| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08166048B2 |
Method and apparatus for data integration and management
A system for maintaining master reference data for entities is disclosed. The system includes multiple reference data sets at multiple different data storages. A reference data set for a particular entity uniquely identifies the particular entity. The system also includes a first master reference data set at a first data storage that is at least as reliable as a second reference data set at a second data storage. In some embodiments, the first data storage can be updated through real-time process or an offline process (e.g., a batch process). The first master reference data set includes at least one data record, and content metadata regarding the data record. In some embodiments, content metadata comprises lineage data that includes each preceding value that was contained in the data record. In some of these embodiments, lineage includes other factors that affected the present and previous values contained in the data record. |
| US08166047B1 |
Systems, devices, and/or methods for managing data
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method, which can comprise automatically storing and computing a sketch of a dataset that supports an automatically determined estimator of properties of a dataset. The dataset can be related to any population. For example, the dataset can comprise data flows through a network node (e.g., a router), sales data, and/or marketing data, etc. The estimator can be based upon a sketch of the dataset. |
| US08166045B1 |
Phrase extraction using subphrase scoring
An information retrieval system uses phrases to index, retrieve, organize and describe documents. Phrases are extracted from the document collection. Documents are the indexed according to their included phrases, using phrase posting lists. The phrase posting lists are stored in an cluster of index servers. The phrase posting lists can be tiered into groups, and sharded into partitions. Phrases in a query are identified based on possible phrasifications. A query schedule based on the phrases is created from the phrases, and then optimized to reduce query processing and communication costs. The execution of the query schedule is managed to further reduce or eliminate query processing operations at various ones of the index servers. |
| US08166041B2 |
Search index format optimizations
A search index structure which extends a typical composite index by incorporating an index which is optimized for fast retrieval from storage and which eliminates data which is specific to phrase searching. Other data is represented in a manner which allows it to be calculated rather than stored. Associating variable length entries with logical categories allows their length to be inferred from the category rather than stored. Using delta values between document IDs rather than the ID itself generates a compact, dense symbol set which is efficiently compressed by Huffman encoding or a similar compression method. Using an upper threshold to remove large, and thus rare, delta values from the symbol set prior to encoding further improves the encoding performance. |
| US08166035B2 |
Grid-based data clustering method
A grid-based data clustering method comprises: a parameter setting step, a partition step, a searching step, a seed-classifying step, an extension step, and a termination step. Through the above-mentioned steps, data in a data set are disposed in a plurality of grids, and the grids are classified into dense grids and uncrowded grids for a cluster to extend from one of the dense grid to gradually combine data in other dense grids nearby. Consequently, convenience in parameter setting, efficiency and accuracy in data clustering, and performance in noise filtering are achieved. |
| US08166034B2 |
Saving device for image sharing, image sharing system, and image sharing method
The saving device for image sharing includes an image acquiring unit configured to acquire the images offered by a sharer of the images, a sharee information storing unit configured to store sharee information with respect to at least one sharee, a subject assessing unit configured to assess whether or not a person subject is included in the acquired images, an image associating unit configured to associate the images assessed as not including a person subject with the images assessed as including a person subject, based on the sharee information, and a shared image determining unit configured to determine the images to be shared with the sharee or sharees from among the associated images and the images assessed as including a person subject, based on the sharee information. The image sharing system and an image sharing method use such a device. |
| US08166033B2 |
System and method for matching and assembling records
A system and method for matching and assembling records is provided. One embodiment of the invention assembles records by applying a method for grouping records based on matching fields, assembling a new record as a composite of the matched records, and then repeating the grouping, matching and assembling steps in a cascade where the matching grouping and assembling steps are modified as a function of the cascade step and the assembled records created in earlier steps. |
| US08166031B2 |
System and method for providing context based services
In one aspect of the disclosure, a method of delivering content to a portable electronic device is provided that comprises receiving a request for content; determining a subscription level for a subscriber of the portable electronic device; determining, based on the subscription level, whether to deliver supplementary content with the content; and, if delivery of the supplementary content is to be effected then determining a method of delivery of the content; determining a method of delivery of the supplementary content; determining the supplementary content; and delivering the content and the supplementary content. |
| US08166027B2 |
System, method and program to test a web site
Computer system, method and program product for testing a web site are disclosed. Numbers of hyperlinks required to navigate from one web page of the web site to other, respective web pages on the web site are determined. A score for ease of navigation though the web site based at least in part on the numbers is generated, such that lower numbers correlate to easier navigation through the web site. Another computer system, method and program product for testing a web site are disclosed. First keyword searches are conducted in the web site, using a search engine in the web site, based on sets of search terms ANDed together. Second keyword searches are conducted in the web site, using the search engine at the web site, based on respective subsets of the sets of search terms. Each subset is either a single term within the respective set or two or more terms within the respective set ANDed together. A score for effectiveness of the search engine is determined based at least in part on the frequency at which search results of the first keyword searches are contained in search results for the respective second keyword searches. |
| US08166015B2 |
Web advertising management method
The invention relates to a method, system and computer program for management of paid advertisements displayed in response to a search query entered into a search engine. A vendor's inventory is discovered by reading from an inventory database. Search terms are determined for item categories in the inventory database, reading from fields of the inventory database. A user can specify additional or replacement search terms to be associated with a particular item. Advertisement sets are then created for items which are currently available or “in stock,” each set containing an advertisement corresponding to an item, the associated search terms, and a landing page identifier. The landing page displays search results from the vendor's inventory database, relating to the corresponding item category for that advertisement. |
| US08166013B2 |
Method and system for crawling, mapping and extracting information associated with a business using heuristic and semantic analysis
A method and system for crawling multiple websites containing one or more web pages having information relevant to a particular domain of interest, such as details about local restaurants, extracting content from such websites, such as hours, location and phone number as well as reviews, review dates and other business specific information, and associating the extracted content with a specific business entity. |
| US08166008B2 |
Processing of a generalized directed object graph for storage in a relational database
Creating transaction instructions is disclosed. A description of a set of objects is received. For each of at least a subset of objects in the set of objects, a description of one or more associated relationships is received. The description of the set of objects and the descriptions of the one or more associated relationships for each object in the at least a subset of the set of objects are processed to create an ordered list of transaction instructions for storing the set of objects and the one or more associated relationships for each object in the at least a subset of the set of objects. |
| US08166003B2 |
Permission-based document server
Detailed herein is a technology which, among other things, identifies and provides an audience-appropriate version of a document, upon request. In one approach to this technology, a request for the document is received at a document-specific access point associated with that document. This document request is associated with specific file access authorizations. These specific file access authorizations are used to identify one of the available versions of the document. The version of the document so identified is then retrieved. |
| US08165998B2 |
Fast comparison using multi-level version format
A system and method to implement a technique to compare a collection of files. A reference index is extracted from a reference version file. The reference index specifies contents of a reference directory at a binary level. A target index is extracted from a target version file. The target index specifies contents of a target directory at the binary level. The target index is compared against the reference index to determine whether the contents of the target directory match the contents of the reference directory. |
| US08165997B1 |
Method and system for classifying postings in a forum
A method for classifying a previously unclassified posting that includes extracting a plurality of terms from the previously unclassified posting on an application forum, calculating a term answer probability and a term comment probability for each term of the plurality of terms. The term answer probability defines a probability that the term is in an answer posting assigned to an answer class, and the term comment probability defines a probability that the term is in a comment posting assigned to a comment class. The method further includes performing a Bayesian analysis using the term answer probability and the term comment probability for each term of the plurality of terms to select a posting class for the previously unclassified posting. The posting class is either the answer class or the comment class. The posting class is assigned to the previously unclassified posting. |
| US08165996B2 |
Policy-based management of a redundant array of independent nodes
An archive cluster application runs in a distributed manner across a redundant array of independent nodes. Each node preferably runs a complete archive cluster application instance. A given nodes provides a data repository, which stores up to a large amount (e.g., a terabyte) of data, while also acting as a portal that enables access to archive files. Each symmetric node has a set of software processes, e.g., a request manager, a storage manager, a metadata manager, and a policy manager. The request manager manages requests to the node for data (i.e., file data), the storage manager manages data read/write functions from a disk associated with the node, and the metadata manager facilitates metadata transactions and recovery across the distributed database. The policy manager implements one or more policies, which are operations that determine the behavior of an “archive object” within the cluster. The archive cluster application provides object-based storage. Preferably, the application permanently associates metadata and policies with the raw archived data, which together comprise an archive object. Object policies govern the object's behavior in the archive. As a result, the archive manages itself independently of client applications, acting automatically to ensure that all object policies are valid. |
| US08165994B2 |
Integrated governance and version audit logging
A server auditing process that stores only a single up-to-date data record along with the differences relative to previous changes in the record that allow the user to move “backward in time” to recreate previous values. The auditing feature introduces a baseline database table and a difference database table for each existing database table. The baseline table stores the most recent auditing data and the differences table complements the baseline table by storing pairs in the form of attribute name and previous value. By applying difference rows to baseline data, the user is able to recreate the data as it existed at any given timestamp and at a minimal storage cost. The architecture minimizes the impact of auditing on system performance by employing an asynchronous priority queue so that task processing is deferred until the system has adequate resources and other work is not affected. |
| US08165993B2 |
Business intelligence system with interface that provides for immediate user action
A business intelligence system includes a business activity monitor with a data cache to receive and store enterprise data integrated from a plurality of enterprise applications, the data cache being updated in real-time as the enterprise data changes. A computer coupled with the data cache runs a program that produces a graphical user interface on a display. The graphical user interface provides a user with a real-time report of the enterprise data and a page that allows the user to specify at least one action affecting operation of the enterprise. The page also including a button selection of which causes the computer to send a first message designating one or more selected actions to the BAM. In response, the BAM sends a second message to one or more of the enterprise applications to execute the one or more selected actions in real-time. 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. |
| US08165991B2 |
Management of recorded data for online simulations
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to online simulations. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for managing recorded data for an online simulation can be provided. The method can include determining that a first experience of a user of the online simulation shall be recorded. The method can further include generating a recording of the first experience and associating metadata with the recording. The method can further include reading metadata of a second experience of the user of the online simulation and determining that the metadata of the second experience matches the metadata of the first experience. The method can further include notifying the user that the recording is associated with the second experience. |
| US08165987B2 |
System and method of machine-aided information extraction rule development
An automatic rule generation system generates rules for fact extraction. A rule generation module receives a sample and generates a rule from the sample. A rule relaxation module generates a relaxed rule from the rule. A rule testing module generates a reverse index from a corpus, applies the relaxed rule to the reverse index, and generates text segments. An information extraction module generates modified text segments from the relaxed rule and the text segments. A candidate suggestion module performs a candidate generation process: if the candidate generation process generates no candidates, the candidate suggestion module signals the rule relaxation module to generate a further relaxed rule to use as the relaxed rule. A user evaluates a candidate and provides the candidate as an additional sample for the automatic rule generation system to generate another rule to use as the rule. As a result of performing these actions iteratively, the rule is eventually generated and relaxed to result in an appropriate rule to use for fact extraction. |
| US08165982B2 |
Method and apparatus for limiting how rule components can be modified using tag definitions and verbs
Various embodiments herein include one or more of systems, methods, data structures, and software operable to limit how rules, or components thereof, may be modified. Some embodiments include receiving a rule definition in a system, the rule definition including one or more rule components, each component including a reference to one or more values from which an inference is made when the rule is applied. Such embodiments further include associating one or more rule components with one or more tag definitions that limit how the one or more associated rule components are modifiable by one or more rule administrators. The rule definition and the associations of tag definitions to the rule components may then be stored in a data store. |
| US08165981B2 |
Dynamic constraint satisfaction problem solver that recreates structure across sessions
A dynamic constraint solver for solving a constraint satisfaction problem model receives a request for a current solving session to recreate a first solving session for the model. The solver then collects a deferred port list comprising one or more ports in the model that need a sub-problem and creates one or more runtime constraints for the model. For each of the created runtime constraints, the solver propagates the constraint and determines if the propagation generates a conflict. If the propagation generates a conflict, the solver dismisses the constraint and reverts the model to a state before the constraint was propagated. |
| US08165979B2 |
System and method for resource adaptive classification of data streams
A system and method for resource adaptive classification of data streams. Embodiments of systems and methods provide classifying data received in a computer, including discretizing the received data, constructing an intermediate data structure from said received data as training instances, performing subspace sampling on said received data as test instances and adaptively classifying said received data based on statistics of said subspace sampling. |
| US08165977B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for otoacoustic protection of autonomic systems
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments an autonomic unit transmits an otoacoustic signal to counteract a potentially harmful incoming signal. |
| US08165976B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for otoacoustic protection of autonomic systems
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments an autonomic unit transmits an otoacoustic signal to counteract a potentially harmful incoming signal. |
| US08165973B2 |
Method of identifying robust clustering
A method of finding robust clusters comprises the use of principal component analysis and consensus ensemble clustering. In another aspect, the method may comprise normalizing a data set; identifying attributes of the data set that contribute to most of variation in the normalized data set; selecting data having the attributes that contribute to most of variation in the normalized data set; identifying a plurality of clusters from the selected data using consensus ensemble clustering; and identifying robust clusters from the plurality of clusters. The method can be used in healthcare and life science. |
| US08165972B1 |
Determining a feature related to an indication of a concept using a classifier
A related feature determination system determines a feature related to an indication of a concept. A set of positive cases and a set of negative case are selected using the indication of a concept. A classifier is induced for the concept using the set of positive cases in a manner blinded to the indication of a concept. The set of negative cases is applied to the classifier. A feature related to the indication of a concept is determined using results of applying the classifier to the set of negative cases. |
| US08165968B2 |
Method and system for evaluating costs of various design and maintenance approaches
The method and system quantify the impact of various design and operational solutions for equipment modules of a structure and the overall structure based upon economic factors. In particular, the method and system provide cost evaluation of various maintenance approaches for at least one equipment module that is part of an overall structure. In addition, a baseline and alternate equipment module may be specified for each equipment module. The costs associated with each of the maintenance approaches for each baseline and alternate equipment module then may be compared and the costs associated with the overall structure having a chosen maintenance approach for each baseline and alternate equipment module may be evaluated. The sensitivity of the costs associated with the overall structure to changes in one or more of the parameter values also may be calculated. |
| US08165966B2 |
Systems and methods to collect and augment decedent data
Systems, methods, and software to collect, validate, and disseminate or otherwise use of data of decedents. Some embodiments include receiving and obtaining decedent data from various sources to augment decedent data and making the augmented decedent data available to others. |
| US08165962B1 |
System and method for financial instrument pre-qualification and offering
The invention is related to a system and method for offering a financial instrument to a pre-qualified consumer. Potential consumers are pre-qualified for a variety of financial instruments, which pre-qualifications are stored in one or more databases and are linked to the consumer by a unique identifier and information that may later be verified. When a consumer contacts an entity operating, or otherwise in contact with, the system and method of the invention, the system determines whether that particular consumer has been pre-qualified for one or more financial instruments. The system may also determine whether one or more of the financial instruments which the consumer is pre-qualified for is appropriate for offering to the consumer according to pre-determined conditions linked to the financial instrument. Further checks may be performed at the time of the consumer contact for any indicators that the consumer should not be offered one or more of the financial instruments. The consumer may then be offered one or more of the financial instruments for which he or she has been pre-qualified. Typically, the consumer contacts the system for a purpose unrelated to requesting any financial instruments, and the invention permits the marketing of financial offerings to pre-qualified consumers. |
| US08165959B2 |
Method and apparatus for pricing calculation
A method and apparatus for providing a competitive bid from a provider comprising receiving billing data from a user, the billing data including provider information, location, and total bill amount. The method further comprising calculating a complex usage pattern based on the billing data and statistical data for the location. The method additionally comprising calculating a competitive bid for the user, based on the complex usage pattern and a pricing structure of the provider. |
| US08165957B2 |
System and method for a trading interface incorporating a chart
A graphical interface and method are provided for displaying market information corresponding to a tradeable object. One graphical interface includes a chart region for displaying historical market data in relation to a first value axis, and a market grid region in alignment with the chart region. The market grid region comprises a plurality of areas for receiving commands from a user input device to send trade orders, and the areas are displayed in relation to a second value axis. A plurality of values displayed along the second value axis is a subset of values displayed in relation to the first value axis, and can be modified to a new plurality of values that corresponds to a new subset of values on the first value axis. |
| US08165956B2 |
Bill availability notification and billing information request
Systems and methods for presenting billing information are provided. A notice may be transmitted via a network by a bill presentment service provider system comprising one or more computers. The notice may be transmitted in accordance with an e-mail protocol, and the notice may indicate availability of billing information via a bill present service provider system. Subsequent to transmitting the notice, a request for the billing information may be received by the bill presentment service provider system via the second protocol. The request may be received responsive to a selection of the hyper-link. Responsive to receiving the request, at least a portion of the billing information may be transmitted by the bill presentment service provider system via the network. |
| US08165955B2 |
Method and system for computer-implemented trading of secondary market debt securities
A computer-implemented method and system for trading of debt securities (bonds), where multiple dealers participate and compete on a single platform (100). Dealers and investors have respective interfaces (250, 230) for communicating. In one aspect, dealers announce new debt security issues (400), the investors communicate an indication of interest (IOI) (500) in purchasing the new debt security issues, and the issues are allocated to the investors. In another aspect, issues from multiple dealers are made available to investors on a secondary trading market in a searchable format (1000). In response to price inquires sent by investors (1200), the dealers provide offers (1300) which are briefly held and released to the investor concurrently to allow the investor to consider all offers together. In another aspect, the dealers post bid and offer terms for actively traded issues (1700) that are updated in real-time to avoid the need for the inquiry procedure. |
| US08165953B2 |
System and method for creating and trading a derivative investment instrument over a range of index values
An investment instrument based on a range of index values is disclosed that allows investors to take risk positions relative to the size, or length, of the range. The investment instrument has a monetary value that increases as the index value increases within a low range interval of the range, decreases as the index value increases within a high range interval of the range, and is fixed or capped if the index value falls within a middle range interval of the range. Typically, one settlement amount will be zero and the other will be an amount greater than the investment instrument price. |
| US08165952B2 |
Electronic trading system
An electronic trading system facilitates electronic trades of fungible trading elements. Fungible trading elements are electronically displayed and the system facilitates the trading operations. A risk factor for a particular transaction may be determined and based on this risk factor, the electronic trading system may elect straight through processing (STP) operations to conclude a trade. Otherwise the risk factor may indicate avoiding the STP and allowing other settlement means. The electronic trading system also include the dematerialization of the trading elements, therefore verifying ownership prior to exchange and as such as more robust and secure trading platform. |
| US08165950B2 |
Method and a system for trading stripped bonds
In an automated trading system for matching bids and offers entered into the system by a number of traders connected to the system, a server hosts a matching processor and an associated memory forming an orderbook of the system where both fixed-income instruments paying a coupon, referred to as bonds, and fixed-income instruments not paying a coupon (zero-coupon), referred to as stripped bonds, are traded. The system derives prices for bonds using information from stripped bonds. |
| US08165948B2 |
System for selecting and purchasing assets and maintaining an investment portfolio
The invention is in the field of computer implemented systems and methods for generating a profile of an investor's risk tolerance, providing automated investment allocation advice based on the risk tolerance of the investor, generating at least one list of investments for the portfolio of the investor, allowing for review of the at least one list of investments and information relating to historic and/or hypothetical performance and a description of asset selection methodology, performing automated electronic execution of transactions pertaining the investments, maintenance and monitoring of investment portfolios, and rebalancing of investment portfolios. |
| US08165946B2 |
Customized financial transaction pricing
Enabling innovative merchant transaction pricing capability, while improving pricing process efficiency, is disclosed. When a merchant submits financial transaction account records to a payment processor for payment, the payment processor utilizes granular transaction data to calculate complex merchant transaction pricing rules. The system accesses individual transaction data, aggregate transaction data, transaction history, customer data, merchant data and product data to enable flexible, innovative and dynamic pricing capabilities that increase revenue and increase customer satisfaction. |
| US08165945B2 |
Transaction velocity counting for fraud detection
Methods and systems for detecting fraud based on velocity counts are disclosed. |
| US08165941B2 |
Method and system for integrating savings and credits with different interest rates
A method and system for operating a new financial instrument and payment card integrates savings and credit transactions belonging to the same payment plan into a single account. Transactions can be carried out at different periods in time, for any amount, agreed on with different fixed or adjustable interest rates, without losing the payment conditions of each savings and credit. A financial account card as a financial instrument can be used to carry out long, medium and short-term savings and credit financial transactions. The card can also be used as a payment card to buy and sell anything of value. The card is operated through financial institutions and service centers by a computer system, which manages transactions between cardholders themselves and with financial institutions, maintains account balances, determines installments for debt and savings balances, manages available credit limits and guarantees, and manages other financial and payment services. |
| US08165938B2 |
Prepaid card fraud and risk management
A method of monitoring fraud associated with prepaid devices includes configuring fraud platform parameters which comprise one or more limits defined by one or more values, each limit associated with a particular platform parameter, one or more thresholds defined by one or more values, each threshold associated with a particular platform parameter, and one or more rules that define restrictions for certain prepaid device activities. The method further includes applying the fraud platform parameters to prepaid device production data and determining whether to issue the prepaid device depending on whether any parameters were triggered by the production data. |
| US08165936B2 |
Payroll system and method
A paycheck-centric payroll system and method for generating, accumulating and reporting on payroll information including payroll deductions and payroll tax deposits. |
| US08165935B2 |
Construction payment management system and method with budget reconciliation features
A computer-implemented method of reconciling a primary budget for a construction project. One embodiment of the invention includes generating a primary budget for the construction project and assigning a first primary budget line item from the primary budget to a participant. A secondary budget is then generated for the primary budget line item. Before administering a draw that includes a payment to the participant, the computer-implemented method ensures that the total sum of the budget amounts in the secondary budget is consistent with the budget amount for the primary budget line item. In some embodiments, the secondary budget is consistent when the total sum of the budget amounts is less than the primary budget line item. In some embodiments, the secondary budget is consistent when the total sum of the budget amounts is equal to the primary budget line item. |
| US08165932B2 |
Enhancement of network accounting records
A system and method are provided for processing network accounting information. A first network accounting record is received from a first source. Thereafter, the first network accounting record is correlated with accounting information available from a second source. The accounting information with which the first network accounting record is correlated is then used to enhance the first network accounting record. |
| US08165930B2 |
Crate tool
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for processing aircraft software parts. A crate containing an aircraft software part is received from a source. Signatures are validated for the crate and the aircraft software part. If the signatures are valid, the crate is unpacked. The contents of the incoming crate are displayed. The aircraft software part is unpacked. Responsive to a request to upload the stored part to a library in the aircraft software part management apparatus, a determination is made as to whether the stored part meets a policy. If the stored part meets the policy, the part is signed. The signed part is placed in a crate and is signed to form a signed crate wherein signatures for the signed aircraft software part and the signed crate are different from the set of signatures in the incoming crate. The signed crate is sent to the library. |
| US08165928B2 |
Managing events within supply chain networks
A supply chain network system comprises a site data appliance (SDA) and a Universal Data Appliance Protocol (UDAP) adapter coupled with one or more data source equipments (DSE). The SDA collects specification information comprising event information from the one or more DSE. A server is coupled with the SDA in the supply chain network. In response to the server requesting the specification information, the SDA sends to the server the specification information in a Description Document. A data center (DC) is coupled with the server in the supply chain network. The DC receives the Description Document and maps the event information in the specification information with event handlers. A mapping of the event information with the event handlers is sent from the DC to the server. When an event is generated by the one or more DSE, the map is used to select an appropriate event handler to execute. |
| US08165926B2 |
Method, medium, and system for detecting errors in item requests
Under the present invention, user-initiated and system-initiated item request are received by a “purchasing/requisition application” or the like. Upon receipt, a set of tables are populated using data within the requests. Thereafter the item requests are processed with the system-initiated item requests typically being processed in batch. Should an error arise in processing one of the system-initiated item requests (e.g., due to lack of supplier/approver, or a data level error within the request), the failed system-initiated request is placed into a failed request queue. Upon demand, an administrator can be presented with a view of the failed request queue so that he/she can see all requests that have failed. The system could also allow the administrator to view and edit the data corresponding to any of the user-initiated or system-initiated requests. Any views that are presented to the administrator are presented within a single browser window for GWA compliance. |
| US08165922B2 |
Physical on demand testing with version support
A method for testing versions for remote manufacturing of software media from a network is described. An interface to a user is provided for creation of a physical on demand product. A product version is created for the physical on demand product that includes an electronic copy of a product and information about the product. Approval of the created product version is requested from quality assurance. A test order capability is provided to the user after approval from quality assurance such that the user may have a physical on demand product order fulfilled prior to release of the product version for general sale in a commerce engine. The delivery of the test order is processed based upon who is requesting the test order. A software system that performs the testing method described above for the creation of compact discs (CDs) or digital video discs (DVDs) containing full product files (executables, binaries, music, video, etc.) also is described. |
| US08165920B2 |
System for concurrent optimization of business economics and customer value
A computer-implemented system and method to provide options on products to enhance customers' experience. A computer-implemented system is operated that delivers to a customer an option to utilize up to n of m selected products, where m and n are whole numbers and n is less than or equal to m. Information is recorded in a data store, pertaining to said option. In addition, a system is operated to define each of the n chosen products, whereby after each of the n chosen products is defined, the customer can utilize said chosen product. The information pertaining to said defined products is recorded in a data store. |
| US08165919B2 |
Web based product ordering method with shopping carts actions queued
Call center order system and process allows a customer service representative to make remote calls to a server to perform shopping cart actions, all on one web page. Historically, representatives would need to enter client information and product information on several different web pages to satisfy a purchase. Eventually, the representative would have “loaded” several different pages to enter product and customer information. This method resulted in a high amount of errors and increased the risk of fraud. The system utilizes AJAX and dynamic HTML technology. The representative is able to add, update, or remove products in the cart without waiting for the page to “refresh” after every action. Cart actions are flagged with a “ticking” indicator bar. Orders may be placed in a “queue” instead of loading a different page. A mild fraud mode to allow multiple orders is also described. A storefront is used in this process. |
| US08165915B1 |
Advertisement customization
Methods, systems and computer program products for customizing one or more advertisements are described. Specifically, advertisements may be customized using information from content of a web page prior to viewing by a user. For example, the rendering of the text of an advertisement may be in a same size, color, and font type as the text on the web page into which the advertisement is integrated. In addition, the advertisement may be displayed using a same color scheme as that used by the web page such that the advertisement may be enhanced in terms of notice and interaction by the user. |
| US08165913B2 |
System, method, program for assigning virtual attribute to product, and system, method, and program for tracing cause of phenomenon occurring in product
A system for tracing a cause of a phenomenon occurring in products produced in a production process chain is provided. The system is provided with a storage unit for storing a virtual attribute in association with corresponding second products, a receiving unit for receiving information for specifying third products in which a phenomenon occurs, a correlation calculation unit for calculating a correlation coefficient between the third products specified by the information for specifying the third products and the group of the second products having a common virtual attribute, for every kind of second products used in the third products, and a cause identification unit for identifying the second products belonging to the kind of the second products for which a maximum correlation coefficient is calculated as the cause of the phenomenon. |
| US08165912B2 |
Methods and systems for portfolio investment thesis based on application life cycles
The disclosure provides a product/service portfolio investment calculation methodology based on an application life cycle. The present invention defines an application life cycle with a plurality of phases, and provides a mechanism to define a location within the application life cycle improving product and service investment decisions. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention maps the application life cycle with respect to telecommunications and datacommunications products and services. |
| US08165911B1 |
Market maturity optimization of web-based service
Historical web-based service performance metric values and the historical web-based standards are analyzed to determine maturity classifications for a plurality of regions over a time period. The historical web-based standards applied to each of the regions at different times within the time period are compared, and current web-based standards for one or more regions are adjusted based on the comparison to improve web-based service performance in the one or more regions. |
| US08165908B2 |
Tool tip with additional information and task-sensitive direct access help for a user
An interactive software application provides workflow assistance related to the proper performance of work steps in the workflow. The workflow assistance may include step by step instructions detailing the proper operation of the user interface to complete the current work step. Additionally, the workflow assistance may include a virtual simulation demonstrating the proper operation of the user interface to complete the work step. Alternate workflow assistance may be provided for alternate manners of completing the work step. The software application also may initiate the performance of a work step via a primary operation on an icon associated with the work step. Workflow assistance associated with the work step may be presented via a secondary operation performed on the icon. Workflow assistance also may be directly accessible from the user interface or from a help menu superimposed upon other images displayed on the user interface. |
| US08165905B2 |
Data processing unit, data processing method, and program product for determining a transshipment method
A data processing unit, a data processing method, and a program product for determining a transhipment method are provided. The data processing unit may include a solution search processor for performing solution search processing of a plurality of physical objects. In the data processing unit, a data representation of a loading state of an object may have a corresponding variable which takes as a value an identification number of a heap at a predetermined physical location. The data representation of the loading state may include a coordinate value indicating a loading order of the object in the heap. The data processing unit may also include an initial condition inputter. The solution search processor may perform the solution search processing by constructing a search tree. |
| US08165903B1 |
System, method and computer program product for facilitating informed decisions relating to family risk
A system, method, and computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium are provided. In use, an application is executed which is capable of performing decision logic. Further, information is retrieved from a database in accordance with the decision logic. Information is also received from a user in accordance with the decision logic utilizing a user interface. Still yet, the information is processed utilizing the decision logic. The executing, retrieving, receiving, and processing are carried out by a platform capable of accomplishing the executing, retrieving, receiving, and processing for different purposes by executing different applications each capable of performing different decision logic and using different databases. In one embodiment, the different applications are capable of being executed simultaneously. In another embodiment, the different applications (e.g. insurance, investments, etc.) are each related to asset risk management. |
| US08165901B2 |
Method and system for developing or tracking a program for medical treatment
This invention relates generally to a system and method for providing to patients a medical treatment program, such as a program for physical therapy, and for tracking whether the patient has performed the program correctly. In one aspect, the system and method determines whether the patient has performed the program correctly by comparing feedback from the patient for various parameters associated with an exercise to anticipated values for those parameters. In another aspect, the invention assists medical treatment providers in selecting exercises and tutorials to include in the medical treatment program. |
| US08165900B2 |
Patient check-in/scheduling kiosk
A method and system for facilitating activity scheduling for a patient including the steps of providing an interface device for checking a patient in at the facility, receiving identifying information for the patient, identifying currently scheduled appointments for the patient where the currently scheduled appointments are associated with currently scheduled appointment activities, identifying at least one additional unscheduled activity for the patient in addition to the currently scheduled appointment activities, identifying at least one suggested appointment schedule including at least one open time slot during which the patient may complete the additional unscheduled activity and the currently scheduled appointment activities and presenting the at least one suggested appointment schedule to the patient. |
| US08165897B2 |
Medical decision system including interactive protocols and associated methods
An interactive protocol system for a medical decision system includes a plurality of medical related information databases containing medical related information and rules, a patient information database including patient information, a medical practices database including information relating to medical practices, a questions database including questions to be presented to a user relating to medical care, and an answers database including answers related to the respective questions in said questions database. The medical practices database may include a plurality of protocols. Each of the plurality of protocols may include a different plurality of narrowing questions to be presented to the user. The questions may relate to at least one of the plurality of protocols and may be presented to the user based on the answers to the questions provided by the user. The narrowing questions in at least one of the plurality of protocols may be answered by the user to provide the user an indication relating to medical practices. |
| US08165896B2 |
Compliance data for health-related procedures
Exemplary embodiments provide a verification technique that facilitates administration of a health-related procedure to an intended recipient patient or group of patients. An interface template or signal protocol may be configured to establish suitable matching between the patient and various types of objects used to administer the health-related procedure. In some embodiments real-time monitoring data regarding administration of a health-related procedure to a recipient patient is posted to a patient data record that has restricted read/write access. In some instances the monitoring data is processed to determine compliance or non-compliance based on comparison of the health-related procedure with a predetermined benchmark standard. |
| US08165892B2 |
Monitoring drug packaging in clinical trial process
A method for automatically tracking compliance in a clinical trials process involving one or more operations comprising selecting a container; associating an identifier with the container, the identifier having a unique signature data item thereon; reading the unique signature data item to a relational database; performing a first operation relating to the container; checking the performance of the first operation against a compliance standard; following the successful completion of the first operation, writing an associated compliance data item to the relational database; optionally performing one or more further operations relating to the container; and following the successful completion of each optional further operation or a package thereof, writing an associated compliance data item to the database. |
| US08165891B2 |
Green rating system and associated marketing methods
A method and system for assigning a rating to an entity based on a plurality of metrics, for example, assigning a rating to an entity which reflects that entity's level of environmental performance, and then assigning an indicia to the entity which reflects the rating relative to other like entities. The system includes ways to generate revenue based on the entity's use of the indicia, such as integrating the display of the indicia with search engines such that the indicia is displayed when the entity's link appears on a search results list and charging a per impression and/or a per click through microfee. The invention also comprises a filtered search facility which only features rated member entities on its search results list. A website is also provided which contains landing pages for each rated entity which may be accessed by clicking on the displayed indicia in the search results list. |
| US08165884B2 |
Layered prompting: self-calibrating instructional prompting for verbal interfaces
A plurality of prompting layers configured to provide varying levels of detailed assistance in prompting a user are maintained. A prompt from a current prompting layer is presented to a user. Input is received from the user. A level of detail in prompting the user is adaptively changed based on user behavior. Upon the user making a hesitant verbal gesture that reaches a threshold duration, a transition is made from the current prompting layer to a more detailed prompting layer. Upon the user interrupting the prompt with a valid input, a transition is made from the current prompting layer to a less detailed prompting layer. |
| US08165879B2 |
Voice output device and voice output program
A voice output device, includes: a compound word voice data storage unit that stores voice data in association with each of compound words which is formed of a plurality of words; a text display unit that displays text containing a plurality of words; a word designation unit that designates any of the words in the text displayed by the text display unit as a designated word based on a user's operation; a compound word detection unit that detects a compound word in which voice data is stored in the compound word voice data storage unit, from among the plurality of words in the text containing the designated word; and a voice output unit that outputs voice data corresponding to the compound word detected by the compound word detection unit as a voice. |
| US08165877B2 |
Confidence measure generation for speech related searching
A voice search system has a speech recognizer, a search component, and a dialog manager. A confidence measure generator receives speech recognition features from the speech recognizer, search features from the search component, and dialog features from the dialog manager, and calculates an overall confidence measure for voice search results based upon the features received. The invention can be extended to include the generation of additional features, based on those received from the individual components of the voice search system. |
| US08165873B2 |
Speech analysis apparatus, speech analysis method and computer program
A speech analysis apparatus analyzing prosodic characteristics of speech information and outputting a prosodic discrimination result includes an input unit inputting speech information, an acoustic analysis unit calculating relative pitch variation and a discrimination unit performing speech discrimination processing, in which the acoustic analysis unit calculates a current template relative pitch difference, determining whether a difference absolute value between the current template relative pitch difference and a previous template relative pitch difference is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold or not, when the value is not less than the threshold, calculating an adjacent relative pitch difference, and when the adjacent relative pitch difference is equal to or less than a previously set margin value, executing correction processing of adding or subtracting an octave of the current template relative pitch difference to calculate the relative pitch variation by applying the relative pitch difference as the relative pitch difference of the current analysis frame. |
| US08165872B2 |
Method and system for improving speech quality
A method and system for improving speech quality may include estimating at least one component of a distorted portion of a speech signal from at least one component of an undistorted portion of the speech signal and reinforcing the component of the distorted portion based on the estimating. The components may include the pitch, spectral envelope and spectral energy of the speech signal. The undistorted portion of the speech signal may be delayed and the components of the distorted portion may be interpolated from the components of a delayed undistorted portion and a current undistorted portion of the speech signal. The components of the distorted portion of the speech signal may be extrapolated from a current undistorted portion of the speech signal. Components of the distorted portion of the speech signal may be estimated from frequency bands other than the frequency band affected by the distortion. |
| US08165869B2 |
Learning word segmentation from non-white space languages corpora
Illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for learning word segmentation from non-white space language corpora. In one illustrative embodiment, the computer implemented method receives text input characters and calculates a ratio-measure for each pair of characters in the input characters. The computer implemented method further determines whether the ratio-measure of each pair of characters is equal to a predetermined threshold value. Responsive to determining the ratio-measure is less than the predetermined threshold value, and a local-minimum value, the computer method further identifies the pair as a weak pair and breaks the weak pair of characters. |
| US08165868B2 |
Speech translating system
Disclosed is a speech translating system for translating speech from a first language to a language selected from a set of second languages. The system includes an input unit, a processor, and an output unit. The input unit is capable of receiving the speech in the first language. The processor is operatively coupled to the input unit and is capable of converting the speech in the first language to the speech in the selected language. The output unit is operatively coupled to the processor. The output unit is capable of outputting the speech in the selected language. |
| US08165866B2 |
Emulation system
An emulation system includes a controller, an emulation calculator, an emulation storage unit, and an interface unit. The emulation calculator includes a device under test (DUT) and emulates the DUT. The emulation storage unit stores emulation data of the DUT emulated by the emulation calculator under the control of the controller. The interface unit distributes and transfers the emulation data to a plurality of computers under the control of the controller. |
| US08165860B2 |
Thermodynamic process control based on pseudo-density root for equation of state
A system for thermodynamic modeling is provided. The system comprises a computer having a processor, a thermodynamic process simulation application, and a thermodynamic equation of state application. When executed by the processor, the thermodynamic equation of state application determines a density root based on a first and second point of departure from an equation of state and based on a first and a second extrapolation equation. The first departure point satisfies the equation ∂ P ∂ ρ = β P ρ + Ω . The second departure point satisfies the equation α ( ∂ P ∂ ρ - R ) + ( 1 - α ) ( ∂ P ∂ ρ ) | dp 1 = 0. The density root is determined as a pseudo-density in a phase two when the specified pressure is greater than the second departure point pressure and in a phase one when the specified pressure is less than the first departure point pressure. When executed by the processor, the thermodynamic process simulation application invokes the thermodynamic equation of state application to determine a result based on the density root. |
| US08165859B2 |
Method of designing an airfoil assembly
A method of analyzing a finite element model of an airfoil assembly. The airfoil assembly comprises a main airfoil element and a plurality of control surfaces. The method comprises: generating a loads interface model of the airfoil assembly comprising: data which defines the spatial positions of a set of nodes, and data which associates each node with either the main element or one of the control surfaces. Load data is generated which defines loads acting on the nodes of the loads interface model, and mapped onto a finite element model to produce a loaded finite element model. A stress analysis is then performed on the loaded finite element model, and the finite element model can be refined as a result of the stress analysis. |
| US08165850B2 |
Determining the direction of a signal source
A system for measuring signals received by an apparatus. An antenna system in the apparatus may include two or more antennas. A receiver in the apparatus may be configured to measure signal response induced in the antenna system in accordance with a pattern. After the signal response for the antenna system is measured at least once, the pattern may be altered and the signal response for the antenna system may be measured again in accordance with the altered pattern. The signal response in the antenna system measured for the pattern may then be averaged with the signal response in the antenna system measured for the altered pattern, and the average may be utilized as input to, for example, a directional determination process. |
| US08165848B2 |
Method of inspecting equipment
A method of inspecting equipment to ensure quality control that employs a computer program to assist in the inspection. The program contains an inspection protocol adapted to specific equipment. The inspector follows the protocol to inspect component parts of the equipment. The inspection protocol can only be closed, indicating completion of the inspection, when the protocol has been followed. The program is capable of generating a variety of inspection reports. |
| US08165842B2 |
Measuring device for vehicle data, in particular for the speed of a vehicle running on wheels
A measuring device for measuring the speed of a vehicle running on wheels has a first sensor and a second sensor. The two sensors are arranged on the same wheel of a vehicle and rotate with this wheel. Both sensors are arranged in such a way that they measure forces which are each perpendicular to the axis of the wheel and at an angle to one another, and act on the same point. An evaluation device is provided to which the measured values of the two sensors are fed, with the evaluation device obtaining the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of travel therefrom, and calculating the current vehicle speed from it. |
| US08165840B2 |
Posture sensor automatic calibration
A system and method automatically calibrate a posture sensor, such as by detecting a walking state or a posture change. For example, a three-axis accelerometer can be used to detect a patient's activity or posture. This information can be used to automatically calibrate subsequent posture or acceleration data. |
| US08165837B1 |
Multi-scale classification of defects
A computerized method for categorizing defects on a substrate. A list of defects on the substrate is received as input to a processor, where each defect is represented by a defect location and an associated micro-defect code. The input is analyzed with the processor to detect spatial clusters of defects on the substrate. The spatial clusters are analyzed with the processor to determine which of the spatial clusters represent known macro-defects and which of the spatial clusters represent unknown macro-defects. The micro-defect code associated with each defect that is included in one of the spatial clusters that is determined to be a known macro-defect is changed with the processor with a macro-defect code that is associated solely with the known macro-defect. The processor analyzes the defects that are included in one of the spatial clusters that is determined to be an unknown macro-defect to determine a predominantly occurring micro-defect code. The processor changes the micro-defect code associated with each defect that is included in the one spatial cluster that is determined to be an unknown macro-defect with the predominantly-occurring micro-defect code. The processor sends the changed list of defects on the substrate as output. |
| US08165836B2 |
Measurement apparatus and computer readable medium storing program for measuring error of a quadrature demodulator or quadrature modulator
A measurement apparatus that measures, as an error under measurement, at least one of a gain error and a phase error of a quadrature demodulator or a quadrature modulator as a measurement target. The measurement apparatus includes an output control section that causes the measurement target to output a signal, a detecting section that detects a measured signal representing a real component and an imaginary component of the signal output from the measurement target, and a calculating section that calculates, as the gain error or the phase error, a solution for a variable that maximizes a correlation value between the measured signal detected by the detecting section and an ideal signal that includes the error under measurement as the variable and that represents the measured signal that should be output by the measurement target. |
| US08165835B1 |
Complex wavelet filter based power measurement and calibration system
A power measurement and calibration system provides power and line frequency measurements by using a bandpass filter having complex voltage and current outputs from which real and imaginary power components can be determined. Calibration of the filter may be omitted if a complex wavelet filter is used to implement the bandpass filter and a determination of line frequency can also be provided for downstream use. A processor receiving data from the output of the filter can compute real and imaginary power, power factor and the line frequency. The filter may be implemented by a processor executing program instructions, or a digital circuit implementing the filter and optionally a CORDIC rotator for computing the current-to-voltage phase relationship can provide input to the processor for power measurement and calibration of the sample rate to line frequency relationship and for other uses. |
| US08165833B2 |
Wireless sensor network systems, method for placing a plurality of sensor nodes in wireless sensor network system, and methods for computing sensing energy consumption per area of a plurality of sensor nodes
A wireless sensor network system, a method for placing a plurality of sensor nodes in a wireless sensor network, and a method for computing sensing energy consumption per area of a plurality of sensor node are disclosed. The wireless sensor network system includes a plurality of sensor nodes which are deployed at the same distance in a two-dimensional plane and have sensing areas of the same size, and an extra sensor node which has a sensing area of a smaller size than the size of the sensor nodes to sense a gap area which is not covered by the sensing areas of the sensor nodes. |
| US08165831B2 |
Water level measuring apparatus and measuring method
A water level measuring apparatus and a water level measuring method, in which a water level L0 of a liquid is read from a water level indicator secured to a liquid tank, and a filter value FLT is calculated by applying a filter with a time constant greater than one second to the water level L0, and the filter value FLT is output as a final water level L. Accordingly, even if the surface sloshes and the water level L0 fluctuates up and down, the water level L0 is smoothed by the filter. Hence there is little influence of the liquid sloshing, and the water level measurement accuracy can be improved. |
| US08165830B2 |
Meter electronics and methods for determining a phase difference between a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal of a flow meter
Meter electronics (20) for processing sensor signals in a flow meter is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The meter electronics (20) includes an interface (201) for receiving a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and a processing system (203) in communication with the interface (201) and configured to receive the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal, generate a ninety degree phase shift from the first sensor signal, and compute a frequency from the first sensor signal and the ninety degree phase shift. The processing system (203) is further configured to generate sine and cosine signals using the frequency, and quadrature demodulate the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal using the sine and cosine signals in order to determine the phase difference. |
| US08165829B2 |
Method of diagnosing system, method of operating aggregating system for system diagnosis, and aggregating system for system diagnosis
The invention provides a method of diagnosing a system, a method of operating an aggregating system for system diagnosis and an aggregating system for system diagnosis, which are effective for achieving comprehensive and effective system cost reduction. For a target system 1, at least two or more kinds of diagnoses selected from a trap operation diagnosis, a fluid leakage diagnosis, a system improvement diagnosis and maintenance improvement diagnosis are effected in a batch and in reporting the results of these diagnoses in a batch, there are reported an economic advantage MQt″ obtained by reduction in a trap-passed seam loss Qt″, an economic advantage MQs, MQp, MQn obtained by reduction in fluid leakage loss Qs, Qp, Qn, an economic advantage Ma obtained by system improvement and an economic advantage Mb obtained by method improvement in a maintenance method. |
| US08165826B2 |
Data driven method and system for predicting operational states of mechanical systems
There is provided an automated data driven method for predicting one or more operational states, such as wear or degradation, of a mechanical system over time. The method has the steps of collecting data on the mechanical system from a data recording device, preprocessing the collected data, selecting a training data set that represents a base condition for statistical comparison, fitting a statistical model to the training data set to relate a predicted response to nuisance variables at the base condition, and using an output model to predict what an observed response would have been at the base condition and calculating the difference between the observed response and the predicted response to predict the one or more operational states of the mechanical system. |
| US08165825B2 |
Method for electromagnetically measuring physical parameters of a pipe
The invention discloses a method for electromagnetically measuring physical parameters of a pipe that includes measuring a pipe inner diameter ID and a pipe ratio of magnetic permeability to electrical conductivity μ2/σ2 by means of a measuring arrangement 1 comprising a transmitter coil 2 and a receiver coil 3, both coils being coaxial to and longitudinally spaced from each other, the measuring arrangement being adapted to be positioned into the pipe CS and displaced through the pipe. |
| US08165822B2 |
Reverse progeny mapping
Provided is a method for mapping traits in organisms, in particular in plants. The method comprises a) providing a population of SDR-0 organisms, in particular plants, that each arise from one member of a population of unreduced cells resulting from second division restitution, in particular a population of unreduced spores; b) producing SDR-1 progeny populations of each of these SDR-0 organisms; c) phenotyping the SDR-1 progeny populations to identify segregating traits within each SDR-1 progeny population; d) if segregating progeny are present in a SDR-1 progeny population, genotyping the corresponding SDR-0 organism and comparing the genotype thereof with the genotype of the other SDR-0 organisms to identify heterozygous chromosomal regions associated with the occurrence of the segregating trait identified in the SDR-1 progeny population. |
| US08165821B2 |
System and methods for indel identification using short read sequencing
Systems, methods, and analytical approaches for short read sequence assembly and for the detection of insertions and deletions (indels) in a reference genome. A method suitable for software implementation is presented in which indels may be readily identified in a computationally efficient manner. |
| US08165817B2 |
Method for integrating reservoir charge modeling and downhole fluid analysis
A method for estimating properties of fluids in rock formations at selected locations within a geologic basin includes generating an initial model of the basin. The model includes as output spatial distribution of a rock formation mineral composition, rock formation porosity and composition of fluids in the rock formation porosity. An initial estimate of fluid composition is generated for a rock formation, and a sample of fluid is extracted from pore spaces of the rock formation. Composition of the fluid sample is analyzed from within, and the initial model of the basin is adjusted to substantially match the analyzed fluid composition. The adjusted model is used to generate an initial estimate of fluid composition. |
| US08165816B2 |
Fluid injection management method for hydrocarbon recovery
A method for controlling fluid injection parameters to improve well interactions and control hydrofracture geometries is provided. The method incorporates a systematic, transient analysis process for determining the formation effective displacement, stress and excess pore pressure field quantities at any depth within a stratified subterranean formation resulting from the subsurface injection of pressurized fluids. |
| US08165809B1 |
System and method for optimized flight planning
A computer-implemented system and method for the processing and optimization of flight plans is disclosed. Information regarding a plurality of previous flight plans is received over a digital network and is stored in at least a database. The database preferably includes aviation fuel price information, aircraft performance information, and aviation weather information as well. Upon receiving a request, a server generates at least an optimized portion of a flight plan. In one form, historical flight plan data of others is automatically used to aid in the determination of the optimized route offered to the user for review, with the resulting final flight plan being electronically filed with the FAA upon approval. In a further form, the user may arrange fuel transactions at intermediate destinations with the service provider receiving a fee in exchange for facilitating the transaction. |
| US08165808B2 |
Techniques for representing location information
Methods and apparatus are described for representing points of interest relative to a user-defined geographic area in a map interface. Representation of the geographic area and a plurality of point-of-interest (POI) locations corresponding to the points of interest is facilitated in the map interface using a color scheme in which variations in color represent variations in density of the POI locations within the geographic area. |
| US08165807B2 |
Multipath mitigation using sensors
Systems, methods and devices for multipath mitigation are presented. Specifically, embodiments of the invention can advantageously use sensor inputs to mitigate the effect of multipath signals received at a receiver. The use of physical sensors in navigation systems is deemed particularly advantageous. |
| US08165805B2 |
System and method for marking a region of a road map displayed by a vehicle navigation system
In the case of a system for marking a region within an image of a road map detail displayed on a vehicle video screen, a regional location can first be selected by a control element. The region, which represents one of several administrative levels, can be constantly fixed via an enter function of the control element. The administrative level and thereby the size of the region can be changed by a rotational movement of the control element, which can be rotated about a longitudinal axis. |
| US08165804B2 |
Navigation apparatus, method, and program for same
A normal route guidance of a navigation apparatus based on guidance information retrieved from a hard disk drive is switched to a turn list display based on the guidance information from an external memory when a vehicle enters a high-altitude area. The navigation apparatus calculates a navigation route to a destination, and determines if the navigation route passes a high-altitude area. If the route passes the high-altitude area, the guidance information of a high-altitude area section of the navigation route is written in the eternal memory. Thus, while the vehicle is traveling, the navigation apparatus having the hard disk drive continues its navigation operation by displaying the turn list even when an operation of the hard disk drive is stopped due to a function restriction in the high-altitude area. |
| US08165802B2 |
Method and apparatus of vehicle navigation system for detecting and avoiding city with crowded streets
A system for comparing various routes, identifying delays among the routes, and selecting a more desirable route, even if the desirable route is not the shortest distance, is described. In one embodiment, the more desirable route is the faster route. In one embodiment, the more desirable route is a route with fewer in-route delays. In one embodiment, the system loads a map from a memory and retrieves road level information based on position information of roads and delays. The roads in the map are described at various levels of detail, wherein lower levels contain more detail and relatively higher levels that contain less detail. One embodiment includes detecting a route having links with a substantially larger number of delays and adding an additional penalty cost for the links at higher levels based on penalties computed from the links at lower level road levels. If a current road level is not the highest, one embodiment include adding the additional penalty cost into a “penalty list” of a higher level link having the links of a current road level in order to detect the higher links with a large number of delays while calculating route at a higher level. When calculating a route (or portion of a route) at a higher road level, an additional penalty cost is added to the higher level links if based on the penalty list. |
| US08165801B1 |
Navigation service over wireless voice networks
A wireless communication device transmits first text messaging to a navigation computer system. The first text messaging indicates an identity, initial location, and destination location for the wireless communication device. The navigation computer system processes the first text messaging to determine navigation instructions from the initial location to the destination location and to initiate a voice call to the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device processes a caller number for the voice call to answer the call in speaker-phone mode and to transfer second text messaging to the navigation computer system. The second text messaging indicates current locations of the wireless communication device. The navigation computer system processes the second text messaging to transfer the navigation instructions over the voice call based on the current locations of the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device receives the navigation instructions over the voice call and audibly presents the navigation instructions. |
| US08165800B2 |
Apparatus for and method of providing data to an external application
A method of providing data to an external application is provided. The location and time of an object are periodically recorded to form a record of sightings. The record of sightings is then analysed in accordance with at least one criterion specified by the external application to which the data is to be provided. Lists of sightings from the record meeting the at least one criterion are supplied for use by the external application. |
| US08165798B2 |
System for evaluating POI and method thereof
The present invention relates to a system for evaluating a point of interest (POI) and a method thereof. The system includes a vehicle information center that stores position information of a POI, and a POI evaluation unit for determining whether a user uses the POI or not by using the POI position information, and sends an evaluation result to the vehicle information center after receiving an evaluation of the POI from the user. |
| US08165791B2 |
Vehicular fuel consumption notification apparatus and in-vehicle system
An actual fuel consumption rate and a tentative fuel consumption rate are repeatedly acquired from an air-conditioning apparatus. The tentative fuel consumption rate is a fuel consumption amount per unit time to generate a power consumed under a post-offset preset temperature being different from a present temperature by an offset temperature. Based on the acquired actual fuel consumption rate and the acquired tentative fuel consumption rate, an actual fuel consumption accumulation amount and a tentative fuel consumption accumulation amount are calculated in the same record period and are recorded as a data set in a travel history database. Then, several data sets recorded over the several record periods are read out from the travel history database. The total of the actual fuel consumption accumulation amounts and the total of the tentative fuel consumption accumulation amounts over the read several data sets are notified. |
| US08165790B2 |
Dynamic weather selection
The different advantageous embodiments provide a system comprising a weather band selection process and a processor unit. The processor unit is configured to run the weather band selection process. The weather band selection process identifies a flight trajectory associated with an aircraft, identifies weather information for the flight trajectory, and identifies a weather band selection for the aircraft using the flight trajectory, aircraft information and the weather information. |
| US08165787B2 |
Method for adjusting engine air-fuel ratio
A method for adjusting an air-fuel ratio of an engine is disclosed. In one example, the engine air-fuel ratio is adjusted in response to a duty cycle and frequency of a post catalyst oxygen sensor. The method may improve catalyst efficiency. |
| US08165784B2 |
Apparatus and method for learning reference position of variable valve unit
In a variable valve unit provided with a variable valve mechanism that varies opening characteristics of an engine valve by rotary motion of a control shaft, an actuator that generates a rotary motion of the control shaft, a stopper restricting the rotary motion of the control shaft, and an angle sensor capable of outputting signals corresponding to angle positions of the control shaft, when the signal of the angle sensor at an angle position where the rotation of the control shaft is restricted by the stopper are learned, the actuator is controlled such that the control shaft is pressed against the stopper, after which drive torque of the actuator is reduced and with the drive torque reduced, signals of the then-angle sensor are stored. |
| US08165780B2 |
Boosted engine control responsive to driver selected performance
Various systems and methods are described for operating an engine in a vehicle in response to a driver performance/economy mode. One example method comprises delivering a first fuel to a cylinder of the engine from a first injector, delivering a second, different, fuel to the cylinder of the engine from a second injector, varying a relative amount of said first and second fuel as an operating condition varies; and adjusting delivery of at least said second fuel based on a driver-selected performance mode. |
| US08165779B2 |
Cascade control of HCCI phasing
The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine that can be operated in a homogeneous charge combustion mode as well as a method and a computer readable storage device for controlling such an engine. The engine comprises at least one fuel injector, a fuel injection controller that controls a fuel amount injected into a first cylinder, and a piston in the first cylinder whose compression causes an air and fuel mixture to be ignited. The engine further comprises at least one intake valve, at least one exhaust valve, a valve operation controller, and at least one sensor for measuring an engine operation parameter in the first cylinder. The engine is particularly characterized in that the valve operation controller is adapted to determine the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves of the first cylinder on the basis of a first fuel injection or injections. |
| US08165777B2 |
Method to compensate for transmission spin loss for a hybrid powertrain system
A powertrain system includes an engine coupled to an input member of a hybrid transmission. The hybrid transmission is operative to transmit torque between the input member and a torque generating machine and an output member. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes monitoring an operator torque request, determining an output torque command and an output speed of the output member, iteratively selecting candidate input speeds to the input member, determining mechanical power loss in the hybrid transmission for each of the candidate input speeds and the output speed, and selecting a preferred input speed comprising the candidate input speed that achieves a minimum mechanical power loss in the hybrid transmission at the output speed. |
| US08165776B2 |
Drive assist system
A drive assist system includes an assist starting part starting assist, a detection part detecting relative distances and speeds between a vehicles, a calculation part calculating collision risks when changing a lane by the basis of the relative distances and speeds, a first judgment part judging whether the lane can be changed by the relative distances, speeds and the collision risks, a decision part deciding a target space for lane change by the relative distances and speeds when the lane cannot be changed, a second judgment part judging whether a lane changeable space is in the target space, a setting part setting a target speed for the vehicle go to a lane change waiting position when no space and to setting a target speed the vehicle enters a lane changeable position when there is the space, and a control part controlling a speed of the vehicle reaches the target speed. |
| US08165775B2 |
System and method for controlling running of a vehicle
A vehicle driving control system and method which enables the vehicle can travel through each curve at the optimum speed on an ordinary road and also on a highway. The controller and method uses a car navigation system to detect road classification about the road ahead of where the vehicle is running under guidance. When the road is an ordinary road, the following with respect to the preceding vehicle is given priority; when the road is a highway, the target vehicle speed obtained from the navigation information of car navigation system and the vehicle speed in the following mode are compared with each other, and the lower vehicle speed is selected (select-low) under control. As a result, it is possible to travel through the curves at a reliable speed not only on ordinary roads, but also on highways. |
| US08165774B2 |
Cruise control interaction with deceleration fuel cutoff
A vehicle control system includes a sensor that generates a vehicle speed signal. A cruise control system generates a cruise control signal to maintain a vehicle at a target speed. A control module compares the vehicle speed signal to the target speed signal. The control module calculates different cruise control gains to delay changes in throttle position of the cruise control system when the vehicle speed signal is greater than the target speed. |
| US08165773B1 |
Destination arrival estimates auto-notification based on cellular systems
The present, in one embodiment, is directed to a method for determining vehicular speeds over various travel routes that includes the steps: (a) for a plurality of mobile communication devices, determining a respective first geographic location at a first time and a second geographic location at a second later time; (b) determining a respective velocity for each cellular communication device over the distance between the first and second geographic locations; and (c) based on the respective velocities, providing to a driver at least one of (I) a velocity over a selected travel route, (ii) a traffic volume over the selected travel route, and (iii) an estimated time of travel over the selected travel route. |
| US08165771B2 |
Vehicle
The center of gravity of a vehicle is estimated to obtain, a limit lateral acceleration alim (=aMin, aMax), and the vehicle turns in a target running state (V*, γ*) requested by an occupant provided the lateral acceleration a* does not exceed the limit lateral acceleration alim. On the other hand, if the requested running state (V*, γ*) exceeds the limit lateral acceleration aaim, an ideal target running state (V*, γ*) is limited to an actual target running state (V*˜, γ*˜) so that the lateral acceleration a* equals to the limit lateral acceleration aaim. Because turning speed and turning curvature are not limited more than necessary, it is possible to achieve maximum use of turning performance of the vehicle up to the limit thereof. |
| US08165770B2 |
Trailer oscillation detection and compensation method for a vehicle and trailer combination
A system and method of controlling a vehicle with a trailer comprises determining the presence of a trailer, generating an oscillation signal indicative of trailer swaying relative to the vehicle, generating an initial weighted dynamic control signal for a vehicle dynamic control system in response to the oscillation signal, operating at least one vehicle dynamic system according to the dynamic control signal, and thereafter, iteratively generating a penalty function for the weighted dynamic control signal as a function of the oscillation signal response. A neural network with an associated trainer modifies the dynamic control signal as a function of trailer sway response. |
| US08165768B2 |
Method for determining trailer braking output
A method for providing a trailer equipped with trailer brakes with an electronically controlled trailer braking output to help slow a vehicle/trailer combination as quickly as possible, but in a stable and balanced manner. In situations where a low friction environment is detected, such as a wet or icy road, the present method can brake the trailer in a more aggressive manner than a gain setting would normally allow. This gain-independent segment of the trailer braking output can result in a shorter stopping distance for the vehicle/trailer combination, without causing excessive trailer wheel lockup. |
| US08165766B2 |
Method for controlling a drivetrain of a vehicle, with a drive motor and a gearbox
A method for controlling a vehicles drivetrain including an engine and automatic transmission, such that transmission ratios are shifted within a range of transmission ratios in a continuous and/or stepped manner as function of preset target speeds that are adjustable via a vehicle speed control and actual vehicle inclinations in relation to the vehicles longitudinal axis. When the actual speed of the vehicle differs from a preset threshold speed, a request to change an actual ratio of the transmission is generated, if it has been determined that the output torque is smaller than a threshold value or an output torque required to adjust the preset threshold speed of the vehicle. The ratio of the transmission is shifted so the torque applied to the output is modified toward the output torque required to adjust the threshold speed. |
| US08165764B2 |
Method for controlling an automatic multi-step shift transmission
A method of controlling an automatic transmission arranged in a vehicle between a drive motor and an axle drive of a drive axle or a transfer box such that the current road inclination is determined and, after driving onto a downhill stretch of road, to increase a braking action of the drive motor and/or a permanent brake, a shift to a lower gear is carried out and after a transition to a traction operation or after driving onto level ground, a shift to a higher gear is carried out. To improve transmission shifting behavior, when transitioning between a downhill stretch and level ground, it is provided that a function for detecting a downhill run-out is started and if a downhill run-out is detected, and a shift to a higher gear is carried out while still in a thrust operation before driving onto the level ground and/or before the transition to traction operation. |
| US08165761B2 |
Apparatus to control airbag for side collision
An apparatus to control an airbag for a side collision includes a vehicle inclination detecting unit which detects an inclination of a vehicle relative to a horizontal direction, and a threshold value changing unit which changes a threshold value to operate the airbag for the side collision corresponding to the inclination of the vehicle relative to the horizontal direction detected by the vehicle inclination detecting unit. |
| US08165760B2 |
Method and system for electronically operating a vehicle occupant seat safety restraint system
An electrically activated, electronically controlled web grabber in conjunction with a pre-impact braking system that holds the vehicle safety belt from the moment of activation, restricting forward movement of the occupant and can be activated prior to the impact to ensure occupant containment and deactivated upon command in order to release after an accident is avoided, or once the impact has started to allow other safety devices to take over control of the belts, for example, by load limiters. |
| US08165756B2 |
Steering control device for vehicle
A vehicle steering control device includes a yawing value obtaining unit which obtains a yawing value corresponding to a vehicle yawing motion, a stabilizing force calculating unit which calculates a stabilizing force for assisting an operation of a steering operation member, operated by a driver for steering a steered wheel of the vehicle, in a direction opposite a direction of the vehicle yawing motion, based on the yawing value, and a force applying unit which applies the stabilizing force to the steering operation member in the direction opposite the yawing motion direction, wherein the stabilizing force calculating unit includes a counter-steer value calculating unit which calculates a counter-steer value indicating a degree of steering the steered wheel in the direction opposite the yawing motion direction, and wherein the stabilizing force is adjusted based on the counter-steer value. |
| US08165754B2 |
Steering control system
A steering control system is connectable to a motor configured to control a steering and a LAN (Local Area Network) and is allowed to receive a control signal for controlling said motor from the LAN is received. The steering control system includes: a motor configured to control a steering; a main calculation unit connectable to the LAN; a motor drive circuit connected to the main calculation unit and configured to drive the motor; a sub calculation unit connectable to the LAN; and a motor drive limiting unit connected to the sub calculation unit and configured to limit a drive of the motor. |
| US08165753B2 |
Vehicle operation assisting system
When a collision avoidance operation determiner determines a collision avoidance operation by a driver, a target assist electrical current calculator calculates a target assist electrical current based on a deviation between a standard yaw rate corrected in accordance with avoidance momentum calculated by an avoidance momentum calculator and an actual yaw rate; and the target assist electrical current is supplied to a steering actuator to assist the collision avoidance operation by the driver. At this time, when an under-steer determiner determines an under-steer state, an assist electrical current is decreased by a reaction force electrical current calculated in a reaction force electrical current calculator. Therefore, a steering angle is prevented from becoming too large due to excessive assist, thereby facilitating a return operation after avoiding an obstacle. |
| US08165750B2 |
Vehicle motion control device and method
The objective of the present invention is to provide a vehicle motion control device capable of controlling the driving force distribution to the wheels with superior stability and response while effectively utilizing the tire grip. Specifically, the present invention provides a vehicle motion control device for a vehicle, the vehicle having a plurality of wheels and a driving device for driving the wheels based on a driving force/load distribution ratio, having: a force detection unit for detecting forces that act on the wheels; a target distribution ratio calculating unit for obtaining nonlinear terms by use of a group of parameters including the forces detected by the force detection unit, and obtaining a target value of the driving force/load distribution ratio so as to minimize the nonlinear terms, the nonlinear terms being included in elements of a system matrix of equations of state that describe a state of motion of the vehicle; and a driving device control unit for controlling the driving device based on the target value of the driving force/load distribution ratio. |
| US08165749B2 |
Control system for adjustable damping force damper
A control system for an adjustable damping force damper of a suspension apparatus of a vehicle, includes a lateral acceleration detecting unit detecting a lateral acceleration of the vehicle at a gravity point thereof, a yaw rate detecting unit detecting a yaw rate of the vehicle and a control unit controlling a damping force of the damper. The control unit calculates a first target damping force based on an output of the lateral acceleration detecting unit, calculates a second target damping force based on a lateral acceleration at an axel position which is estimated by an output of the yaw rate detecting unit, compares an absolute value of the first target damping force with that of the second target damping force and sets a target controlling value of the damping force in accordance with the first or second target damping force which has a larger absolute value. |
| US08165746B2 |
Industrial truck control system
The present invention relates to an industrial truck control system (10) for influencing the driving operation of an industrial truck (A, B) according to irregularities along the route to be traveled by the industrial truck (A, B), the system comprising a sensor device (14) for recording irregularities along the route in assignment to the position of irregularities concerned, a memory device (16) for storing the data recorded by the sensor device, and means (16) for influencing the driving operation of the industrial truck (A, B) in dependence on the respective position of the industrial truck (A, B) and according to the data of the sensor device (14) stored in the memory device (16). |
| US08165734B2 |
Method and device for guiding an aircraft
Disclosed is a method and device of guiding an aircraft along a flight trajectory to comply with a time constraint for arriving at a required arrival time at a waypoint of the flight trajectory. Speed setpoints are determined according to a speed profile that complies with the required arrival time at the waypoint, based on estimated values of parameters relating to the flight of the aircraft, and by taking account of an upper limit for a maximum speed at which the aircraft flies along the flight trajectory. The determined speed setpoints are applied to the aircraft during guidance of the aircraft along the flight trajectory. |
| US08165733B2 |
Stall, buffeting, low speed and high attitude protection system
A flight control system moves elevators according to a pilot command summed with an automatic command. The flight control system monitors a set of flight parameters to determine if the flight vehicle is operating inside a permitted envelope. The flight controls system incorporates automatic protections thru the automatic elevator command if the flight vehicle is close to its envelope limits. The exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementation herein provides automatic protections in order to protect the flight vehicle from low speeds, high attitude, stalls and buffetings. |
| US08165731B2 |
System for aerial delivery of fire retardant
A system for launching, controlling and delivering in a preselected target pattern a plurality of low-cost, guided fire-retardant-containing vehicles, i.e., “smart water bombs” equipped with control surfaces sufficient to provide limited lift and maneuverability to respond to guidance command to place it at a selected GPS coordinate within a large footprint in time and space and to discharge its payload of fire retardant at a preselectable altitude in a very precise manner and dispersion pattern. A controller determines bombing patterns and timing for all bombs and trajectories for each guided bomb. Dynamic differential equations are used to determine location and time of release of the guided bombs to achieve the target while avoiding collisions among guided bombs and aircraft. |
| US08165729B2 |
Method and device for estimating the forces exerted on a control surface of an aircraft
Disclosed is a method and device for estimating forces exerted on at least one aircraft control surface. The method includes steps of, and the device includes components that carry out steps that include: generating current aircraft flight data; determining, from the generated aircraft flight data, a value Bl based on current deflection data and geometrical characteristics of a lever arm actuator of the at least one aircraft control surface; calculating, from the determined value Bl, at least one hinge moment; summing each calculated hinge moment; and dividing the sum by the value Bl to obtain an estimate of the forces exerted on the least one aircraft control surface. |
| US08165728B2 |
Method and system for providing a GPS-based position
A cooperative engagement group-position determining system employs a group of at least three cooperative units, for example a group of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV's), with each unit including a GPS system for determining a GPS-based position, an inter-distance measurement module for measuring a distance of the unit relative to at least one other unit, and a computer having a computer-readable storage medium encoded with a program algorithm for correcting the GPS-based position based on at least one relative distance between two units, providing an improved GPS-based position for the unit and for the group. The system can also include a ground controller, for example, for providing flight control for UAV's. |
| US08165727B2 |
Information processing apparatus and cooling control method
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a main body, a heating device provided in the main body, a cooling fan provided in the main body, which cools the heating device, a temperature sensor provided in the main body, which senses a temperature of the heating device, and a fan control unit provided in the main body, which rotates the cooling fan at a first rotation speed or higher during power-on of the main body and switches a rotation speed of the cooling fan to a second rotation speed which is higher than the first rotation speed when the temperature of the heating device sensed by the temperature sensor reaches a given threshold value. |
| US08165726B2 |
Water heater energy savings algorithm for reducing cold water complaints
An energy savings water heater is described. The water heater is controlled by an energy savings algorithm that uses one or more of a variable setpoint differential, a variable setback threshold, additional setback thresholds, and an adjustable minimal setpoint to improve the operation of an energy efficient water heater. Additionally or alternatively, a different setback control algorithm may be used that obtains additional data to adjust the setpoint. As a result, the operating cost of the water heater is reduced, while minimizing user complaints of cold water. |
| US08165723B2 |
Real-time system for verification and monitoring of protective device settings within an electrical power distribution network and automatic correction of deviances found
A system for real-time verification of protective device system configuration settings on a monitored system, is disclosed. The system includes a data acquisition component, a virtual system model database, a protective device system verification engine. The data acquisition component is communicatively connected to a sensor configured to real-time protective device configuration data output from a protective device that is part of the monitored system. The virtual system model database is configured to update a virtual mode of the system based on the status of the protective devices and to store a virtual system model of the monitored system, including preset protective device configuration settings for the protective device. The protective device system verification engine configured to monitor the real-time protective device configuration data and the preset protective device configuration settings and generate a warning when there is a difference between the real-time protective device configuration data and the preset protective device configuration settings. |
| US08165720B2 |
Automatic environmental adjustment system
A system automatically adjusts environmental condition by detecting an environment value and controlling a window blinds and an environmental regulator according to a comparison between the environment value and a predetermined environment value. |
| US08165719B2 |
System and method for an electrical insulating shutter system
A system, and a method for manufacturing that system, for electrically and automatically opening, closing and otherwise controlling window shutters on a building, for the purposes of limiting radiant, conductive, and convective thermal losses from the inside of the building to the outside during the heating season, and limiting radiant, conductive, and convective thermal gains from the outside of the building to the inside during the cooling season. The system further comprises an interface to accommodate connection to other sensors not used to control the thermal environment of the building, such as motion detectors, burglar alarms, CO sensors and the like. |
| US08165699B2 |
Programmable controller system
A programmable controller system includes a programmable controller apparatus, a remote input and output apparatus connected to the programmable controller apparatus via a field bus and a monitoring apparatus configured to be located on a communication path between the programmable controller apparatus and the remote input and output apparatus and to monitor a communication data therebetween. The monitoring apparatus includes a rewritable tag for prescribing a condition for issuing a transmission request command with respect to an external equipment deterioration diagnosis and a command issuing part issues a transmission request command required for the external equipment deterioration diagnosis with reference to the tag. A preferable data logging operation is carried out properly without any PLC operation. |
| US08165698B2 |
Face mask
A face mask for cleansing of facial skin. The face mask 100 comprises two or more electrodes 22, 23 to which an electric cleansing signal generated by a cleansing signal generator of the face mask is conveyable, the electrodes provided in the face mask 100 being arranged as electrode pairs 24 which comprise a positive electrode 22 and a negative electrode 23 such that all electrode pairs 24 reside in the face mask 100 substantially in the facial area. The face mask is characterized in that the outer edge of the face mask 100 has an edge portion 101 provided with gripping means 120 for fitting the face mask onto the skin of a user of the face mask. |
| US08165694B2 |
Thermal management of implantable medical devices
Systems and techniques for thermal management of implantable medical devices. In one aspect an implantable device includes an active component configured to perform medical activities, a charging component configured to convert energy from outside a body in which the implantable device is implanted into potential energy, and a thermal barrier between the charging component and the active portion. The thermal barrier thermally isolates the charging component from the active portion so that thermal resistance between the charging component and the active component is above the thermal resistance between the charging component and the body. |
| US08165689B1 |
Methods and systems of compensating for a disabled electrode
An exemplary method of compensating for a disabled electrode within an array of electrodes includes selecting at least two non-adjacent electrodes surrounding the disabled electrode and simultaneously applying stimulation current to the at least two non-adjacent electrodes. The stimulation current is configured to generate a pitch associated with the disabled electrode. Corresponding systems for compensating for a disabled electrode are also described. |
| US08165688B2 |
Frequency analyzer for MEMS based cochlear implant with self power supply
Disclosed is a frequency analyzer for a MEMS based cochlear implant with self power supply. The frequency analyzer for a MEMS based cochlear implant includes: an upper structure including a first substrate, and a nano wire contact portion formed under the first substrate and coated with a high conductivity metal; and a lower structure including a second substrate having a space filled with a fluid and an upper portion of which is opened, a membrane formed on the fluid filled in the space of the second substrate, a first electrode formed on the membrane, and a nano wire formed on the first electrode and having the piezoelectric characteristics related to an arbitrary direction in which the nano wire is grown. |
| US08165683B2 |
Method and apparatus for detection of nervous system disorders
Systems and methods for detecting and/or treating nervous system disorders, such as seizures. Certain embodiments of the invention relate generally to implantable medical devices (IMDs) adapted to detect and treat nervous system disorders in patients with an IMD. Certain embodiments of the invention include detection of seizures based upon comparisons of long-term and short-term representations of physiological signals. Other embodiments include prediction of seizure activity based upon analysis of physiological signal levels. An embodiment of the invention monitors the quality of physiological signals, and may be able to compensate for signals of low signal quality. A further embodiment of the invention includes detection of seizure activity following the delivery of therapy. |
| US08165681B2 |
Method for blocking activation of tissue or conduction of action potentials while other tissue is being therapeutically activated
A desired effect is produced by therapeutically activating tissue at a first site within a patient's body and a corresponding undesired side effect is reduced by blocking activation of tissue or conduction of action potentials at a second site within the patient's body by applying high frequency stimulation and/or direct current pulses at or near the second site. Time-varying DC pulses may be used before or after a high frequency blocking signal. The high frequency stimulation may begin before and continue during the therapeutic activation. The high frequency stimulation may begin with a relatively low amplitude, and the amplitude may be gradually increased. The desired effect may be promotion of micturition or defecation and the undesired side effect may be sphincter contraction. |
| US08165674B2 |
Methods and apparatus to increase secretion of endogenous naturetic hormones
A method and apparatus for treatment of heart failure by increasing secretion of endogenous naturetic hormones ANP and BNP such as by stimulation of the heart atria. Heart pacing is done at an atrial contraction rate that is increased and can be higher than the ventricular contraction rate. Pacing may include mechanical distension of the right atrial appendage. An implantable device is used to periodically cyclically stretch the walls of the appendage with an implanted balloon. |
| US08165668B2 |
Method for magnetic modulation of neural conduction
Methods and related systems for modulating neural activity by repetitively blocking conduction in peripheral neural structures with magnetic stimuli are disclosed. Methods and systems for reversing effects of blocking stimuli and/or for producing substantially permanent conduction block are also disclosed. |
| US08165667B2 |
Methods and systems for optimizing exercise compliance diagnostic parameters
A medical device detects certain patient activity based on a programmable activity threshold and determines the duration of detected activity. The activity threshold may be optimized by obtaining first and second duration measurements for at least one of a first activity session and second activity session. The first duration measurement is based on the activity threshold, while the second duration measurement is based on actual start and stop of the activity session. An adjustment of the activity threshold is suggested based on a correspondence between the first duration measurement and the second duration measurement of the first activity session, or a correspondence between the first duration measurement and the second duration measurement of the second activity session. One of the first and second activities is non-significant activity expected to be undetected by the device, while the other of the two activities is low-level activity expected to be detected by the device. |
| US08165666B1 |
System and method for reconstructing cardiac activation information
An example system and method of reconstructing cardiac activation information are disclosed. A first cardiac signal and a second cardiac signal are processed via a computing device to determine whether there is a point of change in a derivative of the first cardiac signal with respect to a derivative of the second cardiac signal above a threshold. An activation onset time is assigned in the first cardiac signal at the point of change to define cardiac activation indicating a beat in the first cardiac signal if it is determined that the point of change is above the threshold. |
| US08165664B1 |
Systems and methods for increased specificity in diagnostics
Specific embodiments provided herein relate to diagnosing, with improved specificity, occurrences of episodes relating to disorders that are known to affect T-wave morphology. One or more propensity metric is obtained, each of which is indicative of a patient's propensity for a specific disorder that is known to affect T-wave morphology. T-wave variability is monitored. Additionally, there is monitoring for a specific change in T-wave morphology that is known to be indicative of episodes relating to a disorder. When the specific change in T-wave morphology is detected, a diagnosis is determined for detecting the specific change in T-wave morphology, taking into account the propensity metric(s) and the T-wave variability. |
| US08165663B2 |
Vasculature and lymphatic system imaging and ablation
In an embodiment, an untethered device includes one or more first energy sources configured to provide energy to elicit one or more image responses associated with one or more blood vessels or lymph vessels. The device includes one or more sensors configured to capture the one or more image responses. Control circuitry is provided and coupled to the sensors for at least partially identifying one or more targets at least partially based on the captured one or more image responses. One or more inserts are provided, which are configured to be disposed in the one or more blood vessels or lymph vessels, and slow or trap the blood vessels or lymph vessels therein. One or more second energy sources are provided for ablating the one or more targets when they are slowed or trapped by the one or more inserts. |
| US08165659B2 |
Modeling method and apparatus for use in surgical navigation
A modeling method for use in surgical navigation is provided. The method acquires a finite number of pre-defined points from a patient's bone and registers the points with a surgical navigation system. The navigation system generates and displays a three-dimensional image of a warped bone model that is manipulatable and accurate in at least the locations of the points taken and can be used to calculate the locations of bone cuts, implant positions and sizes, as well as display all of this information on the three-dimensional warped model. |
| US08165654B2 |
Textile structure for detecting body surface electrical signals of human and signal detector using the same
A textile structure for detecting body surface electrical signals of human is provided. The textile structure includes a non-conductive textile, a conductive textile, and a plurality of test terminals. The non-conductive textile covers the human body. The conductive textile has a first region, a second region, and a third region. The first region is interdigitated into but not electrically coupled to the third region. The first to third test terminals are respectively coupled to the first to third regions of the conductive textile. The first and second test terminals are used for detecting ECG signals. The first and third test terminals are used for detecting respiratory signals. |
| US08165645B2 |
Mobile communication terminal case and method of manufacturing the same
There is provided a mobile communication terminal case including: a case body of a mobile communication terminal having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a via hole formed through the first surface and the second surface; a conductive pattern provided on the first surface of the case body; a carrier film provided on the first surface of the case body to cover the conductive pattern; and conductive epoxy filling the via hole and having one end thereof in contact with the conductive pattern. |
| US08165644B2 |
Server initiated power mode switching in portable communication devices
In a process, a power mode indicator is transmitted from a content server and is received by a Portable Communication Device (PCD). The indicator is indicative of a power mode potentially available to a circuit block in the PCD. The circuit block exhibits different levels of power consumption when operated in different power modes and is operated in the indicated power mode in response to the received power mode indicator. The content server may be a stream server. The circuit block may be operated in the power mode to receive/process a data stream. |
| US08165643B2 |
Charging cradle
A charging cradle has a rectangular cradle body defined an upper surface, a front surface and two opposite lateral surfaces thereon. An end of the upper surface adjacent to the front surface is formed with a subjacent surface lower than the upper surface and connecting with the upper surface by a first inclined surface. The upper surface has a receiving chamber extending along a front and rear direction. A charging base having a rotation portion defined a rectangular base mounted in the receiving chamber and rotatable around an axis perpendicular to the two lateral surfaces. A rear end of the rectangular base is extended downwards to form a receiving portion. Two opposite sides of the rectangular base have portions adjacent to a front end thereof extended laterally to form resisting portions, free ends of which extend downwards to form holding plates located at two opposite sides of the cradle body. |
| US08165640B2 |
Systems and methods for providing remote incoming call notification for cellular phones
The present invention provides a remote notification to a user of a cellular, or mobile, phone as the result of a particular activity or any activity at all (e.g., an incoming call from a particular person, group, or just an incoming call). In one embodiment, a sensing device is provided on the cellular phone that communicates/routes an alert to a remote notification device. In one economical embodiment, the notification device may have a short wire-based communication channel (e.g., roughly 1 foot to 5 feet) and only have a single output device (e.g., a light-emitting device). Thus, a woman may be able to quietly receive notifications of a cell phone event when her cell phone is stored in her purse. |
| US08165633B2 |
Passive interface and software configuration for portable devices
A universal passive interface for connecting external systems to smart devices such as cell phones and PDAs. The passive system includes a cradle for receiving a compatible smart device that connects the functionality of the smart device to a wide variety of external systems (e.g., printers, large display, input devices, etc.). The passive interface includes a USB hub, network port, and other common connector ports for peripherals and other systems. The smart device can connect to the passive system via the cradle slot, a tether, and/or wirelessly. The external systems to which the passive system serves at the interface to the smart device include, but are not limited to, large displays (e.g., television), external monitors, input devices such as mice and keyboards, external storage devices, and networks (wired and/or wireless). A wizard allows the user to configure the external systems to work with the smart device. |
| US08165631B2 |
Sharing a radio frequency interface resource
Applications may seek access to a radio frequency interface resource on a processor-based system that exceeds the available capacity of that resource. When more than one application needs access to an RF interface resource at the same time and the available capacity of the RF interface resource does not permit all these requests to be granted, contention resolution may be provided. In one embodiment, the contention resolution may involve determining the priority of each application seeking RF interface resource access and granting access based on that priority. |
| US08165630B1 |
Communication device
The communication device which includes a voice communicating means, an automobile controlling means, a caller ID means, a call blocking means, an auto time adjusting means, a calculating means, a word processing means, a startup software means, a stereo audio data output means, a digital camera means, a multiple language displaying means, a caller's information displaying means, a communication device remote controlling means, a shortcut icon displaying means, an audio/video data capturing means, and a navigation means. |
| US08165629B2 |
Base station for electronic apparatus
The present invention provides a base station for an electronic apparatus. The base station includes a main body, a groove, a verifier and at least one motor. The main body is an empty body and accommodates the at least one motor. The groove is defined in the middle of the main body. The verifier is on one side of the main body. The groove accommodates two plates and at least one arc spring. Each arc spring is connected to the two plates. At least one screw is fixed on one plate. Each screw is connected to one motor through a corresponding screw hole. The number of motors, screws and holes are the same. The base station clamps the electronic apparatus between the two plates. |
| US08165627B2 |
User hand detection for wireless devices
A method for determining whether a wireless device is being held comprising: activating a vibration motor in the wireless device to vibrate the wireless device for a predetermined period; receiving at least one acceleration measurement from an accelerometer in the wireless device during the predetermined period; and comparing the at least one acceleration measurement to at least one stored acceleration measurement, the at least one stored acceleration measurement corresponding to a held wireless device. |
| US08165625B2 |
Mobile communication device capable of performing group communication between a cellular communication system and a VoIP system
A mobile communication apparatus capable of performing group communication between a cellular communication system and a VoIP system includes a first wireless communication module for processing signals of a cellular network corresponding to the cellular communication system, a second wireless communication module for processing signals of a WLAN corresponding to the VoIP system, and a control module coupled to the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module, for establishing voice communications with the cellular network and the WLAN through the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module, and for exchanging signals of the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module when the mobile communication apparatus operates in a first operation mode. |
| US08165624B2 |
Case for an electronic device with a wireless communication function and method for forming the same
A method for forming a case of an electronic device with a wireless communication function includes: (a) providing a pair of outer prepreg layers, each containing a fiber that permits permeation of an electromagnetic wave; (b) providing a plurality of inner prepreg layers, each of which includes: a first prepreg sheet that contains a first fiber, which permits permeation of an electromagnetic wave; and a second prepreg sheet containing a second fiber that prevents permeation of an electromagnetic wave and that has a strength higher than that of the first fiber; (c) stacking and pressing the inner prepreg layers to obtain an inner laminate; (d) disposing the inner laminate between the outer prepreg layers; and (e) forming the outer prepreg layers and the inner laminate in a mold. A case for an electronic device with a wireless communication function is also disclosed. |
| US08165616B2 |
Communication device, base station, method of communication, and communication system
The MS detects a difference in timing or frequency between a reference signal being any one of the received signals from a plurality of BSs and each of the other received signals, notifies the results of detection to BSs other than the source BS of the reference signal, and the BSs other than the source BS of the reference signal control the timing or frequency of transmission of the signal to be received by other MSs other than the MS on the basis of the results of the detection. |
| US08165612B2 |
Methods and apparatus for accessing computer network accessible service applications via a mobile terminal
Methods and systems for accessing computer network accessible services, such as internet based service applications, via a mobile terminal of a mobile telecommunication system using a mediation layer between a person's mobile terminal and the IT world. The mobile terminal in response to receiving user inputs interacts with this mediation layer via text messages. The mediation layer turns around and executes the appropriate IT services on behalf of the mobile terminal user. |
| US08165610B2 |
Interactive message service system and its method
The present invention relates to a system and method of transmitting text messages to and from mobile phones. In further detail, the invention presents an interactive message service (IMS) system and related methods that are characterized by composing the inquiring party's message in a multiple-choice question format; and by sending back the inquiring party a text message specifying the responding party's choice, which is made by pressing the numeric key corresponding to the choice, if and when the responding party makes a choice. |
| US08165609B2 |
Storage and access of digital content
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method, comprising providing a first communications channel to transmit digital content to a notes-access application for storage against a particular user, the first communications channel being selected from the group consisting of an SMS channel, an MMS channel, a fax channel, an e-mail channel, and an IM channel; responsive to receiving digital content from said user via the first communications channel storing said digital content in the database associated with said notes-access application; and providing a second communications channel to the notes-access application whereby the digital content stored by the notes-access application against said user is provided to said user, the second communications channel being selected from the group consisting of an SMS channel, an MMS channel, a fax channel, an e-mail channel, and an IM channel. |
| US08165603B2 |
Personal location code
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for receiving a request from a requestor to locate a user. The request identifies a personal location code (PLC) for the user. It is determined if the request is allowed based on the PLC. If the request is allowed, the current location of the user is obtained based on the location of one or more devices associated with the user. The current location of the device is then provided to the requestor. |
| US08165602B2 |
System and method for providing location based services in a mobile communication system
In a method for providing Location Based Services (LBS) in a mobile communication system, upon receipt of a location trigger at an LS for requesting location information of an MS from a location client, the LS transmits an authentication request message for requesting an ID of an Anchor Authenticator (AA) for the MS to an Authorization, Authentication and Accounting server (AAA), which transmits an authentication response message to the LS. The LS transmits an LCID request message for requesting an LCID of an LC for the MS to the AA, which AA transmits an initiate MS paging request message to an APC. The APC detects a serving LC of the MS and transmits an LCID to the AA, which transmits an LCID response message to the LS, which transmits an MS location report request message to the serving LC. The LC transmits an MS location report response message to the LS. |
| US08165597B2 |
Method and apparatus to facilitate partitioning use of wireless communication resources amongst base stations
A central controller (300) receives (201), from each of a plurality of base stations certain operating information. This operating information can comprise, for example, a self-identifier, information regarding allowed wireless distance coverage, identifiers for neighboring ones of the plurality of base stations, information regarding wireless distances to neighboring base station, or loading information. This operating information is used (202) to form adjacency information regarding the plurality of base stations. This adjacency information is then used (203) (along, for example, with the aforementioned loading information) to develop a resource allocation plan as pertains to the resources. This plan is then communicated (204) to the plurality of base stations such that the latter can utilize the plan to thereby partition use of the plurality of resources to support communication needs of the base stations while avoiding undue interference with respect to the use of such resources. |
| US08165595B2 |
System and method for multi-stage antenna training of beamforming vectors
A system and method for multi-stage antenna training of beamforming vectors is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises a method of acquiring a beamforming pattern in a wireless communication system, the method comprising receiving a first plurality of signals having different transceiver sector patterns, measuring first indicators of link quality corresponding to the first plurality of signals, selecting at least one transceiver sector pattern based on the first indicators of link quality, receiving a second plurality of signals having different transceiver beam patterns, each transceiver beam pattern associated with the selected at least one transceiver sector pattern, measuring second indicators of link quality corresponding to the second plurality of signals, and selecting at least one transceiver beam pattern based on the second measures of link quality. |
| US08165594B2 |
Resource allocation, scheduling, and signaling for grouping real time services
The present invention is a method and apparatus for resource allocation signaling for grouping user real time services. Uplink signaling for voice activity reporting of each user's transition between an active state and an inactive voice state is sent from a wireless transmit/receive unit to a Node B. Radio resource allocation to users of a wireless communication system varies based on user measurement reporting, a pre-determined pattern such as frequency hopping, or a pseudorandom function. Grouping methods are adjusted to better utilize the voice activity factor, so that statistical multiplexing can be used to more efficiently utilize physical resources. |
| US08165589B2 |
Wireless terminal, wireless communication system and method for controling wireless terminal to switch between networks in wireless communication system
The invention provides a mobile terminal having a first network module for connecting to a wireless wide area network (WWAN) and a second network module for connecting to a wireless local area network (WLAN). The WWAN and the WLAN connect to a control center. The mobile terminal connects to the WLAN and detects a WWAN signal level of a WWAN signal transmitted by the WWAN and a WLAN signal level of a WLAN signal of a WLAN signal transmitted by the WLAN. The mobile terminal calculates a modified signal level according to a first compensation value and the WLAN signal level and sends the modified signal level and the WWAN signal level to the control center. If the modified signal level is smaller than a first threshold and the WWAN signal level is greater than a second threshold, the control center sends a switch command to the mobile terminal and the mobile terminal switches the connection from the WLAN to the WWAN. |
| US08165588B2 |
Frame structures, method and apparatus for resource allocation in wireless communications system based on full duplex replay
Frame structures, a method and an apparatus for resource allocation in a wireless communication system based on a full duplex relay are provided. The method for a centralized resource allocation in the wireless communication system based on the full duplex relay includes receiving channel information from a plurality of mobile stations (MSs) and relay stations (RSs); scheduling radio resources for a link between a base station (BS) and the MS and a link between the BS and the RS using the channel quality; constituting a first radio resource region for the link between the BS and the RS and a second radio resource region for the link between the BS and the MS; and scheduling radio resource for a link between the RS and the MS by reusing the first radio resource region. The relay link resource is reused in the full-duplex relay structure, and the system capacity can be raised by minimizing the interference in the resource utilization. |
| US08165582B2 |
Reducing occurrence of user equipment registration expiry during calls
Methods, systems, User Equipment (UE), and computer readable medium for reducing the occurrence of UE registration expiry are provided. A method of reducing the occurrence of UE registration expiry during calls includes registering a UE with a network for a registration period, determining a re-registration threshold time period, comparing a duration of a remaining portion of the registration period at a particular time with the re-registration threshold time period, and attempting to re-register the UE with the network for a further registration period if the remaining portion is less than or equal to the re-registration threshold time period, wherein the determining of the re-registration threshold time period includes at least one of setting the threshold time period to a value greater than 600 seconds, determining the threshold time period according to a remaining talk time of the UE at the particular time, determining the threshold time period according to a state of the UE at the particular time, determining the threshold time period according to a duration of at least one previous call made by the UE, determining the threshold time period according to a statistical parameter of a plurality of calls made by the UE, determining the threshold time period according to a statistical parameter of a plurality of calls made by at least one UE, determining the threshold time period according to a predefined maximum call duration, and determining the threshold time period independently of a length of the registration period. |
| US08165580B1 |
Cell selecting apparatus and cell selecting method
A cell selection apparatus is used in the environment in which multiple communication systems coexists and at least one of the communication systems use guard intervals inserted in the transmission signal. The apparatus includes delay profile creation means (722) for creating a delay profile from a received radio signal and detecting amplitudes and timing of multipath arriving waves; comparison means (728) for comparing at least one delay quantity of the multipath arriving waves with a guard interval of a signal used in at least one of said multiple communication systems; and determination means (730) for determining a cell provided by one of the communication systems to which a mobile terminal is to be connected based on the comparison result. |
| US08165578B2 |
Method and system for improving the spectral efficiency of a data communication link
An apparatus for communicating between a mobile device, and a plurality of transceivers. The apparatus includes a first transceiver which transmits to the mobile device on any one of a plurality of channels. The apparatus further includes a second transceiver which transmits to the mobile device on any one of the plurality of channels. |
| US08165577B2 |
Pilot signal transmission management
A base station is configured to reduce interference with other base stations and/or devices in a multi-cell wireless network. The base station includes a wireless interface, detector and controller. To reduce interference, the wireless interface may provide services to a first wireless communication device (WCD) using a pilot signal emitted from the base station at a reduced power level. In the reduced pilot signal mode, when the detector detects a second WCD within the base station's service area, the controller increases the pilot signal's power level above the reduced power level in order to establish communications with the second WCD. Upon successfully connecting to the first and second WCDs, the base station may again reduce the pilot signal's power level to reduce interference with other base stations or wireless devices. |
| US08165576B2 |
Method and system for extending services to cellular devices
A system is provide for extending services to cellular devices. The system includes a wireless gateway having a client side with an intelligent client agent and a server side with an intelligent server agent, a wireless device having a first mode operable in a cellular system and a second mode operable in a wireless local area network and including an intelligent client agent for determining operation mode and for communicating with the intelligent client agent of the wireless gateway and a communications protocol for communication between the wireless gateway intelligent client agent and the wireless device intelligent client agent to effect services. The services include one or more of voice, directory, presence, and media services. The voice service includes at least one of call waiting, call forwarding conferencing, and caller identification. The media service includes at least one of interactive voice response (IVR), text-to-speech, speech recognition, play, record. The directory service includes a public switched telephone network (PSTN) directory, a cellular network directory, an Internet directory and a private branch exchange (PBX) directory. The communications protocol includes encapsulation for at least one of directory, mobility and security services and other protocols. The other protocols include at least one of Internet protocol (IP), session initiation protocol (SIP), and lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP). |
| US08165572B1 |
Methods and systems for call processing in a wireline and wireless network
Methods and systems are described for routing call in a wireless network environment. In one embodiment, a phone address is assigned to a subscriber and/or a subscriber's mobile telecommunications device. A call directed to the phone address is routed to a call processing system. An outbound call from the call processing system is placed to a wireless communication service provider so as to cause, at least in part, the wireless communication service provider to route the outbound call to the subscriber's mobile telecommunications device, wherein the call processing system configures call signaling parameters associated with the outbound call so that the outbound call appears to be to a phone number ported to the wireless communication service provider, and wherein the phone number has not been ported to the wireless communication service provider. The outbound call is bridged with the inbound call. |
| US08165566B2 |
Functionality distribution for a mobile endpoint
In an embodiment, a method includes identifying a first component device of a plurality of component devices in a communication network and determining that the first component device is operable to perform a first function of a plurality of functions associated with a mobile endpoint. The method also includes distributing the first function from the mobile endpoint to the first component device in response to determining that the first component device is operable to perform a first function of the plurality of functions associated with the mobile endpoint. |
| US08165564B2 |
Emotional communication between portable equipments
The present invention relates to a possibility of communicating emotional information between a first and a second portable equipment. A first portable equipment for communication in a wireless communication system comprises an input portion adapted to receive information input by a user, an editing portion adapted to edit settings of a second portable equipment in response to a user input and to generate corresponding setting information, and a transmitting portion adapted to transmit setting information generated by the editing portion to the second portable equipment in said wireless communication system. A second portable equipment for communication in a wireless communication system comprises a receiving portion adapted to receive setting information from the first portable equipment in a wireless communication system, and a control portion adapted to change settings of the second portable equipment depending on received setting information and to output an indication signal to a user to the changed settings. |
| US08165557B1 |
Frequency down-conversion system using arrays of coupled non-linear elements
A system includes at least a first array connected to a second array. The first array includes an odd number, greater than one, of unidirectionally-coupled non-linear first array elements. The second array includes an odd number, greater than one, of unidirectionally-coupled non-linear second array elements. The second array elements are unidirectionally-coupled in a direction opposite the coupling direction of the second array elements. The first array is configured to receive an input signal and down-convert the input signal. The second array is configured to receive the down-converted input signal, further down-convert the down-converted input signal, and output a down-converted output signal. The down-converted output signal is down-converted to a multiple of the frequency of the input signal proportional to the number of arrays of the system. The system may operate at frequencies greater than 1 GHz and may be contained in a microchip or on a printed circuit board. |
| US08165556B2 |
High dynamic range time-varying integrated receiver for elimination of off-chip filters
A receiver circuit includes an amplifier, an output impedance, and a mixer. The amplifier is arranged to generate an amplifier output. The mixer has an input and an output respectively coupled to the amplifier and the output impedance. The output impedance sets frequency selectivity provided at the input of the mixer, and the mixer is arranged to down-convert a signal derived from the amplifier output and accordingly generate a down-converted signal at the output of the mixer for further signal processing. |
| US08165552B2 |
Method and system for identifying radio frequency identification (RFID) tag location using a switchable coil
Aspects of a method and system for identifying a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag location using a switchable coil are presented. Aspects of the systems may include one or more processors that enable selection of an inductor coil from a plurality of inductor coils. The selection of the inductor coil may be based on a change in an electromagnetic field, with respect to an initial electromagnetic field, as detected by the selected inductor coil. The processors may enable transmission of a signal, having a transmitter frequency in the UHF frequency band, via the selected inductor coil. |
| US08165547B2 |
Apparatus and method for acquiring synchronization to support multi-frequency in mobile communication terminal
An apparatus and a method for acquiring synchronization to support multi-frequency in a mobile communication terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a frequency generator, a control signal generator and at least two modems for operating respective Frequency Allocations (FAs) by sharing the frequency generator and the control signal generator. In an embodiment, the frequency generator respectively receives first reference frequency clock signals from an oscillator of each of the at least two modems and generates a second reference frequency clock signal and the control signal generator outputs a signal for controlling the oscillator of each of the at least two modems according to a frequency offset value estimated in each of the at least two modems. |
| US08165546B2 |
Communicating radio presets between a portable media player and an accessory
Radio station presets lists can be communicated between a portable media device and an accessory. A radio station presets list can include a listing of radio stations associated with a particular location. The portable media device can determine a current location, select a presets list for the current location (or create a new presets list for the location), and communicate the presets list to the accessory. The portable media device can, periodically or upon request from the accessory, update its location and send a new presets list, if available, to the accessory. After the portable media device and the accessory are disconnected, the accessory can resume using its own presets list. |
| US08165545B2 |
Terminal for use in a wireless communication system and a method of operation thereof
A terminal (200) and method for operation thereof for use in a wireless communication system (100), the terminal including a plurality of antennas (215, 235, 255) and a plurality of receiver chains (217, 237, 257) each including an associated one of the antennas, the terminal being operable to receive a signal including a plurality of time divided portions including a first portion (303) and a second portion (304), characterized in that the terminal is operable in a manner such each of the plurality of receiver chains is active when the first portion of the signal is being received and at least one of the receiver chains is inactive when the second portion of the signal is being received. |
| US08165543B2 |
Power amplifier adjustment for transmit beamforming in multi-antenna wireless systems
One or more beamsteering matrices are applied to a plurality of signals to be transmitted via multiple antennas. The plurality of signals are provided to a plurality of power amplifiers coupled to the multiple antennas after applying the one or more beamsteering matrices to the plurality of signals. Signal energies are determined for the plurality of signals provided to the plurality of power amplifiers, and output power levels of the plurality of power amplifiers are adjusted based on the determined signal energies. |
| US08165534B2 |
Unscheduled protocols for switched antenna arrays
In an example embodiment, an apparatus, comprising a first wireless transceiver, a first directional antenna coupled to the first wireless transceiver, a second wireless transceiver, a second directional antenna coupled to the second wireless transceiver, and control logic coupled to the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver. The first wireless transceiver and second wireless transceiver can concurrently receive wireless signals that are spatially separated. The first wireless transceiver asserts a signal while communicating with another wireless device. The control logic is configured to prevent the second wireless transceiver from transmitting while the first wireless transceiver is asserting the signal. |
| US08165533B2 |
Apparatus and method for beamforming based on generalized eigen-analysis in multiple input multiple output wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for beamforming in a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) wireless communication system are provided. A Base Station (BS) includes a calculator for generating relational expressions between beamforming vectors of Mobile Stations (MSs) using channel information of each MS, for determining beamforming vector candidates of each MS from the relational expressions using generalized Eigen-analysis, and for selecting beamforming vectors for each MS from the beamforming vector candidates, and a plurality of Transmit (Tx) beamformers for performing Tx beamforming on dedicated pilot symbols to be transmitted to each MS using the beamforming vectors for each MS. |
| US08165526B2 |
Apparatus and method for connecting wireless devices
Provided are a connecting apparatus for a wireless device and a connecting method thereof, more particularly, a connecting apparatus for a wireless device, which exchanges basic information required for establishing a wireless communication channel between wireless devices through a contact surface interface on which the wireless devices physically contact each other, registers the basis information respectively in the wireless devices, and completes setting of a communication protocol while the wireless devices contact each other, and a connecting method thereof. Therefore, since basic information for communications is automatically exchanged between wireless devices and registered respectively in the wireless devices through a contact interface, it is possible to easily and conveniently connect the wireless devices wirelessly. |
| US08165521B2 |
Apparatus and method for selecting relay mode of relay station in multihop relay broadband wireless communication system
A method for selecting a relay mode depending on channel status of relay links in a multihop relay broadband wireless communication system and a Relay Station (RS) apparatus for supporting the method. When signals are received from a Base Station (BS) and a Mobile Station (MS), channel status values (e.g., eigenvalue, mutual information, and probability error) of relay links (BS-RS link and RS-MS link) are estimated using the received signals. The estimated channel status values are compared with a preset reference value. According to a result of the comparison, the relay mode for relaying the received signals is selected. Accordingly, the reliability of the relayed signal can be enhanced and the capacity of the signal link can be increased. |
| US08165517B2 |
Methods for identifying inhibitors of vascular injury
The present invention provides, inter alia, inhibitors of cardiovascular diseases and disorders. The present invention also provides therapeutic methods for preventing and/or treating cardiovascular diseases and disorders. Further, the present invention provides methods of identifying inhibitors of cardiovascular diseases and disorders as well as model systems suitable for identifying such inhibitors as well as methods and compositions for detecting and/or diagnosing cardiovascular diseases and disorders. |
| US08165505B2 |
Developer cartridge adapted to restrict leakage of developer
A developer cartridge includes a developer storing portion that stores a developer and has a first opening for taking out the developer, and a shutter member slidably mounted to the developer storing portion so as to open and close the first opening. The shutter member has a resilient-member-fixing portion to which a resilient member is fixed for preventing leakage of the developer through between the shutter member and the developer storing portion. A deflectable part is provided on at least one of the resilient-member-fixing portion and a peripheral portion of the first opening of the developer storing portion. |
| US08165504B2 |
Toner cartridge guide unit having toner cartridge lifting unit and image forming apparatus having the same
A toner cartridge guiding unit includes a guide frame to guide mounting of a toner cartridge, and having a toner feed hole formed opposite to a toner discharge hole of the toner cartridge, a toner sealing member attached to the proximity of the toner feed hole, and a lifting unit to raise the toner cartridge so that the toner cartridge does not interfere with the toner sealing member during mounting. Because the toner sealing member is not damaged by the repeated mounting and demounting of the toner cartridge, toner is supplied efficiently from the toner cartridge, without leaking towards the guide frame. |
| US08165501B2 |
Image forming apparatus having cleaning unit fixed to drawer
There is provided an image forming apparatus including a main body, a drawer, an image forming unit, a belt unit and a cleaning unit. The drawer is movably supported to the main body and configured to be pulled out from an interior of the main body. The image forming unit is supported on the drawer and has photosensitive drums arrayed in line in a direction for forming an image on a recording medium. The belt unit is disposed in opposition to each of the photosensitive drums and extends in the direction. The cleaning unit is fixed to the drawer and is disposed at a side the same as the image forming unit with respect to the belt unit, such that the cleaning unit is pulled out integrally with the image forming unit from the main body. |
| US08165499B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a first coupling and a second coupling
A unit detachably mountable to an apparatus main assembly is provided with a coupling for receiving a rotational driving force from the apparatus main assembly. Also the apparatus main assembly is provided with a coupling to be engaged with the coupling of the unit. At least one of these couplings can be pushed in a direction parallel to a rotation shaft and one of the couplings is provided with an inclined surface. During mounting and demounting of the unit, the engagement between the couplings is released by the pushing in of one of the couplings pushed by the inclined surface. |
| US08165493B2 |
Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A process cartridge that is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a drum unit supporting an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing unit supporting a developing roller. The developing unit is movable relative to the drum unit between a contacting position in which the developing roller is contacted to the electrophotographic photosensitive member and a spaced position in which the developing roller is spaced from the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The process cartridge further includes a positioning portion and a space maintaining member, with the space maintaining member retracting from the positioning portion to move the developing unit from the spaced position to the contacting position. |
| US08165482B2 |
Image forming apparatus with failure detection and control method therefor
An image forming apparatus that enables to continue an operation so that electric power consumption does not exceed a power supply capacity even if an electric current sensor breaks down. A temperature detection unit detects a temperature of a fixing unit that fixes a developed image transferred to sheet material. A failure detection unit detects whether an electric current detection unit that detects an electric current from a commercial power source breaks down. A control unit determines a fixing electric power supplied to the fixing unit based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit; and changes the determined fixing electric power so that the electric power consumption does not exceed a limit value and so as not to exceed a predetermined electric power without using an output of the electric current detection unit when the failure detection unit detects a failure of the electric current detection unit. |
| US08165475B2 |
Systems and methods for reducing clipping in multichannel modulated optical systems
A system for reducing clipping may be used between a multichannel RF source and a laser to reduce or correct clipping that might occur in the laser as a result of negative spikes or peaks in a multichannel RF signal. The system generally includes a clipping correction circuit that receives the multichannel RF signal and responsive to the RF signal, prevents one or more of the negative peaks in the RF signal from causing clipping. The clipping correction circuit may either detect an envelope of the RF signal and/or may detect one or more peaks in the RF signal. One or more negative peaks may be prevented from causing clipping by adjusting a bias current provided by a bias control circuit and/or by modifying the RF signal with one or more clipping correction pulses coinciding with one or more negative peaks. |
| US08165472B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting and receiving a signal in a visible light communication system
Disclosed herein is a visible light communication system, in which the visible light emitted from the light-emitting element is superposed with a signal in order to accomplish communication. The system has a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter has a modulation circuit whose the demodulating mode can be changed during the communication in accordance with the state of the visible light. The receiver receives the visible light emitted from the transmitter and has a demodulation circuit that demodulates the modulated signal received from the transmitter. |
| US08165470B2 |
Wavelength selecting switch
In a wavelength selecting switch, light output from an input port of an input/output optical system is angularly dispersed according to a wavelength thereof, with a spectral element. Then the lights of respective wavelengths are collected by a light collecting optical system and reflected with a corresponding reflecting mirror of a mirror section. The reflected light corresponding to the angle of the reflecting mirror, is input to an output port at an output destination of the input/output optical system. The respective output ports of the input/output optical system each have a lens coupled to an end face of an optical fiber, and the lens has a structure where a focal length of a first region corresponding to inside a variable range of attenuation is different from a focal length of a second region corresponding to outside the variable range. As a result, a change in intensity of output light (coupling efficiency) at the time of an angle change of the reflecting mirror, and cross talk to an adjacent port can be reduced simultaneously. |
| US08165467B2 |
Optical transmission system and optical node
Where an integrated monitoring and controlling unit is to control an optical add-drop unit so as to cause transmit signals from the optical transceiver of a first optical node to be received by the optical transceivers of plural different optical nodes, this purpose can be achieved by an optical transmission system provided with an alarm inhibiting device that can inhibit the optical transceiver, which is a source of transmission, from issuing any unexpected alarm. |
| US08165465B2 |
Apparatus and method of controlling tap coefficient of transversal filer, optical receiver apparatus, and optical communication system
An apparatus includes an oscillator circuit configured to generate a certain oscillation signal, an adder configured to add the oscillation signal to the tap coefficient of any of one or more taps of the transversal filter, a signal-quality measurer configured to measure a signal quality of a signal output from the transversal filter, and a tap-coefficient adjuster configured to control the value of the tap coefficient so that an optimal amount of shift in the signal quality of the output signal is achieved when the oscillation signal is added to the tap coefficient. |
| US08165463B2 |
Zoom optical system and electronic imaging apparatus using the same
An electronic imaging apparatus has a zoom optical system in which the most object-side lens unit A includes one biconcave-shaped negative lens component, each of air-contact-surfaces of which is configured as an aspherical surface, and when the magnification of the zoom optical system is changed in the range from a wide-angle position to a telephoto position, the lens unit A is moved back and forth along the optical axis in such a way that the lens unit A is initially moved toward the image side, and an electronic imaging unit that has an electronic image sensor so that image data picked up by the electronic image sensor are electrically processed and can be output as image data whose format is changed. In this case, in nearly infinite object point focusing, the zoom optical system satisfies the following condition: 0.7 |
| US08165462B2 |
Shake correction module for photographing apparatus and photographing apparatus including the same
A shake correction module for a photographing apparatus, and a photographing apparatus including the same are provided. The module includes a base plate; a slider member disposed on the base plate so as to be able to move on the base plate, and accommodating an imaging element; a drive member generating a driving force so as to move the slider member; and a friction-reducing element disposed between the base plate and the slider member so as to reduce friction between the slider member and the base plate. |
| US08165457B2 |
Recording method, reproducing method, recording apparatus, and reproducing apparatus of digital stream
According to one embodiment, this invention allows to acquire attribute information of a stream object and to generate it as management information upon recording a digital stream when an MPEG-TS that uses H.264 as a moving picture encoding format is to be recorded. Information is acquired from a component descriptor, a PES packet header, or a sequence parameter set in a program map table included in the digital stream signal, and video attribute information of the object and/or attribute information of the data unit is determined. The object is recorded for each data unit, and management information that manages the recorded is recorded. |
| US08165456B2 |
Data control apparatus, data backup apparatus, and recording medium
A data control apparatus includes: a separating unit for separating material data included in original video and audio files into a used portion and an unused portion, based on editing information indicating the used portion of the material data in the video and audio files, and generating first data including only the used portion and second data including only the unused portion; a connection information generation unit for generating connection information associating information about positions of the first data and the second data in the original video and audio files with information about positions of the first data and the second data on an external recording medium; and a formatting unit for arranging the first data, the second data, the connection information, and the editing information in a predetermined order, and outputting, as backup data, the first data, the second data, the connection information, and the editing information. |
| US08165455B2 |
Data processing apparatus and data processing method, and computer program
Division editing of a movie stream file picked up for a recording application is executed while conforming to a predetermined standard format.When a stream file is divided at an arbitrary division point, a preceding chapter is created by giving padding in an end region of a GOP including the division point in accordance with a length alignment restriction. Furthermore, a first extent of a succeeding chapter is created by copying the GOP including the division point and a GOP immediately succeeding it, a region formed of GOPs after the copied portion is used as a second extent of the succeeding chapter, and padding is given to an end region of the second extent in accordance with the length alignment restriction. |
| US08165454B2 |
Recording control apparatus, recording control method and recording apparatus integral with camera
The present invention efficiently executes a transfer process from a flash memory to an optical disc. A recording control apparatus includes a UDF file system section that configures a UDF file system on the flash file system of a flash memory and an application format section that converts video and audio data into a file group conforming to the DVD application format and manages it on the UDF file system. When copying the data recorded in the flash memory to a DVD, a management information switching section of the apparatus converts the logical addresses of the flash memory into the logical addresses of the DVD. A DVD buffer control section converts the data recorded in an array of 64 Kbytes that is the recording unit of the flash memory into an array of 32 Kbytes that is the recording unit of the DVD and transfers them to the DVD drive. |
| US08165450B2 |
Methods and apparatus for filtering content in a video stream using text data
Various embodiments of apparatus and/or methods are described for skipping and/or filtering content from a video stream using text data associated with the video stream. The text data is parsed using metadata to identify portions of the video stream to skip during presentation, and/or to identify portions of the video stream to present to a user. The portions of the video stream that are to be skipped are filtered from the video stream, and the filtered video stream is presented to a user. |
| US08165443B2 |
Communication socket
A communication socket comprises a housing including a base portion having a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls and a cover portion. The base portion and the cover portion are detachably engaged with each other. The base portion includes a plurality of knock-off holes for inserting an optical fiber at different positions in the sidewall and/or a plurality of fiber entries for inserting a fiber through the bottom wall. The fiber-connector-mounting portion extends from the base. Each of the fiber-connector-mounting portion includes a spacer for maintaining a fiber connector at a distance away from the bottom wall, and a space for inserting the fiber between the fiber connector and the bottom wall. The volume of the communication socket can be minimized, the integration thereof can be improved, the fiber can enter the communication socket in all directions while the fiber's bend radius is satisfied, and the management on the fiber and cable in the communication socket is effective. |
| US08165442B2 |
System for securing fiber optic devices in management trays
An optical fiber management tray system includes a tray or drawer including a base panel having a number of slots formed in the panel, and a number of retention clips for mounting fiber optic devices of different shapes and dimensions on the panel. Two or more of the clips each has a main body with a different retention portion for enveloping part of a corresponding fiber optic device, and a pair of latch fingers that project from the clip body in the direction of the base panel when the device is enveloped in the retention portion clip and placed at a desired location on the panel. The latch fingers have free ends for engaging edges of the slots in the base panel when the corresponding device is enveloped in the retention clip, thus securing the device at the desired location on the panel. |
| US08165436B2 |
Highly efficient optical gratings with reduced thickness requirements and impedance-matching layers
An optical grating comprising a grating layer and two surface layers, the layers being arranged with the grating layer between the surface layers. The grating layer comprises a set of multiple, discrete, elongated first grating regions that comprise a first dielectric material and are arranged with intervening elongated second grating regions. The bulk refractive index of the dielectric material of the first grating regions is larger than the bulk refractive index of the second grating regions. The first surface layer comprises a first impedance matching layer, and the second surface layer comprises either (i) a second impedance matching layer or (ii) a reflective layer. Each said impedance matching layer is arranged to reduce reflection of an optical signal transmitted through the corresponding surface of the grating layer, relative to reflection of the optical signal in the absence of said impedance matching layer. |
| US08165432B2 |
Internal-reflection optical path changing member
An optical path changing member is assembled at ends of optical fibers and placed to face a substrate including an optical input/output terminal having optical axes inclined with respect to optical axes of the ends. The optical path changing member is made of a transparent material and includes a member body having a reflection surface for optically connecting the ends to the optical input/output terminal. The member body has optical fiber insertion holes and an end placement portion to which the insertion holes are open and in which the end faces of the optical fibers are placed. The reflection surface is formed so that light entering from the end faces of the optical fibers into the member body will be internally reflected toward the optical input/output terminal in the member body. The end placement portion is filled with an adhesive by which the ends are fixed to the member body. |
| US08165431B2 |
Integrated transceiver with lightpipe coupler
A transceiver comprising a CMOS chip and a laser coupled to the chip may be operable to communicate an optical source signal from a semiconductor laser into the CMOS chip. The optical source signal may be used to generate first optical signals that are transmitted from the CMOS chip to optical fibers coupled to the CMOS chip. Second optical signals may be received from the optical fibers and converted to electrical signals via photodetectors in the CMOS chip. The optical source signal may be communicated from the semiconductor laser into the CMOS chip via optical fibers in to a top surface and the first optical signals may be communicated out of a top surface of the CMOS chip. The optical source signal may be communicated into the CMOS chip and the first optical signals may be communicated from the CMOS chip via optical couplers, which may comprise grating couplers. |
| US08165428B2 |
Optical imaging based computer pointing
Methods and systems for optical imaging based computer pointing, including optical imaging based pointing motion and button functionality. Optical image motion information is translated to a computer pointing device data format, and one or more patterns, sequences, or combinations of optical image information are translated to one or more corresponding pointing device button select indications in the pointing device data format. |
| US08165425B2 |
Interactive manual deformable registration of images
An image processing method is described that allows a user to deform an overlay image for the purpose of registration with a source image. The user defines a stretch vector for example by ‘clicking and dragging’ a mouse pointer and an algorithm deforms the overlay image according to a linear interpolated roll-off function. |
| US08165418B2 |
Image processor
In an image processor, a reduced image forming unit forms a reduced image by reducing an original image. The reduced image peripheral average value generating unit generates a peripheral average value for each pixel of the reduced image. The reduced image reflectance component calculating unit calculates a reflectance component indicating a ratio of brightness between each pixel and the peripheral pixels thereof for the each pixel in the reduced image. The frequency distribution generating unit generates a frequency distribution of the frequency of each value of reflectance component calculated by the reduced image reflectance component calculating unit. The representative reflectance component determining unit determines a representative reflectance component based on the frequency distribution. The simplified correcting unit performs a simplified correcting operation for correcting the value of the target pixel in the original image by converting the value of the target pixel to an output value based on the representative reflectance component and the value of the target pixel in the original image. |
| US08165417B2 |
Visual processing device, visual processing method, visual processing program, integrated circuit, display device, image-capturing device, and portable information terminal
The invention provides a visual processing device that has a hardware configuration that does not depend on the visual processing to be achieved. A visual processing device 1 is provided with a spatial processing portion 2 and a visual processing portion 3. The spatial processing portion 2 performs predetermined processing with respect to an input signal IS that has been received as input, and outputs the result as an unsharp signal US. The visual processing portion 3 outputs an output signal OS, which is the input signal IS after visual processing, based on a two-dimensional LUT 4 that lists the relationship between the input signal IS that has been received as input and the unsharp signal US, and the output signal OS. |
| US08165416B2 |
Automatic gain and exposure control using region of interest detection
A region of interest may be determined using any or all of sound source location, multi-person detection, and active speaker detection. An weighted mean may be determined using the region of interest and a set of backlight weight regions, or, only the set of backlight weight regions if a region of interest could not be found. The image mean is compared to a target value to determine if the image mean is greater than or less than the target value within a predetermined threshold. If the image mean is greater than the predetermined target value and predetermined threshold value, the gain and exposure are decreased. If the image mean is lesser than the predetermined target value minus the predetermined threshold value, the gain and exposure are decreased. |
| US08165415B2 |
Image processing system having scaling and sharpness device and method thereof
An image processing system having scaling and sharpness device and method thereof are described. The global frequency detecting unit calculates a vertical frequency level of the input pixels along a vertical direction and a horizontal frequency level along a horizontal direction. The gradient-calculating summation unit calculates a set of gradient brightness levels according to a portion of the input pixels along a set of directions respectively. The threshold-adjusting device adjusts a first threshold and a second threshold based on the relationship of the vertical frequency level and the horizontal frequency level. The image blending device determines a cross-angle direction with the first threshold from the threshold-adjusting device and determines a minimum-angle direction with the second threshold from the threshold-adjusting device, wherein the image blending device generates the first pattern associated with the cross-angle direction and the second pattern associated with the minimum-angle direction and blends the first pattern with the second pattern based on the weighting factor value. |
| US08165413B1 |
Optimizing bounds checking in neighborhood processes
A computer-implemented method for optimizing bounds checking in a structured lattice having a regular pattern of neighboring nodes, includes the steps of: visiting a node in the lattice in a determined order, including bounds checking the node and performing a neighborhood process on the node; when said node is an interior node, calculating a distance k to a specified node in the determined order; visiting the next k nodes in the determined order without performing bounds checking and performing a neighborhood process on each of the next k nodes; and at least one of displaying or storing a result of the neighborhood process for the node. |
| US08165412B2 |
Method for decoding binary image at high speed
A method for decoding a binary image at a high speed, wherein blocks having same pixel values are decoded in clock units, such that a decoding speed increases. The method includes: determining whether a predetermined number of sequential pixels corresponds to any one of a white_run, a black_run, and a combined_run; and if the predetermined number of sequential pixels corresponds to any one of the white_run, the black_run, and the combined_run, decoding the sequential pixels in a block per clock unit. |
| US08165410B2 |
Bags of visual context-dependent words for generic visual categorization
Category context models (64) and a universal context model (62) are generated including sums of soft co-occurrences of pairs of visual words in geometric proximity to each other in training images (50) assigned to each category and assigned to all categories, respectively. Context information (76) about an image to be classified (70) are generated including sums of soft co-occurrences of pairs of visual words in geometric proximity to each other in the image to be classified. For each category (82), a comparison is made of (i) closeness of the context information about the image to be classified with the corresponding category context model and (ii) closeness of the context information about the image to be classified with the universal context model. An image category (92) is assigned to the image to be classified being based on the comparisons. |
| US08165409B2 |
Mobile device identification of media objects using audio and image recognition
A method obtains media on a device, provides identification of an object in the media via image/video recognition and audio recognition, and displays on the device identification information based on the identified media object. |
| US08165408B2 |
Image recognition apparatus utilizing plurality of weak classifiers for evaluating successive sub-images extracted from an input image
The position of a face image within an input image is detected based on results from applying a plurality of weak classifiers in sequence to each of sub-images extracted from the input image. A decision whether to interrupt the sequence and reject a currently extracted sub-image is made based on the sum of a total of weighted decision values obtained up to the current point in the sequence and a total of potential weighted decision values obtainable from the remaining weak classifiers if the extracted sub-image were a face image. |
| US08165405B2 |
Leveraging temporal, contextual and ordering constraints for recognizing complex activities in video
A system (and a method) are disclosed for recognizing and representing activities in a video sequence. The system includes an activity dynamic Bayesian network (ADBN), an object/action dictionary, an activity inference engine and a state output unit. The activity dynamic Bayesian network encodes the prior information of a selected activity domain. The prior information of the selected activity domain describes the ordering, temporal constraints and contextual cues among the expected actions. The object/action dictionary detects activities in each frame of the input video stream, represents the activities hierarchically, and generates an estimated observation probability for each detected action. The activity inference engine estimates a likely activity state for each frame based on the evidence provided by the object/action dictionary and the ADBN. The state output unit outputs the likely activity state generated by the activity inference engine. |
| US08165404B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating document data, and computer program product
In an apparatus for creating document data, an acquiring unit acquires a handwritten figure; and a recognizing unit converts the handwritten figure acquired by the acquiring unit into a specific figure and recognizes a layout including the specific figure as a component as a user-specified layout. A storage unit stores therein data to be inserted into a desired one of a plurality of layout models. A selecting unit selects a layout model similar to the user-specified layout model from among the layout models as a similar layout model; and an inserting unit inserts the data stored in the storage unit into the similar layout model selected by the selecting unit. |
| US08165402B2 |
Image processing method, image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus and storage medium
An image processing apparatus is configured to precisely perform positioning of a plurality of document images containing a common part and to precisely extract an image of the common part from the plurality of document images. |
| US08165401B2 |
Robust interest point detector and descriptor
Methods and apparatus for operating on images are described, in particular methods and apparatus for interest point detection and/or description working under different scales and with different rotations, e.g. for scale-invariant and rotation-invariant interest point detection and/or description. The present invention can provide improved or alternative apparatus and methods for matching interest points either in the same image or in a different image. The present invention can provide alternative or improved software for implementing any of the methods of the invention. The present invention can provide alternative or improved data structures created by multiple filtering operations to generate a plurality of filtered images as well as data structures for storing the filtered images themselves, e.g. as stored in memory or transmitted through a network. The present invention can provide alternative or improved data structures including descriptors of interest points in images, e.g. as stored in memory or transmitted through a network as well as data structures associating such descriptors with an original copy of the image or an image derived therefrom, e.g. a thumbnail image. |
| US08165392B2 |
Image decoder and image decoding method for decoding color image signal, and image decoding method for performing decoding processing
The present invention makes it possible to include, when encoding processing is applied to three color components using a 4:0:0 format, data for one picture in one access unit and makes it possible to set the same time information or the same set encoding modes among the respective color components. In an image encoding system for applying compression processing to an input image signal including a plurality of color components, encoded data obtained by independently subjecting an input image signal of each of the color components to encoding processing and a parameter indicating which color component the encoded data corresponds to are multiplexed with a bit stream. In an image decoding system for inputting a bit stream in which an image signal including a plurality of color components is compressed to perform decoding processing, decoding processing of the encoded data of each of the color components is performed using a parameter indicating which color component the encoded data corresponds to. |
| US08165390B2 |
Image data processing device and image data processing method
N-band image data are output from an N-band image capture device, being capable of N>4 multiband image capturing, to an image data processing device. An image data evaluation information provision unit provides a determination unit with evaluation information on the basis of the input N-band image data. On the basis of the evaluation information, the determination unit determines whether to set the N-band image data or M-band image data having a smaller band number than the N-band image data as image data to be output. On the basis of a determination result of the determination unit, an output image data selection unit selects either the N-band image data or the M-band image data as the image data to be output to an image data recording unit. |
| US08165388B2 |
Neutral pixel detection in an image path
A system and method for pixel and object level neutral detection. An image is scanned into a plurality of pixels. A local pixel of interest is identified along with a neighborhood of pixels around the local pixel. The chroma value of the current pixel as well as the average local chroma of the neighborhood are calculated. An adjusted chroma is determined based on the average local chroma. A luminance value can also be measured for the current pixel and for each of the neighbor pixels and a luminance variation determined. The adjusted chroma can be further modified based on the determined luminance variation. The adjusted chroma is compared against a threshold to determine a neutral pixel detection tag for the current pixel. The pixel tags can be utilized to control an adjustment of pixels in a device independent L*a*b* or a device independent CMYK domain. |
| US08165383B2 |
Method, system and computer program product for edge detection
A method for edge detection, the method includes: obtaining an image of an area of a lithographic mask; wherein the image is generated by an optical system that is partially coherent; calculating a gradient of the image and a second derivative of the image in a direction of the gradient of the image; calculating a function that is proportional to the second derivative of the image in the direction of the gradient of the image and is inversely proportional to a ratio between a square of the gradient of the image and the image; and detecting at least one edge of at least one feature of the area in response to values of the function. |
| US08165381B1 |
Method and system for transaction decision making
According to one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method and a system for transaction decision making. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method and system for processing payment items involve receiving a payment item at a sorter device; extracting electronic data from the payment item from an electronic readable line of the payment item; imaging the payment item to obtain image data of the payment item; comparing the electronic data and the image data to verify payment data associated with the payment item; and determining an optimal settlement path for the payment item, at the sorter device. |
| US08165380B2 |
Method, apparatus and program for processing mammographic image
Provided are a method, an apparatus, and a program for processing a mammographic image, whereby the file size of the mammographic image can be remarkably reduced while retaining the original breast portion sufficient for diagnosis. A controlling unit divides an original mammographic image into a breast portion and a background portion based on a predetermined value (whether each pixel value of the original mammographic image is greater or smaller than a predetermined value). It determines the breast boundary line between the breast portion and the background portion (operation S2). It shifts and expands the breast portion upward, downward and forward to result in a secondary boundary line, wherein the breast portion side of the secondary boundary line has a size larger than that of the breast portion (operation S3). In addition, the controlling unit cutting off the background portion of the mammographic image vertically and/or horizontally at the secondary boundary line so that the original breast portion side remains, thereby obtaining the finally processed mammographic image (operation S4). Thus, the controlling unit generates the final image smaller in file size than the original mammographic image. |
| US08165369B2 |
System and method for robust segmentation of pulmonary nodules of various densities
A method for differentiating pulmonary nodules in digitized medical images includes identifying an object of interest from a digital image of the lungs, computing a first distance map of each point of the object of interest, determining a seed point from the first distance map, starting from the seed point, growing a first region by adding successive adjacent layers of points until a background point is reached, and partitioning the first region into a nodule region and a non-nodule region. |
| US08165367B2 |
Medical image processing apparatus and medical image processing method having three-dimensional model estimating
A medical image processing apparatus of the present invention has a three-dimensional model estimating section for estimating, based on an inputted two-dimensional image of an image of a living tissue within a body cavity, a three-dimensional model of the living tissue, a shape feature value calculating section for calculating shape feature values of respective voxels included in the three-dimensional model of the living tissue, a three-dimensional shape extracting section for extracting a first voxel group whose three-dimensional model has been estimated as a predetermined shape, in the respective voxels included in the three-dimensional model of the living tissue, based on the shape feature values, and a protruding shape detecting section for detecting the first voxel group as a voxel group configuring a protruding shape in the three-dimensional model of the living tissue. |
| US08165365B2 |
Method and system for displaying tomosynthesis images
An embodiment of a method for displaying a volume obtained by tomosynthesis includes displaying a two-dimensional image. It further includes receiving user input that defines on the displayed image at least one volume of interest associated with a two-dimensional region of interest located in a plane of the image. The method further includes displaying in the region of interest, according to a practitioner's wishes: (a) images of slices of the volume of interest; (b) three-dimensional images of the volume of interest; and/or (c) slabs obtained from the volume of interest. |
| US08165364B2 |
Temperature management for ultrasound imaging at high frame rates
To keep the temperature of an ultrasound probe down, the probe is operated at a low frame rate (with correspondingly low heat generation) for the vast majority of time. Probe operation is only switched to the high frame rate temporarily at times when high temporal resolution is needed, preferably under operator control. The probe is only operated at the high frame rate for a short period of time, during which a burst of images with high temporal resolution is obtained. After capturing the short burst of images, the frame rate is cut back, which reduces the generation of heat. |
| US08165363B2 |
System and method for quality assurance in pathology
Systems and methods for improving quality assurance in pathology using automated quality assessment and digital image enhancements on digital slides prior to analysis by the pathologist are provided. A digital pathology system (slide scanning instrument and software) creates, assesses and improves the quality of a digital slide. The improved digital slide image has a higher image quality that results in increased efficiency and accuracy in the analysis and diagnosis of such digital slides when they are reviewed on a monitor by a pathologist. These improved digital slides yield a more objective diagnosis than reading the corresponding glass slide under a microscope. |
| US08165361B2 |
System and method for image based multiple-modality cardiac image alignment
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for temporally aligning a plurality of cardiac image sequences. The method includes performing a locally linear embedding algorithm on a first set of cardiac image sequences and on a second set of cardiac image sequences. A graphical representation is created for the first set of cardiac image sequences and the second set of cardiac image sequences. A determination is made whether the first set of cardiac image sequences and the second set of cardiac image sequences were generated from a similar point of view. If a similar point of view is found, the first graphical representation and the second graphical representation are aligned using a minimization function. If a similar point of view is not found, the graphs are aligned with a template and then aligned with each other using the minimization function. |
| US08165355B2 |
Method and apparatus for fingerprint motion tracking using an in-line array for use in navigation applications
The invention provides an independent relative motion sensor for use in navigation operations using a fingerprint that do not require the power demanded by conventional devices. The independent relative motion sensor includes a linear array of sensing elements that captures a narrow string of data that is indicative of fingerprint features along a relatively narrow sample. This string of data is used to determine the velocity of travel for use in navigation operations. Using multiple sensors, motion and direction data can be computed and used to provide two-dimensional direction for navigating an object, such as a cursor on a monitor. The invention can be incorporated in an electronic device to provide improved navigation operations that demand less power. |
| US08165354B1 |
Face recognition with discriminative face alignment
The present invention relates to systems and methods for face recognition. In an embodiment, a system for face recognition includes a face alignment module, a signature extractor and a recognizer. In another embodiment, a method for face recognition is provided. The method includes extracting signature features of a face in an image based upon face alignment localization. The method also includes generating reconstruction errors based upon the face alignment localizations. Face alignment models may be used. The method further includes identifying a person from the face in the image. According to a further embodiment, direct mixture recognition may be performed. According to another embodiment, iterative mixture recognition may be performed. |
| US08165350B2 |
Assessment of a view through the overlay of maps
A system for evaluating a view, including a first mapper for encoding an image of a view according to a first parameter to create a first map having multiple defined areas, a second mapper for encoding the image according to a second parameter to create a second map having multiple defined areas, an overlap mapper for combining the maps to create an overlap map, a tabulator for measuring areas in the overlap map corresponding to overlapping defined areas, creating a set of measurements of the image, and an analyzer for analyzing the set of measurements of the image and a learning set of measurement groups with associated values to compute an estimated value associated with the image where the estimated value relates to the set of measurements of the image in the same manner that each value in the learning set relates to its associated measurement group. |
| US08165342B2 |
Color image or video processing
The present invention relates generally to color image processing. One claim recites a method of color masking an image or video including: reading color values of an image sample of the image or video and a corresponding change of an attribute of the image sample; and based on the color values of the image sample, and using a programmed electronic processor, mapping the change in the image sample attribute to a change in color components of the image sample that is equivalent to the change in the image sample attribute, yet reduces visibility of the change in the image sample attribute for the specific color values of the image sample. Another claim recites a method including: obtaining data representing digital imagery or video; analyzing at least a portion of the data to determine one or more color characteristics associated with the at least a portion of the data, said act of analyzing yielding a result; based at least in part on the result, generating a key; and using a programmed electronic processor, embedding auxiliary data in the data representing digital imagery or video using the key. Of course other claims and combinations are provided as well. |
| US08165340B2 |
Methods for gas detection using stationary hyperspectral imaging sensors
According to one embodiment, a method comprises producing a first hyperspectral imaging (HSI) data cube of a location at a first time using data from a HSI sensor; producing a second HSI data cube of the same location at a second time using data from the HSI sensor; subtracting on a pixel-by-pixel basis the second HSI data cube from the first HSI data cube to produce a raw difference cube; calibrating the raw difference cube to produce a calibrated raw difference cube; selecting at least one desired spectral band based on a gas of interest; producing a detection image based on the at least one selected spectral band and the calibrated raw difference cube; examining the detection image to determine presence of the gas of interest; and outputting a result of the examination. Other methods, systems, and computer program products for detecting the presence of a gas are also described. |
| US08165336B2 |
Voice coil and speaker
A voice coil includes a cylindrical bobbin formed of a first material; a coil which surrounds on an outer circumferential surface of the bobbin; and a plurality of reinforcement members formed of a material having a propagation speed faster than the first material and provided on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical bobbin. |
| US08165330B2 |
Method for wireless data transfer between a hearing aid and an external device
Data is wirelessly transferred between a hearing aid and an external device, wherein the hearing aid via an internal receiving device, receives data being sent form the external device via a wireless connection. The hearing aid is in a receiving mode when data from the external device is sent via the wireless connection, wherein the receiving device is then permanently in the on-position for receiving data. Furthermore, the hearing aid switches to a stand-by mode, when no data is sent via the wireless connection from the external device, wherein the receiving device is alternatively turned on and off, in order to detect a beginning data transfer from the external device. |
| US08165328B2 |
Hearing aid
A hearing aid is provided which comprise an audio signal input device (11), a signal processor (12) a signal output device (13) which presents a processed audio signal perceivable as sound to an ear of a user, where the signal processor comprises fast acting level estimators (8) and slow acting level estimators (8). According to the invention the fast acting level estimators has attack time constants around 10 ms, and release time constants in the range from 25 ms to 250 ms, and are implemented in a number of frequency bands not exceeding 8 bands and preferably 4 frequency bands, the slow acting level estimators (7) have attack time constants around 10 ms, and release time constants which are 4 to 5 times the release time constants of the fast acting level estimators (8), and are implemented in a number of frequency bands comprising no less than 10 bands and preferably 16 frequency bands. In an embodiment a communication link between two hearing aids at each their ear of a user allows the level estimators between the two hearing aid to synchronize their output. |
| US08165327B2 |
Method for generating acoustic signals of a hearing aid
Acoustic signal tones of a hearing aid need to be adjusted to the particular situation so as to be easy to hear, i.e. on the one hand they should not be too loud in quiet situations, and on the other hand they should not be too quiet in noisy situations. In order to fulfill these requirements, the acoustic signals of the hearing aid according to the invention are shifted up or down in frequency if the ambient noises are extremely pronounced, particularly in the frequency band range of the acoustic signals. |
| US08165322B2 |
Circuit for processing sound signals
A circuit for processing sound signals includes an input amplifier for amplifying an input signal, wherein the amplified input signal is supplied to an output amplifier unchanged via a primary path configured as a bypass line and processed via one or several secondary paths configured as a circuit for processing the amplified input signal for amplifying and outputting the processed signal, wherein respective signal portions of the amplified input signal, which are supplied to the output amplifier via the primary path and the secondary path(s), can each be adjusted with an adjusting device, and wherein the secondary path includes a corresponding equalizing filter for filtering a corresponding frequency range with a dynamic circuit for optionally dynamically changing frequency, amplitude and phase depending on the signal and concurrent with a static control. |
| US08165321B2 |
Intelligent clip mixing
Various techniques for controlling the playback of secondary audio data on an electronic device are provided. In one embodiment, a secondary audio clip mixing profile is selected based upon the type of audio output device, such as a speaker or a headset, coupled to the electronic device. The selected mixing profile may define respective digital gain values to be applied to a secondary audio stream at each digital audio level of the electronic device, and may be customized based upon one or more characteristics of the audio output device to substantially optimize audibility and user-perceived comfort. In this manner, the overall user listening experience may be improved. |
| US08165320B2 |
Audio/video device having a volume control function for external audio reproduction unit by using volume control buttons of a remote controller and volume control method therefor
An audio/video (A/V) device having a volume control function for external audio reproduction units by using volume control buttons of a remote controller is provided. The A/V device includes speakers, an audio output port for externally outputting an audio signal, an audio signal processing unit for reproducing and amplifying the audio signal and applying the amplified audio signal to the speakers or the audio output port, a memory unit for storing volume control values, and a control unit for applying to the audio signal processing unit any of the volume control values stored in the memory based on whether the external audio reproduction unit is plugged in the audio output port. The control unit controls the audio signal processing unit to adjust the volume control values for the audio output port by the volume control buttons when the external audio reproduction unit is plugged in the audio output port. |
| US08165318B2 |
Process for adjusting the sound volume of a digital sound recording
The present invention relates to a process for adjusting the sound volume of a digital sound recording characterized in that it comprises: a step consisting of determining, in absolute values, for a recording, the maximum amplitude values for sound frequencies audible for the human ear, a step consisting of calculating the possible gain for a specified sound level setting, between the maximum amplitude value determined above and the maximum amplitude value for all frequencies combined, a step consisting of reproducing the recording with a sound card by automatically adjusting the amplification gain level making it possible to obtain a sound level for the recording of a specified value so that it corresponds to the gain calculated for this recording. |
| US08165315B2 |
Multichannel wireless system
An audio system responsive to a source of audio programming. The audio system comprising a master amplifier connected to the source of audio programming, the master amplifier providing channelized amplified audio signals at each one of a plurality of channel output connectors and a signal splitter connected to at least one of the plurality of channel output connectors for splitting the channelized amplified audio signal at a selected one of the plurality of channel output connectors into an audio channel signal and a power signal. The audio system further comprising a channel transmit module responsive to the audio channel signal and the power signal for transmitting the audio channel signal, a channel receiver responsive to an intended audio channel signal, a channel amplifier connected to an associated channel receiver for amplifying the intended audio channel signal and a sound reproducing device connected to the channel amplifier for aurally reproducing the intended audio channel signal. |
| US08165311B2 |
Airflow optimization and noise reduction in computer systems
In one embodiment, a fan is used to generate airflow through a computer chassis to a fan air inlet. An audible frequency component of the airflow is identified and selected. A sound wave is generated having a generated frequency equal to the selected audible frequency component of the airflow. The generated sound wave is introduced into the airflow with the generated frequency out of phase with the audible frequency component of the airflow. The magnitude of the generated frequency may be selected as a function of fan speed and/or air sensed pressure within the airflow. The frequency, phase, and magnitude of the generated sound wave may be selected and enforced by a baseboard management controller. |
| US08165309B2 |
System and method for simulation of non-linear audio equipment
The invention describes an apparatus for software or hardware emulation of electronic audio equipment, which characterizes a non-linear behavior. The invention comprises an analog to digital interface (504) for the input audio signal (502), whose output (506) is communicatively coupled to a dynamic non-linearity (508). The output (514) of this dynamic non-linearity is finally communicatively coupled to an interface (516) producing the output audio signal (518). The dynamic non-linearity consists of a mode switching static non-linear function, where the mode parameter (512) is estimated in a function (510) based on the previous values on the input (506) and output (514) of the dynamic non-linearity. |
| US08165303B1 |
Method and apparatus for public key cryptography
Method and apparatus are described wherein, in one example embodiment, a first entity shares a digital file such as a digital image with a second entity, and the first entity and the second entity each use the digital file as a seed to generate identical public/private key pairs using the same key generation procedure, such that both entities hold identical key pairs. The first and second entities may use the key pairs to encrypt, decrypt or sign and authenticate communications between the entities. |
| US08165302B2 |
Key table and authorization table management
In certain embodiments, a player device that receives and plays content stored on packaged media, the player device has a media reader that receives a packaged media to read digital data stored thereon. The player device has a secure persistent storage device storing a key table containing a plurality of keys indexed by an index. A decrypter decrypts the digital data stored on the packaged media using at least one of the encryption keys referenced by a key index stored on the packaged media. A decoder decodes the decrypted digital data stored on the packaged media and provides the decoded data as an output. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US08165301B1 |
Input-output device and storage controller handshake protocol using key exchange for data security
A protocol for providing secured IO device and storage controller handshake protocol; IO device controlled cipher settings, and secured data storage and access in memory. An IO device requesting data transfer with encryption and/or decryption, requests session keys from the processor. The processor generates a fresh public-private key pair for the session. The public key is sent to the requesting IO device; the private key is momentarily saved by the processor for the session. The requesting IO device generates a secret key and its desired cipher setting; furthermore, encrypts the secret key and cipher setting using the public key, and sends secret key and cipher setting to the processor. The processor uses the private key to decrypt the secret key and cipher setting. The cipher setting is used for configuring the data processing core. The secret key is used for encryption and/or decryption of the data being transferred. All keys are not permanently saved. |
| US08165300B2 |
System and method for generalized authentication
A system, method, and program product is provided that uses environments to control access to encryption keys. A request for an encryption key and an environment identifier is received. If the encryption key is not associated with the environment identifier, the request is denied. If they are associated, the system receives user-supplied environment authentication data items from a user. Examples of environment authentication data include passwords, user identifiers, user biometric data (e.g., fingerprint scan, etc.), smart cards, and the like. The system retrieves stored environment authentication data items from a secure (e.g., encrypted) storage location. The retrieved stored environment authentication data items correspond to the environment identifier that was received. The received environment authentication data items are authenticated using the retrieved stored environment authentication data items. If the authentication is successful, the user is allowed use of the requested encryption key, otherwise, the request is denied. |
| US08165299B2 |
Network authentication
An existing communications device, such as a WAP-enabled mobile phone or other device, can be used as an authentication token. This has the advantage that WAP-enabled devices include components which are used in public key/private key cryptographic systems as a part of their standard communication functions. These components therefore advantageously allow the device to be used as an authentication token when communicating with a remote server. |
| US08165294B2 |
Rollback attack prevention system and method
A rollback attack prevention system 10 for a gaming machine 20 includes a configuration log 30 and a revocation list 40. Preferably, the configuration log 30 includes a protected record of software that has been installed on the gaming machine 20. Further, the revocation list 40 includes an inventory of unauthorized software that the prevention system 10 prevents from being installed and/or used on the gaming machine 20. |
| US08165291B2 |
Random seed stability with fuses
A circuit for stabilizing soft bits in a bit stream, the circuit having a first register to receive an initial read of the bit stream, a second register to receive a subsequent read of the bit stream, a comparator to compare the initial read of the bit stream to the subsequent read of the bit stream, a third register to receive a comparison string having bits set in positions where the initial read of the bit stream and the subsequent read of the bit stream do not match, indicating a soft bit in the positions, and an accumulator to receive the comparison string for multiple subsequent reads of the bit stream, and track positions of all soft bits detected during the multiple subsequent reads. |
| US08165290B2 |
Methods and apparatus for bootstrapping mobile-foreign and foreign-home authentication keys in mobile IP
Methods and apparatus for dynamically generating authentication keys are disclosed. Specifically, a Mobile-Foreign authentication key is separately generated by both the Mobile Node and Foreign Agent. Similarly, a Foreign-Home authentication key is separately generated by the Foreign Agent and the Home Agent. In accordance with one embodiment, generation of the Mobile-Foreign authentication key and Foreign-Home authentication key are accomplished via the Diffie-Hellman key generation scheme. |
| US08165289B2 |
Method and apparatus for the generation of code from pattern features
A method is provided for deriving a single code from a biometric sample in a way which enables different samples of a user to provide the same code whilst also distinguishing between samples of different users. Different features are analysed to obtain mean and variance values, and these are used to control how the different feature values are interpreted. In addition, features are combined and a sub-set of bits of the combination is used as the code. This enables bits which are common to all user samples to be dropped as well as bits which may differ between different samples of the same user. |
| US08165286B2 |
Combination white box/black box cryptographic processes and apparatus
Method and apparatus for increasing security of a cryptographic algorithm such as deciphering, enciphering, or a digital signature. A cryptographic algorithm and a key are provided such that a deciphering process, for instance, is partitioned between two portions. The portion of the cryptographic algorithm carried out in the first portion is implemented in a “white box” model such that it is highly secure even against an attack by the user who has full access to internal operations, code execution and memory of the user device, such as a hacker or attacker. The remaining portion of the algorithm is carried out in the second portion. Since this second portion has relaxed security constraints, its code may be implemented using a “black box” approach where its code execution may be more efficient and faster, not requiring the code obfuscation of the white box implementation in the user device. This partitioning may be achieved using a delegation protocol. The chief advantage is that even given a limited code size for the cryptographic process, the security of the system is improved by carrying out the more computationally intensive functions more efficiently in the black box portion and executing the less computationally intensive function in the white box portion. |
| US08165285B2 |
Process for generating an elliptic curve, application in a cryptographic process, and cryptographic process using such a curve
The invention relates, mainly to a cryptographic process using an elliptic curve represented by means of an equation containing first and second parameters (a, b), a bilinear matching, and calculations in a finite group of integers constructed around at least one first reduction rule reducing each integer to its remainder in a whole division by a first prime number (p) that constitutes a third parameter, the elements of the finite group being in bijection with points selected on the elliptic curve, and the number of which is linked to a fourth parameter (q), where this process uses public and private keys, each of which is represented by a given point of the elliptic curve or by a multiplication factor between two points of this curve.According to the invention, the first reduction rule is the only reduction rule implemented, and the elliptic curve is obtained through a step-by-step construction process, directly allocating to the finite group q*q q-order points in the elliptic curve. |
| US08165284B2 |
Slide module and portable terminal having the same
A slide module having a first slide member, a second slide member moveable with respect to the first slide member, and a biasing unit connecting the first slide member to the second slide member, is provided. The biasing unit includes a first linkage having a plurality of links, the first linkage having one end rotatably connected to the first slide member and the other end rotatably connected to the second slide member, a second linkage having a plurality of links, the second linkage having one end of the second linkage rotatably connected to the first slide member and the other end rotatably connected to the second slide member, and a biasing mechanism connected between the first linkage and the second linkage. |
| US08165280B1 |
Method and system for providing busy override service in a SIP-based network
A method and system of an embodiment of the present invention may include sending an override signal to a first user wherein the first user is having a first dialog with a second user; establishing a second dialog with the first user; receiving a signal from the second user; and establishing a third dialog with the second user, in response to the signal, wherein the first dialog is terminated after the third dialog is established. |
| US08165279B2 |
Management server for teleconference system and computer program
Provided is a teleconference system enabling easy participation in a conference from a place geographically apart, securing active proceeding by individual presenting of statement, and enabling drastic decrease of trouble of creating a result by the conference. Statement information inputted by an input means of a terminal device is received and temporarily held and then the received statement information is transmitted to all the terminal devices participating in a teleconference. The statement information displayed on a display means of the terminal device is sorted by an input means of the terminal device and received as statement attribute data. The received statement attribute data and the statement information are stored in an information database. Then, based on the statement attribute data and the statement information, a commitment related to the teleconference is generated. |
| US08165276B2 |
System and method for auditing a communications bill
A computer-assisted system and method for auditing a communications bill wherein billing information is collected, reformatted and stored for use in a set of automated audits. The system and method for auditing a communications bill further collects data from other external systems such as a work order system, a trouble ticket system, an inventory system, an AMA/SMDR data source, an SS7 event record data source, or another source of call records or billing records. The data collected is used in a set of automated audits to determine if the communications bills contain errors. The system and method will further perform historical audits, and generate and manage the billing dispute process. The system and method will further provide audit reports and interface to an accounts payable system. |
| US08165275B1 |
Network access with delayed delivery
This invention provides a network access system that permits communication device users to access a network such as the Internet, a cable network, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) network or a broadband network (which may include cable and DSL networks). A network access device receives commands from users and executes the commands such as send e-mail, search the network, log on to pages supported by other parties on the network, download information from the network, request information such as movies from the network, bidding in an auction, etc. A user profile saves preferences of a user for interacting with the network. The network access device may supply primitive commands for the user to use individually or to construct complex command macros so that by a single command, more complex functions may be performed using the network. By the above described techniques, users who do not have access to devices such as a personal computer may access the network and take advantage of the rich resources available through the network. |
| US08165267B2 |
Method and device for checking carry-on luggage and other carried objects
A method and device is provided for controlling a hand luggage and other objects carried by flight passengers during check-in, wherein the complexity of an object is determined in a first verifying device by automatic verification. Afterwards, supplementary verification steps are carried out according to the determined complexity. |
| US08165265B2 |
Method of constructing multi-tomographic image and digital 3 D X-ray photographing apparatus
Tomographic images in a plurality of radius places are obtained in one-time X-ray photographing, and a lot of information on the diagnose can be provided by forming a stereoscopic image with these obtained tomographic images, and thickness of radial and fineness of angular direction of tomographic image that can be obtained herein compared with prior art can be set arbitrary and can be adjusted thereby obtaining further imperceptible stereoscopic image. To this end, whole photographed images at respective divided unit angles that can be obtained in the digital dental panoramic radiography apparatus at the tomography in the circular orbit, are stored, after X-ray photographed, these photographed images are arranged substantially on the circular arc at the radius place of the tomographic image of the desired extracting part, tomographic images in radius location can be constructed by adding while shifting every photograph unit angle. |
| US08165262B2 |
Shift register of a display device
A shift register includes a plurality of serially-coupled shift register units each including a first node, a second node, an input circuit, a pull-up circuit and a pull-down circuit. The shift register unit receives an input voltage at an input end, and provides an output voltage at an output end. The input circuit controls the signal transmission path between a first clock signal and the first node according to the input voltage. The pull-up circuit controls the signal transmission path between a second clock signal and the output end according to the voltage level of the first node. The voltage level of the first node or the output end is maintained according to the voltage level of the second node. The voltage level of the second node is maintained according to the first clock signal, the second clock signal and the voltage level of the first node. |
| US08165261B2 |
Chemical enhancement of ultrasonic fuel cleaning
A method for cleaning an irradiated nuclear fuel assembly includes chemically enhancing a technique utilizing an apparatus including a housing adapted to engage a nuclear fuel assembly. A set of ultrasonic transducers is positioned on the housing to supply radially emanating omnidirectional ultrasonic energy to remove deposits from the nuclear fuel assembly. Any corrosion products remaining after ultrasonic fuel cleaning will have exposed surfaces that are susceptible to chemical dissolution. |
| US08165257B2 |
Methods and apparatus for interface buffer management and clock compensation in data transfers
A circuit for data stream buffer management, lane alignment, and clock compensation of data transfers across a clock boundary using a single first in first out (FIFO) buffer in each serial channel is described. The RapidIO® data channel, for example, operates using a clock recovered from the data stream. The RapidIO® data stream has embedded special characters, where a select sequence of embedded characters is a clock compensation pattern. A look ahead circuit is used to detect the clock compensation pattern early and generate a clock compensation indicator signal. The FIFO writes data and the associated clock compensation indicator signal in a clock compensation indicator bit in synchronism with the recovered clock. A read circuit using a second clock of a different frequency than the first clock reads data and clock compensation bits from the FIFO and generates an almost empty signal when appropriate. A multiplexer is used at the FIFO output to pad data to the system interface. A clock compensation control circuit generates a selection signal based on an AND of the almost empty signal and the clock compensation indicator bit associated with a data element read out of the FIFO and using the selection signal to control the multiplexer selection signal. |
| US08165252B2 |
Signal processing device and method, and program
A signal processing device for detecting, from an input signal expressing data series, the data, including: a sampling clock generating unit for generating, from a driving clock with a predetermined cycle, multiple sampling clocks with mutually different phases and the same cycle as the cycle; a sampling data generating unit for sampling the input signal using the multiple sampling clocks, and generating a plurality of sampling data; a phase comparison data generating unit for generating phase comparison data indicating phase shifting as to the input signal of the sampling clock using the sampling data for each sampling clock; and a data generating unit for generating the data for each sampling clock using the sampling data, and selecting the data of the sampling clock having the phase closest to the phase of the input signal as the original data expressed with the input signal, based on the phase comparison data. |
| US08165248B2 |
Wireless distance measurement system and wireless terminal
A wireless distance measurement system and wireless terminal improve the accuracy of distance measurement when the UWB communication scheme is used. In wireless terminal 200, a route of signals varies between a distance measuring operation and a synchronization establishing operation, and, when the distance measuring operation is performed, a detection result is inputted to comparator 208 without passing through integrator 204. By this means, the distance measuring operation of wireless terminal 200 does not involve integration processing, so that delay time due to integration processing is not produced and, consequently, it is possible to improve the accuracy of distance measurement. Further, the distance measuring operation uses the integration result acquired integrator 204 for a comparison reference voltage used in comparator 208. By this means, the integration result removing noise signal components from a detection signal is used for the comparison reference voltage, so that the comparison reference voltage is optimized. Consequently, it is possible to further improve the accuracy of distance measurement. |
| US08165242B2 |
Signal jamming avoidance method for a frequency hopping communication system
To avoid signal jamming, a method is provided for selecting a dwell channel on a receiver in a frequency hopping communication system. The method includes: measuring a noise level on channels over which a data signal is received at the receiver; selecting a dwell channel based on the estimated noise levels, where the dwell channel having the lowest noise level amongst a group of permissible channels over which to acquire a signal from a transmitter; and tuning the receiver to the selected dwell channel during a search state in which the receiver attempts to synchronize with a transmitter. |
| US08165241B2 |
Closed loop feedback in MIMO systems
Feedback bandwidth may be reduced in a closed loop MIMO system by factoring non essential information out of a beamforming matrix. |
| US08165235B2 |
Interfering stream identification in wireless communication systems
An exemplary embodiment in accordance with this invention is a method for determining the number of interfering streams. The method includes calculating statistical information based on one or more received OFDM signals. The number of interfering streams is estimated from the statistical information in this method. The OFDM signal(s) are received via a plurality of antennas. Storing the OFDM signal(s) in a square matrix may be included in the method. A covariance matrix of the square matrix can be determined; and a noise subspace and a signal plus interference subspace can be determined based on a SVD of the covariance matrix. The statistical information may be based on the signal plus interference subspace. Apparatus, computer programs and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08165234B2 |
Method and system for synchronizing OFDM transmission symbols
A method for synchronizing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission symbols includes: an OFDM transmission module receives a synchronization signal, and adjusts the OFDM symbols sent by all lines to synchronous symbols according to the synchronization signal and send the symbols out. The present invention also provides a system for synchronizing OFDM transmission symbols. In the present invention, the weaknesses of the prior art are overcome; a synchronization signal generator generates a synchronization signal and sends it to the OFDM transmission equipment; and the OFDM transmission equipment adjusts the OFDM symbols sent by all lines to synchronous symbols according to the synchronization signal and send the symbols out, thus accomplishing synchronization between OFDM symbols and optimizing the performance of the dynamic spectrum management (DSM). |
| US08165233B2 |
Multi-element antenna beamforming in a wireless access network
A communication node of a wireless local area network utilizes a multi-element array antenna to estimate an angle-of-arrival for one or more signal sources which may communicate on symbol-modulated orthogonal subcarriers. Channel coefficients may be estimated from the angle-of-arrival for the one or more signal sources to increase channel capacity, improve channel equalization and reduce the effects of multipath fading. Beamforming based on the angle-of-arrival may also be performed for directional reception and/or transmission of communications with the one or more signal sources. |
| US08165231B2 |
Wireless communications apparatus
Precoding a plurality of subcarriers in preparation for MIMO transmission is carried out by deriving preceding matrices from available information. When the number of data streams borne by the subcarriers equates to the number of transmit antennas employed in the MIMO transmission, the method comprises deriving, from respective acquired unitary precoder matrices for two of said subcarriers, interpolated precoder matrices for data streams intermediate the two subcarriers. The acquired and interpolated precoder matrices are then applied, as the case may be, at the respective subcarriers. The step of deriving the interpolated precoder matrices comprises determining an overall rotation matrix representing a transformation between the acquired precoder matrices, determining from the overall rotation matrix a further rotation matrix representing a step transformation for interpolation steps between said two subcarriers, and recursively applying said further rotation matrix to derive said interpolated precoder matrices. In the event that the number of data streams is less than the number of transmit antennas employed in said MIMO transmission, the rectangular precoder matrices should first be converted into square unitary matrices. |
| US08165228B2 |
Non-coherent transmission method for uplink control signals using a constant amplitude zero-autocorrelation sequence
In one embodiment of the instant invention, a non-coherent transmission method for uplink control signals is provided. The transmission methodology uses a constant amplitude zero-autocorrelation (CAZAC) sequence for relatively short control signal lengths. The methodology includes creating a CAZAC sequence, truncating the CAZAC sequence into a plurality of segments; and transmitting each of the segments within a predetermined window of time. |
| US08165226B2 |
Imaging frame freeze detection
Techniques for detecting faults in a digital video stream include frame freeze detection that can alert an operator of frame freeze in a digital video stream. According to various embodiments, a counter or other code generator is used to place a code into each frame of a video stream. The code counts sequentially, or otherwise changes in a predetermined manner, from one frame to the next and is embedded into one or more pixels of each frame. Verification at the destination, or display, of the changing code within the frames of the video stream can confirm that the video stream is not in a frame freeze fault condition prior to display. If a fault condition is detected by the code verification process, an operator can be made aware of the fault. |
| US08165221B2 |
System and method for sampling based elimination of duplicate data
A technique for eliminating duplicate data is provided. Upon receipt of a new data set, one or more anchor points are identified within the data set. A bit-by-bit data comparison is then performed of the region surrounding the anchor point in the received data set with the region surrounding an anchor point stored within a pattern database to identify forward/backward delta values. The duplicate data identified by the anchor point, forward and backward delta values is then replaced in the received data set with a storage indicator. |
| US08165220B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing reduced memory mode for high-definition television
A method and apparatus are provided for implementing an enhanced reduced memory mode (RMM) of decoding HDTV MPEG-2 video stream. In one instance, the RMM mode is adaptively enabled with up/down conversion by using the picture-type information. In another instance, the RMM mode is provided by performing anchor-frame compression/decompression by using adaptive DPCM technique with picture-type information. The quantization (PCM) tables are generated using the Lloyd algorithm. Further, the predictor for each pixel is determined by a use of the Graham rule. |
| US08165215B2 |
System and method for designing of dictionaries for sparse representation
A signal processing system adapted for sparse representation of signals is provided, comprising: (i) one or more training signals; (ii) a dictionary containing signal-atoms; (iii) a representation of each training signal using a linear combination of said dictionary's signal-atoms; (iv) means for updating the representation of the training signal; (v) means for updating the dictionary one group of atoms at a time, wherein each atom update may include all representations referring to said updated atom; and (vi) means for iterating (iv) and (v) until a stopping rule is fulfilled. The system uses the K-SVD algorithm for designing dictionaries for sparse representation of signals. |
| US08165214B2 |
Circuit and method for generating fixed point vector dot product and matrix vector values
An integrated circuit (102) and method computes fixed point vector dot products (424) and/or matrix vector products using a type of distributed architecture that loads bit planes (add 00-add30) and uses the loaded bit planes to generate a plurality of partial products (416-422) directly, such as without a lookup table, and the plurality of partial products are computed in real time and are not read out of addressable memory. In one example, pixel coefficients and corresponding data are loaded such that, for example, a bit plane is loaded to generate partial product results on a per bit plane basis. The plurality of partial products are then summed (414) or accumulated to produce fixed point vector dot product data (424). |
| US08165213B2 |
Frame conversion apparatus and method, and frame type detection apparatus and method
Provided are a frame conversion apparatus and method and a frame type detecting apparatus and method. The frame conversion apparatus may include a detecting unit and an inverse telecine unit. The detecting unit may determine that each data frame is a telecine frame or a progressive frame according to the rate of discrete cosine transform (DCT) operation type performed on macro blocks of the frame or the number of the macro blocks on which each type of DCT operation is performed and output frame type information. The inverse telecine unit may convert the data frames into progressive frames and output the progressive frames in response to the frame type information. |
| US08165209B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a fast motion estimation process
A process performs a search on a base reference frame in a video signal to determine a first motion vector for each of the possible partitions of a current macroblock. The first motion vector for a partition provides the most optimal match for the partition in the base reference frame. An optimal partition for the current macroblock, which gives a minimum motion estimation cost among all the possible partitions in the base reference frame, is determined. The process performs the search on the optimal partition over a non-base reference frame in the video signal to determine a second motion vector that provides the most optimal match for the corresponding partition in the non-base reference frame. A simplified search is performed on each partition other than the optimal partition over the non-base reference frame to determine the second motion vector for the corresponding partition. |
| US08165208B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting sawtooth and field motion
The present invention provides a video detecting device including a first pixel detector, a second pixel detector, and a determining unit. The first pixel detector compares the intensity of a target pixel of a target scan line in a first field with the intensity of first comparing pixels of scan lines corresponding to the target scan line in a second field to generate a first detection value corresponding to the target pixel. The second pixel detector compares the intensity of a reference pixel of a nearby scan line in the second field with the intensity of second comparing pixels of scan lines corresponding to the nearby scan line in the first field to generate a second detection value corresponding to the reference pixel. According to the first and second detection values, the determining unit generates a diagnostic value which helps determine sawtooth occurrences in video frames. |
| US08165207B2 |
Method of effectively predicting multi-layer based video frame, and video coding method and apparatus using the same
A method and apparatus are provided for effectively predicting a video frame that use all of the advantages of an intra mode and an intra BL mode in multi-layer structure based-video coding. The method includes reconstructing the intra block of a lower layer using the previously reconstructed first neighboring blocks of the intra block; subtracting the first neighboring blocks from previously stored the second neighboring blocks of an upper layer corresponding to the first neighboring blocks; creating a differential predicted block based on a predetermined intra prediction mode by performing intra prediction using virtual differential neighboring blocks that are created as a result of the subtraction; adding the differential predicted block and the reconstructed intra block; and subtracting a predicted block, which is created as a result of the addition, from a block of the upper layer corresponding to the intra block. |
| US08165205B2 |
Natural shaped regions for motion compensation
A method of irregular motion compensation includes using contours of objects in a reference image to tile the reference image into a plurality of irregular shapes, and mapping each irregular shape to a location in a target image by assigning a motion vector to each irregular shape. |
| US08165200B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
The invention discloses an image processing apparatus and an image processing method. A server can transmit a first image and a second image. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a receiving/transmitting unit, a processing unit and a display unit. The receiving/transmitting unit can communicate with the server to receive the first image and the second image. The processing unit is coupled to the receiving/transmitting unit and the display unit. The processing unit is for selectively recompressing the first image at a first compression ratio and then controlling the display unit to display the first image. In addition, the processing unit transmits the selected first compression ratio to the server such that the server compresses the second image at the first compression ratio and transmits it to the receiving/transmitting unit. |
| US08165197B2 |
Method and apparatus for video upscaling
Upscaling video data for presentation on a relatively high resolution display device is described. Supplemental video data corresponding to video data is accessed and acquired in response to a request to upscale the video data. The video data and the supplemental video data are combined to produce a combined video data for displaying particular video content on a destination display device at a resolution that is high relative to the local display device. Digital rights management information may be verified prior to producing the combined video data, and additional digital rights information may be applied prior to transmitting the combined video data to the destination display device. A device registration database may also be used to control production and transmission of the upscaled video to other devices. |
| US08165188B2 |
Transceiver with adjustable sampling values and signal transceiving method thereof
A transceiver includes: a first DAC, for receiving a first digital signal to generate an analog signal; an operation circuit, coupled to the first DAC, for receiving the analog signal and a feedback signal to generate an operated analog signal; an ADC, for generating a second digital signal according to the operated analog signal; a digital signal processing circuit, for processing the second digital signal to generate a processed digital signal; a second DAC, for generating the feedback signal according to the processed digital signal; an adjustable delay circuit, for delaying a clock signal according to a control signal to adjust at least one sampling point of at least one of the first DAC, the second DAC and the ADC; and a control circuit, for generating the control signal according to the processed digital signal. |
| US08165184B2 |
Apparatus and method for synthesizing and generating an SSC modulated signal
An Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG) synthesizes and generates an SSC modulated signal by generating a modulating waveform with a frequency of an SSC modulation frequency, calculating the number of samples per data bit (SPUI) as a ratio of an upsampling frequency to a data rate of a data stream, calculating an amplification factor as the ratio of SSC deviation frequency to data rate of the data stream, generating the array of SSC Edges containing the edge variation with respect to single sample per bit, multiplying the amplification factor to the modulating waveform, generating an array of SSC Edges Upsampled, containing edge variations with respect to an Upsample factor per bit, and multiplying SSC Edges with SPUI; calculating the resultant bit duration SSC Bit Duration as the sum of SSC Edges Upsampled and SPU, and calculating the successive summation of SSC Bit Duration, to get SSC Bit Position. |
| US08165183B2 |
Joint design
Disclosed herein is an electrode joint having a first carbon body having at least one end portion that includes a male tang with a convex tip and a second carbon body having a female socket with a concave base. |
| US08165179B2 |
Closed loop laser control
The radiance of a laser is a function of drive current. The radiance is also a function of other factors, such as age and temperature. A laser projection device adjusts laser drive parameters using a gradient descent operation. The device parameters may be adjusted iteratively and periodically. The period may be shorter or longer than a scan line in a video image. |
| US08165174B2 |
Method and device for demapping a tributary recovering lower order synchronism
In a method of demapping a tributary from a first frame into a second frame, the first frame has a plurality of tributary words and a synchronization word, and first and second counters are provided. The first counter is increased by a first value at each dock cycle of the second frame, and reading operations are performed according to the second counter. Synchronization information, generated according to the synchronization word, is used to change between first and second states. When in the first state, the second counter is synchronized to the first counter at each clock cycle of the second frame; and, when in the second state, the second counter is synchronized to the first counter at a predetermined instant of the second frame, the second counter increasing by a second value at each clock cycle of the second frame wherein the reading operation is performed. |
| US08165172B2 |
Robust wideband symbol and frame synchronizer for power-line communication
An embodiment is a method and apparatus to perform symbol synchronization. A sign element obtains signs of samples in a sample vector. A correlation estimator computes a correlation of the sample vector. A synchronization detector detects symbol synchronization.Another embodiment is a method and apparatus to perform frame synchronization. A Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) processing unit computes a current FFT vector and an accumulated previous FFT vector. The current FFT vector and the accumulated previous FFT vector correspond to sample vectors associated with preamble symbols prior to symbol synchronization detection. A real and imaginary processing unit generates real and imaginary summations using the current FFT vector and the accumulated previous FFT vector. A mode processor generates mode flags representing operational modes using the real and imaginary summations. |
| US08165170B2 |
Method for accessing a medium in a synchronous communications network by a transmit node, computer program product, storage means and transmit node
A transmit mode performs indirect synchronization with a master node for accessing a medium, in a synchronous communications network comprising a plurality of slave nodes capable of accessing the medium during access time slots. The indirect synchronization includes receiving at least one frame coming from at least one of the slave nodes of the network. From each frame received, synchronization information pertaining to a level of synchronization of the slave node having sent the frame is obtained, the level of synchronization of the slave node being relative to the master node. A reference node is selected from among the at least one of the slave nodes from which at least one frame has been received, as a function of the pieces of synchronization information, the transmit node being indirectly synchronized with the master node via the reference node. |
| US08165169B2 |
Clock priority chain level systems and methods
Clock Priority Chain Level Systems and Methods are provided. In one embodiment, a method for determining clock priority for a multihost unit distributed antenna system is provided. The method comprises identifying which port of a plurality of ports is receiving a reference clock signal having a highest priority Network Chain Level (NCL) value, wherein the highest priority NCL value indicates a master clock priority level (MCPL) of a host unit providing a Master Clock and a chain level value indicating a chain depth; selecting a system clock reference port from the plurality of ports based on the highest priority NCL value; locking a local clock to a reference clock signal received on the selected system clock reference port; calculating an incremented NCL value based on the highest priority NCL value; and transmitting the incremented NCL value over the plurality of ports. |
| US08165168B2 |
Zone synchronization in wireless communication networks
A communication terminal includes a Radio Frequency (RF) unit and a baseband processor. The RF unit is operative to receive signals from a Base Station (BS) of a wireless communication network using a communication protocol that defines time frames divided in a time domain into zones. Each zone corresponds to a respective communication mode between the BS and the terminal and occupies respective time intervals within the frames.The baseband processor is coupled to receive from the BS via the RF unit synchronization information indicating whether the time intervals allocated to at least a given zone by the BS and by at least one other BS of the wireless communication network are synchronized with one another, and to process the signals received from the BS so as to cancel, responsively to the synchronization information, interference caused to the signals by the at least one other BS. |
| US08165161B2 |
Method and system for formatting encoded video data
Described herein is a method and system for formatting encoded video data. The encoder core makes use of unit structures with types that are undefined. These units are inserted into the encoder core output to carry additional information to a transport module. The transport module interprets the units for packetizing and/or multiplexing purposes. After being interpreted, the units may be taken out from the encoder core output, but there should be no adverse effects even if they are left in since no decoding process is defined for their particular type. |
| US08165159B2 |
Wireless communication system, pilot sequence allocation apparatus, pilot sequence allocating method used for the system and apparatus, and mobile station used in the method
The present invention provides a method for allocating a pilot sequence that can obtain effect of reducing interference by combining received pilot blocks when sequence such as the CAZAC sequence as a pilot sequence is used. In the present invention, the pilot sequences by the number of 2K are divided into K sets of {C—1, C—2}, {C—3, C—4}, . . . , {C_(2K−1), C—2K} and allocated a set of the pilot sequences to each of the cells #1 to #K. For example, pilot sequences: {C—1, C—2} are allocated to pilot blocks (SB #1, #2) of the cell #1, pilot sequences: {C—3, C—4} are allocated to pilot blocks (SB #1, #2) of the cell #2, pilot sequences: {C—5, C—6} are allocated to pilot blocks (SB #1, #2) of the cell #3, and pilot sequences {C—7, C—8} are allocated to two pilot blocks (SB #1, #2) of the cell #4. |
| US08165156B1 |
Ethernet DSL access multiplexer and method providing dynamic service selection and end-user configuration
An Ethernet Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) and method of dynamically creating a service binding in the Ethernet DSLAM based on a service selection made by an end-user. The end-user may use the PPPoE or IEEE802.1X access protocols to provide login credentials indicating the desired service. The login credentials are validated towards a RADIUS server, which configures the Ethernet DSLAM with the attributes of the service binding, including an identified Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) to carry the desired service. The Ethernet DSLAM may map service-VLANs to user MAC addresses or to user-VLANs to establish the service binding. The Ethernet DSLAM uses the identified PVC for downstream traffic for the corresponding service binding and thereby “trains” a learning bridge network terminal to use the correct PVC for upstream traffic. |
| US08165153B2 |
Method and apparatus for concurrent operation of wireless communication protocols
A method and apparatus of coordinating operation of two or more subsystems implementing different wireless communication protocols is disclosed. The method comprises coordinating operation of a first subsystem implementing a first wireless communication protocol and at least one other subsystem implementing at least one other wireless communication protocol by merging requests from the first subsystem for pre-scheduled access and real time access into a single request for access for the first subsystem. The method comprises merging requests from the at least one other subsystem for pre-scheduled access and real time access into a single request for access for the at least one other subsystem and arbitrating between the single requests for access for each subsystem to allocate access to the first subsystem and/or the at least one other subsystem. |
| US08165151B2 |
Method, system and terminal for implementing upward frequency hopping transmission
A method for implementing upward frequency hopping transmission is adopted to the communication system with time slotted frame structure, and it comprises: receiving the frequency band and frequency hopping mode allocated by the network side; after implementing the upward transmission on one frequency band allocated in the first predivided time period based on the frequency hopping mode, hopping to the other allocated frequency band to implement upward transmission in the predivided second time period. A system and terminal for implementing upward frequency hopping transmission are also provided. By the invention, the frequency hopping in a transmission time interval of the alternative frame structure in the Long Term Evolution can be realized and the frequency diversity gain can be acquired. |
| US08165150B2 |
Method and system for wireless LAN-based indoor position location
A method and system for position location of clients in wireless local area networks. (WLANs). The position location technique utilizes time-of-flight (TOF) measurements of signals transmitted from a client to a number of wireless access points (APs) or vice versa to determine distances. Round-trip time (RTT) measurement protocols are used to estimate TOF and distances between the client at an unknown position and the WLAN APs. The method and system improves positioning accuracy by identifying and mitigating non-line-of sight (NLOS) errors such as multipaths. Trilateration algorithms are utilized in combination with median filtering of measurements to accurately estimate the position of the client. |
| US08165143B2 |
Routing protocol apparatus, systems, and methods
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to traverse intermediate nodes in a network during message routing operations to determine an original routing path for a source message by using proactive routing between clusters of nodes in the network, and both proactive and reactive routing within the clusters; to select the original routing path according to a greedy energy strategy that operates to define the original routing path as a path having a greater energy value associated with the intermediate nodes than other paths; and upon discovery of selfish nodes, to direct removal of the selfish nodes from route caches associated with traversed nodes, and to determine an alternate routing path for the source message in the network by searching upstream route caches in the traversed nodes in the network to discover the alternate path. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. |
| US08165139B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for communicating via a mobile wireless communication device
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for communicating via a mobile wireless communication device (MWCD). According to exemplary embodiments, a message is generated for a customer premises equipment located at a customer premises. The message is provided to the customer premises equipment via a mobile wireless communication device located at the customer premises. |
| US08165138B2 |
Converged infiniband over ethernet network
A method of providing a converged InfiniBand over Ethernet (IBOE) network. An IBOE switch receives a data packet. If the data packet is received by the IBOE switch from the InfiniBand network, a translation utility looks up an Ethernet media access control (MAC) address corresponding to an LID of the packet in a translation table. The translation utility generates an Ethernet packet and encapsulates an InfiniBand link layer packet before sending the packet. If the data packet is received by the IBOE switch from the Ethernet network, the translation utility removes the Ethernet header from the packet and looks up a LID corresponding to the MAC address. The translation utility calculates an outbound port number and sends the packet. |
| US08165132B2 |
Scheduling apparatus, mobile station therewith, and method therefor
A method for real-time uplink traffic scheduling in a mobile station (MS) to communicate with a base station (BS) in a wireless mobile system. When the BS provides a bandwidth grant to the MS in reply to the uplink from the MS, the uplink service flow will be assigned to different connections with corresponding priorities according to contents of the service flow. The packets within the service flows will be scheduled according to, at least, the bandwidth grant byte size, priorities of the connections, decoding times for transmitting the packets, and/or real-time factors. Within the limitation of the bandwidth grant provided by the BS, types and an order of the packets for transmitting are scheduled accordingly, and the packets received by the BS can satisfy the requirements of the real-time factors for the BS or the decoders, and greatest amount of effective data can be decoded. |
| US08165131B2 |
Generic information element
A computer data signal embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium is described. In one embodiment, the computer data signal includes a generic element identifier, a plurality of task-specific data, a variable length identifier and a multi-use data type identifier. The generic element identifier is configurable to identify an information element containing the generic element identifier as a generic information element. The variable length identifier is configurable to indicate a number of the plurality of task-specific data. The multi-use data type identifier is configurable to indicate a type of the plurality of task-specific data. |
| US08165126B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for selecting VMG
A method, apparatus and system for selecting a Virtual Media Gateway are provided. The method for selecting a VMG includes: setting the service domain information on a VMG by extending a property parameter, after receiving the event triggering message on the bearer layer, the physical MG matches the source identifier information carried in the event triggering message with the service domain information on each VMG, If determining that the source identifier information is included in the service domain on a VMG, the physical MG may select the corresponding VMG accordingly. |
| US08165120B2 |
Buffering architecture for packet injection and extraction in on-chip networks
This method for transferring data through a network on chip (NoC) between a first electronic device and a second electronic device, comprising: retrieving from the first device request packets comprising request control data for controlling data transfer and actual request data to be transferred; storing said request control and data to be transferred in memory means provided in an network interface (NI); and elaborating data packets to be transferred to the second device through said network, said data packets comprising a header and a payload elaborated from said control data and said actual data, respectively; The control data and the actual data to be transferred are stored in separate first and second memory means. |
| US08165118B2 |
Voice over content centric networks
A system for facilitating voice calls over a content centric network (CCN) receives from a CCN user an expressed interest in receiving voice calls directed to the CCN user, wherein information in the CCN can be addressed, located, and disseminated by its content identifier and wherein data packets in the CCN are self-authenticating. Next, the system receives from a second network a packet for a voice call directed to the CCN user. The system then forwards to the CCN user the packet received from the second network with a CCN identifier corresponding to the interest expressed by the CCN user and forwards a packet from the CCN user for the voice call to the second network. |
| US08165112B2 |
Apparatus and method for a fault-tolerant scalable switch fabric with quality-of-service (QOS) support
Embodiments of the present invention relate to portions of a switch fabric having a single logical stage and at least one physical stage. In addition, the data paths and the control paths of the switch fabric can be decoupled thereby allowing additional processing to be performed than would otherwise be the case with control rates that matched the high data rates. In other words, data cells received on high speed links can be spread over many lower speed links; consequently, the data cells can transit the switch fabric at that high speed while the control information associated with the data can be processed at that lower speed. Because the control information can be processed at a lower speed (associated with the control path), the control information can be processed over a greater period of time. |
| US08165111B2 |
Telecommunication and computing platforms with serial packet switched integrated memory access technology
A computing and communication architecture utilizes a serial protocol based switched fabric among circuit cards housed in packaging arrangement. In one embodiment, each circuit card connected to the serial protocol based switched fabric in the packaging arrangement is provided with a protocol processor that enables all of the circuit cards to efficiently provide packet-based serial self-clocked communications at line speed. As a result, it is not necessary to arrange the circuit cards in a hierarchical manner in order to address the problems of switch blocking and related traffic congestion issues that would otherwise limit the implementation of the serial protocol based backplane arrangement for housing circuit cards. |
| US08165104B2 |
Methods and systems for enhancing local repair in robust header compression
Methods and systems to enhance local repair in robust header compression (ROHC) decompressors (110, 114), which may improve network transmission efficiency and quality. One method uses lower layer information to enhance local repair at the decompressor (110, 114). Another method uses a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) checksum to enhance local repair at the decompressor (110, 114). |
| US08165103B2 |
Method and arrangement for preamble detection
In a hardware accelerator for preamble detection of a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) in a CDMA based communication system, buffering means stores input samples received at an antenna at a first rate, addressing means read a predetermined consecutive number of the input samples in parallel at a second different rate. The hardware accelerator is further partitioned into a reusable unit providing code correlation, and a preamble detection dedicated unit providing signature code despreading. The reusable unit comprises means for correlating at least a subset of the previously read input samples with a predetermined code to provide a correlation output for a number of time lags. The preamble detection dedicated unit comprises means for preamble detection configured for providing Hadamard Transformation of the correlation output to enable preamble detection, and all means are arranged on a single hardware chip to enable high-speed data transmissions between the respective means. |
| US08165101B2 |
Automatic detection of hidden networks
It is determined whether a mobile user device is within transmission range of one or hidden networks. A list of known networks may be accessed, the list including broadcast and hidden networks. For the hidden networks, the network connection component may instruct a network interface to actively probe for the hidden networks. If the response is received for a communication corresponding to a particular network, then it may be considered that the mobile user interface is within transmission range of the hidden network. If auto-connection logic is activated, a preference order may be applied to select which of the detected broadcasts and/or hidden networks to connect. A user interface displays broadcast and hidden networks determined to be within transmission range of the mobile user device. The user device also displays hidden networks for which it has not yet been attempted to determine whether the hidden networks are in range. |
| US08165089B2 |
Handoff method between heterogeneous networks and system thereof
A method and system for performing handoff between a source system and a target system are provided. The target system has a different network access standard from that of the source system. An access terminal, connected to the source system, transmits a request message including an identifier of the access terminal to be identified in the target system, to the target system, via the source system, in order to access the target system. A session storage of the target system acquires the identifier of the access terminal from the access terminal via the source system. The session storage of the target system acquires session information of the access terminal from an old session storage to which the access terminal was connected before it accesses the source system, using the acquired identifier. After the session information is acquired, a gateway of the target system acquires context information related to a data service of the access terminal from a gateway of the source system. After handoff of the access terminal, the target system provides the data service to the access terminal using the session information and the data service-related information. |
| US08165082B2 |
Channel allocation notifying method, communication method, and communication apparatus
The number of communication channels necessary for communication with a terminal is calculated by using type and volume of data to be transmitted (Step S13). When calculated number of communication channels is one, a single communication channel is allocated based on quality information of a communication line to the terminal and, when calculated number of communication channels is more than one, then more than one communication channels are allocated based on the quality information (Step S14). Allocation information used for notifying of allocated communication channels is generated based on virtual channels, which are defined in advance as channel units having a combination of a plurality of consecutive communication channels, and the allocation information is transmitted to the terminal (Steps S15 and S16). |
| US08165078B2 |
System and method for controlling use of a network resource
A system includes a control source that is provided on a server and control logic that executes on a terminal. The control logic executes on a terminal to (i) identify a plurality of attributes on the terminal, the attributes including an identifier for each of a plurality of terminal assets that include one or more of a hardware fixture, firmware, or operating system; and (ii) generate signature data from the plurality of attributes. The control source is configured to make a determination from the signature data as to whether the terminal is known or unknown. |
| US08165075B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving feedback information in mobile telecommunication using multiple input multiple output
A method for transmitting feedback information in a mobile communication system using Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) is provided. The method includes, when knockdown precoding is used and Antenna Selection precoding is used, setting an index field for indicating a universal matrix of a precoding matrix of a first reverse feedback channel to a value indicating whether Antenna Selection Space Time Transmit Diversity (STTD) is present; when the knockdown precoding is used and the Antenna Selection precoding is used, writing antenna selection information in a vector bitmap field of the first reverse feedback channel; and when the knockdown precoding is used and the Antenna Selection precoding is used, estimating Channel Quality Information (CQI) according to the antenna selection information and writing the estimated CQI in a CQI field of a second reverse feedback channel. |
| US08165074B2 |
Techniques for handling service flows in wireless communication systems
A technique for handling service flows in a wireless communication system includes receiving a first packet over a first service flow. In this case, the first service flow has a first quality of service. Next, a packet classifier associated with the first packet is determined. A second service flow with a selected quality of service is then created when the packet classifier for the first packet corresponds to a selected classifier. |
| US08165073B2 |
Relay-station assignment/re-assignment and frequency re-use
A prospective relay station sends a report indicative of radio resource sets/preamble sequences used by its neighbors. Where the reported radio resource sets comprise less than all available radio resource sets, a radio resource set that is not indicated in the report is assigned; else where the reported radio resource sets comprise all available radio resource sets, a resource set indicated in the report is assigned. A message is sent to the prospective relay station indicates the assigned radio resource set and an identifier for use as an enabled relay station. The message may include signal strength and IDs. Apparatus, methods and computer programs are detailed for both a base station and the relay node. Radio resource set re-assignment, managed mode relay operations (where the base station schedules traffic among relays using the same radio resource set), and power control of relays and associated mobile stations are also described. |
| US08165072B2 |
Method for providing group paging and messaging
The present invention provides a method of providing a group paging message. One embodiment of the method includes providing a first message during a first portion of a predetermined time period. The first message includes information indicating a second portion of the predetermined time period during which at least one idle first mobile unit is to wake up and attempt to receive a second message from the base station(s). The embodiment of the method also includes providing a third message during a third portion of the predetermined time period. The third message includes information indicating the second portion of the predetermined time period during which at least one idle second mobile unit is to wake up and attempt to receive the second message. The third portion of the predetermined time period is different than the first portion. |
| US08165067B2 |
Apparatus and method of 3G mobile communication capable of implementing a multi-channel protocol
This invention discloses an apparatus and a method of 3G mobile communication capable of implementing a multi-channel protocol. The 3G mobile communication apparatus includes: an application layer, for providing applications to transmit voice data; a multi-channel processing layer, for simulating at least one physical communication port of the 3G mobile communication apparatus into virtual logical data channels by software according to priority of the data transmitted, and each virtual logical data channel is connected to the data processing layer, and a multi-channel protocol layer is provided for transmitting the data received by the 3G mobile communication apparatus to the data processing layer according to the priority of the data; and a 3G wireless communication module, which is a wireless communication interface, for connecting the bus interface and achieving a signal connection of the 3G mobile communication apparatus with a base station. |
| US08165066B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing buffer status reporting
A method for performing buffer status reporting (BSR) in a user equipment of a wireless communication system comprises forming a MAC PDU comprising a padding field with a size smaller than a first predefined value, selecting a first logic channel group from a plurality of logic channel groups of the user equipment according to priorities and data amounts of uplink buffers of the plurality of logic channel groups, carrying information about a data amount of an uplink buffer of the first logic channel group with a short-format BSR control element, and carrying the short-format BSR control element with the padding field of the MAC PDU for a network of the wireless communication system. |
| US08165061B2 |
Inter working function (IWF) as logical radio network controller (RNC) for hybrid coupling in an interworking between WLAN and a mobile communications network
There is provided a method of supporting an interworking between a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a mobile communications network. The interworking is facilitated by an interworking function (IWF) disposed on a WLAN side of the interworking. The method comprises the step of connecting the WLAN to the mobile communications network by employing the IWF as an auxiliary radio network controller for the mobile communications network, in particular, a drift radio network controller (DRNC) in a UMTS network. |
| US08165059B2 |
Multi-hop communication method, a multi-hop communication terminal and communication program
The degradation of the communication characteristics and the throughput of the entire network can be improved. The failures of sending and receiving are reduced and the transmission time is reduced. In a multi-hop communication method how the source terminal 11 transmits and receives the packets with destination terminal 12 through at least one relay terminal 13, the relay terminal 13 and/or the destination terminal 12 includes a table TBL of use channel candidates that is issued by the source terminal 11, and the relay terminal 13 and/or the destination terminal 12 selects a use channel for sending the data packets from the channel candidates registered in the table and sends the data packets. |
| US08165058B2 |
Protocol data units and header in multihop relay network
The invention provides a data structure embodied in a computer readable media. The data structure is a protocol data packet (PDU) communicated in a mobile multihop network between stations. The data structure includes a relay media access header, a payload and an optional cyclical redundancy checksum for the protocol data unit; and an indication whether the PDU is a relay media access protocol data unit or not. |
| US08165056B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing a plurality of network addresses in a mobile terminal
Provided is a method and apparatus for processing a plurality of network addresses in a mobile terminal. The method for processing a plurality of network addresses in the mobile terminal includes: storing combinations of an HoA (home address), a plurality of CoAs (care-of addresses) and a plurality of network interfaces of the mobile terminal, through which the mobile terminal may be connected to a plurality of networks; when the mobile terminal transmits packets to a target node, selecting a network interface combination for connecting the mobile terminal to the target node from among the combinations, and setting a corresponding path; and transmitting the packets through the set path. |
| US08165054B2 |
Multicast service provision in a mobile communication system having overlapping pool areas
A method and apparatus for establishing a user plane between a user plane entity and different access nodes assigned to different pool areas simultaneously for multicast or broadcast service provision. The method includes receiving at a respective access node assigned to the different pool areas simultaneously plural session start messages indicating different user plane entities of the different pool areas, selecting by the respective access node one user plane entity out of the indicated user plane entities indicated in the session start messages based on a selection rule common to all access nodes assigned to the different pool areas simultaneously, the selection rule ensuring that the access nodes assigned to different pool areas simultaneously select the same user plane entity out of one of the different pool areas, and establishing by the access nodes a respective user plane to the same selected user plane entity. |
| US08165050B2 |
System and method for use of a short beacon in a wireless communication network
A system and method for use of a short beacon in a wireless communication network is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises generating a short beacon comprising PHY information, wherein the short beacon excludes MAC information and transmitting the short beacon via the wireless network. In general, three types of short beacons are disclosed, a first type consisting only of a PHY preamble, a second type also including a PHY header, and a third type also including a MAC header. In addition, the scheme of common beacons and individual beacons is described. Common beacons are broadcast omni-directional at the beginning of each superframe with low data rate and individual beacons are unicast to individual devices directionally with high data rate. A common beacon contains information intended for all of the devices of the network. An individual beacon contains information intended for one particular device. |
| US08165049B2 |
Filtering of electronic information to be transferred to a terminal
The object of the invention is a system, a device, a terminal and a method for filtering electronic information to be transferred to the terminal through a telecommunication connection. The invention comprises attaching a specific filtering parameter (30-32) by the device transferring the electronic information to the electronic information for the purpose of filtering before the electronic information is transferred to the terminal through the telecommunication connection, and informing the terminal of said filtering parameter (30-32) before the electronic information is transferred to the terminal through the telecommunication connection. In the terminal, the steps comprise checking said informed filtering parameter (30-32) and allowing or preventing the receiving of the electronic information on the basis of said filtering parameter (30-32). In response to said allowing of the receiving, the electronic information is transferred to the terminal through the telecommunication connection, and in response to said preventing of the receiving, the electronic information is not transferred to the terminal through the telecommunication connection. |
| US08165048B2 |
Wireless communication system, terminal station, and wireless communication method
The invention includes a wireless communication system including a control station which transmits a wireless signal by one of a plurality of schemes, and a terminal station which receives the transmitted wireless signal using a plurality of directional antennas by one of a plurality of schemes. The control station repeatedly transmits a wireless signal while sequentially switching the plurality of schemes. The terminal station switches the plurality of schemes at a cycle different from the switching cycle of the control station, changes the directivity direction of the directional antenna every time the terminal station receives all wireless signals transmitted by the plurality of schemes, and detects the reception state of each of the wireless signals which have been transmitted by the plurality of schemes and received in the directivity directions of the directional antenna. |
| US08165043B2 |
Multiple instance spanning tree protocol
A multiple instance spanning tree protocol (MI-STP) creates a plurality of active topologies (i.e., loop-free paths) within a computer network. These active topologies may be established through the exchange and processing of multiple instance spanning tree bridge protocol data unit messages (MI-STP BPDUs) by the intermediate network devices within the network. The active topologies are preferably created independently of any virtual local area network (VLAN) designations defined within the network. Once the active topologies are defined, each VLAN designation is then mapped to a single active topology, although multiple VLAN designations are preferably mapped to the same active topology to provide load balancing. |
| US08165042B2 |
Network communication apparatus, method and program
The present invention filters packets and reduces traffic when communication is performed with a device on a network utilizing the IPv6 protocol. To achieve this, a printer driver operating in a personal computer correlates and stores the name of the communicating party and an address for which communication actually succeeded from among addresses that have undergone name resolution, and uses the stored address in communicating with the same communicating party from then onward. |
| US08165041B2 |
Peer to multi-peer routing
A collaboration system using peer-to-multi-peer distribution of messages representing changes to a shared workspace. Each peer determines a distribution mechanism for messages to each of the target peers sharing the workspace. The selected distribution mechanism may depend on capabilities of a home relay associated with a peer initiating a message. Further, messages to subsets of the target peers sharing the workspace may be distributed using a session for each subset on which each message is sent only one time. The subset of target peers associated with some of the sessions may be selected so that target peers for which communication attempts have failed are grouped in the same session. In some scenarios, the initiating peer may provide multiple routing paths for target peers in a session and the home relay server may appropriately forward the message to the target peers, using one of the routing paths. |
| US08165038B2 |
Network physical connection inference for IP tunnels
The physical connection corresponding to IP tunnels in a network are found by tracing through the device configuration and routing tables at the routers in the network to determine the outbound interface associated with each tunnel endpoint, and then inferring a likely return interface associated with the opposite tunnel endpoint. Having determined the physical devices at the source and destination of each tunnel, the physical path between these source and destination devices is traced from the source toward the destination until the path is terminated at the destination device, or at an interface to an external network. If the path ends at an external network, the path is traced from the destination device toward the source device until a corresponding interface to the external network is reached. |
| US08165037B2 |
Method for switching communication networks
A method for switching communication network used in a first electronic device which is able to access many kinds of communication networks is disclosed. If the first electronic device receives a switching instruction at a time when a communication link and a data transmission have been established between the first electronic device and a second electronic device via a first communication network. Firstly, the first electronic device obtains an identification number of a third electronic device for use in a second communication network. Then, the communication link is established between the first electronic device and the third electronic device via the second communication network according to the identification number. Finally, the data is transmitted using the communication link between the first electronic device and the third electronic device via the second communication network, and disconnects the original communication link via the first communication link. |
| US08165032B1 |
Dynamic configuration of liveliness detection
Techniques for dynamically establishing and configuring a liveliness detection session for a local repair connection of a connection. In one set of embodiments, a signaling message is received at a node configured to maintain a local repair connection for a connection. A configuration parameter is identified in the signaling message, where the configuration parameter pertains to a liveliness detection mechanism or protocol. A liveliness detection session is then established for the local repair connection based on the configuration parameter. |
| US08165024B2 |
Use of DPI to extract and forward application characteristics
Various exemplary embodiments are a method and related device and computer-readable medium including one or more of the following: receiving a packet sent from the source node to the destination node; associating the packet with an active flow by accessing information in the packet; performing deep packet inspection (DPI) to identify an application associated with the active flow; determining a classification for the packet based on characteristics of the identified application; associating, with the packet, information identifying the classification; forwarding the packet including the information identifying the classification towards the destination node; and performing processing on the packet at a downstream device by extracting the classification from the packet. |
| US08165019B2 |
Indirect measurement methodology to infer routing changes using statistics of flow arrival processes
Statistical methods are used to observe packet flow arrival processes and to infer routing changes from those observations. Packet flow arrivals are monitored using NetFlow or another packet flow monitoring arrangement. Packet flow arrivals are quantified by counting arrivals per unit time, or by measuring an inter-arrival time between flows. When a change in packet flow arrivals is determined to be statistically significant, a change in network routing protocol is reported. |
| US08165016B2 |
Method and apparatus for setting communication paths in a network
Two path setting sides are determined between a pair of nodes in a network, and two path setting messages are created. The two path setting messages each includes information on a path switch default direction, a wait-to-restore timer value, and a mode identifier identifying a revertive mode. Then the two different communication paths are concurrently set between the pair of nodes by transmitting concurrently the created two path setting messages between the pair of nodes. In the case of the revertive mode, a communication path set on a side identified by the path switch default direction is operated as a working path either in an initial state or when no faults have occurred during a time period indicated by the wait-to-restore timer value after recovery of the fault on the first side. |
| US08165011B2 |
Real-time network measurement
A method of operation within a device coupled to a network. A first set of data is received from the network. A first set of measurement information, for use in determining a quality of the network, is then identified from the first set of data. A second set of measurement information is generated based on the first set of measurement information. The second set of measurement information and a second set of data are transmitted via the network, concurrently. |
| US08165009B2 |
Adaptive scheduling of voice traffic in a multi-carrier communication environment
The present invention provides a technique for scheduling data, and in particular, scheduling real-time or voice data for transmissions during a transmit time interval in a multi-carrier communication environment. For each transmit time interval, channel condition indicia for multiple users is determined, and an iterative scheduling process is then implemented based in part on the channel condition indicia. The iterative scheduling initially preassigns select tones for each of the remaining users that have not been permanently assigned tones for the given transmit time interval. Next, the remaining user having the least favorable channel conditions is selected as an active user. The newly selected active user is then permanently assigned the select tones that were initially pre-assigned to that particular user. The permanently assigned tones are removed from consideration, and the process is repeated until all the remaining users are permanently assigned unique tones for scheduling. |
| US08165005B2 |
Optical recording method and optical recording apparatus
Disclosed is an optical recording method. The optical recording method includes irradiating an area where a recording mark is formed in a medium with a pulse train of laser light, and irradiating the area where the recording mark is formed with continuous-wave laser light that is continuously output. |
| US08165002B2 |
Optical pickup apparatus and objective lens
An optical pickup apparatus comprising: a laser diode; an objective lens made of synthetic resin arranged in an optical path of laser light between the laser diode and an optical disc so that the laser light from the laser diode is focused onto a signal recording layer through a protection layer of the optical disc; and an aberration correction element interposed in an optical path of the laser light between the laser diode and the objective lens, the aberration correction element configured to be operated so as to correct spherical aberration caused by moisture-absorption characteristics of the objective lens. |
| US08164999B2 |
Optical disc apparatus and method for determining information recording layer in optical disc
An optical disc device includes a laser diode which irradiates an optical disc having a plurality of layers with laser light, a photodetection section which detects laser light reflected by the optical disc, which comprising a pair of sub-photodetectors and a main photodetector provided between the pair of sub-photodetectors, a focus error signal generation circuit which generates a focus error signal from a photodetection signal output by the main photodetector, a tracking error generation circuit which generates a tracking error signal from the photodetection signal output by the main photodetector and a photodetection signal output by the pair of sub-photodetectors, and a layer determination signal processing circuit which generates a layer determination signal from the photodetection signal output by the pair of sub-photodetectors and determines in which of the layers a focus of the laser light is located, on the basis of the layer determination signal and focus error signal. |
| US08164998B2 |
Optical disc device
The optical disc apparatus of this invention includes: an optical pickup, which irradiates an optical disc with a light beam and generates a light detection signal based on the beam reflected from the disc; a search section, which controls the pickup before data is written on a storage area of the disc, thereby adjusting the beam spot location and searching a reference one of information layers stacked for a defective area in the storage area of the disc; a defect decision section for detecting an error based on the detection signal and determining a portion of the storage area, where the error has occurred, as the defective area; a defect size measuring section for measuring the size of the defective area in an area of the reference layer and generating a defect information list indicating there is the defective area in the area of the reference layer; and a recording range control section for managing, by reference to the list, the storage area such that no data will be written on a perpendicularly projected area defined by projecting the defective area of the reference layer perpendicularly to another information layer. |
| US08164996B2 |
Power adjustment method, information write method and information write medium
An evaluation method and print wire method which includes (a) fitting a modulation characteristic formula M,m=Msat (1−(Pws−Pasy)/(Pw,m−Pasy)) having a saturated modulation Msat, write start power Pws, and asymptotic power Pasy as parameters to a relation between a plurality of kinds of write power Pw,m and a modulation M,m which is obtained from a signal amplitude of a trial-written signal, and finding an index value of an error which occurs in the fitting step; and (b) evaluating whether or not the relation between the write power and the modulation is valid for write power adjustment by using the index value of the error and a predetermined value the print write method further including (c) setting the write power based upon the result of evaluating and executing a write power process with the set write power. |
| US08164994B2 |
Apparatus for generating tracking signal
A tracking signal generating apparatus includes a phase detector and a digital phase controller. The phase detector generates an up signal and a down signal which contain information regarding a phase difference between a plurality of square wave signals that have been generated from an optical signal. The digital phase controller generates an up limit signal or a down limit signal whose logic levels are controlled so that a phase difference between the up limit signal and the down limit signal is reduced. |
| US08164993B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting land pre-pits
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for detecting land pre-pits. The method can adaptively adjust a threshold for detecting the land pre-pits in order to improve the correctness of detecting. The method for detecting land pre-pits can include extracting a land pre-pit data stream from a reading signal based on a land pre-pit threshold, the reading signal corresponding to land pre-pits of an optical medium, comparing the land pre-pit data stream with format information of the optical medium to obtain an error signal, and adjusting the land pre-pit threshold based on the error signal. |
| US08164989B2 |
Information recording method and information recording apparatus
A recording method for irradiating a multi-layered optical recording medium with a laser beam to record information thereon. The optical recording medium can form a first information recording layer that is the farthest from a light incident surface, a second information recording layer that is the second farthest from the light incident surface, and at least one third information recording layer that is located closer to the light incident surface than the second information recording layer is. The method is to record information on the second information recording layer when all the information recording layers other than the second information recording layer are either blank or have been completely recorded. This allows for realizing high-quality information recording in consideration of adherence of foreign matters or occurrence of scratches. |
| US08164988B2 |
All-optical magnetic recording system using circularly polarized light and bit-patterned media
A perpendicular magnetic recording system uses bit-patterned media (BPM) and circularly polarized light to switch the magnetization of the discrete magnetic bits by the inverse Faraday effect. Circularly polarized light generates an external rotating electric field in a plane orthogonal to the light propagation direction, which induces a magnetic field parallel to the light propagation direction in a magnetic material exposed to the electric field. The BPM is a generally planar substrate with discrete spaced-apart metal or metal alloy magnetic islands that are magnetizable in a perpendicular direction and are separated by nonmagnetic spaces of non-metallic material on the substrate. A near-field metal transducer is patterned into at least three tips, with the tips surrounding and defining a transducer active region. The circularly polarized light is incident on the tips, which produce a strong in-plane rotating electric field. A magnetic island exposed to the rotating electric field will experience an induced perpendicular magnetic field that switches the magnetization of the magnetic island. |
| US08164986B2 |
Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head and thermally-assisted magnetic recording method
A magnetic recording head capable of a satisfying thermally-assisted magnetic recording without depending on the use of a near-field light generator is provided. The head comprises a waveguide and a main magnetic pole having a main pole tip. Further, at least a portion of the main pole tip is embedded in a groove provided in the upper surface of the waveguide. Further, a second clad layer is provided on the first clad layer and on a rear side from the main pole tip. This configuration of the first and second clad layers suppresses the absorption of the light propagating through the waveguide by the main magnetic pole. Further, the configuration in which at least a portion of the main pole tip is embedded in the groove can cause the distance between the light spot center of the waveguide and the main magnetic pole to be sufficiently small. |
| US08164985B2 |
Time display device and time display method thereof
A time display device comprises a dial plate; a plurality of time indication portions set in the dial plate; and a plurality of groups of luminophors. Each of the groups of luminophors corresponds to a time indication portion, and comprises a first luminophor, a second luminophor, and a third luminophor. A clock unit provides current time information. A first switch unit electrifies/powers off the first luminophor. A second switch unit electrifies/powers off the second luminophor. A third switch unit electrifies/powers off the third luminophor. A hour hand controlling module obtains a hour value, and controls the first switch unit to electrify the first luminophor of the time indication portion corresponding to the obtained hour value. A minute hand controlling module obtains the current minute value, and controls the second switch and/or the third switch unit to electrify the corresponding luminophor. |
| US08164984B2 |
Time piece with LED light means
A timepiece with LED lights uses a simple light-medium body with a very rough finish to allow light from LED(s) to pass though input-end(s) of the light-medium body and travel within the body and obtain a very even brightness on all surfaces of the light medium that are seen by a viewer. Combined with a milky/frosted front sheet overlay, the light-medium surface can get perfect area illumination effects. The movement for the time display can include analog indicators with a guilt-in light-medium on the top cover to achieve a super slim LED illumination for the time piece. For night light application, the sealed-unit may consist of prong-means and an LED related circuit sealed within a safety standard plastic material and assembled with the night light body to save a lot of cost enable use of all kinds of materials. The invention may also be adapted to an LCD display timepiece. |
| US08164983B2 |
Fish finder
A method, system, and apparatus are provided for focused ultrasonic acoustic imaging of objects within a body of water. Echo soundings are collected, produced by an ultrasonic transmitter and detected by an ultrasonic receiver. Spatial location information of the transmitter and receiver is collected and associated with each echo sounding. A focused signal spatial location is selected at a desired output location. One or more of the collected soundings are selected. An echo signal from each selected sounding is selected. The signal selection is determined by a calculation of which signal from the selected sounding scattered from an object at the selected focused signal spatial location. A focused echo signal is formed by combining the selected signals for the selected focused signal location. The focused signals are graphed, based on their respective selected focused signal spatial locations, producing a focused image. |
| US08164972B1 |
Address decoder
An address decoder that includes a plurality of predecoders configured to (i) receive and logically combine a clock signal and address signals and (ii) generate addresses and complementary addresses. At least one of the plurality of precoders includes a first logic gate configured to receive the clock signal and one of the address signals, and a second logic gate configured to receive the clock signal and an output of the first logic gate. The address decoder further includes a decoder configured to generate a decoder output based on the addresses and complementary addresses. |
| US08164965B2 |
Memory device and method having low-power, high write latency mode and high-power, low write latency mode and/or independently selectable write latency
A logic circuit operates write receivers in a dynamic random access memory device in either a low-power mode, high write latency mode or a high-power mode, low write latency mode. The logic circuit receives a first signal indicative of whether the high-power, low write latency mode has been enabled, a second signal indicative of whether a row of memory cells in the memory device is active, a third signal indicative of whether the memory device is being operated in a power down mode, and a fourth signal indicative of whether read transmitters in the memory device are active. The logic circuit maintains power to the write receivers whenever the high-power, low write latency mode has been enabled if a row of memory cells in the memory device is active, the memory device is not being operated in the power down mode, and the read transmitters in the memory device are not active. |
| US08164961B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device which can electrically rewrite data and system therefor
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell, latch circuits, and an arithmetic operation circuit. The memory cell stores data by a difference in threshold voltage. A read operation is performed twice or more on the memory cell under the same read conditions, and the latch circuits store a plurality of read data. The arithmetic operation circuit takes majority decision of the plurality of data stored in the latch circuits and decides data determined by the majority decision as data stored in the memory cell. |
| US08164959B2 |
Method and system for programming non-volatile memory cells based on programming of proximate memory cells
A multi-level non-volatile memory device programs cells in each row in a manner that takes into account the coupling from the programming of cells that are proximate the row to be programmed. In one example of the invention, after the row has been programmed, the proximate cells are verified by read, comparison, and, if necessary, reprogramming operations to compensate for charge added to proximate memory cells resulting from programming the row. In another example of the invention, a row of memory cells is programmed with charge levels that take into account the charge that will be added to the memory cells when proximate memory cells are subsequently programmed. |
| US08164954B2 |
Flash memory device and program method thereof
A nonvolatile memory device that includes first and second storage areas, and a control logic configured to control the first and second storage areas, wherein when a program operation of the first storage area is passed before a program operation of the second storage area is passed, the control logic completes the program operation of the first storage area and continues the program operation of the second storage area is provided. |
| US08164949B2 |
Reducing drift in chalcogenide devices
Chalcogenide materials conventionally used in chalcogenide memory devices and ovonic threshold switches may exhibit a tendency called drift, wherein threshold voltage or resistance changes with time. By providing a compensating material which exhibits an opposing tendency, the drift may be compensated. The compensating material may be mixed into a chalcogenide, may be layered with chalcogenide, may be provided with a heater, or may be provided as part of an electrode in some embodiments. Both chalcogenide and non-chalcogenide compensating materials may be used. |
| US08164946B2 |
Magnetic memory element, magnetic memory device, information recording/reproducing apparatus
A magnetic memory element includes a pair of electrodes, a junction layer, at least one carbon nanotube, and at least one nanowire. The at least one nanowire is made of a ferromagnetic material and extends through a hole of each the at least one carbon nanotube with both ends being electrically connected to the pair of electrodes, respectively. The junction layer is made of a non-magnetic material and disposed between one of the pair of electrodes and one end of each the at least one nanowire. The one of the pair of electrodes is made of a ferromagnetic material. Magnetization of the at least one nanowire is reversed by spin injection performed through the junction layer with the one of the pair of electrodes. When a DC bias current and a detection current having a frequency coinciding with a magnetic resonance frequency of the nanowire are applied in a superimposed manner, between the electrodes, within a range not reaching a critical current density of the magnetization reversal, the pair of electrodes have a voltage corresponding to a magnetization direction of the nanowire. |
| US08164942B2 |
High performance eDRAM sense amplifier
Embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM) sense amplifier circuitry in which a bit line connected to each of a first plurality of eDRAM cells is controlled by cell control lines tied to each of the cells. During a READ operation the eDRAM cell releases its charge indicating its digital state. The digital charge propagates through the eDRAM sense amplifier circuitry to a mid-rail amplifier inverter circuit which amplifies the charge and provides it to a latch circuit. The latch circuit, in turn, inverts the charge to correctly represent at its output the logical value stored in the eDRAM cell being read, and returns the charge through the eDRAM sense amplifier circuitry to replenish the eDRAM cell. |
| US08164940B2 |
Read/write structures for a three dimensional memory
Read/write structures for three-dimensional memories are disclosed. In one embodiment, a three-dimensional memory includes a plurality of data storage layers fabricated in parallel on top of one another to form a three-dimensional structure. Each data storage layer is able to store bits of data in the form of magnetic domains. The memory further includes a column of write elements that is operable to write a column of magnetic domains to the first data storage layer representing a column of bits. The first data storage layer is patterned into a plurality of magnetic conductors aligned transverse to the column of write elements. A control system may inject spin-polarized current pulses in the magnetic conductors to transfer the column of magnetic domains laterally within the first data storage layer. The control system may transfer of the column of magnetic domains perpendicularly from the first data storage layer to another data storage layer. |
| US08164936B2 |
Switched memory devices
A data storage system includes a plurality of memory devices for storing data. The plurality of memory devices is classified into a plurality of groups of memory devices. A control circuit is adapted to provide concurrent memory access operations to the plurality of memory devices. Each of a plurality of data channels is configured to provide a data path between the control circuit and one of the groups of memory devices. A plurality of switches is configured to connect and disconnect one of the memory devices in a select one of the groups of memory devices to one of the plurality of data channels and concurrently connect and disconnect another of the memory devices in the select group of memory devices to a different one of the plurality of data channels. |
| US08164935B2 |
Memory modules and methods for modifying memory subsystem performance
Methods and memory modules adapted for use in computer systems to generate different voltages for core supply (VDD) and input/output supply (VDDQ) inputs to memory components of the computer memory subsystem. The memory module includes a substrate with an edge connector, a memory component, and first and second voltage planes adapted to supply the core supply voltage and the input/output supply voltage to the memory component. The first voltage plane receives a system input voltage from the edge connector, and the second voltage plane is connected to the first voltage plane to receive a second voltage that is either higher or lower than the system input voltage. One of the first and second voltage planes is connected to the memory component to supply the core supply voltage thereto, and the other voltage plane supplies the input/output supply voltage to the memory component. |
| US08164934B2 |
Content addressable memory
An entry including multiple bits of unit cells each storing data bit is coupled to a match line. The match line is supplied with a charging current having a restricted current value smaller than a match line current flowing in a one-bit miss state in one entry, but larger than a match line current flowing in an all-bit match state in one entry. A precharge voltage level of a match line is restricted to a voltage level of half a power supply voltage or smaller. Power consumption in a search cycle of a content addressable memory can be reduced, and a search operation speed can be increased. |
| US08164933B2 |
Power source circuit
A semiconductor device is provided, which comprises a rectifier circuit configured to generate a first voltage from a first signal inputted from an input terminal, a comparing circuit configured to compare a reference voltage and the first voltage inputted from the rectifier circuit and to output a second signal to a switch, and a voltage generation circuit configured to generate a second voltage from the first signal inputted from the input terminal. The rectifier circuit includes a transistor including at least a control terminal, and the voltage generation circuit inputs the second voltage to the control terminal when the switch is turned on in accordance with the second signal. |
| US08164932B2 |
Power converter with automatic mode switching
A power converter is provided that has an alternating-current (AC) to direct-current (DC) switched-mode power converter circuit that converts alternating-current power into direct-current power for powering an attached electronic device. Power can be conserved by automatically placing the power converter circuit in a low-power standby mode of operation whenever the electronic device is detached from the power converter. A monitoring circuit can be powered by a capacitor or other energy storage element while the power converter is operating in the standby mode. If the monitoring circuit detects an output voltage change that is indicative of attachment of the electronic device or if the storage element needs to be replenished, the monitoring circuit can place the power converter circuit in an active mode of operation. |
| US08164929B2 |
Controlled contactless power transmission
An inductive coupled power transmission circuit has a rotating transformer, including an AC voltage supply for feeding an AC voltage via a series capacitor into the primary winding of said rotating transformer and a load being coupled to the secondary winding of said rotating transformer. The AC voltage supply includes a line rectifier for receiving AC voltage from a power line and generating a DC voltage. This is fed into a DC/DC converter for converting the DC voltage from the line rectifier into a controlled intermediate DC voltage. An AC generator generates an AC voltage from the intermediate DC voltage and feeds this via a matching transformer into the primary winding of the rotating transformer. A measuring circuit measures voltages and/or currents within the AC voltage supply and a function generator estimates voltage and/or current values at the load based on the measured values and controls the DC/DC converter and/or the AC generator based on the estimated values. |
| US08164926B2 |
Control circuit for a switched-mode power supply with regulation based on the secondary-side current flow time period
A control circuit for a primary controlled switched-mode power supply that has a primary-side switch and a transmitter. It also relates to an associated switched-mode power supply. The control circuit can be connected to a control input of the primary-side switch so that the primary-side switch is controlled based on a secondary-side current flow time period in which a current flows through the secondary-side winding of the transmitter in order to regulate the output voltage. The secondary-side current flow time period can be used as a control parameter instead of the actual output voltage in order to then control the primary-side switch. Because the secondary-side current flow time period can be determined indirectly on the primary side, no direct feedback is necessary between the output voltage on the secondary side and the control circuit on the primary side. |
| US08164917B2 |
Base plate for use in a multi-chip module
A base mechanism for use in a multi-chip module (MCM) is described. This base mechanism includes a substrate having top and bottom surfaces. The bottom surface includes first electrical connectors that convey power, and through-substrate vias (TSVs) between the top and bottom surfaces are electrically coupled to these electrical connectors. Furthermore, a bridge chip is rigidly mechanically coupled to the top surface. This bridge chip includes proximity communication connectors that communicate information via proximity communication with one or more island chips in the MCM. Additionally, spacers are rigidly mechanically coupled to the top surface of the substrate. In conjunction with the bridge chip, the spacers define cavities on the top surface, which include second electrical connectors. These second electrical connectors are electrically coupled to the TSVs, and communicate additional information with and convey power to the one or more island chips. |
| US08164909B2 |
Al/AlN joint material, base plate for power module, power module, and manufacturing method of Al/AlN joint material
A base plate for a power module includes: a metal plate, a ceramic base plate joined to the metal plate, and a release agent provided in a joint surface between the metal plate and the ceramic base plate. A remaining amount of the release agent is less than 5 as an amount of boron measured by fluorescence X-ray analysis, and a crystal grain straining region in the joint surface is equal to or less than 40%, or an amount of crystal grain straining in the joint surface is equal to or less than 0.03%. |
| US08164905B2 |
Heat sink assembly
An exemplary heat sink assembly includes a heat sink and a clip resiliently clamping the heat sink on a printed circuit board. The heat sink includes a base and a plurality of first fins and two central second fins extending upwardly from the base. The clip includes a locating portion fixed between the second fins of the heat sink, a pair of elastic portions extending outwardly from opposite ends of the locating portion and oriented towards substantially opposite directions, and two hooks extending outwardly from ends of the operating members, respectively. An acute included angle is formed between each elastic portion and the locating portion of the clip in an original relaxed position, and the acute included angles become approximately right angles when the clip is preassembled in the heat sink with the elastic portions abutting the second fins. |
| US08164903B2 |
Clamping part for pressing power components against a cooling surface
The present invention relates to a clamping member for pressing power components (9) against cooling surfaces of the cooling flanges (7) of a housing, particularly for receiving an electronic circuit. The clamping member comprises a housing frame (13) having at least one receiving chamber for the cooling flange (7) and the power semiconductor (9) to be contacted with the cooling flange (7), the receiving chamber being surrounded by the frame walls (14a, 14b, 15) of the housing frame. A pressure element (17) is disposed between a frame wall (14a, 14b) and the power component (9) disposed opposite thereof, or the cooling flange (7) disposed opposite thereof. A separating gap, into which an expanding element (18) can be introduced on one side non-positively and/or positively such that the power component (9) is pressed against the cooling flange (7), is provided between the pressure element (17) and the frame wall (14a, 14b). |
| US08164902B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus, such as a blade server or the like, has a cooling system for efficiently cooling a plurality of heat generating semiconductor devices, such as a CPU, mounted on blades which is freely put on and taken off. The cooling system includes a thermosiphon which transfers heat from devices having relatively high heat generation, such as CPU or the like, to the outside of the apparatus, heat pipes which transfer heat of devices having relatively low heat generation to the thermosiphon, a thermal highway which is thermally coupled to the thermosiphon by the mounting of blades into a housing and collects and transfers the heat from the thermosiphon and the heat pipes, and a condenser which transfers the heat collected and transferred by the thermal highway outside a housing. |
| US08164901B2 |
High efficiency heat removal system for rack mounted computer equipment
An efficient method of heat removal from rack mounted computer equipment, network gear and other electronic equipment, consisting of solid heat conducting components in direct contact with the heat generating sources. In particular, this invention is primarily focused on the ability to efficiently and effectively cool computer equipment in standard computer rack cabinets.This invention utilizes a design that retains the general existing form factor of the rack mounted computer equipment, but uses direct contact heat transfer to a metal heat transfer conduit (Copper, Aluminum or other metal or efficient heat conducting material) contained within the computer equipment chassis. Furthermore, it is thermally coupled to an external rack mounted solid-to-fluid heat exchanger as an efficient method of heat transfer and removal. This is much more efficient than air as heat transfer medium which it the common method of heat removal from existing standardized rack mounted computer equipment.This invention covers the design of the heat transfer components within the chassis of rack mounted computer server and the heat transfer system components external to the server within rack enclosure, as well as the external cooling system components necessary to connect to existing fluid based heat transfer and removal systems and processes. |
| US08164899B2 |
Dust-and-water proof casing
In order to seal an internal space of a casing having an upper and lower casing members, a continuous groove with a semicircular cross-section is formed around a dust-and-water proof area of the lower casing member, and a continuous elongated protrusion is formed on the portion of the upper casing member corresponding to the groove, so that the protrusion is inserted in the groove when two casing members are engaged. Spherical sealing members each having the same diameter as the groove width are arrayed continuously in the groove without gaps therebetween. The width of the elongated protrusion is configured to be smaller than the groove width, so that the spherical sealing members compressed when the casing members are fitted are deformed to enter a space defined between the elongated protrusion and the groove, to thereby form a dust-and-water proof structure. Inserting the spherical sealing members in the groove is easy. |
| US08164894B2 |
Hardware holding device for computer
A hardware holding device includes a chassis, a bracket, a fastening structure and a hardware component. The bracket is fixed in the chassis. The fastening structure includes two levers each having a latch perpendicularly extending from one end of the corresponding lever, and two elastic members correspondingly arranged on the levers. The levers are rotatably mounted on the surface of the bracket. The elastic members are resiliently compressed between the surface of the bracket and the levers to keep the latches of the levers extended through the bracket and inside of the bracket thereby clasping and fixing a hardware component in the bracket. |
| US08164890B2 |
Sliding and tilting mechanism and portable electronic device using the same
A portable electronic device is disclosed including a first part, a second part, and a sliding and tilting mechanism. The sliding and tilting mechanism includes a lower board fixed to the second part, an upper board fixed to the first part, an intermediate board positioned between the lower board and the upper board. The sliding and tilting mechanism further includes two elastic assemblies and a tilting assembly, and tilts the intermediate board and the upper board relative to the lower board after the upper board slides over a predetermined distance along the intermediate board. |
| US08164888B2 |
Computer
A computer having a mounting structure can be easily mounted to a wall. A bracket of the computer can receive a computer enclosure of the computer and easily mount a display and the computer enclosure of the computer to the wall. |
| US08164886B1 |
Ruggedized display enclosure
A ruggedized display enclosure is described that houses an electronic display while withstanding severe shock and vibration, as well as environmental drip, such as for example conditions encountered in military environments. The ruggedized display enclosure has a cover structure to house the electronic display, but also allows the electronic display to be seen through the cover structure, so that the electronic display is usable when inside the enclosure. A damping material is arranged on outer areas of such an electronic display, between the electronic display and the cover structure. The damping material is arranged to allow the electronic display to be suspended with respect to the cover structure, thereby protecting the electronic display against conditions of shock and vibration. |
| US08164885B2 |
Electronic device with detachable cover
An electronic device with a detachable cover comprises a main body, a cover connected to the main body, and a spring. The main body forms an opening, wherein a flange extends inwardly from an upper edge of the opening, and a first locking portion protrudes from an edge of the main body. And the cover comprises a base plate, a sliding member, and a rotating member. The base plate is received in the opening and is supported by the flange comprising an protruding tab engaging the edge of the main body and a first recess. The sliding member is slidably connected to the base plate, and comprises a second locking portion with a second recess and a first engagement member. The rotating member rotatably connected to the base plate, and comprises a second engagement member. The spring comprises a base portion and two deflected spring arms. |
| US08164884B2 |
Solid electrolytic capacitor with improved moisture resistance properties and method of manufacturing the same
In a solid electrolytic capacitor including a porous valve-acting metal, an anode conductor has a large number of pores having openings on the surface thereof according to the porosity of the valve-acting metal. A solid electrolyte layer is formed on the surface of the anode conductor so as to be filled in at least a portion of each of the pores and to close the openings thereof. Further, a cathode conductor is formed on the solid electrolyte layer. Preferably, the solid electrolyte layer has a two-layer structure with two layers having different particle sizes. |
| US08164882B2 |
Capacitor
A pressure regulating valve is provided on a terminal plate of a capacitor. This pressure regulating valve includes a gas permeable sheet, a valve body made of silicone rubber, a packing, and a cap. The gas permeable sheet that prevents permeation of electrolyte is provided so as to close a hole created in the terminal plate. The packing is interposed between the valve body and the gas permeable sheet, and is made of an elastic material with moisture permeation resistance higher than that of silicone rubber. The cap is fixed onto the terminal plate and covers the valve body and the packing such that the valve body and the packing are retained in a compressed state with respect to the terminal plate. The valve body and the packing are provided away from the gas permeable sheet. |
| US08164877B2 |
Coaxial in-line assembly
A fine arrestor having a body with a bore there through, an inner conductor within the bore, an inner conductor capacitor within the bore coupled between a surge portion of the inner conductor and a protected portion of the inner conductor, and an inner conductor inductor within the bore coupled electrically in parallel with the inner conductor capacitor. A first shorting portion coupled between the surge portion of the inner conductor and the body and a second shorting portion coupled between the protected portion of the inner conductor and the body, for conducting a surge to ground. Also, other coaxial in-line assemblies may be formed incorporating the inner conductor cavity for isolation of enclosed electrical components. |
| US08164876B2 |
Transient voltage protection circuit and system incorporating the same
A transient voltage protection circuit that protects a load from transient voltages is disclosed. The circuit includes a series combination of a thyristor surge protection device (TSPD), a resistor and a transorb coupled for coupling in parallel with the load, and a fuse coupled between an AC input and the series combination. The TSPD and the transorb are configured to enter a transient mode upon application of a transient voltage to the circuit to shunt current from the load and provide an AC output voltage to the load less than the transient voltage without opening the fuse. |
| US08164873B2 |
Integrator and circuit-breaker having an integrator
An integrator and a circuit-breaker are disclosed, the integrator being in the form of a passive symmetrical low-pass filter having an integration capacitor. In order to make it possible to temporally integrate an electrical signal in an improved manner, it is proposed in at least one embodiment that provision be made of a differential amplifier having two amplifying elements each having an input, that the two amplifying elements be coupled to one another in order to generate a differential signal, that the inputs of the two amplifying elements be connected to one another via the integration capacitor, and that each amplifying element be positively fed back to its input via a feedback loop in such a manner that the two amplifying elements together form a negative input resistance in parallel with the integration capacitor. |
| US08164871B2 |
Circuit for protecting an integrated circuit against elctrostatic discharges in CMOS technology
The integrated circuit may include at least one electronic protection circuit for protecting against at least one electrostatic discharge and being able to discharge the overvoltage current generated by the electrostatic discharge. The electronic protection circuit includes a controlled short-circuiting switch embodied in CMOS technology including a CMOS technology TRIAC or a CMOS technology thyristor arranged in anti-parallel with a CMOS technology diode, and a triggering circuit for controlling the short-circuiting switch. |
| US08164870B2 |
ESD protection for high-voltage-tolerance open-drain output pad
A high-voltage NMOS transistor for ESD protection is coupled between a high-voltage I/O pad and a low-voltage terminal, and has a parasitic component between its source and drain. A trigger has an input coupled to the high-voltage I/O pad and an output coupled to the parasitic component. When the voltage on the high-voltage I/O pad raises above a threshold value, the trigger applies a voltage to trigger the parasitic component, so as to release an ESD current from the high-voltage I/O pad to the low-voltage terminal through the high-voltage NMOS transistor. |
| US08164867B2 |
Method for protection of energy storage source, and in particular motor vehicle battery
A method for protection of an energy storage source (2), in particular a battery of a motor vehicle, against possible overloading caused by prolonged application of an electric voltage to the energy storage source, this voltage being generated at least partially by a rotary electric machine (1) such as an alternator or an alternator-starter, the method comprising the following steps: permitting measurement of a charge level of the energy storage source, this charge level being represented for example by a voltage measured at the terminals of the energy storage source or a PWM signal, while the rotary electric machine is functioning in a predetermined functioning mode, and electric excitation is being applied to it; comparing a value (SENSE) of this measurement with a reference value (Max_SP); if the value measured for the energy storage source is greater than the reference value, interrupting the excitation applied to the rotary electric machine. |
| US08164862B2 |
Seed layer for TMR or CPP-GMR sensor
A composite seed layer that reduces the shield to shield distance in a read head while improving Hex (exchange coupling field) and Hex/Hc (Hc=coercivity) is disclosed and has a SM/A/SM/B configuration in which the SM layers are soft magnetic layers, the A (amorphous) layer is made of at least one of Co, Fe, Ni, and includes one or more amorphous elements, and the B layer is a buffer layer that contacts the AFM (anti-ferromagnetic) layer in the spin valve. The SM/A/SM stack together with the S1 (bottom) shield forms an effective shield such that the buffer layer serves as the effective seed layer while maintaining a blocking temperature of 260° C. in the AFM layer. The lower SM layer may be omitted. Examples of the amorphous layer are CoFeB, CoFeZr, CoFeNb, CoFeHf, CoFeNiZr, CoFeNiHf, and CoFeNiNbZr while the buffer layer may be Cu, Ru, Cr, Al, or NiFeCr. |
| US08164860B1 |
Servo write robust and good altitude performance ABS
A head slider for a disk drive storage device. In general, the head slider should fly at the target height above the disk without crashing onto the hard disk. The head slider has an outside flange that encloses a plateau and an inside flange that encloses a plateau. The two plateaus may have the same surface area or the outside plateau may have a greater surface area. Because of the design of the outside flange, the likelihood that the head slider will crash on the hard disk is reduced. |
| US08164854B2 |
Magnetic recording head with spin oscillation device and magnetic recording apparatus including the magnetic recording head
A magnetic recording head includes a recording magnetic pole, and a spin oscillation device including a first magnetic layer having at least one magnetic material layer, a second magnetic layer having at least one magnetic material layer, and a first nonmagnetic layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer are antiferromagnetically coupled and/or magnetostatically coupled to each other. The first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer are laminated in a direction generally parallel to a medium facing surface and generally parallel to a side surface of the recording magnetic pole intersecting with the medium facing surface. |
| US08164853B2 |
Perpendicular magnetic write head with side shield saturation magnetic flux density increasing away from magnetic pole
A perpendicular magnetic write head is provided with a magnetic pole and a pair of side shields disposed on both sides of the magnetic pole in a cross track direction with side gaps in between. Each of the pair of side shields is configured in such a manner that a saturation magnetic flux density thereof increases as a distance from the magnetic pole in the cross track direction increases. Such a configuration allows unwanted divergence component of magnetic flux in a recording magnetic field to be captured while avoiding any excessive capturing of the recording magnetic field, and while preventing any intensity reduction of the recording magnetic field in its entirety. As a result, the recording magnetic field is maintained to have an adequate intensity and spreading of the recording magnetic field is suppressed, so that the recording capabilities are improved. |
| US08164847B2 |
Fall detection device, magnetic disk device, and portable electronic apparatus
By detecting that a differentiation value of the absolute value of acceleration is lower than a negative threshold value DAth1 in a negative direction from a first stage (S1: Stationary state) where the differentiation value of the absolute value of acceleration is approximately 0, it is considered that the stage is in a second stage (S2: Fall start state). When the absolute value of acceleration after that has become lower from a threshold value Ath1, it is considered that the fall detection device has entered a third stage (S3: Low gravity state). When the low gravity state has continued for a given time T3, it is considered that the stage is in a fourth stage (S4: Falling state), and a fall detection signal is output. Thus, the processing load when the determination is performed by software is reduced and the prediction of a fall can be performed. |
| US08164846B1 |
Hybrid defect detection for recording channels
Methods, systems and computer program products for performing hybrid defect detection are disclosed. A hybrid defect detection mechanism may be used to detect various classes of defects (e.g., long and shallow defects, and short and deep defects) while reducing the probability of a miss or false alarm. In some implementations, the hybrid defect detection mechanism may utilize a defect detector that includes one or more defect sub-detectors. Each defect sub-detector may be associated with an individual threshold and sliding window length to enhance the hybrid defect detection process that maximizes the detection of a specific type or class of defects. |
| US08164845B1 |
Method and apparatus for asymmetry correction in magnetic recording channels
A circuit for compensating asymmetry in a waveform of an input signal using a piecewise approximation of a saturation curve, the circuit including a first circuit configured to output a first compensation for a first section of the saturation curve using a first function and a second circuit configured to output a second compensation for a second section of the saturation curve using a second function. The second function is different than the first function. The first compensation and the second compensation provide the piecewise approximation of a region of the saturation curve. The region includes at least the first second and the second section. |
| US08164844B2 |
Optical filter and lighting apparatus
An optical filter and a lighting device using the same wherein the suppression of the melatonin secretion by the reception of light in the nighttime is prevented and the color of light is maintained. The optical filter has a mean transmissivity of a light beam in a wavelength range of about 480˜550 nm is about 30% or less. The optical filter is formed by at least molding a transparent resin and a resin composition material containing an orange color series florescent dye material, and, for 100 weight part of the transparent resin, the resin composition material containing about 0.005˜0.2 weight part of the orange color series florescent dye material is molded. This can prevent the suppression of the melatonin secretion in the nighttime. The color of light is maintained desirable. The optical filter may be applied to a lighting apparatus. |
| US08164843B2 |
Lens module with protrusions on outer surface of barrel and camera module having same
An exemplary camera module includes a barrel, a holder, and an image sensor assembly. The barrel forms an external thread on an outer surface thereof. At least one protrusion is formed along a circumferential direction on the outer surface thereof. The at least one protrusion and the external thread are arranged in an order written from an object side to an image side. An internal thread is formed on an inner wall of the holder to threadedly engage with the external thread of the barrel. The at least one protrusion contacts the inner wall of the holder but are slidable relative to the inner wall of the holder. The image sensor assembly includes an image sensor. The image sensor is received in the holder. |
| US08164842B2 |
Lens driving device, camera, and camera-equipped cellular phone
A lens driving device 1 is provided, in which a spring 11 includes an outer ring portion 11b that is fixed to a body 5, an inner ring portion 11a that is fixed to a lens support 7, and an arm portion 11c that connects the outer ring portion 11b and the inner ring portion 11a, and the lens support 7 is moved in an optical axis direction of a lens by way of an electromagnetic force that is generated by applying electric current to a coil 15 from a terminal member 6, the terminal member 6 including a superimposed portion 6a that is superimposed on the outer ring portion of 11b of the spring 11, and a power supply terminal 6b that protrudes from the superimposed portion 6a, and the terminal member 6 disposing the superimposed portion 6a between the outer ring portion 11b of the spring and the body 5. |
| US08164841B2 |
Camera module
According to one embodiment, a camera module includes an insulating substrate having an imaging device, solder balls, a cylindrical lens holder, a shield, and a mounting board. The solder balls are formed on a rear face of the substrate. The lens holder is fixed on the substrate and includes an upper larger-diameter portion and a lower smaller-diameter portion. The shield includes a cylindrical side portion fitted onto the small-diameter portion and fixed on the rear face of the large-diameter portion and a plate-shaped bottom portion in contact with the rear face of the substrate and having an opening. The mounting board is on an upper surface of which the plate-shaped bottom portion is mounted to come in contact with the upper surface and the insulating substrate or the imaging device is connected with the upper surface by the plurality of solder balls. |
| US08164834B2 |
Objective lens for endoscope and endoscope
In an objective lens for an endoscope, the full angle of view exceeds 120 degrees, and a most-object-side surface of the objective lens is spherical. Further, the following condition formulas (1) and (2) are satisfied: 0.7<θ8/θ10<0.8 (1); and 5 |
| US08164830B2 |
Screen assembly for simulator
A screen assembly for a projectile-based simulator is comprised of front, right and left fabric panels that form a hitting bay with a front projector impact screen. Each fabric panel can be raised and lowered with respective roller assemblies that operate unison so that the fabric panels are simultaneously raised and lowered. Zippers are provided between each of the fabric panels that are configured to cause adjacent fabric panels to engage as the panels are lowered and to disengage as the panels are raised to allow the panels to wind upon respective roller assemblies. |
| US08164825B2 |
High-power white LEDs and manufacturing method thereof
A light emitting apparatus has a radiation source for emitting short wavelength radiation. A down conversion material receives and down converts at least some of the short wavelength radiation emitted by the radiation source and back transfers a portion of the received and down converted radiation. An optic device adjacent the down conversion material at least partially surrounds the radiation source. The optic device is configured to extract at least some of the back transferred radiation. A sealant substantially seals a space between the radiation source and the optic device. |
| US08164821B2 |
Microelectromechanical device with thermal expansion balancing layer or stiffening layer
An interferometric modulating device is provided with a thermal expansion balancing layer on a side of the movable flexible layer opposite the movable reflector such that when temperature changes the distance between the movable reflector and the optical stack does not change significantly, thereby leading to stable color. Additionally, an interferometric modulating device is provided with a stiffening layer between the movable flexible layer and the movable reflector and at least one hollow void exists on the surface where the movable reflector and the stiffening layer contact each other so that the movable reflector is more rigid to bending, thereby reducing the temperature sensitivity of the movable reflector. |
| US08164820B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, a first layer of material disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, a second layer of material disposed on the first layer of material, and a light source unit emitting blue light incident to the first electrode toward the second electrode. At least one color converting member receives the blue light and generate light having a wavelength different from the wavelength of the blue light. The second layer of material is positioned on the second electrode and is movable along with the second electrode by an attraction force between the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US08164819B2 |
Photonic technique for generating arbitrary waveforms
In a radio frequency (RF)-photonic arbitrary waveform generator (AWG), an optical carrier signal is phase-modulated using an arbitrary waveform optical phase generator (AWPOG), which may include, e.g., sequential optical phase modulators. The phase-modulated optical signal is combined with a version of the optical carrier signal to yield an optical waveform, whose amplitude varies with a phase shift introduced by the AWPOG to the optical carrier signal. By manipulating electrical inputs to the AWPOG which control the phase shift, the optical waveform can be arbitrary shaped. The optical waveform may then be converted to an electrical waveform having a radio frequency. |
| US08164805B2 |
Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus therewith
An image reading apparatus includes: a lamp shining light on a target original document to be read; a lamp operating circuit for turning on the lamp; an image sensor receiving light shone from the lamp to the original document and reflected from the original document, for generating image data; a control section outputting a lamp control signal for controlling turning-on and -off of the lamp to the lamp operating circuit; and a lamp control circuit, separate from the control section, outputting a lamp control signal for controlling turning-on and -off of the lamp and, when a main power switch of the apparatus is turned on, permitting the lamp to be turned on before the control section is activated. |
| US08164804B2 |
Image reading apparatus, image reading unit thereof, and reference member thereof for shading correction
An image reading apparatus which is capable of performing accurate shading correction with simple arrangement while preventing a reference member from being scratched and preventing paper powder and the like dust from being deposited on the reference member. The image reading apparatus includes an image reading unit in which a contact glass guides an original on an image reading location. The contact glass is held by a glass holding member. A line image sensor reads the image on the original conveyed on the image reading location, through the contact glass. The image reading unit further includes a reference member whose image is readable by the image sensor, and a moving mechanism to move the image sensor so as to enable the image sensor to alternatively read the original and a reference surface of the reference member. |
| US08164802B2 |
Device, system, and method for scanning paper media
A system for scanning paper media is disclosed and may include at least one microprocessor. The system may also include a scanner connected to the microprocessor. The scanner may simultaneously scan two or more printed pages using computed tomography and send a three-dimensional data set to the microprocessor that represents the printed pages. |
| US08164800B2 |
Method and device for engraving printing cylinders
In a method or machine for engraving printing cylinders for packaging, pattern, or wallpaper printing and equipped with at least two engraving members, each engraving member engraving elements to be printed into the printing cylinder and, for an areal engraving, executes a feed movement parallel to a longitudinal axis of the printing cylinder. To shorten engraving time, a print image or layout for the printing cylinder is subdivided into at least two circumferential engraving strips, one engraving member being associated with each engraving strip. At least one strip boundary is automatically placed between said engraving strips in at least one white space remaining unengraved between at least some of the elements to be printed. |
| US08164798B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method for printing and plate making, and recording medium having image processing program recorded therein for printing and plate making
A neighboring vector, which is a boundary portion between two overlapping objects, is extracted. To calculate luminance levels of the objects on both sides of the neighboring vector, a predetermined number of coordinate points (sample points) in the vicinity of the neighboring vector are extracted at least from the image side. A rendering process is performed on an area including all the extracted sample points to acquire color values at the sample points. The luminance level of the image is calculated based on the acquired color values, and the luminance levels of the objects on both sides of the neighboring vector are compared to each other to determine the position (direction) in which to generate a trap graphic. |
| US08164796B2 |
Semi automatic punch hole removal
Systems and methods are described that facilitate removing punch hole artifacts in electronic document images. When a document with punch holes is scanned, the punch holes appear as unwanted dark spots in the margin. To remove these artifacts, a blanking regions having background color pixels are placed over the punch hole artifacts and the electronic document image is stored with the blanking regions in place. A user interface is provided to permit a user to enter blanking region parameters, including x,y coordinates, diameter, reference edge from which the coordinates are measured, etc. Default settings can be stored and recalled for common punch hole patterns, which may vary between offices and the like. |
| US08164794B2 |
Image-forming apparatus and method for adjusting total amount of toner in trap
The present invention provides an image-forming apparatus capable of reducing the amount of toner at a position at which the trapping is carried out. The apparatus has an image-deformation processing unit where input image data is processed to deform the image shape or the trapping or overprinting is carried out on the respective color plates. The apparatus determines whether or not the trapping should be carried out to the target pixels on the boundary between color plates in the adjacent different objects, determines the color plate having the trap color, obtains the amount of toner of the trap color, determines based on the amount of toner of the trap color and the target pixels whether or not the total amount of toner of the trap exceeds the limit value, and reduces the total amount of toner if the total amount of toner of the trap exceeds the limit value. |
| US08164793B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
In a multipass printing that performs a plurality of printing scans over a unit area of a print medium by using a leading head and a follower head, the multivalued image data for the leading head is distributed according to the print volume information for up to the preceding printing scan. Then, the multivalued image data for the leading head is subjected to the grayscale level reduction operation to generate binary data. Based on the binary data, the print volume information is updated, after which the multivalued image data for the follower head is distributed according to the print volume information. This causes a plurality of printing scans or a plurality of print heads, that print the same unit area, to have a correlation among them, with the result that dots on a plurality of planes when overlapped have an excellent scattering characteristic. |
| US08164792B2 |
Printing device, printing method, and program
A printing device includes a controlling section that converts visible information, expressed using biaxial orthogonal coordinate data, into polar coordinate data, and binarizes the polar coordinate data to generate binarized polar coordinate data. Next, the controlling section performs landing position correction on the binarized polar coordinate data, and generates ink discharge data in which displacements of landing positions of ink drops, caused by the order in which the ink drops are discharged from discharge nozzles, are corrected. |
| US08164788B2 |
Cluster-based printer model for tone reproduction curve estimation
What is disclosed is a system and method for efficiently and accurately estimating the complete TRC for a color marking device equipped with a multi-center cluster halftone screen which has a similar halftone tiling geometry and a similar growth specified by a corresponding single-center cluster halftone screen. The present method introduces a cluster-based printer model which establishes a relationship between a color output of a single-center cluster halftone screen and a color output of a multi-center cluster halftone screen. The present cluster-based printer model determines the complete TRC for the multi-center cluster halftone screen using the measurements for the single-center cluster halftone screen. Results of halftone dot linearization with different printing devices demonstrates that high accuracy can be achieved using the reduced measurements from the single-center cluster halftone screen. The present method finds its uses in characterization processes for a wide variety of color marking devices known in the arts. |
| US08164784B2 |
Apparatus and method for setting printing options using preview image
An apparatus and method are provided for setting a printing option using a preview image. Setting the printing option includes an image preview unit displaying a preview image corresponding to printing data and enabling the preview image to be manipulated for setting a printing setting, a control unit controlling printing of the preview image according to the printing setting of the manipulated preview image, and a printing option setting unit setting a printing option, wherein the control unit applies the printing setting of the preview image to the printing option of the printing option setting unit. |
| US08164779B2 |
Data communication apparatus and method
A document transmission apparatus reduces troublesome labor of an operator when transmitting document data, inputted from a scanner or the like, by various transmission methods such as electronic mail, facsimile, remote printing and file transfer. An address book containing a receiver and a plurality of transmission methods for transmitting document data to the receiver is generated. Upon transmission instruction, an appropriate transmission method is selected by the receiver, then document data is converted into data of an appropriate data format, and the converted data is transmitted. Further, a notice of transmission indicating that the document data has been transmitted is transmitted to the receiver of the document data by a method different from the transmission method of the document data. Thus, the document data can be reliably delivered to the receiver. |
| US08164777B2 |
Method and apparatus for modeling print jobs
A system and method for modeling print jobs provides a central server that is accessible to remotely located print shops. The remote print shops are able to communicate with the central server to forward print job parameters and to receive the output from a modeling program to enable the print shop to run “what-if” scenarios to maximize print shop efficiency. The central server is also provided with various other print shop tools to assist with print shop design and organization. |
| US08164776B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium storing image processing program
An image processing apparatus includes a reading unit, a printing unit, a control unit configured to control a reading job for causing the reading unit to execute reading processing and a printing job for causing the printing unit to execute print processing, and a setting unit configured to perform setting as to whether to permit execution of a second job while a first job is in execution, wherein the first job is one of the reading job and the printing job, and the second job is the other of the reading job and the printing job. The control unit controls the reading job and the printing job based on the setting performed by the setting unit. |
| US08164775B2 |
Apparatus and method for automated ticket and boarding
An automated ticketing and boarding (ATB) device may replace both legacy boarding pass printers and gate readers, without reconfiguring existing departure control systems (DCSs). The replacement ATB device may create a virtual magnetic stripe in memory from the formatted flight and/or passenger information received from the DCS, and may extract portions of the virtual magnetic stripe to form a boarding pass with an optical machine-readable symbol instead of a magnetic stripe transparently to the DCS. |
| US08164774B2 |
Output system and device for information reproduction
An output system comprising an information reproduction device and an electronic device is provided. In the system, the electronic device comprises a first connection interface through which a command signal is transmitted and a reproduced signal is inputted, a command output unit to transmit the command signal for instructing execution of a reproduction process in response to occurrence of a predetermined event, and an output control unit to output reproduced information which is reproduced by the information reproduction device and corresponds to the reproduced signal. The information reproduction device comprises a second connection interface to interface the information reproduction device with the first connection interface, a storage unit storing information to be subjected to the reproduction process, a reproduction unit to execute the reproduction process, and a reproduction signal output unit to cause the reproduction unit to execute the reproduction process and to transmit the reproduced signal. |
| US08164772B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
What is disclosed is an image forming apparatus which is able to execute an auxiliary program combined to a prescribe control program that transforms a piece of received information to an image data wherein the image forming apparatus comprising: a memory section for containing said auxiliary program; a received information judging section for judging whether the received information is said auxiliary program or a piece of image information, by analyzing said received information; and an auxiliary program managing section for detecting from said memory section an auxiliary program necessary for the received information to be processed, based on the image information, when said received information is the image information. |
| US08164767B2 |
Print driver with processed print data management capability
A print driver is configured to store, retrieve and re-print processed print data that has been generated by the print driver. Processed print data may be stored locally or remotely and may be stored in a secure manner. The print driver may also be configured to save user settings data that indicates one or more user settings used by the print driver to process the print data and generate the processed print data. The print driver also allows processed print data to be retrieved and re-transmitted to printing devices. The print driver generates a graphical user interface that allows users to store, retrieve and print processed print data. |
| US08164765B2 |
Information processing apparatus, controlling method, and control program for the same
A program causes a computer to function as a specification unit configured to, with respect to data to be output that is stored in a predetermined output storage area, specify an order of outputting the data to be output, a state switching unit configured to switch the output storage area between an outputting state and a non-outputting state, and a sending unit configured to, in a case where the output storage area is in the outputting state, send a print job produced based on the data to be outputted stored in the output storage area to an image forming apparatus capable of processing the print job, in accordance with the order specified by the specification unit. |
| US08164764B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing system
When an instruction to execute an image processing from a user is accepted through an operation panel, a control section temporarily stores image data read from an original or externally received image data in an HDD, and then, outputs processing information related to the image processing based on the accepted execution instruction and the image data stored in the HDD from a communication section to a server apparatus as historical data. When an obtaining completion signal representative of the completion of obtaining of the historical data is obtained from the server apparatus through the communication section, the control section performs the image processing on the image data stored in the HDD according to the accepted execution instruction. Then, the control section erases the image data subjected to the processing from the HDD. |
| US08164763B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including a printing unit which prints an image on paper, an exit path which connects an exit of the printing unit to an exit member which pushes the paper outside of the printing unit, a plurality of guide members which are arranged widthwise of the paper, each guide member having a first guide side which guides the paper coming out of the printing unit along the exit path, wherein each guide member is installed to be movable such that the first guide side rotates when the first guide side contacts the paper which comes out of the printing unit, and returns to its original position after the paper completely passes through the printing unit. |
| US08164761B2 |
Differential focus blade clearance probe and methods for using same
An apparatus and a method for ascertaining a gap between a stationary member and a rotating member are disclosed. At least a reference beam and a signal beam, which have different focal lengths or which diverge/converge at different rates, are fixed to the stationary member and proximate to each other. The beams are projected across a gap between the stationary member and the rotating member toward the rotating member. The reference and signal beams are reflected by the translating member when it intersects the reference and signal beam, and the reflected reference and signal pulses are obtained. One or more features of the reflected reference pulse and the reflected signal pulse, such as a rise time of the pulses, a fall time of the pulses, a width of the pulses and a delay between the reflected reference pulse and the reflected signal pulse, among other factors, are obtained. The width of the gap is obtained using at least one of these factors. |
| US08164756B2 |
System and method of fluid exposure and data acquisition
An apparatus has a data acquisition device, an environmental cell in a spatial registration relative to the data acquisition device, the environmental cell being configured to support a sample, and a fluid management system configured to initiate and discontinue exposure of the sample to a reaction fluid while the spatial registration is maintained. A method of performing data acquisition for a sample includes spatially registering the sample relative to a data acquisition device, at least partially exposing the sample to a reaction fluid while substantially maintaining the spatial registration of the sample relative to the data acquisition device, at least partially discontinuing exposing the sample to the reaction fluid while substantially maintaining the spatial registration of the sample relative to the data acquisition device, and acquiring data about the sample while substantially maintaining the spatial registration of the sample relative to the data acquisition device. |
| US08164754B2 |
Immersion exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An immersion exposure apparatus including an optical element 11, a reflective surface 42, a water repellent coating layer 43 in which peeled areas 45 and 46 are formed, a light intensity sensor 4 which detects light intensity of first light and second light, and an arithmetic processing unit which calculates a reflectance of the optical element 11, wherein the first light enters the projection optical system 1, passes through the peeled area 46 to be reflected by the reflective surface 42, is reflected on a surface of the optical element 11, and passes through the peeled area 45 to be received by the light intensity sensor 4, and the second light enters the projection optical system 1 and passes through the peeled area 45 to be received by the light intensity sensor 4 without being reflected on the reflective surface 42 and the surface of the optical element 11. |
| US08164750B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting colored foreign particles in quartz powder material
Colored foreign particles contained in quartz powder material are detected in a high precision with the specified detection apparatus even when the colored foreign particles are pale colored foreign particles such as iron-based refuse, organic refuse and carbon-based refuse. |
| US08164746B2 |
Illumination method and device for determining the presence of defects on the surface of a container collar
The invention relates to an illumination device for a control station for determining the presence of defects on the image of the surface(s) of the collar of a transparent or translucent container. The inventive device comprises at least one illumination system quasi-constantly illuminating each point of a surface encompassing the collar surface(s) according to the totality or parts of incidences included in at least one part of a 2π-steradian solid angle and means for blocking at least one part of light beams which illuminate outside of the surface(s) of the collar and can bring about stray reflections in the collar image. |
| US08164742B1 |
Photopolarimetric lidar dual-beam switching device and mueller matrix standoff detection system and method
An optomechanical switching device, a control system, and a graphical user interface for a photopolarimetric lidar standoff detection that employs differential-absorption Mueller matrix spectroscopy. An output train of alternate continuous-wave CO2 laser beams [ . . . L1:L2 . . . ] is directed onto a suspect chemical-biological (CB) aerosol plume or the land mass it contaminates (S) vis-à-vis the OSD, with L1 [L2] tuned on [detuned off] a resonant molecular absorption moiety of CB analyte. Both incident beams and their backscattered radiances from S are polarization-modulated synchronously so as to produce gated temporal voltage waveforms (scattergrams) recorded on a focus at the receiver end of a sensor (lidar) system. All 16 elements of the Mueller matrix (Mij) of S are measured via digital or analog filtration of constituent frequency components in these running scattergram data streams (phase-sensitive detection). A collective set of normalized elements {ΔMi,j} (ratio to M11) susceptible to analyte, probed on-then-off its molecular absorption band, form a unique detection domain that is scrutinized; i.e., any mapping onto this domain by incoming lidar data—by means of a trained neural network pattern recognition system for instance—cues a standoff detection event. |
| US08164739B2 |
Controlling fluctuations in pointing, positioning, size or divergence errors of a beam of light for optical apparatus
A system and method are used for controlling fluctuations in one or more of a beam pointing error, a beam positioning error, a beam size error or a beam divergence error of a beam of light in a lithography system. An optical apparatus may comprise a first beam control module having a first optics in an optical axis for optically isolating a laser pulse from a light source associated with an illuminator to provide the beam of light. These beam related errors may be selectively stabilized by either homogenizing selectively the spatial field and/or angular information of a given illumination profile for the beam of light and symmetrizing other one of the spatial field or angular information which is not being homogenized based on a first arrangement of the first optics or homogenizing and symmetrizing both of the spatial field and angular information based on a second arrangement of the first optics. |
| US08164735B2 |
Regulating device, exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
The present invention is a regulating device configured to regulate a temperature T2 of a first medium in accordance with a target temperature. The regulating device comprises a heat exchanger 16, a control valve 14, temperature sensors 2 and 4, temperature sensors 6 and 8, and a heat quantity control unit 30 and a temperature control unit 50 configured to calculate a target exchange heat quantity in the heat exchanger 16, calculate an exchange heat quantity in the heat exchanger 16, add a signal dependent upon a difference between the target exchange heat quantity and the exchange heat quantity to a signal dependent upon a difference between an output of the temperature sensor 4 and the target temperature, and control the control valve 14 so that a difference between the output of the temperature sensor 4 and the target temperature is reduced. |
| US08164732B2 |
Active device array substrate and liquid crystal display panel having particular vertically arranged gate lines
An active device array substrate, having at least a substrate, a first metal layer, an insulator layer, a second metal layer, a plurality of pixel electrodes and a plurality of active devices, is provided. The substrate has a display area and a narrow frame area. The first metal layer disposed on the substrate includes a plurality of first gate lines arranged laterally. The insulator layer is disposed on the first metal layer. The second metal layer disposed above an insulator layer includes a plurality of data lines and second gate lines arranged vertically. The first gate lines and the data lines divide the display area into a plurality of pixel areas. The second gate line disposed between the pixel areas is electrically connected to the first gate line. Each pixel electrode is electrically connected to the data line and the first gate line via each active array device. |
| US08164731B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which can obviate cutting off of a peripheral region of the liquid crystal display device which is provided with an inspection circuit and can surely perform the inspection of an image display even when the peripheral region is narrowed. On a substrate of the liquid crystal display device, a pixel region which is comprised of a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of drain lines and a peripheral region which surrounds the pixel region are formed. A turn-on inspection terminal of the liquid crystal display device are formed on the peripheral region and a semiconductor chip for driving liquid crystal is formed on the inspection terminal. The semiconductor chip is electrically insulated from the inspection terminal. |
| US08164725B2 |
Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal device includes: a circuit substrate; a counter substrate disposed so as to be opposed to the circuit substrate; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the circuit substrate and the counter substrate, the liquid crystal layer showing vertical alignment as an initial alignment state; a first alignment layer manufactured on a side of the counter substrate using a coating process, the side facing the liquid crystal layer, the first alignment layer having a vertical alignment function; and a second alignment layer manufactured on a side of the circuit substrate using a vacuum process, the side facing the liquid crystal layer, the second alignment layer generating a pretilt. |
| US08164722B2 |
Liquid-crystal display device with at least three optically-anisotropic layers having formulated in-plane retardations
A liquid-crystal display device comprising a liquid-crystal cell and at least three optically-anisotropic layers disposed on each side of the liquid crystal cell, wherein they are combined so that the Δnd value of the liquid-crystal cell and the optical characteristics of the optically-anisotropic layers can satisfy predetermined relationships, is disclosed. |
| US08164720B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display panel having a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer held in a sandwiched condition between the substrates, and a pixel electrode and common electrode disposed on the second substrate in order to drive the liquid crystal layer. A backlight is disposed on one face of the liquid crystal display panel, a first polarizer disposed on one face of the first substrate, at a side opposite to the second substrate, and a second polarizer disposed on one face of the second substrate, at a side opposite to the first substrate. The liquid crystal layer has a property of generating optically anisotropy from an optical isotropic state when a voltage is applied, and the liquid crystal display panel includes a transmission area and a reflection area in one pixel. |
| US08164718B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
To provide a liquid crystal display device having high visibility and high image quality by relieving color phase irregularity. A light-shielding layer is selectively provided so as to overlap with a contact hole for electrical connection to a source region or a drain region of a thin film transistor. Alternatively, by providing an opening portion of a colored layer (color filter) with an opening so as to overlap with a contact hole, uneven alignment of liquid crystal molecules does not influence display, and a liquid crystal display having high image quality can be provided. |
| US08164714B2 |
Diffractive display device, finder device and camera
There is provided a diffractive display device having small non-uniformity of luminance within a surface, and a finder device and a camera using the diffractive display device. The diffractive display device includes a pair of substrates 24a, 24b and an optical material layer 26 arranged between the pair of substrates 24a, 24b. First illuminating means 22a for entering light through the side surface of the pair of substrates 24a, 24b and second illuminating means 22b for entering light through the side surface of the pair of substrates 24a, 24b from a direction different from the light from the first illuminating means 22a are arranged. A first portion 30a of the optical material layer 26 diffracts the light from the first illuminating means 22a and emits it from a substrate surface, and a second portion 30b diffracts the light from the second illuminating means 22b and emits it from the substrate surface. |
| US08164712B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a backlight device, a liquid crystal panel and a light source unit. The light source unit includes a case having an opening surface, a fluorescent tube, an electric holder, and a cover member. The cover member includes a shield plate, a fixed groove and an overhanging portion, wherein the overhanging portion is provided at an edge of the fixed groove and on a side of the liquid crystal panel with respect to the fluorescent tube which includes a portion which extends through the fixed groove. A portion of the cover member includes a protrusion which is a separate member from the overhanging portion and which extends more toward the liquid crystal panel than a surface portion of the overhanging portion. |
| US08164711B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device which can make the surface brightness of an edge-light-type backlight uniform is provided. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight which radiates light to the liquid crystal display panel. The backlight includes a light guide plate which is arranged on a back side of the liquid crystal display panel, a light source arranged on an outer peripheral portion of a first main surface of the light guide plate which faces the liquid crystal display panel in an opposed manner, and a reflection sheet which is arranged on a back side of the light guide plate as viewed from the liquid crystal display panel. The light guide plate is made of a transparent resin having a refractive index of 1.53 or less. On a surface of the light guide plate opposite to the first main surface, a second main surface which is substantially parallel to the first main surface and a plurality of inclined surfaces which are inclined at a preset angle with respect to the second main surface are formed. An angle of the inclined surface positioned near a position at which light from the light source is incident and an angle of the inclined surface positioned remote from the position at which the light from the light source from the light source is incident differ from each other. |
| US08164709B2 |
Side type backlight module, liquid crystal display, and assembly methods thereof
A side type backlight module includes a light guide plate and a circuit board with at least one light emitting device thereon. The light guide plate has a first surface defining a light emitting surface, a second, opposite surface, and a light incident surface connecting the first and second surfaces. The circuit board is directly adhered to a part of the first or the second surface adjacent to the light incident surface. The light emitting device is thus disposed beside the light incident surface. |
| US08164706B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and board clip mountable on the liquid crystal display device
In a liquid crystal display device 100 provided by the present invention, at least a part of a circuit board 16 can be held on an outer side surface 30B of a frame 30 by a board clip 50 mounted on the outer side surface 30B of the frame 30. The board clip 50 includes a plate-like main body portion 52 located so as to face the outer side surface 30B of the frame 30, front-side engaging portions 54 and 55, and a pair of rear-side engaging portions 56 and 57. A bezel receiving portion 60 contactable with a part of a peripheral portion of a bezel 20 is formed in the vicinity of the front-side engaging portions 54 and 55. |
| US08164700B2 |
Thin film transistor array, method for manufacturing the same and active matrix display
One embodiment of the present invention is a thin film transistor array including an insulating substrate, a plurality of thin film transistors and a sealing layer. The sealing layer is stripe-shaped and covers a plurality of the thin film transistors. The sealing layer is formed over the insulating substrate. |
| US08164699B2 |
Display panel and method thereof
A display panel includes a first substrate having a first line and a second line and a second substrate facing the first substrate. The first substrate includes an electrostatic discharger that is electrically connected to the first line to discharge a static electricity inflowing into the display panel through the first line to an exterior. Also, the second substrate includes a common electrode through which an opening is formed by removing an area of the common electrode corresponding with the electrostatic discharger. Thus, the electrostatic discharger may be prevented from being shorted with the common electrode, thereby preventing a display quality of the display panel from being deteriorated. |
| US08164695B2 |
Flat panel display
A flat panel display. The flat panel display comprises a main body, a control pad and a hinge. The control pad is connected to the main body by a hinge, wherein the control pad rotates on the hinge between a first position and a second position. |
| US08164692B2 |
Gamma correction circuit, gamma correction method, and image processing apparatus
According to one embodiment, a gamma correction circuit including a serial storage unit which serially stores first and second parameter information in a storage area, a first parallel storage unit which parallelly stores the first parameter information in the storage area, a second parallel storage unit, a gamma correction unit which receives a video signal and which performs gamma correction to the video signal based on the first or second parameter information, and a control unit which serially reads the first or second parameter information, parallelly stores the information in the first or second parallel storage units, parallelly reads the first or second parameter information, supplies the information to the gamma correction unit, and performs gamma correction to the video signal based on the first or second parameter information. |
| US08164690B2 |
Image display device for expanding and displaying part of an image
An image display device includes an MPEG decoder configured to generate image signals based on digital signals received by a tuner unit, an image segmenting unit configured to extract image signals included in a segment area being an arbitrary area portion from image signals outputted from the MPEG decoder, a display position adjusting unit configured to set a display area being an arbitrary area portion displaying the extracted image signals, an expansion display producing unit configured to allocate the extracted image signals to the display area to generate an expanded image, and a video synthesizing unit configured to synthesize image signals outputted from the expansion display producing unit and image signals outputted from the MPEG decoder. |
| US08164687B2 |
Color difference signal IP conversion method
An output of a conventional color-difference inter-field interpolating unit (10) and an output obtained by a color-difference 4:2:0 inter-field interpolating unit (11) and a color-difference intra-field line interpolating unit (12) as a progressive signal through inter-field interpolation by changing a 4:2:2 color-difference signal into a 4:2:0 color-difference signal are switched by a color-difference static image processing method selecting/mixing unit (14) in accordance with an output or the like of a detecting unit (13) for detecting a characteristic of an image signal. Thus, it is possible to realize color-difference signal IP conversion static image processing in which degradation of a correct 4:2:2 color-difference signal is suppressed and jaggy is reduced with respect to a 4:2:2 color-difference signal obtained through interpolation of a 4:2:0 signal. |
| US08164686B2 |
Surveillance television camera
A surveillance television camera including a camera base which is mounted on an installation surface and to which a surveillance television camera is mounted, a dome cover which is detachably attachable to the camera base and a locking device including a movable locking member mounted on the camera base and an elastic member biasing the movable locking member toward a joint surface of the movable locking member relative to the dome cover. The camera base has a joint surface relative to the dome cover. The dome cover has a fitting recess formed in the joint surface. When the joint surfaces of the camera base and the dome cover are joined together so that the dome cover is turned circumferentially thereby to be attached to the camera base, the movable locking member is fitted into the fitting recess of the dome cover by a biasing force of the elastic member. |
| US08164685B2 |
Image pickup apparatus which performs aperture value control for a multiple exposure image, and recording medium
An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention comprises an image pickup unit for obtaining an image, the image pickup unit including an image pickup element and an image pickup optical system which includes an aperture stop and forms the image on the image pickup element, a synthesis instruction unit for providing an instruction to form a multiple exposure image by making registration of a plurality of images and synthesizing the plurality of images into one image, an aperture value control unit for controlling setting of an aperture value of an aperture stop when the synthesis instruction unit provides the instruction to form the multiple exposure image, and an image processing unit for forming the multiple exposure image by synthesizing, into one image, a plurality of images obtained by the image pickup unit with the aperture value set by the aperture value control unit. |
| US08164673B2 |
Filter switching device, photographing lens, and camera
A filter switching device includes: an optical filter unit that is disposed on an optical path of an object light that passes through an image pickup lens of a camera, and can be switched to any one of a plurality of spectral transmission characteristics; a spectral transmission characteristic switching unit that switches a spectral transmission characteristic of the optical filter unit to one of the plurality of spectral transmission characteristics; a filter spectral transmission characteristic information storage unit that stores filter spectral transmission characteristic information, which is information relating to each of the plurality of spectral transmission characteristics; and a filter spectral transmission characteristic information output unit that outputs filter spectral transmission characteristic information corresponding to the spectral transmission characteristic of the optical filter unit to the camera when the spectral transmission characteristic of the optical filter unit is switched. |
| US08164672B2 |
System and method for displaying an image stream
A system and method may display an image stream (200), where an original image stream may be divided into two or more subset images streams, each subset image stream being displayed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously in each time slot (210A-240D) may be variably adjusted based on a predetermined criterion. The images may be collected from an ingestible capsule traversing the GI tract. |
| US08164671B2 |
Imaging apparatus, imaging apparatus body and reporting terminal
An imaging apparatus capable of assisting such shooting that a designated subject is accommodated in a predetermined reference range without user's continuing gazing at a display screen. Imaging apparatus 100 has: imaging optical system 310 that forms an optical image of a subject; solid-state image sensor 330 that converts the optical image into an electrical signal; video signal processing section 350 that carries out a predetermined processing for the electrical signal and generates image data; tracking processing section 390 that decides whether or not the designated subject is in a predetermined range within a trackable range, using the image data generated in video signal processing section 350; and reporting section 410 that reports a decision result in tracking processing section 390 by means of light. |
| US08164667B2 |
Image sensing device and image sensing method
An image sensing device and image sensing method is described, in which an interrupt circuit is disposed to interrupt a clock signal input to a logic circuit not associated with the reading of image data when the image data is read, so as to temporarily interrupt the operation of the logic circuit, thereby reducing the power noises caused by the current generated during the operation of the logic circuit. |
| US08164665B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling pixel sensor elements
An imaging method and system that flexibly accesses light, sensor elements and processes imaging signals. The imaging system comprises an array of pixel sensor cells, an array controller and a readout control circuit. |
| US08164663B2 |
Analog bus driver and multiplexer
For a source-follower signal chain, the ohmic drop in the selection switch causes unacceptable voltage offset, non-linearity, and reduced small signal gain. For an op amp signal chain, the required bias current and the output noise rises rapidly with increasing the array format due to a rapid increase in the effective capacitance caused by the Miller effect boosting up the contribution of the bus capacitance. A new switched source-follower signal chain circuit overcomes limitations of existing op-amp based or source follower based circuits used in column multiplexers and data readout. This will improve performance of CMOS imagers, and focal plane read-out integrated circuits for detectors of infrared or ultraviolet light. |
| US08164657B2 |
Pixel or column fixed pattern noise mitigation using partial or full frame correction with uniform frame rates
Systems and methods are provided that facilitate mitigating pixel or column fixed pattern noise in a CMOS imaging System-on-Chip (iSoC) sensor. For instance, pixel or column fixed pattern noise can be recognized by gating a pixel array without firing a transfer signal (TX). Inhibiting the transfer signal can cause zero input to be provided to pixels in the pixel array; thus, the sampled output from the pixels under such conditions can be a function of noise. Calibration and correction can thereafter be effectuated. Moreover, uniform frame rates for outputted frames can be yielded irrespective of use of a subset of read out frames for calibration. For example, frames employed for calibration can be replaced in a sequence of outputted frames by copies of stored frames. Further, signal levels can be balanced to account for differences in light integration time, which can result from blocking and unblocking firing of transfer signals. |
| US08164655B2 |
Systems and methods for concurrently playing multiple images from a storage medium
Methods for storing on a storage or memory medium, and retrieving, and displaying of multiple images in a registered manner, the images have been recorded concurrently. The images may comprise at least 2 video programs. A camera system for recording multiple concurrent images is also disclosed. Lenses and corresponding image sensors are calibrated to have calibrated and associated settings for recording multiple images that are substantially registered images. A registered image may be displayed on a single display. It may also be displayed on multiple displays. A camera for recording and displaying registered multiple images may be part of a mobile phone. |
| US08164654B2 |
Image storage apparatus, image storage method, and control program executed in image storage apparatus
An image storage apparatus which is capable of finding a desired image among a large number of images easily. Image quality of an image to be recorded on a storage medium 200 or 210 is determined by an operation unit 70. A system control circuit 50 stores a first image having an image quality determined by the operation unit 70 in a first folder on the storage medium 200 or 210, and stores a second image having an image quality determined by the operation unit 70 and different from the image quality of the first image in a second folder on the storage medium 200 or 210. |
| US08164651B2 |
Concentric exposure sequence for image sensor
A method for image capture includes providing an image sensor having at least one segmented row of pixels, wherein the at least one segmented row comprises at least first and second disjoint row subsets of pixels, wherein the reset and readout operations for each row subset are controllably independent of each other; timing the exposure interval of the first subset to be photographically centered with the exposure interval of the second subset; and combining the image data obtained from the first and second row subset exposures to form a row of pixel values. |
| US08164649B2 |
White balance adjusting device, imaging apparatus, and recording medium storing white balance adjusting program
A white balance adjusting device includes a dividing unit which divides an image to be processed into plural small areas, a calculating unit which calculates evaluation values of each small area based on color information of the image, a judging unit which judges whether to use the evaluation values of a small area of attention for white balance calculation based on a relationship between the evaluation values of the small area of attention and the evaluation values of small areas adjacent to the small area of attention among the evaluation values of the plural small areas, and a calculating unit which performs white balance calculation based on a judgment result of the judging unit. Therefore, color failure is suppressed and white balance adjustment can be performed properly. |
| US08164642B2 |
Image-capturing device with a destructive read-type image sensor
An image-capturing device includes: a destructive read-type image sensor that executes photoelectric conversion of a light flux from an optical system at a plurality of pixels, stores electrical charges resulting from the photoelectric conversion at the plurality of pixels, and outputs a signal corresponding to each of the stored electrical charges; a read unit that reads out the signal from the image sensor over a specific cycle; a display unit at which display is brought up based upon the signal read out by the read unit each time the read unit reads out the signal; a storage unit that individually stores signals read out by the read unit, each in correspondence to a read operation; an adding unit that adds up a plurality of signals obtained sequentially over time among the signals stored in the storage unit; and a focus detection unit that detects a focus adjustment state of the optical system based upon adding results provided by the adding unit. |
| US08164640B2 |
Camera control means to allow operating of a destined location of the information surface of a presentation and information system
The invention concerns a control device for controlling an information device arrangement. Control device includes camera means (CAM) and display means (VF) to allow operating of a destined location (21) of the information surface. Destined location is adapted for determination from the control information being in the image information (IMAGE) formed by the camera means (CAM). The control device is arranged at least to determine from the control information of the image information (IMAGE) data (x1, y1, hei, wid, gx, gy) in order to determine a continuous stream of locations pointed by the control device. System, method and program products are also targets of the present invention. |
| US08164636B1 |
Digital still camera with multiple frames combined into a single frame for digital anti-shake/anti-blur
A method of capturing a still frame is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a plurality of initial frames with a sensor in response to an optical signal and (B) generating the still frame by combining the initial frames using a noise reduction technique. |
| US08164634B2 |
Vibrating device and image equipment having the same
A vibrating device includes a drive unit configured to drive a vibrating member to produce vibration Z(x,y) at a dust-screening member, the vibration being expressed as follows: Z(x,y)=Wmn(x,y)·cos(γ)+Wnm(x,y)·sin(γ) where Z(x,y) is vibration at a given point P(x,y) on the dust-screening member, m and n are positive integers including 0, indicating the order of natural vibration corresponding to a vibrational mode, W mn ( x , y ) = sin ( n π · x + π 2 ) · sin ( m π · y + π 2 ) , W nm ( x , y ) = sin ( m π · x + π 2 ) · sin ( n π · y + π 2 ) , and γ is +π/4 or ranges from −π/8 to −π/4. LP/LF is 0.5 or more, but less than 1, where LF is the length of the sides to which the vibrating member is arranged in a virtual rectangle having the same area as the surface of the dust-screening member and sides including the one side, and LB is the longitudinal length of the vibrating member of the sides parallel to the one side. |
| US08164628B2 |
Estimating distance to an object using a sequence of images recorded by a monocular camera
In a computerized system including a camera mounted in a moving vehicle. The camera acquires consecutively in real time image frames including images of an object within the field of view of the camera. Range to the object from the moving vehicle is determined in real time. A dimension, e.g. a width, is measured in the respective images of two or more image frames, thereby producing measurements of the dimension. The measurements are processed to produce a smoothed measurement of the dimension. The dimension is measured subsequently in one or more subsequent frames. The range from the vehicle to the object is calculated in real time based on the smoothed measurement and the subsequent measurements. The processing preferably includes calculating recursively the smoothed dimension using a Kalman filter. |
| US08164625B2 |
Device and method for visually recording two-dimensional or three-dimensional objects
A device for visually recording two-dimensional or three-dimensional objects, which comprises a camera for recording images of the two-dimensional or three-dimensional object and which is provided with, can be connected to or is connected to at least one evaluation unit for evaluating the recorded images. A single camera and at least one adjustable or pivotal mirror element are provided. According to the method for visually recording two-dimensional or three-dimensional objects while using a device of the aforementioned type, a camera and at least one adjustable mirror element are arranged relative to one another so that the objects to be recorded are situated in the coverage area of the at least one mirror element. The adjustable mirror element for recording the objects to be recorded is displaced or pivoted about one or two axes with an adjustable velocity. The camera records the objects projected in the at least one mirror element, and the recorded objects are routed from the camera to an evaluation unit for evaluation and are processed. |
| US08164620B2 |
Stereo projection optical system
A stereo projection optical system includes an image engine configured for providing light superimposed spatial information, a color selector positioned to receive a light output of the image engine, a transmission-type light modulator positioned to receive an emergent light of the color selector. The color selector is configured for selectively modifying the polarization of the light output according to the wavelength of the light output. The transmission-type light modulator alternates between a dark state and a bright state. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the stereo projection optical system according to the present invention provides advantages in that its structure can be simplified with the reduction of its size by synthesizing lift and right image signals by displaying the stereoscopic image signal using a single projector. |
| US08164618B2 |
Implementation of MPCP MCU technology for the H.264 video standard
A method for generating a video output signal. The method may include receiving a plurality of input video signals from each of the participants. Each of the input video signals may have a plurality of input frames. Each of the input frames may have a source slice carrying an image. Each of the input frames may be encoded using the respective reference frame at an encoding time. The method may include a step for generating the video output signal for transmission to the participants. The video output signal may comprise a plurality of output frames. A first of the output frames generally has at least a first slice having (a) a first coded portion carrying the image from a first of the participants and (b) a first unencoded portion for the image from a second of the participants. A second of the output frames generally has at least a second slice having (a) a second coded portion carrying the image from the second participant and (b) a second unencoded portion for the image from the first participant. The frames of the video output signal are generated as soon as one of the frames of the video input signal are received. |
| US08164617B2 |
Combining views of a plurality of cameras for a video conferencing endpoint with a display wall
A telepresence apparatus, a method of operating a telepresence apparatus, and a tangible computer readable storage medium in a telepresence apparatus that is configured with instructions that when executed cause operating of the telepresence apparatus. The telepresence apparatus includes video cameras districted co-planar with a display wall and capturing camera views of a scene. The camera views from the video processor combined to form a video signal for transmission to one or more remote endpoints, the video signal corresponding to a synthetic view from a point that is substantially behind the wall and as if the wall was not there. |
| US08164613B2 |
Video communication system, terminal, and image converter
Image input device (57) of a mobile phone captures an image of the face of the speaker and stores the captured image data in image memory (53). Communication image generator (52) reads the image data stored in image memory (53) and converts the image data into illustration image data representing an illustration-like image of the speaker. Communication image generator (52) stores the illustration image data in image memory (53). Central controller (51) reads the illustration image data from image memory (53), and sends the illustration image data via wireless device (54) and antenna (59). A mobile phone of the party who the speaker is talking to receives the illustration image data, and displays an illustration-like image of the speaker based on the image data. |
| US08164610B2 |
Apparatus for writing an image on the target object to be managed
A surface-condition-information obtaining unit obtains information on a surface condition of a rewritable display medium on which information is reversely displayed visually. A write-laser output unit outputs a write laser to irradiate the rewritable display medium with the write laser, to perform a drawing on the rewritable display medium. A control unit performs a write process for displaying an image on the rewritable display medium by adjusting a laser output condition based on the information obtained by the surface-condition-information obtaining unit and controlling the write-laser output unit based on an adjustment of the laser output condition. |
| US08164609B2 |
Print head pulsing techniques for multicolor printers
In one aspect of the invention there is disclosed a multicolor thermal imaging system wherein different heating elements on a thermal print head can print on different color-forming layers of a multicolor thermal imaging member in a single pass. The line-printing time is divided into portions, each of which is divided into a plurality of subintervals. All of the pulses within the portions have the same energy. In one embodiment, every pulse has the same amplitude and duration. Different colors are selected for printing during the different portions by varying the fraction of subintervals that contain pulses. This technique allows multiple colors to be printed using a thermal print head with a single strobe signal line. Pulsing patterns may be chosen to reduce the coincidence of pulses provided to multiple print head elements, thereby reducing the peak power requirements of the print head. |
| US08164606B2 |
Exposure apparatus
In an exposure apparatus employing an over filled optical system, the light quantity distribution on a scanning plane is kept nearly constant for a plurality of scanning light quantities. It selects the light quantity of the light beam irradiated onto the photosensitive body from a plurality of levels, and sets the light quantity selected. According to the light quantity, it selects one of a plurality of correction current profiles, and supplies a light source with a current passing through the correction based on the correction current profile selected. Since the light quantity of the light beam irradiated onto the photosensitive body is corrected by the correction current, the light quantity of the light beam on the photosensitive body becomes nearly constant in the scanning direction. |
| US08164604B2 |
Flat panel display device and method of controlling picture quality of flat panel display device
A flat panel display device includes a display panel having at least one link pixel which has a non-defect area and a panel defect area and where adjacent pixels are linked to each other; a memory which stores a first compensation data for compensating the data which are to be displayed in the panel defect area, a second compensation data for compensating the data of a bordering part between the panel defect area and the non-defect area, and a third compensation data for compensating the data which are to be displayed in the link pixel. The first compensation data is adjusted through at spatial dispersion or temporal dispersion; the data that are to be displayed in a fixed area inclusive of the boundary are adjusted by dispersing the second compensation data to the fixed area inclusive of the boundary; the data that are to be displayed in the link pixel are adjusted to the third compensation data. |
| US08164603B2 |
Methods of measuring image-sticking of a display
A method of measuring image-sticking of a display is described. A display having N gray levels is provided. Next, an image-stick test frame having at least a first pattern having a low gray level and at least a second pattern having a high gray level is displayed on the display. After the image-stick test frame is displayed for a while, an image-stick region and a non-image-stick region are formed on the display. A measuring frame is then displayed on the display, wherein the non-image-stick region in the measuring frame has a standard gray level M. A plurality of middle gray levels is sequentially displayed on the image-stick region in the measuring frame. When the boundary between the non-image-stick region and the image-stick region in measuring frame is the lightest, the middle gray level is converted into an image-sticking level. |
| US08164594B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, program, storage medium and integrated circuit
It is an object to easily, and using existing devices, perform shadow enhancement that achieves an increase in the feeling of depth of 2D video. The input image data are first converted into brightness information by a brightness information calculation portion. Then, based on that brightness information, the normal direction and the edge information in the pixel targeted for processing are estimated by a normal direction estimation portion. A corrected gradation derivation portion then performs correction processing such as the addition of shadow component on the input image based on the brightness information and the estimated normal direction and edge information to create a processed image that has a feeling of depth, and then an output portion converts this to a predetermined image format and outputs it. In this way, it is possible to easily increase the feeling of depth of a 2D image through the addition of shadow, for example, in accordance with the characteristics of the input image. |
| US08164591B2 |
Device, server, system and method to generate mutual photometric effects
The invention concerns a device for generating mutual photometric effects and a server for delivering photometric parameters for generating mutual photometric effects and a system including such a device and such a server. The device comprises a receiver for receiving and demultiplexing the visual data sets and photometric parameters respectively associated with the data sets, a module for defining the mutual photometric effects to be generated for these photometric parameters, a compositor and a rendering module for positioning the visual data sets in the common support space and applying the effects defined for the photometric parameters from at least one of the visual data sets to at least one other of the visual data sets so that at least one visual data set influences one other visual data set in the common support space. |
| US08164590B1 |
Methods and apparatus for determining high quality sampling data from low quality sampling data
A method for a computer system includes determining a plurality of illumination modes associated with a plurality of scene descriptors, wherein the plurality of scene descriptors includes a first scene descriptor and a second scene descriptor, determining a first plurality of weights, wherein each weight from the first plurality of weights is associated with an illumination mode from the plurality of illumination modes, determining illumination data associated with the first scene descriptor in response to the first plurality of weights and in response to the plurality of illumination modes, determining a second plurality of weights, wherein each weight from the second plurality of weights is associated with an illumination mode from the plurality of illumination modes, and determining illumination data associated with the second scene descriptor in response to the second plurality of weights and in response to the plurality of illumination modes. |
| US08164587B2 |
LCD power supply
An LCD (liquid crystal display) power supply includes an AC to DC converter circuit, a transformer, a DC to AC converter, and a feedback circuit. The AC to DC converter circuit couples an AC power supply to generate a DC signal. The DC to AC converter couples the DC signal to a primary side of the transformer and alternates polarities thereof so that an AC signal is generated on a secondary side of the transformer to supply for a load. The feedback circuit receives a first feedback signal indicative of power being supplied to the load and modulates the DC signal generated by the AC to DC converter circuit according to the first feedback signal. |
| US08164586B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel and liquid crystal display including the panel
A thin film transistor array panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a substrate; a gate line disposed on the substrate and extending in a first direction; a capacitive electrode separated from the gate line and elongated in a second direction; a data line intersecting the gate line; a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line and including a drain electrode; a coupling electrode overlapping the capacitive electrode and connected to the drain electrode; and a pixel electrode including at least one first subpixel electrode connected to the drain electrode and a second subpixel electrode connected to the capacitive electrode and spaced apart from the at least first subpixel electrode by a gap that overlaps the capacitive electrode or the coupling electrode. |