set in a primary data set, linking the secondary data set to state information of the primary data set, transmitting the secondary data set to an external entity, receiving a modified secondary data set from the external entity and linking the modified secondary data set to a version of the primary data set stored with reference to state the information. The state information defines the state of the primary data set at the time the secondary data set is defined. The link between the modified secondary data set and the primary data set allows access by a user of a modified primary data set if the primary data set has changed with reference to the state information. |
| US08117155B2 |
Collection-based object replication
Collection-based object replication for a system that includes a client computing device (client) connected to a server and multiple data storage nodes. In certain cases, a data storage node generates a replica of multiple replicas of a collection. The collection is a unit of data placement, access, replication, and repair. Other data storage nodes are also configured with a respective replica of the multiple replicas. The data storage node verifies whether an object received directly from the client for storage in the collection has been fully replicated by the other data storage nodes in respective replicas. |
| US08117153B2 |
Systems and methods for a distributed cache
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide managing a distributed database cache. A database cache is provided. The database cache is distributed over at least two data processing systems. |
| US08117146B2 |
Computing the values of configuration parameters for optimal performance of associated applications
Computing the values of configuration parameters for optimal performance of associated applications. In one embodiment, a rules data is maintained indicating a corresponding rule for each of the configuration parameters of an application sought to be optimized. Each rule specifies the manner of calculation of the corresponding configuration parameter based on a corresponding set of production metrics. On receiving an indication that the value of a specific configuration parameter is to be computed, the rules data is examined and a specific rule (indicating a set of production metrics) corresponding to the specific configuration parameter is identified. The corresponding values of each of the set of production metrics are then determined and the value for the specific configuration parameter is calculated using the identified rule and the estimated values of the set of production metrics. |
| US08117145B2 |
Analytical model solver framework
A solver framework for use with an analytical model. The analytical model includes multiple model parameters and includes definitions for analytical relationships between the model parameters. The solver framework coordinates the processing of multiple specialized solvers. In particular, the solver framework identifies which model parameters are input model variables and which are output model variables. The solver framework then analyzes dependencies to determine a solve order to solve for the output model variables. The solver framework then charged the specialized solvers with performing portions of the solve operation such that the specialized solvers solve for the output model variables in an order which considers the dependencies. In one embodiment, additional or replacement solvers may register with the solver framework to thereby make the specialized solver available for solving for output model variables in the future. |
| US08117143B2 |
Using affinity measures with supervised classifiers
A non-binary affinity measure between any two data points for a supervised classifier may be determined. For example, affinity measures may be determined for tree, kernel-based, nearest neighbor-based and neural network supervised classifiers. By providing non-binary affinity measures using supervised classifiers, more information may be provided for clustering, analyzing and, particularly, for visualizing the results of data mining. |
| US08117142B2 |
Method of real-time crystal peak tracking for positron emission tomography (PET) avalanche-photodiodes (APD) detector
The present invention provides a method of real-time crystal peak tracking for avalanche-photodiode (APD) detectors on positron emission tomography (PET) scanners that satisfies the need to compensate for the significant gain drifting due to thermal variations in APD detectors on PET scanners. |
| US08117141B1 |
Hierarchical system for multi-objective shape control of variable stiffness structures
The present invention relates to a hierarchical system for multi-objective shape control of variable stiffness structures. The system operates by initializing a hierarchical hybrid Gur-game controller that is affixed to a variable stiffness structure. The hierarchical hybrid Gur-game controller includes a hierarchy of Gur-games being utilized, at each level of the hierarchy, to control at least two angular rotations and at least one stiffness setting of the variable stiffness structure. The Gur-game controller is utilized to optimize variables, including angular rotations and stiffness settings of the variable stiffness structure to morph into a desired shape. Finally, the variable stiffness structure is morphed into the desired shape according to the optimized angular rotation and stiffness settings. |
| US08117139B2 |
Methods and systems for interactive evolutionary computing (IEC)
Methods and systems for interactive evolutionary computing may include generating a set of candidate molecules based on an evolutionary scheme in which an objective function is a priori mathematically unexpressed, presenting data based on the set of candidate molecules to one or more users, receiving at least one input from the user(s), the input(s) based on the user(s)'s evaluation of the presented set of candidate molecules, and, based on the input(s), using at least the evolutionary scheme and the input(s) to generate an updated set of candidate molecules, and repeating the presenting and receiving. |
| US08117138B2 |
Method and apparatus for location evaluation and site selection
Method, apparatus and system for location evaluation and site selection, capable of effectively configuring the site network and evaluating the facility location by scientifically modeling and incorporating human knowledge are provided. In one aspect, geographic and demographic data associated with a plurality of locations and human knowledge comprising partial rating knowledge and pair-wise preference knowledge are used in a regression algorithm to construct a location evaluation model. The regression algorithm is further refined using active learning that identifies a plurality of pairs of locations to improve precision of the regression algorithm. |
| US08117137B2 |
Field-programmable gate array based accelerator system
Accelerator systems and methods are disclosed that utilize FPGA technology to achieve better parallelism and flexibility. The accelerator system may be used to implement a relevance-ranking algorithm, such as RankBoost, for a training process. The algorithm and related data structures may be organized to enable streaming data access and, thus, increase the training speed. The data may be compressed to enable the system and method to be operable with larger data sets. At least a portion of the approximated RankBoost algorithm may be implemented as a single instruction multiple data streams (SIMD) architecture with multiple processing engines (PEs) in the FPGA. Thus, large data sets can be loaded on memories associated with an FPGA to increase the speed of the relevance ranking algorithm. |
| US08117134B2 |
Neutral pixel correction for proper marked color printing
A system calculates appropriate billing within an imaging pipeline. An input component receives an image that is described as a plurality of pixels. A PDL component receives the image and determines a location, a color and a designation for each of the one or more pixels. A marking engine modifies the one or more pixels based at least in part on the location and the color provided by the PDL component and places each of the one or more pixels as a monochrome or a composite pixel on a substrate. An analysis component counts the number of monochrome and composite pixels placed on the substrate by the marking engine, the number of composite pixels that include a designation are counted as monochrome. A billing component calculates the cost for placing each of the monochrome and the composite pixels counted by the analysis component. |
| US08117131B2 |
Distributed technology transfer department
An online, and therefore distributed, technology transfer department accessible by multiple inventive entities is provided. The systems and methods of the invention provide a comprehensive interface to a remote application that collects information related to inventions, ranks the inventions, solicits approval for pursuing intellectual property protection, funding, financing, commercializing or otherwise exploiting the invention, solicits bids from a stable of service providers, manages the award of contracts to provide services, facilitates collaboration between users internal and external to the inventive entities and between different entities, implements security protocols, and reports government funded inventions to the appropriate regulatory agencies, and manages intellectual property portfolios. Each inventive entity may specify the level of control to be retained to utilize the distributed technology office application as a supplement for or as a substitute for full time technology transfer personnel. |
| US08117125B1 |
Method and system for controlling certificate based open payment transactions
Methods and systems for controlling certificate-based open payment transactions involving a merchant and a customer utilizing various types of networks and terminals. Prior to accessing a merchant POS terminal or, for example, a merchant website, a customer obtains a certificate from a service provider (SP), such as a bank, certifying his identification (ID) and his relevant financial information, in a form that is understandable by the SP. The SP is capable of performing multiple functions. For example, the SP is capable of acting as a certificate authority when it issues the customer's certificates, an authenticator when it receives private-key encrypted certificates from the customers to be decrypted using the corresponding public-key, and an authorizing authority when it checks the value available in a customer' chosen payment account against the requested purchase or transfer amount. |
| US08117121B2 |
System and method for implementing a consolidated application process
A system and method for dynamically creating and presenting a network based application for any number of a plurality of products. The method and system upon receiving a request to apply for one or more of a plurality of products, dynamically creates an application pages that includes fields to input the specific information required to apply for the selected products. The application page is provided to the applicant through the network and the application data is received by the system. The method and system causes the application data to be processed and provides the results to the applicant. The applicant is provided the results of multiple specific applications in with minimal data input and in real time. |
| US08117113B2 |
System and method for determining right of access
Various methods and systems for auctioning items such as golf tee times, restaurant reservations, concert tickets or hotel reservations are disclosed. Users can effectively bid on a large number of items but receive at most one item at the end of the auction. This has the favorable effects for the users of: (1) increasing the probability of successfully bidding for at least one item; (2) making the auction process more convenient by greatly reducing the need for actively monitoring the auction; and, (3) decreasing the possibility a user will be out bid at the last moment and receive no item. This also has the favorable effects for the seller of increasing the probability their listed items will sell and increasing the expected average sales price. |
| US08117111B2 |
Trading of derivative secured index participation notes
Techniques are described for securitizing, administrating and trading various index shares securitized by derivative, cash-settled instruments on the underlying index. |
| US08117108B2 |
Proxies for actively managed funds
Among other things, receiving public information about an actively managed fund, selecting a group of financial assets, determining a group of weights corresponding to the group of financial assets thereby determining a weighted group of financial assets, the weights being determined based only on the public information, and publishing the contents of the weighted group of financial assets, wherein an expected valuation of the weighted group of financial assets is within a threshold percentage of an expected valuation of the actively managed fund. |
| US08117105B2 |
Systems and methods for facilitating electronic securities transactions
A method for facilitating securities transactions is shown. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying, by a computer system from an OMS comprising a plurality of stored security orders, a subset of orders specifying at least a minimum available quantity; transmitting, by the computer system to an ETM, a non-binding indication corresponding to one order of the subset of orders, the non-binding indication comprising a security identifier and the order type; receiving, by the computer system, an indication that a match exists to the non-binding indication; determining, by the computer system, a total available quantity for the order corresponding to the non-binding indication; and transmitting, by the OMS, a binding order corresponding to the non-binding indication, the binding order comprising the determined total available quantity. Corresponding systems are also described. |
| US08117101B1 |
Database structure for a consumer reporting agency
A database used by a consumer reporting agency for storing application information data in association with transaction and experience information. A consumer applying for credit submits personal and financial information either verbally or by filling out a form. The application information data submitted verbally or by a form is submitted by an institution along with a request for a credit report on the consumer. The consumer reporting agency receives the request and stores the application information separately from the transaction and experience information. Each time an institution submits application information data related to the consumer, the data is accumulated in successive records and maintained. In response to a request for a report on a consumer, the consumer reporting agency forwards a response based on the application records accumulated. |
| US08117090B2 |
Motor vehicle remarketing service
A method in combination with a nationwide alliance of professional car care service providers for remarketing privately owned motor vehicles. Successfully registered sellers present their privately owned motor vehicles at a participating professional car care service provider for processing into the system. The computer-implemented system employs a method based on three-dimensional facial image technology in combination with personal relational identifiers to monitor, identify, isolate, ban, and enforce the express prohibition of used car dealer, used car broker, and curbstoner participation within the system, in any fashion. The service is national in its reach while local in its execution, and provides a national platform for green-marketing the benefits of professional car care versus individual car care alternatives. |
| US08117089B2 |
System for segmentation by product category of product images within a shopping cart
A shopping cart utility for e-commerce has a first workspace for retrieving and storing electronic catalog items; a second workspace for receiving specific ones or combinations of the catalog items; and a device display mechanism for displaying the items and associated item information in one of a thumbnail, collage, or list view. A user may reorder and reposition items in the collage view and wherein the first and second workspaces are functionally integrated. |
| US08117087B2 |
Customer loyalty, product demonstration, and store/contact center/internet coupling system and method
A system for storing information about searches and inquiries by a customer is provided. The system includes a customer service server that receives information from two or more sources, such as from a retail location sales agent, a website, a call center agent, etc. The information is associated and correlated to interrelate inquiries from the different sources. Further, when the user enters a retail location, a node or server at the retail location can push test application to a user's mobile device based on the past inquiries. These test applications are provided only when the customer is present in the retail location. As such, hacking the application is prevented. Further, with the customer using the application in the retail location, a sales agent is present to assist the customer. |
| US08117082B1 |
Comparing environmental impact of electronic and conventional transactions
The environmental impact of various transactions can be reduced or offset by determining the impact of various shipping and packaging options, and providing these options to customers. Customers then have the ability to select options that reduce the environmental impact of each transaction. A customer also can purchase environmental offsets to offset the determined impact. Customers can be provided with environmental impact information determined or tracked for each item viewed by the customer, such that each customer can be informed of the additional impact of each individual when making a selection. The selections and/or actions of a customer can be tracked such that environmentally friendly options and suggestions can be provided for subsequent transactions. |
| US08117081B2 |
System to recommend listing categories for buyer request listings
A system comprises a buyer request creation module to receive a buyer request listing, the buyer request creation module automatically to determine a listing category for the buyer request listing. A buyer request searching module locates a buyer request listing corresponding to a search criteria. A buyer request response module adds a response to the buyer request listing, the response comprising a reference to a listing for an item offered for sale on the system. |
| US08117080B1 |
Pooling method for auction or raffle in a social network system
This invention relates to a pooling method for an auction existing in a social network system wherein bidding back-up friends who provided the best bidder or raffle winner with bidding money, bidding ticket, or raffle ticket are compensated. The compensation is proportional to the amount of bidding money provided, and the order of the winner and the bidding back-up friend. The pooling method for an auction bid in a social network system comprises the steps of: providing users with bidding money, building a bidding back-up friendship among the users, providing the users with bidding tickets, providing one user's bidding money or bidding ticket to his bidding back-up friend who participates in an auction, and best bidder wins the auction and his bidding back-up friends are compensated. |
| US08117078B2 |
Method and program product for event monitoring
An event management method, program product and system for monitoring the status of a purchase order involves receiving purchase order information from a user, obtaining timeline information corresponding to the purchase order, receiving information from one or more sources on the status of the purchase order, using the received information to monitor progress of the purchase order against the timeline information, and providing a notification to the user upon identification of a missed date in the timeline information. Remedial measures are suggested or taken by the event management system. |
| US08117073B1 |
Method and system for delegation of travel arrangements by a temporary agent
A method and system for delegation of service procurement by a temporary agent. In one embodiment, in response to an event, a first entity is automatically identified to adjust travel or meeting plans pre-established for one or more group members. The identified first entity adjusts the pre-established travel or meeting plans for one or more members, and notifies one or more group members of the adjustment to the pre-established travel or meeting plans. In one embodiment, the identified first entity is at least one of the one or more group members, not one of the one or more group members, or a software agent. In one embodiment, in response to an unavailability of the first entity, a predetermined alternative first entity is identified to adjust the pre-established travel or meeting plans. In one embodiment, in response to receiving a decline from one or more group members, the one or more group members are presented with one or more second travel or meeting adjustments. In one embodiment, the adjusting of the pre-established travel or meeting plans is based at least in part on a profile of one or more group members. |
| US08117070B2 |
Fixed amount sales system
A fixed amount sales system adopted in a gasoline stand or the like for preventing operation efficiency reduction which is the case due to independent payments of fuel supply charge and option item amount is disclosed. In the fixed amount sales system, in which the amount of gasoline corresponding to balance amount as a difference of the money amounts of items desired to be bought by a customer among option items (or TBA items) from a preliminarily selected fixed amount is sold by weighing, thus making the giving and taking of small amounts of money and changes between the customer and the shop unnecessary. The fixed amount of money and option items as selected by the customer, are displayed on a menu 22 in the POS terminal 20 for selection by a touch operation of electronic buttons or the like. |
| US08117068B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing audio advertisements in a computer network
A method and apparatus for providing audio advertisements in a computer network enables Web sites to deliver audio advertisements that cannot be bypassed by a visitor. More particularly, an advertising or sponsoring Web site receives a request from at least one user for delivery of a user-selected Web page associated with the Web site. The Web site selects at least one audio advertisement from a plurality of audio advertisements for delivery to the user in conjunction with the user-selected Web page. The Web site then delivers the audio advertisement to the user via the network in a format that precludes the user from controlling the manner of playback of the audio advertisement. |
| US08117066B1 |
Continuous value-per-click estimation for low-volume terms
An estimated conversion rate for a desired advertisement term is calculated. A total number of conversion events for terms having a conversion rate is determined for each of a plurality of conversion rates, and data is generated that describes a first distribution function representing the conversion rates and the associated numbers of conversion rates. Additionally, data describing a second distribution function representing the probability of a given number of conversion events occurring is also generated. Based at least in part on the first distribution function and the second distribution function, the estimated conversion rate for the desired advertisement term is computed. |
| US08117060B2 |
Geographic demand distribution and forecast
A computerized method and a system for providing geographic demand distribution and forecast are provided. Example embodiments may include receiving a criterion to identify an item and searching a database for data associated with a geographic distribution of demand for the item identified by the criterion. The computerized method may also include presenting the geographic distribution of the demand for the item on a map. The map may display multiple geographic areas; each one of the multiple geographic areas may be displayed with a first and a second attribute. The first and the second attributes may be associated with the demand. |
| US08117059B1 |
Pull planning for serviceable parts to facilitate on-demand repair planning
In an embodiment, a method for on-demand repair planning includes modeling for a repair location: a good parts buffer; a first buffer for unserviceable parts determined to be serviceable without repair; and a second buffer for unserviceable parts determined to be repairable. A forecasted demand, for a specified quantity of serviceable parts, is accessed. Parts available in the first buffer to help satisfy the forecasted demand is estimated. If a part is available, an operation plan is generated for a use-as-is operation. If the forecasted demand is not fully satisfied, a quantity of parts available in the second buffer to help satisfy the forecasted demand is estimated and, if one or more parts are available: the latest time at which a repair operation can begin is estimated; a repair order is planned; and an operation plan is generated for the repair operation. |
| US08117058B2 |
Method for data processing and display for detecting and/or predicting possible trends
A method for detecting trends based on outcomes generated by a first process, comprising the steps of: (a) determining all possible outcomes associated with the first process, wherein the first process is associated with a range of possible outcomes; (b) coding the possible outcomes to provide a plurality of separate groups, wherein each possible outcome is systematically allocated to one of the groups; (c) allocating an identifier to each of the groups; (d) monitoring the first process such that actual outcomes generated by the first process are mapped to an identifier in accordance with coding step (b); (e) providing a matrix made up of rows and columns; (f) allocating each identifier generated in step (d) to the matrix, and (g) repeating step (f) until a trend of duplicating identifiers becomes self-evident. |
| US08117057B2 |
Retail production guide for store-prepared food items
A computer-assisted method of determining and producing quantities of perishable, store-prepared food items that should be displayed for consumer selection and purchase on a daily basis is provided. The method includes collecting daily sales data for the perishable, store-prepared food items and saving the daily sales data in memory. For a current specific day of the week, the daily sales data is processed for prior occurrences of the specific day to determine, for each of the perishable, store-prepared food items, a quantity to be placed on display. A total preparation quantity is reported for each of the perishable, store-prepared food items. |
| US08117052B2 |
Multi-tier cross-department scheduling model for order processing operations
A multi-tier cross-department scheduling model for order processing operations. A scheduling model for planning assignment of discrete jobs to multiple departments for shipment, wherein selected jobs are assignable to respective selected departments and the departments share finite capacity resources, includes a programmable computer system having loaded therein an objective function, and the computer system being operable to minimize a value of the objective function; and wherein the objective function comprises a sum of cost to ship containers in at least one of consolidated and unconsolidated forms, cost for each of a container equivalent not completed in a selected scheduling horizon, cost to process each job in each department, and cost for setup due to at least one of shift crossing and job splitting. |
| US08117051B2 |
Method for determining the number of available transport seats in a computerized reservation system
A process for determining the number of available transport seats in a computerized reservation system, which includes elements for storing data on services that provide transportation between two locations and their current reservation status, broken down by class of service, a process in which, at a predefined level of expected revenue, a number of seats available locally for a given class of service of a transport service is determined. The following process are carried out: selection of at least one other class of service of a transport service; determination of the number of seats available locally for the class of service of the transport service, at the predefined level of expected revenue; determination of an overall number of seats available for the class of service of the transport service at the predefined level of expected revenue as a function of the different numbers of seats available locally. |
| US08117050B2 |
Advertiser monetization modeling
Embodiments of the claimed subject matter provide a method and system for modeling advertiser monetization. The claimed subject matter provides a method and system from which an advertisement may be evaluated according to various metrics to determine a quality relative to other advertisements. The relative quality considers the content of the advertisement, the performance of the advertisement and the history of the advertiser's bidding behavior.One embodiment of the claimed subject matter is implemented as a method for advertiser monetization modeling. One or more advertisements are received from one or more advertisers. The quality of the advertisement(s) is defined according to certain metrics, such as the quality of the content of the advertisement, the quality of the past and estimated future performance of the advertisement and the history of bidding behavior of the advertiser. After the respective quality of the advertisement(s) is determined, the advertisement(s) is ranked with other advertisements according to the determined quality. |
| US08117049B2 |
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for determining driver behavior
Provided are methods, systems, and apparatuses for determining driver behavior based on vehicle operating parameters, adjusting insurance premiums accordingly, and preventing fraudulent manipulation of the methods, systems, and apparatuses. |
| US08117048B1 |
Electronic health record system and method for an underserved population
A system for managing electronic health records, including: an interface element in at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer for receiving data regarding at least one environmental condition, at least one symptom related to physical or mental health, and background for the patient; a memory element for the computer for storing the data; and a processor in the computer for: generating, using the data, information regarding at least one concern with respect to the physical or mental health of the patient; and generating, using the data, at least one action item for addressing the at least one concern. The interface element is for transmitting at least a portion of the information regarding the at least one concern for the physical or mental health of the patient and the at least one action item for display and receiving data regarding compliance with the at least one action item. |
| US08117044B2 |
Bio-photonic feedback control software and database
A process, apparatus, and method for computerized detection, tracking, and feedback control of nutritional supplements in an animal, including humans relies on Raman scattering effects on skin or other tissues to determine the content of carotenoids or other nutrients as evidenced in that skin. Serum levels of nutrients may vary dramatically with time, but skin tissues may average such nutrition over time. Skin and other tissues may be scanned with light to produce accurate measurements of carotenoids or other nutrients accumulated in the skin based on the Raman scattering affect of those nutrients in the skin. A score can be derived from a properly calibrated bio-photonic scanner to reflect an averaged effective uptake of the detected nutrient (e.g. such as the carotenoid example). This feedback control is thus much more immediate than any anecdotal, long-term, report of general well being, which would vary so much between individuals as to be nearly impossible to ascertain on an individual level, and difficult, invasive, and expensive to determine individually in a conventional clinical procedure. |
| US08117043B2 |
System for evaluating potential claim outcomes using related historical data
A computer system includes a data storage device. The data storage module receives, stores, and provides access to historical claim data. A categorical aggregation component comprising program instructions stored in a program memory provides categorized and aggregated historical claim data by identifying claim categories based on the historical claim data, each of the one or more claim categories associated with a respective set of claim characteristics, identifying claims of the historical claim data associated with one of the claim categories, assigning each identified claim to one of a plurality of total severity ranges based on the total severity of the identified claim, and determining an average cost per claim year for claims of each total severity range when executed by a computer processor. |
| US08117036B2 |
Non-disruptive side conversation information retrieval
Information is exchanged between a user of a communications device and an application during an ongoing conversation between the user using the communications device and a party, without disrupting the conversation. An application associated with the communications device is accessed via the communications device in response to a command and keyword spoken by the user during the communications session. Information is retrieved from the application according to the keyword spoken by the user. When the information is retrieved from the application, the user is prompted in a manner transparent to the party, after which a response is sent to the user. |
| US08117032B2 |
Noise playback enhancement of prerecorded audio for speech recognition operations
A speech processing method including the step of identifying prerecorded audio comprising an original speech segment and a corresponding original noise segment. An audio stream can be generated from the prerecorded audio. The audio stream can comprise a stream speech segment and a stream noise segment. The stream speech segment can have approximately a same duration as the original speech segment. The stream noise segment can have a longer duration than the original noise segment. The audio stream can be conveyed to a speech recognition engine. The speech recognition engine can automatically determine an end of utterance condition based upon the stream noise segment. The original noise segment can be of insufficient duration for the speech recognition engine to determine the end of utterance condition. Responsive to the determining of the end of utterance condition, the stream speech segment can be speech recognized. |
| US08117030B2 |
System and method for analysis and adjustment of speech-enabled systems
A method for analyzing and adjusting the performance of a speech-enabled application includes selecting a number of user utterances that were previously received by the speech-enabled application. The speech-enabled application receives such user utterances and associates each user utterance with an action-object based on one or more salient terms in the user utterance that are associated with the action-object. The method further includes associating one of a number of action-objects with each of the selected user utterances. Furthermore, for each action-object, the percentage of the utterances associated with the action-object that include at least one of the salient terms associated with the action-object is determined. If the percentage does not exceed a selected threshold, the method also includes adjusting the one or more salient terms associated with the action-object. |
| US08117025B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining text passage similarity
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method classifying a number of noun phrases in a first text passage and a second text passage into a number of classifications. The method also includes determining a similarity between a noun phrase from the first text passage and a noun phase from the second text passage for each of the noun phrases of a same classification. Additionally, a similarity between a sentence from the first text passage and a sentence from the second text passage is determined for each of the sentences in the first and second text passages based on similarities between the noun phrases. The method also includes determining a similarity between the first text passage and the second text passage based on a similarity between sentences. |
| US08117021B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing a software program using mock translation input method editor
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for testing software programs running on a data processing system. Text is translated from the source language to the target language to form translated text in response to a user input, containing the text in a source language. The text is entered through a computer interface in the data processing system. The translated text is inserted into a user interface of the software program to be tested to form inserted, translated text. The software program is written using the target language. A determination is made as to whether the software program functions correctly using the inserted, translated text. |
| US08117019B2 |
Method for evaluating sedimentary basin properties by numerical modeling of sedimentation processes
A method is disclosed for simulating the formation of sedimentary deposits. In one embodiment, this method involves, (a) solving a two-dimensional time-dependent map view system of equations for at least flow momentum, flow height, suspended sediment concentration, and entrainment of overlying water, (b) calculating net sediment deposition at each map view location using the flow properties, (c) recording the time-variability of the net sediment deposition. |
| US08117009B1 |
Data recorder for munitions
Disclosed is a data recorder for munitions. The data recorder includes a power source, a processor, and an acceleration sensor. The data recorder further includes a trigger validation feature which is operably coupled to the data recorder to verify the occurrence of a secondary environmental/input event. This envisioned data recorder can contain a digital or analog device as a primary or secondary trigger. Data from an accelerometer is stored in FRAM memory. |
| US08117002B2 |
Method and device for measuring a vehicle
The invention relates to a method and a device for measuring a damaged vehicle, in which inclination of the vehicle is measured with the measuring device and the measured inclination of the vehicle is used as a datum plane, distances of measuring points (9a, 9b) of the damaged vehicle (8) are measured with a measuring sensor of the measuring device and the measured data are compared to registered reference values of the measuring points, and inclination of the measuring device is measured with an inclination sensor of the measuring device. According to the invention, the measuring device simultaneously measures the distance between the measuring points and the inclination of the damaged vehicle and height difference of the measuring points is calculated from the values of distance between the measuring points and inclination. |
| US08117001B2 |
Measurement system for correcting overlay measurement error
A measurement system and a measurement method, which can obtain a measurement value close to a true value considering an overlay measurement error according to a higher order regression analysis model. The measurement system and the measurement method provide a technique for determining optimal positions of shots to be measured using an optimal experimental design. When the regression analysis model and the number of shots to be measured are determined in advance, a method is used for determining an optimal number of shots to be measured according to the regression analysis model and process dispersion using a confidence interval estimating method. A dynamic sampling method is used for dynamically changing the number and positions of shots to be measured according to a change in process features by combining the above two methods. And, when erroneous data is detected, or when measured data is missing, a robust regression analysis method and a technique for filtering the erroneous data and the missing data are used. |
| US08116996B2 |
System and method utilizing virtual switching for upgrading multifunction devices
A system and method utilizing virtual switching in an electrical panel meter or multifunction device is provided. The virtual switching enables the meter or multifunction device to be upgraded or downgraded through a switching signal, by activating or deactivating multiple operative functions that are to be performed in the meter or multifunction device, such as operative functions for substation automation. Accordingly, when the upgrade or downgrade is necessary, the meter or multifunction device does not have to be replaced. |
| US08116989B2 |
Device and method for determining a runway state, aircraft comprising such a device and piloting assistance system using that runway state
A device and associated method for determining an airport runway state includes a device that determines a runway state and is placed on board an aircraft. The device collects measured deceleration data of the aircraft during taxiing of the aircraft on the runway. Then at least one runway state is estimated from the collected data, and the estimate is transmitted to another aircraft or to a broadcasting center during the other aircraft's runway approach. |
| US08116987B2 |
Methods for the identification of microRNA and their applications in research and human health
The present invention concerns a method for prediction and identification of microRNA precursors (pre-microRNA) and microRNA molecules using data processing programs and databases. The invention also pertains to the isolated form of these pre-microRNAs, microRNA molecules and derived nucleic acids there of. The invention also relates to recombinant vector, host cell, support, pharmaceutical composition or kit comprising such microRNA molecules or there of derivated molecules. The invention also applies to the use of such microRNA molecules and/or their identified targets in research, prognostic, diagnostic tools/methods as well as for therapeutic applications. |
| US08116986B2 |
Pattern discovery techniques for determining maximal irredundant and redundant motifs
Basis motifs are determined from an input sequence through an iterative technique that begins by creating small solid motifs and continues to create larger motifs that include “don't care” characters and that can include flexible portions. The small solid motifs, including don't care characters and flexible portions, are concatenated to create larger motifs. During each iteration, motifs are trimmed to remove redundant motifs and other motifs that do not meet certain criteria. The process is continued until no new motifs are determined. At this point, the basis set of motifs has been determined. The basis motifs are used to construct redundant motifs that are formed by determining sets for selected basis motifs. From these sets, unique intersection sets are determined. This process continues, by selecting additional basis motifs, until all basis motifs have been selected. An apparatus for performing the process is also disclosed. |
| US08116985B1 |
Real time sampling, monitoring and exposure control of test animals
An automated blood or bodily fluid sampling machine for collecting, measuring and monitoring real time samples from test animals during dosing of the animals, automatically provides real-time adjustment of dosing during testing. Such automated blood or bodily fluid sampling is performed in tandem with implanted physiological monitoring devices to monitor biological and physiological parameters in restrained or freely-moving test animals. The real-time feedback provides for dosing adjustment within testing protocols. |
| US08116980B2 |
Testing process for hydrocarbon wells at zero emissions
Testing process for testing hydrocarbon wells at zero emissions in order to obtain general information on a reservoir. The process includes injecting into the reservoir a suitable liquid or gaseous fluid, compatible with the hydrocarbons of the reservoir and with the formation rock, at a constant flow-rate or with constant flow rate steps, and substantially measuring, in continuous, the flow-rate and injection pressure at the well bottom. Then, the well is closed and the pressure is measured during the fall-off period (pressure fall-off). The measured fall-off data is interpreted in order to evaluate the average static pressure of the fluids (Pav) and the reservoir properties including actual permeability (k), transmissivity (kh), areal heterogeneity or permeability barriers and real Skin factor (S). Then, well productivity is calculated. |
| US08116978B2 |
Navigation device with improved interface and mounting features
A device with an improved user interface and mounting features comprises a sensor operable to detect a mounting configuration of the device, a display, and a processing system coupled with the sensor and the display. The processing system is generally operable to receive an indication of the detected mounting configuration from the sensor and present information on the display according to the detected mounting configuration. |
| US08116977B2 |
Automatic control of passive, towed implements
An automatic control system for passive, towed implements is described. The system provides a strategy for optimal control of a towed implement using a nudge input to an autopilot-controlled tractor. Implement path-tracking error, as measured by a GNSS receiver, is consistently corrected to zero. |
| US08116971B2 |
Training a driver of a vehicle to achieve improved fuel economy
A system for training a driver to achieve improved fuel economy monitors the driving parameters of a vehicle, analyzes the monitored driving parameters, calculates suggested driving behavior adjustments, and communicates the driving behavior adjustments to the driver as the driver is driving. |
| US08116965B2 |
Apparatus for and method of controlling variable valve mechanism
The present invention provides an apparatus for and method of diagnosing whether or not a failure occurs in a variable valve mechanism on the basis of a manipulated variable of an electric actuator. The variable valve mechanism is operated by the electric actuator and varies an open characteristic of an engine valve. The time for determining occurrence of a failure in the electric actuator is changed according to a temperature condition. |
| US08116962B2 |
Method of fuel injection
A method of operating an internal combustion engine. With reference to FIG. 1, fuel is supplied to charge air using an injector (116) which in each operation delivers a set amount of fuel. The amount of fuel supplied to the charge air in each engine cycle is controlled by how many times the injector (116) operates in each cycle. A desired fuel demand is calculated as a number of operations of the injector per cycle, calculated to at least one decimal place. The desired fuel demand is rounded to a near integer to provide an output fuel demand for the injector as a number of operations of the injector for the next operating cycle in varying operating conditions of the engine. The controller calculates an aggregate number of operations for a plurality of engine cycles which is closer to an aggregated desired fuel demand for the plurality of cycles than if for each cycle of the plurality of output cycles the output fuel demand is calculated independently. |
| US08116960B2 |
Method for operating a combustion machine, device for obtaining thermal energy, and motor vehicle
A method for operating a combustion machine, such as an internal combustion engine, has the following steps: provision of a combustion machine for producing thermal energy; operation of the combustion machine, and thereby burning fuel to obtain the thermal energy; detection of the concentration of at least one pollutant, which is produced during the combustion, in the surroundings of the combustion machine; regulation of the operation of the combustion machine, in which a characteristic variable of the combustion machine is set according to the detected concentration in such a way that the emission of the pollutant is reduced. |
| US08116959B2 |
System and method of vehicular wireless communication
A system and method of vehicular wireless communication over a Dedicated Short Range Communication service band is provided. The system includes a vehicle having a navigation means, a processor, and a communication means for transmitting a message via a wireless communications link. The system includes a control channel for communication a safety communication and a service channel for communicating a non-safety communication. The control channel is subdivided into a contention-free period having a safety exchange interval of time for transmitting a safety communication and a contention period having a non-safety service interval of time for transmitting a non-safety communication. The system further includes an access point in communication with the vehicle via the communications link within region. The method includes the steps of determining if the vehicle is within communications range of the region, determining if the vehicle is registered with the access point, and if the vehicle is within the communications range of access point, determining if a current time is within the safety exchange interval, and transmitting the safety communication by each registered vehicle during the safety exchange interval at the predetermined time for each registered vehicle. The method further includes the steps of determining if the safety communication exchange by every registered vehicle is completed, and permitting the vehicle to leave the control channel if the safety communication exchange is complete, and determining if a current time is within a contention period, and transmitting the non-safety communication if the current time is within the contention period. |
| US08116957B2 |
System and method for controlling clutch engagement in hybrid vehicle
The present invention provides a system and method for controlling clutch engagement in a hybrid vehicle, in which an appropriate clutch engagement mode is selected based on vehicle state, and the like, and a speed difference between both sections of a clutch and a torque transmitted to the vehicle during the clutch engagement process are controlled by reflecting a parameter changed by the clutch engagement mode, thus improving acceleration performance and driving performance, reducing engagement impact, and simply providing various clutch engagement modes. |
| US08116955B2 |
Method of controlling brake power for a vehicle with an electrically variable transmission
A method of controlling brake power flow for a vehicle with an electrically variable transmission is provided. When the brake power exceeds a power absorption capability of the energy storage system, then vehicle conditions are evaluated to determine if control of an engine fan is allowable. When conditions allow for fan control then the remaining brake power is provided for operation of the engine fan. Any excess brake power is dissipated through the exhaust brake or used by other vehicle accessories. |
| US08116949B2 |
Method and device for determining an initial float angle for skid detection in rollover sensing
A method for determining an initial float angle for skid detection in rollover sensing of a rollover of a vehicle having at least one sensor system for vehicle-dynamic signals and a control unit for activating a restraining device, which divides the driving state of the vehicle into chronologically consecutive state phases, having the following method steps carried out continuously in the first state phase: calculating a change in the float angle from the vehicle-dynamic signals; comparing the calculated change in the float angle with a predefinable threshold value; and determining the initial float angle on the basis of the calculated change in the float angle as a function of the threshold value for a first range of small changes in the float angle or for a second range of larger values of changes in the float angle and a device therefor. |
| US08116948B2 |
Force limiter
An energy-absorbing force limiter for a safety device comprises a first component (5) and a second component (2), such as a seat-belt, that is moveable relative to the first component (5). The force limiter provides an energy-absorbing movement-resisting effect, for example by means of a frictional brake (4, 5), to resist movement of the second component relative to the first. An adjustable control element (6) actuates the brake. The magnitude of the frictional effect is a function of the degree of adjustment of the control element and at least one parameter, such as temperature, which influences the coefficient of friction. The control mechanism (9) adjusts the adjustable control element (6) to control the magnitude of the movement-resisting effect in response to a signal (12) representative of the desired resistance to movement together with a signal (10, 11) representative of that at least one parameter. |
| US08116946B2 |
Electric power steering device
An electric power steering (EPS) device including a rack actuator that applies assist force to a rack shaft, a column actuator that applies assist force to a column shaft, and an ECU that controls operation of the actuators by supplying drive power to motors, each of which is a drive source of the corresponding one of the actuators. A permanent magnet motor (BLDC) is employed as the motor of the rack actuator and an induction motor, which is a non-permanent magnet motor, is used as the motor of the column actuator. |
| US08116939B2 |
Suspension system for vehicle
A suspension system for a vehicle, including (a) four displacement force generators (152) each configured to generate a displacement force forcing sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle toward or away from each other; and (b) a control unit (200) configured to control the displacement force that is to be generated by each displacement force generator. The control unit is capable of executing a plurality of vibration damping controls concurrently with each other, by controlling the displacement force, so as to damp a composite vibration containing a plurality of different vehicle-body vibrations which are to be damped by the respective vibration damping controls. The control unit is configured to refrain from executing at least one of the vibration damping controls for damping one of the vehicle-body vibrations that is not required to be damped, in a low vibration intensity situation in which intensities of sprung-portion resonance-frequency vibration components in respective four sprung portions of the vehicle are lower than a threshold intensity degree. |
| US08116938B2 |
Vehicle state estimating apparatus, suspension control apparatus and suspension system
A first observer gain of an actual damping force estimating observer 21 calculates a dynamic characteristic compensating signal, and a second observer gain of an actual vehicle model state amount estimating observer 23 calculates a vehicle model compensating signal, from an output deviation corresponding to a difference between a sprung speed (observation output) provided from a vehicle 2 and an estimated sprung speed (estimated observation output) provided from a vehicle approximation model of the actual vehicle model state amount estimating observer 23. The dynamic characteristic compensating signal is input into a dynamic characteristic providing unit of the actual vehicle model state amount estimating observer 23, and is used for adjustment of the setting of the dynamic characteristic providing unit. Therefore, it is possible to curb time lag occurrence in a control, and thereby perform a vibration control with improved accuracy. |
| US08116935B2 |
Failure detecting method for steering angle sensor
Disclosed herein is a failure detecting method for a steering angle sensor that detects a turning angle, turning direction and central position of a steering wheel of a vehicle. It is determined whether the steering angle sensor has failed using traveling behavior of the vehicle, and therefore, the failure of the steering angle sensor is effectively detected even when the steering angle center or the turning angle is incorrectly detected. Also, it is determined whether the steering angle sensor has failed using characteristic differences among pulse signals of the sensor, and therefore, three pulse signals output from the steering angle sensor are effectively detected although any of the pulse signals has failed, whereby the vehicle is stably traveled. |
| US08116931B2 |
Fast fuel adjustment system diagnostic systems and methods
A control system for diagnosing a fuel system of a vehicle is provided. The system generally includes a correction term module that estimates a fuel correction term based on a first fuel correction value and a second fuel correction value, wherein the first fuel correction value is based on a first period and the second fuel correction value is based on a second period, and wherein the first period is longer than the second period. A diagnostic module diagnoses the fuel system of the vehicle based on the fuel correction term. |
| US08116926B2 |
Motor power control
A hybrid electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a traction battery, and a hybrid electric powertrain including an electric motor powered by the traction battery. A method of controlling the vehicle includes determining a desired motor torque, and calculating a desired total motor power based on the desired motor torque, current motor speed, and a loss map indicating motor losses as a function of motor torque and motor speed. The desired total motor power is limited to system limits based on traction battery charge and discharge power limits. A motor torque command which will achieve the limited total motor power is calculated. The motor is controlled based on the motor torque command. |
| US08116925B2 |
Dynamic hysteresis evaluation method for hybrid vehicles based on optimal power loss control strategy
A hybrid control system comprises a power loss (PL) determination module, a hysteresis estimation module, and a mode determination module. The PL determination module determines a power loss of a hybrid drivetrain based on an engine speed, a motor speed, and a vehicle speed. The hysteresis estimation module determines an average power loss of the hybrid drivetrain based on the power loss and determines a hysteresis power loss of the hybrid drivetrain based on the average power loss. The mode determination module selects an operation mode of the hybrid drivetrain based on the hysteresis power loss. The hybrid control system controls the hybrid drivetrain based on the operation mode. |
| US08116919B2 |
Circuit breaker configuration
A circuit breaker configuration contains a number of circuit breakers each to be connected via lines to a system component of a power distribution system and a plurality of control buttons with a respective one of the control buttons connected to a respective one of the circuit breakers. The respective control button for the respective circuit breaker passes through a control panel and is actuated from a front side of the control panel. A coupling element accessible from the front side of the control panel is provided for an interchange of diagnosis data and/or parametrization data. The coupling element is associated with the circuit breakers. |
| US08116918B2 |
Systems, program product, and methods for synthesizing heat exchanger networks that exhibit life-cycle switchability and flexibility under all possible combinations of process variations
A system, methods, and user-friendly program product to optimize energy recovery for a process or cluster of processes under all possible combinations of given process changes and stream-specific minimum temperature approach values without enumeration, are provided. The systems, methods, and program product can include steps/operations to synthesize multiple heat exchanger network designs according to different process variations schemes, analyze the impact of process variations on each heat exchanger network, and identify which design provides a more optimal heat exchanger network design and which process variation scheme represents a more optimal flexibility index. |
| US08116916B1 |
Homogeneity based diversity prediction method for transformer selection
A method, system, and computer program product for selecting a transformer size for an industrial or commercial facility. A plurality of end-use connected load data for the facility is entered via a user interface into a memory of a computing system for determining facility load diversities. A base homogeneity is determined for the end-use connected load data. An initial facility diversity is determined based on the end-use connected loads and initial end-use diversities. A total facility diversity is determined based on the initial facility diversity, the base homogeneity, and a total connected load. An expected energy demand is determined based on the total facility diversity and a total connected load. The end-use diversity is adjusted for at least one end-use and a change in expected energy demand for the facility is allocated to each end-use. The transformer size is determined for a total expected energy demand and a total hours use for each connected load. |
| US08116915B2 |
Methods and apparatus using hierarchical priority and control algorithms for grid-integrated vehicles
A method and apparatus for managing system energy flow. The apparatus includes an energy storage unit to store energy to be used by a system and a power conversion unit configured to be coupled between the energy storage unit and a utility grid. The apparatus also includes a controller to selectively control the power conversion unit to transfer energy between the utility grid and the energy storage unit based at least in part on an anticipated use of the system. |
| US08116912B2 |
Control device and control method of temperature controller
A control device of a temperature controller, for adjusting the temperature of an environment having at least one active object, includes a first image sensor, a second image sensor, a process unit and a control unit. The first image sensor is for capturing a first image containing the image of the active object. The second image sensor is for capturing a second image containing the image of the active object. The process unit calculates a distance between the active object and the temperature controller according to the first and second images. The control unit controls an operational status of the temperature controller according to the distance calculated by the process unit. The present invention further provides a control method of a temperature controller. |
| US08116910B2 |
Telepresence robot with a printer
A remote controlled robot system that includes a robot and a remote controlled station. The robot includes a camera and a printer coupled to a mobile platform. The remote control station may display one or more graphical user interfaces with data fields. The graphical user interfaces allow a user to enter information into the data fields. The information is then transmitted to the robot and printed by the robot printer. The information may include a medical prescription and the name of the patient. Providing a robot printer allows the user to directly provide a medical prescription while remotely observing and interacting with the patient. |
| US08116906B2 |
Pneumatic tube carrier tracking system
A system and method provides for a pneumatic tube carrier tracking system having a system control module that captures and presents tracking information associated with sending and receiving carriers. The pneumatic tube carrier tracking system comprises sending and receiving stations connected by pneumatic tubing, and which are configured to securely send carriers, with receiving users optionally being restricted from unauthorized access of carriers. The sending and receiving stations have identifying tag readers configured to scan identifier tags to read carrier delivery, carrier receipt and receiving user information. Destination and intended recipient information are entered at the sending station when sending a carrier and are transmitted to a system control module, which routably delivers and secures the carriers in response the destination and intended recipient information. |
| US08116904B2 |
Object search apparatus and method
An object search apparatus acquires, from each IC tag of IC tags corresponding to objects respectively, an object information item including an identifier of an object, a hierarchical level, a detection method for detection of the object, and a manipulation method for the object, to obtain a plurality of object information items including a target object information item of a target object, selects, from the object information items, an object information item higher in the hierarchical level than the target object, detects an object corresponding to selected object information item by using the detection method in the selected object information item, manipulates detected object in accordance with the manipulation method in the selected object information item, selects target object information item from the object information items, and detects the target object from the detected object by using the detection method in the target object information item. |
| US08116896B2 |
Method for creating panels for a garment
A method for creating panels comprises steps of: defining a horizontal axis on a pattern-making window; defining a vertical axis; defining an outward side on the pattern-making window toward an observer; forming the textile coordinate system defined by the horizontal axis and the vertical axis; providing a first panel; providing a plurality of first pattern-making layers associated with the first panel; visualizing the first panel and at least one of the plurality of first pattern-making layers; and storing the plurality of panel points and lines and the plurality of pattern-making points and lines in a pattern-making computer file. |
| US08116893B2 |
Dicing method
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dicing apparatus in which: in a case where a control device detects, during an image pickup of a workpiece set onto a second worktable by a first image pickup device and a second image pickup device, that an image of a workpiece set onto a first worktable also needs to be picked up by the first image pickup device and the second image pickup device, the control device determines a priority between an operation performed on the first worktable and an operation performed on the second worktable; and when it is determined that the operation performed on the first worktable has a higher priority, the image pickup of the workpiece set onto the second worktable is interrupted, and the first image pickup device and the second image pickup device are moved to perform an image pickup of the workpiece on the first worktable. |
| US08116890B2 |
Portable sound reproducing system and method
A portable audio device suitable for reproducing MPEG encoded data includes a plurality of inputs, a data storage, a display, an audio output, at least one processor, and a battery. The plurality of inputs includes a forward input, a play control input, and a random input. The data storage stores compressed digitized audio data. The at least one processor is responsive to selection of at least one of the plurality of inputs to convert selected compressed digitized audio data stored in the data storage for reproduction by the audio output and to provide information to the display. |
| US08116889B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product for managing controlled residential or non-residential environments
A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The devices include audio/visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video/audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and/or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality. |
| US08116887B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing auxiliary functions when electronics are switched to hold
A method and an apparatus for automatically performing auxiliary functions of an electronic device when the device is switched to hold mode. The apparatus includes a storage unit and a control unit. The storage unit stores a table that includes conditions to perform the auxiliary functions in an electronic device. The control unit automatically performs the auxiliary functions when the conditions are met after a hold switch is switched on in the electronic device. The method and apparatus determine the needs of a user when the user switches on the hold function in the electronic device, while at the same time determining the state of the electronic device, in order to perform needed auxiliary functions before switching to the hold mode. Thus, power is conserved and user convenience is enhanced. |
| US08116886B2 |
Electrode arrays and systems for inserting same
Electrode arrays and systems for inserting same are disclosed. In some embodiments, electrode arrays are provided, the electrode arrays comprising: a passive-bending portion; an active-bending portion coupled to the passive bending portion; a plurality of electrodes located in at least one of the passive-bending portion and the active bending portion; and an actuator that causes the active-bending portion to deflect from the passive-bending portion. In some embodiments, systems for inserting an electrode array in the body are provided, the systems comprising: an insertion module for controllably inserting the electrode array in the body and sensing forces applied to the electrode array; a monitor for providing information to a user; and a controller coupled to the insertion module and the monitor, wherein the controller causes the insertion module to control an amount of force that is applied to the electrode array. |
| US08116881B2 |
Electrode assembly for nerve control
Apparatus is provided for applying current to a nerve, including a housing, configured to be placed in a vicinity of the nerve. At least one electrode is fixed to the housing such that the at least one electrode does not come in direct physical contact with the nerve when the housing is placed in the vicinity of the nerve, and such that the electrode surrounds greater than 180 degrees of a circumference of the nerve after the placement of the housing. Two end insulating elements are fixed to the housing such that the at least one electrode is between the end insulating elements, and the end insulating elements come in contact or practically in contact with the nerve when the housing is placed in the vicinity of the nerve. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08116880B2 |
Paddle-style medical lead and method
A medical lead for electrical stimulation or sensing. The medical lead has a generally flat paddle on the distal end of the lead body. An electrode array is provided on the paddle, with the electrode array displaced along the length of the paddle toward the distal end. Advantages include allowing the electrode array may be advanced into position for electrical stimulation or sensing with the flat paddle extending through connective tissue, such as the ligamentum flavum, thus facilitating repositioning, withdrawal or explanting the medical lead, as well as using the flat features of the paddle to anchor the lead to the connective tissue. |
| US08116879B2 |
System and method for stimulating sensory nerves
An electrotherapy system for stimulating sensory nerves within skin tissue includes a electrode carrier, a pulse generator, an array of skin-penetrating electrodes and surface skin electrodes, a pulse conditioning circuit, and a power source. The system administers biphasic pulsed current at the surface skin electrodes and monophasic pulsed current at each skin-penetrating electrode. The skin-penetrating surfaces and skin contact surfaces of the electrotherapy system may be sterilized or may be replaceable for outpatient reusability. |
| US08116877B2 |
Systems and methods for treating pain using brain stimulation
The invention comprises systems and methods for treating nociceptive pain including at least one force-regulatable device in mechanical, electrical, or chemical communication with at least one brain area identified as processing nociceptive pain signals. The force-regulatable device acts to alter the nociceptive pain signals in a brain area to alleviate nociceptive pain. |
| US08116876B2 |
Multiplexed electrode array extension
A method for selectively interacting with electrically excitable tissue of a patient is provided. In one configuration, an implantable pulse generator with a number of outputs and an array of electrodes with a number of electrodes being greater than the number of outputs may be implanted in a patient. An extension unit may be implanted between the implantable pulse generator and array. The extension unit acts to electrically couple the inputs of implantable pulse generator with the greater number of electrodes in the array so that the output sources are coupled to a portion of the electrodes. |
| US08116873B2 |
Measurement of patient physiological parameters
A method of determining one or more physiological parameter of a patient by providing a plurality of implantable electrodes proximate a blood vessel of the patient, applying a measurement signal through the plurality of electrodes, the measurement signal having a known parameter, obtaining a resultant signal through the plurality of electrodes, the resultant signal having a resultant parameter, calculating vascular impedance based on the measurement signal and the resultant signal, and calculating a physiological parameter based on the vascular impedance. In some embodiments, the physiological parameter is utilized to modify a therapy signal controlling therapy delivered to the patient. |
| US08116872B2 |
Device and method for biasing and stimulating respiration
A device and method is provided for biasing lung volume by electrically stimulating tissue associated with the diaphragm or phrenic nerve at a low level. |
| US08116870B2 |
Capture detection for multi-chamber pacing
Multi-chamber pacing may result in capture of one chamber, capture of multiple chambers, fusion, or non-capture. Approaches for detecting various capture conditions during multi-chamber pacing are described. Pacing pulses are delivered to left and right heart chambers during a cardiac cycle. A cardiac electrogram signal is sensed following the delivery of the pacing pulses. Left chamber capture only, right chamber capture only, and bi-chamber capture may be distinguished based on characteristics of the cardiac electrogram signal. Multi-chamber capture detection may be implemented using detection windows having dimensions of time and amplitude. The detection windows are associated with expected features, such as expected signal peaks, under a particular capture condition. The cardiac electrogram signal features are compared to detection windows to determine the capture condition. |
| US08116868B2 |
Implantable device with cardiac event audio playback
Cardiac monitoring and stimulation methods and systems provide audio playback of cardiac events and transthoracic monitoring and therapy. A medical system includes a housing and electrodes configured for sensing cardiac electrical activity. Another sensor may be configured to sense heart movement and produce a signal in response, such as an audio signal. Memory stores the audio signal and the cardiac electrical signal. A controller and communications circuitry telemeter the cardiac electrical signal and the audio signal to a patient-external device. Energy delivery circuitry may deliver cardiac therapy. The device may further include a patient actuatable trigger configured to communicate to the controller via the communications circuitry. The controller may initiate storing of the cardiac electrical signal and the audio signal in response to the trigger. The patient-external device may further include a storage media. |
| US08116866B2 |
Morphology-based optimization of cardiac resynchronization therapy
A method and apparatus for delivering cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in which an evoked response electrogram is recorded during one or more cardiac cycles and used to aid in the selection of resynchronization pacing parameters and/or to monitor the effectiveness of resynchronization therapy. The morphology of an evoked response electrogram may be recorded and analyzed to determine if and when intrinsic activation of one ventricle is occurring in order to optimally adjust the programmed atrio-ventricular (AV) delay interval for ventricular resynchronization pacing of a patient with intact AV node conduction. |
| US08116865B2 |
Defibrillation shock output circuit
This document discusses, among other things, techniques for generating and delivering a high voltage defibrillation shock using an implantable cardiac rhythm management device. An output energy delivery bridge can be programmed to provide desired shock vectors or polarities. A bootstrapped fully solid-state switch control voltage generation circuit is described. Automatic polarity or vector reconfiguration embodiments are described, such as in response to an unsuccessful attempt to convert the heart to a normal rhythm. |
| US08116860B2 |
Transdermal porator and patch system and method for using same
A transdermal permeant delivery system for delivery of at least one permeant composition into a tissue membrane of a subject including a disposable substrate having at least a portion of a bottom surface of a first release liner connected to an upper surface of the substrate and a patch having a backing layer and a reservoir that is selectively removable from the top surface of the first release liner. In a connected position, a first portion of the backing layer of the patch is releaseably mounted to a top surface of the first release liner in spaced registration with a poration area of the substrate. |
| US08116859B2 |
Electrocardiologic device for the assisted diagnosis of brugada syndrome or early repolarization syndrome
Electrocardiologic device for assisted diagnosis, preferably for the diagnosis of Brugada syndrome or Early Repolarization syndrome. This device allows characterizing the ventricular repolarization wave of an ECG signal collected from a patient. Extracting out of the ECG signal, for each heart beat, an ST segment is constituted of a succession of samples of the ventricular repolarization wave, taken within a time window ([QON+80 ms, QON+140 ms]) of a predetermined duration spreading from a moment of window onset defined by a time offset applied to a predetermined temporal origin given by the moment (QON) of appearance of the QRS complex, whose time position is determined on the ECG signal for each heart beat. Quantizing computes an elevation index compared to a predetermined reference level (BL), and analyzing over a succession of heart beats the persistence and/or variation of this elevation index. |
| US08116855B2 |
Fetal surveillance
The spatial position of a fetus within the womb is determined and monitored through analysis of ECG waveform data received from a set of electrodes that are attached to a maternal abdomen in a predetermined configuration. The waveform is compared with a set of predefined stored templates to determine the position of the fetus. An event logger may determine the number of fetal movements during a period of time. |
| US08116854B2 |
Imaging tray with medium disposed therein for ratiometric determination of object shape
The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth. |
| US08116853B2 |
Three-dimensional imaging using an inflatable membrane and an intensity ratio based on differential light absorption at two wavelengths
The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth. |
| US08116851B2 |
Living body measurement apparatus with waveguide light source and light extracting pattern
Disclosed is a living body measurement apparatus including: a first light source placed on the surface of the skin in a living body and radiating a first light in a visible light wavelength range onto the surface of the skin; a second light source placed on the surface of the skin and radiating a second light in a near-infrared wavelength range onto the surface of the skin; an optical detector placed on the surface of the skin at a predetermined distance from the first and second light sources to detect, as an electric signal, first or second detection light penetrating up through the skin and inputted thereto among the radiated first or second light; and a controller for sequentially driving the first and second light sources. |
| US08116847B2 |
System and method for determining an optimal surgical trajectory
A method and corresponding system for calculating an optimum surgical trajectory or path for displacing a surgical instrument through the interior of the body of a patient. Upon obtaining a volumetric scan of a patient, such as a CT scan, the surgeon can identify and assign weight values indicating a preference on whether an anatomical area be utilized in plotting an optimum instrument trajectory. Upon providing a starting and destination point for a surgical instrument, an optimum surgical trajectory can be determined in essentially real time and graphically presented to the surgeon by superimposing the proposed trajectory upon the patient's volumetric scan. Furthermore, the system and method is interactive, allowing the surgeon to deviate from the proposed optimum path if desired and choose another path. In response, the system will determine and present, in essentially real time, a new optimum trajectory based on the current location of the surgical instrument. |
| US08116843B2 |
Method for automatically selecting region of interest covering heated area
In a method for automatically selecting a region of interest covering a heated area, in the context of high intensity focused ultrasonic technology during acquisition of magnetic resonance data, phase data of a scanned area are acquired, and a heated area is identified in the scanned area according to the phase data acquired. An image is reconstructed and displayed, and in the displayed image a region of interest covering the heated area is automatically demarcated according to a predetermined size of said region of interest that covers and is larger than the heated area. The method causes the heated area to be automatically and completely included in the region of interest; and eliminates the instability of a manual selection of the region of interest. |
| US08116842B2 |
Bio-photonic feedback control software and database
A process, apparatus, and method for online control and database collection and management of a computerized detection, tracking, and feedback control system. The system tests for nutrients by Raman scattering effects on skin or other tissues to determine the content of carotenoids or other nutrients as evidenced in that skin. Serum levels of nutrients may vary dramatically with time, but skin tissues may average such nutrition over time. Skin and other tissues may be scanned with light to produce accurate measurements of carotenoids or other nutrients accumulated in the skin based on the Raman scattering affect of those nutrients in the skin. A score can be derived from a properly calibrated bio-photonic scanner to reflect an averaged effective uptake of the detected nutrient (e.g. such as the carotenoid example). |
| US08116833B2 |
Grounding apparatus of portable electronic devices
A grounding apparatus (200) for a portable electronic device (100) includes a conductive member (20), at least one connecting member (30) and a grounded sliding mechanism (40). The connecting member is electronically connected to the conductive member. The sliding mechanism is electrically connected to the conductive member via the connecting member. |
| US08116831B2 |
Hand-held communication device with auxiliary input apparatus, and method
A hand-held communication device (100), such as a cellular telephone or a personal digital assistant (PDA), comprises a sensor assembly (200) and an auxiliary input interface (300). Auxiliary input interface (300) is situated along one or more exterior surfaces (110) of device (100) and is electrically coupled to processing circuitry within device (100). Sensor assembly (200) is removably attached to the one or more exterior surfaces (110) of device (100). Sensor assembly (200) preferably includes multiple pressure sensors for receiving tactile inputs from a user, and multiple outputs for coupling to auxiliary input interface (300). Sensor assembly (200) provides signals at the multiple outputs in response to tactile inputs from the user. In one form, during an assignment procedure, tactile inputs from the user are assigned to predefined functions of the device and/or one or more software applications installed in the device. Subsequently, during normal operation of the device (100), each of the specific tactile input results in the execution of one or more predefined functions. Sensor assembly (200) is preferably realized by a combination that includes an elastomeric connector (210) and a top portion having a flexible shroud (250) and multiple conductive strips (270, 272, . . . , 284) that are configured for contacting conductive regions (220, 222, . . . , 232) of elastomeric connector (210). |
| US08116829B2 |
Radio station and method of operating a radio station
A first radio station (100) monitors, either continuously or intermittently, a channel for an indication of a transmitted data packet and measures the quality of the channel. The first radio station (100) transmits indications of the measured quality and when the measured quality falls below a quality threshold, it reduces the proportion of time spent monitoring the channel by introducing or increasing time periods when no monitoring takes place, and subsequently increases the time spent monitoring when the quality recovers. A second radio station (200) transmits data packets to the first radio station (100) and receives the indications of measured channel quality. When the measured quality falls below the quality threshold, the second station reduces the proportion of time spent transmitting the data packets to the first radio station (100) by introducing or increasing time periods between transmitted the data packets. |
| US08116828B2 |
Current consumption controlling apparatus and method in portable terminal
A current consumption controlling apparatus and method in a portable terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a first transceiver for outputting a signal indicative of a transmit burst time of a first communication system mode supported by the first transceiver to a second transceiver, and adjusting a gain of a power amplifier by receiving a signal indicative of a transmit burst time of a second communication system mode from the second transceiver; and the second transceiver for outputting the signal indicative of the transmit burst time of the second communication system mode to the first transceiver, and adjusting a gain of a power amplifier by receiving the signal indicative of the transmit burst time of the first communication system mode. |
| US08116826B2 |
Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for automatic adjustment of call and message alert levels for missed/rejected calls/messages
A device for intelligently adjusting a volume level for call/message alerts includes a processor, an interface(s), a memory, a timer and a volume adjuster. The processor receives a call(s)/message(s) and causes the memory to store data associated with the call(s)/message(s). The processor invokes a timer and instructs a ringer to generate a call/message alert. The processor receives an additional call(s)/message(s) and determines if these calls/messages are sent from the same user of an electronic device as a previous call/message within a time period. If a previous call/message was missed by a user of a terminal, the processor causes a ringer to increase the volume of a subsequent call/message sent from the user of the electronic device. If a previous call/message was rejected by a user of a terminal, the processor causes the ringer to decrease the volume of a subsequent call/message sent from the user of the electronic device. |
| US08116823B2 |
Modular ear-piece/microphone (headset) operable to service voice activated commands
The present invention provides a modular headset operable to support both voice communications and voice activated commands. This may involve the use of multiple voice CODECs to process voice communications and voice activated commands. The modular headset includes both a microphone and wireless earpiece. The earpiece may further include an interface, a processing circuit, a speaker, a user interface, a pairing circuit, and a registration circuit. The interface allows the earpiece to communicate with the base unit that couples the modular headset to a servicing network. This coupling to the servicing network and base unit only occurs when the headset is successfully registered to the base unit. The pairing circuit and registration circuit allow the exchange of pairing or registration information between various components. The pairing circuit allows the wireless earpiece and microphone to exchange pairing information which is then compared to determine whether or not a successful pairing can be achieved. Analog to digital converts (ADCs), which may be located within either the microphone or earpiece are operable to process the transduced voice communications in accordance with either a voice CODEC or voice recognition CODEC depending on the selected mode of operation. |
| US08116820B2 |
Method for transmitting data in multiple antenna system
A method for transmitting data in a multi-antenna system includes determining a candidate mode in which a maximum upperbound approximation of an average total data rate is maximized as a transmission mode, selecting a user equipment to receive data by using the transmission mode, and transmitting data to the selected user equipment. |
| US08116816B2 |
Radio communication apparatus, radio communication system and signal switching method
A radio communication system for conducting the radio communication with a terminal device includes a first radio communication apparatus for processing a first signal; a second radio communication apparatus for processing a second signal, and to combine the first signal and the second signal; a common amplifier for amplifying the first and second signals from the second radio communication apparatus, transmitting the amplified signals to the terminal device, amplifying first and second signals received from the terminal device, and outputting the amplified signals to the second radio communication apparatus, the second radio communication apparatus separating the amplified first and second signals; and a switching apparatus coupled to the first radio communication apparatus, the second radio communication apparatuses and the common amplifier to disconnect the first or second radio communication apparatus when a fault occurs in the first or second radio communication apparatus, respectively. |
| US08116814B2 |
Mobile communications terminal using multi-functional socket and method thereof
A mobile communications terminal using a multi-functional socket and a method thereof, the mobile communications device comprising a connector capable of connecting the mobile communications device to at least one external device for establishing an electrical connection between the at least one external device and the mobile communications device; a switching unit; and a controller cooperating with the connector and the switching unit to perform, sending and/or receiving at least one signal with respect to the at least one external device via at least one dedicated path according to at least one identification signal; and generating a control signal to control the at least one signal, wherein the at least one signal comprises at least one of a power signal and data. |
| US08116813B2 |
System for product retrieval using a coded surface
A system of retrieving a product using a print medium with a print media identifier linked to a product. A mobile telecommunications device with a sensor module for determines the print media identifier from the print medium such that the product is retrieved using the mobile telecommunications device and the print media identifier. The print medium is provided with first coded data in a first format and second coded data in a second format. The first coded data encodes first information and the second coded data encodes second information. The first information is indicative of the print media identifier and of size and orientation data of the print medium. The first format is a linear pattern. At least some of the second information is indicative of the print media identifier and a two-dimensional coordinate grid. The second format is a two-dimensional pattern, the first and second coded data each being encoded in a plurality of tags printed on the print medium. Each tag has a structure that includes a target and the first and second coded data. The targets are sensed by the sensor module to determine the presence of the tags. |
| US08116812B2 |
Systems and methods for providing wireless communications for data and voice communications
A wireless communications system that provides communication for a plurality of communication devices. The wireless communications system includes an interface including a local exchange carrier (LEC) connection port, a subscriber connection port and a wireless connection port. The wireless communications system includes a wireless terminal connected to the interface that provides wireless data and voice connectivity over a wireless network. |
| US08116809B2 |
Method and apparatus of multiple entity wireless communication adapter
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for a multiple-entity wireless communication adapter, including at least a first connection module to communicate first signal traffic corresponding to a basic service set station entity, a second connection module to communicate second signal traffic corresponding to an entity that is not a basic service set station, and a shared physical layer able to process both the first and the second signal traffic. Additional features are described and claimed. |
| US08116807B2 |
Airplane mode indicator on a portable multifunction device
A graphical user interface on a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display includes an airplane mode switch icon with an “on” position and an “off” position. A communications signal strength icon is displayed if the airplane mode switch icon is at the “off” position. The communications signal strength icon is replaced with an airplane icon upon detecting a movement of a finger contact on or near the airplane mode switch icon. The detected movement of the finger contact is from the “off” position to the “on” position. |
| US08116796B2 |
Multi-transceiver portable radio communications device and related method
A portable radio communications device is for transmitting data and voice communications. The portable radio communications device may include a portable housing, a radio transceiver operating at a frequency in a range of 30 MHz-3000 MHz and being carried by the portable housing for direct communication with a corresponding radio transceiver, and a metropolitan area network (MAN) transceiver carried by the portable housing for indirect communication with a corresponding MAN transceiver via a MAN base station. The portable radio communications device may also include a controller carried by the portable housing for selectively allocating transmission of the data and voice communications between the radio transceiver and the MAN transceiver based upon a received signal characteristic. The controller may preferentially allocate the voice communications and the data communications to the radio transceiver and the MAN transceiver, respectively. |
| US08116794B2 |
Channel impulse response extraction for mobile terminals
Finding a channel impulse response estimation window in a current cell for at least one mobile terminal in a neighboring cell is disclosed. This can serve to mitigate interference caused by mobile terminals in neighboring cells in and among communications ongoing in a current cell. In one example, a method for A method for determining such a channel impulse response estimation window includes presetting, in the neighboring cell, at least two channel impulse response peak locations of respective mobile terminals in first and second predetermined periods with a predetermined peak location change pattern, and then upon receiving communication from a mobile terminal of the neighboring cell, analyzing channel impulse responses to identify the peak location change pattern with regard to first and second peak locations. The method further includes identifying a variation range for a channel impulse response of a primary path of the mobile terminal, and determining a channel impulse response estimation window for the mobile terminal based on the identified variation range and a preferred estimation window size. |
| US08116789B2 |
Terminal positioning technique
A technique of estimating the location of a mobile terminal in a mobile communications network having a plurality of base stations, including: determining at least one signal parameter measurement for the mobile terminal in relation to each of the plurality of base stations; using the determined signal parameter measurements to obtain a first distance estimation of the location of the mobile terminal from each of the plurality of base stations; and using at least one estimator to obtain a positional estimation of the mobile terminal. The estimators are statistical estimators that can be applied to a distance estimation of the mobile terminal from each of the base stations and/or applied to a triangulation estimation of the actual position of the mobile terminal, based upon estimated distances of the mobile terminal from the plurality of base stations. Preferably the signal parameter measured is the Received Signal Strength. |
| US08116786B2 |
Set initiated area event triggered positioning method in mobile communication system
A SET-initiated area event triggered positioning method in a session-based service system is disclosed. The method is variously performed according to a proxy mode or a non-proxy mode, and further according to which SLP (SUPL location platform) has a positioning procedure. |
| US08116785B2 |
Method for providing location-based service using location token
Provided is a method for providing a location-based service using a location token. The method includes the steps of: a) receiving an encrypted token message including constraints for location information access from a terminal; b) decoding and storing the transmitted token message in a token database; c) creating a location token accessible to the transmitted token message and transmitting the location token to the terminal; d) extracting a token message number in the location token transmitted from a location-based service server, checking constraints of a user and updating an exception list; and e) acquiring location information of the terminal and transmitting the location information to the location-based service server. |
| US08116784B2 |
Mid-call synchronization for U-TDOA and AoA location in UMTS
In a wireless location system, a method for determining frame and slot timing information for use in receiving an uplink signal from a user equipment (UE) device assigned to an uplink Dedicated Physical Control Channel (DPCCH) includes receiving signals in the uplink DPCCH at a location measurement unit (LMU) of the WLS. The method also includes detecting a predefined bit pattern known to be present in a plurality of predefined slots of the uplink DPCCH. Next, the frame and slot timing information are determined for the uplink DPCCH based on the detected bit pattern. Finally, the frame and slot timing information is used for collecting uplink signals from the UE for use in location processing. |
| US08116783B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining the location of a wireless client device on a wireless network
The rate at which a particular wireless client may be PINGed may depend on many factors, including the accuracy with which the location of the wireless client is required to be known, how accurate the system has historically been able to locate other previous clients in the same general area; the speed with which the client is moving, the amount of other data being transmitted by the client, the needs of other clients being serviced by the access point that will need to PING the client, the current battery life of the client, and the priority of obtaining an accurate location for a particular wireless user verses other uses of the network bandwidth. Based on the multiple factors considered by the system, the rate at which the client will be PINGed is adjusted to optimize the amount of bandwidth used to determine the client's location. |
| US08116781B2 |
Method and system of managing wireless resources
The invention provides for the management of wireless resources, which can reduce call blocking by allowing high priority services, under suitable conditions, to use resources allocated to low priority services. Thus high priority services can pre-empt the usage of wireless resources by low priority services. This has the advantage of reducing call blocking for high priority calls, while permitting low priority calls to have more access to radio resources than conventional systems with the same call blocking rate. Thus a base station can implement a preemption mechanism that would reclaim Walsh Code and Forward Power resources from an active Supplemental Channel (SCH) burst in order to accommodate incoming Fundamental Channel (FCH) requests. |
| US08116778B2 |
Method and system for controlling a plurality of transmitters
Mobile station transmits a scheduling request message to base station to request a grant for transmitting packets in a cellular mobile communication network. Base station transmits at least a deactivation scheduling grant message to mobile station to deactivate packet transmission of mobile station. Mobile station fails to receive the first grant message but successfully receives the second grant message. Upon receiving a scheduling grant confirmation message responding the second grant message from mobile station, base station transmits an activation scheduling grant message to mobile station. |
| US08116776B1 |
Mobile communication handoff between heterogeneous networks
A method for providing telecommunication service includes transmitting a node identifier to a mobile station over a first network that supports a first communication protocol and receiving a handoff call, based on the node identifier, from the mobile station over a second network that supports a second communication protocol. The handoff call includes a mobile station identifier. The method further includes identifying a first communication link over the first network based on the mobile station identifier and initiating a second communication link with the mobile station over the second network. The method also includes terminating the first communication link. |
| US08116775B2 |
System and method of providing user equipment initiated and assisted backward handover in heterogeneous wireless networks
The present invention relates to the field of mobility in heterogeneous wireless networks. In particular, the invention proposes a system and method of providing User Equipment (UE) initiated and assisted backward handover in the heterogeneous wireless networks. Depending on certain criteria, the UE may decide that if it needs a handover from a serving network to a target network. The UE initiates the backward handover by sending handover request message to the target network through the serving network. The serving network checks for the capabilities of the UE and authorizes the backward handover. The target network prepares for the backward handover and informs the UE when the target network is ready. The UE then starts the handover procedure. |
| US08116771B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient paging group updates in a wireless communication system including mobile relay stations
A wireless communications network includes a base station and a number of mobile relay stations. Each mobile relay station within an area of coverage for the base station has associated with it a unique paging group identification value as well as the paging group identification value of the base station. |
| US08116770B2 |
Mobile communications system and control method thereof
Disclosed is a mobile communications system including a plurality of base station apparatuses which are located at geographically dispersed locations and perform a wireless communication with a mobile device. The system further includes a maximum ratio combining unit which performs maximum ratio combining processing regarding a signal the base station apparatuses receive from the mobile device, and a selection combining unit which performs selection combining processing regarding the signal from the mobile device. A selection unit included in the system selects one or both of the maximum ratio combining unit and the selection combining unit according to at least one of an external factor and a change of a distribution state of the mobile device under communication. |
| US08116768B2 |
Automatic selection of a background image for a display on a mobile telephone
A method for providing a background image on a display of a mobile telephone, whereby the data of one or more background images are stored in at least one memory accessible for the mobile telephone, comprises an automatic selection of a background image to be displayed, a retrieving of the data of the automatically selected background image from the memory, and a displaying of the retrieved background image on the display of the mobile telephone. |
| US08116763B1 |
Airborne basestation
A wireless communications basestation that utilizes a light weight high directivity electronically-steerable antenna mounted on a lighter-than-air vehicle to providing relay broadband communication service among mobile units in a geographic area is provided. The lighter-than-air vehicle carries aloft the antenna; a radio and a switching device for routing. A gateway may also be provided to enable communications with a wide area network. A communication system for a geographic area utilizing the airborne wireless communications basestation is also presented. The system includes a number of user equipment units located in the geographic area in communication with the airborne wireless communications basestation. The user equipment units may utilize omni-directional antennas for low data rate communications, and/or a high directivity antenna. |
| US08116762B2 |
Method and system for providing aeronautical communication services
Aeronautical communication services is disclosed. For example, an aeronautical vehicle for use in a first aeronautical communication system to allow communication to and from a land-based station is disclosed, wherein the land-based station transmits communications using a first low frequency band and receives communications using a second low frequency band in accordance with a second aeronautical communication system. In the first aeronautical communication system, the aeronautical vehicle transmits communications using the first low frequency band and receives communications using the second low frequency band. |
| US08116760B2 |
Method for implementing dual-homing
The invention discloses a method for implementing dual-homing, including: setting each one of any two core control equipment as a standby for each other, connecting a network entity belonging to one of the core control equipment with the two core control equipment through a primary link and a standby link respectively; setting the primary link connected with the core control equipment as activated, and setting the standby link connected with the core control equipment inactive; determining whether the core control equipment corresponding to the primary link is out of service, if the core control equipment corresponding to the primary link is out of service, activating the standby link; otherwise, continuously determining whether the core control equipment corresponding to the primary link is out of service. The invention also discloses another method for implementing dual-homing, by which the reliability of the network can be improved. |
| US08116757B2 |
Virtual network service provider for mobile virtual network operator activation
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe methods and system configurations to activate a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). A method includes wirelessly broadcasting a virtual Network Service Provider (NSP) to provide wireless activation of one or more Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) associated with a NSP, directing a mobile station (MS) connected to the virtual NSP to a subscription portal that presents to a user of the MS the one or more MVNOs for selection, and provisioning the MS with configuration parameters for a selected MVNO to allow connection of the MS with the selected MVNO. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US08116754B2 |
Method of providing service menu and service in network environment and service providing apparatus thereof
A method of providing a service menu and a service in a network environment and a service providing apparatus thereof are provided. The method includes evaluating a context on a current situation of an electronic, and creating and displaying a user menu on which information on external service providing apparatuses associated with the evaluated context is enumerated. The list of the service functions required according to the condition of the user and the context is provided, and the service function desired by the user is automatically executed, thereby improving the user convenience. |
| US08116748B2 |
Management of locations of group members via mobile communications devices
The location of group members having mobile communications devices such as cellular telephones, PDAs, and the like are managed by maintaining group member location awareness among the individual group members. The location of each group member is known on the basis of the determined location of the mobile communications device of each, either in absolute terms or in relative terms. The absolute and/or relative location may be reported by the mobile communications devices, such as to a mobile communications device of an administrator of the group or directly to individual group members. Rules may be established for providing notifications such as alerts and alarms to the group members when a group member strays from the group or from a fixed reference point and information may be provided to the straying member to assist the straying member in returning to the group. |
| US08116744B1 |
Advanced message waiting indication system
An advanced message waiting indication system includes the ability to provide message waiting indicators for a plurality of voice mail (“VM”) systems. When a message is left on a remote VM system, a message waiting notification is passed to a centralized VM system. The centralized VM system can connect to the remote VM system, authenticate as the user, download the messages and accompanying data, and then disconnect from the remote VM system. The message and accompanying data can then be used to determine a message waiting indicator (MWI) that is then passed to an electronic device for display. The MWI can inform a user about many aspects of the waiting messages. |
| US08116740B2 |
Mobile communication terminal and method
A method in electronic messaging in a mobile telecommunications network for mobile communication terminals is disclosed. The method involves, in a sender terminal, the steps of generating an electronic message, associating the electronic message with a message notification, and representing the electronic message and the message notification in a signal which is transmittable over the mobile telecommunications network to a receiver terminal. The signal is adapted, when received in the receiver terminal, for performance of the message notification in a user interface of the receiver terminal as a notification of the reception of the electronic message. Further disclosed are an associated method in a receiver terminal, and a sender terminal and a receiver terminal capable of performing the respective method, as well as a system including such sender and receiver terminals. |
| US08116739B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamic session placeholder for message collection user interface
A method and apparatus for representing a conversation of related messages is provided. In a message collection user interface for displaying messages sent and received by a communications device, a dynamic session placeholder is used for a respective conversation of related messages. The message collection user interface is displayed including any dynamic session placeholders in the list of messages. As messages from the conversation are occasioned, the dynamic session placeholder is updated. When the message collection is displayed, it is displayed in accordance with the updated session placeholder. |
| US08116737B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for locking information
In embodiments of the invention, there is provided with a method, system, and apparatus for locking information. Specifically, a server sends a lock message carrying lock object information to a mobile terminal; the mobile terminal locks a lock object according to the lock message, the lock object corresponding to the lock object information. With the solutions provided in the embodiments of the invention, a server may lock information for a mobile terminal, so as to prevent other servers from manipulating the information. |