| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08157295B2 |
Articulating joint with injector port
A pipe coupling connects two fluid system components, such as two pipes, so that fluid can flow therethrough. The coupling is a ball and socket type articulating joint that is configured to allow one or both of the connected pipes to move relative to one another without compromising the integrity of the fluid system. The pipe coupling includes a sealing compartment in which packing material is disposed. The packing material can limit or prevent the development of leak between the components of the pipe coupling. The pipe coupling includes an injector port that can be used to inject additional packing material into the sealing compartment to repair any developed leaks. |
| US08157294B2 |
Glueless whirlpool fittings
A fitting for a whirlpool joins a pair of pipes. The fitting includes a coupling from which one of the pipes extends, the coupling having a flexible member adapted to cause a seal to sealingly engage the pipes or the pipes to seal against themselves, and a first thread. A nut engages the coupling and has a second thread for engaging the first thread and a surface for engaging the flexible member and causing the seal to sealingly engage the pipes or the pipes to sealingly engage themselves while the second thread engages the first thread. The first thread and the second thread have an angle whereby the flexible member causes the seal to sealingly engage the first and second pipes or the pipes to sealingly engage themselves in a quarter turn of the nut. |
| US08157293B2 |
Security printing and detecting systems and methods
A method of security printing can comprise the steps of printing a transparent ink onto a portion of a coated substrate resulting in printed region and an unprinted region, where the transparent ink is devoid of dyes, pigments, ceramics, metallics, and fluorescents; illuminating both the printed region and the unprinted region of the substrate, where the printed region scatters more light than the unprinted region creating a contrast; and detecting the contrast with a sensor that is sensitive to detecting light scattering differences between the printed region and the unprinted region. |
| US08157291B2 |
Safety arrangement for a vehicle and method for controlling a safety arrangement
A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle includes an airbag and a crash sensor system. The airbag is normally folded together in a non-activated basic state and is able to be inflated with different volumes. The crash sensor system detects a vehicle impact and emits an activation signal. The crash sensor system includes both a pre-crash sensor system and also an in-crash sensor system, and emits a pre-crash activation signal as activation signal upon detection of an impending collision. The in-crash sensor system detects an actual impact and emits an in-crash activation signal (backup) if the pre-crash sensor system has previously not detected the impending collision and has not emitted a pre-crash activation signal. The airbag may be inflated to a larger airbag volume and to a relatively smaller airbag volume in an in-crash mode. |
| US08157288B2 |
Trailer with detachable cargo carrier
A trailer including a cargo carrier is provided. The cargo carrier may be secured to the rear of the trailer to increase the carrying capacity of the trailer. The cargo carrier may also be used independently of the trailer. The trailer may be positioned in a vertically disposed position for transport or storage. |
| US08157279B2 |
Trailing cycle
A trailing or tow cycle having a tubular frame member, at least two wheels in parallel alignment, a seat member, an independent propulsion system and a journaled connection to a front cycle to provide a stable cycling system for individuals with special needs. |
| US08157270B2 |
Baffle seal for gas turbine engine thrust reverser
A baffle seal for a thrust reverser of a gas turbine engine includes a seal body of a resilient material. The seal body has a relatively flat central portion with opposed front and back sides. A raised sealing rim extends at least partially around the central portion. An outer periphery of the sealing rim extends beyond an outer periphery of the central portion so as to define an exposed sealing surface. |
| US08157267B2 |
Free-floating gas seal
A seal system is adapted for use in gas flow systems. The seal system has two seal faces and a longitudinally compressible seal spring-biased between the seal faces. The seal has a bellows configuration and opposite ends in sealing contact with the seal faces, such that at least one end of the seal is free to move relative to the corresponding seal face while maintaining the sealing contact. The seal system is particularly suited for use in sealing an engine to an exhaust member. |
| US08157259B2 |
Movable tray drive control device and movable tray drive control method
According to an embodiment, a drive control unit which drive-controls a movable tray on which a sheet discharged from a predetermined sheet discharge port is stacked, in such a manner that the movable tray sequentially descends according to a sheet discharge operation; an arrival position acquisition unit which acquires, in predetermined timing, arrival position information indicating an actual arrival position of the movable tray when the movable tray is drive-controlled by the drive control unit using a predetermined lower limit position as a target position; a fullness setting unit which sets a full position in the sheet stacking, of the movable tray, on the basis of the arrival position information acquired by the arrival position acquisition unit; and a fullness notification unit which gives a notification that the movable tray is full according to the arrival of the movable tray at the full position, are provided. |
| US08157253B2 |
Positioning device
A positioning device for positioning an object includes a base with a platform and a first positioning unit slidably mounted to the platform. The first positioning unit includes a sliding piece slidable along a direction perpendicular to the platform. The sliding piece defines a substantially V-shaped hole along a direction parallel with the platform for the object extending through the hole. The opening of the “V” of the V-shaped hole faces to a direction perpendicular to the platform. |
| US08157252B2 |
Machine tool
The invention relates to a machine tool, wherein the machine tool has a workpiece clamping device (10) for clamping a workpiece (9), wherein the workpiece clamping device (10) and in this way the workpiece (9) can be moved by means of a piezoactuator (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d). The invention furthermore relates to a corresponding method. The invention provides a machine tool in which vibrations occurring during a machining operation are reduced. |
| US08157251B2 |
Vibration damping mounting assembly
A vibration damping mount assembly having a vibration damping mount main body and a tubular bracket. The tubular bracket is made of lightweight material composed of non-ferric metal or synthetic resin, and has an inside peripheral face including an upper tapered face and a lower tapered face that gradually expand in diameter towards openings at either axial end from an axially medial section. A flanged portion of a second mounting member is axially juxtaposed against an open end of the upper tapered face, while the lower tapered face is pressed against a rubber fitting, with the lower tapered face locked in contact against an annular mating face of the rubber fitting thereby providing dislodging of the vibration damping mount main body from the tubular bracket. |
| US08157247B2 |
Support jack
A support jack for supporting semitrailers including a vertically telescopically displaceable supporting device having an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve. A spindle nut has projections and contact elements for being positively detachably connected to the sleeves. The projections interact with openings of the inner sleeve for fixing the spindle nut in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the support jack. The contact elements interact with an inner side of the outer sleeve for fixing the spindle nut in the direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis. A method of assembling a support jack is also described, in which the spindle nut is connected detachably to the inner sleeve by at least one translatory and one rotary joining movement or at least two translatory joining movements. |
| US08157246B2 |
Deflecting roller with increased chain utilization
A deflecting roller for link chains, for example, round link chains or profiled steel chains, presents, on the periphery, chain pockets for lying chain links. Furthermore, chain pockets for standing chain links are provided. The chain pockets for the standing chain links are separated from each other by teeth. The tooth flank surfaces of the teeth, against which a standing chain link bears under the action of a load, are dimensioned and profiled in a specific way. The dimensioning is carried out so that, up to a certain chain loading, the standing chain link does not bear with its nose against the tooth flank. A contact between the tooth flank surface and the nose of the standing chain link concerned occurs only starting at a certain chain loading. |
| US08157243B2 |
Insert molded evacuation valve
An evacuation valve for a metering device for a liquid medium is disclosed. The valve includes a seal holder having a chamber formed therein and a seal. An elastomeric material fills the chamber to form the seal. The seal includes a smooth, flat sealing surface located above the seal holder. The inclusion of a lip in the chamber retains the seal; a non-circular lip prevents rotation of the seal. |
| US08157242B2 |
Valve actuator with lock mechanism
A valve actuator with manual lock is provided. The valve actuator with manual lock includes a locking button arrangement that is operably coupled to a shaft extending along an axis of rotation of a drive train. The locking button arrangement is selectively engageable with a housing of the valve actuator to lock the drive train in a selected orientation. |
| US08157241B2 |
Methods and apparatus for regulating gas turbine engine fluid flow
A method for regulating gas turbine engine fluid flow may include the steps of providing a flow tube having an open valve, a first bend and a second bend, flowing fluid through the flow tube, actuating a piston so that the piston moves in the axial direction, and closing the valve due to the axial movement of the piston. |
| US08157240B2 |
Quakeproof plinth to shelter a showpiece thereon
A quakeproof plinth is adapted to make a showpiece mount vertically go down without a tilt so as to cushion and shelter a showpiece seated thereon from impact force exerted on the entire showpiece. A plinth (100) of the present invention is comprised of a showpiece mount (110), a supporting member (120) capable of supporting the showpiece mount so as to move the same upward and downward, basement shock absorbers (130) enabling the showpiece mount to be shock-absorbingly bumped down thereon, a vibration detector (140), and an actuating device (150) activated to move the showpiece mount downward in response to a detection signal produced from the vibration detector. |
| US08157238B2 |
Stay for the inside mirror of the vehicle
The present invention discloses a stay device for a vehicle comprising a mount having a ball formed protrudely on a front surface thereof and a wire passage formed therein and extended into the ball; a body coupled to the mount through the ball of the mount, the body having a wire passage formed therein; a plate spring provided for pressurizing the body; a body cover for wrapping the body and the plate spring; and a pivot ball assembly having a ball protrudely formed on a rear surface thereof, the pivot ball assembly being coupled to the body. |
| US08157237B2 |
Display screen turning apparatus
A display screen turning apparatus includes a base portion for placing a display screen portion thereon, a driving source and a transmission gear portion arranged inside the base portion, a display screen support member provided with an engaging member and supporting the display screen portion rotatably in a horizontal plane and rotatably with respect to a vertical plane and a rack plate arranged on the base portion and including a rack gear meshed with the transmission gear portion in a horizontal direction. The display screen support member is rotated in an anteroposterior direction with respect to the vertical plane by a prescribed angle with rotation of the engaging member of the display screen support member engaged with the rack plate following reciprocation of the rack plate in the horizontal plane with normal and reverse rotation of the driving source. |
| US08157236B2 |
Combinational transverse strut for a two-in-one arc-shaped or linear advertisement display frame
A combinational transverse strut for a two-in-one arc-shaped or linear advertisement display frame, comprising a base body and a bendable overlay plate. Support members are provided at both ends of base body and overlay plate, respectively, each comprising a support seat, a support cap, a crankpin, and a magnetic steel. The crankpin is operatively connected between, and the magnetic steel is fixed between, the support seat and the support cap. The support member is connected to the base body by a straight pin shaft, and connected to the overlay plate by the crankpin. The two ends of the overlay plate are set up via support members to form an arc shape, so as to achieve applications as a linear member and as an arc-shaped member. The combinational transverse struts are attracted to each other by the magnetism of the support members. |
| US08157235B2 |
Device for fixing a wire cable raceway to a threaded rod
This device for fixing a wire cable raceway onto a threaded rod (4) includes: a body (6) with support members (12; 54; 12′) featuring a first support surface and a second support surface opposite the first support surface, elements for fixing onto a threaded rod (4) including two elastic arms (8) each provided with a notch (20), the bottom of which is intended to cooperate with the thread of the threaded rod (4) in order to assure locking of the fixing device onto the threaded rod (4). |
| US08157234B2 |
Habitat mount for wall mounted taxidermy mannequin
A habitat mount for a wall mounted taxidermy mannequin includes a habitat piece having a three dimensional first side with the appearance of one or more natural elements and an opposing generally planar second side. A tab extends outwardly from and generally parallel to a plane defined by the second side of the habitat piece. The tab is sized and shaped to mount directly to a rear side of the wall mounted taxidermy mannequin. |
| US08157231B2 |
Positioning apparatus
Positioning apparatus applied on equipment with one or a plurality of single axles is fixed on two bases opposite to each other. Adjusting device is located in each base and corresponding to each cross or single axle, which is configured for adjusting the position of the cross or single axle in a direction parallel to the base. Fixing device is configured for fixing the adjusting device on the base. The fixing device is moved in one direction vertical to the adjusting device adjusted in another direction. |
| US08157229B2 |
Vehicle bed raingutter bracket for rack system
A mounting bracket for securing a raingutter-mountable roof rack system to the bed or cargo management rail of a pickup truck or SUV. The bracket comprises a simple device with a minimal number of parts required for removably clamping the bracket to the side member of a vehicle bed. The bracket is simple to install, may be located anywhere along the side of the vehicle bed, and does not require the presence of a bed cover system for attachment to the vehicle. The bracket attaches to the side of the vehicle's bed in a manner that does not consume a substantial amount of space within the bed of the vehicle, and it may be used in conjunction with a tonneau cover without interfering with the operation of the cover. |
| US08157227B2 |
Device for supporting an object on a surface
A device for supporting an object on a surface has a body including a first portion attachable to a surface so as to attach the body to the surface and a second part having a receptacle for receiving the object, and an element for simultaneously activating the first portion and the second portion so as to simultaneously attach the first portion of the body to the surface and to fix the object in the receptacle. |
| US08157226B2 |
Mounting system for attaching multiple light sources for photographic use
Described herein is a mounting plate having a plurality of exterior edges. Each edge of the mounting plate has a mounting interface. Between each of the exterior edges is a flattened corner. Each of the planar corners has a pole mount disposed therein. The mounting plate also has a plurality of interior projections, each of the plurality of interior projections being disposed on an inner side of each of the planar corners. At least one of the plurality of interior projections has a stand mount disposed therein and at least a second one of the plurality of interior projections has an umbrella mount disposed therein. |
| US08157222B1 |
Wire harness clamp
A wire harness clamp with at least a pair of tension members that afford for harnesses having different sizes to be held securely by the clamp is provided. In addition, the wire harness clamp can have a length that can protect wire harnesses held within the clamp from proximate objects that can rub, vibrate, etc., against the wire harnesses. |
| US08157219B2 |
Vehicle detection system
An vehicle detection system is provided for tracking, detecting, and monitoring vehicles. The system and methods of the present invention are suitable for on track and roadway vehicles. In particular the present invention provides an improved and cost effective system and methods for tracking, detecting and monitoring locomotives and on track vehicles. |
| US08157218B2 |
Railway vehicle detection
A method is disclosed of detecting a railway vehicle, comprising using the time difference between receiving at first and second points a signal sent from the vehicle at a given time to produce an indication of the location of the vehicle. |
| US08157217B1 |
Spacecraft radiator systems
A spacecraft radiator system designed to provide structural support to the spacecraft. Structural support is provided by the geometric “crescent” form of the panels of the spacecraft radiator. This integration of radiator and structural support provides spacecraft with a semi-monocoque design. |
| US08157215B2 |
Door opening and closing apparatus for aircraft
A door opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the door from the inside of a fuselage. A door pivotally supported at an opening portion of the fuselage includes first and second position restricting links each having one end pivotally supported on the fuselage with a door driving link having one end pivotally supported on the door. The other end of the second position restricting link is pivotally supported on a middle portion of the door driving link. The door opening/closing operation lever is provided at one end with a grip with the other end pivotally supported on the other end of the door driving link. The middle portion of the door opening/closing operation lever is pivotally supported on the other end of the first position restricting link. By pulling the grip toward the inside of the fuselage and thereafter pushing downward, the door can be closed. |
| US08157210B2 |
Floor for an aircraft cargo compartment and method for the assembly thereof
In conventional aircraft cargo compartments panels or similar flat floor elements are fastened to floor beams or similar supporting elements that are installed in the body of the aircraft. Subsequently functional units such as roller elements latches or PDUs are mounted and connected to one another by way of appropriate control conductors. In the present invention it is proposed to fasten the floor elements permanently to the supporting beams so as to form prefabricated floor modules and to install these floor modules in the aircraft. |
| US08157208B2 |
Landing flap drive system
A landing flap drive system, in one example, includes a first drive motor for operating a landing flap. In this arrangement, the landing flap drive system is integrated in a track of the landing flap such that final assembly and integration of the system are facilitated to a significant extent. |
| US08157207B2 |
Jet engine nozzle exit configurations, including projections oriented relative to pylons, and associated systems and methods
Nozzle exit configurations and associated systems and methods are disclosed. An aircraft system in accordance with one embodiment includes a jet engine exhaust nozzle having an internal flow surface and an exit aperture, with the exit aperture having a perimeter that includes multiple projections extending in an aft direction. Aft portions of individual neighboring projections are spaced apart from each other by a gap, and a geometric feature of the multiple can change in a monotonic manner along at least a portion of the perimeter. Projections near a support pylon and/or associated heat shield can have particular configurations, including greater flow immersion than other projections. |
| US08157205B2 |
Multibody aircrane
This invention performs relative positioning, predictive control, and ballast control to achieve very heavy-lifting tasks on land or sea. Such tasks allow station keeping and precise transfer of very heavy payloads between ships underway. This scalable multibody system features three subcomponents: Airship, Skycrane and Loadframe. This semi-autonomous system combines aerodynamic (kinetic) and aerostatic (buoyancy force) lift with efficient power and propulsion. During low-speed flight, the Airship and Skycrane are decoupled but linked via a reelable Tether Control Line. Beneath the Skycrane, centered on its hull, a patented NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) RoboCrane, featuring a computer controlled six degrees of freedom (DoF) cabling system, is attached, to precisely suspend and control a Loadframe, with or without payload. During subsonic forward flight, these Airship and Skycrane are coupled as a single airframe: fuselage and delta wing. |
| US08157204B2 |
Double fuselage aircraft
Symmetric external parts of a front lower aircraft wing sweep forward such that lift generated by a rear upper wing is greater than lift generated by the front lower wing. The rear upper wing is in direct contact with rear upper parts of fuselages. A propulsion system of the aircraft has a turboprop engine and is carried by an internal part of the rear upper wing, with the propulsion system lying in a longitudinal mid-plane. |
| US08157195B2 |
Mechanical pulping refiner plate having curved refining bars with jagged leading sidewalls and method for designing plates
A method of mechanically refining lignocellulosic material in a refiner having opposing refiner plates including: introducing the material to an inlet in one of the opposing refiner plates or array of plate segments; rotating at least one of the plates with respect to the other plate, wherein the material moves radially outward through a gap between the plates due to centrifugal forces created by the rotation; passing the material over bars in a refining section of a first one the plates and through grooves between the bars, wherein the bars each include a sidewall with an irregular surface, and discharging the material from the gap at a periphery of the refiner plates. |
| US08157189B2 |
Premixing direct injector
A fuel injection nozzle comprises a body member having an upstream wall opposing a downstream wall, a baffle member having an upstream surface and a downstream surface, a first chamber, a second chamber, a fuel inlet communicative with the first chamber operative to emit a first gas into the first chamber, and a plurality of mixing tubes, each of the mixing tubes having a tube inner surface, a tube outer surface, a first inlet communicative with an aperture in the upstream wall operative to receive a second gas, a second inlet communicative with the tube outer surface and the tube inner surface operative to translate the first gas into the mixing tube, a mixing portion operative to mix the first gas and the second gas, and an outlet communicative with an aperture in the downstream wall operative to emit the mixed first and second gasses. |
| US08157187B2 |
Vehicle windshield cleaning system
Apparatus for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface having an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid; a housing bounding a reservoir in fluid communication with the inlet port; and an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing an amount of heated fluid. A heater element heats fluid that passes from the inlet to the outlet port through the reservoir. A heat exchanger in thermal contact with the heater element for conveying heat to the fluid within the reservoir has a strut that divides fluid entering the housing through the inlet port into two flow paths and elongated fins that extend outwardly from the strut at transverse angles that bound fluid flow channels for fluid moving through said reservoir. A control circuit energizes the heater element with a voltage to heat the heating element and the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet through the reservoir. |
| US08157186B2 |
Strike attachment railroad anchor
A system and method for non-invasively attaching components to railroad track rails. More specifically, a connector is provided that can quickly and effectively electrically connect one or more signal lines with a surface of the track rail. In one embodiment, the non-invasive connector utilizes a spring clamp to form an electrical connection with a flange portion of the track rail. First and second opposing members of the spring clamp include teeth that mar the surface of the flange to form an electrical connection between the track rail and the spring clamp when the flange is forced between these opposing members. A signal line is electrically connected to the spring clamp. |
| US08157183B2 |
Expansion valve, heat pump type refrigeration cycle apparatus, and air handling unit
A first expansion valve is provided in an outdoor unit, and a second expansion valve is provided in an indoor unit. A pipe line connects a first joint pipe of the first expansion valve and a second joint pipe of the second expansion valve. When a refrigerant flows in from the second joint pipe and flows out from the first joint pipe, the first and second expansion valves are in a full open state due to pressure of the refrigerant. When the refrigerant flows in from the first joint pipe and flows out from the second joint pipe, the first and second expansion valves are in semi-closed state (flow rate controlling state). In a cooling mode, the second expansion valve expands the refrigerant just before an indoor heat exchanger, and in a heating mode, the first expansion valve expands the refrigerant just before an outdoor heat exchanger. In both heating and cooling mode, a large amount of refrigerant flows through the pipe line to reduce pressure loss. |
| US08157175B2 |
Digital image capture and processing system supporting a presentation mode of system operation which employs a combination of video and snapshot modes of image detection array operation during a single cycle of system operation
A digital image capture and processing system including a housing having an imaging window; and an image formation and detection subsystem supporting a snap-shot mode of the operation and a video mode of operation. The system includes image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through said imaging window and upon an object within the FOV, and forming an image of the object on an area-type image detection array having a plurality of rows of image detection elements, and detecting 2D digital images of the object while object illumination and imaging operations. The system also includes an illumination subsystem, with an illumination array, for producing a field of illumination within the FOV, and illuminating the object detected in the FOV, so that the illumination reflects off the object and is transmitted back through the light transmission aperture and onto the image detection array to form the 2D digital image of the object. The digital image capture and processing system supports a presentation mode employing a combination of video and snap-shot modes of image detection array operation during a single cycle of system operation. |
| US08157173B2 |
Method for tagged bar code data interchange
A method of tagged bar code data interchange includes creating electronic and/or printed documents with tagged bar coded information, capturing and decoding the tagged bar coded information, caching the tagged bar coded information, parsing the bar coded data tags, stripping the data tags, and inputting/storing the bar coded information. Business can be conducted on-line using e-mail transmissions of video displayed tagged bar coded information. Such tagged bar coded information can be stored and/or input into style sheets that are in common or company-specific formats. Further, companies can receive consumer information in a format that is easily accessible by any portion, affiliate, subsidiary, or related entity of the company, no matter what software system is running. |
| US08157172B2 |
RFID tag package and tire assembly
A tire and RFID tag combine as an assembly to include a tire and a tag package mounted to a tire tag mounting surface. The tag package includes a carrier substrate having a die receiving surface and one or more interconnection tabs mounted to the die receiving surface. The tag package further includes a dipole antenna or other antenna configuration formed by first and second antenna members having inward ends connected to respective first and second interconnection tabs on the die receiving surface and outer antenna segments extending outward from the carrier substrate. An integrated circuit die mounts to the die receiving surface and has electrical contact(s) in contacting engagement with the interconnection tab(s). A cap member or, alternatively, a cylindrical encapsulating member, may be utilized for enclosing the integrated circuit die, the carrier substrate, and the inward ends of the first and second antenna members; the outer antenna segments of the first and second antenna members extending outward from the cap member or encapsulating member in operable position against respective portions of the tire tag mounting surface. |
| US08157171B2 |
Information reading apparatus
An information reading apparatus includes: a transfer path for transferring an information recording medium (a passport); an image sensor which is placed in a frame constructing the transfer path and optically reads information recorded in the information recording medium (the passport); and non-contact communication antennas which send and receive information to/from an antenna or an antenna embedded in the information recording medium (the passport), through electromagnetic induction. The plurality of non-contact communication antennas are laid out in the frame constructing the transfer path. |
| US08157170B2 |
Card identification device, card identification method, program, and information recording medium
Aimed is easy locating of a card placed on a touch panel, when identifying card type by sliding a touch pen, etc. along card slits. When a reference slit determining unit (404) of a card identification device (401) determines that a locus input from a touch panel unit (402) matches a reference slit, a slit region display control unit (405) displays longest slit regions images in which value slits are to be included on an image display unit (403). When a value slit determining unit (406) determines that a locus input thereafter matches any value slit, an input-finished slit display control unit (409) displays the image of the identified value slit on the image display unit (403), overlaying it on the longest slit region. When all value slits are identified, a card identifying unit (407) identifies the card type based on types of the identified value slits, and outputs it. |
| US08157168B2 |
Data collection device and network having radio signal responsive operation
A data collection device can include at least one of a bar code reader unit, an RFID reader unit, and a card reader unit. A data collection device can be operative to receive and process radio signals. A data collection device can be configured so that operation of the data collection device is responsive to radio signals. |
| US08157166B2 |
Methods and systems for managing transaction card accounts enabled for use with particular categories of providers and/or goods/services
A computer-implemented method and system for managing transaction card accounts involves enabling a transaction card account by a card issuer for use with pre-defined categories of providers of goods/services and goods/services sold and issuing a transaction card and establishing an associated pre-qualified category card account. Upon receiving data for a transaction with the transaction card at a transaction terminal by a processing platform of the card issuer via a card association processing network, the category of the provider and goods/services is interrogated to determine whether or not the transaction can be posted on the pre-qualified category card account of the cardholder, and the transaction is approved and posted to the pre-qualified category card account if the transaction falls within the pre-qualified category of the cardholder. |
| US08157165B2 |
User selectable functionality facilitator
Embodiments of the present invention provide a user station or input medium allowing a user to view available functions and to enter selection information for requesting the association of one or more functions with a user operation vehicle. A verifier, responsive to the user station or input medium, can be provided to determine based upon a set of pre-determined rules, whether the user is entitled to the selected functions. A linkage generator can be provided to associate a user operation vehicle with the selected functions after they have been verified by the verifier. A reward function may also be combined with one or more of the functions associated with the user operation vehicle. Interoperability can also be provided between functions on a user operation vehicle based on a pre-determined set of rules. The interoperability between functions may be bidirectional. |
| US08157161B2 |
Device and method for contact information exchange
A method and device exchanging contact information on an electronic device. Contact information is obtained from a contact by scanning a barcode using an electronic device and decoding the barcode to recover the contact information encoded therein. The contact information may be used to reciprocate by sending user contact data in a message addressed to an electronic address obtained from the contact information. The user contact data may be encoded in a second barcode displayed on the electronic device. |
| US08157158B2 |
Modification of solder alloy compositions to suppress interfacial void formation in solder joints
A solder joint comprising a solder capture pad on a substrate having a circuit; and a lead containing or a lead free solder selected from the group comprising Sn—Ag—Cu solder, Sn—Cu solder and Sn—Ag solder adhered to the solder capture pad; the solder selected from the group comprising between 0.1 and 6.0 per cent by weight Zn. A solder joint, comprising a solder capture pad on a substrate having a circuit; and a Sn—Cu lead free solder adhered to the solder capture pad, the solder comprising between 0.1 and 6.0% by weight Zn. Formation of voids at an interface between the solder and the solder capture pad is suppressed. A method for forming solder joints using the solders. |
| US08157157B2 |
Solder ball loading mask, apparatus and associated methodology
A solder ball loading method capable of securely loading solder balls on connection pads includes applying flux on each connection pad group of a printed wiring board flux is not applied to a contact portion between a spacer and the printed wiring board to keep the flux from attaching to the spacer. Because the flux is not attached to the spacer, when the mask is detached from the printed wiring board, the printed wiring board need not be inverted, and damage to the solder resist layer 70 is minimized. Further, the heights of the solder balls and the upper surface of the mask are made equal by using the spacer, making it possible to securely load the solder balls on the electrode pads, one solder ball for each connection pad, and to reduce a probability that solder balls are not loaded or that a plurality of the solder balls are loaded onto a single connection pad. |
| US08157150B2 |
Surgical stapler with timer and feedback display
A surgical apparatus has a clamp and a stapling mechanism. The clamp has a first jaw and a second jaw to clamp on a body tissue at a desired location for a stapling operation. The stapling mechanism is controlled by a trigger handle or a switch assembly. The surgical apparatus has a controller for providing a delay between clamping and actuating of the firing mechanism of the stapling mechanism. The delay provides for a desired amount of time for tissue compression producing a more uniform staple formation. The surgical apparatus also has an indicator. The indicator provides feedback about the status of the stapling mechanism and also displays a time of tissue compression by the clamp. |
| US08157149B2 |
Crimp and release of suture holding buttress material
A mechanism is provided for crimping and releasing a suture securing a strip of buttress material to an end effector. The mechanism includes a retention member movably mounted within the end effector. The retention member is movable from a first position crimping the suture to the end effector to a second position releasing the suture from the end effector. The mechanism additionally includes a follower member, engageable with the retention member, and movable in response to actuation of a surgical instrument to move the retention member between the first and second positions. A lock mechanism is also provided to secure the retention member in the first position. The follower member operates to disengage the lock mechanism. |
| US08157141B2 |
System and method for detecting and registering serrated bags
A system for detecting and registering serrated bags includes a web including a plurality of bags connected in an end-to-end arrangement, each bag including a first and second side, a first and second longitudinal end, a transverse seal, a serration disposed transversely across the bag, and a tab integrally connected to the bag at a portion of but less than the entire extent of the tab; a device for projecting a stream of air on each bag as the web passes a predetermined location; and a first and a second pair of nip rolls, each disposed downstream of the device, and adapted to accommodate the web, and to drive at different speeds such that a lead bag is separated from the web. |
| US08157137B1 |
Personal eating tray
A neck-mounted personal eating apparatus designed to facilitate eating by a person away from a table, is herein disclosed. The apparatus comprises a rectangular tray equipped with a raised lip around the entire perimeter to prevent liquid spills or loss of crumbs. The short side edges of the tray are provided with an adjustable padded neck strap which goes up and around the rear neck area of the user and attaches to the opposite sides of the tray. The neck strap comprises a flexible plastic “U”-shape strap having a plurality of holes to allow for adjustment. The holes connect to molded ball-end appendages located on either side of the tray. In such a manner, the neck strap can be easily resized to suit all size users from large adults to small children. Additionally, the apparatus comprises an angled fixed length strap that connects to the neck strap to help keep the tray level and prevent movement during use. |
| US08157135B2 |
Aerosol spray texture apparatus for a particulate containing material
An aerosol device for dispensing texture material for matching existing acoustical ceiling texture. The device comprises a container, a valve assembly, a dispensing nozzle, a hardenable material, and pressurized inert gas as a propelling mechanism. The hardenable material and pressurized inert gas are placed into the container. When the valve assembly is opened, the inert gas forces the hardenable material out of the container through the dispensing nozzle. The dispensing nozzle diverts at least a portion of the hardenable material exiting the container to develop a spray suitable for the application of the hardenable material onto the ceiling surface being textured. The hardenable material preferably comprises at least water, filler, binder, and polystyrene particles. The inert gas is preferably nitrogen. |
| US08157133B2 |
Inverted dispenser fitment
An inverted dispenser for a squeezable bottle is provided. The dispenser includes an outer portion having a frusto-conical body with a cavity extending therethrough. A lip extends circumferentially around the frusto-conical body. The dispenser also includes an inner portion having a cylindrical faceplate that includes a spout extending axially from a center of the faceplate. The inner portion is positioned within the outer portion such that the inner portion faceplate is positioned within the outer portion lip. The inner portion is further positioned such that the spout is in fluid communication with the cavity extending through the outer portion. In one embodiment, the inverted dispenser is formed with the outer portion and the inner portion molded as a single piece. |
| US08157131B2 |
Spray bottle with refill cartridge
A refill cartridge disposable within a spray bottle during usage thereof. The refill cartridge includes a cartridge body defining a cartridge reservoir. The cartridge body includes first and second openings, the second opening being defined by a projection of the cartridge body. A cap is connected to the cartridge body to substantially cover the first opening. The cap includes a cap base having a primary opening. A cap boss is connected to and extends from the cap base and defines a passage concentrically aligned with the primary opening. The refill cartridge additionally includes a plug having a plug body including a plug neck and a flared portion, with the plug neck defining a distal end. The plug is engageable with the cap and the cartridge body and is moveable relative to the cap and cartridge body between a sealing position and a dispensing position. |
| US08157122B2 |
Lidded container
A lidded container comprising a container body with side walls, a bottom, and a top end with an opening comprising means to retain a lid, and an upstanding edge around the opening having its outer sides in line with the side walls of the container. The upstanding edge is provided with at least one recess, which preferably inclines over the width of the upstanding edge from the opening downwardly to the edge's outer sides. |
| US08157121B2 |
Disposable container of liquid food products and a cap of a disposable container of liquid food products
The present invention relates to a disposable container of liquid food products or a cap thereof, having two independent round straw holes to be inserted by two ends of one bent drinking tube, wherein one of the straw holes is provided on a raised block which is on the top surface of the container or cap. The diameters of the straw holes tightly match the diameters of the drinking tube at its two ends, so that the drinking tube can be inserted into the container and pulled out repeatedly. The drinking tube used in the present invention is both for the purpose of drinking and closing the container. |
| US08157116B2 |
Electrical junction box
To provide an electrical junction box having a new structure that can decrease the size of the electrical junction box and can provide a drain hole in a bottom wall to prevent water from entering the drain hole from the outside. A bottom wall 24 of a lower cover 20 is provided on an outer surface with a bracket fitting section 28. A separated bracket 14 is attached to the bracket fitting section 28. A relay box 10 is attached through the bracket 14 to a motor vehicle. Drainage holes 42a and 42b formed in the bottom wall 24 of the lower cover 20 are covered by at least one of the bracket fitting section 28 and the bracket 14. |
| US08157115B2 |
Child-resistant cap having inner and outer caps and a seal removing unit
A child-resistant cap comprises: an inner cap mounted at a vessel inlet of a vessel; an outer cap disposed at an outer circumferential surface of the inner cap so as to perform an idling with the inner cap; a rotation force transmitting portion disposed between the inner cap and the outer cap for transmitting a rotation force of the outer cap to the inner cap only when the outer cap is downwardly moved with a force more than a certain degree; and a sealing member removing unit formed at the inner cap for removing a sealing member sealed at the vessel inlet when the inner cap is detached from the vessel inlet, and storing the removed sealing member in the inner cap. Since the sealing member removing unit is integrally formed at the cap, the sealing member is automatically removed at the time of opening the cap. Accordingly, the sealing member needs not to be additionally removed, and thus a usage convenience is enhanced. Furthermore, under a construction that the outer cap maintains an upwardly moved position from the inner cap by an elastic force, the cap can be opened only by downwardly moving the outer cap with a force more than a certain degree. Accordingly, a child can be more effectively protected. |
| US08157114B2 |
Adjustable container
An adjustable container is disclosed, wherein a plunger assembly disposed the container body cooperates with a support formed on an interior of the body to force the contents of the container upwardly towards a top thereof and to militate against the downward movement of said plunger assembly. |
| US08157113B2 |
Hoisting device with extended load range
A hoisting device or crane can be operated with at least two different maximum loads. The maximum load that can be hoisted in each case is correlated with the hoisting speed in order to prevent the dynamically developed peak load from exceeding the predetermined allowed load limiting values of the components of the crane or the hoisting device. |
| US08157109B2 |
Mountable storage apparatus with retractable linking mechanism and method
An apparatus and method for organizing, storing, and/or filing items, with a primary receptacle that is mountable to a wall and supports additional receptacles via attachment to and suspension from a hook that is pivotally attached to a bottom of the primary receptacle. |
| US08157104B2 |
Apparatus for supporting a vacuum filtration device
A portable fixture for supporting a vacuum filtration device includes a cradle portion and a clamping portion. The cradle portion supports the vacuum filtration device. The clamping portion removeably attaches the portable fixture to a support in order to secure and support the filtration device above a workspace. The portable fixture may also provide a vacuum to the filtration device. To that end, the portable fixture may have a vacuum inlet port which may be connected to a vacuum source and a vacuum outlet port that is fluidly connected to the vacuum inlet port. |
| US08157103B2 |
Reservoir for use with a blood collection system
A reservoir for use with a blood collection system includes a housing, a pre-filter, and a spring mechanism. The housing defines a cavity and has an inlet for receiving fluid from a source. The pre-filter is located within the cavity, removes particulates contained within the fluid, and allows the fluid to pass through the pre-filter. The spring mechanism is connected to the pre-filter and allows the pre-filter to travel within the cavity as the pre-filter collects particulates. |
| US08157101B2 |
Magnetic rake
A magnetic raking device for cleaning up of dangerous ferro-metallic particles in and around construction jobsites, parks and playgrounds. A device able to perform the duties of both a conventional rake and a magnetic pick up device in one simple step. A hand operated magnetic raking device comprises a housing with a magnet or magnets placed inside. Teeth extending away from the housing are shaped in a fashion as to provide maximum agitation in surfaces such as grass, gravel and hard packed dirt. Device can be used inverted with the teeth facing up along smooth surfaces to pick up ferro-metallic particles without agitation. A handle is mounted to the housing to provide for easy push/pull use of the device. Length of head and handle may vary according to size and scope of area to be raked and cleaned of ferro-metallic particles such as nails and screws. |
| US08157099B2 |
Apparatus and method for separating materials
A material separator for separating at least two different materials of differing densities and/or sizes of particles. The material separator generally includes a tank containing a flocculent, a circulation system for circulating flocculent within the tank and a pair of conveyors for moving two different materials out of the tank. The tank may include an upper chamber and a lower chamber. At least a portion of each of the conveyors is located in the upper chamber to catch materials fed into the flocculent. Each of the conveyors may include a mesh belt that permits the flocculent to flow through the conveyor. The tank may include a clean out valve that permits fines and other debris accumulated within the upper chamber to pass into the lower chamber. The flocculent circulation assembly may include a nozzle that can be constructed in various configurations to create flows of flocculent of various velocities and trajectories. In one embodiment, the lower chamber includes a drag line assembly that removes fines and other accumulated debris from the lower chamber. |
| US08157096B2 |
Foldable air cushion
A foldable air cushion includes a main air tube piece composed by a main body and buffer walls; and side air tube pieces configured adjacent to the main air tube piece and each composed by a side body and folding portions. A bending line is configured between the main body and the buffer walls, and the side body and the folding portions. A folding line is configured between the main air tube piece and the side air tube pieces, while the folding areas are configured on the side air tube piece adjacent to the intersection of the bending line and the folding line. When the main air tube piece is bended along the bending line, the side bodies of the side air tube pieces are folding along the folding areas, and the side air tube pieces are folded along the folding line, a containing space will be formed between the main air tube piece and the side air tube pieces. Therefore, the foldable air cushion has the protection effect of six-side buffering for the article held in the containing space, and effectively reduces the manufacturing cost. |
| US08157093B2 |
Packing unit
A packing unit includes a pallet, a structural base, and a fixing device. The pallet mounts an article thereon. The structural base has a fixed portion and is detachably attached to the article. The fixing device fixes the article to the pallet and includes an article fixing member slidably supported by the pallet. The article fixing member is movable between a fix position at which the article fixing member is engaged with the fixed portion of the structural base of the article to fix the article to the pallet and a release position at which the engagement of the article fixing member and the fixed portion is released. |
| US08157082B2 |
Segment bodies and scrapers for conveyor belt scrapers
Example segment bodies and scrapers for conveyor belt scrapers are disclosed. An example segment body for a conveyor belt scraper includes a mounting body that can be connected to a segment carrier in a rotationally fixed manner, a holding portion that is designed for applying force from at least one wear element, a support portion in contact with the holding portion and the mounting body, and at least one spring element provided between the holding portion and the mounting body, which interacts with the mounting body and the holding portion in such a way that a force can be transmitted from the at least one spring element to the holding portion. |
| US08157081B2 |
Process and automatic commissioning unit for filling an order container
A method and an automatic picking machine is provided for filling an order container by means of an ejector and conveyor belt. An ejector is provided configured as a revolving belt directly as a substantially horizontal product storage element. The stored products (3) to be picked are placed onto the conveyor belt (2) or directly into the order container (10) upon actuation of the revolving belt. The preferably bulky non-stackable products (3) are located preferably individually in product compartments (5) of the ejector and are ejected individually. |
| US08157076B2 |
Hydraulic control for a park by wire system used in a multimode hybrid transmission
A servo valve for shifting a transmission between a park and out of park position includes a valve housing and a park servo. A first and second solenoid is disposed in the valve housing for transmitting a respective first or second signal to shift the transmission to the respective first or second state of operation. The park servo is fluidly connected to the transmission and is responsive to the first and second signals to shift the transmission to the respective positions. Fluid pressure within the valve housing moves a valve member therein to move a piston within the park servo to shift the transmission to the corresponding position. A third solenoid transmits a third signal in combination with the second signal to latch and hold the valve member in the corresponding position. |
| US08157074B2 |
Centrifugal clutch
In a pendulum centrifugal clutch, a shoe is provided in a manner rotatable about a boss, and a fitting hole that rotatably fits with the boss is provided to the shoe. The fitting hole is bored on a thin portion formed by reducing a thickness of a shoe body from first and second sides of the shoe body. The thin portion is interposed between a brim provided to a first axial end of the boss and a plate brought adjacent to a second axial end of the boss. |
| US08157073B2 |
Separable clutch for a motor vehicle with automatic wear and temperature adjustment
A separable clutch for a motor vehicle has a clutch plate including a moveably mounted release unit. The clutch is pressure-medium actuated and includes an actuating piston acting on the release unit to engage and disengage the clutch, and a pressure chamber which is delimited at one side by at least one part of the actuating piston and at the other side by at least one part of a clamping piston. At least the actuating piston, the pressure chamber and the clamping piston are resiliently supported in a defined position against the release unit by spring force. The spring force is smaller than a limit force required for actuating the release unit. A pressure change in the pressure chamber, brought about by a clutch actuation causes the clamping piston to actuate a clamping device such that the clamping piston is fixed before the actuating piston actuates the release unit. |
| US08157072B2 |
Transfer case with clutch actuator
A transfer case for selectively coupling a secondary driveline with a primary driveline comprises: a first output shaft; a second output shaft; a clutch assembly disposed at the second output shaft, the clutch assembly including inner and outer drum members, one of the inner and outer drum members rotatable in association with rotation of the first output shaft and the other one of the inner and outer drum members coupled with the second output shaft, the clutch assembly further including a plurality of frictional clutch plates, the frictional clutch plates formed of at least one frictional clutch plate coupled with the inner drum member and at least one frictional clutch plate coupled with the outer drum member; an actuator shaft rotatably coupled with an actuator; and a clutch actuator means coupled with the actuator for applying axial force to the frictional clutch plates to transmit a drive torque of the first output shaft to the second output shaft. The clutch actuator means can be a pivot lever pivotally moveable in association with rotation the actuator shaft coupled with the actuator for said applying the axial force to the frictional clutch plates, or can be a sliding lever moveable in an axial direction of the actuator shaft in association with rotation the actuator shaft coupled with the actuator. |
| US08157071B2 |
Clutch for a transmission
The clutch of the present invention has a reaction plate, a friction plate, a friction layer, and at least one non-compressible member. The friction plate is disposed adjacent the reaction plate for frictionally engaging the reaction plate to transfer a driving torque between the reaction plate and the friction plate when the compression force is applied. The friction layer has at least one groove. The at least one non-compressible member is disposed in the at least one groove for preventing further compression of the friction layer by the reaction plate. The at least one non-compressible member is adhered to the friction plate or press fit within the friction layer. |
| US08157069B2 |
Overrunning clutch
In an overrunning clutch (1), an annular space is formed between an inner raceway (3) and an outer raceway, in which annular space is arranged a cage (5) which has cut-outs (4) for holding clamping bodies (2), with each cut-out (4) being delimited by transverse webs (10) which run in the axial direction, and with in each case one spring element (6), which projects into a cut-out (4) and exerts a force on a clamping body (2), adjoining the transverse webs (10). At that side of the transverse web (10) which faces away from the spring element (6), at least one retaining lug (4), which serves to retain a clamping body (2), extends into a cut-out (4). |
| US08157061B2 |
Elevator installation with a braking device and method for braking and holding an elevator installation
An elevator installation has braking equipment for braking and holding an elevator car which moves in vertical direction within guide tracks or rails. The braking equipment consists of at least two brake units each comprising a normal force regulation device that sets a normal force (FN) in correspondence with a normal force value determined by a brake control unit and/or a locking device that locks the brake unit in a set braking position and which preferably maintains the set braking position in the case of an interrupted energy supply. The braking equipment provides a gentle braking or holding of the elevator car, which corresponds with the operational state of the elevator installation, with a low energy requirement. |
| US08157060B2 |
Elevator installation with braking equipment and method of braking in an elevator installation
An elevator installation has an elevator car that moves in a vertical direction along guide tracks and is braked or held at standstill by a braking equipment. The braking equipment includes at least two brake units, at least one of the brake units, but preferably each of the brake units, is provided with a wear-compensating device which, when the brake unit is opened or released, sets a clearance distance between a brake lining and an associated brake surface, which clearance arises on opening of the brake unit, in correspondence with a substantially constant value. Thereby, use may be made of customary and thus economic brake materials which may wear during braking. |
| US08157059B2 |
Destination floor indication device of elevator
A destination floor indication device that enables elevator users to get to know destination floors that have already been registered easily and in a short time. For this purpose, a destination floor indication device installed in a hall or car of the elevator is includes an indication part that indicates registered destination floors to elevator users, and indication contents of this indication part are controlled by an indication control part. It is ensured through the control by the indication control part that when the number of indications of registered destination floors exceeds a prescribed specified value, the size of indications of destination floors is made smaller than when the specified value is not exceeded, whereby all registered destination floors are caused to be indicated in the indication part. |
| US08157056B2 |
Coupler for ladder standoff arrangement
A coupler for a standoff arrangement for ladders and the like. The standoff arrangement comprises a ladder attachment portion and a ladder support portion, with the attachment portion formed to be releasably securable to a ladder and the support portion extending from the ladder attachment portion. The ladder support portion has a pair of individually adjustable bearing arms, and a coupler is installed in each bearing arm to make the bearing arm universally adjustable in relation to the structure against which the ladder standoff arrangement bears. |
| US08157054B1 |
Aquatic ladder for marine applications
The aquatic ladder was designed for ease of use, rather than ease of storage. It has wide, deep treads, arranged like a staircase, with side and upper railings which make it easy to enter or exit the water, even by elderly people, tired individuals, those carrying aquatic equipment, such as SCUBA gear or water skis, and, even, by pets. In the preferred embodiment, the aquatic ladder includes upper railings which each have an inverted “U” shape, and the distal end of those railings have hinged brackets for mounting the aquatic ladder to an object to be boarded. In an alternative embodiment, the aquatic ladder is mounted on a sliding rail, such that it can be raised, vertically, from the water, when it is not being used. The vertical portions of the ladder are short, relative to the overall height of the ladder whereby less material is used to manufacture the ladder, while making its shipment and storage easier. The ladder is preferably made from aluminum, although it can be made of other materials, such as steel (e.g., stainless or galvanized), fiberglass, plastic, or other composites. |
| US08157048B2 |
Splash proof acoustically resistive color assembly
An acoustically resistive protective cover assembly for an opening in a casing is provided, the casing separates an enclosed space from the ambient space and has an exposed face oriented toward the ambient space and an internal face oriented toward the internal space. The cover assembly comprises an acoustically resistive porous material disposed upon the exposed face of the case and an acoustically resistive water repellant material disposed upon the internal face of the case. |
| US08157042B2 |
Working vehicle with cabin
A working vehicle with a cabin in which, to lift a cabin upward, a lift arm of a hydraulic lifting mechanism can be easily connected to a cabin. The working vehicle has a travel body having an engine mounted on it, the cabin having an operation seat for an operator, a steering wheel, etc., a link mechanism for connecting a working section to the travel body, the hydraulic lifting mechanism for lifting the working section connected to the link mechanism off the ground, and a lifting rod for detachably connecting the lifting arm of the hydraulic lifting mechanism and the link mechanism. A cabin support body is placed at the lower end of the front of the cabin. The hydraulic lifting mechanism is placed below the rear of the cabin. The upper face side of the hydraulic lifting mechanism is opened by rotating the cabin about the cabin support body. The working vehicle has a projection body engaging the cabin from below, and the projection body is detachably connected to the lifting arm. |
| US08157041B2 |
Intake device for motorcycle
A motorcycle includes an engine having a substantially vertical cylinder assembly and disposed in a front half of a vehicle body frame, an inverted type rear cushion unit disposed behind the engine in substantially vertical posture, an air cleaner disposed behind the rear cushion unit and below a rider's seat, and an intake air passage connecting air an intake port formed in a rear portion of the cylinder assembly and the air cleaner each other. The intake air passage, i.e., connecting pipe, is arranged so as to be overlapped with an upper portion of the rear cushion unit in a side view of the motorcycle. A cross section shape of the connecting pipe is a vertically long shape in which its longitudinal size is greater than its lateral size. |
| US08157040B2 |
Automobile over-bulkhead air intake system
An automobile air intake system is provided that channels air from outside the automobile engine compartment to the engine. The automobile air intake system according to an embodiment of the invention includes an intake enclosure coupled to a bulkhead across the front of the engine compartment. The automobile grille, radiator, and a front portion of the hood in front of the bulkhead form a flow channel to an intake port of the intake enclosure. Aspects of the invention include a screen extending from the bulkhead to the grille for inhibiting the flow of water and particles through the flow channel. Other aspects provide an alternative air path for channeling air from the engine compartment to the intake enclosure. |
| US08157037B2 |
Motor sensor assembly for alternative fuel vehicles
An automotive drive system includes a transmission comprising a plurality of gears, an electric motor having a rotor and being coupled to the transmission such that operation of the electric motor causes actuation of the gears, and a sensor assembly coupled to and located on the exterior of at least one of the transmission and the electric motor, the sensor assembly being configured to detect movement of at least one of the rotor and the plurality of gears and generate a signal representative thereof. |
| US08157033B2 |
Steering system for a tracked vehicle
A steering system for a vehicle having left and right endless tracks, left and right sprocket wheels, a motor and a hydraulic pump includes left and right hydraulic motors mounted to a respective one of the left and right sprocket wheels, a hydraulic circuit connecting the fluid outlet of each hydraulic motor to the fluid inlet of the other hydraulic motor, and a steering mechanism for receiving hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pump and selectively distributing it to the first and second hydraulic motors. The steering mechanism is in fluid communication with the fluid inlets of the left and right hydraulic motors to provide hydraulic pressure in response to first and second steering inputs from a user. An attachment kit includes the steering system. |
| US08157026B2 |
Hybrid bit with variable exposure
An earth boring drill bit comprising a bit body having a bit profile including nose, shoulder, and gage sections; a plurality of fixed cutting elements secured to the body and defining a fixed cutter profile; and a roller cone rotatably secured to the body, the roller cone having a plurality of roller cone cutting elements defining a roller cutter profile, wherein the fixed cutter profile extends beyond the roller cutter profile in at least one of the sections and the roller cutter profile extends beyond the fixed cutter profile in at least one of the sections. The roller cutter profile may extend beyond the fixed cutter profile in the shoulder and gage sections, possibly with the fixed cutter profile extending beyond the roller cutter profile in the nose section and/or a cone section. |
| US08157023B2 |
Boring tool tracking fundamentally based on drill string length, pitch and roll
A boring tool moves having a pitch orientation, a yaw orientation and a roll orientation and is steerable underground using the roll orientation. A maximum drill string curvature is established for steering. The boring tool is advanced over a path segment. An averaged roll characteristic is determined for movement of the boring tool along the path segment. A path segment pitch orientation is established based on at least one measured pitch orientation along the path segment. Using the maximum drill string curvature in combination with the averaged roll characteristic and the path segment pitch orientation, the yaw orientation is determined. The averaged roll characteristic is determined based on a series of incremental roll measurements that are spaced across the path segment. A set of coupled ordinary differential equations is used to characterize movement of the boring tool. |
| US08157022B2 |
Apparatus string for use in a wellbore
An apparatus string for use in a wellbore has a plurality of activation modules having first and second ends and containing devices to be activated/initiated downhole. An apparatus string also has a plurality of initiator modules where at least initiator is operatively connected to each activation module and is addressable. Each initiator module may have a safety initiator which when the initiator module is addressed initiates the firing of the shaped charges in the gun module to which it is operatively connected. A wireless transmitter is operatively connected in and integral to the apparatus string for use in transmitting signals to address any initiator module in the apparatus string. |
| US08157018B2 |
Torque wrench system having multiple torque stations
An improved multi-bolt and nut torque wrench for installing and removing bolts or nuts from flanged joints or the like which includes a plurality of torque stations having a plurality of high torque wrenches for engaging the heads of the bolts or nuts during a high torque phase of removal or installation; a plurality of low-torque motors operatively engaged with the wrenches for rotating the bolts or nuts during the low torque phase of removal or installation; a source of hydraulic fluid for driving the low-torque motors during the low-torque phase, and driving the high-torque wrenches during the high torque phase; and a mechanism for switching between the two phases depending on the torque needed. |
| US08157017B2 |
Method and apparatus for injecting fluid in a wellbore
A chemical injection system for controlling injection of an injection fluid from an injection fluid supply at a surface location into a production tubing assembly having an upper flow path, a first flow zone, and a second flow zone. The chemical injection system comprises a first fluid injection line configured to inject the injection fluid into the first flow zone and a second fluid injection line configured to inject the injection fluid into the second flow zone. A main fluid supply line is configured to fluidly connect both the first fluid injection line and the second fluid injection line to the injection fluid supply. |
| US08157013B1 |
Tensioner system with recoil controls
A tensioner system for an offshore drilling rig for drilling a well with recoil controls is disclosed herein. The tensioner system can include removable independently operable riser tensioner assemblies. Each removable independently operable riser tensioner assembly can include a bidirectional riser recoil valve and a hydraulic cylinder connected thereto. The hydraulic cylinder can power a rod engaged with a clevis and a blind end clevis. The clevis can engage a tension ring on a drilling riser. A fluid containment storage can be connected to the bidirectional riser recoil valve and the hydraulic cylinder, and can have a goose neck for connecting to a flexible jumper. A controller can be connected to the bidirectional riser recoil valve for regulating flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough to control a disconnect process of the drilling riser by controlled raising or lowering of the drilling riser. |
| US08157012B2 |
Downhole sliding sleeve combination tool
Systems and methods for the production of hydrocarbons from a wellbore. One or more combination tools can be disposed along a casing string inserted into a wellbore. Each combination tool can contain a body having a bore formed therethrough; a sliding sleeve at least partially disposed in the body; one or more openings disposed about the body at a first end thereof; and a valve assembly and a valve seat assembly at least partially disposed within the bore at a second end thereof. While initially permitting free bi-directional flow of fluids within the casing string, the sliding sleeve within each combination tool can be manipulated to close the valve within the tool, thus permitting pressure testing of the casing string. The sliding sleeve can be further manipulated to open the one or more openings thereby permitting hydraulic fracturing and production of a hydrocarbon zone surrounding the combination tool. |
| US08157005B2 |
Casing mandrel for facilitating well completion, re-completion or workover
A casing mandrel for an independent screwed wellhead includes a seal bore for receiving a fixed-point packoff connected to a high-pressure mandrel of a pressure isolation tool, and a pin thread adapted for engagement with a box thread of a tubing head supported by the casing mandrel. |
| US08157000B2 |
Heat exchanger core
A heat exchanger core incorporating diffusion bonded plates and heat exchangers incorporating such core are disclosed. The heat exchanger core comprises first and second groups of interleaved plates which are arranged respectively to carry first and second heat exchange fluids, and each of the plates in each group is formed in one of its faces with thirty or more platelets, each of which is composed of a group of parallel channels. Ports extend through the first and second groups of plates for conveying the first and second heat exchange fluids to and from the platelets, and distribution channels connect opposite ends of each platelet in each of the plates to associated ones of the ports. The distribution channels that are associated with each of the platelets in the plates of the first group are disposed in intersecting relationship with the distribution channels that are associated with respective ones of the platelets in the plates of the second group whereby each one of the platelets in the plates of the first group is located in heat exchange juxtaposition with a respective one of the platelets in the plates of the second group. |
| US08156998B2 |
Patterned metal thermal interface
The present invention is a patterned metal thermal interface. In one embodiment a system for dissipating heat from a heat-generating device includes a heat sink having a first surface adapted for thermal coupling to a first surface of the heat generating device and a thermal interface having at least one patterned surface, the thermal interface being adapted to thermally couple the first surface of the heat sink to the first surface of the heat generating device. The patterned surface of the thermal interface allows the thermal interface to deform under compression between the heat sink and the heat generating device, leading to better conformity of the thermal interface to the surfaces of the heat sink and the heat generating device. |
| US08156996B2 |
Casting apparatus and method
A nucleated casting apparatus including an atomizing nozzle configured to produce a droplet spray of a metallic material, a mold configured to receive the droplet spray and form a preform therein, and a gas injector which can limit, and possibly prevent, overspray from accumulating on the mold. The gas injector can be configured to produce a gas flow which can impinge on the droplet spray to redirect at least a portion of the droplet spray away from a side wall of the mold. In various embodiments, the droplet spray may be directed by the atomizing nozzle in a generally downward direction and the gas flow may be directed in a generally upward direction such that the gas flow circumscribes the perimeter of the mold. |
| US08156994B2 |
Longitudinal frame member and spline
A frame includes longitudinal members secured to one another. The longitudinal members support a spline that is normally open in a first position to provide a cavity. A fabric, such a mesh screen, is arranged over the frame so that the perimeter of the screen is received within the cavities of the longitudinal members. A movable platen is actuated to engage the spline. The splines are forced into the cavities to a second position in which the perimeter of the screen is pinched between the splines and the longitudinal members. A radius nose of the splines is retained in a channel of the longitudinal members securing the screen without tearing it when under load. |
| US08156993B2 |
Roll screen control member
A roll screen control member is revealed. The roll screen control member consists of a sprocket wheel, a chain protection cover, a sprocket support, a cover spring, a splined bush and a central pin. The splined bush is mounted with a roll screen tube while the central pin includes a central pin head with a plurality of cutting surfaces. After the central pin being locked into the sprocket support, each cutting surface of the central pin is corresponding to each cutting surface on the sprocket support. When a chain is pulled, due to the precise locking between the central pin and the sprocket support, splined bush is moved along with the cover spring so as to drive the roll screen tube to rotate along with the movement and further control extension or retraction of the roll screen. |
| US08156991B2 |
Cord lock of window coverings
A cord lock of the window blinds or shade includes a box having a chamber therein, an engaging block on an outer side, a first opening for a cord exiting the box, a second opening for the cord entering the box, a fixed locking portion on the outer side, and a flexible locking portion opposite the fixed locking portion; and a movable driving wheel, which is received in the chamber of the box, to be moved between a lock position, in which the movable driving wheel is moved toward the engaging block to clip the cord therebetween, and a release position, in which the movable driving wheel is moved away from the engaging block to release the cord. The fixed locking portion provides the box fixing to the top rail with a strong strength, and the flexible locking portion provides an easy way to mount the box on the top rail. |
| US08156989B2 |
Compact handheld adhesive applicator
A compact handheld adhesive applicator is provided with a housing assembly and a cartridge assembly removably connected to the housing assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a primary spool for mounting an adhesive segment roll and a secondary spool for automatically winding a spent portion of the adhesive segment roll. A gear arrangement allows for numerous adhesive segments to be applied consecutively in a glide-type application or for a single adhesive segment to be accurately applied using a manual advance feature. |
| US08156988B2 |
Fiber strip multiapplicator head and method for applying the fiber strips
The invention relates to a fiber strip multiapplicator head of the type supplying multiple independent application strips, to be compacted jointly in an area (2) by means of a roller of flexible material, the independent strips being led through hollows defined by the structural formation of a body (3) in the sides of which assemblies are arranged, which assemblies comprise respective master rollers (4) for pulling the strips synchronized with the respective cutting systems (5). |
| US08156986B2 |
Method and apparatus of fabricating carcass member for tire
The invention can efficiently provide a carcass member constituting a carcass layer of a radial tire, particularly, a carcass member a direction of a cord of which constitutes an angle of substantially 90° relative to a tire circumferential direction, and can easily adjust a length in accordance with a size, one piece of a cord (C) is continuously passed through a rubber coating die (14) to coat rubber on the cord, the rubber coated cord (C1) is shaped such that a sectional outer shape thereof constitutes an elliptical shape, the rubber coated cord (C1) is wound around an aligning drum (30) while adjusting a direction of the elliptical shape by way of an aligning guide (20) to bond without producing a gap to form a cylinder-like member (A1), thereafter, the cylinder-like member (A1) is cut in a direction in parallel with the drum axis center to constitute a sheet-like shape. |
| US08156984B2 |
Ultrasonic welding device, and packaging machine with an ultrasonic welding device
The invention relates to an ultrasonic welding device for welding foil-like materials and includes an ultrasound sonotrode, an anvil, an adjusting unit for adjusting a relative position between the ultrasound sonotrode and the anvil, and a regulating unit which regulates, via the adjustment unit, a width of a working gap between the ultrasound sonotrode and the anvil. The anvil is mounted to be movable with respect to the ultrasound sonotrode on a movable mounting. The adjusting unit has a first wedge element connected to the anvil, a second wedge element, and an actuator. The actuator is connected to the second wedge element, and the second wedge element moves relative to the first wedge element to execute a position change of the anvil relative to the ultrasound sonotrode. |
| US08156981B2 |
Combination of a substrate and a wafer
The invention pertains to a combination of a substrate (6) and a wafer (15), wherein the substrate (6) and the wafer (15) are arranged parallel to one another and bonded together with the aid of an adhesive layer (8) situated between the substrate (6) and the wafer (15), and wherein the adhesive is chosen such that its adhesive properties are neutralized or at least diminished when a predetermined temperature is exceeded. According to the invention, the adhesive layer (8) is only applied annularly between the substrate (6) and the wafer (15) in the edge region of the wafer (15). |
| US08156980B2 |
Sidewall protector ribs
A pneumatic tire for use with telescopic material handlers includes a first concentrically continuous sidewall protector rib projecting axially outward from the sidewall and located above a midpoint of the sidewall. A second non-continuous sidewall protector rib is located concentrically outward of the first sidewall protector rib. The tire is a relatively low aspect ratio tire having a relatively flat sidewall profile. This provides a tire having the advantage of added sidewall protection without increasing the overall width of the inflated tire. |
| US08156979B2 |
Tire with zoned built-in sealant layer
The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire which contains a built-in zoned puncture sealant layer. The zoned puncture sealant layer is comprised of organoperoxide depolymerized butyl rubber zones comprised of a central primary zone and lateral zones joined together to form a unitary sealant layer. The sealant of the lateral zones of the sealant layer is of a higher storage modulus (G′) than the sealant of the central zone. |
| US08156978B1 |
Tire and self-inflation apparatus assembly
An air passageway body resides within a tire body and extends between an outward facing tire body surface and the tire cavity, the air passageway body having an enclosed air passageway extending between a hollow body outlet end facing the tire cavity and a hollow inlet end facing outward from the outward facing tire body surface. A tapping device is affixed over one or both of the ends of the air passageway body, the tapping device having an external vent opening and a protrusion member penetrating through a sidewall of the air passageway body to operatively establish an air flow path extending between the air passageway of the air passageway body through the protrusion member and the tapping device vent opening. The air passageway body is installed pre-cure within a green tire carcass build of the tire body and the tapping device(s) are attached post-cure to the air passageway body. |
| US08156975B1 |
Protective cover
The invention is a protective cover for an object stored outdoors. The cover is weather-proof, and a photographic image of plants, vegetation, ground cover or foliage is applied to the outer surface of the cover, whereby the appearance of the outer surface of the cover is designed to emulate the exterior appearance of outdoor plants, vegetation, ground cover and foliage, thereby serving to camouflage objects which are being protected by the cover. A low reflectivity texture is imparted to the outer surface of the cover. |
| US08156973B2 |
Wood working machine
A wood working machine is described that includes a mounting plate assembly for supporting a cutting tool, the mounting plate assembly including a base plate, first and second spaced apart intermediate plates on the base plate, and first and second guide plate elements pivotally supported on respective first and second intermediate plates, and a cutting tool support plate slidably disposed between the first and second guide plate elements, the guide plate elements including means defined therein for positioning each of the guide plate elements at selected angular intervals with respect to the respective first and second intermediate plates, whereby the cutting tool support plate is slidably movable on the base plate between the guide plate elements at a prescribed angle. The mounting plate assembly may include laser sources providing crossed laser beams for accurately positioning the tool bit of the cutting tool near a work piece, and light sources for illuminating the tool bit. A digital sensor may be included for precise positioning of the work piece held beneath the base plate on a movable carrier. Work holding fixtures such as a mortising plate or multiangle work holder may be optionally attached to the moveable carrier to hold the work piece in alternative ways. |
| US08156971B2 |
Method and apparatus for the handling of a hazardous fluid
An apparatus for the handling of hazardous fluids includes a collection vessel, a collection vessel connector, a dose control connector, a unit dose container, a delivery control connector, and a delivery site access device. The collection vessel contains the fluid prior to dispensing, the unit dose container contains a predetermined amount of the fluid for dispensing, the delivery site access device provides access to an intended delivery site, and the connector attaches pieces of the apparatus to one another. The method of the invention allows needle-free connections to be made for the apparatus, using a predetermined arrangement of the pieces of the apparatus, and in one embodiment, employs deformable elastomeric valves capable of creating a decreased pressure at a valve surface, so that upon closure of said valves, a fluid on the surface on the valves is withdrawn within the connector. |
| US08156965B2 |
Modular arrangement with modules, which are added in a series direction and are formed at least partially as valve modules
A modular arrangement is proposed with modules (10-25) added in a row direction, these being constructed at least partially as valve modules (16-21, 23, 24), wherein one module is constructed as a control module (10) and is connected to the other modules (11-25) by control and/or sensor lines (30) running transversely through these modules. Voltage supply lines (36, 37) powered by a voltage source (33) run transversely through the modules (10-25). At least one module is constructed as a safety module (12) and has a switching arrangement (38) for interrupting the voltage supply lines (36) to the modules (13-21) powered via the safety module (12) in the activated state. Safety-related control and/or diagnostic electronics are provided for activating the switching arrangement (38). |
| US08156960B2 |
Servo pressure control valve
A valve for controlling pressure in a system is provided. The valve includes a housing, a servo spool and a piston positioned within the housing with the piston and the servo spool being movable relative to each other. The piston defines a first orifice configured to communicate with a supply of pressurized fluid and a second orifice configured to communicate with a portion of the system exterior to the valve. A first chamber is arranged such that force due to fluid pressure in the first chamber is configured to move the piston in a first direction. The first chamber includes a third orifice configured to communicate with a controlled pressure in the system. A second chamber is at least partially defined by the housing and the piston and includes a fourth orifice configured to communicate with a low pressure fluid source. A biasing element is arranged in the second chamber. First and second fluid passages are provided in the servo spool and are configured such that in at least one relative position of the piston and the servo spool the first passage provides communication between the first orifice and the second orifice and in at least one other relative position the second passage provides communication between the second orifice and the fourth orifice. |
| US08156957B2 |
System for accurately weighing solids and control mechanism for same
A system, including a closed chamber (20) having a gas inlet (22) and a gas outlet (24) is shown and described. An inert gas supply under positive pressure is connected to the gas inlet, and a bubbler is connected to the gas outlet. The bubbler includes a compartment that is partially filled with liquid so as to define a head space, an inlet operatively connected to the gas outlet, a vent, and a vacuum line in fluid communication with the head space so that the head space has a negative pressure. |
| US08156956B1 |
Refrigeration condensate line connectors
An assembly mounts between the drain pan that collects condensate water from an air conditioner and the drain line. It includes a housing with a first end connected to the pan. A second end connects to the drain line. A shut off valve shuts off the passage to the pan while maintenance is performed. A connector is mounted on the housing between the valve and the second end. It is a female member of a water hose coupling. A male member of the coupling may be screwed in to seal it in place. Male members may have different terminations at a second end, including a barbed tube for resilient tubing, a compressed air tire valve for delivering gas, a compressed nitrogen coupling, a tapered funnel for the nozzle of vacuum/blower, and a water sensor. |
| US08156955B2 |
Inflating nozzle assembly
An inflating nozzle assembly has a housing, two nozzles and a pushing device. The housing has two nozzle chambers and two outlets. The nozzles are mounted respectively in the first nozzle chamber, and one of the nozzles has a nozzle body, a nozzle rod and a spring. The nozzle body has at least one inlet. The nozzle rod is movably mounted in the nozzle body and has a sealing protrusion to divide two communication segments in the nozzle body. The spring is connected to the nozzle rod to keep one of the communication segments of the axial hole from communicating with the at least one inlet in the first nozzle body. Accordingly, an airflow led through the outlets of the housing can be automatically switched by inserting different types of air valves into the corresponding outlets. |
| US08156954B2 |
Method for reduction of crude oil viscosity
The present invention relates to a method for reducing the viscosity and facilitating the flow of petroleum-based fluids. The method includes the step of applying an electric field of sufficient strength and for a sufficient time to the petroleum-based fluid to cause a reduction in viscosity of the fluid. |
| US08156953B2 |
Method and device for regulating a pressure in a hydraulic system
The present invention relates to a method for regulating a pressure in a hydraulic system for operating at least one actuator in a subsea installation, having a fluid supply line (102) connected to a source of pressurized fluid (101) at a remote location delivering fluid at a constant pressure to the subsea installation, comprising first and second control valves (103, 105) controlled by an electronic control unit (107), and at least one pressure sensor (106) and an accumulator (104) arranged between the first and second control valve (103, 105), where the pressure in the fluid supply line (102′) to the actuator is regulated by regulating the pressure in the accumulator (104) by adding fluid from the source of pressurized fluid (101) through the first control valve (103) if the pressure is too low or releasing pressure through the second control valve (105) to a fluid return line (120) if the pressure is too high and thereby establishing the desired pressure for operating the actuator. The invention also relates to a device for performing the method. |
| US08156951B2 |
Pocket umbrella comprising a handle cover and a support for the telescopic tube
Disclosed is a folding umbrella that has an additional functionality such as an umbrella cover, in particular a compact pocket umbrella comprising a handle cover and support for the telescopic tube. The aim of the invention is to design a folding pocket umbrella that has an additional functionality such as an umbrella cover, in particular a compact pocket umbrella comprising a handle cover and support for the telescopic tube. The preferably oval handle cover is designed in such a way as to be able to accommodate the entire umbrella when the umbrella that substantially comprises a stationary tube, a telescopic tube, a slide, canopy rods, and a canopy is folded and collapsed. In order for a user to be able to quickly manipulate the umbrella, an extractable handle is provided which is easy to access, preferably also has an oval shape, and is fixedly connected to the end of the telescopic tube. |
| US08156950B2 |
Megasonic cleaning with controlled boundary layer thickness and associated systems and methods
Megasonic cleaning systems and methods of using megasonic pressure waves to impart cavitation energy proximate a surface of a microelectronic substrate are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a megasonic cleaning system includes a process tank for containing a liquid, a support element for carrying a substrate submerged in the liquid, and first and second transducers positioned in the tank. The first transducer is further positioned and/or operated to initiate cavitation events in a bulk portion of the liquid proximate a surface of the substrate. The second transducer is further positioned and/or operated to control an interface of fluid friction between the substrate and the bulk portion of the liquid. |
| US08156947B2 |
Method and apparatus for pedicure foot health protection
A system for carrying out a pedicure wherein a conventional pedicure is closely simulated while protecting the foot from microbial infection and harsh chemicals. The foot is encased in a waterproof sock containing appropriate liquid conditioners for softening the skin. The encased foot is placed in a warm, recirculating water bath for a period of time. The foot is then removed from the bath, the sock is removed from the foot and discarded, and a conventional pedicure trimming process is carried out. The skin of the foot is thus protected from any contact with the water bath, while the soothing, stimulative, and otherwise pleasurable effects of the recirculating warm water are provided as in a conventional pedicure process. |
| US08156943B1 |
Method for opening a smoke passage in a cigar and tool therefor
A method for opening a smoke passage in a cigar includes using a tool which has a tube which is connected to an air supply. The tube has an air exit aperture(s) which exhausts air delivered by the air supply. The tube is inserted into a cigar and the air supply is operated. The air blows out a passageway within the cigar so that the cigar will draw when smoked. |
| US08156940B2 |
Device for snoring prevention
Provided is a snoring prevention device including an upper support supported by upper teeth of a patient, an upper protruding part provided at the upper support to protrude downward from the upper support, a lower support supported by lower teeth of the patient, and a lower protruding part provided at the lower support to protrude upward from the lower support and caught to a front side of the upper protruding part. |
| US08156939B1 |
Therapeutic pressure pillow apparatus
In therapeutic apparatus, the combination comprising an adjustable cradle pressure exerting therapeutic cushion, a flexible sheath housing a cushion, an elongated support operatively connected to a sheath for maneuvering a sheath and cushion into selected position or positions for transmitting pressure between a person and a surface onto which a person's body weight is imposed via a cushion and sheath. |
| US08156933B2 |
Cloud nebulizer
A nebulizer apparatus according to the present invention has an enclosure including a primary chamber of ambient air, a medicant chamber and a secondary chamber. The secondary chamber is for containing water and includes an ultrasonic transducer and is in communication with the primary chamber. The apparatus further has a first switch for activating pump means for evacuating air from the primary chamber after which the transducer is activated for a predetermined time. The pump stops after a predetermined pressure is achieved. The apparatus has a valve that opens allowing a dose of powdered medicine in the medicant chamber to move into the vapor-rich primary chamber to seed and form a cloud laden with medicine. A mouthpiece is attached to said primary chamber to allow the patient to suck and inhale the cloud. The mouthpiece may further include a one way valve that seals the mouthpiece during evacuation and upon the patient sucking the tubing of the mouthpiece the valve opens to allow the cloud to be inhaled. |
| US08156931B2 |
Direct vent cap
A vent cap for a direct vent system. The cap may include a base plate and a semicircular outer housing secured to the base plate. A divider is coupled within the outer housing, with the divider forming in exhaust region and an inlet region. A heat shield is positioned within the semicircular outer housing in the outlet region. A direct vent pipe coupling is provided in the base plate and includes a first pipe having an outlet coupled to the divider. |
| US08156930B2 |
Cartridge box of pneumatic toy gun
A cartridge box of a pneumatic toy gun includes an air lock system and a struck element disposed on the upper inside the case of the cartridge box, and further includes a control system having a pushing rod and a resisting rod, wherein a front end of the pushing rod extends into the bullet-out passage disposed inside the case. When there is no bullet in the bullet-out passage, a lateral end of the stripping rod resists upward against the front end of the pushing rod to make the back end of the resisting rod moving downward to resist against the resisting portion of the struck element, resulting that the struck element cannot push the air lock system forward. Thereby, when there is no bullet in the cartridge box, even if the trigger is pressed, the air lock system cannot moves to push the bolt. Hence, firing without bullet will be avoided and the effects of the simulate gun would be achieved. The cartridge box further has a turning system having a turning portion with a cam portion, which is turned upward to resist against the resisting rod, resulting that the resisting rod moves away from the resisting portion of the struck element. Thereby the bolt can be pushed to make a fire without bullet. |
| US08156928B1 |
Dual cam system with cross-cabling
The power cables of a compound bow are cross cabled to ensure the dual cams rotate at the same rate and complete their rotations simultaneously, i.e., are synchronous. Three separate embodiments, each capable of achieving the desired objective, are disclosed. |
| US08156927B2 |
Combustion chamber structure for direct injection diesel engine
A combustion chamber structure for a direct injection diesel engine is provided which can increase recirculated amount of exhaust gas while avoiding generation of black smoke and deterioration of fuel efficiency as much as possible.Disclosed is a combustion chamber structure for a direct injection diesel engine having a cavity 10 on a top surface of a piston 9. The cavity is concave to provide a majority of the combustion chamber. Fuel is injected from a center of a cylinder top radially into an inner periphery of the cavity 10 to self-ignite. A depression 24 is formed at an outer periphery of the cavity 10 and is sunken relative to the top surface of the piston 9 to provide a step. The depression 24 has a bottom with an outer periphery gradually rising radially outwardly in modestly curved surface to the top surface of the piston 9. The inlet lip 11 is formed at a position lower than the top surface of the piston 9 by an inner periphery of the bottom of the depression 24 and a combustion chamber wall 12 rising from a bottom of the cavity 10. |
| US08156916B2 |
Oil sump for use in internal combustion engines and transmissions
An oil sump for use in internal combustion engines or transmissions, where the oil sump consists of sheet metal shaped by deep drawing and has a reinforced edge, by means of which it rests, in its mounted state, in the internal combustion engine or the transmission with a seal positioned between them. The reinforcement consists of at least one separate metal part, which is mounted on the edge of the oil sump by positive locking and/or nonpositive locking with deformation of the edge of the oil sump. |
| US08156915B2 |
Piston having ceramic head
A piston for an internal combustion engine wherein the piston includes a piston body fabricated from a metal and a piston head fabricated from a ceramic or ceramic composite material, the ceramic or ceramic composite piston head is press fit to the piston body and secured by an internal circumferential locking ring. |
| US08156910B2 |
Concentric camshaft and method of assembly
A camshaft assembly method may include locating a first lobe member of a camshaft assembly on a first shaft of the assembly. A locking pin may be inserted into a first radial bore in the first lobe member and a second radial bore of the first shaft. The locking pin may have an annular wall defining a pin bore extending from a first end of the locking pin to a second end of the locking pin. A deforming member may be forced into the pin bore to displace the annular wall in an outward radial direction and into a frictional engagement with the first radial bore. The forcing may include a deforming member entering the pin bore at the first end of the locking pin and exiting the pin bore at the second end of the locking pin. |
| US08156909B2 |
End pivot valve train
An end pivot valve train is provided in a cylinder head to open and close a cylinder valve. The end pivot valve train includes a cam follower forcing the cylinder valve, and a cam holder assembled onto an upper portion of the cylinder head and includes a receiving groove to receive the cam follower therein, wherein the cam holder has a protrusion configured and dimensioned to interfere with an upper surface of the cam follower when the cam follower rotates such that a longitudinal edge thereof moves up. |
| US08156901B2 |
Pet restraint system
A pet restraint system includes a collar having first and second ends and a fastener to selectively secure the first and second collar ends about a pet. A radio transmitter is coupled to the collar that emits a signal at a predetermined frequency. The system includes a handheld unit separated from the collar that includes a radio receiver configured to receive a radio signal, a GPS receiver for receiving signals from global positioning satellites, a signal indicator, and a CPU in data communication with the radio receiver, GPS receiver, and signal indicator. The CPU includes programming for evaluating a relative strength of signals received by the radio receiver and for outputting the relative strength to the signal indicator indicative of a position of the signal transmitter relative to the handheld unit. The CPU also includes programming for evaluating GPS signals and determining a global position of the handheld unit. |
| US08156900B1 |
Animal claw live tissue sensing method and apparatus
An electronic method and apparatus to externally sense and identify the position of live tissue within an animal claw, including opaque claws. The live tissue (quick) position is determined by electrical conductivity measurements along the claw, so that the claw can be cut or marked. A receptor electrode positioned on the claw measures conductivity resulting from either a source electrode placed on the animal, or from the electro-magnet field created by the ambient presence of radiated line voltage. A multi point contact electrode which does not require calibration, comprises alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic sections. A claw receptacle conforms the electrode to the claw. |
| US08156891B2 |
Apparatus for simultaneous roll-to-roll wet processing of two workpieces disposed within a single chamber
A system is described to deposit a buffer layer onto exposed surfaces of two different solar cell absorber layers of two different flexible workpieces from a process solution including all chemical components of the buffer layer material. The buffer layer is deposited from the process or deposition solution while the flexible workpieces are simultaneously heated and processed within a chamber in a face to face manner as the process solution is flown through a process gap formed between the exposed surfaces of the two solar cell absorber layers. |
| US08156887B2 |
Flap malfunction detection system
According to an embodiment, a flap malfunction indicator assembly for notifying an observer making a walk-around inspection of an aircraft of a malfunction of one or more connection points coupling a flap assembly to an aircraft wing includes a support mounted to the flap assembly having a perimeter defining an area, an indicator arm pivoted to the support and movable between a first stowed position in which a major portion of the arm is arranged substantially entirely within the area and a second deployed position in which a major portion of the arm is arranged substantially outside the area, a frangible pin or fastener securing the indicator arm to the support in the first stowed position, a trigger element mounted for rotation about a first pivot, an elongated pull linkage coupling the trigger element with a flap assembly, the pull linkage being supported for movement relative to the first pivot to cause rotation of the trigger element when malfunction of a flap assembly occurs, and a spring assembly at the support having one portion exerting a biasing force against a portion of the indicator arm located outside of the area, the spring assembly driving the indicator arm into the second deployed position when the frangible pin or fastener is broken. |
| US08156886B2 |
Device, system, structure, method, computer program product and control system
Device (10) or apparatus for launching at least one boat (12) from a structure (14), that is at least partially surrounded by water (16), into the water. The device (10) comprises at least one launch ramp (18) and means to effect translational displacement of said at least one launch ramp (18) when the device (10) has been mounted on said structure (14) in order to enable the position of said at least one launch ramp (18) to be changed before launching said at least one boat (12) into the water (16). |
| US08156885B1 |
Emergency capsized boat seating apparatus
A emergency capsized boat seating apparatus includes a boat that has a hull with a bottom side. A plurality of chair assemblies is provided and each is embedded into the bottom side. Each of the chair assemblies is positionable in a stored position is approximately flush with the bottom side or in a deployed position extending outwardly away from the bottom side. |
| US08156884B2 |
Vessel mooring systems and methods
A mooring system comprising a structure in a body of water; a vessel in the body of water; a first anchor in the body of water; a second anchor in the body of water; a first line connecting the first anchor and the vessel; a second line connecting the second anchor and the vessel; and a third line connecting the structure and the vessel. |
| US08156883B2 |
Boat bumper assembly
A boat bumper and a securing harness for mounting the boat bumper to a boat hull. The securing harness includes a main strap which is flexible and sufficiently stiff to be self sustaining to maintain its shape, and securing straps for securing a bumper roll to the main strap. The main strap has an elongated section and at least one generally transverse section. Each section has at least one free end to which a suction cup is releasably attached. |
| US08156882B2 |
Marine vessel steering apparatus and marine vessel including the same
A marine vessel steering apparatus includes a rudder unit arranged to be mounted pivotally on a hull, an actuator arranged to turn the rudder unit, a rudder angle sensor arranged to detect the rudder angle of the rudder unit, a steering wheel arranged to be operated by an operator to steer the rudder unit, a wheel angle detecting unit arranged to detect the amount of change in the rotation angle of the steering wheel, and a control unit arranged to perform steering control by controlling the actuator based on values detected by the rudder angle sensor and the wheel angle detecting unit. The control unit is arranged to set the rudder angle of the rudder unit detected by the rudder angle sensor at the start of steering control corresponding to the steering wheel as an initial target rudder angle and compute a target rudder angle based on the initial target rudder angle and the change in the rotation angle of the steering wheel, and to control the actuator to change the rudder angle of the rudder unit in accordance with the target rudder angle. |
| US08156881B2 |
Steering handle unit of watercraft
A steering shaft is rotatably supported on a body by a housing, and a slide portion having a handlebar attachment portion at the top is attached to the steering shaft. The rotational movement of a handlebar around the central axis of the steering shaft is regulated by a rotation regulating mechanism, while the axial translation of the handlebar is allowed. The steering shaft is provided with a plurality of grooves. A lock mechanism provided in the slide portion inserts a locking bar into any one of the grooves to regulate the axial translation of the slide portion. Owing to the shape of a link portion and a cam groove constituting the lock mechanism, the locking bar is not pulled, out of the groove by operations other than a release operation using a release lever. |
| US08156880B2 |
Impact absorbing drop keel
The present invention relates to a keel construction for a floating vessel, where a drop keel (3) can be adjusted from a retracted/extended position to an extended/retracted position for the purpose of varying the steering and gravity point of the floating vessel and through its construction also to be able to absorb impact in the event of a grounding with the drop keel (3). The drop keel (3) is connected with at least one around a fixed point extended and rotating element (7), where the extended and rotating element (7) is connected in the keel house (1) and further is connected with a fluid cylinder (6). An additional fluid cylinder (5) in the keel house (1) is connected to an upper end of the drop keel (3), which fluid cylinders (5, 6) can be controlled in order to readjust the drop keel (3) from a retracted position to an extended position (and vice versa) or to absorb the impact that the drop keel (3) is exposed to. |
| US08156879B2 |
Sailing craft comprising a tilting rigid sail system
A sailing craft propelled by a tilting sail system comprising an aerofoil sail capable of omni-directional attitude for wind propulsion. The sail is fixed to the craft in such a manner as to permit omni-directional attitude. Sail control means allows the sail placement in a forward propulsion attitude relative to wind direction. The sail is rigid and has an asymmetric shape. |
| US08156872B2 |
System, network and method for transporting cargo
A system for transporting cargo includes a cargo terminal having a pair of longitudinal sides, at least one of the pair of longitudinal sides disposed adjacent to and spaced a predetermined distance from a railway track and at least one railcar positioned at a predetermined acute angle relative to the at least one of the pair of longitudinal sides of the cargo terminal and having one end thereof disposed in close proximity thereto so as to enable loading or unloading such cargo through such one end of such at least one railcar. A network of at least two cargo terminals and a method of intermodal cargo transporting are also provided. |
| US08156863B1 |
Waste receptacle with integral manual waste compressor and associated method
A manually-actuated waste compressing system includes a waste receptacle; a waste bag; a lid removably mated to the waste receptacle and a compression implement. The manually-actuated compression implement includes an elongated dowel and a disc, and is centrally aligned within an inner perimeter of the waste receptacle and linearly reciprocated along a linear travel path of the waste receptacle to compress garbage contained within the receptacle. A light source is electrically communicated by a pair of contacts and alerts a user when an undesirable compression of the garbage is reached. The apparatus provides the benefit of compacting garbage without having to make direct contact therewith thus allowing more garbage to be stored within the waste receptacle before disposal. The light source additionally ensures that the apparatus may not be unduly damage by excessive pressure when compacting garbage. |
| US08156859B2 |
Machine and method for making smores
A machine for toasting a marshmallow loaded on a pick and concurrently melting at least a portion of a chocolate bar provided on a separate support. A housing has an internal heat source, a rotatable pick holder shaped to removably and securely receive a pick and support the marshmallow in proximity to the heat source, and a coupling to rotate a so engaged pick. The coupling can be a manual control gearingly coupled to the pick holder. A moveable cover can support the heat source and place it in proximity with a marshmallow-bearing portion of the pick when in a closed position yet move aside for loading and unloading ingredients. A method for making s'mores toasts marshmallows while actively melting chocolate and provides for selective rotation of the marshmallow within the housing during the toasting step by moving a control that is safely disposed exterior of the housing. |
| US08156858B2 |
Apparatus for the regulation of operation parameters, in particular pressure, for a coffee machine, machine and operating method therefor
The present invention relates to an apparatus for the regulation of operation parameters, in particular pressure, in a coffee machine. The apparatus comprises a keyboard, arranged for activating the machine and setting operation parameters, and a plurality of light or sound emitting elements arranged to be selectively activated for highlight through a plurality of configurations the operation parameters of the machine set through the keyboard. Thanks to the invention it is possible to avoid on the machine the presence of a display that makes more complex and less reliable the machine. The invention relates also to a machine that comprises the apparatus and to the operating method of the apparatus. |
| US08156853B2 |
Automatic thin-section manufacturing system
A manufacturing system for producing thin sections of a biological sample embedded in a block. The system includes, a blade holder disposed at a rake angle relative to the block, a mounting plane on which a plurality of cutting blades are mounted, an adsorptive member on the mounting plane that maintains the posture of the cutting blades, a pressing member that presses a selected cutting blade against the mounting plane, a conveyor unit that slides out the cutting blades by sequentially conveying the plurality of cutting blades to feed them one by one on the mounting plane, a transportation unit that moves the block relative to the holder, such that the cutting blade cuts out a thin section from the sample, and a control unit that operates the conveyor unit to exchange the selected cutting blade. |
| US08156852B2 |
Cutting plotter, cutting plotter driving control device, cut target medium supporting sheet, cut target medium, cutting pen, method of manufacturing paper product, and method of generating cut data
A cut target medium driving type cutting plotter, where a cut target medium to be cut is driven in a first direction and a cutting unit is driven in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, thereby moving the cutting unit in a two-dimensional direction relative to the cut target medium to make the cutting unit to be selectively brought into press contact with and separated from the cut target medium to cut the cut target medium in a desired shape, the cut target medium driving type cutting plotter includes a cut target medium supporting sheet to removably support the cut target medium on a surface opposite to the cutting unit. Preferably, the cut target medium is driven in the first direction together with the cut target medium supporting sheet, and the cut target medium supported on the cut target medium supporting sheet is cut by the cutting unit. |
| US08156851B2 |
Proportional length food slicing system
This invention includes a system for cutting food products, such as potatoes, into proportional length pieces. In a one embodiment, the system includes a cutting assembly, sensors upstream of the cutting assembly and a programmable logic controller. The cutting assembly preferably includes a housing defining a passageway, at least two separately actuatable stops extendable into the passageway to provide an abutment to hold the food product in place, and at least two separately actuatable blades for slicing the food product into pieces. The controller cooperates with the sensors to determine the length of each food product and, based on a length determinative algorithm, selectively actuate one of the stops and at least one of the blades to determine how many times the food product will be sliced and location of the cut(s) relative to the leading end of the food product. |
| US08156850B2 |
Tailstock control device
A tailstock control device supports an object to be machined by driving and controlling a servo motor which drives a driving system of a tailstock having a spring member in forward and backward directions, to cause a tailstock center connected to the tailstock to contact a center hole of the object to be machined. The tailstock control device comprises a limit torque value calculating unit which calculates, as a limit torque value (Tm), a drive torque value of the servo motor necessary for supporting the object to be machined, and a servo control unit which drives and controls the servo motor to attempt to move the tailstock at a tailstock movement velocity (Vs) which is set in advance, until an output torque value (Tr) of the servo motor reaches the limit torque value (Tm). The limit torque value (Tm) is calculated by subtracting, from the support thrust (Fa) necessary for supporting the object to be machined, an excessive thrust Fs which is calculated based on the tailstock movement velocity (Vs). |
| US08156849B2 |
Work head
A work head adapted to support at least one elongate work piece, said work head having a first drive shaft capable of rotation about a central axis, said work pieces being supported from the work head at a position spaced radially from the central axis such that the axis of each work piece is in the same plane as the central axis, the work pieces supported from the work head to be capable of rotation about their central axes, the drive shaft adapted to be caused to rotate by a first drive, the work pieces adapted to be caused to rotate by a second drive. |
| US08156848B2 |
Tool head with adjusting motor
A tool head includes a working slide which can be adjusted relative to a basic body, and an electric adjusting motor which acts on the working slide via gears. The motor includes a stator and a rotor which runs round in the stator, bears an output shaft and is mounted in two pivot bearings arranged at a distance from one another, wherein one of the pivot bearings is arranged with an outer ring in a basic body-mounted stator housing and with an inner ring directly or indirectly on the output shaft. |
| US08156845B2 |
Wrench
A wrench includes a driving head, an axle hole formed at an end of the driving head, an accommodating portion disposed in the axle hole for accommodating pawls, a control ring contained in the axle hole and having an end extended out of the axle hole and coupled to a wrench handle, and a ratchet section and a smooth section defined on an external periphery of the control ring, and the ratchet section is provided for latching the pawls to define a fixed state of latching the wrench handle with the driving head and can be rotated into a secured status, and the smooth section is provided for pushing the pawls to release the fixed state of latching the control ring, so as to allow the wrench handle to be turned with respect to the driving head for a quick rotation. |
| US08156844B2 |
Hold and drive device
A socket driving device which includes a drive head portion and a hand-grippable drive body portion. The drive head portion has a socket portion for driving a target nut that includes a central fastener-receiving passage. The socket driving device further includes a key portion for engaging a target bolt on which the target nut is to be driven by the socket portion and a key support assembly for positioning the key portion in an operative position relative to the socket portion. The key support assembly includes a support frame secured to the drive body portion and/or the drive head portion and includes a support arm portion extending along the drive head portion. The key portion held relative to a free end region of the support arm and biased toward the socket portion. |
| US08156843B2 |
Voltage control of a locking differential
A method for controlling a locking differential includes determining a temperature-dependent reference voltage at which a coil locks the differentia, determining an electric potential of a battery, using the battery to energize the coil and lock the differential, if the electric potential is equal to or greater than the reference voltage for a current temperature, and maintaining the differential unlocked, if the electric potential is less than the reference voltage. |
| US08156838B2 |
Driving device
A driving device for a hatch in a motor vehicle includes a first fastening element which can be connected to a stationary structural component, a second fastening element which can be connected to a movable structural component, a spindle drive including a threaded spindle having an axis of rotation and a spindle nut arranged on the threaded spindle, and a rotary drive having a driveshaft for rotating spindle to move the first fastening element axially relative to the second fastening element. A stroke detection sensor for continuously detecting the position of the movable structural component includes a rotatable sensor element driven in rotation by the driveshaft and a stationary sensor element for continuously detecting the rotational position of the rotatable sensor element. A gear reduction unit is provided between the driveshaft and the rotatable sensor element so the revolutions of the sensor element are reduced by about 14:1. |
| US08156837B2 |
Multiple-ratio transmission with concentric offset shift forks
A countershaft transmission with positive engagement clutches for changing transmission gearing ratios and shift rails for supporting shift forks in a transmission housing, one shift rail being adapted to support at least two shift forks, whereby an assembly of shift rails is simplified and the transmission housing size is reduced. |
| US08156836B2 |
Gearbox for a motor vehicle
A gearbox for a motor vehicle is provided that includes, but is not limited to two coaxial input shafts carrying gearwheels, and three layshafts selectively drivable by the input shafts. Each gearwheel of the input shafts meshes with at least one gearwheel of the two layshafts. The three layshafts carry three pinions meshing with a same output gearwheel, and the third layshaft further carries a reverse gearwheel meshing with a gearwheel of the first layshaft. |
| US08156834B2 |
Linear actuator having quick-release mechanism
A linear actuator with a quick-release mechanism allows the unpowered, loaded linear actuator to immediately return to its initial position by operating a rotatable involute cam of the quick-release mechanism. The quick-release mechanism is connected with a remote monitoring system so the current position of the linear actuator can be detected from a distant place. |
| US08156832B2 |
Mechanical vibrator having eccentric masses
The mechanical vibrator is applied to vibrating screens or other equipment and comprises a bearing housing (10) to be affixed to a side wall (2) of the equipment (1), to carry a pair of bearings (20) which support a shaft (30) having an inner end portion (31) and an outer end portion (32) which respectively affix a first and a second counterweight (70, 80). The first and the second counterweights (70, 80) have respective first and second eccentric masses (M1, M2) of different values and which are positioned and dimensioned so that the first and the second counterweight (70,80) generate equal loads on the bearings (20). The second counterweight (80) is constructed to selectively and removably attach a third counterweight (90) presenting a third eccentric mass (M3) maintained aligned with the center line (CL) of the bearing housing (10), to provide a variation of the total eccentric mass of the vibrator (V), without changing the balance of the load distribution on the bearings (20). |
| US08156831B2 |
Apparatus, method and system for reducing adhesive wear on a power take-off shaft
An apparatus comprising a power take-off shaft includes an outer shaft and an inner shaft. The outer shaft includes an outer periphery and an inner periphery. The inner shaft includes an outer periphery and an inner periphery. A notch is configured around at least a portion of the outer periphery of the inner shaft, and a self-lubricating material is disposed on at least a portion of the notch. |
| US08156828B2 |
Sampling of individual rod-like articles of the tobacco-processing industry from a massflow
Method for sampling individual rod-like articles of the tobacco-processing industry from an article massflow via a sampling unit. The article massflow includes a plurality of rod-like articles arranged longitudinally and axially parallel to each other and is conveyed along a conveying section at a predetermined conveyor speed. The method includes moving the sampling unit parallel to a conveyor direction of the article massflow, capturing at least one individual rod-like article from the article massflow with the sampling unit, and removing the captured at least one individual rod-like article from the article massflow in a direction at an angle to the conveyor direction of the article massflow. |
| US08156822B2 |
Force measuring valve assemblies, systems including such valve assemblies and related methods
Methods of evaluating a fluid condition may include stroking a valve member and measuring a force acting on the valve member during the stroke. Methods of evaluating a fluid condition may include measuring a force acting on a valve member in the presence of fluid flow over a period of time and evaluating at least one of the frequency of changes in the measured force over the period of time and the magnitude of the changes in the measured force over the period of time to identify the presence of an anomaly in a fluid flow and, optionally, its estimated location. Methods of evaluating a valve condition may include directing a fluid flow through a valve while stroking a valve member, measuring a force acting on the valve member during the stroke, and comparing the measured force to a reference force. Valve assemblies and related systems are also disclosed. |
| US08156821B2 |
Apparatus for determining tissue product break-through
An apparatus for testing the break-through strength of a tissue product is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a dose addition assembly having an opening and a sample holder. The sample holder comprises a lower platen and an upper platen disposed in a fact to face relationship and each having coextensive openings disposed therein. The opening of the dose addition assembly is disposed proximate to one of the openings disposed within the upper and lower platens. A substance is disposed within the dose addition assembly and is capable of being expectorated from the opening of the dose addition assembly through one of the openings disposed within the upper and lower platens onto a tissue product disposed between the upper and lower platens and within the openings disposed within the upper and lower platens. |
| US08156818B2 |
Bourdon tube pressure gauge
A bourdon tube pressure gauge includes a joint which is made of resin and attached to a pressure container, and a bourdon tube which is made of metal and provided with a base end part fixed to the joint. The joint is formed with a fixing hole to which the base end part of the bourdon tube is inserted and adhesively fixed, and a side face of the fixing hole is formed with a recessed part which is recessed in a flattened direction of the base end part of the bourdon tube that is inserted into the fixing hole. Further, the recessed part is formed toward a depth side of the fixing hole and at least a part of the recessed part which is formed on an inner side of the fixing hole is formed wider in the flattened direction than an opening part of the fixing hole which is an insertion port of the bourdon tube. |
| US08156811B2 |
Apparatus and method for non-destructive testing
A diagnostic means to enable real-time inspection of bonded structures. The disclosed apparatus detects bond failure stress waves on-axis from the front side (beam application side). Pi-box and pi-rail EMAT gauges can be used with the disclosed apparatus. An inductively coupled EMAT may also be employed. An improved means to remotely deliver an interrogating laser beam to a surface is provided. The process head may utilize a water column or a water film. The water film process head may include the use of either a single water film or two spaced apart water films. The disclosed apparatus can be used with bonded composite structures, bonded structures using various materials, and to determine the dynamic strength of unbonded solid materials. The apparatus may also be used in other applications that require remote flexible delivery of a localized stress wave to a material and/or diagnosis of the resultant stress waves. |
| US08156809B2 |
Systems and methods for resonance detection
Systems and methods for resonance detection are disclosed. For example, one method for resonance detection includes the step of transmitting an actuator signal to an actuator coupled to a surface of a device. The actuator signal is configured to cause the actuator to output a force to the surface. The method further includes the steps of receiving a response of the surface to the force; determining a resonant frequency of the surface based at least in part on the response; and outputting a signal indicative of the resonant frequency. |
| US08156806B1 |
Inertial measurement unit for spin-stabilized aerial vehicles, and method of providing guidance information using same
An inertial measurement unit (IMU) for a spinning aerial vehicle that spins about a spin axis having a substrate defining a plane, the substrate fixed to the vehicle with the plane essentially orthogonal to the spin axis so that the substrate spins about the spin axis as the vehicle does, at least one generally planar gyroscope coupled to the substrate, the gyroscope defining a gyro input axis that is essentially parallel to the plane and generating a gyro output signal, at least one generally planar accelerometer coupled to the substrate, the accelerometer defining an accelerometer input axis that is essentially parallel to the plane and generating an accelerometer output signal, and a system for demodulating the gyro output signal with a phase-sensitive demodulation referenced to the accelerometer output signal. Also featured is a method of providing guidance information for a spinning aerial vehicle that spins about a spin axis using the described system. |
| US08156802B2 |
Roller comprising a force sensor
The invention relates to a force sensor for measuring a bearing force of a roller deviating a web of material. The force sensor includes a base element on which at least one sensor element is supported. The sensor element has at least one plate which can be elastically deformed by the bearing force and is provided with at least one force transducer. The sensor element is loaded by a pressure piece into which the bearing force is introduced by means of a spring. The spring has a larger range of spring—in the direction of the force—than the elastically deformable plate for the same load. In order to limit the action of the force on the sensor element, an annular abutment is provided, against which the pressure piece can be pressed flat. The abutment is provided around the sensor element. |
| US08156796B2 |
Sensor arrangement for a clutch device
A sensor arrangement (1) for a clutch device (22) comprising a housing (2) and a sensor part (5, 5′) with at least one sensor (17) for detecting the position of a movable part (3) of the clutch device (22). The housing (2) has a recess (6) for the sensor part (5, 5′) and the sensor part (5, 5′) is fastened to a stationary part (2, 20). The sensor part (5, 5′) may be positioned on the clutch device (22) from the outside through the recess (6) of the housing and detachably fastened to the stationary part (2, 20). |
| US08156794B2 |
Indenting type material testing machine, testing method, and testing program product
An indenter is pressed onto a test piece; a displacement of the indenter is detected; and a testing force applied to the test piece through the indenter is detected. FFT analysis is performed on a displacement detection signal detected in a non-load state to detect a frequency band of noise. Filter characteristics are calculated based on the detected frequency band, and filtering is performed on the displacement detection signal based on the filter characteristics. Physical properties of the test piece are evaluated based upon the displacement detection signal after the filtering and the testing force. |
| US08156789B2 |
Gas sensor chip and gas sensor provided therewith
To provide a gas sensor chip, and a gas sensor provided therewith, capable of producing stable output characteristics over an extended period of time even when installed in a harsh environment such as a boiler smokestack carrying exhaust gasses. There is a backside structure wherein a catalyst carrier that contacts a gas to be measured is disposed on one side of a thermal conductor, a temperature sensing portion is disposed in a location that does not contact the gas to be measured, on the other side of the thermal conductor, and the temperature sensing portion measures the temperature corresponding to the temperature of the catalyst carrier through the thermal conductor, to enable the sensing of the amount of flow over an extended period of time without the temperature sensing portion being negatively affected by the gas to be measured. |
| US08156788B2 |
Supercritical-phase mixed chromatography method and installation for implementing same
A method for the superficial-phase chromatography of a product comprises the steps which are performed continuously in the following order, namely: an operation consisting in pumping a supercritical fluid; and operation consisting of injecting at least one sample of product into at least one chromatography column, a detection operation, and a fraction collection operation. The method comprises at least a first diversion along between an analytical channel and a preparatory channel, which diversion is performed prior to the supercritical fluid pumping operation and the analytical and preparatory channels each including respective supercritical fluid pumping operations. The method is also characterized in that the collection operation is common to both the analytical and preparatory channels. An installation used to implement one such method is described. |
| US08156779B2 |
Apparatus and method of producing spark plug
In an apparatus for producing a spark plug, approach driving conditions are calculated on the basis of a specified thrust feeding amount so that, while a temporal overlap occurs between a time period of feed-driving toward a rolling position P2 of a workpiece supporting portion (11) and an approach driving time period, in a circumferential direction of a workpiece W, a positional relationship between the starting position of the threaded portion which is rolling-formed, and the joining position of the ground electrode to the tip end face of the workpiece W is constant. The operation of an approach driving portion is controlled on the basis of the calculated approach driving conditions. |
| US08156778B2 |
Multiple channel digital subscriber line framer/deframer system and method
The framer, also referred to as the scrambler/Reed-Solomon encoder (SRS), is a part of the transmitter and accepts user and control data in the form of one or more logical channels, partitions this data into frames, adds error correction codes, randomizes the data through a scrambler, and multiplexes logical channels into a single data stream. The multiplexed data is then passed to the constellation encoder as the next step in the formation of the VDSL symbol. The deframer, also referred as the descrambler/Reed-Solomon decoder (DRS), is part of the receiver and performs the inverse function of the framer. Disclosed is a highly configurable hardware framer/deframer that includes a digital signal processor interface configured to provide high level control, a FIFO coupled to data interfaces, a scrambler and CRC generator, a Reed-Solomon encoder, an interleaver, a data interface coupled to a constellation encoder, a data interface coupled to a constellation decoder, a deinterleaver, a Reed-Solomon decoder, descrambler and CRC check, an interface to external data sync, methods for control of configuration of data paths between hardware blocks, and methods for control and configuration of the individual hardware blocks in a manner that provides compliance with VDSL and many related standards. |
| US08156775B2 |
Cylinder lock, clutch device and unlocking device comprising thereof
A cylinder lock includes a sleeve, and a key plug housed in the sleeve and having an output portion to output an interrupted motion of a clutch device by moving in an insertion and extraction direction by an insertion and extraction of a matching key. The key plug is formed by a pivoting spindle in which the output portion pivotally supports an input clutch element and an output clutch element of the clutch device in the output state by an insertion of the matching key. |
| US08156774B2 |
Bicycle parts anti-theft device
An anti-theft device for a bicycle that includes wheels disposed on a front fork and on a rear stay by a nut or bolt system and a saddle tube whose clamping axis comprises a nut or a bolt. The device includes a nut or bolt fitted with at least one ratchet notch; a support washer defining a peripheral surface including a raised portion; a saddle collar or clamp; at least one pin that is configured to move inside at least one guide passage defined in the support washer or the saddle collar or clamp; at least one mobile guided pin, configured to configured to move between first and second positions under the weight and rotation of the device, the first position being one in which the bicycle is in a vertical position stood on its two wheels, in which the device permits the tightening/screwing of the nut or the bolt but prevents loosening/unscrewing thereof, the second position being a position one in which the bicycle is stood upside down on its handlebars and saddle, in which the nut or bolt may freely rotate in both directions around its axis, and a seal configured to protect the mobile guided pins against environmental factors. |
| US08156769B2 |
Washer with drive shaft doubling as tub drain path
An automatic washing machine includes a wash basin having a plurality of apertures and an annular liquid reservoir formed at an upper portion of the basin. A plurality of flow channels are arranged around the exterior surface of the wash basin. The plurality of flow channels includes upward flow channels, configured for directing wash liquid extracted from the wash basin into the reservoir under centrifugal force generated in a spin cycle. The plurality of flow channels also includes downward flow channels configured for directing wash liquid from the reservoir to a central drain following the spin cycle. The arrangement avoids the need for an outer wash tub, and at the same time provides stabilization to the wash basin during high speed spins. In another aspect, the wash basin may include wash action ramps provided on a bottom surface of the wash basin and at an upper sidewall of the wash basin. The wash action ramps, in conjunction with a sequence of wash basin acceleration and deceleration cycles, induce an effective wash action, and circulation of the wash load, in lieu of a conventional central agitator. In yet another aspect, a drive system of the washing machine comprises a drive shaft that doubles as a drain pipe for draining wash liquid from the wash basin. |
| US08156768B2 |
System and method of forming a toe seam
An article of hosiery having a toe seam has been developed. The hosiery includes a foot portion and a first circumferential toe portion having a first stitch length. A second circumferential toe portion can be adjacent the first toe portion. The second circumferential toe portion has at least two knitted courses with each of the at least two knitted courses having a second stitch length that is less than the first stitch length. There is at least one thread in the first circumferential toe portion that forms the toe seam. |
| US08156764B2 |
Device for gravity-bending glass on several support moulds with controlled transition between moulds
A device for gravity bending of at least one glass sheet supported by at least one support forming part of a bending assembly, plural supports supporting the sheet during bending. The device includes a drive system for changing the shape of the support, the drive system controlling the rate of the change. A method of bending glass sheets utilizes the device. |
| US08156763B2 |
Method of producing glass
Provided is a method of producing a glass, including, in order to obtain an excellent refining effect: preparing a raw glass batch including: an antimony compound containing pentavalent antimony; and an oxidizing agent (a cerium oxide, a sulfate, a nitrate); and melting the raw glass batch. In preparing the raw glass batch, it is preferable that the antimony compound be premixed with the oxidizing agent. When the nitrate is used as the oxidizing agent, the raw glass batch is prepared so as to include the antimony compound in an amount of more than 0.5 parts by mass and at most 3 parts by mass, in terms of an amount of antimony pentoxide, per 100 parts by mass of a base glass composition expressed in terms of an amount of an oxide. |
| US08156761B2 |
Method for producing quartz glass using a mixed powder
A mixed quartz powder contains quartz powder and two or more types of doping element in an amount of from 0.1 to 20 mass %. The aforementioned doped elements include a first dope element selected from the group consisting of N, C and F, and a second dope element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, Hf, the lanthanides and the actinides. The “quartz powder” is a powder of crystalline quartz or it is a powder of glassy SiO2 particles. It is made form natural occurring quartz or it is fabricated synthetically. The “quartz powder” may be doped. The compounding ratio of the total amount (M1) of the aforementioned first elements and the total amount (M2) of the aforementioned second elements as the ratio of the number of atoms (M1)/(M2) is preferably from 0.1 to 20. Al as well as the aforementioned doped elements is preferably included in a mixed quartz powder of this invention. |
| US08156756B2 |
Fluid machine
A fluid machine includes a casing, a compression mechanism for compressing refrigerant, an expansion mechanism for expanding refrigerant, and a rotary shaft connecting the compression mechanism and the expansion mechanism. The compression mechanism, the expansion mechanism and the rotary shaft are disposed in the casing. A heat insulator partitions an internal space of the casing into a first space with the expansion mechanism disposed therein and a second space with the compression mechanism disposed therein. The rotary shaft passes through the heat insulator. An elastically deformable seal element seals a clearance between an outer periphery of the heat insulator and an inner periphery of the casing. |
| US08156754B2 |
Carbon dioxide refrigerant-coolant heat exchanger
A climate control system may include a condenser, an evaporator, a compressor, a coolant circuit, and a heat exchanger. The evaporator may be in fluid communication with the condenser. The compressor may be in fluid communication with the condenser and the evaporator and may circulate a first fluid therebetween. The coolant circuit may include an engine, a radiator, and a second fluid circulating between the engine and the radiator. The heat exchanger may include a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit. The first fluid conduit may fluidly couple the compressor and the condenser. The second fluid conduit may fluidly couple the radiator and the engine. The heat exchanger may be configured to allow the second fluid to absorb heat from the first fluid. |
| US08156753B2 |
Cold aisle isolation
A data center cooling solution providing techniques for using baffles, doors and roof sections to prevent warm air from being entrained into a cold aisle in a data center, wherein the data center generally contains an air cooling system and a raised floor structure. The raised floor structure is configured to deliver cool air into the data center through a plurality of grates and perforated tiles in the floor. Electronic equipment racks are disposed around the grates and perforated tiles, such that the front faces of the equipment racks face the grates and perforated tiles. A collection of baffles, doors or roof sections inhibit the mixing of the cool air delivered by the air cooling system and the warm air exhausted by the electronic equipment. |
| US08156752B2 |
Air conditioning system
An air conditioning system includes a compressor, a first heat source-side heat exchanger for heating or cooling a refrigerant, a second heat source-side heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and a heat delivery medium, a first utilization-side heat exchanger for performing indoor cooling by using the refrigerant cooled in the first heat source-side heat exchanger, a second utilization-side heat exchanger for performing indoor heating by using the heat delivery medium subjected to heat exchange in the second heat source-side heat exchanger, and a connection mechanism. The connection mechanism can switch between a first connection state in which refrigerant is circulated sequentially through the compressor, the first heat source-side heat exchanger, the first utilization-side heat exchanger and the compressor; and a second connection state in which the refrigerant is circulated sequentially through the compressor, the second heat source-side heat exchanger, the first heat source-side heat exchanger, and the compressor. |
| US08156750B2 |
Dynamic superheat control for high efficiency refrigeration system
A vapor compression refrigeration system including components capable of determining the superheat at a compressor inlet is provided. The vapor compression refrigeration system may include sensors capable of making measurements from which the superheat at the compressor inlet may be determined. The vapor compression refrigeration system may be operable to compare the determined superheat level at the inlet to the compressor to a desired superheat level and generate a new evaporator discharge superheat level target for one or more evaporators operatively interconnected to the compressor to affect the superheat at the compressor inlet. The vapor compression refrigeration system may be operable to broadcast the new evaporator discharge superheat level target to the one or more evaporators over a communications bus. The vapor compression refrigeration system may update and broadcast the evaporator discharge superheat level target at programmed intervals. |
| US08156746B2 |
Lean direct injection atomizer for gas turbine engines
A lean direct injection fuel nozzle for a gas turbine is disclosed which includes a radially outer main fuel delivery system including a main inner air swirler defined in part by a main inner air passage having a radially inner wall with a diverging downstream surface, an intermediate air swirler radially inward of the main inner air swirler for providing a cooling air flow along the downstream surface of the radially inner wall of the main inner air passage, and a radially inner pilot fuel delivery system radially inward of the intermediate air swirler. |
| US08156744B2 |
Annular combustion chamber for a gas turbine engine
An annular gas turbine engine combustion chamber including an outer wall and an inner wall connected by a wall forming the chamber bottom is disclosed. The walls delimit sources of combustion with axes inclined relative to the axis of the chamber. The chamber-bottom wall, of frustoconical shape, is pierced with orifices for the fuel injection systems, the planes of the orifices being perpendicular to the axes of the sources of combustion. The combustion chamber also includes heat-protection baffles centered on each of the orifices with a shoulder by which they rest against a flat surface portion along the periphery of the orifices. The chamber-bottom wall is conformed in a succession of adjacent flat facets having a common edge, with one facet per orifice, and the shoulder of the deflectors pressing against the plane of the facets. |
| US08156737B2 |
Elevated exhaust temperature, zoned, electrically-heated particulate matter filter
A system includes an electrical heater and a particulate matter (PM) filter that is arranged one of adjacent to and in contact with the electrical heater. A control module selectively increases an exhaust gas temperature of an engine to a first temperature and that initiates regeneration of the PM filter using the electrical heater while the exhaust gas temperature is above the first temperature. The first temperature is greater than a maximum exhaust gas temperature at the PM filter during non-regeneration operation and is less than an oxidation temperature of the PM. |
| US08156736B2 |
Exhaust hydrocarbon injection control system and method
A system comprises an injection control module and a fuel film module. The injection control module controls a flow rate of fuel injected into an exhaust system to adjust a temperature of exhaust gas. The fuel film module determines an accumulation rate of fuel on a surface of the exhaust system based on the flow rate of the fuel. The fuel film module determines a release rate of fuel from the surface of the exhaust system based on a flow rate of the exhaust gas. The injection control module adjusts the flow rate of the fuel based on the accumulation rate and the release rate. |
| US08156732B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for regenerating an exhaust gas treatment device
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for regenerating an exhaust gas treatment device. A controller module directs an injector to provide reductant to an exhaust gas treatment device over a plurality of rich intervals during a regeneration cycle. In addition, the controller module directs the injector to reduce the reductant provided to the exhaust gas treatment device over a lean interval between the rich intervals to create a lean environment within the exhaust gas treatment device. In one embodiment, the controller module modifies the reductant provided during each rich interval, the number of rich intervals, the length of the rich intervals, and the length of the lean intervals in response to an exhaust gas state. |
| US08156731B2 |
Exhaust purification device of internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine in which a front end catalyst (12) and rear end catalyst (14) comprising NOx storing catalysts are arranged in an engine exhaust passage. When these catalysts (12, 14) should recover from SOx poisoning, SOx poisoning recovery proceeding is performed in which the temperatures of the corresponding catalysts (12, 14) are raised to the SOx release temperature and the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the corresponding catalysts (12, 14) is made rich. In this case, the frequency of performing the SOx poisoning recovery proceeding of the rear end catalyst (14) is made higher than the frequency of performing the SOx poisoning recovery proceeding of the front end catalyst (12). |
| US08156725B2 |
CO2 capture during compressed air energy storage
A compressed air energy storage system and method of capturing CO2 during compressed air energy storage the system and method including a gas inlet pipe, at least one air compressor stage attached to the gas inlet pipe and adapted for compression of a gas, a heat transfer system to cool the gas during or after compression, the heat being recycled throughout the system, at least one absorption bed for separating CO2 from the compressed gas attached to the heat transfer system, at least one compressed gas reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, the reservoir attached at its inlet to the absorption bed, at least one preheater stage attached to the outlet of the compressed gas reservoir for heating a compressed gas after storage in the compressed gas reservoir, and at least one gas expander attached to the preheater stage and adapted for the expansion of the compressed gas. |
| US08156722B2 |
Mower having a grass clippings guide and shield member
Disclosed is a mower with a mower deck, a plurality of cutting chambers mutually communicated and arranged in a lateral direction within the mower deck, and a blade mounted in each cutting chamber to be rotatable about a vertical axis. A grass clippings guide in form of a vertical wall is disposed in an upper area within the cutting chamber, to guide the grass clippings flowing within the cutting chamber toward a center of rotation of the blade. A shield member is disposed for preventing entry of grass clippings between the grass clippings guide and a peripheral wall of the cutting chamber. |
| US08156721B1 |
Transport chain for form-fill packaging apparatus
A transport indexing chain for a food-packaging machine is made of two different materials in order to provide the most optimal result of a drive chain that resists wear and tear and thus reduces elongation of the chain over time, and which also provides a drive indexing chain that resists bacterial infection. In order to satisfy the first objective of providing a chain that resists wear and elongation of the drive chain, the parts thereof that remain exposed to greasing or lubrication, and thus are resistant to rusting, are made of the same prior-art material of nickel-plated carbon steel. These parts are: The bushings, the rollers, and the pivot rods or pins. The remaining parts, namely the links or side plates and the clamping attachments, are made of stainless steel, whereby prevention of bacterial infection is substantially achieved without increased wear. |
| US08156720B2 |
Grapple apparatus for handling cotton modules
A grapple apparatus for handling cotton modules includes a frame comprising first and second portions. The second portion is selectively movable relative to the first portion between an opened position and a closed position. The frame defines a module-holding space when the second portion of the frame is in its closed position. At least one powered roller device is connected to the frame and is selectively active to rotate an associated cotton module located in the module-holding space relative to said frame about a module axis of rotation. A method for handling cotton modules includes positioning a frame adjacent a cotton module and moving a second portion of the frame relative to a first portion of the frame from an opened position to a closed position to define a module-holding space in which the cotton module is received and retained. The method further includes activating at least one powered roller device that is connected to the frame to rotate the cotton module in the module-holding space relative to the frame about an axis of rotation. |
| US08156719B2 |
Packaging machine
A packaging apparatus for real-time alignment of packaging surfaces can include two or more sensors for detecting the positioning of carton surfaces and a servo system. The servo system can include a servo motor and a controller. The servo system records the positioning of the carton surfaces and calculates a difference in position. The controller compares the calculated value with a predetermined value and if necessary, the servo motor turns a correction wheel to align the carton surfaces. |
| US08156714B2 |
Beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with a beverage bottle treatment machine and a beverage bottle treatment machine in a beverage bottling plant
A beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with a beverage bottle treatment machine and a beverage bottle treatment machine in a beverage bottling plant. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.”The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner. |
| US08156711B2 |
Contact stiffeners for structural skins
An internal stiffening member of varying configurations in which the stiffening elements support the skin using a compression-only load path is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the stiffening element has a peripheral edge that is adapted to be press fit into contact with the skin. The stiffening member may be held in place by various retention devices. Another configuration is a slip-in rib having a flange with a peripheral channel in which a filler material is disposed. The rib is inserted into an assembled structural box beam, and the filler material is used to fill any gaps between the slip-in rib and the interior surface of the structural box beam. The filler material is preferably an expandable material, such as an expandable foam-type material. However, in situations where a slip-in rib forms a primary structural rib, the filler material is preferably a structural adhesive or liquid shim material. A solid adhesive or filler would not crush under the clamping forces from fasteners or bolts at localized fitting attachments. |
| US08156710B1 |
Method and apparatus for floor tiles and planks
A piece for flooring which includes a wear layer, a pattern layer, a base layer, and a backing layer. The base layer may be made of a mixture including ilmenite powder. About one third of the mixture may be ilmenite powder. The mixture may also include calcium carbonate, wherein about one quarter of the mixture is calcium carbonate. The mixture may further include polyvinylchloride, wherein about one quarter of the mixture is polyvinylchloride. The backing layer may include a plurality of devices which are hexagonally shaped, wherein the plurality of devices form a honeycomb structure which contacts a top floor surface when the piece is placed on the top floor surface. The backing layer may have a bottom surface including anti-slip backing film, which may be comprised of polyurethane. |
| US08156709B2 |
Direct smelting plant
Method of constructing and installing a direct smelting unit comprising a smelting vessel (11). The vessel is prefabricated off site in three modules (11A, 11B, 11C) which are then transported to the installation site where they are hoisted by a crane and deposited sequentially on top of one another and joined together by welding to form a unitary vessel. The vessel modules are prefabricated so as to be internally lined with water cooling panels connected to water inlet and outlet connectors (62) on the exterior of the circumferential wall sections of those modules. A vessel access tower is formed in modules brought together to envelop the tower and carrying water supply and return piping which is connected to the water inlet and outlet connectors (62) of the cooling panels. |
| US08156706B2 |
Metal truss
A metal truss comprises elongated top chord members connected to each other at their ends. A first elongated bottom chord member is connected at its ends to the top chord members adjacent the free ends of the top chord members. A second elongated bottom chord member is connected at its ends to the top chord members, or directly to the first bottom chord member via spacers, such that the second bottom chord member is spaced below the first bottom chord member. At least one web member is positioned between and interconnecting at least one top chord member and the first bottom chord member. One end of the web member is connected to the at least one top chord member and the other end of the web member is connected to the first bottom chord member. |
| US08156703B2 |
Multiple phase PCM heat insulation blanket
A PCM heat insulation blanket (10) is positioned in a wall structure of a building for modulating the transfer of heat to and from the controlled internal temperature of the building structure. The PCM heat insulation blanket includes an array of pods (12) with one group of pods 12A containing a first PCM and a second group of pods containing a second PCM 12B having a different phase change temperature than the first group of pods. The pods with different PCMs are substantially uniformly intermixed among each other. The pods are formed of laminated sheets, each of which may include a metal foil that is vapor impermeable and tends to maintain the PCMs in the blanket at approximately the same temperature, and which also functions to reflect radiant heat away from the temperature controlled internal space of the building structure. |
| US08156702B2 |
Waterproof ceiling
Disclosed herein is a waterproof ceiling. The waterproof ceiling includes a hanger unit secured at an upper end thereof to an existing ceiling to support a load on a lower end. A carrying channel is connected to the lower end of the hanger unit so as to be at right angles with the hanger unit. A drain module bar is connected and secured to a predetermined portion on the carrying channel and forms a predetermined angle with the ground to create a flow passage for leaked water. A waterproof panel is fitted to each of both sides of the drain module bar, thus closing a space between drain module bars. A water collecting pipe is provided horizontally on an end of the drain module bar, thus collecting the leaked water and discharging the water to the outside. |
| US08156700B2 |
Continuous heat welded flexible PVC membrane with an interlocking vapor barrier system
An assembly for sealing such as a rooftop which can include at least one type of projecting conduit such as a projecting pipe or an HVAC duct. A plurality of thermoformed membranes are provided in sheet form and are configured for applying over an exterior of the rooftop. The membranes are heat welded to one another along overlapping edges. A further plurality of membranes are configured for applying about an extending length of the conduit and are likewise being directly heat welded to one another along overlapping edges. A boot shaped membrane is applied over and directly welded to an interfacing location established between a proximate rooftop membrane and a further conduit wrapped membrane, such that the assembly provides a sectionalized and continuous vapor barrier across the roof and conduit. |
| US08156699B2 |
Vision panel frame
An improved vision panel provides a nail in retention method for holding half the panel in place during installation using inwardly extending retention arms that also provide threaded fasteners for attaching the halves of the frame together about the door, support for the glass pane, and when used with special fasteners having partially non-threaded shanks, a compression limiting spring biasing of the frame elements together. |
| US08156696B2 |
Seismically stable flooring
Isolation flooring systems, vibrational damping devices, and methods for their use are disclosed. The present invention has the advantage of having a minimum of moving parts, and being extraordinarily easy to install and inspect. In preferred embodiments, the invention is drawn to methods of isolating sensitive objects from the full extent of seismic vibrations. |
| US08156693B2 |
Wildlife deterrent for high voltage supporting members
A wildlife deterrent for a utility support structure member between two conductors includes a bracket for attachment to the supporting member, a center support piece with a variable height arm connector, and two adjustable arms pivotally attached to the arm connector. No tools are required for the adjustments or attachments. Since the effective lengths of the support and arms are adjustable, either by elongation or using different length parts, the same angle of the arms can be achieved no matter what the separation between the conductors, and the gap between the arms and the conductor can be optimal for both deterrence and flashover prevention. The different pieces forming the deterrent can be selected by the lineman to quickly build an optimal deterrent in the field. |
| US08156689B2 |
Large-capacity booth for the treatment, in particular the spraying and/or drying, of workpieces
A large-capacity booth for the treatment, in particular for the spraying and/or drying, of workpieces, in particular motor vehicles, rail vehicles, aircraft or watercraft, having at least two opposite booth walls and one booth ceiling is described. The booth walls each have at least two vertical supports composed of open sectional elements, which are connected to one another via wall elements. The booth ceiling has at least two lattice beams extending in a planar manner in the vertical direction and composed essentially of open sectional elements. The lattice beams connect mutually opposite supports of the booth walls in such a way that the booth walls and the booth ceiling stabilize one another. |
| US08156688B2 |
Clip and frame assembly and components thereof
The invention is directed to a clip and frame assembly for a louvre window, including a frame with a frame channel and a clip rotatably coupled to the frame, the clip having at least one channel on its back surface adapted to direct water along a flow path to an aperture in the frame channel. The invention extends to a pairing of adjacent clips wherein one or more channels in an upper clip direct water into a channel in a lower clip which is, in turn, directed into the frame channel. Preferably, the clip includes four channels on the back surface with each channel in fluid communication with at least one other channel either in the same clip or in an adjacent clip. The invention extends to a channel being formed in a recess adapted to receive an edge of a louvre plate wherein water in this channel is also directed into the frame channel through an aligned aperture. Further embodiments of the invention may include one or more channels which discharge water outwardly of the clip. The invention extends to a frame and louvre arrangement and a louvre window assembly. The invention further extends to a method of directing water flow in a clip and frame assembly. The assembly may include an operating handle with biasing means to increase contact between adjacent plates. |
| US08156687B2 |
Method for evaluating deep rooting property of plant
The present invention relates to a method of evaluating multiple plant individuals or plant lines for deep rooting property under the same culture medium moisture conditions. A method of the present invention is a method of evaluating multiple plant individuals for deep rooting property under the same culture medium moisture conditions, by planting multiple plant individuals together in a sufficiently deep culture vessel and lowering the culture medium moisture content gradually. The present invention also provides a method for evaluating plants for deep rooting property, wherein a culture vessel is installed in a water tank so that the culture medium moisture content can be readily adjusted, and thus management of cultivation conditions is facile and efficient. It is possible to select a plant which can grow in dry and low-groundwater level environment efficiently, by using the method of the present invention. Thus, the method of the present invention can find application in breeding a crop suitable for dry land cultivation and trees usable in desert greening. |
| US08156685B2 |
Greenhouse, greenhouse covering, filter system, lighting system, conducting system, use and feeder apparatus
The invention proposes numerous aspects for improving greenhouses which may lead to durable improvement of the worldwide climate system. |
| US08156671B2 |
Photoluminescent exit device
A photoluminescent member is provided for an exit device. The photoluminescent member comprises a housing member for mounting to the exterior surface of the exit device. The housing member includes a photoluminescent portion for being energized by exposure to an ambient light source and operable to automatically emit visible light photoluminescently for a substantial period of time in low ambient light or dark conditions and without being energized by an electrical current so that the photoluminescent portion provides illumination to identify the exit device in the low ambient light or dark conditions for providing a visual cue directing a person to a location of the exit device. |
| US08156669B2 |
Hot air outdoor advertising structure
The invention relates to a hot air outdoor advertising structure comprising an envelope (1) having at least one substantially flat surface and an opening for hot air supply in its lower part. The envelope (1) is secured to the ground by means at least two fixing ropes (8) and comprise at least one joining rope (7) having ends connected inside to the opposite side walls of the envelope (1), and at least four carrying ropes (6), having upper ends connected from inside to the upper wall of the envelope (1) and lower ends connected with at least one elastic coupler (5) being connected by means of at least four intermediate ropes (4) with a hot air supply device (2, 15, 17). The hot air supply device is preferably a basket (3) suspended to the intermediate ropes (4) and connected to a heating device placed on the ground. A source of light may be preferably installed in the interior of the envelope (1) and/or a projection screen sheet may be attached to the envelope (1). The invention encompasses the features of a hot air balloon and large scale advertisement. |
| US08156668B2 |
Fabric stretching and socket alignment tool and method
A method and tool for stretching a fabric with a fastener eyelet socket to mate the fastener eyelet socket with a fastener stud, the method and tool aligning the socket with the stud for final fastening, the fabric stretching tool with a handle at one end and a shaft secured to the second end with a wedge-shaped tip located at a distal end of the shaft, a sloped surface defined on the wedge-shaped tip, and a semi-spherical concave cavity formed in the sloped surface of the wedge-shaped tip to mate with the fastener stud. |
| US08156666B1 |
Topsoil restoration system and associated methods
A method for rehabilitating a land area comprises the step of using an excavating machine to extract dirt desired to be dispersed over the land area from another area, such as a ditch. The extracted dirt is mixed with water to form a slurry. The slurry is pumped to a high-pressure spray nozzle, and is then sprayed in a thin layer over the land area desired to be rehabilitated. The slurry can also be pumped to the land area at a controllable depth to achieve a desired land profile thereat. |
| US08156664B2 |
Padded shoe
A padded shoe, such as a kicking boot, is disclosed that is lightweight and padded for use in mixed martial arts and other related activities. The padded shoe may be formed from a flexible, resilient sole having a substantially smooth surface; a shoe upper, wherein at least a portion of the shoe upper has padding; an ankle padding structure extending from the shoe upper that is adapted to cover the medial malleolus of a wearer; a padded tongue and other components. The sole may be formed from a material having a shore durometer reading between about 40 and about 60 such that the shoe is lightweight yet provides appropriate support. |
| US08156659B2 |
Filter cleaning apparatus and ductless dryer implementing the same
Disclosed is a filter cleaning apparatus and a ductless dryer adopting the same, the dryer having a main body, a drum rotatably mounted at the main body, a hot air supplying unit supplying hot air into the drum, a heat exchanger condensing and removing moisture contained in air exhausted from the drum, a circulation duct conducing the air exhausted from the drum to the heat exchanger, a filter installed in the circulation duct and filtering foreign substances contained in the air discharged from the drum, and a filter cleaning apparatus removing the foreign substances caught by the filter, thereby enhancing a user's convenience and reducing indoor air contamination which may occur in the course of removing the foreign substances. |
| US08156657B2 |
Measuring tool
In one embodiment, a measuring tool includes a transparent sheet; a first pattern of markings on the transparent sheet for measuring characteristics of a test sheet; and a second pattern of markings on the transparent sheet for measuring characteristics of a target image printed on the test sheet. In another embodiment, a measuring tool includes a transparent substrate and a reference image on the transparent substrate. The reference image includes an alignment pattern for aligning the reference image, a first scale for measuring distances in a first direction, a second scale for measuring distances in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a skew pattern for measuring perpendicularity. |
| US08156654B2 |
Chain saw attachment for unobstructed brush cutting
The invention provides a chain saw attachment for unobstructed cutting of smaller objects with diameters less than three inches and larger objects with diameters greater than three inches. The attachment includes a set of prongs that vertically extend at an acute angle from a cover above the cutting teeth of the chain saw blade to a specified distance below the blade. The prongs stabilize small objects from whipping and dragging when engaged by the cutting teeth and facilitate the cutting of brush with diameter equal to height of the blade. Moreover, the cover does not extend the full length of the blade to allow for fully unobstructed cuts using the uncovered section of the blade. The cover increase safe operation of the chain saw and distributes stress from a particular prong over the entire attachment. |
| US08156651B2 |
Centrifugally cast external layer for rolling roll and method for manufacture thereof
A method for producing an outer layer for a roll having a structure having MC carbide dispersed at an area ratio of 20-60%, comprising the steps of (1) centrifugally casting a melt having a composition comprising, by mass, 2.2-6.0% of C, 0.1-3.5% of Si, 0.1-3.5% of Mn, and 8-22% of V, the balance being Fe and inevitable impurity elements, to produce a cylindrical body comprising an inner layer having concentration MC carbide, an MC-carbide-poor outer layer, and a concentration gradient layer between the inner layer and the outer layer, in which the area ratio of MC carbide changes, and (2) cutting the cylindrical body to a depth at which the area ratio of MC carbide is 20% or more. |
| US08156650B2 |
Method of manufacturing a nozzle plate
A selective surface treatment method using a block copolymer, a black matrix and a method of manufacturing the same, and a nozzle plate and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. According to the method of manufacturing a nozzle plate, a block copolymer layer including an ink-phobic polymer block and an ink-philic polymer block may be formed on a stamp, a substrate having nozzles formed therein and an ink-philic coating film formed on an outer surface of the substrate and inner walls of the nozzles may be prepared, and the block copolymer layer formed on the stamp may be transferred onto an upper surface of the ink-philic coating film formed on the outer surface of the substrate. |
| US08156648B2 |
Hollow structural rod and production method thereof
A hollow structural connecting rod including a first end fitting, a second end fitting, and a hollow main portion situated between the first and second end fittings. First and second connecting rod elements are integrally joined to one another and have, respectively, a first hollow shank made in one piece together with the first end fitting and a second hollow shank made in one piece with the second end fitting, the first and second connecting rod elements being joined by a joint situated at mid-length on the connecting rod, and which can be produced via flow-turning. The connecting rod may find particular application to an assembly system to be interposed between an aircraft engine mounting structure and an engine. |
| US08156646B2 |
Method for manufacturing printed wiring board
A composite layer composed of an Ni layer and a Pd layer is formed on a solder pad, and a solder on the composite layer is composed of a solder containing no lead. Because a Pd layer (palladium layer) reduces phenomenons such as repellency of the solder, adhesiveness with the solder can be enhanced. Because a Pd layer has a higher degree of rigidity than a gold layer, thermal stress is absorbed into the Pd layer and buffered so as to reduce the degree of transmission of stress to the solder bump, or to the solder layer, by thermal stress. |
| US08156644B2 |
Method for manufacturing a printed circuit board having conformal EMI shield
An electrically continuous, grounded conformal EMI protective shield and methods for applying same directly to the surfaces of a printed circuit board. The EMI shield adheres and conforms to the surface of the components and printed wiring board. The shield takes the shape of the covered surfaces while adding little to the dimensions of the surfaces. The EMI shield includes low viscosity, high adherence conductive and dielectric coatings each of which can be applied in one or more layers. The dielectric coating is initially applied to selected locations of the printed circuit board so as to be interposed between the conductive coating and the printed circuit board, preventing the conductive coating from electrically contacting selected components and printed wiring board regions. A high viscosity, non-electrically-conductive filler material is applied to printed circuit board regions that have surfaces that are cavitatious and/or which have a highly variable slope. |
| US08156643B2 |
Semiconductor device
A method of electrically interconnecting a semiconductor chip to another electronic device including providing a carrier including contact pins and a chip attached to the carrier, the chip having a copper contact pad that faces away from the carrier, extending a copper electrical connector between the contact pins and the contact pad, and diffusion soldering the copper electrical connector to the active area with a solder material including tin to form a solder connection including a contiguous bronze coating disposed between and in direct contact with both the copper electrical connector and the contact pad. |
| US08156641B2 |
Interconnection method for tightly packed arrays with flex circuit
Exemplary embodiments provide interconnects and methods for interconnecting an electrical device array with a flexible circuit by filling a chemically-etched or laser-ablated integral stencil with conductive materials. |
| US08156630B2 |
Method of joining members
A method for joining members capable of firmly joining a first member made of a tubular member, such as, e.g., a pipe, to a second member is provided. The following items are prepared: a tubular first member 1 having a polygonal cross-section and a hollow portion 3, a second member 5 having an insertion hole 6 with a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of the first member 1, and a split die 11 circumferentially split into multiple segments at positions corresponding to flat wall portions 1a of the first member 1. Then, the first member 1 is inserted into the insertion hole 6 of the second member 5, and the split die 11 is disposed in the hollow portion 3 of the first member 1. Next, each segment 11a of the split die 11 is moved radially outward of the first member 1 toward each corner 1b of the first member. As a result, an insertion portion 2a of the first member 1 inserted in the insertion hole 6 and both sections 2b and 2b axially adjacent to the insertion portions 2a are expanded to join the first member 1 and the second member 5. |
| US08156629B2 |
Self-aligning utility autocoupler
An apparatus and method for coupling utilities is provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for coupling utilities comprises a lower plate supported by a box, the plate having an aperture, at least one preloaded spring, at least one utility connection component, and a primary alignment pin projecting from a first surface of the plate; and an upper plate having a secondary alignment pin shorter than the primary alignment pin projecting from a first surface of the upper plate, an aperture and at least one utility connection component. The upper plate can move toward the lower plate with the first surfaces of the plates facing one another so that the primary alignment pin passes through the aperture in the upper plate and the secondary alignment pin passes through the aperture in the lower plate, the at least one preloaded spring is compressed, and the plates engage, coupling the utility connection components. |
| US08156628B2 |
Holding device
A holding device for holding a structural component for aircraft to a further structural component; may be coupled to one of the components and is moved from a holding mode, where the first component is held to the second component by the holding device, to a release mode using a magnetic force. Furthermore, a method for deinstalling two components is disclosed, where carrying out deinstallation merely requires pressing a first component against a second component, and placing a magnetic key on or over one of the components in the region of the holding device, where at least some method-related steps may take place at substantially the same time. |
| US08156627B2 |
Methods of forming front panels of bottled water dispensers
Methods for manufacturing a front portion of a bottled water dispenser are provided. The methods include forming a top panel and a bottom panel from sheet metal, such that the top and bottom panels exhibit an exterior surface that is convex. The top and bottom panels are formed by bending a left and right side portion thereof inwards, in order to create the convex exterior surface of the top and bottom panels. The methods further include forming a middle panel from sheet metal, such that an exterior surface of the middle panel is concave. The middle panel is formed by applying a draw force to the center portion of the middle panel to create the concave exterior surface—and bending the left and right side portions of the middle panel inward. The bottom, middle, and top panels may then be connected to each other. |
| US08156625B2 |
Method for optimizing joint press set for use with a plurality of ball joints
A method and article for designing dual-mode adapters in a joint press kit. A plurality of ball joints for use with the adapters are selected. An adapter design is created by defining a first variable representative of a physical characteristic of the adapter design; defining a second variable representing a quantity of ball joints that are not compatible with the adapter design in a second operational mode; generating data sets including the first and second variables; and utilizing the data sets to determine a value for a characteristic of the adapter. |
| US08156622B2 |
Electronic component fabrication method using removable spacers
A method of fabricating an electronic component is provided. The method includes placing a plurality of electrodes in a stack. Spacing between adjacent electrodes in the stack is determined by one or more removable spacers. The method further includes bonding adjacent electrodes together to fix the spacing and removing the spacers from between the adjacent electrodes. |
| US08156616B2 |
Safe pacifier clip
A safe pacifier clip including a base sheet, a pulling member, a latching member, a clamping member and a tying tool. A connecting sheet is longitudinally connected between two protruding sheet columns and the height of the connecting sheet is lower than that of the sheet columns, a first flange is installed on the top end of the connecting sheet; a second flange provided on the top end of the latching member is installed in the connecting sheet and is provided adjacent to the inner surface of the first flange; an opening at the bottom end of the cap-shaped clamping member is provided to the first and the second flanges that are in a stacking status, and arc-shaped clamping sheets provided at the front and the rear ends of the clamping member clamp the two flanges. |
| US08156615B2 |
Connecting structures
A connecting structure for connecting a first component to a second component may include a clip and a hollow seat portion. The clip is capable of engaging the second component and has a hollow main body. The main body has a support shaft and at least one engagement blade formed therein. The hollow seat portion is integrally formed in the first component and has at least one engagement wall portion. The clip main body is constructed to be placed on the seat portion while the seat portion is introduced thereinto. The support shaft is constructed to be introduced into the seat portion when the clip main body is placed on the seat portion. The at least one engagement wall portion has at least one rib portion that is capable of contacting the support shaft introduced into the seat portion. The at least one engagement blade is arranged and constructed to engage the at least one engagement wall portion when the clip is rotated about an axis thereof, so that the clip can be secured to the seat portion. |
| US08156614B2 |
Belt and/or buckle assembly
Buckle type attachment elements, such as for belts, watch bands, or the like, and/or for securing or fastening elements (e.g., for footwear, handbags, briefcases, containers, or other objects) may be produced in a manner that generates minimal waste materials, without the use of metal or mechanical hardware type connectors, from completely recyclable materials, without the need for molding, without the use of plastics, and/or without the use of adhesives or cements. Such buckle elements may include a buckle portion and a tongue portion formed from the same material. In some structures, the tongue portion may be made from a part cut out to form the buckle portion. In other structures, the tongue portion may be formed by cutting slits into a base substrate that also makes up the buckle portion. Final products and methods of making such products also are described. |
| US08156613B2 |
Adjustable door stop system
An adjustable door stop system. The system includes a hinge pin having an axis about which the hinge leaves rotate, a top end, and an opposed bottom end. In one embodiment, a hinge pin cap has a first portion extending radially from the top end of the hinge pin and a second cylindrical portion extending from the first portion parallel to the access of the hinge pin. A control cap has an opening to receive the hinge pin therethrough, the control cap having a radially extending first portion and a cylindrical second portion substantially parallel to the axis of the hinge pin. A mechanism is provided to prevent movement of the hinge pin cap with respect to the control cap including a plurality of teeth on the control cap second cylindrical portion and a plurality of teeth of the control cap cylindrical portion which mate with each other. |
| US08156611B2 |
Lift-off door hinge
A vehicle door attachment unit for rotatably and detachably coupling a vehicle door to a vehicle body. The unit may include a bodyside bracket mountable to the vehicle body and having first and second portions with respective first and second apertures, with the first and second portions extending generally away from the vehicle body. A doorside bracket may be mountable to the vehicle door and include a segment with a third aperture, the segment extending generally away from the vehicle door. A retaining mechanism may extend through the third aperture, and through the first and/or second apertures. A fastener may extend through at least one of the apertures and mate with the retaining mechanism to substantially align the first, second, and third apertures. A bearing may be disposed on the retaining mechanism for providing rotational freedom between the retaining mechanism, and the bodyside or doorside bracket. |
| US08156610B2 |
Writing assist device
A writing assist device includes a hand-receiving body having an exterior surface with a convex contour for ergonomically receiving the palm and/or fingers of the hand of a user from underneath and a base adapted to easily move by pushing or pulling on a writing surface to allow writing by the user. The body includes an inclined channel for receiving a writing instrument, such as a pen or pencil, and a securing element to releasably secure the writing instrument at an inclined angle in the channel. The channel is disposed on the body such that the thumb and index finger of the user lie on opposite sides of the channel during writing in manner that generally resembles the natural gripping of a pen or pencil between the thumb and index finger of an able-bodied person to impart a more natural feeling of writing control. A removable, stretchable cover can be placed on the exterior surface of the body for the comfort of the user before the user places his/her hand on the device. |
| US08156609B2 |
Handheld cleaning appliance
A handheld cleaning appliance includes a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet and separating apparatus for separating dirt and dust from an airflow in an airflow path leading from the air inlet to the air outlet. The separating apparatus includes a cyclonic separator having at least one cyclone and a collector having a wall and a base member, the base member being held in a closed position by a catch and being pivotably connected to the wall. The appliance further includes a main body which incorporates an actuator for operating the catch. The actuator has a slidably mounted rod which is movable between an inoperative position and an actuating position in which the rod contacts part of the catch so as to allow the collector to be opened for emptying purposes. This arrangement allows the catch to be released without the user actually touching the collector. |
| US08156607B2 |
Mop wringer
A mop wringer includes a ratchet type mechanism so that a user may press a spring-biased foot step to wring strands of a mop swab disposed in a mop receptacle in a pail via gear connection, release the foot step to return to its initial condition, and repeatedly perform the above two steps until the mop swab is dried. |
| US08156605B2 |
Drive device
The invention relates to a drive device (10), especially for a window wiping device, comprising at least one shaft (13). Until now, only stop mechanisms which are very complicated in terms of production are known, with which a wiper arm can be blocked in the idle position thereof. In order to reduce this complexity, the inventive drive device comprises a strip and/or a cord which can be wound around the at least one shaft (13) with a defined tension. |
| US08156602B2 |
Generating a chemical agent in situ
A device for generating a chemical agent in situ on an as-needed basis via the application of an electrical potential across a pair of conductors in communication with an electrolyte. The device may be a toothbrush that generates chemical agents in a user's mouth by applying an electrical potential to an electrolyte such as saliva and/or a dentifrice located therein. The chemical agents may include ozone, hydrogen peroxide, peroxide, chlorine and/or hypochlorite. The toothbrush may include a voltage source and a first set of electrodes for applying an electrical potential to the electrolyte. The toothbrush may also include a second set of electrodes disposed about an anode of the first set of electrodes. The first and second sets of anodes cooperate to produce ions, peroxides, ozone and/or other chemical agents via the application of electrical potential to the electrolyte. |
| US08156598B2 |
Personal hygiene devices to aid physically impaired users to clean their recto-genital area
Personal hygiene devices designed to aid physically impaired persons to clean their own recto-genital area following urination, defecation, menstruation, or sweating. The devices include an elongated flexible strip made from one or two elongated individual sheets affixed together and of a length sufficient to extend between the user's legs and of a width sufficient to generally cover the recto-genital area. The strip has an absorbent middle portion for engaging the user's recto-genital area and respective dependent end portions having respective thumb holes therethrough for easy gripping in-hand. An absorbent pad is positioned at the middle portion retained by the individual sheets to increase the absorbency thereof. The device is used by gripping the end portions in-hand optionally using the thumb holes with the middle portion extending between the user's legs. The middle portion is moved into engagement with the user's recto-genital area and the end portions moved longitudinally while maintaining tension thereon to wipe the middle portion along the recto-genital area to remove excrement therefrom. The device is made of flushable materials for disposal down toilets following use. The devices are preferably manufactured in device sheets from rolls of raw materials using automated manufacturing equipment in which the devices are initially interconnected at perforated tear lines and subsequently separated, folded or wrapped, and individually wrapped or otherwise packaged for individual use thereof. |
| US08156596B2 |
Manual rotary sweeper
A manually propelled, wheeled rotary brush having a handle and two wheels. The brush may have a generally cylindrical configuration which contacts the environmental surface on which the wheels ride, and may rotate about a horizontal axis disposed perpendicularly to the direction of travel as the wheels turn. The brush may be geared to the wheels, and may rotate faster than the wheels. The wheeled rotary brush may have a frame in which the gears are journaled. The handle may be propped in an elevated position by stabilizing legs disposed to engage the environmental surface at a point spaced apart from the brush. The brush may have replaceable brush elements which may be inserted into slots formed in a cylindrical core of the brush. |
| US08156590B2 |
Controlling method of a laundry machine
A controlling method of a laundry machine is disclosed. The controlling method includes supplying wash water into a tub up to a predetermined water level, and controlling On/Off of a steam heater and a tub heater until a temperature inside the tub or a drum reaches a predetermined temperature at the predetermined water level. By using both the tub heater and steam heater in conjunction with a controlling of a water supply valve in order to acquire the predetermined water level and predetermined tub temperature, the controlling method is advantageous to improve energy efficiency of the laundry machine. |
| US08156587B2 |
Holding device
The invention relates to a holding device for supporting the hands of a patient resting on an examination couch. In accordance with the invention, the holding device for supporting the hands of a patient resting on an examination couch comprises gripping zones which are distanced from one another, said gripping zones each being grippable with a hand of the patient, with the holding device being moveable independently of further devices surrounding the patient. |
| US08156586B2 |
Ambulance cot system
The present invention relates to ambulance cots, cot systems and methods of using the same. In particular, the present invention provides an ambulance cot comprising one or more control features (e.g., a notched ladder rail assembly (e.g., for preventing hot dropping of cot); a hand braking system; and/or team lift rails) and methods of using the same (e.g., to transport a subject (e.g., into and/or from an ambulance)). |
| US08156577B1 |
Aerated bathroom fixture
Disclosed herein is a novel feature of a toilet for reducing the density of the fluid in the bottom portion of a bathroom fixture to eliminate spray when desired. When not desired, for example, when a user is seated upon the bathroom fixture, this feature may be deactivated. In one form, when the anti-spray feature is turned off, the bubbles will have substantially disappeared in less than a few seconds. The bathroom fixture (toilet) is provided with an air source, such as an air pump, compressed air cylinder, or compressor, coupled by way of an air line or hose to an air diffuser chamber. When the air source is activated, a substantial portion of the water in the air diffuser chamber will be displaced by the air provided by the air source. The vertical region of bubbles within the standing water reduces the density of the water in that region, such that splash is virtually eliminated. |
| US08156575B2 |
Headwear comprising rearview mirrors
Headwear wearable by a user is provided having rearview mirrors mounted thereon or incorporated therein via robust mounting structures or mechanisms. The rearview mirrors can be attached to the headwear such that the mirrors are movable between a stowed or collapsed configuration in which the mirror is at least partially hidden from the user's view and a deployed configuration in which a viewing surface of the mirror is positioned to provide a rear view image to the user. The headwear may be goggles, helmets or other structures wearable on the head of a user. Rearview mirrors mountable to headwear are also provided. |
| US08156574B2 |
Helmet adjustment system
A protective sport helmet, such as for lacrosse, includes a hard shell portion, a lining portion, and an adjustment mechanism. The inner side of the adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment protective pad. Together, the lining portion and the inner surface of the adjustment protective pad define an interior region of the helmet wherein the user's head is introduced. The adjustment mechanism includes a lower rear shell portion having a clutching mechanism that allows the user to manually adjust the size of the interior region via a strapping system of the helmet to couple snugly around the user's head. The clutching mechanism also prevents the interior region from being easily altered in the absence of manual adjustment to the adjustment mechanism. The strap includes a hard end material that engages the adjustment mechanism and a flexible, durable and tough material that conforms to a wearer's head. |
| US08156573B2 |
Garment with deployable hood and method for using same
A garment, and methods of using the garment, including a main body portion, a collar attached to the main body portion, and a hood attached to the main body portion adjacent to the collar. The collar includes first and second flaps that define a collar pocket. The hood is moveable between a non-deployed position where it is received within the collar pocket and a deployed position where it is not received within the collar pocket. |
| US08161567B2 |
Accessory authentication for electronic devices
Improved techniques to control utilization of accessory devices with electronic devices are disclosed. The improved techniques can use cryptographic approaches to authenticate electronic devices, namely, electronic devices that interconnect and communicate with one another. One aspect pertains to techniques for authenticating an electronic device, such as an accessory device. Another aspect pertains to provisioning software features (e.g., functions) by or for an electronic device (e.g., a host device). Different electronic devices can, for example, be provisioned differently depending on different degrees or levels of authentication, or depending on manufacturer or product basis. Still another aspect pertains to using an accessory (or adapter) to convert a peripheral device (e.g., USB device) into a host device (e.g., USB host). The improved techniques are particularly well suited for electronic devices, such as media devices, that can receive accessory devices. One example of a media device is a media player, such as a hand-held media player (e.g., music player), that can present (e.g., play) media items (or media assets). |
| US08161561B1 |
Confidential data protection through usage scoping
Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for protecting confidential data on a network. An embodiment of the inventive method comprises the steps of: monitoring 110 data directed to a website; identifying 120 a data string having at least one confidential characteristic; categorizing the data string with a categorization level; examining 140 the website for at least one characteristic consistent with confidential data; creating 155 a website characteristic profile; comparing 170 the website characteristic profile with the data string's categorization level for compatibility; and determining 180 whether the data string can be communicated to the website. |
| US08161559B2 |
Methods, computer networks and computer program products for reducing the vulnerability of user devices
Methods, computer networks, and computer program products that reduce the vulnerability of network user devices to security threats include scanning a user device connected to a network to determine whether the user device contains a particular version of an application; downloading the particular version of the application via the network in response to verifying that the user device does not contain the particular version of the application; installing the downloaded application on the user device; scanning the user device for security vulnerabilities; downloading a patch via the network in response to detecting a security vulnerability, wherein the patch is configured to remedy the security vulnerability; and executing the downloaded patch on the user device to remedy the detected security vulnerability. |
| US08161557B2 |
System and method of caching decisions on when to scan for malware
In accordance with this invention, a system, method, and computer-readable medium that selectively scans files stored on a computing device for malware is provided. One aspect of the present invention includes identifying files that need to be scanned for malware when a software update that includes a malware signature is received. More specifically, attributes of the new malware are identified by searching metadata associated with the malware. Then, the method searches a scan cache and determines whether each file with an entry in the scan cache is the type that may be infected by the malware. If a file is the type that may be infected by the malware, the file is scanned for malware when a scanning event such as an I/O request occurs. Conversely, if the file is not the type that may be infected by the malware, the file may be accessed without a scan being performed. |
| US08161554B2 |
System and method for detection and mitigation of network worms
An intrusion detection system for a computer network includes a knowledge database that contains a baseline of normal host behavior, and a correlation engine that monitors network activity with reference to the knowledge database. The correlation engine accumulating information about anomalous events occurring on the network and then periodically correlating the anomalous events. The correlation engine generates a worm outbreak alarm when a certain number of hosts exhibit a role-reversal behavior. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b). |
| US08161542B2 |
Wireless perimeter security device and network using same
A Radio Frequency based security system for providing security for wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) that allows the creation and maintenance of arbitrarily shaped secure wireless access areas with boundaries around said wireless Local Area Network and prevents access to the said wireless LAN from outside the perimeter of the secure area. The system includes a plurality of perimeter Radio Frequency Sentry Devices (RFSDs) that are employed to establish the boundaries of said secure area around said wireless LAN. The wireless LAN being secured may be an industry standard IEEE 802.11a, 801.11b or 802.11g based wireless LAN or any other wireless LAN that uses packet based communication protocols. The said RFSDs may be stand-alone devices or they may be connected to a wired or wireless Local Area Network. |
| US08161541B2 |
Ethernet connectivity fault management with user verification option
An access node (e.g., DSLAM, OLT/ONT) is described herein that implements a trust verification method comprising the steps of: (a) filtering an up-stream message initiated by a non-trusted device (e.g., CPE); (b) intercepting the filtered up-stream message if the filtered up-stream message is a connectivity fault management message (e.g., LB message, LBR message, CC message); (c) inserting a trusted identification into the intercepted up-stream message; and (d) outputting the intercepted up-stream message with the inserted trusted identification. Thereafter, a trusted device (e.g., BRAS) receives and analyzes the outputted up-stream message with the inserted trusted identification message to ascertain a trustworthiness of the non-trusted device (e.g., CPE). Several different ways that an access network (e.g., IPTV network) can implement the trust verification method are also described herein. |
| US08161532B2 |
Operating system independent architecture for subscription computing
A system for managing a subscription-based computer independent of an operating system of the computer may include a security module that accesses, decrements, and stores subscription data during operation of the subscription-based computer. Additionally, the system may include a network module in communication with the security module and comprising a network stack, a web server, and a user interface in an operating system independent format. A web browser of the computer may request the user interface from the network stack. The interface may be populated with the subscription data, and a network driver may retrieve the populated user interface from the network module. The populated interface may then be sent to the web server to be served back to the requesting web browser. |
| US08161530B2 |
Behaviormetrics application system for electronic transaction authorization
This invention discloses a system wherein behaviormetrics are utilized to authenticate electronic transactions, either alone or in combination with other identifiers such as PIN's, passwords, codes and the like. Probability profiles or probability distribution representations may be constructed for determining whether a purported or alleged authorized user is in fact the authorized user, by comparing new data on a real-time basis against probability distribution representations including an authorized user probability distribution representation and a global or wide population probability distribution representation, to provide a probability as to whether the purported authorized user is the authorized user. This invention may utilize keypad, touch screen dynamics, X-Y dynamics, data, X-Y device data, or other data from similar measurable characteristics (such as movement filmed by an ATM machine), to determine the probability that the new data from the purported authorized user indicates or identifies that user as the authorized user. |
| US08161529B1 |
High-assurance architecture for routing of information between networks of differing security level
The present invention is directed to routing information between networks of differing security level. Communication to/from each network is handled by a dedicated Offload Engine (OE). Each OE interfaces to a Guard Engine through a Guard Data Mover (GDM) and includes an interface for connecting to an external network. A first OE receives a data packet from a first network intended to be transmitted to a second network. The Guard Engine analyzes the data packet. The Guard Engine includes an ACL (Access Control List) which are rules data packets must meet before being passed onto a destination network. If allowed, the Guard Engine delivers the data packet to the second network via a second OE utilizing a GDM associated with the first OE and a GDM associated with the second OE. The architecture of the present invention reduces the time and effort needed to attain high-assurance certification. |
| US08161528B2 |
Detecting wireless interlopers
In an exemplary apparatus implementation, an apparatus includes: at least one processor; and one or more media including processor-executable instructions that are capable of being executed by the at least one processor, the processor-executable instructions adapted to direct the apparatus to perform actions including: monitoring at least one signal characteristic for multiple signals that relate to a single source address; and detecting a wireless interloper if a discrepancy is determined to exist with regard to the monitored at least one signal characteristic for the multiple signals. In an exemplary access station implementation, an access station is capable of ascertaining at least one signal characteristic for multiple signals, is configured to detect a wireless interloper with regard to a particular address by analyzing the ascertained at least one signal characteristic for the multiple signals, and is adapted to counter the detected wireless interloper. |
| US08161526B2 |
Protecting sensitive information on a publicly accessed data processing system
The illustrative embodiments described herein provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product protecting sensitive information on a data processing system. A determination is made as to whether a data processing system is publicly accessed. Responsive to determining that a data processing system is publicly accessed, the system identifies sensitive information. The data processing system monitors for the presence of sensitive information. Responsive to detecting the presence of the sensitive information, the system presents a warning to a user of the data processing system. |
| US08161525B2 |
Method and system for architecting a secure solution
A system and method of designing a secure solution which meets the needs of a customer but which is appropriate and repeatable and may use components which are insecure or not trusted. In its preferred embodiment, the security system includes subsystems selected from access control, information flow, identity and credentials management, integrity and assurance. In each subsystem, elements are employed to reduce the effect of perils and to provide a repeatable system design. |
| US08161524B2 |
Method and portable storage device for allocating secure area in insecure area
A method for extending a secure area in a portable storage device and the portable storage device therefore are provided. The method includes allocating a secure area for storing data to be received within an insecure area, sending position information regarding the secure area allocated within the insecure area to a host device, receiving the position information and data to be stored in the secure area from a secure application of the host device, and encrypting and storing the data in the insecure area based on the position information. |
| US08161521B1 |
Controlling network access by applying super security policies
A device may monitor a security policy that governs a user access to a zone in a private network, propagate a change in status of the security policy to one or more devices that coordinate with each other to implement a super policy, detect whether conditions for triggering actions that are associated with the super policy are present based on the change in status, and perform the actions if the conditions for triggering the actions are present. |
| US08161520B1 |
Methods and systems for securing a system in an adaptive computer environment
An automated method for securing a target system is provided. In this method, a request to change an entity in the target system is detected. The target system has an existing security profile or one is created. As a result, a security configuration group associated with the changed entity is constructed. The security configuration group is then fused with the existing security profile to form a unified security profile, and the unified security profile is prosecuted onto the target system. Other methods and a system for securing the target system are also described. |
| US08161516B2 |
Fraud detection in a cable television
One or more of a topology location test and a distance test are applied to determine if a CPE device has moved in a cable plant. An indication of service fraud is provided if the CPE topology location or distance test indicate an unauthorized CPE device move. |
| US08161515B2 |
Fast channel change handling of late multicast join
In an internet protocol television (IPTV) system, fast channel change (FCC) transactions that experience late multicast joins are handled specially, thereby allowing the system to be provisioned for the vast majority of multicast joins that are within an expected range. During an FCC transaction, the subscriber interface device, such as a set-top box (STB), can determine how long it can wait to join the multicast stream of the new channel before a gap can be predicted to occur in the handover from the FCC unicast to the multicast. If the STB has not joined the multicast stream by the determined time, a recovery procedure is invoked in which the STB sends a RESTART request to the FCC server which, in turn, increases the rate of the FCC unicast as if the FCC transaction were restarted, thus allowing the handover to occur seamlessly. This solution reduces the demands of each FCC transaction, allowing for greater scalability and reduced cost. |
| US08161514B2 |
Program guide system with video-on-demand browsing
An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a viewer may direct a television to simultaneously display a selected television program and a program guide display. A viewer may use the program guide display to browse available video-on-demand (VOD) while continuing to view a previously selected program in the background. The viewer may browse through video-on-demand programs on the program guide display using a variety of keys on a remote control unit. The viewer may direct the program guide to order a given video-on-demand program; and set a desired broadcast time for that program. |
| US08161513B2 |
Method for receiving a broadcast signal and broadcast receiver
A method of receiving a broadcast signal including a Non-Real-Time (NRT) service and a broadcast receiver are disclosed herein. A method of receiving a broadcast signal including an NRT service, the method comprises receiving a broadcast signal including first signaling information and second signaling information, identifying the NRT service based on the first signaling information, parsing the second signaling information to identify an Internet Protocol (IP) address of an NRT service signaling channel, receiving the NRT service signaling channel by accessing the IP address, and downloading a desired NRT service based on the NRT service signaling channel. |
| US08161512B2 |
Method for processing targeting descriptor in non-real-time receiver
A method of receiving a broadcast signal including a Non-Real-Time (NRT) Receiver Targeting service is disclosed herein. A method of receiving a broadcast signal including a Non-Real-Time (NRT) Receiver Targeting service, the method comprises receiving broadcast signal including first signaling information and second signaling information, identifying an NRT service based on the first signaling information, parsing a Receiver Targeting Descriptor from the second signaling information, determining validity of the NRT service or an NRT content based on a targeting_criterion_type_code included in the Receiver Targeting Descriptor, and downloading the NRT service or the NRT content when a receiver determines the NRT service or the NRT content to be valid. |
| US08161511B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data in digital broadcasting system
A digital broadcast receiver and a control method thereof are disclosed. The digital broadcast receiver includes a reception unit for receiving a broadcast signal which mobile service data and main service data are multiplexed, an extractor for extracting transmission parameter channel signaling information and fast information channel signaling information from a data group in the received mobile service data, an acquirer for acquiring a program table describing virtual channel information and a service of an ensemble, using the extracted fast information channel signaling information, the ensemble being a virtual channel group of the received mobile service data, a detector for detecting a descriptor defining additional information of an image file, using the acquired program table, and a controller for controlling such that the image file is displayed, based on the additional information of the detected descriptor. |
| US08161510B2 |
Apparatus and method for data caching to reduce channel change delay
An apparatus performs a data caching operation responsive to a channel change event which reduces channel change times. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a cache memory operative to cache an incoming data stream responsive to a channel change command. A processor is operative to find program specific information included within the incoming data stream. A decoder is operative to decode the cached data stream responsive to the processor finding the program specific information. |
| US08161501B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer program product for facilitating the interoperability of virtual machines
Embodiments of this invention concern an apparatus, method and computer program product for managing the interoperability between objects in multiple virtual machines that are written to support different languages, such as .NET and Java. In particular, objects or programs running inside a virtual machine are allowed to create, control, and destroy objects running inside a separate virtual machine. The virtual machines interoperate using a proxy mechanism that utilizes function calls, rather than data passing, to run and access the desired objects. |
| US08161498B2 |
Providing globalization functionalities for javascript applications
Globalization functionalities for JavaScript applications are provided by asynchronously invoking globalization Web services related to specific JavaScript applications that are developed using asynchronous JavaScript and XML (Ajax) technology. A result of the asynchronous invocation is processed to obtain the corresponding globalization functionality. A client-side component invokes the globalization Web services by creating a SOAP request including specific parameters in passing that request to a server-side component. The server side component creates a result that is passed back to the client side component. |
| US08161497B2 |
Holdoff algorithm for no dead time acquisition
An improved hold-off algorithm that assures that all data associated with all trigger events in a data signal are displayed uses a designated interval starting with a first trigger event to determine whether any subsequent trigger events occurred within the designated interval. A first display frame is drawn based upon the first trigger event. A next display frame is drawn based either on a next trigger event that occurs outside the designated interval, or based on the last trigger event that occurred within the designated interval. In the latter case the two display frames provide an overlap to assure that no data related to the trigger events is lost on the display. |
| US08161495B2 |
Parameters passing of data structures where API and corresponding stored procedure are different versions/releases
A system and computer program product for passing parameters of data structures where an API and corresponding stored procedures are at different version/release levels is provided. A received data structure is parsed for a version identifier of a caller. The parsed version identifier is compared to a stored procedure version identifier and a determination is made with regards to a data structure compatibility or a data structure incompatibility. If a data structure compatibility is determined, all received data structure elements are parsed. If, however, a data structure incompatibility is determined, only data structure elements known to both the caller and the stored procedures are parsed. |
| US08161489B2 |
Resource sharing and allocation between a plurality of different raid policies on groups of disks
Disclosed is a resource allocation system including a provisional allocation execution unit that executes provisional allocation for policies other than a policy corresponding to an accepted source request, a shared resource extraction unit that extracts a resource sharable between the policy and other policies, and a determination index calculation unit that calculates an index that depends on resource sharability, and determines an allocation destination so that a storage area is allocated on a storage device with a lower resource sharability in preference to other storage devices. |
| US08161488B2 |
System and method for registering a subscription of interest of needed new resource in a store accessible by a plurality of resource creators and pushing the needed resource thereto by the creator based upon the registered subscription
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for propagating resources during a distributed build process. Subscription of interest is registered in resources needed during a distributed build process. Build data is analyzed to determine what resources will be needed. The subscriptions of interest are stored in a data store that is accessible by all build machines participating in the distributed build process. A status of subscriptions of interest is monitored in the data store. When the status of respective subscriptions of interest indicates that a publication notice was registered for a respective resource, the respective resource is retrieved from a machine that contains the resource. When a new resource is created that is needed by other build machines, a publication notification is registered with the data store so the other build machines can determine that the new resource is now available. |
| US08161487B2 |
Controller for controlling a plurality of logical resources of a storage system
A controller for controlling a logical resource of a storage system comprises a virtual resource preparation section for preparing a virtual resource which is a virtual logical resource, and a real resource assignment section that assigns a real resource which is a logical resource of a real entity to the prepared virtual resource. One or more backup resources which are virtual resources that have not yet been used by a higher-level section that is on a higher level than the controller are prepared by the virtual resource preparation section for one or more of the higher-level section. |
| US08161483B2 |
Configuring a parallel computer based on an interleave rate of an application containing serial and parallel segments
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for configuring an application for execution on a parallel computer that include: booting up a first subset of a plurality of nodes in a serial processing mode; booting up a second subset of the plurality of nodes in a parallel processing mode; profiling, prior to application deployment on the parallel computer, the application to identify the serial segments and the parallel segments of the application; and deploying the application for execution on the parallel computer in dependence upon the profile of the application and proximity within the data communications network of the nodes in the first subset relative to the nodes in the second subset. |
| US08161481B2 |
Operating system providing a mutual exclusion mechanism
An operating system for a computing device includes a scheduler incorporating an algorithm for ordering the running of threads of execution having different priorities. The operating system is also arranged to provide a list of threads which are scheduled to run on the device, ordered by priority. At least one locking mechanism for docking access to a resource of the device from all threads except for a thread that holds the locking mechanism is also provided, and the operating system arranges for a scheduled thread which is docked from running because the resource it requires is locked to cause the thread which holds the locking mechanism to run. |
| US08161476B2 |
Processor exclusivity in a partitioned system
A computer system including a plurality of physical processors (CPs) having physical processor performances (PCPs), a plurality of logical processors (LCPs), a plurality of logical partitions (LPARs) where each partition includes one or more of the logical processors (LCPs), and a system assist processor having a control element. The control element controls the virtualization of the physical processors (CPs), the logical partitions (LPARs) and the logical processors (LCPs) and allocates the physical processor performances (PCPs) to the logical partitions (LPARs). The control element operates to exclusively bind logical processors (LCPs) to the physical processors (CPs). For a logical processor (LCP) exclusively bound to a physical processor (CP), the logical processor (LCP) has exclusive use of the underlying physical processor (CP) and no other logical processor (LCP) can be dispatched on the underlying physical processor (CP) even if the underlying physical processor (CP) is otherwise available. |
| US08161473B2 |
Dynamic software fingerprinting
Embodiments of dynamic software fingerprinting techniques are presented herein. In an implementation, an inventory of applications installed on a client is performed by examination of one or more inventory categories. Relationships are then created between the installed applications from the inventory and one or more supplemental categories. Based on the relationships created, a fingerprint inventory corresponding to the client is produced which describes: the relationships; the installed applications of the client; categories including the applications; and attributes corresponding to the applications. |
| US08161472B2 |
Methods and apparatus for incorporating a partial page on a client
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for regenerating portions of the page that have changed and transmitting only those portions to the client for display. Executing only the necessary parts of the page generation code and transmitting only changes to the client improves the efficiency of using the resources of the network communication channel, the client node and the server node. Performing these operations only when required, when the data has changed, improves the efficiency of use even further. The invention also takes advantage of any portions of the page that are already on the client by reusing them and thus eliminates the need to regenerate or transmit those reusable portions.In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for incorporating a partial page into a transmitted page displayed on a client. The method includes displaying the transmitted page on a client, receiving by the client a regenerated portion of the transmitted page from a server and incorporating by the client the regenerated portion into the transmitted page displayed on the client. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving by the client a modification list from the server instructing the client on the incorporation of the regenerated page portion into the transmitted page. In another embodiment, the method includes receiving by the client additional code instructing the client on how to interpret commands contained in the modification list. |
| US08161471B2 |
Utility for optimizing required memory for distribution in embedded systems
A method and apparatus for optimizing required memory of an embedded system. The method may include identifying one or more applications to be installed on a target embedded system, and estimating the amount of memory required for the operation of the embedded system. The method may further include comparing the estimated amount of the required memory with the amount of memory available on the embedded system. |
| US08161462B2 |
Program-level performance tuning
A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that in an embodiment request a program or programs to tune themselves to run faster or slower if a service class is not meeting its performance goal. In an embodiment, the program is repeatedly requested to incrementally tune itself until the performance goal is met or until no further improvement occurs. In various embodiments, the programs to be requested to tune themselves are selected based on whether the programs are bottlenecks for the service class, whether the programs do the majority of work for the service class, whether the programs easily meet their own performance goals, or whether the programs are low priority. In this way, the programs may be performance tuned in a way that is more effective and less intrusive than by adjusting global, system-level resource allocations. |
| US08161456B2 |
Management of heterogeneous software artifacts through a common representation
A method for managing a configuration of heterogeneous software artifacts through a common central configuration representation includes adding a plurality of software artifacts from an initial software solution to a heterogeneous configuration tool. Using this heterogeneous configuration tool, artifact-level configuration parameters are extracted out of selected software artifacts by the heterogeneous configuration tool. The extracted artifact-level configuration parameters are then presented in a single representation. A subset of the presented extracted artifact-level configuration parameters is mapped to a set of solution-level parameters, which are then exposed in a subsequent software solution. Thereafter, parameters for one or more of the solution-level parameters, which are used by the subsequent software solution, are exposed. These parameters for the subsequent software solution are then mapped back to the artifact-level configuration parameters of the subsequent software solution. |
| US08161454B2 |
Software architecture for developing in-vehicle software applications
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a software architecture encoded on a computer readable medium is disclosed. The software architecture can be utilized for developing in-vehicle software applications for installation and execution on an in-vehicle computer system. The software architecture includes a number of vehicle application program interfaces (APIs) for accessing vehicles systems or data and for developing in-vehicle software applications; and a number of policy restrictions underlying the vehicle APIs for restricting the level of access to vehicle systems and data while the in-vehicle software application is being developed. |
| US08161446B2 |
System and method of connecting a macro cell to a system power supply
A system and method of connecting a macro cell to a system power supply network is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method includes determining a distance of an edge of the macro cell from a power line or a ground line of the system power supply network. The method further includes selectively adding at least one line to the system power supply network. |
| US08161442B2 |
Integrated circuit devices and methods and apparatuses for designing integrated circuit devices
Methods and apparatuses to design an Integrated Circuit (IC) with a shielding of wires. In at least one embodiment, a shielding mesh of at least two reference voltages (e.g., power and ground) is used to reduce both the capacitive coupling and the inductive coupling in routed signal wires in IC chips. In some embodiments, a type of shielding mesh (e.g., a shielding mesh with a window surrounded by a power ring, or a window with a parser set of shielding wires) is selected to make more routing area available in locally congested areas. In other embodiments, the shielding mesh is used to create or add bypass capacitance. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08161441B2 |
Robust scan synthesis for protecting soft errors
A method for performing robust scan synthesis for soft-error protection on a design for generating a robust scan design in a system. The system is modeled selectively at a register-transfer level (RTL) or a gate level; the design includes at least a sequential element or a scan cell for mapping to a robust scan cell of a select robust scan cell type. The method comprises performing a scan replacement and a scan stitching on the design database based on a given control information file for synthesizing the robust scan cell on the design database; and generating the synthesized robust scan design at a pre-determined RTL or a pre-determined gate level. |
| US08161440B2 |
Highly specialized scenarios in random test generation
A computer software product is provided. The product includes a computer-readable medium in which computer program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for functional verification of a design, having an operational space comprising the steps of accepting as an input a test template that specifies test parameters directed to a function of the design, the template comprising constraints and variables covering a working space within the operational space, associating an exemption mode of operation with at least one of the constraints or at least one of the variables, wherein a domain of the at least one of the variables is modified or the at least one of the constraints is disabled in the exemption mode of operation, producing a test case that lies in the operational space of the design by enabling the exemption mode of operation, the test case comprising a series of transactions originating from the template, wherein the transactions exercise the function of the design, wherein the working space is modified in the exemption mode of operation and submitting the test case for execution by the design, wherein the exemption mode of operation is associated with only a portion of the template. |
| US08161438B2 |
Determining mutual inductance between intentional inductors
Various methods for analyzing mutual inductance in an integrated circuit layout are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, circuit design information indicative of a first inductor and a second inductor is received. A dipole moment associated with the first inductor is determined, where the magnetic field associated with the dipole moment is representative of magnetic fields created by respective turns in the first inductor. A mutual inductance between the first inductor and the second inductor is determined by determining a magnetic flux of the magnetic field of the dipole moment through surfaces bounded by respective wire segments of the second inductor. |
| US08161437B2 |
Method and apparatus for automated synthesis of multi-channel circuits
Methods and apparatuses to automatically generate time multiplexed multi-channel circuits from single-channel circuits. At least one embodiment of the present invention automatically and efficiently synthesize multi-channel hardware for time-multiplexed resource sharing by automatically generating a time multiplexed design of multi-channel circuits from the design of a single-channel circuit. Channel specific elements of the single-channel design (e.g., registers and memories) are replaced with corresponding elements of N-times more capacity for pipelining the signal processing for multiple channels. |
| US08161435B2 |
Reset mechanism conversion
Methods, circuits, and systems for converting reset mechanisms in a synchronous circuit design into a corresponding asynchronous representation are described. These may operate to convert synchronous state holding blocks that include reset signals to corresponding asynchronous dataflow logic blocks. A replicated reset token at a fraction of the operational frequency of the reset signal may be distributed to the locations of the asynchronous dataflow logic blocks. Additional methods, circuits, and systems are disclosed. |
| US08161429B1 |
Methods and apparatus for initializing serial links
A serial communications protocol is provided that has optional link initialization features such as an optional automatic lane polarity reversal feature and an optional automatic lane order reversal feature. A user that desires to create a protocol-compliant integrated circuit design can either choose to include or to not include the optional features. Integrated circuits in which the optional serial communications link features are implemented are able to perform the lane polarity reversal and lane order reversal functions. Integrated circuits in which the optional serial communications link features have not been implemented are not able to perform these functions, but can be fabricated using fewer circuit resources. |
| US08161428B2 |
Method of predicting reliability of semiconductor device, reliability prediction system using the same and storage medium storing program causing computer to execute the same
An initial reliability of a semiconductor device is predicted before the design layout of a semiconductor product. A method of predicting the reliability of a semiconductor device according to the present invention: calculates the defect density of a plurality of wiring patterns on a wafer; extracts the critical area of a series of library elements formed of wiring patterns based on the defect density to determine the critical area value of each library element; determines a failure probability by wiring pattern from the result of a reliability test of the wiring pattern to form a correlation model from an expected value in which a defect is generated and which is obtained from the defect density and the failure probability of each wiring pattern; calculates the failure probability of each library element from the critical area value and the function of the correlation model; designs a layout of a semiconductor product with two library elements or more out of a series of the library elements combined together and calculates the reliability of the designed semiconductor device in consideration of the failure probability of the library elements combined together. |
| US08161423B1 |
Defect filtering optical verification process
An apparatus and method for optical lithography verification includes filtering a lithography simulation of proposed sub-lightwave pattern formations during at feast one design phase or manufacturing phase of an article of manufacture having sub-lightwave structures and then detecting design phase or manufacturing phase defects in response to the filtering of the lithography simulation. |
| US08161421B2 |
Calibration and verification structures for use in optical proximity correction
A method of training an Optical Proximity Correction (OPC) model comprises symmetrizing a complex design to be a test pattern having orthogonal symmetry. Symmetrizing may comprise establishing a axis of symmetry passing through the design, thereby dividing the design into two portions; deleting one of the two portions; and mirror-imaging the other of the two portions about the axis of symmetry. The design may be centered. |
| US08161420B2 |
System and method for security management of home network
A security management system of a home network is provided. The home network includes a home gateway and one or more user devices connected to the home gateway. The security management system further includes a security management server adapted to provide a security management service for the home network. Within the home network, a security management module is disposed to provide a security service for the user devices within the home network. The user devices and a device where the security management module locates have unique device identifications, and the home network has a unique network identification. By the home gateway, the security management server communicates with the security management module. With the network identification and the device identification, the security management server and the security management module achieve a security management for the home network through a registration of the home network and a registration of the user device. A security management method of home network devices is also provided. |
| US08161418B2 |
System and method for generating an informational media display on a document processing device
The subject application is directed to a system and method for generating an informational media display on a document processing device. A document processing signal representing the status of a document processing operation on an associated document processing device is first received. Media content data and preference data corresponding to user-specified media content data is then received. Pre-selected media content data is then generated on a display of a user interface associated with the document processing device when the device is idle, as determined by the document processing status signal. Display of the pre-selected media content is then suspended when the document processing signal indicates that the document processing device is active. User-specified media data content is then generated on the display of the user interface when the received document processing signal corresponds to active status of the associated document processing device. |
| US08161410B2 |
Computer-implemented display of ordered items
A method, in one embodiment, of displaying items arranged in a hierarchy, the hierarchy having predetermined levels and divisions. The method comprising: displaying divisions of a first level of the hierarchy along a first direction; and displaying the items on a plane in perspective view, each item arranged at a position corresponding to the division with which it is associated in a respective second direction at an angle to the first direction. It is preferred that each of the items has associated with it a value, such as a time value, that can be represented on a scale. The divisions of the first level of the hierarchy are first units of the scale, such as years, and the items are arranged at positions corresponding to their value with respect to the first units. |
| US08161393B2 |
Arrangements for managing processing components using a graphical user interface
In some embodiments a method for managing processing components using a graphical user interface is disclosed. The method can include determining connection data of a processing system automatically by communicating with at least one node of the processing system, displaying the connection data on a graphical user interface, accepting a user selection via selectable buttons on the graphical user interface, where the selectable buttons representing selectable system operations for configuring operations of nodes. Based on the user selection the system can automatically perform system configuring. In some embodiments, the method can detect improper or malfunctioning connections and automatically provide a pop-up window that has a suggested remedy. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08161392B1 |
Methods and apparatus for managing a shared GUI
A system and methods for connecting a computer and at least one computing appliance to a graphic user interface comprising a display and peripheral devices is disclosed. A user interface session is associated with a computer connected to the graphic user interface by a network connection. A second user interface session, comprising a display overlay and new user interface settings is established in response to a user event such as a telephony event associated with the computing appliance. In an embodiment, user settings are adjusted on an ongoing basis in response to input device events. |
| US08161390B2 |
Apparatus for displaying formation of network
A display apparatus is designed for displaying formation of a network on a screen. The network is composed of a plurality of nodes and is capable of transferring either of musical performance information and an audio signal through communication paths connecting the plurality of the nodes. In the display apparatus, an acquiring section acquires a type of each node and an arrangement of the communication paths arranged among the nodes for transmitting and receiving the musical performance information and the audio signal. An allocating section allocates a display area to each node within the screen according to the acquired type of each node. A drawing section draws a plurality of index images indicating the respective nodes on the screen at the display areas allocated to the respective nodes, and draws lines connecting the displayed index images of the nodes on the screen according to the acquired arrangement of the communication paths. |
| US08161389B1 |
Authoring tool sharable file format
Systems and methods which provide a markup language based file format for storing authoring tool content are shown. The markup language based file format of embodiments provides an aggregated content object containing various assets. A container structure is preferably provided for a plurality of assets comprising the aggregated content object. The assets of embodiments of the present invention include different types of assets, including content assets which contain content and packaging assets which contain aggregated content object information. Content assets may comprise various types or forms of media, such as graphics, video, audio, text, etc. Packaging assets may be in a markup language format, such as may be utilized to provide robust information regarding the aggregated content object and assets thereof. The markup language based file format of embodiments of the invention facilitates access to all or portions of the aggregated content by various authoring tools. |
| US08161387B1 |
Creation of a marked media module
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for the presentation and marking of media modules. In different aspects, the systems and methods may allow a user to present and consume a media module, particularly a media module containing data that is typically presented in a serial manner such as audio, visual, or video media, and to create a marked media module for quickly and easily returning to a marked point of interest in the media module at a later time or on a different device. |
| US08161385B2 |
System and method for enabling users to interact in a virtual space
The present invention provides a highly scalable architecture for a three-dimensional graphical, multi-user, interactive virtual world system. In a preferred embodiment a plurality of users interact in the three-dimensional, computer-generated graphical space where each user executes a client process to view a virtual world from the perspective of that user. The virtual world shows avatars representing the other users who are neighbors of the user viewing the virtual word. In order that the view can be updated to reflect the motion of the remote user's avatars, motion information is transmitted to a central server process which provides positions updates to client processes for neighbors of the user at that client process. The client process also uses an environment database to determine which background objects to render as well as to limit the movement of the user's avatar. |
| US08161384B2 |
Arranging graphic objects on a page with text
A candidate layout of frames on a page is ascertained, where the frames define respective size dimensions and positions of respective views of the graphic objects (including at least one block of text) on the page. If the target size dimensions are not accommodated by the size dimensions of the frame of the text block presentation, the candidate layout is modified by changing the size dimensions of the frame of the text block presentation to accommodate the target size dimensions and adjusting the size dimensions of the other frames in the candidate layout based on the changed size dimensions of the frame of the text block presentation. Also, different layouts of the frames on a page are determined from a different respective set of aspect ratios and nominal sizes subject to a set of layout constraints. |
| US08161382B2 |
Method for providing font service on service page and system for executing the method
Provided is a method of providing font services by using an item server and a service server, including: the item server maintaining font providing information including font information and area information associated with the font information, for each user in a user database; the service server maintaining service page database including text associated with each area of the service page associated with the user; the service server receiving the font providing information associated with the user from the item server; generating the service page in which a text image, corresponding to the text associated with a certain area of the service page and generated according to the font information associated with the certain area, is displayed in the certain area, based on the received font providing information; and providing the generated service page by transmitting to a user terminal. |
| US08161381B2 |
System and method for presenting message threads
A system and method for presenting message threads is provided. A main body and one or more excerpts are parsed from each of a plurality of messages into nodes structured to form a message tree through a procedural top-down recursive descent. The nodes in the message tree are related by determining line-group types for the main body and the excerpts of each message, which are enumerated into partitions for each of the line-group types. An output network of alternative paths through the messages is created based upon the partitions of the message tree. A document is formed from the output network to identify and remove redundant components in each message. |
| US08161378B2 |
Word processing style selector system using 2D matrix
The invention relates to a computer system operable to apply a selected editing style to selected paragraphs of a computer-readable document. The system includes a processor configured for generating a 2D matrix of editing styles available for the document, assigning a first shortcut key to a first procedure for selecting an editing style from the 2D matrix, processing a first user input including data indicative of the editing style selected using the first shortcut key, and, based on the first user input, applying the selected editing style to the selected paragraphs to generate modified paragraphs. The system also includes a memory configured for storing the 2D matrix and a display configured for displaying the modified paragraphs. Such a system may provide a quick visualization of a large number of styles, where the user does not have to memorize much information about choosing a particular style. |
| US08161375B2 |
System and method for designing and generating online stationery
A system and method are described for creating personalized stationery online. For example, a computer-implemented method according to one embodiment comprises: defining variable types including formatting options to be used in stationery templates; specifying variables to be used for a particular stationery template, each of the variables being assigned a particular variable type; creating a global template for a product category of stationery; extracting metadata from a file or other content provided by a stationery designer; and creating a product template using information contained in the global template and the metadata extracted from the file. |
| US08161374B2 |
Butterfly diagrams enabling multi-dimensional performance analysis
A method for multi-dimensional performance analysis may be provided. A plurality of data may be displayed in a butterfly diagram comprising a data grid, a histogram associated with column sorting criteria, and a histogram associated with row-sorting criteria. Additional information depth may be provided with conditional formatting of the cells of the data grid. |
| US08161368B2 |
Distributed processing when editing an image in a browser
Methods, apparatus, computer program products and systems are provided for editing an image. In one method a selection of an image for editing is received at a server, the image being presented in a browser of a client device. Edit data is received at the server to allow the server to create an edited image. A modified image is transferred from the server having a uniform resource locator (URL) and being modified in accordance with the edit data. |
| US08161367B2 |
Correction of single event upset error within sequential storage circuitry of an integrated circuit
Sequential storage circuitry includes first and second storage elements storing first and second indications of input data values received by the circuitry during first and second phases of a clock signal. Error detection circuitry detects a single event upset error in any of the first and second storage elements. Two additional storage elements are provided for storing third and fourth indications of the input data value respectively in response to a pulse signal derived from the clock signal. Included is comparison circuitry for comparing the third and fourth indications of the input data value and further comparison circuitry for comparing, during a first phase of the clock signal, the first indication and at least one of the third and fourth indications, and for comparing, during a second phase of the clock signal, the second indication and at least one of the third and fourth indications. |
| US08161361B1 |
Averaging signals to improve signal interpretation
Systems and techniques to interpret signals on a noisy channel. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes: interpreting an input signal as discrete values, and in response to an inadequate signal, averaging multiple signals to improve interpretation of the input signal. The input signal can be a read signal from a storage medium, such as those found in disk drives. A read channel can include a buffer and an averaging circuit capable of different signal averaging approaches in a retry mode, including making signal averaging decisions based on a signal quality measure. Buffering read signals can be done in alternative locations in the read channel and can involve buffering of many prior read signals and/or buffering of an averaged read signal. |
| US08161355B2 |
Automatic refresh for improving data retention and endurance characteristics of an embedded non-volatile memory in a standard CMOS logic process
A method for selectively refreshing data in a nonvolatile memory array based on failure type detected by an error correction code. If the page is determined to be error-free, no refresh operation takes place. Otherwise, if single-error words on a page contain erased and programmed bit errors, then a refresh operation, consisting of an erase and program, takes place. The erase operation is skipped if single-error words on a page solely contain a program failure. |
| US08161350B2 |
Method and system for encoding a data sequence
A communication method and a communication system including a first entity (3) including an information source (9) and a coder device (11) connected by a channel (7) transmitting data to a second entity (5) including a decoder device (13), the coder device (11) coding a data sequence sent by the information source (9) to form a set of code words from a parity check matrix including two matrix areas, each matrix area including a processing matrix, a connecting matrix including only one “1” per column and only one “1” per row, and a triangular matrix, and the decoder device (13) decoding a coded reception signal that is received by the second entity and is derived from the set of code words constructed in accordance with said parity check matrix. |
| US08161349B2 |
Data parallelizing receiver
Provided is a data parallelizing receiver including an input signal receiver for externally receiving serial data as packets, sampling the serial data, aligning the sampled data in an input order, and converting the aligned data into parallel data to output the parallel data, a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) partial calculator for receiving the parallel data, classifying the parallel data into groups according to the input order, and performing a partial CRC calculation on each of the groups to sequentially output a plurality of partial CRC calculation results, and a CRC partial calculation merger for receiving the plurality of partial CRC calculation results and merging the partial CRC calculation results to output CRC calculation data. |
| US08161347B1 |
Interleaving parity bits into user bits to guarantee run-length constraint
A method of satisfying a specified run length constraint is disclosed. A systematically error correction encoded sequence of received symbols is received, wherein the received symbols include data symbols and parity symbols. The parity symbols are interleaved with the data symbols to produce interleaved symbols that satisfy the specified run length constraint. |
| US08161345B2 |
LDPC decoders using fixed and adjustable permutators
In one embodiment, the present invention is a low-density parity-check (LDPC) decoder that has a plurality of variable node units (VNUs) that generate variable node messages and a plurality of check node units (CNUs) that generate check node messages. The variable node messages and check node messages are distributed between the VNUs and CNUs using a number r of combinations of permutators, wherein each permutator combination includes (i) a cyclic shifter and (ii) a fixed, non-cyclic permutator. The cyclic shifters are capable of supporting a number p of different cyclic LDPC sub-matrices; however, when combined with different fixed permutators, the permutator combinations are capable of supporting up to r×p different LDPC sub-matrices. In other embodiments, the LDPC decoder may have fewer than r fixed permutators such that the LDPC decoder is capable of supporting between p and r×p different LDPC sub-matrices. |
| US08161344B2 |
Circuits and methods for error coding data blocks
A description is given of a circuit for creating an error coding data block for a first data block, including a first error coding path adapted to create the error coding data block in accordance with a first error coding; and a second error coding path adapted to create the error coding data block in accordance with a second error coding; the error coding data block for the first data block being created optionally by the first or second error coding paths, as a function of a control indicator, and at least the first error coding path comprising a data arrangement alteration device. |
| US08161342B2 |
Forward and reverse shifting selective HARQ combining scheme for OFDMA systems
A method and apparatus for combining retransmitted hybrid automatic repeat-request (HARQ) messages at different stages in an OFDM/OFDMA receiver are provided. A combination of different types of HARQ combiners may be designed into the receiver and selected on a per-channel basis. Proper selection of a HARQ combining scheme may reduce the required HARQ buffer size and may provide an increased combining gain when compared to conventional HARQ combining techniques. Furthermore, the HARQ combiner type may be dynamically selected through forward and reverse shifting between the different types of HARQ combining schemes in an effort to decrease the bit error ratio (BER) without saturating the HARQ buffer. |
| US08161341B2 |
Method of transmitting control information in wireless communication system and transmission window updating method using the same
A method of transmitting control information in a wireless communication system and transmission window updating method using the same are disclosed, by which transmission efficiency in a transmitting side can be enhanced. The present invention includes the steps of receiving a first control information block including a first status report information from a receiving side, the first status information providing reception acknowledge information for a plurality of data blocks transmitted to the receiving side, receiving a second control information block including a second status report information placed as a last status report information in the second control information block, and updating the transmission window using the reception acknowledge information in the first status report information. |
| US08161340B2 |
Apparatus and method for recording and/or reproducing data on an information storage medium using padding information, and the information storage medium
An apparatus and method for recording and/or reproducing data on a disc are provided using padding information, and a corresponding information storage medium. The recording method includes recording a recording unit block in which invalid data is padded in part of the block and recording padding information indicating that the invalid data is included. According to the method, a disc drive becomes able to distinguish valid data from invalid data in an error correction block such that reliability of reproduction increases and stability of the system is improved. |
| US08161337B1 |
Serially connected circuit blocks with TAPs and wrapper enable lead
In a first embodiment a TAP of IEEE standard 1149.1 is allowed to commandeer control from a WSP of IEEE standard P1500 such that the P1500 architecture, normally controlled by the WSP, is rendered controllable by the TAP. In a second embodiment (1) the TAP and WSP based architectures are merged together such that the sharing of the previously described architectural elements are possible, and (2) the TAP and WSP test interfaces are merged into a single optimized test interface that is operable to perform all operations of each separate test interface. One approach provides for the TAP to maintain access and control of the TAP instruction register, but provides for a selected data register to be accessed and controlled by either the TAP+ATC or by the discrete CaptureDR, UpdateDR, TransferDR, ShiftDR, and ClockDR WSP data register control signals. |
| US08161336B1 |
Apparatus and method for testing and debugging an integrated circuit
A system receives serial messages from a device under test. The system includes a deserializer configured to i) receive the serial messages and, ii) based on the serial messages, form data frames. A frame sync module is configured to form Joint Task Action Group (JTAG) data bits based on the data frames. A plurality of virtual JTAG test access ports are configured to i) receive the JTAG data bits and ii) shift the JTAG data bits between the plurality of virtual JTAG test access ports. |
| US08161334B1 |
Externally maintained remap information
Disclosed is a system comprising a memory device, a controller to maintain remap information regarding the memory device, and a storage unit to store the maintained remap information, wherein the storage unit is external to the memory device and the controller. |
| US08161332B2 |
Pluggable transceiver module with enhanced circuitry
Pluggable transceiver modules with additional functions and circuitry contained within the module. In a first embodiment, additional circuitry is added to determine bit error rates at the point of the module itself. This allows a much better diagnostic evaluation of location of problem. In an alternate embodiment, various logic is placed in the module. In a first alternate embodiment encryption/decryption units are placed in the converter module so that encryption and decryption operations on the serial bitstream do not need to be performed in a switch. Existing switches can be used but the interconnecting links can still be encrypted. A second alternate embodiment includes compression/decompression units placed in the module to allow effective higher throughput on the selected links. |
| US08161330B1 |
Self-service terminal remote diagnostics
A method for determining for determining a root cause of each of a plurality of operational faults is provided. The method includes receiving electronic notification of the plurality of operational faults. The method may also include analyzing the plurality of operational faults to determine whether a shared characteristic of the plurality of operational faults exists. And, if a shared characteristic of the plurality of operational faults exists, the method may include terminating generation of operator notifications in response to receiving electronic notification of operational faults comprising the shared characteristic. |
| US08161327B2 |
Process and system for the verification of correct functioning of an on-chip memory
A method is for making an integrated circuit with built-in self-test. The method includes forming at least one nonvolatile read only memory (ROM) to store ROM code and forming a logic self-test circuit to verify a correct functioning of the at least one nonvolatile ROM. Moreover, the method includes defining, in the logic self-test circuit, a logic self-test core to process the ROM code and to generate a flag based upon a control signature and defining, in the logic self-test circuit, a nonvolatile storage block, coupled to the logic self-test core, to store the control signature. Furthermore, the method includes writing the ROM code to the at least one nonvolatile ROM and writing the control signature to the nonvolatile storage block, during a same fabrication step. |
| US08161325B2 |
Recommendation of relevant information to support problem diagnosis
The disclosure generally relates to knowledge retrieval using a knowledgebase storing general and/or expert knowledge. In particular, the disclosure relates to using complex retrieval techniques to implement an enhanced troubleshooting system that provides relevant information. Aspects of the disclosure retrieve relevant documents to assist in troubleshooting by reasoning with stored representations about the faulty system and its operating environment. After receiving a description of the symptoms and/or other information related to the problem, the system may recommend textual and/or non-textual documents with relevant information for identifying the cause of the problem and restoring operation. |
| US08161322B2 |
Methods and apparatus to initiate a BIOS recovery
Methods and apparatus to initiate a basic input/output system (BIOS) recovery are disclosed herein. An example BIOS recovery module includes a memory storing one or more signatures to be detected by a detector of a BIOS implemented on a computing platform; and a connector to couple the module to a data display channel of the computing platform, wherein a BIOS recovery mechanism of the BIOS is to initiate in response to the detector detecting the one or more signatures of the module via the data display channel. |
| US08161319B2 |
Integrating content-laden storage media with storage system
Integrating content into a storage system with substantially immediate access to that content. Providing high reliability and relatively easy operation with a storage system using redundant information for error correction. Having the storage system perform a “virtual write,” including substantially all steps associated with writing to the media to be integrated, except for the step of actually writing data to that media, including rewriting information relating to used disk blocks, and including rewriting any redundant information maintained by the storage system. Integrating the new physical media into the storage system, including accessing content already present on that media, free space already present on that media, and reading and writing that media. Recovering from errors during integration. |
| US08161318B2 |
Enterprise service availability through identity preservation
Systems and methods are described for service availability that provides automated recovery of server service in a timely and application intelligent manner, maintaining application consistency and integrity, while preserving server identity. The systems and methods, referred to herein as a Service Preservation System (SPS), manage complete recovery of server data and preserve continuity of server service, reestablishing user access to server(s) after an event or disaster in which in which primary or other server(s) fail. The failures, disasters, and losses referred to herein can be at many levels and include, but are not limited to, accidental deletion of an item, loss of an entire mailbox, loss of an entire disk drive, loss of an entire server, and/or loss of an entire server site. |
| US08161310B2 |
Extending and scavenging super-capacitor capacity
A memory system has mechanisms for scavenging capacity of a super capacitor by removing, or reducing, system load from the super capacitor when the super capacitor voltage decays below a low threshold. The mechanisms then restore the system load to the super capacitor when the super capacitor voltage ramps back above a high threshold. A controller may reduce system load by placing a volatile memory system in a standby state and disabling a field effect transistor to remove power from a non-volatile memory system. A controller may adjust the high threshold and/or a low threshold by setting a digitally controlled potentiometer in a threshold detect circuit via an I2C bus. |
| US08161302B2 |
Method and apparatus for data transmission in wireless local access network and system therefor
An Apparatus, method, and system for transmitting data in a Wireless Local Access Network (WLAN) in a power management state are provided. The method includes registering a standby state entrance to an Access Point (AP), switching to an active state at a period, determining whether transmission standby data exists in the AP, transmitting, if the transmission standby data exist in the AP, a standby state entrance frame notifying the entrance to the standby state to the AP, transmitting an active request signal requesting a switching to an active state to the CPU, transmitting a signal notifying standby state release to the AP if a signal notifying switch completion to an active state is received from the CPU after the active request signal is transmitted, and receiving transmission standby data from the AP. |
| US08161301B2 |
Method and apparatus for waking remote terminal
A method and apparatus for waking up a remote main system. The method includes: certifying whether a user of a terminal which transmits a packet for waking up a main system that is in a sleeping state is a legitimate user of the main system; and transmitting a wake-up signal to the main system if it is certified that the user is legitimate. Access of uncertified users can be prevented by certifying a user who is in the process of logging on or logging into the main system before the main system wakes up. |
| US08161300B2 |
Instructing device configured to selects a cooperating device based on a predetermined power supply reliability
A table information reception unit in an instructing device receives, from processing devices connected to a network, device names of the processing devices, function information indicating functions included in the processing devices, and power information indicating a reliability of power supply to the processing devices, and causes such information to be reflected in a table stored in a storage unit. Upon receiving a processing request from a user, an analysis unit analyzes the content thereof, transmits, to an execution control unit, requested function information indicating functions necessary to execute processing corresponding to the processing request. Based on the requested function information, the execution control unit judges whether cooperation with another processing device is necessary, and if necessary, selects, based on the table stored in the storage unit, a processing device expected to have a stable power supply to be a cooperating processing device. |
| US08161299B2 |
Location based policy system and method for changing computing environments
A system and method for changing compute environments for a mobile platform device. The mobile platform includes a sensory and location determination engine coupled to a policy engine. The sensory and location determination engine determines a current location of the mobile platform device and the policy engine determines what applications to launch, what applications not to launch, and what core usage to invoke for the determined location of the mobile platform device. |
| US08161297B2 |
Printing system, information processing apparatus, printing apparatus, print management method, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus encrypts data that is to be printed by a printing apparatus and stored in a storage device detachably connected to the information processing apparatus so that the encrypted data can be decrypted by the printing apparatus. Once the data has been encrypted, the information processing apparatus stores the encrypted data in the storage device. After the storage device including the encrypted data has been detached from the information processing apparatus and connected to the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus decrypts the encrypted data stored in the storage device and executes a printing process according to the decrypted data. |
| US08161293B2 |
Protection of the execution of a program executed by an integrated circuit
A method and a circuit for protecting the execution of a program, including initializing at least one counter, carrying on with the normal program execution, interrupting this execution when the counter reaches a given value, and executing at least one integrity check of the calculation after this interrupt. |
| US08161291B2 |
Process and arrangement for authenticating a user of facilities, a service, a database or a data network
A process for authenticating a user to control remote access to a service, data base or data network is provided, in which during an enrollment step, an initial voice sample provided by the user is analyzed to obtain an initial user-specific voice profile and, in a later verification step, a current voice sample of the user is analyzed and compared to the initial voice profile to generate an access control signal. An additional user-dedicated authentication is generated in a pre-enrollment period, and the additional authentication is used to authenticate the user in the enrollment step and/or in an access control step prior to and independent on the enrollment step, in a provisional or supplementary authentication procedure. |
| US08161289B2 |
Voice controlled portable memory storage device
Method for a portable memory storage device is provided. The method includes, enrolling the device after the device interfaces with a host system and an application is launched that requests a user to provide voice input; receiving the user voice input and storing the voice input as a template for subsequent user access; wherein the template is stored in non-volatile memory cells of the device; and authenticating a user by receiving user voice input and comparing the voice input with the stored template, wherein access to user files is provided after the user is authenticated. |
| US08161285B2 |
Protocol-Independent remote attestation and sealing
Messages, including messages in conformance with various protocols, can be hashed and the hash values added to an event log and provided to a Trusted Platform Module (TPM), which can extend one or more Platform Configuration Registers (PCRs) with the hash value, much as it would with the hash of a component that was installed or executed on the computing device with the TPM. Subsequently, the TPM can sign one or more of the PCRs and the signed PCRs can be transmitted, together with the event log and a copy of the messages. The recipient can verify the sender based on the signed PCRs, can confirm that the signed PCRs match the event log, and can verify the hash of the message in the event log by independently hashing it. In another embodiment, an intermediate hashing of the message can avoid transmission of potentially malicious executable instructions within a message. |
| US08161283B2 |
Method and device for establishing a secure route in a wireless network
A method for establishing a secure route in a wireless network as provided improves network efficiency. According to one aspect, the method includes receiving at a first node in the wireless network a route request message from a second node, where the second node and the first node have not been mutually authenticated. The route request message is then forwarded from the first node to a third node. A route reply message is then received at the first node from the third node. The first node is then mutually authenticated with the second node in response to receiving the route reply message at the first node. |
| US08161282B2 |
System and method for requesting and issuing an authorization document
A device and method for supporting the issuing of an authorization document (6) to an applicant; the said device comprising: a computer (10(i)) comprising a first processor and a first memory containing stored first data and instructions to allow the first processor to execute a first defined program, a clerk unit (13(i)) comprising a second processor (17) and a second memory containing stored second data and instructions to allow the second processor (17) to execute a second defined program, as well as a secure application module (41), and a client unit (15(i)) comprising at least a biometric characteristic reader unit (27; 31) for reading a biometric characteristic of the applicant, wherein the client unit (15(i)) and the second processor (17) can communicate with each other, and the first processor and the second processor (17) can communicate with each other in the form of a secure session that makes use of a cryptographic key stored in the secure application module (41). |
| US08161281B1 |
High assurance data tagger for I/O feeds
The present invention is a method and system for high-assurance data tagging for input/output feeds. The method may include executing a high-assurance tagging application on a microprocessor (e.g., the microprocessor being designed for use in a high-assurance embedded system). Further, the method may include analyzing a message with the high-assurance tagging application and generating and attaching a tag to the message. In addition, the method may include binding the tag to the message by applying a message authentication scheme and providing a mechanism for down-stream applications to identify information about data included in the message by reference to the tag. |
| US08161278B2 |
System and method for distributing keys in a wireless network
A technique for improving authentication speed when a client roams from a first authentication domain to a second authentication domain involves coupling authenticators associated with the first and second authentication domains to an authentication server. A system according to the technique may include, for example, a first authenticator using an encryption key to ensure secure network communication, a second authenticator using the same encryption key to ensure secure network communication, and a server coupled to the first authenticator and the second authenticator wherein the server distributes, to the first authenticator and the second authenticator, information to extract the encryption key from messages that a client sends to the first authenticator and the second authenticator. |
| US08161276B2 |
Demodulator device and method of operating the same
A demodulator device and a method of operating the demodulator device where the demodulator device runs a loaded operating system and operates a communication protocol enabling a host application to control the demodulator device. The demodulator device is configured to respond to receipt of an abort command of the communication protocol by carrying out an abort process which stops current operations and reinitializes the loaded operating system. |
| US08161274B2 |
Command selection method and its apparatus
When selecting one command within a processor from a plurality of command queues vested with order of priority, the order of priority assigned to the plurality of command queues is dynamically changed so as to select a command, on a priority basis, from a command queue vested with a higher priority from among the plurality of command queues in accordance with the post-change order of priority. |
| US08161272B2 |
Memory control circuit and integrated circuit including branch instruction detection and operation mode control of a memory
The memory unit is compatible with a plurality of operation modes. The plurality of operation modes include the normal mode allowing access and the standby mode consuming a lower power than the normal mode. The branch detection section detects a branch instruction from an instruction fetched from the memory unit by the CPU. The mode control section changes an operation mode of the memory unit according to a detection result by the branch detection section. |
| US08161267B2 |
Methods and apparatus for scalable array processor interrupt detection and response
Hardware and software techniques for interrupt detection and response in a scalable pipelined array processor environment are described. Utilizing these techniques, a sequential program execution model with interrupts can be maintained in a highly parallel scalable pipelined array processing containing multiple processing elements and distributed memories and register files. When an interrupt occurs, interface signals are provided to all PEs to support independent interrupt operations in each PE dependent upon the local PE instruction sequence prior to the interrupt. Processing/element exception interrupts are supported and low latency interrupt processing is also provided for embedded systems where real time signal processing is required. Further, a hierarchical interrupt structure is used allowing a generalized debug approach using debut interrupts and a dynamic debut monitor mechanism. |
| US08161264B2 |
Techniques for data prefetching using indirect addressing with offset
A technique for performing data prefetching using indirect addressing includes determining a first memory address of a pointer associated with a data prefetch instruction. Content, that is included in a first data block (e.g., a first cache line) of a memory, at the first memory address is then fetched. An offset is then added to the content of the memory at the first memory address to provide a first offset memory address. A second memory address is then determined based on the first offset memory address. A second data block (e.g., a second cache line) that includes data at the second memory address is then fetched (e.g., from the memory or another memory). A data prefetch instruction may be indicated by a unique operational code (opcode), a unique extended opcode, or a field (including one or more bits) in an instruction. |
| US08161256B2 |
Remote copy system and path setting support method
A remote copy system includes: a host computer; a first storage system connected to the host computer; and a second storage apparatus connected to the first storage system. At least one of the first storage system and the second storage system holds, in a storage part thereof, path information used for performing a remote copy of data therebetween. The host computer references the path information in the storage part; determines whether or not a path required for conducting an operation instructed by a user exists, based on at least one of a type of the remote copy and a direction of the path; and, if the required path does not exist, displays, on a display part, that the necessary path does not exist and why the necessary path does not exist. |
| US08161255B2 |
Optimized simultaneous storing of data into deduplicated and non-deduplicated storage pools
One aspect of the present invention includes an optimized simultaneous storage operation for data objects onto a combination of deduplicated and non-deduplicated storage pools. In one embodiment, a data object is provided for storage onto destination storage pools in a storage management system, and placed into a source buffer. The data object is first divided into data chunks if the data object has not previously been chunked within the storage management system. The data object is then simultaneously copied from the source buffer to each destination storage pool (deduplicating and non-deduplicating) with the following operation. If the destination pool utilizes deduplication, then the individual data chunks are only transferred if copies of the individual data chunks do not already exist on the destination storage pool. If the destination pool does not utilize deduplication, then all chunks of the data object are transferred to the destination storage pool. |
| US08161253B2 |
Maintenance of valid volume table of contents
A method maintains a valid volume table of contents (VTOC) written to in a fast replication relationship. A fast replication query is issued to a track in which the volume table of contents (VTOC) resides. If the query determines that a background copy is in progress, a volume having the track is designated as unusable. An apparatus maintains a valid volume table of contents (VTOC) written to in a fast replication relationship. A controller issues a fast replication query to a track in which the volume table of contents (VTOC) resides. If the query determines that a background copy is in process, a volume having the track is designated as unusable. |
| US08161250B2 |
Methods and systems for partially-transacted data concurrency
Aspects of the present invention comprise systems and methods for protecting multi-threaded access to shared memory. Some aspects provide higher data concurrency than other methods. Some aspects relate to methods and systems that provide access to data for all threads during the first phases of one thread's write operation. Some aspects provide all threads access to a particular data unit until one thread enters the commit phase of the write operation. Some aspects manage a computing data resource such that, when a thread enters the commit phase, all pending read requests are fulfilled, all pending write requests are allowed to proceed to commit phase at which point they are blocked, all new read and write requests are blocked and the commit phase is completed by updating the target data and releasing the blocked requests.Some aspects provide improved concurrency by performing reduced cross-thread interference. Some aspects may be implemented at any level from hardware to high-level languages. Some aspects protect readers from accessing partial write results which avoids retry semantics and data corruption. |
| US08161247B2 |
Wait loss synchronization
Synchronizing threads on loss of memory access monitoring. Using a processor level instruction included as part of an instruction set architecture for a processor, a read, or write monitor to detect writes, or reads or writes respectively from other agents on a first set of one or more memory locations and a read, or write monitor on a second set of one or more different memory locations are set. A processor level instruction is executed, which causes the processor to suspend executing instructions and optionally to enter a low power mode pending loss of a read or write monitor for the first or second set of one or more memory locations. A conflicting access is detected on the first or second set of one or more memory locations or a timeout is detected. As a result, the method includes resuming execution of instructions. |
| US08161244B2 |
Multiple cache directories
A first portion of an identifier can be used to assign the identifier to a slot in a first directory. The identifier can identify a cache unit in a cache. It can be determined whether assignment of the identifier to the slot in the first directory will result in the identifier and one or more other identifiers being assigned to the same slot in the first directory. If so, then the technique can include (1) using a second portion of the identifier to assign the identifier to a slot in a second directory; and (2) assigning the one or more other identifiers to one or more slots in the second directory. In addition, it can be determined whether a directory in a cache lookup data structure includes more than one pointer. If not, then a parent pointer that points to the subject directory can be removed. |
| US08161243B1 |
Address translation caching and I/O cache performance improvement in virtualized environments
Methods and apparatus relating to improving address translation caching and/or input/output (I/O) cache performance in virtualized environments are described. In one embodiment, a hint provided by an endpoint device may be utilized to update information stored in an I/O cache. Such information may be utilized for implementation of a more efficient replacement policy in an embodiment. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08161239B2 |
Optimized computer system providing functions of a virtual storage system
A virtual storage system is equipped with a plurality of storage systems and a virtualization device for virtualizing the plurality of storage systems logically into a single storage resource provided to a host computer. When one of the storage systems receives a command from the host computer, in the event that the storage system itself is not in possession of a function corresponding to the command, the storage system retrieves a storage system in possession of a function corresponding to the command and transfers this command to the storage system in possession of the function corresponding to the command. |
| US08161235B2 |
Storage system and data erasing method
This storage system includes a server management unit for managing in a server a maximum overwrite count and an overwrite count for overwriting the overwrite data in a disk cache, a controller cache for temporarily storing overwrite data sent from the server in the storage subsystem, a storage management unit for managing a maximum overwrite count and an overwrite count for overwriting overwrite data sent from the server in the controller cache so as to overwrite overwrite data sent from the controller cache in the hard disk drive according to the number of the maximum overwrite count, and an address management unit for managing the respective addresses of the disk cache, the controller cache and the hard disk drive storing the same file to be erased. |
| US08161233B2 |
Multi-stream restore system and method
A computer system and process restores files on multiple disk drives from a plurality of backup files on a plurality of media types and at a plurality of locations. The system receives at a processor a restore command, and partitions the restore command into two or more sub-jobs. The system determines a location for each of the plurality of media types, and matches each sub-job with a different media type at a different location. The system then restores the files from each different media type at a different location to the multiple disk drives in parallel. |
| US08161232B2 |
Periodically and empirically determined memory refresh intervals
Embodiments include a system, a memory controller, an apparatus, a device, and a method. An embodiment provides a device that includes a memory that requires a periodic refresh and having a nominal refresh period, and a processor operably coupled with the memory. The device also includes a hardware-implemented control circuit for periodically discovering a retention time of at least a portion of the memory that requires a periodic refresh. The hardware-implemented control circuit is also for determining a refresh period that is not more than the discovered retention time of the at least a portion of the memory that requires a periodic refresh, and for scheduling a refresh of the at least a portion of the memory that requires a periodic refresh at least once each refresh period. |
| US08161229B2 |
Flash memory architecture with separate storage of overhead and user data
A memory device has a plurality of dedicated data blocks for storing only user data and a plurality of dedicated overhead blocks for storing only overhead data. Current overhead segments of a dedicated overhead block can be consolidated and moved to a new dedicated overhead block. |
| US08161224B2 |
Interface between a twin-wire bus and a single-wire bus
A method and a device for converting a first bus including at least a data wire and a clock wire into a single-wire bus, wherein a data bit of the first bus is converted on half a period of the clock signal for transmission over the second bus, a waiting pattern being placed on the second bus during the other half-period. |
| US08161222B1 |
Method and system and apparatus for use in data storage
Systems, devices and methods for interfacing a single bus with multiple buses invisibly to devices using the single bus are presented. More specifically, in one embodiment an I/O bus may be interfaced with multiple other I/O buses of the same or different formats. Commands may be received on the first I/O bus and invisibly to a computing device or processor which issues the commands, translated into a set of commands configured to effectuate a received command in conjunction with storage media coupled to the other I/O buses. This set of commands may also be configured to implement additional functionality in conjunction with the storage media such as RAID or data encryption. |
| US08161220B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhancing universal serial bus applications
A system for enhancing universal serial bus (USB) applications comprises an upstream processor, a downstream processor and a main controller. The upstream processor accepts standard USB signals from a USB host and independently provides responses required by USB specification within the required time frame. The upstream processor also contains storage for descriptors for a device associated with this upstream processor. The main controller obtains the descriptors by commanding the downstream processor, and passes them to the upstream processor. The downstream processor connectable to USB-compliant devices accepts the USB signals from the USB-compliant devices and provides responses required by USB specification within the required time frame. The main controller interconnects the upstream and downstream processors, and provides timing independence between upstream and downstream timing. The main controller also commands the downstream processor to obtain device descriptors independent of the USB host. |
| US08161215B2 |
Hard disk drive integrated circuit with integrated gigabit Ethernet interface module
A system including a network interface module, a first processor, a hard disk control module, and a second processor. The network interface module is configured to communicate with a network. The first processor is configured to communicate with the network interface module and perform processing related to communication of a hard disk drive with the network via the network interface module. The hard disk control module is configured to communicate with the first processor and control operation of the hard disk drive. The second processor is configured to communicate with the hard disk control module and perform processing related to storing data on the hard disk drive. The second processor and the hard disk control module are configured to process packets communicated via the network interface module using a hyper-text transfer protocol, a peer-to-peer sharing protocol, and an Internet protocol-based small computer system interface standard. |
| US08161214B2 |
System and method for data transfer using ATA interface
An ATA compatible data transfer system includes a system processor having system memory, the system processor configured to issue a Programmable I/O (PIO) type command to effect data transfer between a peripheral device and the system memory through a host controller and an ATA controller. The host controller accesses data to/from the host memory directly. The host controller and the ATA controller complete data transfer between the peripheral device and the system memory by executing the PIO type command without requiring interrupt servicing by the system processor. |
| US08161213B2 |
Storage medium
A storage medium connectable with an external device includes a data communication unit performing data communication with the external device, a data storing unit storing therein data received from and/or to be sent to the external device via the data communication unit, a first device information output unit sending first device information for making the external device recognize the storage medium as a storage to the external device via the data communication unit, and a second device information output unit sending second device information for making the external device recognize the storage medium as a printer to the external device via the data communication unit. When the data communication unit receives print data transmitted by the external device in cases where the second device information is sent, the data storing unit stores the print data in a state readable externally via the data communication unit. |
| US08161211B2 |
Storage system and data processing method for the same
The present invention aims for efficient use of storage capacity in a storage system by reducing the amount of time taken for processing including removing redundancy and data compression executed with respect to transferred data.Focusing on data patterns included in transferred data, the most suitable pattern is detected, and de-duplication processing is gradually executed. Data compression is then executed with data after de-duplication as a target. Determination of the decision for execution of gradual de-duplication processing, or execution of compression processing is made depending on the amount of data remaining at each processing stage and the system load. |
| US08161207B1 |
Common block interface for data and control with handshake protocol
A method and apparatus for handshaking using a 2-wire protocol is described. An electronic component may be divided into blocks, with the blocks performing one or more functions. The blocks may be in series with one another to form a pipeline. The blocks may use interface circuitry to transfer information upstream from or downstream to another block. The interface circuitry uses the 2-wire handshaking for the transfer including a transmit readiness wire configured to carry a signal indicative of readiness of the upstream circuit to output data and a receive readiness wire configured to carry a signal indicative of readiness of the downstream circuit to receive the data. |
| US08161204B2 |
Embedded clock recovery
Systems and methods for synchronizing a source and sink device are disclosed. A sink device can efficiently determine the source data rate even in cases where the sink device is not directly coupled to the source device. A method for transmitting a source data stream from a source device to a sink device includes, forming a logical channel from a source device to a sink device, where the logical channel is configured to carry the source data stream, and one or more rate parameters. The rate parameters relate a data rate of the source data stream to a data rate of the logical channel. A method for a sink device to recover a source data rate includes, detecting a logical channel in a received data stream where the logical channel includes the source data stream, recovering one or more rate parameters from the received data stream, determining a data rate of the logical channel, and determining the data rate of the source data stream based on the data rate of the logical channel and the one or more rate parameters. Corresponding systems and computer program products are also described. |
| US08161202B2 |
Peripheral device management system
The peripheral device management system includes a server, a peripheral device, a data processing device. The data processing device includes an attempting unit, a confirming unit, a notifying unit, a first setting unit, and a second setting unit. The attempting unit attempts to acquire, from the peripheral device, firmware data. The confirming unit confirms, to the server, whether a newer firmware than the firmware installed on the peripheral device is available for downloading from the server. The notifying unit notifies that the newer firmware is available for downloading from the server. The first setting unit sets a first confirmation time as the confirmation time if a result of the attempting unit satisfies a prescribed condition. The second setting unit sets a second confirmation time that precedes the first confirmation time as the confirmation time if the result of the attempting unit does not satisfy the prescribed condition. |
| US08161199B1 |
Smart printer cartridge
A system and method are disclosed for modifying the capabilities and functions of a printer after it is manufactured. A consumable/replaceable printer cartridge includes a storage device having updated and/or additional printer function data and other data for use by the printer control circuitry to execute printer functions and other types of functions. In addition, when the printer cartridge is installed in the printer the storage device may be utilized by the printer control circuitry as expanded memory for use in executing the updated and/or additional printer functions and other types of functions. |
| US08161197B2 |
Method and system for efficient buffer management for layer 2 (L2) through layer 5 (L5) network interface controller applications
Method and system for efficient buffer management for layer 2 through layer 5 network interface controller applications are provided. Aspects of the method may comprise determining whether an active NIC connection is an L2 type, an L4 type, or an L5 type. At least one buffer descriptor may be cached locally on a network interface controller (NIC) managed by a NIC application. The buffer descriptor is associated with the determined type of the active NIC connection. If the at least one active NIC connection is of the L2 or L4 type, the buffer descriptor may comprise at least one of a receive (RX) buffer descriptor and a transmit (TX) buffer descriptor. If the NIC connection is of the L5 type, the buffer descriptor may comprise at least one of a upper translation page table (TPT) entry and a lower TPT entry. |
| US08161196B2 |
Communication apparatus with exchangeable recording medium
A mobile terminal capable of displaying data of e-mail etc. stored in an internal memory derived from usage by each user so that the difference of the users when acquiring the data becomes clear, wherein data of received mail acquired along with processing for reception of e-mail and identification data read out from a SIM card via a SIM card interface are stored in a flash ROM associated together and wherein when displaying each received mail stored in the flash ROM on the display, the received mail associated with the identification data read out from the currently attached SIM card and the received mail associated with the other identification data are displayed differently on the display unit 105. |
| US08161193B1 |
System, device, and method for sending keep-alive messages in a communication network
A system, device, and method for sending keep-alive messages in a communication network involves determining a reliability factor for communicating with a neighbor and setting the frequency for sending keep-alive messages to the neighbor based upon the reliability factor. The reliability factor is determined based upon the reliability of the neighbor as well as the reliability of the communication link to the neighbor. The frequency for sending keep-alive messages to the neighbor is relatively high if the reliability factor is low. The frequency for sending keep-alive messages to the neighbor is relatively low if the reliability factor is high. The frequency for sending keep-alive messages to the neighbor is dynamically adjusted based upon an updated reliability factor. |
| US08161191B2 |
Method and system for providing network and routing protocols for utility services
A method and system for providing a network and routing protocol for utility services are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises discovering a utility network, wherein a utility device (for example, a constant powered meter) sends network discovery messages to find the utility network. Neighboring meters are discovered and the device listens for advertised routes for one or more networks from the neighbors. The device is then registered with one or more utility networks, receiving a unique address for each network registration. Also illustrated in this invention disclosure is how each device of a class of devices (for example, battery powered meter) finds and associates itself with another device (for example, constant powered meter). The constant powered meter also registers its associate battery powered meter with the utility networks. The constant powered meter registers itself with the access points and the upstream nodes in the path out of each network. Each upstream node can independently make forwarding decisions on both upstream and downstream packets i.e. choose the next hop according to the best information available to it. The constant powered meter can sense transient link problems, outage problems, and traffic characteristics. It uses the information to find the best route out of and within each network. Each network device thus maintains multi-egress, multi-ingress network routing options both for itself and the device(s) associated with it. |
| US08161188B2 |
Devices and methods for providing network access control utilizing traffic-regulation hardware
Disclosed are devices and methods for providing network access control utilizing traffic-regulation hardware, the device including: at least one client-side port for operationally connecting to a client system; at least one network-side port for operationally connecting to a network; a logic module for regulating network traffic, based on device-related data, between the ports, the logic module including: a memory unit for storing and loading the device-related data; and a CPU for processing the device-related data; and at least one relay, between at least one respective client-side port and at least one respective network-side port, configured to open upon receiving a respective network-access-denial command from the logic module. Preferably, the logic module is configured to maintain an open-relay line-rate when at least one relay is open, and to maintain a closed-relay line-rate when at least one relay is closed. |
| US08161187B2 |
Stream processing workflow composition using automatic planning
An automatic planning system is provided for stream processing workflow composition. End users provide requests to the automatic planning system. The requests are goal-based problems to be solved by the automatic planning system, which then generates plan graphs to form stream processing applications. A scheduler deploys and schedules the stream processing applications for execution within an operating environment. The operating environment then returns the results to the end users. |
| US08161186B2 |
Communication system between a vehicle network and a wayside network
A system for communications between a vehicle network and a wayside network includes a router in the vehicle network configured to manage routing of data over one of at least two clients, and a radio-frequency based communication network for providing a connection between each client and an access point linked to the wayside network. A monitoring device in a vehicle of the vehicle network is configured to control a quality of the connection in order to configure the router so that one of the clients is selected for the data routing between the vehicle and the wayside network. |
| US08161183B2 |
Distributing information in a markup language within a computer system
Computer-based methods and systems are described wherein at least one content provider, a portal and a user are coupled to a communications network or content delivery network. The content provider provides means for generating information in a markup language and for sending the information to a portal. The portal comprises means for combining information received from one or more content providers and for sending the combined information to the user. |
| US08161181B2 |
Content delivering method and system for computer network
A content delivering method for computer network and system are provided. The present invention classifies nodes participating in content transmission into a transmitting group and a receiving group, and uses the groups to manage the nodes dynamically entering or quitting, and the management includes grouping, monitoring and reflecting update of CDS of group controlling information. Real time management for nodes is achieved through CDS, and the nodes in the transmitting group communicate information according to nodes recorded in the CDS. Multiple nodes in the transmitting group cooperate with each other in transmitting content. Firstly, transmission tasks are assigned to nodes in the transmitting group, and then, nodes in the transmitting group divide assigned content into many blocks and package them and transmit to nodes in the receiving group, and nodes in the receiving group which have received content packages exchange the content packages in the group according to the control data set. Therefore, the content is simultaneously transmitted from a plurality of nodes to other a plurality of nodes, and content transmission speed is high. |
| US08161180B1 |
Method and apparatus for routing a data stream through a plurality of data movers independent of a network interface type
A method and apparatus for routing a data stream through a plurality of data movers independent of a network interface type is provided. In one embodiment, the method for routing the data stream to a destination with indifference to network interface type includes segregating the data stream into a plurality of data blocks at an application layer, wherein the plurality of data blocks are to be routed to a destination through the plurality of data movers and coordinating data path selection for communicating the plurality of data blocks to the plurality of data movers over a plurality of data paths. |
| US08161177B2 |
Formulating multimedia content of an on-line interview
Formulating multimedia content of an on-line interview, including transmitting during the on-line interview, over a data communications network from a first client device to a second client device, a media stream of content from an interviewee; simultaneously with the transmitting of the media stream from the interviewee, recording the media stream from the interviewee in a media file on the first client device; recording during the on-line interview in a media file on the second client device, a media stream of content from an interviewer; transmitting after the on-line interview, from the first client device to the second client device, the media file containing the recorded media stream from the interviewee; and merging the recorded media files into a single media file on the second client device for transmission to viewers of the on-line interview. |
| US08161176B2 |
System and method for providing connectivity between using different networks using different protocols
A system and method for providing message connectivity between a first network using a first protocol and a second network using a second protocol is described. If a message is received from the first network, the message is processed using one or more digital signal processors, a destination in the second network is determined, the processed message is logged and translated into the second protocol, and the translated message is sent to the destination in the second network. If the message is received from the second network, the message is translated into the first protocol, a destination in the first network is determined, the translated message is logged and processed using one or more digital signal processors, and the processed message is sent to the destination in the first network. One example method can be implemented as a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium. |
| US08161171B2 |
Session initiation protocol-based internet protocol television
Video on demand (VoD) and other video streaming and delivery mechanisms are provided using a messaging protocol (e.g., a session initiation protocol (SIP))-based approach that builds upon existing service delivery platforms. In one example, SIP functionality is extended to provide the ability to control and alter a delivery mode of a content stream, such as to change a playback mode or quality of service, by providing such requests as part of the instruction or payload of existing SIP messages, or by providing new SIP messages. Using SIP allows for third party control, such as by IPTV applications, which is not provided by current Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP)-based systems. SIP also can establish a peer-to-peer connection between a client and a SIP-enabled content server to allow the client to directly control the media stream. As an advantage over RTSP, SIP provides for bi-directional messaging between SIP endpoints. |
| US08161170B2 |
System having electronic device with multiple interfaces and host apparatus, information processing device, electronic device, and setup method, control method and program therefor
In order to make it possible to confirm an electronic device installation place where communication trouble occurrence is reduced, settings for communication via a second interface are made via a first interface when the electronic device is connected to a host device to install a device driver. After that, a message is displayed to a user to the effect that the electronic device should be placed at a location where it is actually used to cause user to place the electronic device at the location where it is actually used. After the installation of the electronic device, the communication state via the second interface is measured to determine whether the electronic device installation place is suitable or not. |
| US08161164B2 |
Authorizing service requests in multi-tiered applications
Services of a multi-tier application can authorize (e.g., including authenticating) each other with one or more service access tokens provided by a security token service. In one implementation, an end-user can authenticate with the security token service to obtain one or more security tokens for communicating with an upstream application service. Requests that involve further processing from downstream services of the application can also involve service authorization/authentication measures. Thus, the upstream application service can also authenticate with the security token service to obtain one or more security tokens, such as a session token, and a service access token. The service access token for the upstream service can also include one or more signed policy settings. The upstream service can then use the one or more security tokens to prove authority to communicate with a downstream service in accordance with the policy settings. |
| US08161163B2 |
Stateless distributed computer architecture with server-oriented state-caching objects maintained on network or client
A stateless distributed computer architecture allows state-caching objects, which hold server state information, to be maintained on a client or network rather than on a server. In one implementation, the computer architecture implements object-oriented program modules according to a distributed component object model (DCOM). Using an object-oriented network protocol (e.g., remote procedure call), a client-side application calls through an application program interface (API) to a program object residing at a server computer. The program object, responsive to the call, creates a state caching object that contains state information pertaining to the client connection. The server inserts the state-caching object into a local thread context and processes the request to generate a reply. The server subsequently attaches the state-caching object to the reply and returns them both to the client. The client stores the state-caching object for later communication with the server. |
| US08161162B1 |
Remote computer management using network communications protocol that enables communication through a firewall and/or gateway
The invention facilitates remote management of a computer via a network. Remote computer management in which communication between a managed computer and a remote computer management server is initiated by the managed computer is implemented so that the communication is formatted in accordance with a network communications protocol that can be used to format communication that is allowed to pass through a firewall and/or gateway that mediates communication with the managed computer. |
| US08161161B2 |
Information processing method and information processing apparatus
A certain process included in a first execution space requests a local resource manager to allocate a resource. The local resource manager obtains the authentication ID of the process issuing the request and determines whether or not the resource can be allocated. If the resource can be allocated and the resource previously secured in the execution space can suffice the request, the local resource manager allocates the resource to the process. If the resource is insufficient, the local resource manager requests a global resource manager to allocate the resource. The global resource manager obtains the authentication ID of the first execution space issuing the request and determines whether or not the resource can be allocated. If it is determined that the resource can be allocated, the resource is allocated to the first execution space. |
| US08161160B2 |
XML-based web feed for web access of remote resources
Techniques for XML (Extensible Markup Language) web feeds for web access of remote resources are described. In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining information regarding one or more available resources from one or more resource hosts, rendering the information regarding one or more available resources into an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document, and providing the XML document to a user device. |
| US08161157B2 |
Method for displaying web user's authentication status in a distributed single login network
The invention provides a system and method for automatically displaying a user's logged-in status across an Internet based network of affiliated Web sites via a visual indicator such as a toolbar to help the user to be certain about his logged-in status when he stays with one or switches from one to another affiliated Web site. |
| US08161155B2 |
Filtering unwanted data traffic via a per-customer blacklist
Traffic flow from a traffic source with a source IP address to a customer system with a destination IP address is filtered by comparing the source IP address to a customer blacklist. If the source IP address is on the customer blacklist, then traffic to the customer system is blocked; else, traffic to the customer system is allowed. The customer blacklist is generated from a network blacklist, comprising IP addresses of unwanted traffic sources, and a customer whitelist, comprising IP addresses of wanted traffic sources. The customer blacklist is generated by removing from the network blacklist any IP address also on the customer whitelist. The network blacklist is generated by acquiring raw blacklists from reputation systems. IP addresses on the raw blacklists are sorted by prefix groups, which are rank ordered by traffic frequency. Top prefix groups are selected for the network blacklist. |
| US08161153B2 |
Method and system for remote diagnostic, control and information collection based on various communication modes for sending messages to users
A method, system, and program product for communicating with machines and end users connected to a network. Information sent to or from the machines is transmitted using electronic mail or a via a direct connection. The electronic mail may be transmitted over the Internet to a service center or from a service center to a resource administrator, but also may remain within a local or wide area network for transmission between a machine and an end user or a resource administrator. E-mail messages may be transmitted from a computer which is attached to a device which is being monitored or controlled and include information regarding the status, usage or capabilities of the attached device. The device may send status messages and usage information of the device by an end user to either a resource administrator or to a service center on the Internet through a firewall. The message may be sent directly to the resource administrator station if an urgent need of the end user is indicated, so that a communication may be sent either directly to the end user or to a device driver so that the device driver may communicate the message to the end user. For example, an end user may have exceeded a predetermined limit of resource usage, and needs to be informed. For routine information, the service center may manage all the resources on an intranet and may send predetermined types of information such as summary information regarding usage of network resources to the end user using e-mail. |
| US08161149B2 |
Pseudo-agent
A pseudo-agent is disclosed herein that bridges this divide. For purposes of the discussion herein, a pseudo-agent is a machine that is installed on a fully capable host machine, such as a Windows or UNIX machine, and that gathers and evaluates content from a management server, takes actions if so instructed, and reports the results of its evaluation upstream. However, unlike an agent in a traditional management system, which inspects and acts on the local machine, the pseudo-agent actually inspects and acts on a remote device, or many remote devices. |
| US08161148B2 |
Communication device and method for setting the communication setting required to establish communication
Upon no completion of setting of a user ID and a password to be sent to a PPPoE server, in response to reception of a DNS request from a client, a communication device of the invention sends back a unique LAN IP address, which is allocated to the communication device, as a DNS reply to the client, regardless of the contents of the DNS request. The client then sends an HTTP request to the received LAN IP address, and the communication device sends back a Web page for entry of the user name and the password as an HTTP response to the client. The Web page for entry of the user ID and the password is displayed on an active Web browser of the client. This arrangement enables the user to readily complete setting for communication in the communication device. |
| US08161141B2 |
Server, system and method for providing dynamic domain name service
Provided are a server, a system, and a method of distributing a load caused by health checks in a dynamic domain name server (DDNS) by separating a health check unit which causes the most load on the dynamic domain name server and a unit for processing a client query and registering equipment. The dynamic domain name server (DDNS) includes a main dynamic domain name server (DDNS that registers an identifier and a dynamic IP address for a piece of the equipment and responds to a client query request with the dynamic IP address of the piece of equipment; and at least one sub-DDNS for updating a status of the piece of equipment in response to a status notifying message sent from the piece of equipment. |
| US08161136B2 |
Method and system for optimizing performance and availability of a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) service
A method and system for monitoring and optimizing performance and availability of a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) service provided by one or a plurality of DHCP servers (602) in an Internet Protocol (IP) network comprising one or a plurality of IP subnetworks. The method comprises in a DHCP server (602) defining one or a plurality of groups of subnetworks, a group of subnetworks comprising one or a plurality of subnetworks; retrieving information related to resources, in particular IP addresses, allocated within said DHCP server to each group of subnetworks; transferring said information to a DHCP service monitoring system (600). The method comprises in a DHCP service monitoring system (403) retrieving (501 to 505) from one or a plurality of DHCP servers (401), information related to resources, in particular IP addresses, allocated within each DHCP server (401) to groups of subnetworks, each group of subnetworks comprising one or a pluarlity of subnetworks and aggregating (506 to 511) the information for each group of subnetworks. |
| US08161133B2 |
Network storage system with a clustered configuration sharing a namespace, and control method therefor
Provided is a storage system as follows. A server holds a management table that serves to manage a mount point of a file system. The management table stores a file system identifier that uniquely identifies the file system within the storage system, mount point information that indicates the mount point of the file system, and a management server identifier that indicates an identifier of the server that manages the file system. The contents stored in the management table of each server are the same. Upon reception of a request to obtain a file handle, each server returns the file handle requested to be obtained. The file handle indicates, uniquely within the storage system, the storage area on the disk subsystem in which the file relating to the request is stored. |
| US08161132B1 |
Packet data network specific addressing solutions with network-based mobility
A media access gateway includes a wireless network interface that establishes a wireless link with a wireless terminal. An address assignment module transmits N address assignment messages to the wireless terminal. The N address assignment messages include a plurality of address components and associate the plurality of address components with a plurality of packet data networks, where N is an integer greater than zero. |
| US08161130B2 |
Bottom-up analysis of network sites
An approach for identifying suspect network sites in a network environment entails using one or more malware analysis modules to identify distribution sites that host malicious content and/or benign content. The approach then uses a linking analysis module to identify landing sites that are linked to the distribution sites. These linked sites are identified as suspect sites for further analysis. This analysis can be characterized as “bottom up” because it is initiated by the detection of potentially problematic distribution sites. The approach can also perform linking analysis to identify a suspect network site based on a number of alternating paths between that network site and a set of distribution sites that are known to host malicious content. The approach can also train a classifier module to predict whether an unknown landing site is a malicious landing site or a benign landing site. |
| US08161127B2 |
Process mapping in parallel computing
A method of mapping processes to processors in a parallel computing environment where a parallel application is to be run on a cluster of nodes wherein at least one of the nodes has multiple processors sharing a common memory, the method comprising using compiler based communication analysis to map Message Passing Interface processes to processors on the nodes, whereby at least some more heavily communicating processes are mapped to processors within nodes. Other methods, apparatus, and computer readable media are also provided. |
| US08161122B2 |
System and method of dynamically prioritized electronic mail graphical user interface, and measuring email productivity and collaboration trends
A system and method for managing electronic communications more effectively utilizes electronic communications. The method assigns a prioritization score and category to each electronic communication so that a user can more effectively manage the communications. The user interacts with a graphical user interface to effectively manage electronic communications. The system arranges and displays the electronic communications according to prioritization scores and categories, and includes interactive modules to override a system assigned prioritization scores and assign any score or category the user selects. The method also measures productivity of users as a function of at least three different metrics, a decision-making metric; a communication metric; and a processing metric, and takes into account prioritization scores and the amount of time it takes users to effectively utilize the electronic communications. The method also generates reports of the productivity of individual users, and the productivity of relationships between multiple users of electronic communications. |
| US08161120B2 |
Method of populating a collaborative workspace and a system for providing the same
A method of populating a collaborative workspace based on an electronic message is disclosed herein. An embodiment of the present invention is operative to post-process an outgoing email after being assigned to a workspace. Further, a message identifier is computed to uniquely identify the e-mail and then the method identifies and obtains core elements of workspace, namely, members, discussion, files, events and their relationships before populating these elements into the workspace data stores for subsequent contextual search and navigation. The outgoing e-mail is also annotated to encapsulate additional information. The described embodiment also suggests pre-processing incoming emails to exploit the annotation to append a Context-bar to allow quick and direct access to the contextual workspaces associated with the email. A system for providing a collaborative workspace is also suggested. |
| US08161115B2 |
System and method for effective mail transmission
A system and method for rapidly transmitting a large volume of e-mails. Based on domain names obtained from destination mailing addresses, a server 10 for a sender sorts e-mails to be transmitted, generates transfer data for each domain name by grouping e-mail data, and uses FTP to transmit the transfer data to servers 30 for distributors whose domain names correspond to those for which the transfer data were generated. At this time, compression is effective for improving the transmission of the transfer data. The server 30, upon receiving transfer data, analyzes the received transfer data to obtain the data for individual e-mails, and distributes the e-mail data to the mail boxes of individual recipients. |
| US08161111B2 |
System and method for identifying common media content
A system and a method identify common media content with two or more terminals that are remote with respect to each other for users to access, to consume and/or to experience a multimedia file of the common media content. A list of the common media content of the first terminal and to the second terminal is displayed via the first terminal and the second terminal. The first terminal and the second terminal may be synchronized for the first user and for the second user to experience the multimedia file via the shared viewing session. A communication associated with the multimedia file may be transmitted between the first terminal and the second terminal via a shared communication channel over the network before, during and/or after a playback of the multimedia file. |
| US08161109B2 |
Client side culling of dynamic resources
A resource management module detect and prevents redundant resources in a client side application. The resource management module is initialized on the client side in a browser or similar application. The resource management module then searches for already executing resources or resources that are already in use. The discovered resources are then compiled and stored in a resource directory. When subsequent pages are loaded the resource management module searches the pages for resources that the page utilizes. The resources are added to the directory if not already present in the resource directory. If the resources are already present in the directory, then the web page being reviewed is modified to remove or replace the multiple resource before being passed on to the browser for loading of resources. In this manner the amount of memory and processing resourced utilized by the client computer can be reduced. |
| US08161107B2 |
Roaming personal information items across multiple computing devices using an IMAP server
Technologies for roaming personal information items across multiple computing devices using an IMAP server are provided. When a change is detected to a personal information item maintained by a PIM program one computing device, the data representing the personal information item is uploaded from the computing device to an IMAP server, where it is stored as a message in a user mailbox designated to hold personal information items. A second computing device then downloads the message storing the data representing the personal information item from the IMAP server and makes it available to a PIM program executing on the second computing device. |
| US08161099B2 |
Techniques to automatically syndicate content over a network
Techniques to automatically syndicate content over a network are described. An apparatus may comprise a client computer having a processing system with a processor and computer-readable medium. The computer readable medium may store program instructions for a syndication manager component communicatively coupled to a content producing component arranged to be executed by the processor. The syndication manager component may be operative to receive syndication content from the content producing component, and provide a syndication dialog through the content producing component to syndicate the syndication content using a content delivery platform. The syndication manager component may also syndicate the syndication content to form a syndication resource accessible from the content delivery platform over a network using a syndication referent. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08161098B2 |
Method and system for service denial and termination on a wireless network
A method and system are provided for denying an application service request, such as a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) request, on wireless and wireline Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) networks or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) networks. In one example, the method includes receiving a request for an application service from a user via a transport network, determining to deny the request, and providing a response corresponding to the denial of the request to the user via the transport network. |
| US08161094B2 |
System and method for notification within decentralized network
Methods are provided for event notification in a decentralized peer-to-peer (P2P) network. Each node within the P2P network can publish a subscription object for a published resource. Through the use of common identifiers, each subscription object is co-located with a corresponding publish object for the resource. Upon receiving notification of an event associated with the resource, the node responsible for the publish object for the resource distributes the event notification to each node present on the corresponding subscription registry. Therefore, nodes within the P2P network that are interested in a resource are capable of establishing a persistent query for the resource by publishing a subscription object for the resource on the responsible node. |
| US08161093B2 |
Complex multiplier and twiddle factor generator
The present invention relates to a complex multiplier and a twiddle factor generator. The complex multiplier according to an embodiment of the invention includes: a first adder/subtracter that adds the real part of the complex number and a first twiddle factor or subtracts the first twiddle factor from the real part of the complex number according to a first signal; a second adder/subtracter that adds the imaginary part of the complex number and a second twiddle factor or subtracts the second twiddle factor from the imaginary part of the complex number according to a second signal; a first multiplier that multiplies the value obtained by the first adder/subtracter by a third twiddle factor and outputs the resulting value; a second multiplier that multiplies the value obtained by the second adder/subtracter by a fourth twiddle factor and outputs the resulting value; a multiplexer that selectively outputs the values output from the first and second multipliers as a real part output signal and an imaginary part output signal according to a third signal; and a controller that provides the first to third signals. According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve a complex multiplier having a simple hardware design. |
| US08161091B2 |
Method for performing decimal floating point addition
A method for performing a decimal floating point operation including receiving a first operand having a first coefficient and a first exponent into a first register. A second operand having a second coefficient and a second exponent are received into a second register. An operation, either addition or subtraction, associated with the first operand and the second operand is received. Three concurrent calculations are performed on the first operand and the second operand. The three concurrent calculations include: applying the operation to the first operand and the second operand based on a first assumption; applying the operation to the first operand and the second operand based on a second assumption; and applying the operation to the first operand and the second operand based on a third assumption. A final result is selected from the first result, the second result and the third result. |
| US08161088B2 |
Pocket calculator for financial, mathematical calculation routines
The invention relates to a pocket calculator for financial, mathematical calculation routines, comprising a keypad (11) comprising several input keys and function keys for the input of data, a memory which is used to memorise permanent data and volatile data, a processor which is used to carry out the financial, mathematical calculation routines and a display (12) which displays data. The keypad (11) comprises several function keys for a capital payment calculation routine, i.e. at least one first function key (P/YR) for the input and/or determination of periods per year, at least one second function key (N; x P/YR) for the input and/or determination of the total number of periods, a third function key (PV) for the input and/or determination of the start capital, a fourth function key (I/YR) for the input and/or determination of the rate of interest, a fifth function key (PMT) for the input and/or determination of rates per period and a sixth function key (FV) for the input and/or determination of the end capital. After the input of the data corresponding to a few of said function keys, the data of a non-used function key can be determined by the capital payment calculation routine. Also, the keypad (11) comprises additional function keys, that is, for the input and/or determination of data for a dynamised capital payment calculation routine. |
| US08161087B2 |
Displaying and manipulating virtual objects on virtual surfaces
A computerized method of providing an interactive virtual surface to display virtual objects is described. The method may comprise providing the virtual surface via a graphical user interface on a display screen, wherein the virtual surface displays at least one axis and a plurality of virtual objects. The method may monitor positioning (including re-positioning) of each of the plurality of virtual objects by a user on the virtual surface relative to the axis. Thereafter, virtual object association data may be stored in a database identifying an association between each of the virtual objects and at least one attribute based on the positioning. |
| US08161085B2 |
Automatic and dynamic provisioning of databases
Approaches described herein may be used for provisioning of databases that requires a bulk transfer of data within a distributed computing environment, such as a grid. The approaches do not require the manual intervention of a DBA to, for example, transfer a tablespace between the file systems of operating systems. Instead, the tablespaces may be provisioned automatically and dynamically by a grid computing system whenever it determines the need to dynamically provision a database. In addition, as copies of tablespaces are provisioned, synchronization mechanisms can also be automatically provisioned to keep the tablespaces and their copies in sync. |
| US08161084B2 |
Memory management of soft references
A garbage collector determines a target amount of heap space to deallocate, estimates an amount of heap space reachable by a plurality of soft references by determining a cumulative size of no more than an exploration bound N number of objects reachable from each soft reference, and deallocates heap space based on the target amount and the estimate of the heap space reachable from the soft references. Deallocating heap space may include clearing at least one soft reference. If the estimate is inaccurate, it may be utilized regardless or modified to account for inaccuracy. The least-recently-used or the largest soft reference may be cleared until the total cleared space reachable exceeds the target amount. By performing a bounded analysis, the garbage collector may be able to make a more informed decision about whether to clear a soft reference without consuming the full amount of resources consumed by an exhaustive analysis. |
| US08161076B1 |
Generation and use of a data structure for distributing responsibilities among multiple resources in a network storage system
The technique introduced here includes generating a data structure for use in determining how responsibilities for services should be distributed amongst a plurality of resources in a network storage system. The technique includes an iterative process of optimizing the data structure for a plurality of performance/quality metrics, such as evenness of storage consumption across the storage system or a designated subset thereof, number of “hot spots”, degree of data scatter, and number of changes needed to reflect a change in storage system geometry. The data structure can be a striping table for striping logical containers of data across multiple storage resources, such as data volumes, or physical storage devices. The “responsibilities for services”, can include responsibility for storing a stripe of a logical container of data or responsibility for storing a segment of parity data for a logical container of data. |
| US08161075B1 |
Systems and methods for managing integrated and customizable data
In one of many possible embodiments, an exemplary system includes a data integration subsystem including at least one base hierarchical data structure representative of a first set of one or more data relationships. The system further includes a customization subsystem configured to receive one or more commands from an external source. The commands represent a second set of one or more data relationships, the second set of data relationships being externally defined. The customization subsystem is further configured to generate, based on the commands, a custom hierarchical data structure representative of the second set of data relationships, the second hierarchical data structure being generated on top of at least a subset of the base hierarchical data structure. |
| US08161067B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing complex presentation objects using globally-unique identifiers
A method and apparatus for managing complex presentation objects using globally-unique identifiers. Downloaded objects are identified by globally-unique identifiers to maintain object integrity and to facilitate capturing downloaded objects for reuse without additional download time overhead. An object may be referenced by selected indicia, such as a name, a globally-unique identifier or a globally-unique identifier and an object locator, The object is located by the selected indicia. Then, a decision is made whether to allow capture of the object based upon whether the selected indicia includes a globally-unique identifier and is secure. |
| US08161066B2 |
Methods and systems for creating a semantic object
Among other disclosure, a knowledge network and semcards enabling intelligent matching of offers and requests, involving all types of information and knowledge, including information such as classified ads, data about products and services, or knowledge, expertise, ideas, suggestions, opinions, and other forms of tacit knowledge is described. |
| US08161062B2 |
Analysis of third party networks
A method of analyzing customer behavior, where customers are engaged in customer-to-customer transactions in the third-party network, includes the transformation of data representing the customer-to-customer transactions from a data representation to a network representation, and then analyzing the network representation. The network representation includes a set of nodes and a set of links where each node represents a customer and each link represents a transaction between two of the customers. |
| US08161057B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting and extracting information from dynamically generated web pages
A method and apparatus for automatically detecting and extracting information from dynamically generated web pages are disclosed. For example, the present method stores user provided information that is entered into a form interface of a web page for a first query. Responsive to the first query, a first response web page is received and stored. The present method then automatically generates a second query to acquire a second response web page that is responsive to the second query. Finally, the present method compares the first response web page and the second response web page. In one embodiment, the present invention extracts information that is dissimilar between the first response web page and the second response web page. This extracted information is deemed to be the pertinent information requested by the user. |
| US08161055B2 |
Filter extraction in a service registry environment
A method for filter extraction in a service registry includes receiving a user's request in a registry for a list of items in the registry; generating a set of item results by the registry; passing the item results from the registry to a framework; retrieving a list of filter providers by the framework; determining whether all of the filter providers have been used; wherein if all have been used: displaying a list that includes a filter provider title, and one or more filters for each filter provider; wherein if all the filter providers have not been used: retrieving the next filter provider; calling the next filter provider; passing the item results to the next filter provider; determining which filters are applicable based on metadata of the item results; generating a list of applicable filters by the next filter provider; passing the list of applicable filters back to the framework. |
| US08161051B2 |
Method and apparatus for data processing with index search
In a database management apparatus for managing a database where an index is used in a search for data, the data is stored in a table that has attributes of the data as columns. The index is created in association with at least one column. The columns include an index key column for which the index is created without data being stored. Upon reception of a request to register the data in the table including the index key column, the data in columns other than the index key column is registered. An index of the index key column is updated using data corresponding to the index key column. |
| US08161049B2 |
System and method for patent evaluation using artificial intelligence
A system, method, computer program product, and a web site for evaluating a patent document by using an Artificial Intelligence (AI) have been provided. The patent document is characterized by patent indices arranged into a hierarchy, each index reflecting a different aspect of the patent document. The values of the patent indices are analyzed by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system, which generates a verbal conclusion regarding the value of the patent document based on the performed analysis. A reason associated with the generated conclusion may also be generated. The AI system is a decision tree based AI system, which is implemented so as to be accessible via a network. The value of the patent document may be additionally visualized by using a color coding of the patent document based on values of its patent indices. |
| US08161048B2 |
Database analysis using clusters
A method for mapping relationships in a database results in a cluster graph. A representative sample of records in each of a plurality of tables in the database is analyzed for nearest neighbor join edges instantiated by the record. Records with corresponding nearest neighbor join edges are grouped into clusters. Cluster pairs which share a join relationship between two tables are identified. A weighting may be applied to cluster pairs based on the number of records for the cluster pair. Meaningful cluster pairs above a weighted threshold may be ordered according to table and displayed as a cluster graph. Analyses of the cluster graph may reveal important characteristics of the database. |
| US08161041B1 |
Document-based synonym generation
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that automatically generates synonyms for words from documents. During operation, this system determines co-occurrence frequencies for pairs of words in the documents. The system also determines closeness scores for pairs of words in the documents, wherein a closeness score indicates whether a pair of words are located so close to each other that the words are likely to occur in the same sentence or phrase. Finally, the system determines whether pairs of words are synonyms based on the determined co-occurrence frequencies and the determined closeness scores. While making this determination, the system can additionally consider correlations between words in a title or an anchor of a document and words in the document as well as word-form scores for pairs of words in the documents. |
| US08161039B2 |
Automatic personal play list generation based on external factors such as weather, financial market, media sales or calendar data
A play list of songs or other media items is automatically generated (380) based on external factors (314, 324, 334) such as weather conditions, stock market conditions, sales of songs, or calendar data, e.g., day of week, holidays or user designated dates such as birthdays, anniversaries and the like. External data (310, 320, 330) relating to the external factors can be received (115) from a radio broadcast, Internet link, or link to a vehicle computer, for instance. The external data is mapped (360) to media items to obtain matching media items (370) for the play list. The mapping may also account for user preferences (145). The user may select (305) the external factor, which represents the mood and/or current preferences of the user in a much better way than the conventional criteria such as genre, artist or album alone. |
| US08161034B2 |
Abstract query building with selectability of aggregation operations and grouping
Systems and articles of manufacture for query building with selectability of aggregation operations and grouping. Abstract queries are composed on the basis of a data abstraction model abstractly describing data in the database. The abstract queries may include result criterions and aggregation operations to be performed with respect to the result criterions for generating aggregation information. An object is generated containing query entities and allowing a user to selectively (i) generate a first executable query corresponding to the abstract query inclusive of the aggregation operation and aggregation logic; and (ii) generate a second executable query corresponding to the abstract query exclusive of the aggregation operation and aggregation logic. |
| US08161032B2 |
Thread ranking system and thread ranking method
A thread ranking system includes: a thread collector for collecting a thread from a bulletin board website, a thread information storage for storing the collected thread, an event extractor for extracting the event from respective threads by using the event knowledge stored in the event knowledge storage, a related expression extractor for extracting a related expression characterizing the thread from expressions contained in the thread every thread, an input/output controller for presenting information that calls upon the user to input an evaluation of a predetermined thread to the user and inputting an evaluation of the user, a related expression importance calculator for calculating importance based on the input evaluation of the user every related expression, and a thread ranking unit 8 for deciding ranks of respective threads based on the extracted event and the calculated importance every related expression. |
| US08161029B2 |
Methods and systems for performing redirects to a search engine
The present invention is related to methods and systems for processing search requests and for performing searches over a network. In an embodiment, a recipient designation is received from a user over a network. The designation indicates that future searches performed by the user are to be associated with the recipient (even if the subject matter of the search is not related to the recipient). A search request is received from the user; causing a search to be performed in response to the search request. An identifier corresponding to the recipient is stored in association with an indication regarding the occurrence of the first search request. |
| US08161023B2 |
Inserting a PDF shared resource back into a PDF statement
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for inserting a PDF shared resource back into a PDF statement is provided. The method includes storing a set of statements, wherein each statement has been extracted from a document and each statement contains indirect objects. A set of resources is then stored, wherein the resources have been extracted from the document, and the resources include a set of indirect objects. All of the indirect objects in a selected one of the stored statements are then enumerated and a determination is made of which of the indirect objects contain keys. A key value for the enumerated indirect objects containing keys is then read, and the indirect objects in the stored set of resources associated with each key are identified. Stream data is then copied from the indirect objects in the stored set of resources into the selected ones of the stored statements. |
| US08161022B2 |
Efficiently and reliably providing message related data
The principles of the present invention extend to efficiently and reliably providing message related data. Generally, data fields of electronic messages and attachments are created in accordance with an electronic message schema hierarchy. An electronic message can include links to folder items that represent message folders. An electronic message can also include links to contact items that represent message participants. Message applications can register for folder spaces such that each message application is aware of folders that are primarily controlled by other message applications. A link to a contact item can be selected to access current contact related data for a message participant, even when the contact related data has changed since an electronic message containing the link was received. |
| US08161020B2 |
Searching for and providing objects using byte-by-byte comparison
Keys on an input device are selected to input a first selection and a second selection to form a byte. The byte is compared to a first byte of identification codes in a database. Such a method may use identification codes to identify pointers that correspond to objects in the database, and the pointers may indicate the address in a database where desired objects are stored. The input device has a database, a processor and executable instructions. The executable instructions may cause the processor to carry out a method of providing the objects. |
| US08161019B2 |
Cross-channel coauthoring consistency
A computing device includes a processing unit, and a memory with instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to create: a document processing module that processes the creation and editing of document content; and a metadata processing module that generates, monitors and stores metadata for a document on the computing device, the metadata processing module generating lock creation metadata that include information about a new lock that is created when a user begins to edit a portion of a document, lock removal metadata that includes information about removing a lock, and lock deletion metadata that includes information about deleting a lock, the metadata processing module writing lock creation metadata to both a data channel and to a separate metadata channel, the metadata processing module writing lock removal metadata to the data channel and the metadata processing module writing lock deletion metadata to the metadata channel. |
| US08161018B2 |
Managing locks and transactions
Under control of a first agent, a resource controlled by a second agent is locked with a first operation identifier. Under control of the second agent: a request is received to lock the resource controlled by the second agent with a second operation identifier for a client request for a client application, wherein the resource is already locked with the first operation identifier; it is determined whether the first operation identifier and the second operation identifier are determined to be a same identifier; if it is determined that the first operation identifier and the second operation identifier are the same identifier, the request is responded to with an indication that the resource is locked with the same operation identifier; and, if it is determined that the first operation identifier and the second operation identifier are not the same identifier, the lock request is denied. |
| US08161017B2 |
Enhanced identification of relevant database indices
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for identifying relevant database indexes is provided. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method includes determining the importance of a particular database transaction and storing an index name related to the transaction along with an indicator of the importance. A database transaction is initiated and the importance indicator is received in an index advisor. The index advisor then makes an index recommendation based on the index importance. |
| US08161010B2 |
Methods and systems for providing fault recovery to side effects occurring during data processing
Embodiments may recover from faults by forming a new set of rows by removing rows associated with faulting save operations and repeating the saving and forming operations using the new set of rows until a set of rows that can be saved from the known start state without fault is determined. When the subset of successful rows is found, embodiments are able to provide assurance that no side effects (i.e., code or operations triggered by saving of a data to a particular location) have been executed on behalf of any of the failed rows (side effects from custom PL/SOQL code included) by deferring execution of triggers until an entire set of rows can be saved and committed. |
| US08161008B2 |
Information processing apparatus and operation method thereof
An information processing apparatus includes a remote copying processing part 214 copying, at predetermined time intervals, difference data of a D-VOL 72 onto a different D-VOL 72 via a communication interface; and a failover processing part 215 acquiring the number of other auxiliary volumes 74 provided to be added to the different D-VOL 72 as a new D-VOL 72 when the copying of the difference data of the D-VOL 72 onto the different D-VOL 72 is complete, comparing the number of other auxiliary volumes 74 with the number of auxiliary volumes 74 included in itself, and performing a failover process of switching a function of a copy source of a data copying process by the data copying processing part to a function of a copy destination thereof when the number of other auxiliary volumes 74 is larger than the number of that in itself by a predetermined value or more. |
| US08161006B2 |
Database management method, database management apparatus, and database management program
In order to reduce a period of time required for a database operation and maintenance job, provided is a database management method in a database management apparatus that manages a database stored in a storage apparatus including: executing load processing of storing data which is read from the storage apparatus in a memory; executing job processing by reading and writing the data which is stored in the memory; executing unload processing of writing the data which is stored in the memory in the storage apparatus; and executing maintenance processing for the database using the data which is stored in the memory at timing for executing at least one of the load processing and the unload processing. |
| US08161004B2 |
XML sub-document versioning method in XML databases using record storages
A new sub-document versioning method for record storages of XML documents which uses virtual cutting points to ensure that a search tree is able to support multiple versions of sub-documents and provide efficient mechanisms for XML updating. Record boundaries and virtual cut points divide the two-dimensional space, the horizontal axis representing node identifiers in document order and vertical axis representing version numbers, into rectangles. The bottom corner of the rectangle is used to represent the rectangles and the corresponding information of the corner is added to the search tree index. |
| US08161003B2 |
Selective data replication system and method
The invention relates generally to copying electronic data. More particularly, the invention provides a computerized method for identifying, in a first backup data set, a data item satisfying a selection criterion, and copying to a second backup data set at least a portion of the data item. |
| US08160999B2 |
Method and apparatus for using set based structured query language (SQL) to implement extract, transform, and load (ETL) splitter operation
Methods and systems for implementing a splitter operation in an extract, transform, and load (ETL) process are provided. In one implementation, the method includes receiving a data flow including a splitter operation, and generating an execution plan graph based on the data flow. The execution plan graph includes structured query language (SQL) code for implementing the splitter operation, in which the structured query language (SQL) code is respectively executable among database servers associated with different vendors. |
| US08160998B2 |
System, method and computer program product for providing content based upon a representation of the same
A system for providing content includes a source and a client. The source is capable of generating a representation of the content, the content being hierarchically-structured and including at least one item having an associated type. The source is capable of generating a representation including an identity table and at least one type table, each item of content being included in the identity table, and included in a type table based upon the type of the item. Thereafter, the source can be capable of providing the representation of the content. The client is capable of receiving the representation of the content, and accessing at least a portion of the content based upon the representation. The client can also be capable of receiving a query for at least one item of content, searching the representation for the item(s), and accessing at least a portion of the content including the item(s). |
| US08160996B2 |
Sequence online analytical processing system
A sequence online analytical processing (S-OLAP) system 50 for analysing an event database (41) storing events (12), the system (50) comprising: an S-OLAP engine (53) to compute an S-cuboid (49) for a query on the event database (41); a sequence query engine (54) to form part of the S-cuboid (49) by performing the steps of: selection, clustering, sequence formation and sequence grouping; a cuboid repository (52) to store computed S-cuboids (49) and to be searched by the S-OLAP engine (53) for an S-cuboid query to determine whether an S-cuboid has previously been computed; and a sequence cache (56) to cache constructed sequence groups. |
| US08160994B2 |
System for simulating events in a real environment
System for simulating events in a real environment containing static objects and dynamic objects: a) position locating unit for continuously determining the real environment the position of the dynamic objects in relation to the static objects within a time period in which the even takes place; b) storage elements for storing data describing the dynamic and static objects of the environment; c) processing elements for processing (b1) data from the storage elements describing the static and dynamic objects (b2) data from the position locating unit indicating at a certain moment the mutual positions of the static and dynamic objects of the environment, the processing elements being loaded with simulation software; d) display elements for displaying a simulated view from a selected viewpoint on the simulated environment as a result of the processing by the processing elements; e) control elements to repeat the functioning of the processing and display elements for a range of consecutive time moments which together determine the above-mentioned time period wherein the position locating unit includes a satellite navigation system, or a thereto-related system. |
| US08160993B2 |
System and methods for evaluating inferences of unknown attributes in a social network
A method and system for determining a probability of inferring an unknown attribute value for an attribute of interest for a target node in a social network. The method comprises the steps of receiving as an input attribute values and link relationships for a plurality of additional nodes in the social network, creating a simplified network using the input values and relationships, and calculating the probability of inferring the unknown attribute value for the target node. |
| US08160992B2 |
System and method for selecting a package structural design
A system and method of selecting a package model may include maintaining a data structure of a plurality of package models. Each package model may have a plurality of package model attributes including at least a size and a style. A user input may be received that is descriptive of a desired package capability. The user input may be analyzed using a semantic reasoner to determine one or more desired attributes. One or more package models may be automatically selected by accessing the data structure wherein, for each selected package model, each desired attribute satisfies the corresponding package model attribute. The one or more selected package models may be presented. |
| US08160988B1 |
System, method and computer program product for a collaborative decision platform
A decision making system, method and computer program product are provided. Initially, a plurality of attributes is defined. Thereafter, first information regarding the attributes is received from a receiving business. Second information is then received regarding proposed products or services in terms of the attributes. Such second information is received from a supplying business. In use, a decision process is executed based on the first information and the second information. |
| US08160987B2 |
Estimating device and method, and program
An estimating device includes: a predictive computing unit configured to estimate, based on an evaluation matrix made up of an evaluation value indicating an evaluation as to each of multiple evaluation targets for each of multiple users, and an estimated expression for estimating the evaluation value by computation employing the evaluation matrix, the evaluation value of the evaluation target which has not been subjected to an evaluation by the user, and obtain a predictive evaluation value which is the estimated evaluation value; and a linear combining unit configured to subject a plurality of the predictive evaluations obtained by employing a plurality of the estimated expressions to linear combination by employing a linear combination coefficient, thereby obtaining a final estimation result of an evaluation as to the evaluation target which has not been subjected to the evaluation by the user. |
| US08160973B2 |
Technique for producing constructed fares
A technique for producing constructed fares that include an arbitrary added to a published fare is described. The techniques determine interior cities that appear with gateway cities in arbitraries for the airline and searches for gateway cities corresponding to the determined interior cities appearing in the arbitraries. The technique applies an arbitrary corresponding to one of the interior cities to a published fare involving one of the gateway cities to produce the constructed fare. |
| US08160972B1 |
Traveler's package pick-up and delivery service
A traveler can subscribe to a pick-up service (consolidator) that will pick-up purchases made at any number of different locations while the traveler is visiting a location, or series of locations. The consolidator then bundles all of the purchases from the various locations into appropriate sized packages for delivery to the traveler's desired location. The consolidator gathers the various purchases over a period of time and coordinates ultimate delivery to the traveler according to a pre-arranged itinerary of the traveler. |
| US08160971B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring an order status
A computerized system and method for monitoring an order placed by a customer for a product produced by a supplier to be delivered to a retail location. The method includes presenting an order-entry interface to collect order information about the order to be transmitted to the supplier and store the order information in a computer-accessible order database. Warehouse information authorized by the supplier and transmitted to the warehouse is also stored. A carrier database stores a shipping rate of carriers for transporting the product ordered by the customer to the retail location, and a report generation subsystem collects at least a portion of the order information, the warehouse information and the shipping rate and generates a report displaying the collected information in a single display to be substantially simultaneously reviewed by a supervisor. |
| US08160966B2 |
Token based new digital cash protocols
Digital cash token protocols employ two pairs of private and public keys. Each public key is certified separately and the protocols do not use any blind signature schemes. As a result, the digital cash token protocols provide strong protection of user privacy by using two certified public keys instead of a blind signature. One pair of certified keys consists of one master user private key and one master user public key. A second pair of certified keys consists of one pseudonym user private key and one pseudonym user public key. The use of a master key pair and a pseudonym key pair circumvents the need for blind signatures. As a result, the proposed protocols do not require blind signatures and do not add additional overhead and security requirements necessitated by conventional blind signature schemes. The protocols use public key protocols and digital signatures and symmetric key protocols, which may be readily implemented in standard information security based systems based on cryptographic constructs. In addition, the protocols may be deployed in mobile, off-line, and on-line settings. |
| US08160963B2 |
Method and system for providing location-obscured media delivery
One embodiment of the present invention enables delivery of “on-demand” high fidelity media content to computers via the Internet while restricting unauthorized users from directly retrieving media content from its source database. Once the computer receives the media, it is stored using hidden directories so that it may not be easily shared with others. Within the present embodiment, there are different functionality that are implemented in order to protect and monitor the media content source. For example, the actual address location of the media database is hidden from content recipients while its address directory is periodically change making past addresses obsolete. Additionally, an access key procedure and rate control restrictor may also be implemented to monitor and restrict suspicious media content requests. By implementing these and other functionality, the present embodiment restricts redistribution of delivered media content and provides a means for compensating owners of copyrighted media content. |
| US08160962B2 |
Installing protected software product using unprotected installation image
An installation image for installing an unprotected software product is used to install a protected version of the same product. A protected version of the executable file is embedded in a new installation image with the original installation image, in which the unprotected version of the executable file is damaged so as to be unusable and unreadable. The new installation image causes the original installation image to operate, installing the damaged installation file and other data files. The new installation image then replaces the damaged installation file with the protected installation file. |
| US08160961B1 |
Charging for prepaid subscribers in a telecommunications system
To be able to customize subscriber charging in a telecommunications system, at least two different kinds of tariff models (TM) are defined, each model containing a tariff scheme defining how to charge a call. The tariff model to be used with a subscriber is directly or indirectly indicated in subscriber information (SI). |
| US08160960B1 |
System and method for rapid updating of credit information
According to one embodiment, the invention relates to a system and method for evaluating the creditworthiness of an account holder of a credit account comprising the steps of determining, at least once a day, whether a first data set relating to the creditworthiness of the account holder has been received from a credit reporting organization; determining, at least once a day, whether a second data set relating to transaction activity of the credit account has been received; periodically receiving from a credit reporting organization a third data set relating to the creditworthiness of the account holder; periodically receiving a fourth data set relating to the historical activity of the credit account; and using the first and second data sets, to the extent they have been received, and the third and fourth data sets to determine a measure of creditworthiness. |
| US08160959B2 |
Methods and systems for payment transactions in a mobile environment
Methods and systems for conducting financial transactions in a mobile environment utilizing a mobile device such as a mobile telephone or wireless connected personal digital assistant (PDA) that communicates with a mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) that stores user and transaction information. The MFTS receives information on behalf of a mobile device user corresponding to bills to pay or other payments to make. The MFTS also receives information corresponding to payment sources available for use in making payments. Selected payments information and payment source information are communicated to the mobile user via a wireless network and displayed for user selection. The user selects a payment to make and a payment source. A mobile payment instruction is generated and communicated to the MFTS. The MFTS instructs a payment instruction recipient to make a payment to an identified payee. Real-time updated account and payment balances are provided to the user's mobile device. |
| US08160957B2 |
Methods and systems for opening and funding a financial account online
Methods and systems for opening an account with a financial institution. One method can include electronically storing at least one rule for opening an account with a financial institution. The method can also include electronically receiving account application information from a remote device over at least one network, wherein the account application information includes personal information of a customer requesting to open an account. In addition, the method can include generating at least one risk score based on the account application information and applying the at least one rule to the at least one risk score in order to determine a decision regarding the account application information and to determine at least one funding constraint associated with the account. |
| US08160952B1 |
Method and system for providing price protection related to the purchase of a commodity
Systems and methods described herein pertain to providing price protection programs related to the purchase of a commodity to a consumer. Embodiments of such a program may provide price protection related to the purchase of a commodity to the consumer so that when a consumer purchases the commodity, the price the consumer pays for the commodity may be determined under the provided program. Embodiments of these programs may be quite useful in incentivizing consumers in certain ways, including to seek or obtain employment from a particular employer. |
| US08160949B2 |
Order risk management for financial product processing
Systems and methods are provided for processing derivative product orders at an exchange. Traders provide derivative product order risk data to the exchange. The order risk data may include maximum delta, gamma and/or vega utilization values for derivative product contracts based on the same underlying product. Before executing a trade, a match system analyzes the trader's current utilization state and the utilization that would result after the trade. The match system may then execute all or a portion of the trade. |
| US08160948B2 |
Computer managed retirement fund and method for generating increased revenue stream
A retirement fund program managed by computer software requiring an initial fixed investment and producing an ever increasing revenue stream to a group of participant investors organized by life expectancy and grouped into an investment partnership. A financial portfolio is created from the monies invested by each investor and is used to manage high quality securities to generate income for the partnership. Periodically, the surviving members of the partnership are entitled to receive the revenue generated from the portfolio, which statistically will increase as fewer participant investors survive. The partnership can purchase term life insurance on each participant investor, so that the initial investment can be returned to the estate of a participant investor if the participant investor becomes deceased during the program. Upon termination of the program, all remaining assets will be distributed pro rata among the living participant investors of the investment partnership. |
| US08160946B2 |
System and method for processing data related to a life insurance policy having an accelerated death benefit
A method for processing data related to a life insurance product having a death benefit amount payable to a beneficiary upon death of an insured includes receiving data indicative of certification that the insured is chronically ill, and responsive to receipt of the data indicative of the certification, providing output signals having data indicative of instructions to pay an owner of the life insurance product periodic payments, during the lifetime of the insured, each of which periodic payments reduces the death benefit amount. |
| US08160945B2 |
System and method for enhancing financial institution revenues through acceleration of debit processing
A system and method for enhancing financial institution revenue through acceleration of debit processing is provided. The method includes modeling the processing of account debit transactions, identifying ways to accelerate the processing of the account debit transactions and accelerating the account debit transactions. In a further embodiment, account debit transaction processing is accelerated from beginning on what has traditionally been referred to as Day 0 to beginning on some day before Day 0. |
| US08160943B2 |
Systems and methods to process transactions based on social networking
Systems and methods to verify and process requests received via social networking websites. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store data associated with a first phone number; and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers of mobile communications. The converters communicate with the controllers in different formats and with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor receives a request from a first user via a social networking website, identifies a first phone number of the first user and a second phone number of a second user, based on the social networking website, and uses the converters to communicate with at least one of the mobile phones at the first and second phone numbers to confirm and/or approve the request. |
| US08160942B2 |
Billing workflow system for crediting charges to entities creating derivatives exposure
An automated billing workflow system receives credit valuation adjustment (CVA) amounts associated with derivatives trades. The automated billing workflow system interacts with an Accounting System in order to make appropriate Profit and Loss (P&L) entries for the CVA amounts. The CVA amounts are billed to the business units which actually created the risk. The invention employs a plurality of Workflow Queues. As an item makes it way through the billing workflow, it may be slotted in one or more of these queues where further action will take place. |
| US08160939B2 |
Graphical internet search system and methods
A system and methods for web based graphical internet searching for locating unique items sought by buyers of designs, furnishings and accessories through use of the internet. The invention includes a search interface where both a seller and buyer will use the same graphical alphabet, which divides an item into its component parts, to decipher the language of design which has an infinite number of stylistic combinations. |
| US08160938B2 |
Systems and methods for automatic bid solicitation during transaction process
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for automatic bid solicitation during a transaction process, in which a user's checkout basket is automatically transmitted to a set of vendors for potential bids based on the user's selected items. The user can select products or services for purchase from an original Web site or vendor. Upon receipt of those selections, a transaction server can identify vendors who wish to receive notification of a pending purchase of particular items. The set of selections can be transmitted to participating vendors to determine a bid on the same or related goods or services. A vendor may wish, for example, to bid to offer after-market support or supplies for a printer or other pending hardware purchase. The user can view the additional bid items in a bid dialog, make selections from those options, and incorporate options of their choosing in the finalized transaction. |
| US08160935B2 |
Payment service capable of being integrated with merchant sites
A computer-implemented service acts as an intermediary between merchant sites and users thereof, and enables the users to purchase items on the merchant sites without having to create accounts with such sites. A user may invoke the service from a web page of a merchant site, and complete a purchase transaction, without having to browse away from the merchant site. The service may either forward the user's payment information to the merchant's system to enable the merchant to charge the customer, or may charge the user on behalf of the merchant. In some implementations, the service enables users to make single-action purchases from the merchant sites. |
| US08160932B2 |
Artwork-trading system and artwork-trading program for trading artworks created by artist over network
An artwork-trading computer system includes a primary auction for trading an artwork put up by an artist for the first time and a secondary auction for the following reselling. A server judges whether a bidding is for the primary auction or the secondary auction. When the server judges it as the primary auction, the server sends the artist a signal for requesting to select a winning bidder among the bidding collectors. Meanwhile, when the server judges it as the secondary auction, the server decides the winning bidder who offers the best bid price. |
| US08160927B1 |
Privacy-sensitive cookies
Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer program products, for generating cookies. Multiple advertisements for multiple advertisers are stored on an ad server. Hostnames specific to each of the multiple advertisers are generated dynamically. The generated hostnames identify the ad server. A reference is generated identifying a particular advertisement of the multiple advertisements and the ad server. The ad server is identified in the reference with the generated hostname associated with the advertiser of the advertisement. The reference is provided to a client. A request is received from the client for the advertisement. The request includes the generated hostname. In response to the request, a client cookie, which includes a unique identifier, is sent to the client. |
| US08160922B2 |
Method and system for making donations to charitable entities
A method and system for making a donation to a third party, wherein a user executes a purchase transaction using a card linked to a reward point account If a user donation is desired, then the user's reward point account is decreased and corresponding value is transferred to a designated third party as a donation. In another aspect referred to as “topping off”, the donation amount is the difference between the tender amount and the purchase amount, and is transferred to a designated third party as a donation to the third party in lieu of providing change for the transaction back to the user. |
| US08160921B2 |
System for incentivizing financial account users
A system to incentivize financial account holders, such as a checking account, by providing a cash bonus for certain activities in the financial account, including certain deposits, electronic payments, debit card purchases, and receiving an electronic statement (instead of paper statements). The cash bonus is calculated on the current time period, for example monthly and credited to the financial account at the end of such current time period. |
| US08160917B1 |
Computer-implemented promotion optimization methods and systems
Computer-implemented systems and methods for determining promotion prices for a plurality of items. A system and method can be configured to receive electronic data about items for a promotion event and to receive electronic data about vehicles for a promotion event. An optimizer, which is implemented on a data processor, includes or has access to an optimization formulation for determining optimal promotion prices for the items and for determining assignments of the vehicles to the items for promoting the items during the promotion event. |
| US08160914B1 |
Identifying quality user sessions and determining product demand with high resolution capabilities
A session quality system collects and evaluates data from multiple user world wide web (“web”) product selection sessions and correlates the collected data with actual product purchases. The system assembles the data into a set of session profiles and assigns a score to each profile that represents a relative likelihood of purchasing the product. The system matches session data collected from future product selection sessions with a master profile. A weighted average of scores based on matched master profiles provides useful product demand information. Furthermore, the system can determine product demand with varying ranges of resolution. For example, the system can capture specific features of each product, such as color, audio system selections, and wheel types. Since these features can be common across multiple products, manufactures can expand their use of the high resolution product demand information. |
| US08160913B2 |
Methods and tools to support strategic decision making by specifying, relating and analyzing requirements, solutions, and deployments
The present invention discloses methods and tools for managing requirements, solutions, and deployments of a project. The invention provides for the creation of a portfolio of data pertaining to requirements, solutions, and deployments for the project. The relationships and dependencies between the data are mapped, and the portfolio of data and the mapping of the data are displayed in a graphical format. The portfolio of data can be queried to determine the relationships and dependencies between the data. |
| US08160907B2 |
System and method for allocating replacement vehicle rental costs using a virtual bank of repair facility credits
Systems and methods for managing a virtual bank of repair facility credits are disclosed. Various operations for adding and subtracting credits from a repair facility virtual bank account are disclosed. Adjustments to credit totals can be based on repair facility performance with regard to an individual vehicle repair or a plurality of vehicle repairs. |
| US08160904B1 |
System and method to provide process status update information
Disclosed are systems and methods to provide process status update information. The systems and methods provide techniques to communicate with a party about a process in which the party has an interest, provide the party with an identifier, the identifier related to the party and the process, and provide a process status updater operable to provide information about the process to the party, wherein the information about the process is provided when the party accesses the process status updater using the identifier. |
| US08160903B2 |
System and method for determining a premium for insurance for a security
A method for determining a premium for insuring a security comprising the steps of determining an insurance risk premium based upon a security to be insured, determining an expense and profit load, and combining the insurance risk premium and the expense and profit load to determine a total gross premium. A system for determining a premium for insuring a security comprises a computer system capable of having entered information related to a security to be insured, the computer system having a program for calculating an insurance risk premium based upon a security to be insured, for calculating an expense and profit load, and for combining the insurance risk premium and the expense and profit load to determine a total gross premium. |