| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08195727B2 |
Convert significand of decimal floating point data from packed decimal format
A decimal floating point finite number in a decimal floating point format is composed from the number in a different format. A decimal floating point format includes fields to hold information relating to the sign, exponent and significand of the decimal floating point finite number. Other decimal floating point data, including infinities and NaNs (not a number), are also composed. Decimal floating point data are also decomposed from the decimal floating point format to a different format. For composition and decomposition, one or more instructions may be employed, including one or more convert instructions. |
| US08195726B2 |
Systems, devices, and methods for solving computational problems
Systems, devices, and methods for using an analog processor to solve computational problems. A digital processor is configured to track computational problem processing requests received from a plurality of different users, and to track at least one of a status and a processing cost for each of the computational problem processing requests. An analog processor, for example a quantum processor, is operable to assist in producing one or more solutions to computational problems identified by the computational problem processing requests via a physical evolution. |
| US08195724B2 |
Providing a virtual binding for a worm storage system on rewritable media
A virtual binding system ensures that the WORM logic for protecting data immutability cannot be circumvented, effectively guaranteeing WORM property of a WORM storage system composed of rewritable magnetic hard disks. To close the security hole between the rewritable media and the WORM logic, virtual binding securely authenticates the legitimacy of a WORM logic controller before granting data access on a WORM storage media. Furthermore, the system verifies the legitimacy of the WORM logic controller during data access. This approach virtually binds together the WORM logic controller and the WORM storage media even though the WORM logic controller and the WORM storage media may be physically separate. |
| US08195722B1 |
Method and system for providing storage checkpointing to a group of independent computer applications
A method and system for storage checkpointing of an independent computer application. The independent computer application is launched by a coordinator; and the coordinator installs at least one of an exec interceptor and a fork interceptor. The coordinator also installs at least one file operations interceptor for all file operations and registers the independent computer application with the coordinator. The independent computer application is run and the at least one file operations interceptor is called upon encountering a file operation. The file operations interceptor logs a file event in a file operations database and passes the operation to at least one of a file system, an operating system, at least one or more device drivers, and a storage disk via a storage interface. The file operations interceptor also verifies that the file operation has been issued. |
| US08195714B2 |
Context instantiated application protocol
A system that facilitates the automatic tagging of contextual metadata information to a file as the file is being created. The system facilitates the automatic association of data with a user context, and includes a data operations component that associates with data operations being performed on a data. These data operations include standard data operations such as read, write, delete, move, copy, paste, etc., that are normally associated with data operations. The system further includes a tagging component that facilitates automatic tagging of contextual information to the data when the data is created. That is, when the data is first saved, the tagging operation of the contextual information is performed on the data. Subsequent save operations simply overwrite the existing data in the storage location. Thus, data and applications can be grouped based on the identity of the tag. |
| US08195713B2 |
Information life-cycle management system, information management server apparatus, electronic media control apparatus, and storage medium
In one embodiment of the present invention, the information management server apparatus includes an information management relation DB which stores the issued management ID and forming time and date information, user information, a medium type, a use limitation policy, and information management server information in a header portion of the copied management file in association with each other with respect to a management ID of a management file in management file copying request information. The electronic medium control apparatus requests an electronic copying of the management file. The management file is managed in the information management relation DB. |
| US08195707B1 |
Identifying and reacting to changes in an extensible automatic runtime object management system
A method include receiving input indicating a listener object and an interface for an object class corresponding to a persisted object of an object model retained by a database, where the interface has multiple different implementations within the object model; recording information indicating that the listener object has an interest in persistent data associated with the interface for the object class corresponding to the persisted object; in connection with a transaction with the database and when each of multiple Dirty( ) calls is received for the database, checking whether the interface for the object class corresponding to the persisted object is associated with the Dirty( ) call; and communicating with the listener object when the interface for the object class corresponding to the persisted object was associated with at least one of the Dirty( ) calls during the transaction. |
| US08195705B2 |
Hybrid search memory for network processor and computer systems
A system includes a data structure having a Direct Table (DT), Patricia-Trees, Pointers and high speed storage systems such as Contents Address Memory (CAM). The DT has a plurality of entries with each one coupled to a Patricia Tree having multiple nodes coupled to leaves. The number of Nodes, termed a threshold, that can be traversed to obtain information in the leaves is limited to a predetermined value. Once the threshold is reached a pointer indicates the address of the CAM and the address of the leaves is stored in the CAM. By using the structure and method the latency associated with tree search is significantly reduced. |
| US08195692B2 |
System and method for managing semantic and syntactic metadata
A method for managing semantic and syntactic metadata. The method begins with receiving heterogeneous data from either a machine or a human. Next, the method captures the semantic metadata corresponding to the received heterogeneous data by means of a semantic template. Next, the method captures the syntactic metadata corresponding to the received heterogeneous data by means of a syntactic template. After capturing the semantic and syntactic metadata, the method logically links the received heterogeneous data with the captured semantic and syntactic metadata. Finally, the method stores the received heterogeneous data in a repository. |
| US08195688B1 |
Deconstruction and transformation of complex objects for de-duplicated storage
A system and method for storing a data object in a single-instance storage system are described. The data object may be deconstructed into a template and one or more values. If the template is not already stored in the single-instance storage system then it may be stored. Otherwise an existing copy of the template may be referenced. Similarly, existing copies of the values may be referenced if they are already present, or otherwise the values may be stored. Reconstruction information useable to reconstruct the data object may also be stored. The reconstruction information may reference the template and the one or more values stored in the single-instance storage system. |
| US08195687B2 |
Program retrieval support device for accumulating and searching pieces of program information and corresponding programs and a method for performing the same
A program (e.g., tv/movie program) retrieval support device includes the following units. A program-information-accumulation unit (102) accumulating pieces of program information. A program-search-criterion-input unit(101) receiving from a user a search criterion. A program-information-search unit (103) searching the pieces of program information accumulated in the program-information-accumulation unit (102) using the received search criterion. A program-information-display unit (104) displaying a list of pieces of program information found by the search. A program-information-user-selection unit (105) receiving from the user an input of pointing (selecting) a piece of program information from the displayed pieces of program information. A program-search-criterion-generation unit (106) determining whether or not the pointed program is a major program and if the pointed program is a major program then generating new search criteria for narrowing down the search range to be more similar to the selected program. A program-search-criterion-display unit (107) displaying the generated new search criteria. |
| US08195686B2 |
Search method and search program
A search device creates as many stack frames as the number obtained by adding one to the number of search condition character strings contained in an out-of-search-condition character string in a stack, sequentially inputs character strings in a text into automaton data, determines whether the character strings in the text hit the search condition character string or the out-of-search-condition character string to push correspondence to the stack or to change correspondence into non-correspondence, and determines whether the text is to be searched. |
| US08195685B2 |
Service grouping and allocation method and system
A service grouping and allocation method and system. The method includes retrieving, by a computing system, a list of candidate services. The computing system retrieves service identification techniques data associated with the candidate services and identifies process elements associated with first candidate services of the candidate services. The first candidate services comprise a process decomposition service identification technique. It is determined if the computing system comprises first mapping data indicating relationships between the process elements and associated functional areas. The computing system generates and stores results data associated with the relationships. |
| US08195683B2 |
Expansion of database search queries
In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a token that is usable in search queries for data in a database. The database includes items of data that are represented by data strings. The method also includes determining a synonym candidate for the token. The method includes adding the synonym candidate as a synonym for the token into an expansion dictionary in response to a determination that the number of data strings having the synonym candidate exceeds a threshold. |
| US08195676B2 |
System and method of creating and rating items for social interactions
A system and method for providing items to users and, more particularly, a system and method for rating items and placing such items into a queued list. The method includes providing an item from a web browser to a recipient on a preferred list and placing the item into a queued list with respect to other items based on a rating. The system includes a computer infrastructure being operable to provide a rated item from a web browser to a recipient on a preferred list and place the rated item in a queued list with respect to other items. |
| US08195674B1 |
Large scale machine learning systems and methods
A system for generating a model is provided. The system generates, or selects, candidate conditions and generates, or otherwise obtains, statistics regarding the candidate conditions. The system also forms rules based, at least in part, on the statistics and the candidate conditions and selectively adds the rules to the model. |
| US08195671B2 |
Method for distributing services for knowledge management processing
A method for processing data in a knowledge management system gathers information content and transmits a work request for the information content gathered. The information content may be registered with a K-map and assigned a unique document identifier. A work queue processes the work requests. The processed information may then be transmitted to another work queue for further processing. Further processing may include categorization, full-text indexing, metrics extraction or other process. Control messages may be transmitted to one or more users providing a status of the work request. The information may be analyzed and further indexed. A progress statistics report may be generated for each of the processes performed on the document. The progress statistics may be provided in a record. A shared access to a central data structure representing the metrics history and taxonomy may be provided for all work queues via a CORBA service. |
| US08195668B2 |
System and method for providing enhanced matching based on question responses
In one example embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes a central website that interfaces with one or more end users to establish a profile for each of the end users to be used in matching the end users to each other for a potential relationship. Information is provided in the profile and the information includes relevant characteristics of corresponding end users. A first end user is asked one or more questions after their profile is established, the questions being posed to a second end user whose respective profile has also been established and whose profile has already been matched to the first end user's profile. Answers for the questions from the first and second end users are compared and a subsequent message is sent to the first end user if the answers provided by the first end user and the second end user are compatible. |
| US08195663B1 |
Identifying alternative products
A product catalog system includes a product catalog having information regarding products for sale online by various merchants. The product catalog system transmits information regarding products in response to queries for a target product and also transmits information regarding products that serve as alternatives to the target product. The product catalog system includes a product alternatives module that identifies product alternatives based on information regarding a multitude of received queries and information regarding products that were selected from other products presented in response to the queries. The alternatives module computes an association weight for pairs of products that indicates the likelihood that the two products are alternatives. This association weight is based on the query and product information and further based on the number of times that the two products were the subject of a comparison query. |
| US08195661B2 |
Method and apparatus for storing data on application-level activity and other user information to enable real-time multi-dimensional reporting about user of a mobile data network
A method and apparatus for storing data on application-level activity and other user information to enable real-time multi-dimensional reporting about a user of a mobile data network. A data manager receives information about application-level activity from a mobile data network and stores the information to provide dynamic real-time reporting on network usage. The data manager comprises a database, data processing module, and analytics module. The database stores the application-level data for a predetermined period of time. The data processing module monitors the data to determine if it corresponds to a set of defined reports. If the data is relevant, the processing module updates the defined reports. The analytics module accesses the database to retrieve information satisfying operator queries about network usage. If the operator chooses to convert the query into a defined report, the analytics module creates a newly defined report and populates it accordingly. |
| US08195653B2 |
Relevance improvements for implicit local queries
Computer systems, methods, and media improving the relevance of the search results presented to a user for queries having an implicit local intent are provided. Utilizing the systems and methods described herein locally-biased queries are identified, despite such queries being void of any location-specific terms. A location of a computing device associated with the user is determined and localized web search results associated with the data item pair comprising the input query and the user's determined location are generated and presented to the user. |
| US08195652B1 |
Preferred placement service for domain registration websites
Methods of the present inventions allow for providing a preferred domain position on a registration website. An exemplary method may comprise the steps of receiving data from registrars regarding a domain administered by a registry, generating a quality score for the domain based upon the data, and providing the quality score to requesting entities. |
| US08195649B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for accessing a database
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for accessing a database. A request attribute module constructs a request attribute list from an attribute database for a data value name received in a request block, wherein the request block is an inquiry to a target database and is not formatted as a query statement for the target database. The request attribute list associates the data value name with an attribute name and a schema name. A schema name module adds the schema name from the request attribute list to a schema names list in response to the schema name not being included in the schema names list. An attribute name module adds the attribute name from the request attribute list to an attribute names list in response to the attribute name not being included in the attribute names list. A query module builds a query statement directed to the target database from the schema names list and the attribute names list. |
| US08195640B2 |
Online service for program lookup
An integrated program lookup browser provides an integrated system with an online program lookup web service that assists the user in finding these unrecognized files, protocols and web page objects by allowing the user to perform a program lookup on a web service that can search one or more databases and return the URL to download the appropriate application or protocol or return the actual program or protocol. |
| US08195637B1 |
Rank-adjusted content items
Click logs and query logs are processed to identify statistical search patterns. A search session is compared to the statistical search patterns. Content items responsive to a query of the search session are identified, and a ranking of the content items is adjusted based on the comparison. |
| US08195634B2 |
Domain-aware snippets for search results
Techniques are disclosed for providing a domain-aware snippet for a search result. With such techniques, a domain classification component is provided for identifying a template used to generate a plurality of web pages of a domain, associating the template and content of the web pages related to the template with a Uniform Resource Locator pattern of the plurality of web pages, and storing the associated template, the related content, and the Uniform Resource Locator pattern in a database. A snippet extraction component is also provided for extracting text from a section of a web page of the plurality of web pages for a snippet of a search result corresponding to a search query, wherein the extracted text is based on a ranking value of the section and the relevance of the extracted text to the search query. |
| US08195629B2 |
Establishing parse scope
Example apparatus, methods, and computers control establishing a shared parse scope between two computers that intend to be involved in a shared de-duplication action. One example method includes, upon determining that a first de-duplication logic and a second de-duplication logic are to participate in a shared de-duplication action for an object, controlling the first de-duplication logic to establish a shared parse scope with the second de-duplication logic. Establishing the shared parse scope may include negotiations between the computers, where the negotiations transfer dialect information. The dialect information may take the form of rules. The method may also include persisting the shared parse scope. |
| US08195618B2 |
Disclosure booth
Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for facilitating the disclosure of information from a disclosing party. Such a system may comprise a computing device including an operating system executing within the computing device; a software application operating in conjunction with the operating system, the software application prompting the disclosing party for at least two of audio/visual data, graphic data and textual data in response to the prompt; means for contemporaneously collecting the at least two of audio/visual data, graphic data and textual data from the disclosing party; and means for irrecoverably erasing the least two of the audio/visual data, graphic data and textual data from both the computing device and the means for contemporaneously collecting the at least two of audio/visual data, graphic data and textual data. |
| US08195613B2 |
Transactional archiving of an electronic document
Various methods and apparatus are described for archiving of an electronic document between multiple interconnected archive units of a distributed server network in geographically-dispersed locations in order to store identical copies of the electronic document at the same time. An archival portal server in the distributed server network sends a five-step, two-phase commit protocol to a selected set of two or more transaction manager instances resident on remote archive units. The archival system reconciles if an error occurs between a start of a transmission of the electronic document and a permanent archiving of that electronic document, or the electronic document is stored in a permanent data storage location within each of the archive units at an end of the two-phase commit protocol making archiving of an electronic document to multiple locations an atomic operation. |
| US08195611B2 |
Using a sparse file as a clone of a file
One embodiment is for using a sparse file as a clone. The method includes creating, by an application associated with a computer system, a snapshot of a file, such as an individual file, a collection of files, file system, directories, and so forth. Further, the method includes requesting, by the application, a clone of that created snapshot. Further still, the method includes generating, by the application, an empty sparse having at least one inode identifying the empty sparse file as the clone and pointing to the snapshot associated with the clone. Thereby, the requested clone is created using the created sparse file, which begins as an empty sparse file. |
| US08195610B1 |
Method and apparatus for cache management of distributed objects
A method and apparatus for cache management of distributed objects have been disclosed. A query strategy, based on a fetch strategy and a merge strategy, may be used to query a database and reconcile data in a local cache. In one approach, a merge action depends upon whether an entity was added, deleted, or changed relative to the original version of the entity as it was last fetched. |
| US08195607B2 |
Fail over resource manager access in a content management system
In a content management system having a plurality of resource managers storing objects, a replica resource manager stores a replica of an object stored in one of the plurality of resource managers. A library server contains a resource manager table that defines the plurality of resource managers and includes availability information for each of those resource managers. When a client requests an object, the library server identifies a primary resource manager storing the object. The library server also determines a replica resource manager storing a replica of the object and returns information identifying that replica resource manager if the resource manager table indicates that the primary resource manager is unavailable and indicates that the replica resource manager is online and available. The client then retrieves the replica object without incurring a timeout delay waiting for the primary resource manager to respond to an access request. |
| US08195603B2 |
Rapid caching and data delivery system and method
The initial systems analysis of a new data source fully defines each data element and also designs, tests and encodes complete data integration instructions for each data element. A metadata cache stores the data element definition and data element integration instructions. The metadata cache enables a comprehensive view of data elements in an enterprise data architecture. When data is requested that includes data elements defined in a metadata cache, the metadata cache and associated software modules automatically generate database elements to fully integrate the requested data elements into existing databases. |
| US08195602B2 |
Relational database management system (RDBMS) employing a relational datastore and a multi-dimensional database (MDDB) for serving query statements from client machines
A relational database management system (RDBMS) for servicing query statements from one or more client machines, using a relational data store and a multi-dimensional database (MDDB). The RDBMS includes a query interface which is adapted to receive query statements from the client machines, and to generate one or more query requests. The RDBMS includes a query handling mechanism which receives each request from the query interface, extracts a set of dimensions associated with the request, uses the dimensions to retrieve aggregated fact data from the MDDB, and forwards retrieved aggregated fact data to the query processing mechanism for subsequent processing. When the query processing mechanism of the RDBMS determines that servicing one or more query requests requires data stored in the relational tables, then the query handling mechanism automatically routes the requests to the relational data tables, so that data can be accessed from the relational tables and forwarded to the query processing mechanism for use in servicing the requests, in a manner transparent to the client machine. When the query processing mechanism determines that servicing one or more query requests requires aggregated data from the MDDB, then the query handling mechanism automatically routes the requests to the MDDB, so that data can be accessed from the MDDB and forwarded to the query processing mechanism for use in servicing the requests, in a manner transparent to the client machine. |
| US08195598B2 |
Method of and system for hierarchical human/crowd behavior detection
The present invention is directed to a computer automated method of selectively identifying a user specified behavior of a crowd. The method comprises receiving video data but can also include audio data and sensor data. The video data contains images a crowd. The video data is processed to extract hierarchical human and crowd features. The detected crowd features are processed to detect a selectable crowd behavior. The selected crowd behavior detected is specified by a configurable behavior rule. Human detection is provided by a hybrid human detector algorithm which can include Adaboost or convolutional neural network. Crowd features are detected using textual analysis techniques. The configurable crowd behavior for detection can be defined by crowd behavioral language. |
| US08195597B2 |
System and method for obtaining subtextual information regarding an interaction between an individual and a programmable device
The system contains an output device in communication with the programmable device. The output device produces output information from the programmable device to the individual. An input device is in communication with the programmable device. The individual communicates a responsive act to the programmable device through the input device. The responsive act will include at least one psychomotor behavioral element. A processor integral with the programmable device determines the preferred modalities of the individual based, at least partially, on the psychomotor behavioral element of the responsive act from the individual. The processor also determines a preferred combination of modalities and an ordering of modalities by preference thereby further defining a focus of the individual's attention. The combination and order of modalities is calculated by an equation: Σ∫∞−∞((ΣGi(δxi/δlt))/(ΣGi(dxi/dti)))dGidti∝Ψ(G). |
| US08195589B2 |
Apparatus for dynamically determining primary adapter in a heterogeneous N-way adapter configuration
A method and apparatus are provided for dynamically determining a primary adapter in a heterogeneous N-way adapter configuration. Each of the adapters generates information about itself and exchanges the information with all other adapters. First a decision-making adapter is identified. Then the decision-making adapter compares the adapter-generated information of all the adapters and makes a decision determining the primary adapter. The decision-making adapter communicates the decision to all other adapters. The determined primary adapter assumes a role as the primary adapter and the other adapters assume a role as a secondary adapter. |
| US08195588B2 |
System and method for training a critical e-mail classifier using a plurality of base classifiers and N-grams
Disclosed is a method and system for identifying critical emails. To identify critical emails, a critical email classifier is trained from training data comprising labeled emails. The classifier extracts N-grams from the training data and identifies N-gram features from the extracted N-grams. The classifier also extracts salient features from the training data. The classifier is trained based on the identified N-gram features and the salient features so that the classifier can classify unlabeled emails as critical emails or non-critical emails. |
| US08195587B2 |
Method and apparatus for classifying and transmitting electronic documents by storing priorities and classifying rules pertaining to a distribution method
An information classifying apparatus includes an information receiving section, a rule storing section, a deciding section, a creating condition storing section, a creating section and a storage control section. The rule storing section stores a classifying rule which is a rule for classifying a piece of information. The deciding section decides as to whether a piece of information received by the information receiving section satisfies the stored classifying rule or not. The creating condition storing section stores a creating condition which is a condition for creating the classifying rule. The creating section creates, when the deciding section decides that the piece of information does not satisfy the stored classifying rule, a new classifying rule based on the creating condition stored in the creating condition storing section. The storage control section controls the rule storing section to store the new classifying rule created by the creating section. |
| US08195586B2 |
Data processing apparatus, data processing method, and computer program for setting targets in a range and taking action to attain the target
A data processing apparatus includes: predicting means for calculating a prediction value of time series data with respect to input of the time series data using a prediction model for predicting the time series data; determining means for determining a target value of the time series data on the basis of the prediction value of the time series data; error calculating means for calculating an error of the prediction value relative to the target value; and retrieving means for retrieving error reduction data as input of the time series data to the prediction model for reducing the error of the prediction value. |
| US08195584B2 |
Combining predictive models of forgetting, relevance, and cost of interruption to guide automated reminding
The claimed matter provides systems and/or techniques that develop or use predictive models of human forgetting to effectuate automated reminding. The system includes the use of predictive models that infer the probability that aspects of items will be forgotten, models that evaluate the relevance of recalling aspects of items in different settings, based on contextual information related to user attributes associated with the items, and models of the context-sensitive cost of interrupting users with reminders. The system can combine the probability of users forgetting aspects of an item with an assessed cost of forgetting those aspects to ascertain expected costs for not being reminded about events, compare expected costs for not being reminded with expected costs for interrupting users, and based on comparisons between expected costs for being reminded and expected costs for interrupting users regarding events, generate and deliver reminder notifications to users about items. |
| US08195583B2 |
Correlating instruction sequences with CPU performance events to improve software performance
A system and method are disclosed for correlating instruction sequences. A plurality of instructions is processed to parse a first sequence of instructions comprising a first area of interest. A first instruction sequence pattern is then generated from the first sequence of instructions. Pattern matching operations are performed with the first instruction sequence pattern. A second sequence of instructions are parsed, comprising a second instruction sequence pattern and a second address of interest that is a substantially equivalent match to the first instruction sequence pattern. |
| US08195577B2 |
Universal secure registry
In one embodiment, a user device is configured to allow a user to select any one of a plurality of accounts associated with the user to employ in a financial transaction. In one embodiment, the user device includes a biometric sensor configured to receive a biometric input provided by the user, a user interface configured to receive a user input including secret information known to the user and identifying information concerning an account selected by the user from the plurality of accounts. In a further embodiment, the user device includes a communication link configured to communicate with a secure registry, and a processor coupled to the biometric sensor to receive information concerning the biometric input, the user interface, and the communication link. According to one embodiment, the processor is configured to generate a non-predictable value and to generate encrypted authentication information from the non-predictable value, the identifying information, and at least one of the information concerning the biometric input and the secret information, and to communicate the encrypted authentication information via the communication link to the secure registry. |
| US08195576B1 |
Mobile transaction device security system
Embodiments of the invention include apparatuses, methods, and computer-program products that provide for a unique financial transaction security system. In one embodiment, the financial transaction security system receives a security protocol from a user. The security protocol includes instructions for allowing transactions without authentication and security features for the user if authentication is necessary. The system then determines that the user is conducting a transaction, compares the transaction to the instructions, and determines whether the transaction can occur without authentication. If the user is required to authenticate his identity, the system requests input from the user, compares the input to the security feature, and determines if the user is authenticated. The user is able to customize both the instructions and the security features to provide greater control over financial transaction security. |
| US08195575B2 |
Systems and methods for providing change of address services over a network
This disclosure describes systems and methods for collecting and processing change of address data and providing change of address services to a customer using a computer network. The address data can include a physical address, an electronic address, or both. The systems and methods may also provide additional services to the customer to assist in changing addresses. |
| US08195573B2 |
System and method for list shopping over a computer network
The present invention is a system for conducting commercial transactions over the Internet, whereby a shopper can simultaneously search for a plurality of items on at least one website with a single search command. The shopper can selectively specify the items of interest to be searched and can also specify and/or exclude websites to be searched. The system also searches a selectively alterable set of default website(s) and intelligently recommended website(s). Under one search command, the system simultaneously searches for all of the items on any combination of the following: site(s) specified by the user, a default website, an alterable set of default or intelligently recommended website(s). Information regarding the items retrieved as a result of the search is compiled under an alterable set of criteria, and displayed for viewing by the shopper. The shopper can simultaneously purchase selected ones of said items with one order command. |
| US08195569B2 |
E-bazaar featuring personal information security
Utilization of the E-Metro Community and Personal Information Agents assure an effective and comprehensive agent-rule based command and control of informational assets in a networked computer environment. The concerns of informational privacy and informational self-determination are addressed squarely by the invention affording persons and entities a trusted means to author, secure, search, process, and exchange personal and/or confidential information in a networked computer environment. The formation of trusted electronic communities wherein members command and control their digital persona, exchanging or brokering for value the trusted utility of their informational assets is made possible by the invention. The present invention provides for the trusted utilization of personal data in electronic markets, providing both communities and individuals aggregate and individual rule-based control of the processing of their personal data. |
| US08195567B2 |
Methods and systems for providing scanned mail delivery channel and automatic payment of reply mail
Exemplary systems and methods eliminate a check or a remittance stub from a bill payment process, which may simplify the bill payment process for consumers, providers, and check processing systems. A delivery service provider receives a delivery item at a delivery processing center. It is determined that an account associated with the delivery item is designated for electronic payment. Contents of the delivery item are scanned, and converted into electronic data, which is made available to a biller. |
| US08195565B2 |
Systems and methods for point of interaction based policy routing of transactions
Facilitating commercial transactions using a payment system directory are disclosed. A payment directory and/or wireless point of sale (POS) device may be configured to use predetermined rules, a multitude of data items and/or conditions to locate a payment system, and transmit a payment authorization request from a remote location to at least one payment system, either directly, or via a payment system directory and/or a SSL Gateway. |
| US08195564B2 |
System and method for creating financial assets
A system for creating and maintaining financial assets which accentuate different types of sub-loan level risk associated with a plurality of home mortgage loans and which are configured to operate as hedges against risks that oppose the different types of sub-loan level risk is provided. A decomposition tool is configured to decompose each of the plurality of home mortgage loans into a plurality of sub-loan level cash flows. A repackaging tool is configured to repackage the plurality of sub-loan level cash flows to form the financial assets. Repackaging includes selecting a sub-combination of the plurality of sub-loan level cash flows, packaging the sub-combination of sub-loan level cash flows to create one of the financial assets, and repeating the selecting and packaging steps to create additional financial assets. A graphical user interface is configured to display information relating to the sub-loan level cash flows and financial assets on a display. |
| US08195563B2 |
Systems and methods for enabling trading of financial instruments
Systems and method of enabling trading in currencies are provided. A method of trading a foreign currency option on an electronic trading system according to the invention may include executing a trade of the foreign currency option between a buyer and a seller, locking the trading system with respect to the traded foreign currency option, querying the buyer whether the buyer desires to buy or sell additional volume of the option, querying the seller whether the seller desires to sell or buy additional volume of the option, and authorizing additional participants to join the trade and querying the additional participants whether each of the additional participants desires to buy or sell a volume of the option. The method may also include starting a countdown timer and displaying the timer on the graphical user interface of the buyer, the seller and the additional parties and receiving buy and sell orders from the at least one of the buyer, the seller and additional participants. Following the expiration of the countdown timer, the method preferably includes matching existing buy orders and sell orders for the option. In one embodiment of the invention, the matching occurs according to a predetermined order priority. |
| US08195562B2 |
System and method for displaying market information and order placement in an electronic trading environment
A system and method are provided for displaying a trading screen and placing an order in an electronic trading environment. The system and method may be used to assist a trader in selecting an item of interest, such as the inside market (best bid and best ask) to be displayed relative to a user configured location on the trading screen, such as the center of the trading screen. In a preferred embodiment, the inside market will stay located relative to center of the trading screen and the price levels associated to the inside market will move as the market conditions fluctuate. Other features and advantages are described herein. |
| US08195559B2 |
System and method for determining an index for an item based on market information
Systems and methods for determining an index for an item based on market information are provided. Market information about the item is received and compiled. A standard profile for the item is determined. Index information for the item is determined based on the compiled market information. The index information comprises historical price information and statistical information about the market for the item. The index information is displayed at a user interface and updated based on updated market information. Orders to trade futures and options contracts on the item may be received, communicated, and executed. |
| US08195557B2 |
Routing of orders in equity options by means of a parameterized rules-based routing table
An enhanced system and method for the “smart” routing of orders in an electronic options environment is disclosed. The method of routing includes different rules and protocols for orders that are allowed to route using a traditional intermarket linkage than for orders that are allowed to route using an alternative private direct connection or third-party service provider. The system and method of routing has at its basis a configurable, rules-based routing table that allows orders to be routed using different protocols based on the account type of the incoming order. |
| US08195549B2 |
Systems and methods of on-line credit information monitoring and control
Systems and methods of on-line credit information monitoring and control. In one embodiment, a server computer accesses and retrieves credit information relating to a consumer. The server computer may also provide a user interface with active links associated with credit items. The links may allow the consumer to communicate directly with a credit service. The server computer may offer additional credit-related services such as credit report retrieval, credit monitoring, notifications, identity theft management, interest rate calculations, historical archives, and account management. |
| US08195542B2 |
Web-based issuer support services
A web-based process, residing on a server, provides issuer support services to a financial market. This web-based process includes an issue and issuer process for receiving, from a first data source, issue and issuer data concerning a specific issuer and one or more securities issued by the specific issuer. This issue and issuer data is stored on a storage device. A filings and financial process receives, from the first data source, filing and financial data concerning the specific issuer, which is also stored on the storage device. A compliance process reviews the issue and issuer data and the filing and financial data stored on the storage device to determine if the specific issuer is in compliance with the listing requirements for the market on which the one or more securities are traded. The compliance process generates compliance data indicative of the specific issuer's state of compliance. A trade process receives, from a second data source, trading data concerning the one or more securities issued by the specific issuer. This trading data is stored on the storage device. |
| US08195541B2 |
Method of marketing and contracting for the sale of agricultural yield-increase related products
A method of contracting for the sale of a yield-increase and/or crop protection related products includes the steps of mapping, using geo-referencing technology, areas of a field which have been treated with the yield-increase and/or crop protection related product and areas of the field which have not been treated, measuring, using geo-referencing technology, an amount of harvested crop from the field in both the treated and untreated areas, comparing the amount of harvested crop in the treated areas with the amount of harvested crop in the untreated areas to determine a yield increase associated with the treated areas, and charging for application of the yield-increase and/or crop protection related product based on the determined amount of yield increase. The data acquired may be stored in a database for further use and comparison. |
| US08195539B1 |
Open access transmission tariff information system
A method, system, and computer readable storage medium for open access transmission tariff management for a utility. The system includes a database for storing a plurality of data pertaining to providing transmission service to wholesale customers, and a computer processor coupled to the database and cooperative with a plurality of subsystems. A first subsystem determines a budget transmission billing rate. A second subsystem estimates revenue from wholesale customers. A third subsystem determines an updated budget transmission billing rate and an updated revenue projection. A fourth subsystem determines an actual transmission billing rate. A fifth subsystem analyzes a billed transmission rate on a periodic basis. |
| US08195536B2 |
Activity information accounting system
The present invention relates to an activity information accounting system. The system includes a central processing unit 1 for interpreting and executing a program command to perform accounting and processing data, an input unit 2 for inputting activities and resources of a management organization, an auxiliary storage unit 3 for storing an accounting program to execute accounting and storing accounting results of the central processing unit 1 in specific file forms, an output unit 4 for displaying processing results of data by the accounting, an activity table 10 providing activity lists corresponding to the activities, a resources table 20 for, when any one of the activity lists is selected, providing a resources list matching the selected activity list, a table matching unit 30 for matching the selected activity list and its pertinent resources list, and an account title providing unit 50 providing a corresponding account title through matching of the table matching unit 30. |
| US08195535B2 |
Aircraft MRO manager
Electronic aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) tools that improve an organizations ability to manage nearly every phase of an aircraft maintenance visit. MRO management may be implemented at the single aircraft level all the way up to the organization level including several facilities each of which include several aircrafts. The disclosed MRO management solutions assist with mapping out short term and long term planning; including manpower and material and tooling requirements. Additionally, current and future workloads may be identified and considered in advance of maintenance execution to significantly improve stakeholder satisfaction. The methods and systems disclosed generate an electronic contract based on a bill of work to control maintenance task execution, report progress of executing the tasks, and process scope changes to the bill of work and the associated contract. Improved communication of financial milestones and timely closure of both maintenance work and billing processes is facilitated by generating billing invoices and processing electronic approvals based on the electronic contract and the bill of work. Customer flexibility is improved by providing standalone management tools, as well as integration with existing external systems. Additional features include supply chain management and tooling controls necessitated by growing regulatory demands. |
| US08195534B2 |
Method and system for preparing a set of paired identification labels
A system and method for preparing a set of paired identification label based a plurality of characters that identify an inventory item. The method includes a step of assigning a predetermined numerical value to each of the plurality of characters. Mathematical operations are performed on the assigned numerical values to obtain a mapping of the plurality of characters to a corresponding non-textual visual indicator. A label is generated which label includes the plurality of characters and the visual indicator. The visual indicator may be a color or a graphic indicator such as an alignment designation bar or a combination and variation thereof. |
| US08195524B2 |
Items ratio based price/discount adjustment in a combinatorial auction
In a combinatorial exchange, rules can be input for processing bids and a desired exchange objective can be defined. A subset of the rules can be used to determine if an allocation of the bids exists that is optimal for the type of exchange being conducted. If the desired exchange objective is not satisfied, new allocations can be determined using different subsets of rules each time until the desired exchange objective is satisfied. At least one of the bids can include a reference ratio; a discount; a price associated with a quantity Q1 of a first item; a price associated with a quantity Q2 of a second item; and a rule that causes said discount to be applied to an average price of Q1 and an average price of Q2 for each instance of the allocated quantity Q1 over the allocated quantity Q2 that equals the reference ratio. |
| US08195521B1 |
Method of and system for processing transactions
A method of and system for conducting electronic commerce segments an enterprise is segmented into a single firm side system, and multiple customer facing and street side systems. The firm side system maintains a single system of record for the enterprise. The customer facing systems provide an interface between the enterprise and the customer. The street side systems are in communication with the customer facing systems. The street side systems provide an interface between the enterprise and various markets. |
| US08195520B1 |
Message audit trail feature for facilitating electronic transactions
An electronic commerce system provides various features for assisting customers in locating items and generating orders from a merchant's electronic catalog, and for assisting customers and merchants in communicating about such orders. A user-definable categories feature allows customers and/or merchants to define search queries for searching the electronic catalog, and to store these search queries under user-defined category names for subsequent use. An “active quote” feature allows the customer to view and modify quantities of items selected for prospective purchase throughout various catalog browsing or viewing modes. A message audit trail feature allows a customer and a merchant to send messages to one another that are linked to a particular order, and to view an order-specific log of such messages. |
| US08195518B2 |
Collaborative commerce hub
A server acts as the hub of a collaborative commerce system. Suppliers of goods or services self publish information to the hub. Buyers are able to query the hub for product and service availability, price etc. Buyers are able to integrate real time multi product and multi service orders from multiple suppliers, carriers and field serve providers and thus secure available goods as well as the delivery and installation of those goods from the records available on the hub. Once an order is complete to the buyer's satisfaction, the order is transmitted to the hub. The hub then transmits the appropriate information to the relevant suppliers, carriers and installers as required. The system also provides for a system of virtual partitioning of a supplier's inventory. |
| US08195512B2 |
System and method for serving relevant question-based advertisements
Question-based advertising over a network where question-based advertisement selection takes into consideration the content of adjacent material. In various aspects, the adjacent material may be physical and in proximity to a terminal where the question is presented, it may be virtual and be displayed on the same terminal as the question, and it may precede or succeed the question in time. |
| US08195511B2 |
Secondary market and vending system for devices
The system enables one to securely recycle an electronic device in a publicly accessible location. In particular, the embodiment described may be used by a mobile phone owner to submit his/her mobile phone for recycling via an electronic kiosk and receive compensation in some form. The compensation might be dispersed via cash, voucher, credit or debit card, or other magnetic or electronic transaction methods. |
| US08195508B1 |
Method for online session advertising
The invention provides a method of providing and selling online advertising in which a single advertiser is guaranteed major advertising locations on each qualifying page viewed by a web site visitor during the viewer's entire web session. Advertisements from a single advertiser follow web site visitors through the web pages they select for viewing, allowing a consistent message to be displayed to a particular user over a period of time. Advantages include the ability to engage in linear storytelling and to obtain reach, duration, and impact of the advertising message on a par with or exceeding that obtainable from conventional advertising media such as television and print. |
| US08195507B2 |
Method and system for using multi-function cards for storing, managing and aggregating reward points
A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns reward points from a plurality of independent reward points issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned reward points in a user reward point account stored on a multi-function card (such as a frequent flyer account or a credit card loyalty account). The multi-function card is adapted to aggregate some or all of the user's earned reward points from the reward accounts and credit the aggregated points into a single reward exchange account on the multi-function card. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated reward points from the multi-function card. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the reward points from the multi-function card. |
| US08195506B2 |
System, method and computer readable medium for billing based on a duration of a service period
A system, method, and computer readable medium for billing based on a duration of a service period, comprises sending fleet data from a third party entity to a toll authority via a toll rental entity, matching toll data with the fleet data by the toll authority, if the toll data matches the fleet data: charging an account by the toll authority and sending the matched data to the toll rental entity, determining, by the toll rental entity, if the sent matched data is related to an opt-in for duration based tolling or an opt-out for duration based tolling, if the sent matched data is related to an opt-in for duration based tolling, charging the third party entity for the duration based tolling, and if the sent matched data is related to an opt-out for duration based tolling, applying at least one of: a fee for the duration based tolling, a toll usage amount, a service fee for the duration based tolling, and a service fee for the toll usage. |
| US08195501B2 |
Dynamic interactive survey system and method
A system and methodology for communication between a service provider and a service recipient relating to services is described, such that for a particular task or project, interaction and feedback between the respective service provider and service recipient is provided by the system in a manner that enables service recipient satisfaction to be accurately communicated to the service provider and documented by the service recipient. The system is modifiable and customizable to facilitate communication between a service provider and a service recipient in various industries. |
| US08195497B2 |
Virtual workspace for project management coordination
A computer-implemented method for managing a project. A board having rows and columns forming a grid of cells is first created or accessed. Security rules may be assigned to each of the cells. A number of task files each containing information about one of the project tasks are then created. Authorized persons may access the board and the task files with computers linked to the host computer and place representations of selected task files within selected cells of the board. Authorized persons may view a representation of the board with the selected task files shown within the selected cells or move the selected task files from cell to cell to indicate progress made on the tasks. |
| US08195496B2 |
Combining multiple objective functions in algorithmic problem solving
Combining multiple objective functions to perform algorithmic problem solving is described. A first algorithm performs processing on a complex problem and generates multiple solutions to the problem. One or more solutions as generated by the first algorithm are send to one or more additional algorithms for further processing of complex sub-problems bounded by the first algorithm. The solutions to the first algorithm are used as input to the additional algorithms, where those solutions include at least one boundary condition under which the additional algorithms process the sub-problems. Ultimate solutions satisfy boundary conditions of the first algorithm, and all conditions of the additional algorithms. Algorithms may be executed in combinations of parallel and/or sequential operation to generate a final solution considering multiple different sub-problems to the complex problem. |
| US08195495B2 |
Computer system and method for handling encounters
A method of computing to produce a schedule of meetings, the method including: entering into a computer parameters defining an event of meetings of members; entering into the computer a data set for each of the members, the set including: at least one classification characterizing the member, at least one classification for meeting other of the members, and if more than one classification for meeting is entered, a corresponding ranking of the classifications for meeting the other members; and generating a schedule of the meetings for the members by using the classifications and the rankings, if any. |
| US08195494B2 |
Method and system of delivering items using overlapping delivery windows
A method and system for obtaining desired times from intended recipients of items is provided. The method provides each recipient with a plurality of time windows that overlap with one another in time from which the recipient may choose a time for delivery of an item and receives choices made by recipients from the plurality of overlapping windows. One aspect of the invention includes applying predetermined parameters to the time windows to determine which time windows to offer to the recipients as available times from which the recipient may choose a time for delivery. Such parameters may include, among others, which time windows have associated with them the least cost of service in making the delivery, whether the cost of delivering within a time window is less than a monetary threshold, and whether a maximum number of orders to be delivered within one time window has been reached. |
| US08195493B2 |
Concise communication of real-time business information in an enterprise network
A method, system, computer program product, and related business methods for concisely communicating real-time business information to end users in an enterprise network is described. An integrated business system having at least ERP and CRM functionality is accessed via a browser-based user interface. A plurality of portlet windows are simultaneously displayed within a browser window, each portlet window occupying a relatively small area therein. The portlet windows are selected and arranged according to a customizable user profile for each user, and include reporting portlets displaying up-to-date business results retrieved from the integrated business system. Each reporting portlet further comprises report access links associated with at least one of the business results that, when selected by the user, invoke browser-based displays of up-to-date business data underlying those business results. Preferably, in accordance with a user-customizable alert setting stored in the user profile, regular electronic mail messages are sent to the user communicating up-to-date versions of those business results. Preferably, data labels that identify business items within the browser-based user interface and on the electronic mails are expressed in a business vernacular tuned to each user according to customizable business vernacular settings in their user profiles. |
| US08195492B2 |
Systems engineering process
A method for implementing a project for a customer. Business requirements are developed for the project and are reviewed for acceptability in accordance with Business Requirements Review (BRR) exit criteria. System requirements are developed for the project and are reviewed for acceptability in accordance with system requirements review (SRR) exit criteria. Component requirements are developed for the project and are reviewed for acceptability in accordance with Preliminary Design Review (PDR) exit criteria. The business requirements are decomposed into the system requirements. The system requirements are decomposed into the component requirements. A Requirements Traceability and Verification Matrix (RTVM) is generated when the business requirements are established. The RTVM is updated throughout the life of the project. The RTVM includes verification information relating to the business requirements, the system requirements, and the component requirements. The RTVM depicts hierarchical relationships between the business requirements, the system requirements, and the component requirements. |
| US08195491B2 |
Determining relative performance
A method and system for evaluating a public sector organization includes identifying at least one outcome measure and at least one cost-effectiveness measure for a public sector organization; obtaining measurements associated with the measure; and determining a relative public performance measure of the public sector organization based on the measurements. |
| US08195487B2 |
Computer networks
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of analyzing a computer infrastructure providing a service, an intended quality level of the service being defined by at least one service level objective defining a service level quality objective and a related compliance level, the computer infrastructure comprising a plurality of components, the method comprising: obtaining first service level objective compliance data for a selected service level objective, the compliance data being calculated using data collected from the computer infrastructure; calculating second service level objective compliance data for the selected service level objective using in part the collected data and for a selected service level quality objective a value that meets that objective; calculating a difference between the first and second data; and identifying, based on the calculated difference, one or more components suitable for modification. |
| US08195486B2 |
Airline ticket change constrainer
A ticket change constrainer which allows reissuing or revalidating an already issued airline ticket includes a ticket change domain reducer operable to reduce an input search domain of change opportunities on the basis of change conditions set in the already issued ticket. It also includes a ticket change valuer operable to weigh the change opportunities of the reduced search domain and to return a reduced valued search domain of change opportunities. The weighing of the change opportunities is done on the basis of pricing method popularity scores updated in a ticket change memory by a ticket change watcher agent from actual change transactions handled by the system. The change conditions include standard pricing methods of the airline industry. The input search domain of change opportunities is produced by a conventional fare-driven search engine on the basis of a ticket change request issued by an end-user of the system. |
| US08195484B2 |
Insurance product, rating system and method
In the present invention, an insurance product, rating system and method generally relates to a rating and pricing system for quantifying the risk that the annual savings will not fall below specified levels associated with implementing and maintaining economic improvements. The product, system and method can be applied to various industries, including, power generation, petro-chemical, manufacturing and refining facilities. The present invention comprises an insurance product rating and pricing system designed for a relatively small number of insured annually or over a multi-year term with each insured having a relatively large exposure. These savings will produce additional benefits to the client in the form of enhanced creditworthiness and resulting increased availability of financing and reduced cost of financing. |
| US08195483B2 |
Methods, systems, and devices for controlling a permission-based workflow process for transferring medical files
The disclosure herein provides methods, systems, and devices for managing, transferring, modifying, converting and/or tracking medical files and/or medical system messages. In certain embodiments, the foregoing may generally be based on requesting medical files at a first medical facility, identifying the requested medical files at a second medical facility, initiating a secure network connection between the first and second medical facility, modifying a header portion of the medical files based on patient identification information created by the first medical facility, and other processing steps. |
| US08195480B2 |
System for maintaining person'S medical history in portable memory device
A system includes a portable, hand carried nonvolatile memory device in which a person maintains his or her medical history. The portable memory device includes a program, executable by a general computer, for storing medical records in a secure database in the portable memory device, updating the medical records in the secure database, and providing access to the medical records in the secure database. The system further includes a method for recovering that person's medical history in the event of loss, destruction, or damage of the device, including the steps of: maintaining a backup copy of the secure database externally to the device, which backup copy is accessible via the Internet computer; accessing the backup copy via the Internet; copying the accessed backup copy to a replacement device, which replacement device also includes the program or an updated version of the program. |
| US08195475B1 |
Method for optimally determining appropriate ergonomics for occupants of a workspace
A business method for optimally determining appropriate ergonomics of occupants of a workspace including a metric determined from personal-, environmental- and task-related attributes. |
| US08195473B2 |
Method and system for optimized real estate appraisal
A method and a system for obtaining optimal range of values for real estate property by using all or some of the admissible appraisal approaches through optimization algorithm. The reliability of factor ranges specific to each appraisal approach is evaluated and discrepant ranges are eliminated. An accurate property valuation through a number of admissible appraisal approaches is possible. Valuation, Feasibility Study, Sensitivity Analysis, value reconciliation and highest and best use are obtained optimally and automatically. Capitalization rate and period are optimized in the relevant approaches. |
| US08195472B2 |
High quality time-scaling and pitch-scaling of audio signals
In one alternative, an audio signal is analyzed using multiple psychoacoustic criteria to identify a region of the signal in which time scaling and/or pitch shifting processing would be inaudible or minimally audible, and the signal is time scaled and/or pitch shifted within that region. In another alternative, the signal is divided into auditory events, and the signal is time scaled and/or pitch shifted within an auditory event. In a further alternative, the signal is divided into auditory events, and the auditory events are analyzed using a psychoacoustic criterion to identify those auditory events in which the time scaling and/or pitch shifting processing of the signal would be inaudible or minimally audible. Further alternatives provide for multiple channels of audio. |
| US08195468B2 |
Mobile systems and methods of supporting natural language human-machine interactions
A mobile system is provided that includes speech-based and non-speech-based interfaces for telematics applications. The mobile system identifies and uses context, prior information, domain knowledge, and user specific profile data to achieve a natural environment for users that submit requests and/or commands in multiple domains. The invention creates, stores and uses extensive personal profile information for each user, thereby improving the reliability of determining the context and presenting the expected results for a particular question or command. The invention may organize domain specific behavior and information into agents, that are distributable or updateable over a wide area network. |
| US08195467B2 |
Voice interface and search for electronic devices including bluetooth headsets and remote systems
Systems and methods for improving the interaction between a user and a small electronic device such as a Bluetooth headset are described. The use of a voice user interface in electronic devices may be used. In one embodiment, recognition processing limitations of some devices are overcome by employing speech synthesizers and recognizers in series where one electronic device responds to simple audio commands and sends audio requests to a remote device with more significant recognition analysis capability. Embodiments of the present invention may include systems and methods for utilizing speech recognizers and synthesizers in series to provide simple, reliable, and hands-free interfaces with users. |
| US08195465B2 |
Time-warping of decoded audio signal after packet loss
A technique is described for use in a decoder configured to decode a series of frames representing an encoded audio signal. The technique is for transitioning between a lost frame and one or more received frames following the lost frame in the series of frames. In accordance with the technique, an output audio signal associated with the lost frame is synthesized. An extrapolated signal is generated based on the synthesized output audio signal. A time lag is calculated between the extrapolated signal and a decoded audio signal associated with the received frame(s), wherein the time lag represents a phase difference between the extrapolated signal and the decoded audio signal. The decoded audio signal is time-warped based on the time lag, wherein time-warping the decoded audio signal comprises stretching or shrinking the decoded audio signal in the time domain. |
| US08195464B2 |
Speech processing apparatus and program
A speech synthesizer includes a periodic component fusing unit and an aperiodic component fusing unit, and fuses periodic components and aperiodic components of a plurality of speech units for each segment, which are selected by a unit selector, by a periodic component fusing unit and an aperiodic component fusing unit, respectively. The speech synthesizer is further provided with an adder, so that the adder adds, edits, and concatenates the periodic components and the aperiodic components of the fused speech units to generate a speech waveform. |
| US08195463B2 |
Method for the selection of synthesis units
A method for the selection of synthesis units of a piece of information that can be decomposed into synthesis units, comprises at least the following steps for a considered information segment: determining the mean fundamental frequency value F0 for the information segment considered; selecting a sub-set of synthesis units defined as being the sub-set whose mean pitch values are the closest to the pitch value F0; applying one or more proximity criteria to the selected synthesis units to determine a synthesis unit representing the information segment. |
| US08195460B2 |
Speaker characterization through speech analysis
A computer implemented method, data processing system, apparatus and computer program product for determining current behavioral, psychological and speech styles characteristics of a speaker in a given situation and context, through analysis of current speech utterances of the speaker. The analysis calculates different prosodic parameters of the speech utterances, consisting of unique secondary derivatives of the primary pitch and amplitude speech parameters, and compares these parameters with pre-obtained reference speech data, indicative of various behavioral, psychological and speech styles characteristics. The method includes the formation of the classification speech parameters reference database, as well as the analysis of the speaker's speech utterances in order to determine the current behavioral, psychological and speech styles characteristics of the speaker in the given situation. |
| US08195457B1 |
System and method for automatically sending text of spoken messages in voice conversations with voice over IP software
A communications system and method, comprising means for receiving a speech input from a user; converting the received speech input to a text representation thereof; communicating the text representation remotely from the user; and at least one of reproducing the speech input and displaying the text representation remotely from the user; and converting the text representation into speech remotely from the user. |
| US08195455B2 |
Apparatus and method for sound recognition in portable device
Provided are an apparatus and a method capable of recognizing a sound through a reduced burden of computations and a noise-tolerant technique. The sound recognition apparatus in a portable device includes a memory unit that stores at least one base sound and a sound input unit that receives a sound input. The sound recognition apparatus also includes a control unit that receives the sound input from the sound input unit, extracts peak values of the sound input, calculates statistical data by using the peak values, and determines whether the sound input is equal to a base sound by using the statistical data. |
| US08195445B2 |
Data backup system including a data protection component
A data backup system is provided for backing up data files from a data source and for securing those data files against accidental modification or deletion. The system comprises storage and a data protection component that includes an application programming interface defining a command set. The system can also comprise a backup application that is configured to use the commands of the command set. The data protection component allows applications that use the commands of the command set, such as the backup application, to access the storage of the system. The data protection component prevents operating systems and applications that do not use the commands of the command set from accessing the storage. The data protection function of the data protection component can optionally be disabled to allow open access to the storage. |
| US08195442B2 |
Use of hardware peripheral devices with software simulations
A system and method is described for connecting a logic circuit simulation to a hardware peripheral that includes a computer running software for communicating data to and from the hardware peripheral. The software transmits the data received from the hardware peripheral to the device being simulated by the logic circuit simulation. The computer also transmits the data received from the device being simulated by the electronic circuit simulation to the hardware peripheral. This allows the user to test the device being simulated using real hardware for input and output instead of simulated hardware. |
| US08195439B1 |
Real-time adaptive circuit simulation
Some embodiments simulate a mixed-signal circuit design by adaptively applying multiple simulation engines at various regions of the design at various stages of the simulation. Some embodiments partition the mixed-signal design into multiple regions. Some embodiments classify the regions at different time steps of transient analysis. The regions are classified to indicate whether a region is active or inactive at each such time step. Then when analyzing the active regions, some embodiments adaptively apply different solvers to at least two of the active regions based on criteria associated with the active regions. Additionally, some embodiments perform an adaptive bi-direction analysis of the regions. In this manner, some embodiments optimize the circuit simulation by adaptively simulating the design using different solvers that employ greater accuracy where required and greater efficiency when less accuracy is required, thus allowing the simulation to occur with greater overall accuracy, efficiency, and capacity. |
| US08195434B2 |
System and method for generating finite element models
In an embodiment, a drawing file and an interface application are activated. Geometry data is extracted from the drawing file with the interface application. In another embodiment, contents of a geometry file can be automatically read into a drawing application to create a drawing file. Contents of the geometry data file may be revised before being read. In another embodiment, a finite element model can be generated. A control file for an item to be modeled is selected. Contents of the selected control file and part geometry data files identified in the selected control file are read. A finite element model for each part is generated simultaneously from all of the part geometry data files. When more than one part geometry data files are identified in the control file, all of the finite element models of the parts can be integrated into a finite element model of a product. |
| US08195433B2 |
Optimum value search apparatus and method, recording medium, and computer program product
This invention provides an optimum value search apparatus, method, recording medium, and computer program product used in designing, analyzing, or testing a device having a plurality of factors that have effects on a characteristic. In this method, an orthogonal array is generated by setting level values obtained from the initial values of the factors to the coordinates of a two-dimensional table including a matrix of the characteristics and the factors. From the characteristics on the orthogonal array, characteristic values obtained on the basis of combinations of the level values of the factors of a single characteristic are grasped. A combination having a most excellent characteristic value is selected. The level values of the factors in the characteristic corresponding to the selected combination are reset in the orthogonal array. After resetting, processes are repeatedly executed to search for an optimum value as a most excellent one of the characteristic values. |
| US08195426B1 |
Data analysis systems and related methods
Data analysis systems and related methods. An implementation of a method of determining a relationship between a variable of interest and one or more process variables represented by a corresponding plurality of tags may include accessing a data historian including historical data including a variable of interest and a plurality of tags. The method may include defining a plurality of bins, retrieving historical data corresponding with the plurality of bins using the data historian, filtering the historical data for each of the plurality of bins using one or more filters to produce filtered historical data, generating an output display using the filtered historical data for the variable of interest and each of the plurality of tags, and determining which of the plurality of tags correlate with the variable of interest using the output display. The output display may include an overlay CUSUM chart and a correlation plot. |
| US08195418B2 |
Pressure measurement instrument and method
A measurement instrument having a processor, a first sensor and a second sensor. The processor is adapted to output a measurement signal embodying a measurement of a physical quantity. The first sensor and second sensor are connected to the processor and are operable to generate respectively first and second measurements of the physical quantity. The processor defines a first measurement range within which the measurement signal is dependent on the first measurement and not the second measurement. The processor defines a second measurement range within which the measurement signal is dependent on the second measurement and not the first measurement. The first and second ranges meet at a predetermined transition. The first and second measurements are different at the transition and the measurement embodied in the measurement signal crosses the transition without an abrupt change. |
| US08195414B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying an islanding condition
A method and apparatus for identifying an islanding condition. In one embodiment, the method comprises altering a phase error response within a phase locked loop (PLL), and determining whether the islanding condition exists based on the altered phase error response. |
| US08195412B2 |
Iterative method for characterizing the frequency dependence of the linear properties of an electrical component
A method and device characterize linear properties of an electrical component having n>1 ports. The linear properties of the component are described in a matrix relating a voltage applied to the ports to a current through the ports. A frequency dependence of the matrix is approximated to preserve eigenvalues of the matrix by a pole-residual model. The method includes: (a) obtaining a set of values of the matrix at discrete frequencies, and obtaining eigenvalues and eigenvectors for each value; (b) fitting a set of vector equations to the eigenvalues and eigenvectors with a first set of pole frequencies; and (c) calculating a second set of pole frequencies by a vector fitting process for all modes of an element of the matrix. Steps (b) and (c) are repeated using the second set of pole frequencies in step (c) in a subsequent step (b) until a stop condition is met. |
| US08195411B2 |
IDDQ test apparatus and test method
Multiple non-defective samples of a DUT are selected. A quiescent power supply current (IDDQ) is measured for each of test vectors which are switched, for each of the non-defective samples. Statistical IDDQ values are measured in increments of the test vectors, and first array data is created including identifiers for the test vectors and the statistical IDDQs as elements. The first array data is sorted using the IDDQ value as a key so as to create second array data. The difference in quiescent power supply current is calculated by making difference between adjacent current elements of the second array data, so as to create third array data including the identifiers for the test vectors and the differences of current value as the elements. The third array data is sorted using the difference in current value as a key, and creates fourth array data. |
| US08195410B1 |
Method and system for organic specimen feature identification in ultrasound image
A system, method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium. The system includes an ultrasound transducer configured for coupling ultrasound incident waves into selected regions of an organic specimen and transferring resultant ultrasound data from specimen features for selected ultrasound incident waves to a processor, a location detection unit configured for detecting locations of the ultrasound transducer and organic specimen and for transferring that data to the processor, a memory module configured for storing anatomic model data for at least part of the organic specimen, the processor configured for identifying the region associated with the selected ultrasound data, creating an ultrasound image from that data, obtaining model extracted data from the anatomic model data corresponding to the selected ultrasound data region, creating a model image from the model extracted data, and transferring the ultrasound and model images to a display module, and the display module configured for displaying the ultrasound and model images. |
| US08195409B2 |
Passive acoustic underwater intruder detection system
A portable threat detection apparatus and method is disclosed which may comprise a plurality of acoustic emission sensors arranged in a cluster, forming a polygon defining at least two axes of alignment between respective pairs of acoustic emission sensors; a computing device in cooperation with a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions for performing: receiving a first signal produced by a first acoustic emission sensor within a respective pair of acoustic emission sensors, in response to the first acoustic emission sensor detecting an acoustic emission from a source, and receiving a second signal produced by a second acoustic emission sensor within the respective pair of acoustic emission sensors, in response to the second acoustic emission sensor detecting the acoustic emission; determining a cross-correlation factor between the first signal and the second signal; and, determining a bearing to the source based on the cross correlation factor. |
| US08195408B2 |
Method for setting up system of reagent chip analyzer
A method for setting up a system of a reagent chip analyzer is provided. The method is adapted to modify parameters and testing conditions according to data of an authorization tag, so as to improve the adaptability range of the reagent chip analyzer for reagent chips of multiple specifications. The method includes: reading an identification code, authorization times, and specifications and analysis parameters of the reagent chip from an RFID tag; determining whether to load the specifications and the analysis parameters of the reagent chip according to the identification code and the authorization times; and if it is determined to load the specifications and the analysis parameters of the reagent chip, decreasing the authorization times by one, and analyzing the reagent chip according to the specifications and the analysis parameters of the reagent chip. |
| US08195407B2 |
Online method to estimate hydrogen concentration estimation in fuel cell systems at shutdown and startup
A system and method for estimating the amount of hydrogen and/or nitrogen in a fuel cell stack and stack volumes at system start-up and shut-down. The method defines the fuel cell stack and stack volumes as discrete volumes including an anode flow-field and anode plumbing volume, a cathode flow-field volume and a cathode header and plumbing volume. The method estimates the amount of hydrogen and/or nitrogen in the anode flow-field and anode plumbing volume, the cathode flow-field volume and the cathode header and plumbing volume when the fuel cell system is shut down, during a first stage when the hydrogen partial pressure between the anode and cathode is not in equilibrium and during a second stage when the hydrogen partial pressure between the anode and cathode is in equilibrium by considering various flows into and out of the volumes. |
| US08195402B2 |
Method and an apparatus for determining well or fully differentiated mammal cells
A method and apparatus for the in vitro determination and typification of well-differentiated or fully differentiated mammalian cells is disclosed. The method comprises placing a cell sample on a sampling device, irradiating the cells with infrared light, preparing an FT-IR spectrum from the absorption spectrum, calculating derivatives of the FT-IR spectrum and comparing the derivatives to reference FT-IR spectra for known cell types. The apparatus comprises an infrared source and measuring apparatus capable of recording an absorption spectrum, and software for measurement, evaluation, documentation, and derivation of the absorption spectra. Fourier transformation he method is particularly useful for typing cells from tissue biopsies in preparation for cell transplantation. |
| US08195390B2 |
Navigation device and method for operating a navigation device
A navigation device (1) including an input device for inputting operator commands and/or location data, particularly starting points and/or destinations, a road network database, a route calculating unit for calculating a planned route with consideration of the location data and the road network database, wherein the route leads from the starting point to the destination, a signal receiving unit for receiving position signals, particularly GPS-signals, a position determining unit that determines the current position based on the position signals, and at least one optical display device, has an editable image database, in which image data files (7) provided for being displayed on the display device can be managed in a user-defined fashion and method of operation. |
| US08195387B2 |
Method and device for driver assistance
In a method and a device for driver assistance, traffic elements that point to potential danger zones are detected on the road, using a camera. If such potential danger zones are detected, at least one headlight of the vehicle is controlled in such a way that the potential danger zone is illuminated. |
| US08195385B1 |
Navigation control system
A real-time path-directed controller is disclosed. The controller is extraordinarily well-suited for navigating a vehicle along a desired path across a field for agricultural applications.The controller comprises several important assemblies. It comprises a position sensor which produces an object position signal to an object position signal conditioning module (which, in turn, produces a conditioned object position signal to a controller summer). The controller also comprises a heading conditioning module for receiving the object position signal and conditioning the object position signal to produce a conditioned heading signal to the controller summer. The controller also comprises a control apparatus sensor for producing a control apparatus signal to a control apparatus signal conditioning module (which, in turn, produces a conditioned control apparatus signal to the controller summer). The controller also comprises a control apparatus null position conditioning module for conditioning a distance-differentiated object position signal and conditioned control apparatus signal to produce a conditioned null position signal to the controller summer. Finally, the controller comprises a controller summer summing the conditioned object position signal, the conditioned heading signal, the conditioned control apparatus signal, and the conditioned null position signal to produce a controller summer signal to a controller summer conditioning module so as to produce a control apparatus control signal to a control apparatus controller so as to direct the control apparatus and thereby direct the object by feedback control along the desired path. |
| US08195381B2 |
Safety system for marine vessels
There is elucidated a safety system for a marine vessel. The vessel includes two engines coupled to propellers for propelling the vessel through water. The vessel is provided with a digital anchor in communication with the two engines for maintaining the vessel substantially at a defined location when the anchor is activated. The safety system includes a sensor assembly coupled to a data processing assembly for sensing a region of said water at least partially surrounding the vessel for detecting one or more persons present in the region and for modifying operation of the digital anchor is response to the one or more persons being detected. The invention is of advantage in that the digital anchor is capable of responding to the one or more persons being present in the water and thereby reducing a risk of injury or loss of life when the digital anchor is employed. |
| US08195379B2 |
Multi-pulse injection fuel and load balancing control system
A method for adjusting fuel injection quantities in an internal combustion engine configured to operate multi-pulse fuel injections in a cylinder of the engine includes monitoring in-cylinder pressure, determining a burnt fuel mass for main combustion based upon the in-cylinder pressure, determining a burnt fuel mass for post combustion based upon the in-cylinder pressure, determining a main fuel quantity offset based upon the burnt fuel mass for main combustion, determining a post fuel quantity offset based upon the burnt fuel mass for post combustion, and controlling fuel injections into the cylinder based upon the main fuel quantity offset and the post fuel quantity offset. |
| US08195372B2 |
Method of adaptive braking control for a vehicle
A braking control method that includes: (1) regularly updating a grip model representative of a relationship between a coefficient of friction and a wheel slip rate; (2) determining, with an iterative calculation process including a plurality of calculation cycles a variation of a braking setpoint in a given prediction horizon, the variation of the braking setpoint in the given prediction horizon being established using the regularly updated grip model and its characteristic shape and so that the variation of the braking setpoint in the given prediction horizon complies with the braking order and complies with a given calculation constraint which is function of the wheel slip rate; and (3) retaining as the generated braking setpoint a value of the braking setpoint in the given prediction horizon which corresponds to a first calculation cycle of the plurality of calculation cycles of the iterative calculation process. |
| US08195369B2 |
Control apparatus and control method of continuously variable transmission, program for realizing that method, and recording medium on which that program is recorded
An ECU executes a program that includes a step of increasing belt squeezing pressure to a value P (ON) greater than a normal value P (OFF) that is set as the belt squeezing pressure when a footbrake switch is off, when the footbrake switch is on and the time elapsed after the footbrake switch was turned on is less than a threshold value T (0); and a step of gradually reducing the belt squeezing pressure to the normal value P (OFF) when the time elapsed after the footbrake switch was turned on is equal to or greater than the threshold value. As a result, a decrease in fuel efficiency of a vehicle in which a continuously variable transmission is mounted, as well as a reduction in the durability of a belt of this continuously variable transmission, can be reduced. |
| US08195368B1 |
Coordinated control of two shipboard cranes for cargo transfer with ship motion compensation
The present invention is typically embodied to exert active control of two same-shipboard cranes performing joint lifting of a payload. Sensory signals indicative of ship motion, and of luff angle and hoist line length of both cranes, are transmitted to a computer. The sensory signals are processed by the computer using a ship motion cancellation algorithm, which solves for values of the respective luff angles and hoist line lengths of both cranes, such values achieving static equilibrium (e.g., zero motion horizontally, vertically, and rotationally in the same vertical geometric plane) of the suspended payload. Inverse kinematic control signals in accordance with the mathematical (e.g., minimum norm) solutions are transmitted by the computer to respective luff angle actuators and hoist line length actuators of both cranes so that the suspended payload tends toward steadiness. Inventive control thus acts on a continual basis to significantly reduce pendulation during the two-crane lifting operation. |
| US08195367B2 |
Leveling control system and method for heavy equipment
A leveling control system and method for heavy equipment, in which a lower frame having a traveling unit and an upper frame are combined together by a tilting unit. The system includes a sensor unit, provided in the equipment, for measuring twist angles of the lower frame and the upper frame against a reference horizontal surface and a traveling speed of the equipment, and detecting working state information of working devices; a control unit for receiving the twist angles, the traveling speed, and the working state information, calculating a correction angle for the leveling control of the upper frame, and generating a control signal for instructing an operation of an actuator in accordance with the correction angle; and a driving unit for performing the leveling through the actuator in accordance with the control signal received therein. The control unit is provided with an auto leveling mode module for performing the leveling against a reference horizontal surface, a re-leveling mode module for performing the leveling against the reference horizontal surface in a standstill state of the equipment for a limited time, and a track leveling mode module for performing the leveling against the lower frame. |
| US08195366B2 |
Control system for a pallet truck
A control system for controlling motion of a pallet truck vehicle includes three modes of operation for controlling coasting of the vehicle. In a first, constant pressure mode, the vehicle coasts for as long as an activation button is depressed. In a second, time controlled mode, the vehicle coasts for a predetermined period of time. In the third, distance controlled mode, the vehicle coasts for a predetermined distance. Each of these functions can be activated from a remote location using a remote activation device. |
| US08195365B2 |
Operator restraint system
An operator restraint system is provided. The operator restraint system includes a seatbelt payout sensor and a seatbelt buckle assembly. The seatbelt buckle assembly includes a housing and an alarm assembly. The alarm assembly includes at least one of a light source configured to generate a visible signal and an annunciator configured to generate an audible signal. A controller is associated with at least one of the seatbelt payout sensor and the alarm assembly. The controller is configured to receive from the seatbelt payout sensor a signal indicative of a length of a seatbelt that has been withdrawn, determine whether the length of the seatbelt that has been withdrawn is within a predetermined range, and control the alarm assembly to selectively generate at least one of the visible signal and the audible signal to remind an operator regarding employment of the seatbelt based on the determination. |
| US08195364B2 |
Perception model for trajectory following autonomous and human augmented steering control
A steering control method including the steps of obtaining a heading error, obtaining a velocity value, obtaining a distance error, applying the heading error and defuzzifying an output from a steering rule base. The velocity value and the distance error are applied along with the heading error to fuzzy logic membership functions to produce an output that is applied to a steering rule base. An output from the steering rule base is defuzzified to produce a steering signal. |
| US08195362B2 |
Method for controlling a driver assistance system
A method for controlling a driver assistance system having an LKS function of a vehicle is described. In the region of lane widening, a hypothetical lane which connects a starting lane to a destination lane is generated by the driver assistance system. In the region of the lane widening, the vehicle is guided along the hypothetical lane. |
| US08195358B2 |
Multi-vehicle high integrity perception
The illustrative embodiments provide a method for processing sensor data and controlling the movement of a vehicle. In one illustrative embodiment, a vehicle having a plurality of sensors attempts to receive sensor data. In response to an inability of the vehicle to obtain needed sensor data, collected sensor data is requested from a plurality of other vehicles to form alternate sensor data. The alternate sensor data is received and the vehicle is controlled using the alternate sensor data. In another illustrative embodiment, a request is received at a first vehicle for sensor data from a different vehicle. Sensor data is collected from a plurality of sensors at the first vehicle. The sensor data is then sent to the different vehicle. |
| US08195356B2 |
Methods for testing an image based occupant classification system
A method for testing an image based occupant classification system includes identifying a plurality of disturbances for an image based occupant classification system and identifying a plurality of test occupants for a vehicle. The method further includes randomly selecting at least one disturbance from the plurality of disturbances and randomly selecting a test occupant from the plurality of test occupants. |
| US08195352B2 |
Method and apparatus for multivariate active driveline damping
A multivariate control method and system to control torque output from a powertrain system to a driveline is provided, to reduce driveline oscillations. The powertrain preferably comprises hybrid powertrain having a plurality of torque-generative devices connected to a transmission. Desired powertrain and driveline operating states are determined, as are a plurality of operating state errors. Each torque-generative device is controlled, based upon the operating state errors, and operating mode of the transmission. A damping torque command, additive to a commanded torque, is determined for one or more of the torque-generative devices based upon the determined transmission operating mode. Determined operating states include operator input, and powertrain/driveline including driveline torque; transmission input torque, rotational speed of the torque-generative devices; road load; and, accessory load. |
| US08195350B2 |
Vehicle and control method thereof
In a hybrid vehicle 20, when the ECO switch 88 is turned on, a maximum allowable charging power Pcmax is set based on a vehicle speed and an ECO mode maximum allowable charging power setting map that is a second relationship having a tendency to allow charging of a battery 50 in comparison with a normal maximum allowable charging power setting map (Step S130), and an engine 22, motors MG1 and MG2 are controlled so that the battery 50 is charged with an effective charge-discharge power demand Pb* as a charging power demand set at Step S140 in accordance with state of the battery 50 within a range of the maximum allowable charging power Pcmax and a torque demand Tr* for driving is ensured (Steps S150-S280). |
| US08195347B2 |
Method and system for approach decision display
Approach Decision Display and associated methods and systems are disclosed. A method and system in accordance to one embodiment of the disclosure includes a display of operationally-relevant information for final approach and landing on a cockpit graphical display. Approach Decision Display System (ADDS) provides, in a graphical display, dynamic decision parameters as a function of the health of required equipment for the selected approach and the aircraft's ability to execute the approach and landing. |
| US08195346B1 |
Envelope protection for mechanically-controlled aircraft
An avionics system for a mechanically-controlled aircraft configured to provide envelope protection for deterring a pilot from flying outside of acceptable flight parameter limits for flight parameters such as banking angle, pitch attitude, g loading, proximity to terrain and/or obstacles, angle of attack, and/or airspeed. The avionics system may comprise at least one servo actuator and a computing device. The computing device may engage envelope protection by engaging the at least one servo actuator if the aircraft reaches a maximum or minimum limit for any of the flight parameters, such that the at least one servo actuator provides a force to urge a flight control device in a direction to bring the aircraft back within the acceptable flight parameter limits. The servo actuator may be disengaged when the aircraft flight parameters reach an end value corresponding to the start value that triggered envelope protection to engage. |
| US08195344B2 |
Remote control system and method for construction equipment
A remote control system and a remote control method of a construction machine for reducing a fatigue degree of an operator at the time when the operator controls driving of the construction machine depending on his/her body motion in the remote control system of the construction machine. For this, according to the present disclosure, a value acquired by compensating for a predetermined value εβ with respect to a finger bending angle βh for a palm is tracked by a bending angle βe of a bucket at the time of tracking the position of the bucket depending on hand motion of the operator to reduce a finger bending movement amount of the operator, thereby reducing fatigue. Further, the workspace of the operator is set to be smaller than points which are maximally movable in each of X, Y, and Z-axis directions at the time of setting the workspace of the operator, the workspace of WSh of the operator set to be small and a machine workspace WSe match each other, and the operator performs an operation in the workspace which is set to be small, thereby reducing the fatigue. |
| US08195342B2 |
Distributed knowledge base for vehicular localization and work-site management
The illustrative embodiments provide an apparatus for controlling a vehicle. In an illustrative embodiment, a vehicle is comprised of a machine controller, a steering system, a propulsion system, a braking system, a sensor system, and a knowledge base used by the machine controller. The machine controller identifies a dynamic condition and sends commands to the steering system, the propulsion system, and the braking system to move the vehicle. |
| US08195337B2 |
Method and apparatus for orchestrating utility power supply and demand in real time using a continuous pricing signal sent via a network to home networks and smart appliances
The present invention orchestrates the supply of power and demand for power of power-side of Utility-provided services such as Electricity, Gas and Water. In real-time a variable price for service is sent from Utilities' SUPPLY-SIDE via a Network such as the Internet to the DEMAND-SIDE, such as to smart appliances in homes, to search for and encourage or discourage use and thus manage demand for Utility services. Demand is managed in the aggregate per type of appliance and across all users, not just at peak times, but rather throughout the day as capacity is needed or otherwise becomes available. With the invention traditional fossil-fuelled electrical capacity can operate less of the time and more efficiently, renewable electrical capacity such as wind and solar power can be more efficiently put to immediate use right when it becomes available, and additional means are available to protect Utilities' transmission and distribution infrastructure. Another aspect of the invention is that it changes pricing often enough throughout the day so that budget-conscious and less fortunate or budget conscious consumers do not have to wait long for favourable pricing in order to cook a meal or otherwise get things done. |
| US08195334B2 |
Hand device
A hand device (1) of the present invention includes a palm (10) and a plurality of finger mechanisms (11-15). The palm (10) is provided with a palm protruding portion (101-103) that protrudes upward from a palm surface region (100) when the palm surface region (100) faces upward. Accordingly, a reaction force against the force acting on an object to be grasped from an inner side of part or all of the finger mechanisms (11-15) can be exerted on the object from the protruding portion (101-103). |
| US08195333B2 |
Companion robot for personal interaction
A mobile robot guest for interacting with a human resident performs a room-traversing search procedure prior to interacting with the resident, and may verbally query whether the resident being sought is present. Upon finding the resident, the mobile robot may facilitate a teleconferencing session with a remote third party, or interact with the resident in a number of ways. For example, the robot may carry on a dialogue with the resident, reinforce compliance with medication or other schedules, etc. In addition, the robot incorporates safety features for preventing collisions with the resident; and the robot may audibly announce and/or visibly indicate its presence in order to avoid becoming a dangerous obstacle. Furthermore, the mobile robot behaves in accordance with an integral privacy policy, such that any sensor recording or transmission must be approved by the resident. |
| US08195331B2 |
Method, medium, and apparatus for performing path planning of mobile robot
A method, medium, and apparatus for performing path planning of a mobile robot is provided. The apparatus for performing path planning of a mobile robot includes a coarse map generation unit to generate a coarse map composed of a plurality of cells; a fine map generation unit to generate a fine map composed of a plurality of sub-cells into which at least one of the plurality of cells is divided, and a path generation unit to control the fine map generation unit to generate the fine map with respect to a specified position in the coarse map generated through the coarse map generation unit. The method of performing path planning of a mobile robot includes generating a coarse map composed of a plurality of cells, generating a fine map composed of a plurality of sub-cells into which at least one of the plurality of cells, which neighbors the cell where an obstacle exists, is divided, generating a moving path whereby the mobile robot can pass a narrow passage by using the fine map, and updating the coarse map by reflecting the moving path. |
| US08195328B2 |
Combination disposal and dispensing apparatus and method
A system and method related to dispensing and disposing medical items is provided. The dispensing portion is generally configured to dispense medical items stored within compartments based on dispensing instructions. The disposal portion is generally configured to sort waste items into a plurality of containers according to applicable rules and regulations governing the handling and/or disposal of such items. In some embodiments, a system comprises sorting stations each of which houses a number of disposable containers. Each station can identify an item of waste, determine the most appropriate container for the item, and facilitate disposal of the item in the appropriate container. |
| US08195322B2 |
Method of analyzing an assembly of parts with respect to a predetermined design criterion
The invention relates to a method of analyzing an assembly of parts with respect to at least one predetermined design criterion, characterized in that it comprises the following steps performed on the basis of the design data represented by digital mock-ups each reliably representing a part in three dimensions, the assembly of mock-ups together defining the assembly of parts in three dimensions:—identifying the parts of the assembly,—determining, among the parts thus identified of the assembly, several first pairs of parts which each define two parts in mechanical contact with one another,—determining, among the first pairs of parts, several second pairs of parts which each define two parts which conform to said at least one predetermined criterion,—identifying a set of second pairs of parts,—as a function of the set thus identified, determining the result of the analysis of the assembly of parts with respect to said at least one predetermined design criterion. |
| US08195321B2 |
Item workflow tracking in an automated production environment
The progressive tracking of items in relation to other items as they are processed and transformed through a sequence of processes executed in a workflow procedure intended to produce a finished hard copy document product for transport to a destination location, as a result of a production run, enables permission based control of one or more processing steps during the production run and/or effective scheduling of any re-do operations that may be desired upon detection of any discrepancies in the item processing operations. |
| US08195320B2 |
Method for manufacturing digitally-designed removable dental prostheses and system required for this purpose
The system, object of the invention consists of a unit for scanning a mould produced from the sample from a patient's mouth, an image which is sent to digital generation equipment of a removable dental prosthesis, producing a file that is transmitted to metal piece manufacturing equipment by means of sintered powder applying a high-energy ray. The design stages consist of the relief of the mould, the calculation of the insertion axis, the paralleling of the teeth, designing of the elements or components of the prosthesis such as lattice, clamp, stop, major connector, minor connector, bristle, pearls, lingual bars, extrusion of the different elements designed, smoothing of the sharp edges, elimination of the superpositions of the different elements designed and conversion of a closed continuous connected surface to a three-dimensional one. |
| US08195319B2 |
Predictive pre-recording of audio for voice input
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing predictive pre-recording of audio for voice input. In one aspect, a method includes establishing, as input data, state data that references a state of a mobile device and sensor data that is sensed by one or more sensors of the mobile device, applying a rule or a probabilistic model to the input data, inferring, based on applying the rule or the probabilistic model to the input data, that a user of the mobile device is likely to initiate voice input, and invoking one or more functionalities of the mobile device in response to inferring that the user is likely to initiate voice input. |
| US08195317B2 |
Data reproduction apparatus and data reproduction method
A data reproduction apparatus includes: arithmetic means for calculating difference data that indicate a difference between left-channel and right-channel data that have been compressed in a predetermined compression format; higher harmonic component generation means for generating a higher harmonic component, which was lost during compression, by performing, when the difference data's signal level exceeds a predetermined threshold, a digital limiter process that suppresses the signal level to the threshold; and adding means for adding the higher harmonic component to the left-channel and right-channel data to reproduce original data before being compressed. |
| US08195313B1 |
Thermostat user interface
A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described, the thermostat having a user interface that is visually pleasing, approachable, and easy to use while also providing ready access to, and intuitive navigation within, a menuing system capable of receiving a variety of different types of user settings and/or control parameters. For some embodiments, the thermostat comprises a housing, a ring-shaped user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user, a processing system configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, and an electronic display coupled to the processing system. An interactive thermostat menuing system is accessible to the user by an inward pressing of the ring-shaped user interface component. User navigation within the interactive thermostat menuing system is achievable by virtue of respective rotational input motions and inward pressings of the ring-shaped user interface component. |
| US08195312B2 |
Multi-mode control loop with improved performance for mass flow controller
One embodiment of the invention comprises a mass flow controller comprising a digital controller, a valve, and a sensor. The digital controller is adapted to implement a control loop having a proportional signal modifier in series with an integral signal modifier. The integral signal modifier is adapted to receive a combination signal and output an integrated signal. The valve is adapted to receive the integrated signal and adjust a valve opening in accordance with the integrated signal. The sensor is adapted to output a measured flow rate signal indicative of an actual fluid flow rate in the mass flow controller. The measured flow rate signal is received by the proportional signal modifier and used in conjunction with a setpoint signal to determine the error signal. |
| US08195310B2 |
Generation of a CNC machine tool control program
A machine tool program editor is used to insert auxiliary operations e.g. measurement, process control and program logic into a CNC work producing program. The editor has representations of the operations which can be placed in the correct position in the program. User input in the form of parameters is prompted when a representation is selected. The program is post processed and run on a machine tool whereat the operations are performed. |
| US08195309B2 |
System for scheduling using an external calendaring service
A building control system incorporating an external calendar service, having a schedule subsystem, a schedule synchronization subsystem connected to the schedule subsystem, and an external calendar configuration subsystem connected to the schedule synchronization subsystem. The schedule subsystem may have a schedule object, a building schedule mechanism for activating different subsystems in a building based on a configuration of a building schedule, and a schedule change mechanism for creating, configuring and/or changing the building schedule. |
| US08195307B2 |
Combination electrical stimulating and infusion device and method
A combined electrical and chemical stimulation lead is especially adapted for providing treatment to intervertebral discs. The combination lead may be placed proximate to intervertebral disc cellular matrix and nucleus pulposus tissue to promote tissue regeneration and repair, as well as nociceptor and neural tissue modulation. The stimulation lead includes electrodes that may be selectively positioned along various portions of the stimulation lead in order to precisely direct electrical energy to stimulate the target tissue. The lead also includes a central infusion passageway or lumen that communicates with various infusion ports spaced at selected locations along the lead to thereby direct the infusion of nutrients/chemicals to the target tissue. One embodiment utilizes a dissolvable matrix for infusion as opposed to remote delivery through an infusion pump. |
| US08195306B2 |
Wireless electrical stimulating device for living body
A wireless electrical stimulating device for living body comprises a light source unit for irradiating an optical signal; a light source control unit for controlling the optical signal irradiated from the light source unit; and an electrical stimulating unit for converting the optical signal received from the light source unit into an electrical signal to generate electrical stimulation. In the wireless electrical stimulating device for living body, the electrical stimulating unit comprises a battery for supplying current; an optical switch for detecting the optical signal irradiated from the light source unit to switch current supplied from the battery; and a stimulating electrode for providing the current switched by the optical switch to a living body. |
| US08195304B2 |
Implantable systems and methods for acquisition and processing of electrical signals
Improved assemblies, systems, and methods provide an electrical signal processor for acquisition and processing of electric signals from tissue. The electrical signal processor is sized and configured to be implanted in subcutaneous tissue. The electrical signal processor includes an electrically conductive case of a laser welded titanium material. Control circuitry is located within the case, the control circuitry including a rechargeable power source, a receive coil for receiving a first radio frequency wireless telemetry to recharge the power source, and an antenna for receiving a second radio frequency wireless telemetry for communication with the electrical signal processor. |
| US08195303B2 |
Video processing unit for a visual prosthetic apparatus
A visual prosthesis apparatus comprising: a video capture device for capturing a video image; a video processing unit associated with the video capture device, the video processing unit configured to convert the video image to stimulation patterns; and a retinal stimulation system configured to stimulate neural tissue in a subject's eye based on the stimulation patterns, wherein the video processing unit is configured to be powered on after a first time interval upon activation of a power button, wherein the video processing unit is configured to be powered off after a second time interval upon activation of a power button. |
| US08195296B2 |
Apparatus for treating stress and urge incontinence
Apparatus is provided, including an implantable mechanical support, shaped to support a portion of a urethra of a patient. One or more electrodes are coupled to the mechanical support, so as to contact tissue of the patient when the mechanical support is implanted in the patient. A control unit drives the electrodes to apply a current to the tissue. A method for treating a patient is also provided, including implanting a mechanical support in a position that supports a urethra of a patient. In response to increased pelvic pressure of the patient, a substance stored in a portion of the mechanical support that is not under the urethra is moved to a portion of the mechanical support that is under the urethra. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08195293B2 |
Detecting ventricular noise artifacts in an active implantable medical device for pacing, resynchronization and/or defibrillation of the heart
Sensing ventricular noise artifacts in an active implantable medical device for pacing, resynchronization and/or defibrillation of the heart. This device concerns sensing heart rhythm through an endocardial electrode collecting the depolarization potentials, and detecting the myocardium contractions through an endocardial acceleration sensor. The device searches for ventricular noise artifacts (X, Y) by correlating the signals representative of successive ventricular and atrial depolarizations (P, R) with the signals representative of successive acceleration peaks (PEA I). In case of a lack of correlation, a signal of suspicion of ventricular noise is delivered, which temporarily modifies the sensing sensitivity (S) of the sensing circuit. |
| US08195292B2 |
Cardiac resynchronization therapy optimization using parameter estimation from realtime electrode motion tracking
An exemplary method includes providing at least two-dimensional position information, for at least two points in time, for an electrode located in a cardiac space; determining a local estimator based on the position information; and, based at least in part on the determined local estimator, selecting a configuration for delivering a cardiac pacing therapy or diagnosing a cardiac condition. Exemplary methods for regional estimators and exemplary methods for global estimators are also disclosed along with devices and systems configured to perform various methods. |
| US08195287B2 |
Method for electrical modulation of neural conduction
Methods and related systems for modulating neural activity by repetitively blocking conduction in peripheral neural structures with electrical stimuli are disclosed. Methods and systems for reversing effects of blocking stimuli and/or for producing substantially permanent conduction block are also disclosed. |
| US08195286B2 |
Control of pulse duty cycle based upon footswitch displacement
Phacoemulsification apparatus includes a phacoemulsification handpiece having a needle and an electrical circuitry for ultrasonic vibrating the needle. A power source provides pulsed electrical power to the handpiece electrical circuitry and an input is provided for enabling a surgeon to select an amplitude of dislighted pulses and a pulse width. A control system and pulse duty cycle is provided for controlling the off duty cycle to insure heat dissipation before a subsequent pulse is activated, including a foot pedal switch. |
| US08195285B2 |
Live finger detection by four-point measurement of complex impedance
A method and sensor assembly for determining the condition of a structure, especially for confirming if a measured fingerprint is on a live finger, measures characteristics of close to the structure surface. The sensor includes a first pair of current supply electrodes coupled to a current source, providing an electrical current to the skin, at least two pickup electrodes at chosen and different positions relative to the current supply electrodes, at least a first of the pickup electrodes being coupled to an instrument for measuring the voltage between the first pickup electrode and at least one of the pickup or current supply electrodes, storage for a predetermined set of values characterizing a certain condition of the surface, and means for comparing the characteristics from each pickup electrode with the measurements of the other pickup electrodes and with the predetermined set of characteristics for determining the surface condition. |
| US08195284B2 |
Bioelectrical information acquisition device and inappropriately-attached-electrode identifying method
A plurality of electrode pairs, each of which is constituted by two electrodes of the plurality of biomedical electrodes are set and at least one of an electrical impedance value between two electrodes forming a pair and a resistance value between the two electrodes, for each of the electrode pairs is measured. An attachment state of each of the electrode pairs is judged by comparing the impedance value or the resistance value, with a predetermined range of numeric values. An electrode in an inappropriate attachment state is identified from the plurality of electrode pairs based on the judged attachment state o each of the plurality of electrode pairs. |
| US08195282B2 |
Method and apparatus for examining tissue for predefined target cells, particularly cancerous cells, and a probe useful in such method and apparatus
A method, apparatus and probe for examining tissue for the presence of target cells, particularly cancerous cells, by subjecting the tissue to be examined to a contrast agent containing small particles of a physical element conjugated with a biological carrier selectively bindable to the target cells. Energy pulses are applied to the examined tissue. The changes in impedance and/or optical characteristics of the examined tissue produced by the applied energy pulses are detected and utilized for determining the presence of the target cells in the examined tissue. In a described preferred embodiment, the applied energy pulses include laser pulses, and the physical element conjugated with a biological carrier is a light-sensitive semiconductor having an impedance which substantially decreases in the presence of light. The same probe used for detecting the targeted cells may also be used for destroying the cells so targeted. |
| US08195281B2 |
Discriminating between tachycardias of ventricular origin and supra-ventricular origin, methods and apparatus
An active medical device able to discriminate between tachycardias of ventricular origin and of supra-ventricular origin. Two distinct temporal components (UnipV, BipV) are obtained corresponding to two EGM signals of ventricular electrograms. The diagnosis operates in at least two-dimensional space to determine, from the variations of one temporal component as a function of the other temporal component, a 2D characteristic representative of a heart beat and, this, for a reference beat collected in Sinus Rhythm (SR) in the absence of tachycardia episodes, and for a heart beat in Tachycardia. The discrimination of the tachycardia type, VT or SVT, is then realized by a classifier operating a comparison of the two current and reference 2D characteristics. |
| US08195280B2 |
Method of and apparatus for classifying arrhythmias using scatter plot analysis
A method of classifying arrhythmias using scatter plot analysis to define a measure of variability of a cardiac rhythm parameter such as for example, without limitation, R-R interval, A-A interval, and the slope of a portion of a cardiac signal, is disclosed. The variability measurement is derived from a scatter plot of a cardiac rhythm parameter, employing a region counting technique that quantifies the variability of the cardiac rhythm parameter while minimizing the computational complexity. The method may be employed by an implantable medical device or system, such as an implantable pacemaker or cardioverter defibrillator, or by an external device or system, such as a programmer or computer. The variability measurement may be correlated with other device or system information to differentiate between atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation, for example. The variability information may also be used by the device or system to select an appropriate therapy for a patient. |
| US08195272B2 |
MRI-compatible patches and methods for using the same
An MRI-compatible patch for identifying a location includes a flexible base layer, a flexible substrate and at least one of MRI-visible fiducial element. The flexible base layer is mountable on and substantially conformable to a patient's body surface. The base layer has opposed upper and lower primary surfaces. The flexible substrate is releasably attached to the upper primary surface of the base layer and substantially conformable to the patient's body surface. The at least one MRI-visible fiducial element is defined by or secured to the flexible substrate. The patch may include a plurality of the MRI-visible fiducial elements arranged in a defined pattern. |
| US08195270B2 |
Method and apparatus for the non-invasive imaging of anatomic tissue structures
A method for the non-invasive imaging of an anatomic tissue structure in isolation from surrounding tissues, including: receiving from an input device magnetic imaging data from a patient of the anatomic tissue structure and surrounding tissues; segmenting the imaging data to isolate the anatomic tissue structure imaging data from the imaging data for the surrounding tissues; separating the anatomic tissue structure imaging data into data populations corresponding to tissue microstructures; constructing an image from the imaging data for at least one of the tissue microstructures; and storing or displaying the image. An apparatus embodying the disclosed method is also described, as well as a method for the quantitative measurement of a nerve tissue suspected of demyelination. |
| US08195263B2 |
Pulse oximetry motion artifact rejection using near infrared absorption by water
A method and an apparatus for measuring a physiological parameter, functioning based on obtaining a first signal derived from electromagnetic energy transmitted through a tissue portion at a first wavelength, the first signal including a signal portion corresponding with motion-related events and a signal portion corresponding with arterial pulsation events, where at the first wavelength water is a dominant absorber of electromagnetic energy in the tissue portion; obtaining a second signal derived from electromagnetic energy transmitted through a tissue portion at a second wavelength, the second signal including a signal portion corresponding with motion-related events and a signal portion corresponding with arterial pulsation events, where at the second wavelength hemoglobin is a dominant absorber of electromagnetic energy in the tissue portion; and combining the first signal and the second signal to generate a combined plethysmograph signal, such that the combined signal has a signal portion corresponding with motion-related events that is smaller than that present in the first signal or the second signal. |
| US08195258B2 |
Method for repetitive transmissions
The present invention relates to method, and apparatus relating to cellular radio communication (300). By communicating information repeatedly in either an uplink or a downlink connection by directing a main lobe of a radiation pattern (331-1 to 331-n; 335-1 to 335-n) of the communication in different directions (d1, d2, d2, d4) in the cell (361,362) of the cellular radio communication network (300) the reception of repetitive transmission of any information in both uplink and downlink connection with as little complexity added to the network as possible is improved. |
| US08195255B2 |
Sliding-type portable terminal
A sliding-type portable terminal is provided. The sliding-type portable terminal includes a first housing and a second housing. The second housing faces the first housing and can slide relative to the first housing. The sliding-type portable terminal also includes a pair of link members coupled with the first housing and the second housing. The link members rotate relative to one of the first and second housings. Also provided is a first guide opening formed on the other housing wherein one end of the link members is engaged with the first guide opening so as to move along the first guide opening as the second housing slides. In the sliding-type portable terminal, a pair of housings can be rotatably coupled with each other by means of the link members so as to sufficiently secure a greater range of sliding, and thus a space for mounting an input device, such as a keypad, or the like, is increased. |
| US08195252B2 |
Input device for mobile terminal using scroll key
The present invention is related to an input device for a mobile terminal. The input device of the present invention comprises a rotatable scroll key providing rotational information based on movement of the scroll key, a sensing device for sensing a position of a user's finger relative to the scroll key and providing sensing information based on the sensed position of the user's finger, and a controller for receiving the rotational information and sensing information, and controlling the mobile terminal based on the received rotational information and sensing information. |
| US08195251B2 |
Reducing WLAN power consumption on a mobile device utilizing a cellular radio interface
A system and method of reducing the WLAN power consumption and limiting battery drain of a mobile communications device is provided. The mechanism continuously monitors for changes in the WLAN and cellular signal strength and modifies the WLAN profile scanning activity accordingly. By monitoring for changes, transitions can be detected which indicate the location of the mobile device (i.e., indoor or outdoor). An increase in cellular signal strength and a decrease in WLAN signal strength indicates the user is transitioning outdoors where WLAN coverage may be limited. To reduce battery power consumption, background scanning is suspended or its frequency significantly lowered. Moving indoors is indicated by a decrease in cellular signal strength and an increase in WLAN signal strength. Background/Connectivity scanning frequency is increased to provide shorter time-to-connect to WLAN Networks for the user within the WLAN coverage area. |
| US08195248B2 |
Disguised power-off method for a mobile communication terminal
The present invention relates to a method of determining the location of a mobile terminal using disguised power-off, wherein if a mobile terminal is powered off in a state where a mobile communication service subscriber does not intend to do so, only the location indication function of the mobile terminal operates, but the remaining functions are terminated as if power of the mobile terminal is turned off. In accordance with the present invention, it is determined whether the subscriber terminal is actually powered off or powered off in a disguised manner. All the power of the subscriber terminal is shut off, or all the power except for power for a function of sending a location signal is shut off, depending on the type of power-off. Furthermore, when a location request signal is received from the server of a mobile communication service provider after the subscriber terminal has been powered off in a disguised manner, the subscriber terminal sends a location signal to a call originator that corresponds to call originator information stored therein. The present invention is advantageous in that, when a mobile terminal is powered off by a disguised power-off key when a user, such as a child or teenager, is in danger, the location of the mobile terminal can be determined through locating thereof. |
| US08195242B2 |
Complementary beamforming methods and apparatuses
Improved methods and apparatuses are provided to address a potential “hidden beam problem” in wireless communication systems employing smart antennas. The improved methods and apparatuses utilize complementary beamforming (CBF) techniques, such as, for example, Subspace Complementary Beamforming (SCBF), Complementary Superposition Beamforming (CSBF) and/or Single Beam Complementary Beamforming (SBCBF) techniques. |
| US08195238B2 |
Mobile station apparatus, base station apparatus, and paging method
A disclosed paging method includes a random access channel generating step of, when a group including an own station is being paged based on a paging indicator channel (PICH) transmitted from a base station apparatus, generating a random access channel (RACH) including information indicating a response to the paging indicator channel (PICH) by a mobile station apparatus; a transmitting step of transmitting the random access channel (RACH) by the mobile station apparatus; a random access channel detecting step of detecting the random access channel (RACH) as the response to the paging indicator channel (PICH) by the base station apparatus; a paging information generation determining step of determining whether paging information is to be generated based on a detection result of the random access channel (RACH); and a paging information generating step of generating paging information based on the determination result. |
| US08195233B2 |
Methods and systems for identity management in wireless devices
Methods and devices for allowing a wireless communication device (1301) initially unauthorized for communication with a network to obtain persistent soft network subscription credential information (1303) from a wireless communication device (1401) initially authorized for communication with the network are disclosed. In performing the persistent transfer of the soft network subscription credential information (1303), one of a token management module (1312), a session initiation protocol communication module (1408), or a electronic rights manager (1406) may be used to ensure that only one communication device is capable of communicating with a network at any one time. |
| US08195225B2 |
Multimode communication terminal and multimode communication implementation method
The present invention provides a multimode communication terminal which contains at least a first separate channel module and a second separate channel module. The multimode communication terminal can be configured to communicate by using the first channel module and/or the second channel module. The channel modules communicate according to different communication protocols. The multimode communication terminal further comprises: channel switch layer means for switching the first channel module to have parameter characteristics consistent with those of the second channel module, so that the multimode communication terminal enables the MIMO operation mode by using the first channel module and the second channel module at the same time. The present invention further provides a method for enabling a MIMO operation mode in a multimode communication terminal. By using a relatively small number of RF communication modules, the present invention implements a wireless mobile multimode communication terminal which enables various operation modes including the MIMO operation mode. Compared with the existing solutions, the present invention greatly reduces the size required by the terminal. |
| US08195223B2 |
Method and device for controlling bilateral communication system and radio transmission
The invention relates to a control module in telecommunications end devices, in particular in mobile telephones, that enables a two-way control of the mobile radio unit and the broadcast unit.Additionally, setting information from the entire system can also be transferred over control channels. |
| US08195218B1 |
Wireless-signal distribution system via set-top box
Methods and systems are provided for facilitating wireless communications over a coaxial network coupled to a wireless communications network. The system comprises one or more set-top boxes capable of facilitating bi-directional wireless communications, one or more converting devices capable of converting between optical signaling and electrical signaling, and a base transceiver station coupled to one or more communications networks. One method comprises providing a set-top box capable of facilitating bi-directional wireless communications and providing for the communication of data through an out-of-band frequency channel. Another method comprises providing a set-top box physically coupled to a coaxial network and wireless network by a communications line having an out-of-band frequency channel, receiving a request to establish communications, and logically coupling two endpoints. |
| US08195206B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing consistency in SMS message timestamp formatting for mobile communication devices
Methods and apparatus for providing consistency in Short Message Service (SMS) timestamp formatting (UTC or non-UTC) for mobile communication devices are disclosed. In one illustrative example, a method involves receiving an SMS message intended for a mobile communication device; identifying whether the SMS message has timestamp data formatted in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) format or non-UTC format; converting the timestamp data from the UTC format to a non-UTC time format based on an identification that the SMS message has timestamp data formatted in the UTC format; failing to convert the timestamp data to a non-UTC time format based on an identification that the SMS message has timestamp data in the non-UTC format; and causing the SMS message to be sent to the mobile communication device. Other techniques involve mobile device usage of a removable user identity module which has a stored indicator in memory which is indicative of a timestamp mode of operation of a home message center as one of a coordinated universal time (UTC) mode and a non-UTC mode. |
| US08195202B2 |
Device and method for AGPS high accuracy positioning in unknown cell areas
The present invention relates to Assisted Global Positioning System (AGPS) high accuracy positioning in unknown cell areas. By using an approach of three alternative steps a reference position, needed for AGPS positioning, is determined. The first step involves using the location of any neighboring cell. The second involves using the location of a cell within the same Location Area as the cell serving the portable communication device to position. The third step comprises determining a fixed point within the same geographical area as the Serving Mobile Location Center (SMLC) is serving, and using this fixed point as a reference location. Using the three-step approach the AGPS positioning can be optimized, providing a possibility to position, for instance a mobile phone, by AGPS even though the location of the cell serving the phone is unknown to the positioning node operating the serving cell. |
| US08195199B2 |
Method and apparatus for deactivating mobile radio stations from the network
Method for deactivating at least one mobile station in a radio communication system, particularly in a picocell on board an aircraft in a GSM mobile radio network, where the radio communication system has a first network element, which forms a transmission/reception device for each mobile station in the radio cell, a second network element which is set up to control the first network element, and a device which is connected between the first network element and the second network element, wherein the device carries out the following steps: detection of a piece of identification information, directed at the at least one mobile station, which is transmitted from the second network element to the first network element, use of this identification information to deactivate the at least one mobile station when a deactivation signal is supplied to the device. |
| US08195197B2 |
Method and apparatus for time-aware and location-aware marketing
A method of communicating inferred information to a wireless communication device user is provided. That method includes determining a location of the wireless device, inferring a likely interest of the user from the location of the wireless device, and transmitting data related to the interest to the wireless device. The method may also ascertain time at the location of the wireless communication device user and infer an interest of the user from the time and location of the user. In addition, the method may include inferences made from information related to preferences of the user. |
| US08195192B2 |
Personal tracking device with low power consumption
An portable tracking device integrating a mobile phone module (e.g. based on GSM or 3G networks), a GPS module, a radio Beacon and ultrasonic beacon. The tracking device is normally in a hibernated state when the entire device consumes little energy and require no periodically changing or recharging batteries to power the device. It consumes power from the primary battery only when a tracking process is actually taken place. With this portable tracking device on the person who is unable to affirmatively report his or her whereabout, the remote center and/or a search team can communicate the GPS module, radio beacon and ultrasonic beacon of the tracking device via the mobile phone module based on existing wireless communication technologies, such SMS, GPRS, ect, on GSM or 3 G networks, which also serves as a means of initial rough estimation of the tracking device's location. |
| US08195186B2 |
Resource allocation
Resource allocation information is signalled to user devices (UE1, UE2, UE3, UE4) in a mobile telecommunications communications system in which each user device is allocated plural resource allocations (RB) in a TTI (50) by, for each user device, providing information (I1) regarding a selected resource allocation allocated to that user device in a control channel (L1, L2, L3, L4) and providing information (I2, I3) regarding at least one other resource allocation allocated to that user device in a data channel (52) in the selected resource allocation. In one example, the selected resource allocation is the first resource allocation (RB1) allocated to that user device (UE1) and information regarding each successive further resource allocation is provided in a data channel in the resource allocation preceding that successive further resource allocation. In another example, the selected resource allocation is the first resource allocation allocated to that user device and information regarding each successive further resource allocation is provided in a data channel in the first resource allocation. In another example, the selected resource allocation is the resource allocation that is indicated to have the best channel quality. The resource allocation information may be provided in the data channel of the one resource allocation as a list of RFI fields or as a bit map. |
| US08195184B2 |
Method and system for best-M CQI feedback together with PMI feedback
Aspects of a method and system for best-M CQI feedback together with PMI feedback may include generating a plurality of feedback messages, which may be communicated from a mobile station to a base station, wherein at least one of the generated plurality of feedback messages may be associated with each corresponding selected one of a plurality of Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) reporting units. The at least one of the generated feedback messages may comprise CQI information and Pre-coding Matrix Index (PMI) information, which may both be associated with the selected one of the plurality of CQI reporting units. At least one other of the generated plurality of feedback messages may comprise an aggregate CQI information, which is based on one or more of the plurality of CQI reporting units. |
| US08195183B2 |
Call admission priority control determination device and mobile wireless communication system
A call admission priority control determination device is intended for determining, when a terminal is present in a femtocell and the terminal is to be admitted for call connection, whether it is to be connected to the femtocell or to a macro-cell. The number of remaining connections and a remaining rate in the femtocell if a new call is admitted are figured out. For a specified terminal so registered as to be given priority in connection to the femtocell, the call is admitted if the number of remaining connections and the remaining rate are equal to or greater than 0, but for other terminals than the specified ones in the pertinent femtocell, the call is not admitted if the number of remaining connections and the remaining rate are below certain thresholds. |
| US08195179B2 |
Numbering of radio frequency channels
The present invention relates to a method and arrangements where each frequency channel is assigned a primary (global) number and a secondary (in-band) number. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention the primary number for one frequency channel (e.g. unicast downlink channel) and one or more secondary channel numbers to account for the corresponding unicast uplink and/or for one or more MBSFN channels are signalled. The primary (global) number indicates the band and frequency channel number while the secondary (in-band) number indicates the frequency channel within the relevant frequency band. |
| US08195177B2 |
User interface methods and apparatus for processing voice call requests from a mobile station based on communication conditions
Methods and apparatus for processing voice call requests based on communication conditions of a mobile communication device are disclosed. In one illustrative example, a voice call request for a voice call is received through a user interface during an out-of-coverage condition of the mobile device. In response to the voice call request, when the out-of-coverage condition has existed for an out-of-coverage time period that is less than a first time period, a scanning operation is performed during a delay time period. If the out-of-coverage condition still exists upon expiration of the delay time period, a call denial indication and a call reminder prompt are produced in a visual display which indicates that the voice call could not be completed. If an in-coverage condition with a wireless network is identified during the delay time period, however, a voice call associated with the voice call request is initiated via the wireless network. On the other hand, in response to the voice call request when the out-of-coverage condition has existed for an out-of-coverage time period that is greater than the first time period, the call denial indication is immediately produced in the visual display without delaying for the delay time period. |
| US08195172B2 |
Process to allocate channels in a sectorized and tiered cellular network
The invention disclosed is a process to allocate channels in a sectorized and tiered cellular network. A system of allocating cellular frequencies (channels) to the sectors among the outer tier of cells within a tile is disclosed which maximizes channel set usage within the tile while minimizing co-channel interference between cells. Any unused, or remaining, frequencies for the outer tier of that cell may then be allocated to an inner tier of the cell that has not had a channel allocated thereto. No additional infrastructure or maintenance set-up is required under this technique for allocating the channel to the additional transceiver and a very high degree of channel utilization is achieved. |
| US08195167B1 |
Dynamic reverse activity bit offset adjustment based on soft handoff ratio
A method and system is disclosed for dynamic reverse activity bit (RAB) offset adjustment based on soft handoff ratio. A base station controller (BSC) or radio node controller (RNC) or similar network device will determine the ratio of access terminals in soft handoff service to a total number of access terminals in service in each of a first and a second sector. Based at least on a comparison of a the ratio in the two sectors, the BSC (or RNC) will dynamically set a RAB offset in each sector in such a way that the response by served access terminals to RAB broadcasts from the two sectors will impact the smallest number of access terminals, while still achieving the intended purposes of RAB broadcasts. |
| US08195164B2 |
Method and arrangements for an event triggered DRX cycle
The invention relates to methods and arrangements for an event triggered DRX cycle adjustment. A user equipment located in a serving cell of a mobile communications network monitors downlink communication at predetermined time intervals when operating in discontinuous reception mode. The user equipment also performs communication parameter measurements regarding at least one of the serving cell and one or more neighbor cells. After the occurrence of a first event, the user equipment sends at least one of measurement data and a first event report to the network. The sending is triggered by the occurrence of the first event. The monitoring is caused to be performed at shortened time intervals after the occurrence of a second event, wherein the second event is defined to indicate a higher probability of receiving a handover command than the first event. |
| US08195155B2 |
Service profile handling in the IMS
A Home Subscriber Server for handling IP Multimedia Subsystem subscriptions comprises means for maintaining associations between public user identities and Service Profiles, where two or more public user identities can be associated with a common Service Profile, and means for identifying to a network node all public user identities that are associated with a common Service Profile. |
| US08195152B1 |
ERI (enhanced roaming indicator) implementation
Systems, products, and methods are disclosed for identifying a roaming indicator to be displayed on a mobile device that is in a given roaming situation and for determining a set of services that are available to the device. One variation of the method includes encoding within an ERI (enhanced roaming indicator) property two values that are respectively defined in a first portion of the ERI property and a second portion of the ERI property. The first portion of the ERI describes a visual roaming indicator that is to be presented on a mobile device. The second portion of the ERI describes a set of services that are available to the mobile device. A decoding method includes identifying an ERI value that is applicable given the roaming status, referencing a binary version of the ERI value, and inspecting a designated portion of the ERI value that indicates which services of the set of services are available. |
| US08195151B2 |
Method and apparatus for integrating and communicating data link information from an aircraft to a ground station using a portable communications system
A portable data link integration and communication unit and method that integrates and communicates data link information from an aircraft to a ground station is disclosed. The portable data link integration and communication unit a communication interface that facilitates communications with communication devices, and an integration and communication processing module that receives data link message information from one or more communication devices through the communication interface, integrates the received data link message information, converts integrated data link information into internet protocol information, and transmits the internet protocol information using the communication interface over a satellite network to the ground station for display to a user over a communications network. |
| US08195150B2 |
Satellite radio file broadcast method
A method and system for distributing files to remote receiving units such as passenger vehicles. The method includes the steps of (a) creating a file broadcast schedule that identifies a plurality of files and that includes scheduling information indicating when the files will be transmitted, (b) sending the file broadcast schedule to a number of remote receiving units via wireless transmission, (c) analyzing the file broadcast schedule at one or more of the remote receiving units by identifying at least one specific file intended for receipt and storage at that receiving unit and by determining from the scheduling information a scheduled time at which the specific file is intended to be received, (d) monitoring a digital satellite transmission channel at the scheduled time for the specific file, and (e) upon receiving the specific file, storing it at the remote receiving unit. |
| US08195145B2 |
User interface unit for a telephone
A user interface apparatus for remote control of a telephone having an input adapted for inputting telephone control signals; a display for outputting visual information, a communications unit adapted for short distance wireless signal communication; circuitry adapted to convey input telephone control signals and display control signals between the user interface apparatus and the telephone by the short distance wireless signal communication unit; wherein the circuitry is configured to adapt the input and output signals of the user interface apparatus to have the same properties as corresponding signals of the telephone. |
| US08195143B2 |
Management unit for facilitating inter-network hand-off for a multiservice communication device
A management unit allocates network resources to a plurality of multiservice communication devices capable of communicating via a plurality of networks. The management unit includes a communication device interface for facilitating a bidirectional data communication with the plurality of multiservice communication devices via a wireless control channel, the bidirectional data communication including outbound control data sent to at least one of the plurality of multiservice communication devices and inbound control data received from at least one of the plurality of multiservice communication devices, wherein the wireless control channel is separate from the communication between the plurality of multiservice communication devices and the plurality of networks. A network interface receives network resource data from the plurality of networks. A management processing unit generates the outbound control data in response thereto, wherein the management processing unit facilities the handoff of a real-time service accessed by the at least one of the plurality of multiservice communication devices via a first network of the plurality of networks to a second network of the plurality of networks. |
| US08195142B1 |
Communication device
The communication device comprising a voice communication implementer, an attached file email implementer, a geographic location implementer, a dictionary implementer, a schedule notification implementer, a multiple visual data display implementer, a touch panel implementer, a communication device search implementer, a resume enabled video game implementer, and an oncoming destination name notification implementer. |
| US08195138B2 |
Communication control system, mobile communication switching device, subscriber information management device, and communication control method
In a communication control system 1, in an acquisition step of acquiring routing information before a line is set, a first mobile communication switching device 100 generates an acquisition request signal of routing information, which includes calling/called number specifying information and call information, and transmits the acquisition request signal to a subscriber information management device 200. The call information includes calling number information specifying a calling-side mobile communication terminal 600 and call type information representing a type of a call from the calling-side mobile communication terminal 600. The subscriber information management device 200 specifies a called-side second mobile communication switching device 300 based on the acquisition request signal and transmits an issuance request signal of a routing number to the second mobile communication switching device 300. The second mobile communication switching device 300 transmits the call information to a called-side mobile communication terminal 700 when a calling signal for acquiring the routing number is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 700. |
| US08195136B2 |
Methods of providing caller identification information and related registries and radiotelephone networks
Caller identification information may be provided for a plurality of radiotelephone networks operated by a plurality of service providers. For example, a registry may be provided including a first serial number and a first identification other than the first serial number for a first radiotelephone registered for service with a first service provider operating a first radiotelephone network. The registry may also include a second serial number and a second identification other than the second serial number for a second radiotelephone registered for service with a second service provider operating a second radiotelephone network. A caller identification request may be accepted from the second radiotelephone network operated by the second service provider wherein the caller identification request includes the first serial number for the first radiotelephone. Responsive to accepting the caller identification request, a caller identification response may be provided to the second radiotelephone network wherein the caller identification response includes the first identification for the first radiotelephone. Related radiotelephone networks and registries are also discussed. |
| US08195126B1 |
Method and system for managing access to information from or about a mobile device
System and method for controlling access to information about or from computing devices in which an authorization request to enable a first one of the devices to obtain information from or about a second one of the devices is generated and directed to the second device with a token assigned to the first device. Once the token is received by the second device, the authorization request is presented to its user in a form enabling viewing and manually entry of the token into the second device. The user of the first device can, when desired, request information from or about the second device. The request is fulfilled and the information from or about the second device is provided to the first device only after the user of the second device has manually entered the token assigned to the first device. |
| US08195125B2 |
Device and method for redirecting traffic
The application pertains to a mobile telephone network architecture comprising an intermediate item of equipment positioned in said visiting network, said intermediate item of equipment comprising: reception means devised to receive data from a visit switching item of equipment; recording means devised to record said data; connection request means devised to send a request relating to an item of equipment for switching membership on the basis of said data; connection simulation means devised to provide said visit switching item of equipment with authorization to connect a user to a visiting network. |
| US08195123B2 |
Call origination method for full-touch screen portable terminal
An apparatus and method for originating a call in a full-touch screen portable terminal are provided. In the method, it is determined whether a malfunction occurs. An emergency call mode is executed in the event of the malfunction. It is determined whether an event is generated in the emergency call mode. If the event is generated, a phone number corresponding to the generated event is retrieved to originate a call. |
| US08195120B2 |
Precedence and preemption extension for remote terminals
Precedence and preemption may be extended for remote terminals. In an example embodiment, a communication node implements a method with respect to a communications system that implements an enhanced multi-level precedence and preemption (eMLPP) scheme. The method includes acts of receiving, mapping, and transmitting. An incoming connection establishment communication having a priority-header value that indicates a priority for a connection to be established is received at the communication node. The priority-header value is mapped to an eMLPP value that indicates a precedence and preemption level for the connection to be established. An outgoing connection establishment communication having the eMLPP value is transmitted from the communication node. |
| US08195113B2 |
Mobile station and base stations
A mobile station includes an intermittent communication managing unit that manages a communication period for communicating with a first base station and a non-communication period for not communicating with the first base station, and a scan period setting unit that shifts and sets a scan period to reduce an overlap period with the communication period. The scan period, during which a scanning process for obtaining a condition of radio waves from a second base station can be executed, overlaps a plurality of the communication periods. Moreover, the mobile station includes a scan processor that executes the scanning process during the scan period. |
| US08195112B1 |
Time-reversal-based communication
Time-reversal filtering may be used to temporally focus a signal to be transmitted. Power can be reduced at the transmitter so that the temporally focused signal is within spectral mask requirements. In one embodiment, the effect of the time-reversal filter on the power spectral density for a particular transmitted signal can be calculated and the predicted power spectral density can be compared to the permitted spectral mask to identify violations, if any, of the spectral mask. The transmitter power can then be reduced by the amount of the violation. In another embodiment, a set of different time-reversal filters that meet the spectral mask requirements can be provided in advance, and the most appropriate filter—e.g., the one with the best signal-to-noise ratio for the particular signal—can be chosen from the set of filters. |
| US08195110B2 |
Method for calibrating a transmission line, and corresponding computer software product, storage medium and calibration device
A method and apparatus are provided for calibrating an information-signal transmission line that includes elements for generating a control signal and transmitting information signals controlled by the control signals, and an amplifier of the information signals. The amplifier can be configured according to at least a first gain configuration associated with a first gain value, and a second gain configuration associated with a second gain value. The method includes obtaining, for each of the first and second gain configurations, first and second sets of initial values of the control signal, that correspond to first and second sets of measured power that overlap, and selecting, for each power-recovery setpoint value to which corresponds a first measured-power value of the first set and a second measured-power value of the second set, from the first and second calibrated values of the control signal, the calibrated value that meets a predetermined criterion. |
| US08195109B2 |
Single ended switched power amplifier with tuned load coupling block
A switched power amplifier contained in a circuit is implemented to receive a single-ended input signal and generate a single-ended output signal, the single-ended output signal being a power-amplified version of the single-ended input signal. The switched power amplifier provides high efficiency. |
| US08195107B2 |
Signal transmission system and signal transmission method thereof
A signal transmission system includes a transmitting unit configured to drive an input signal and to transmit the input signal, a pre-emphasis unit configured to detect a change in a voltage level of the input signal and to amplify a voltage of an output signal of the transmitting unit for a predetermined time, and a receiving unit configured to receive the output signal from the transmitting unit. |
| US08195104B2 |
Electronic amplification device with current mirror for integrated power amplifiers
The disclosure relates to an electronic differential amplification device integrated on a semiconductor chip. The device may include first and second transistors having respective source terminals connected to a first potential, and drain terminals to receive a first differential current signal. The device may include third and fourth transistors having respective source terminals connected to the first potential, and drain terminals to provide a second differential current signal to a load obtained by amplifying the first signal. The third and fourth transistors may have a respective gate terminal connected to the drain terminal of the first and the second transistors, respectively, in order to form current mirrors with the latter. The device is characterized in that the first and second transistors may have the respective gate terminals electrically connected to a common terminal, and at least one first and at least one second resistive elements are connected between the common terminal and the drain terminals of the first and the second transistors, respectively. |
| US08195103B2 |
Linearization of a transmit amplifier
A novel apparatus and method of linearization of a digitally controlled pre-power amplifier (DPA) and RF power amplifier (PA). The mechanism is operative to perform predistortion calibration to compensate for nonlinearities in the DPA and PA circuits. A predistortion look up table (LUT) stores measured distortion compensation data that is applied to the TX data before being input to the digital to frequency converter (DFC), DPA and PA. The mechanism of the invention takes advantage of the on-chip receiver, which is normally inactive during the TX burst in a half-duplex operation, to demodulate the RF PA output and use the digital I/Q RX outputs to perform calibration of the TX pre-distortion tables. Controlled RF coupling is used to provide a sample of the RF output signal that to the receiver chain. The contents of the predistortion LUT are typically updated during the PA power up or down ramp. While the digitally-controlled PA (DPA) code is increasing (or decreasing), the amplitude and phase of the recovered I/Q samples are used to determine the instantaneous value of the AM/AM and AM/PM pre-distortion from which an update to the predistortion tables may be computed. |
| US08195093B2 |
Using a bluetooth capable mobile phone to access a remote network
In one example, a Bluetooth enabled mobile device discovers the Bluetooth profile capability of a plurality of mobile phones and stores the profile information in a database. Thereafter, when access to a remote network such as an Internet Protocol (IP) network is necessitated by an event, the Bluetooth enabled mobile device can establish a Bluetooth connection with an available mobile phone according to a comparison of the event to the stored profile information for that mobile phone. The Bluetooth enabled mobile device can then establish a transport layer connection that extends over the established Bluetooth connection and a wireless telecommunications network associated with the available phone and exchange data with a remote network using the established transport layer connection. |
| US08195091B2 |
RF audio distribution system including IR presence detection
A teacher microphone (30) is provided with an infrared (IR) transmitter to signal a connection request to a wireless audio access point (50) using a first IR request inquiry signal (331). In response to this first IR code, the wireless audio access point establishes a first RF communication link (300). After the first RF communication link is established, the teacher microphone conditionally transmits a first IR presence signal (332) to verify that it is still collocated in the local vicinity of the wireless audio access point, such as being in the same room. The wireless audio access point is capable of maintaining a connection with additional portable wireless devices, such as a student microphone (40). |
| US08195090B2 |
Virtual gateway redundancy
A method and system are presented for providing satellite communications coverage for a geographical area involving operating a plurality of gateways including a first gateway and a second gateway, wherein the first gateway is configured to utilize at least one first spot beam associated with at least one first coverage area within the geographic area to provide relayed satellite communications to a plurality of first subscriber terminals located in the at least one first coverage area, wherein the second gateway is configured to utilize at least one second spot beam associated with at least one second coverage area within the geographic area to provide relayed satellite communications to a plurality of second subscriber terminals located in the at least one second coverage area, and upon a failure condition associated with the at least one first spot beam, expanding the at least one second coverage area to include a portion of the at least one first coverage area, to provide relayed satellite communications to at least some of the first subscriber terminals without utilizing the at least one first spot beam. |
| US08195087B2 |
Controlling of wireless connection of a portable device including an illuminating component or switch
A portable media player that provides for wireless connectivity is disclosed. In some examples, the portable media player contains a button that causes the player to search for, connect with, and disconnect from wireless networks. In some examples, the button provides indicators of the connectivity of the player, such as different colors or modes of illumination. In some examples, the functionality of the button changes depending on the connectivity of the player or characteristics of the playback or navigation of media within the player. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08195082B1 |
Collator system and method for copy machines
A system and method for application in single-sheet-feed copiers that automatically tends to the handling of original sheets after they are sequentially and individually placed into the single sheet-feed copier, including depositing the original sheets in a receptacle in a collated manner, without the requirement of direct handling of the original sheets by a user to achieve the collation. |
| US08195081B2 |
Cut sheet media handling transport
A media handling transport includes first and second device halves. Each of the device halves includes first, second and third body members, with the first end portion of the second body member disposed adjacent the first end portion of the first body member, the first end portion of the third body member disposed adjacent the second end portion of the first body member, and the second end portion of the third body member disposed adjacent the second end portion of the second body member. An inner body member defines a first media transport passageway with the second body member define, a second media transport passageway with the third body member, and a third media transport passageway with the first body member. The second end portions of the second and third body members define an abutting end of the device half, with the abutting end of the first device half disposed adjacent the abutting end of the second device half in an installed transport. |
| US08195080B2 |
Waste cyclone dispense system with controlled rotating cylinder gate
This is a waste cyclone toner dispense system with a controlled gate and a collection bag below the gate. The controlled gate prevents pressure from entering the bag thereby permitting the use of relatively inexpensive bags for collection of toner debris. The gate has rotating blades tightly pushed against a sealing wall, such as rubber or the like. The wall must prevent pressure from reaching the bag and remaining only above the bag. The rotating blades convey waste toner from an upper collection to the collection bag. |
| US08195079B2 |
Collection device and image forming apparatus
A collection device includes: a collection container that collects output material; a storage box that is opened upward to store a lower part of the collection container; and a support member that is fixed to a housing and supports the storage box so that the collection container is stored in the storage box and is freely drawn to the outside of the housing. The collection container includes a handle located frontward in a pulling direction and at an upper part of the collection container. The storage box includes a notch formed in a rear surface in the pulling direction. When the handle of the collection container is pressed backward in the pulling direction, a part of the collection container, which part is located backward in the pulling direction, protrudes from the storage box through the notch, so that the collection container inclines backward in the pulling direction. |
| US08195078B2 |
Processing method of waste toner and processing device of waste toner and image forming device
A processing method of waste toner which is collected from an image forming device generated when an electrophotography image is formed, including: adding citrus oil to the waste toner. |
| US08195073B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing apparatus including a fixing member for fixing developer image on a recording medium, and a separation member separating the recording medium from the fixing member to guide the recording medium in a delivery direction of the recording medium. The separation member includes a resin member, a metal member formed on a front side of the resin member, and an opening. In accordance with a preferred aspect of the fixing apparatus, when the developer image is fixed to the recording medium, the opening arranged at the separation member is formed to flow the gas around the fixing apparatus, thereby improving the printing quality of the printed images. |
| US08195072B2 |
Sliding sheet for fixing devices, manufacturing method for same, fixing device, and image forming apparatus
A sliding sheet for fixing devices in the present invention is inserted in between an endless belt constituting one member out of two members which form a nip section for fixing operation and a pressure member for pressing the endless belt from an inner surface side toward the other member out of the two members. The sliding sheet, which is made of a single resin, repeatedly has a thick section and a thin section at least with respect to a sliding direction of the endless belt due to substantial difference in resin amount per unit area corresponding to positions within a sheet surface. |
| US08195070B2 |
Developer container, developer supplying device, and image forming apparatus
A toner bottle includes: a bottle main part to contain toner therein and having a rotational axis; an outlet at an end of the bottle main part; a spiral raised ridge in an inner wall of the bottle main part and arranged to deliver the toner contained in the bottle main part to the outlet by rotation of the bottle main part around the rotational axis; a plurality of toner guiding portions on a side of the spiral raised ridge adjacent to the outlet and arranged to move the toner to the outlet beyond the spiral raised ridge; and a gear adjacent to the outlet to rotate the bottle main part around the rotational axis. The bottle main part has a diameter larger than a diameter of the outlet, and the gear is formed integrally with the bottle main part between the outlet and the plurality of toner guiding portions. |
| US08195067B2 |
Heating apparatus and image forming apparatus
A heating apparatus of the present invention includes a press member that undergoes driven rotation by contacting a heating member that rotates, the press member conveying a recording medium while nipping the recording medium between the press member and the heating member; a contact and separation mechanism that contacts the press member against the heating member and separates the press member away from the heating member; and a drive mechanism that rotationally drives the press member when the press member is separated from the heating member by the contact and separation mechanism. |
| US08195062B2 |
Electrically conducting structure and electrical apparatus provided with electrically conducting structure
An electrically conducting structure includes: an electrically conductive bar member; a frame member supporting the bar member; and a conducting metal plate, provided with a base portion for mounting the conducting metal plate to the frame member and provided with a contact portion, extending out from the base portion and bending to make contact with a side face of the bar member. |
| US08195058B2 |
Toner fixing device with light control mirrors and image forming apparatus incorporating same
In a fixing device, a first reflection plate covers a part of an outer circumferential surface of an infrared heater in a circumferential direction of the infrared heater along an axial direction of the infrared heater substantially perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the infrared heater. The first reflection plate reflects light emitted by the infrared heater toward a fixing member. At least one light control mirror is provided in at least one end of the first reflection plate in an axial direction of the first reflection plate. At least one second reflection plate opposes the infrared heater via the at least one light control mirror to reflect the light emitted by the infrared heater and passing through the at least one light control mirror toward a center portion of the fixing member in an axial direction of the fixing member. |
| US08195056B2 |
Fixing apparatus, printing apparatus, and computer readable medium storing a program for detecting twine
The present invention provides a fixing apparatus including: a pair of rotating bodies that transports a recording medium on which an image is formed by using an image forming material, by sandwiching the recording medium; a heating section that heats at least one of the pair of rotating bodies; a moving section that moves the pair of rotating bodies between a position at which they mutually contact and a position at which they are mutually separated; a temperature detecting section that detects a surface temperature of at least one of the pair of rotating bodies without contacting the rotating bodies; and a twine generation determining section that determines whether the recording medium has twined around either one of the pair of rotating bodies based on a rate of temperature increase after a temperature decrease of the surface temperature detected by the temperature detecting section. |
| US08195053B2 |
Optical signal processing device
An optical signal processing device includes a waveform width widening unit configured to widen a waveform width of an optical signal; and an optical limiter circuit, to which the optical signal the waveform width of which is widened is input, configured to suppress an intensity of the optical signal in a region where an input intensity and an output intensity are not proportional. |
| US08195048B2 |
Optical transport system architecture for remote terminal connectivity
The invention pertains to optical fiber transmission systems, and is particularly relevant to transmission of high volume of data and voice traffic among different locations. In particular, the improvement teaches the use of a single optical transport system for both metropolitan area transport and long haul transport of data and voice traffic. |
| US08195046B2 |
Measurement of polarization mode dispersion or differential group delay of an optical path
A method may include generating first and second optical signals and modulating the first and second optical signals simultaneously to synchronize the signals. The method may include varying the polarization of the second optical signal and transmitting the first and second optical signals. The method may include receiving the first and second optical signals, wherein the signals traveled along a same optical path. The method may include determining a plurality of differential travel delays between the first and second optical signals over a period of varying polarizations and determining a differential group delay based on the maximum and the minimum differential travel delays. |
| US08195045B2 |
Optical transmission module
Provided is an optical transmission module that includes: a semiconductor light emitting element for emitting laser light; a first driving unit for providing a first driving current to the semiconductor light emitting element; a switching unit connected between the semiconductor light emitting element and the first driving unit; and a package for accommodating the semiconductor light emitting element, the first driving unit, and the switching unit. The switching unit includes a first input for receiving a first driving current outputted from at least from the first driving unit, a second input for receiving a second driving current for testing the semiconductor light emitting element, and an output connected to the semiconductor light emitting element. The switching unit connects the first input or the second input to the output. |
| US08195044B2 |
Biometric camera mount system
A system for reducing the substantially vertical extent of a wide-area biometric system and for reducing the cost and complexity of installation while maintaining high biometric performance, using a substantially horizontally configuration of cameras, preferably with an attention mechanism, and using a precision calibration system that can be used by an unskilled technician and that does not require an accurate site survey or additional materials or equipment. |
| US08195040B2 |
Imaging apparatus, flash device, and control method thereof
An imaging apparatus for performing wireless communication with a flash device, including a generation unit configured to generate a plurality of emitting instructions which include timing information indicating a timing for emitting the flash device, wherein each emitting instruction includes different timing information, and a transmission unit configured to successively transmit the plurality of emitting instructions to the flash device, wherein the transmission unit transmits each emitting instruction in succession based on the timing information. |
| US08195039B2 |
Delivery of iodine gas
A method and system for delivering iodine gas is presented. The pure iodine gas flow can be at a controlled, known flow rate, and furthermore be held at a positive pressure in relation to a process chamber. In an exemplary embodiment, pure iodine gas is transported without the use of an inert carrier gas. This is facilitated in part by maintaining the iodine gas chamber at a higher pressure than the processing chamber.In one exemplary embodiment, an iodine vessel receives solid iodine supplied by an iodine fill source and is heated to produce pure iodine gas. In addition, a control system monitors and controls the operating conditions in the iodine vessel and maintains a positive pressure in the iodine vessel. The iodine delivery system may include a valve system configured to control the flow of iodine gas through the iodine delivery system and into a process chamber. |
| US08195038B2 |
Brief and high-interest video summary generation
A video is summarized by determining if a video contains one or more junk frames, modifying one or more boundaries of shots of the video based at least in part on the determination of if the video contains one or more junk frames, sampling a plurality of the shots of the video into a plurality of subshots, clustering the plurality of subshots with a multiple step k-means clustering, and creating a video summary based at least in part on the clustered plurality of subshots. The video is segmented into a plurality of shots and a keyframe from each of the plurality of shots is extracted. A video summary is created based on a determined importance of the subshots in a clustered plurality of subshots and a time budget. The created video summary is rendered by displaying playback rate information for the rendered video summary, displaying a currently playing subshot marker with the rendered video summary, and displaying an indication of similar content in the rendered video summary. |
| US08195034B2 |
Low complexity event detection for video programs
A video processing method for detecting significant events from a video program includes computing short-time sub-band energies in the audio for plural audio sub-bands, detecting scene boundaries where a weighted sum of these short-time sub-band energies are less energy threshold for longer than an time interval, segmenting the video program into a plurality of scenes by the boundaries, removing scenes shorter than a segment time interval and classifying and ranking the remaining scenes by audio. A second segmenting and removal is based upon a second energy threshold and a second time interval or when energy in a lowest frequency sub-band is greater than a predetermined bass energy threshold. The first segment time interval may be recomputed based upon the distribution of length of the remaining scenes. |
| US08195033B2 |
Video creating system and program product for creating video
A video creating system includes: a plurality of individual editing tools for creating and/or editing the plurality of video constituent data; a server that acquires the plurality of video constituent data thus created and/or edited and creates one piece of video data by integrating the acquired video constituent data; and a target display section for displaying the video data acquired from the server on a predetermined machine platform. Each of the plurality of individual editing tools includes a data transmitting section that continuously operates on the individual editing tool. Whenever the video constituent data are created and/or edited, the data transmitting section transmits new video constituent data thus created and/or edited to the server. Whenever the new video constituent data are acquired, the server continuously creates the latest video data by integrating the plurality of video constituent data including the new video constituent data. |
| US08195018B2 |
Buffer tube with adhesively coupled optical fibers and/or water-swellable element
A buffer tube arrangement includes an adhesive material to adhesively bond a water-swellable element to a plurality of optical fibers and/or a buffer tube. |
| US08195017B2 |
Consumer input/output (CIO) optical transceiver module for use in an active optical cable, an active optical cable that incorporates the CIO optical transceiver module, and a method
A consumer input/output (CIO) optical transceiver module, an active optical cable that incorporates a CIO optical transceiver module, and a method for using a CIO optical transceiver module in an active optical cable are provided. In contrast to optical transceiver modules currently used in active optical cables, which utilize parallel arrays of laser diodes and parallel arrays of photodiodes, the CIO optical transceiver module includes two singlet laser diodes and two singlet photodiodes for providing two high-speed transmit channels and two high-speed receive channels, respectively. Because the singlet laser diodes and photodiodes of the CIO optical transceiver module are less costly than the parallel arrays of laser diodes and parallel arrays of photodiodes that are used in known active optical cables, the CIO optical transceiver module can be manufactured at relatively low costs with high quality, and therefore is well suited for consumer applications. |
| US08195015B2 |
Method and device for dynamic measurement of the radial deformation of a rolling bearing ring
A method and a device for dynamic measurement of the radial deformation of a bearing ring (12) of a rolling bearing (10) for a rotating element (16), a glass fiber segment (22) of a fiber optic sensor (24) that is fixed in or to the periphery of the bearing ring, a light signal which has been generated by the light source (30) being injected into the glass fiber segment, and the light signal passing through the glass fiber segment being detected by a detector (34), the longitudinal deformation of the glass fiber segment being determined from the change of at least one parameter of the light signal, when the light signal passes through the glass fiber segment, in order to determine the corresponding radial deformation of the bearing ring. |
| US08195014B2 |
Optical chemical detector and method
An apparatus and method for optically detecting the presence of an analyte in a solution is presented. An embodiment comprises a waveguide resonator that is optically coupled to a fluid in a fluidic conduit so that the resonant wavelength of the waveguide resonator is based on the refractive index of the fluid. |
| US08195012B2 |
Systems and methods for polarization mode dispersion mitigation
In one exemplary embodiment, a method comprises transmitting an optical signal via the optical line, measuring a relative change in spectral intensity of the optical signal near a clock frequency (or half of that frequency) while varying a polarization of the optical signal between a first state of polarization and a second state of polarization, and using the relative change in spectral intensity of the optical signal to determine and correct the DGD of the optical line. Another method comprises splitting an optical signal traveling through the optical line into a first and second portions having a first and second principal states of polarization of the optical line, converting the first and second portions into a first and second electrical signals, delaying the second electrical signal to create a delayed electrical signal that compensates for a DGD of the optical line, and combining the delayed electrical signal with the first electrical signal to produce a fixed output electrical signal. |
| US08195011B2 |
Electro-optical modulator structure
The present invention discloses an ultra-compact optical modulator comprising at least one resonator on a semiconductor chip. The EO modulator modulates incoming light having a certain wavelength range and comprises a waveguide layer accommodating at least one resonator having a periodic complex refraction index distribution structure defining a periodic defect band-edge and a cladding layer; and at least one electrode; the waveguide layer, the cladding layer and the electrode forming a capacitor structure; such that when an external voltage is applied to the capacitor structure the free carrier concentration in the waveguide layer is controlled, enabling a modulation of the resonator's refractive index; wherein the periodic defect band-edge is selected to be within the wavelength range, enabling a slow-light propagation of the incoming light within the waveguide layer. |
| US08195008B2 |
Method and system for processing video data in a multipixel memory to memory compositor
A method and system for processing video data using multi-pixel scaling in a memory system are provided. The multi-pixel scaling may include reading pixel data for one or more data streams from the memory system into one or more scalers, wherein each of the plurality of data streams includes a plurality of pixels, scaling the pixel via the one or more scalers and outputting the scaled pixels from the one or more scalers. Pixel data may be sequential or parallel. The plurality of scalers may be in parallel, scaling sequential pixel data with independent phase control, or scaling parallel pixel data in substantially equal phase. Pixel data may be transposed, replicated, distributed and aligned prior to reading by scalers, and may be aligned merged and transposed after scaling. Scaling may include interpolation or sub sampling using pixel phase, position, step size and scaler quantities. |
| US08195004B2 |
Device for processing raw images or tensor images
A device (D) is dedicated to the processing of data constituting initial tensor images, each tensor being a real symmetric and positive definite matrix representing an elementary part of a received tensor image. This device (D) comprises, on the one hand, a first calculating module (MC1) capable of performing a first selected, bijective and defined function of R*+ in R, and being associated with a selected metric definition, this first function allowing a second reciprocal function, and on the other, comprises a first processing module (MT1) provided for: i) constituting a first representation of a received tensor image; ii) calling the first calculating module (MC1) for applying the first function to a selected part of the first representation whereby obtaining a transformed part, and; iii) constituting, from the transformed part, a second representation of the tensor images ready to be processed. |
| US08195002B2 |
Adaptive post-deringing filter on compressed images
An image filtering method, apparatus and system, wherein the method comprising the steps of detecting at least one portion of an edge, wherein the portion of the edge provides an indication that ringing artifact are probable; subjecting at least one portion of a pixel, related to the at least a portion of the edge, to a low pass filter to produce a filtered pixel; and blending the filtered pixel with a value relating to the filter prior to filtering to produce a filtered image. |
| US08195001B2 |
In-loop adaptive wiener filter for video coding and decoding
A video encoder may use an adaptive Wiener filter inside the core video encoding loop to improve coding efficiency. In one embodiment, the Wiener filter may be on the input to a motion estimation unit and, in another embodiment, it may be on the output of a motion compensation unit. The taps for the Wiener filter may be determined based on characteristics of at least a region of pixel intensities within a picture. Thus, the filtering may be adaptive in that it varies based on the type of video being processed. |
| US08194997B2 |
Methods and systems for tone mapping messaging
Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for signaling tone map data to an image recipient. |
| US08194995B2 |
Fast camera auto-focus
A camera auto-focuses using computed blur differences between images of a three-dimensional scene. The camera computes the blur difference between two images of the scene acquired at two different picture numbers. The camera uses the computed blur difference to predict a third picture number, where the camera uses the third picture number to auto-focus a camera lens on the scene. |
| US08194994B2 |
Apparatus and method for reducing motion blur in a video signal
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for reducing motion blur in a video signal. The apparatus comprises motion estimation means (1) for providing motion information of a video signal, high pass filter means (3a, 3b) for high pass filtering said video signal, and first modulating means (4a, 4b) for modulating the high pass filtered video signal from said high pass filter means (3a, 3b) with motion information from said motion estimation means (1) and for outputting a motion dependent high pass filtered video signal. |
| US08194991B2 |
Out-of-order coding
A block encoder is operable to encode a target region of an image. The encoder encodes blocks from a target region of an image. The encoded blocks are stored in a scan order of the image. The encoded blocks are reordered into a scan order for the target region, and are output as an encoded image bit stream. |
| US08194990B2 |
Method, system and computer program product for optimization of data compression with iterative cost function
A method, system and computer software product for improving rate-distortion performance while remaining faithful to JPEG/MPEG syntax, involving joint optimization of Huffman tables, quantization step sizes and quantized coefficients of a JPEG/MPEG encoder. This involves finding the optimal coefficient indices in the form of (run, size) pairs. By employing an interative process including this search for optimal coefficient indices, joint improvement of run-length coding, Huffman coding and quantization table selection may be achieved. Additionally, the compression of quantized DC coefficients may also be improved using a trellis-structure. |
| US08194984B2 |
Image processing system that removes noise contained in image data
An image processing system is disclosed that includes a buffer unit configured to store a predetermined pixel and peripheral pixels neighboring the predetermined pixel in image data in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a first edge-detecting circuit configured to calculate a maximum value and a minimum value of a set of pixels selected from the peripheral pixels that have the same color as the predetermined pixel to calculate a difference value between the maximum value and the minimum value. |
| US08194979B2 |
Method of correcting false-color pixel in digital image
A method of correcting a false-color pixel in a digital image is used to correct a false-color pixel generated after being processed by a color correction matrix (CCM). The method includes the following steps. Obtaining a raw image, for being processed by the CCM operation to generate a processed image; comparing pixels of the raw image with that of the processed image according to a color difference ratio, to find out a false-color pixel in the pixels of the processed image; then, performing a color correction on the false-color pixel at the corresponding position of the raw image and the processed image. The false-color pixel is corrected according to the pixel color at the corresponding position of the raw image. |
| US08194978B2 |
Method of and apparatus for detecting and adjusting colour values of skin tone pixels
A method of detecting skin tone pixels in an input image and adjusting color values thereof for an output image is disclosed. The method comprises determining for each of a plurality of pixels in an input image whether initial chromaticity values of each of said pixels lie within a skin tone area defined in a chromaticity plane. The method further comprises amending the initial chromaticity values of those pixels that have chromaticity values lying within said skin tone area to obtain amended chromaticity values for use in obtaining an output image. |
| US08194975B2 |
Use of an intrinsic image in face recognition
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, identifying information in the image file relevant to a logical deduction regarding material and illumination aspects of an image and selected from information relevant to spatio-spectral aspects of an image and constituents of color; defining a constraint as a function of the information; and utilizing the constraint in an image segregation operation. |
| US08194974B1 |
Merge and removal in a planar map of an image
Methods and systems to merge and/or remove, for example, edges, regions, vertices, in a planar map of a raster image are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying color similarities between each of a plurality of regions of an image and merging neighboring regions based on the color similarities. In addition, the method may include determining a merging order and merging certain regions based on the merging order; merging other regions without considering the merging order when the other regions are smaller than a threshold size; and removing artifacts and noise from the image based on the threshold size. |
| US08194970B2 |
Method for producing three-dimensionally structured surfaces
A method for producing three-dimensionally structured surfaces of objects, the object surface being created as a reproduction of a three-dimensionally structured original surface with the aid of a machining tool. Accordingly, the topology of the original surface is first determined, a measured depth value being assigned to each surface or grid element, creating a depth map of the original surface. The depth values are evaluated in terms of their influence on the reflective properties of the surface elements and the reflective properties are stored in the form of parameters. The depth values are then modified in accordance with the reflective values and are used as topological data for the electronic control of a machining tool. |
| US08194968B2 |
Methods and systems for using electrical information for a device being fabricated on a wafer to perform one or more defect-related functions
Various methods and systems for using electrical information for a device being fabricated on a wafer to perform one or more defect-related functions are provided. One computer-implemented method includes using electrical information for a device being fabricated on a wafer to perform one or more defect-related functions. The one or more defect-related functions include one or more post-mask, defect-related functions. |
| US08194964B2 |
Analysis of anatomic regions delineated from image data
Systems and methods for delineating anatomical boundaries from two- and three-dimensional image data are described. A template shape is used to examine new image element (e.g. pixel and/or voxel) locations and determine boundary intersection based on characteristics determined from the plurality of image elements contained within this template. The result is a polyline/surface delineation of the desired anatomy, which can be used for morphometric/shape analysis, patient specific output, and knowledge-based queries. |
| US08194958B2 |
Image display device
An image display device that includes: a region-of-interest setting section that sets regions-of-interest respectively for multiple medical images representing a photographed subject; a difference image creating section that creates a difference image representing a difference between images of the regions-of-interest set by the region-of-interest setting section; and an image displaying section that displays the difference image as well as the images arranged side by side. |
| US08194957B2 |
Registration method with three-dimensional representation of a vascular tree as a function of blood flow
A three-dimensional volume data record contains a vascular tree. A two-dimensional projection image is an image of an actual fill state, to which the vascular tree is filled with a contrast agent at an acquisition time. The volume data record and the projection image are registered in relation to one another by means of the set of imaging parameters. A computation facility determines an expected target fill state, which describes which parts of the vascular tree should be filled with contrast agent at acquisition time in the three-dimensional volume data record. The computation facility determines the set of imaging parameters based on the target fill state and the projection image. |
| US08194955B2 |
Method and system for detection of contrast injection in fluoroscopic image sequences
A method and system for detecting a spatial and temporal location of a contrast injection in a fluoroscopic image sequence is disclosed. Training volumes generated by stacking a sequence of 2D fluoroscopic images in time order are annotated with ground truth contrast injection points. A heart rate is globally estimated for each training volume, and local frequency and phase is estimated in a neighborhood of the ground truth contrast injection point for each training volume. Frequency and phase invariant features are extracted from each training volume based on the heart rate, local frequency and phase, and a detector is trained based on the training volumes and the features extracted for each training volume. The detector can be used to detect the spatial and temporal location of a contrast injection in a fluoroscopic image sequence. |
| US08194954B2 |
Medical report system, and medical report making apparatus and method
On a report making screen, medical images taken from a patient are displayed in a viewer. When an area of concern, such as an abnormal shadow, is designated in any of the displayed medical images, the medical images containing the area of concern are chosen. By drag-and-dropping one of the chosen images to an assigned position in a comment editing zone of the report making screen, a three-dimensional image reconstituted of the chosen images is displayed as a confirmation image, wherein the designated area of concern is displayed distinguishably from other portion, enabling checking whether the choice of the images or the designation of the area of concern is correct or not. When the choice and designation is fixed, group data registering the chosen images as a group and position data relating to positions of the area of concern in the chosen images are memorized in linkage with the assigned position. |
| US08194953B2 |
Method and system of material identification using binocular steroscopic and multi-energy transmission images
The present invention provides a method and system of material identification using binocular steroscopic and multi-energy transmission image. With the method, any obstacle that dominates the ray absorption can be peeled off from the objects that overlap in the direction of a ray beam. The object that is unobvious due to a relatively small amount of ray absorption will thus stand out, and the material property of the object, such as organic, mixture, metal and the like can be identified. This method lays a fundament for automatic identification of harmful objects, such as explosive, drugs, etc., concealed in a freight container. |
| US08194951B2 |
Method and system for generating display data
A method of aiding in the evaluation of lesions in a body using a plurality of sets of image data of sections of the body region in mutually parallel planes. Processing of the data requires several steps, including pixel intensity pattern recognition, ˜ contouring of the regions of probable pathology, thresholding and 3-dimensional clustering, providing each pixel with a color representative of a selected opacity level and displaying an image of the region of interest where areas of probable pathological conditions are highlighted. |
| US08194949B2 |
User adjustment measurement scale on video overlay
A method and system for superimposing a ruler on a visual representation of a surgical procedure is presented. The design includes providing a reference object while recording the visual representation of the surgical procedure, scaling the ruler to correspond to the reference object within the visual representation of the surgical procedure, and superimposing the ruler from the scaling on the visual representation for subsequent viewing. |
| US08194947B2 |
Facilitating comparison of medical images
Facilitating analysis of one or more mammography images on a review workstation is described. A point or region of interest is identified in a first mammography image of a human breast. The distance between the point or region of interest and a point of reference, preferably the breast nipple, on the first mammography image is determined. A locus of points in a second mammography image of the breast is calculated, the locus of points representing potential locations corresponding to the point or region of interest in the first mammography image, and the calculation being based at least in part on the distance between the point or region of interest and the point of reference. The locus of points is then highlighted a user so as to facilitate a determination by the user of one or more locations in the second mammography image corresponding to the point or region of interest in the first mammography image. The locus of points is preferably a circular section arc having a radius corresponding to the point or region of interest to nipple distance, and centered about the nipple in the second mammography image. |
| US08194943B2 |
Method for automatically recognizing fingerprints
The present invention relates to a method of automatically recognizing fingerprints, consisting in establishing a database by digitizing images of fingerprints of individuals, by detecting the corresponding minutiae, by selecting the most discriminating minutiae, by storing the characteristic parameters of these minutiae, then, in the step for recognizing prints of a given individual, in digitizing the fingerprints of this individual, in detecting the minutiae of these fingerprints, in storing their characteristic parameters, in comparing these parameters with those stored in the database, and it is characterized in that, on establishing the database and on taking prints of said given individual, for each print in the database and of the individual concerned, at least the spectra of the selected minutiae are stored as characteristic parameters of the minutiae, and in that, after comparison of the characteristic parameters of the prints of the individual with the corresponding parameters of the prints in the database, a score is deduced for each of the duly performed comparisons, and the decision is made. |
| US08194940B1 |
Automatic media sharing via shutter click
A computer-implemented method for automatically sharing media between users is provided. Collections of images are received from different users, where each collection is associated with a particular user and the users may be associated with each other. The collections are grouped into one or more albums based on the content of the images in the collection, where each album is associated with a particular user. The albums from the different users are grouped into one or more event groups based on the content of the albums. The event groups are then shared automatically, without user intervention, between the different users based on their associations with each other and their individual sharing preferences. |
| US08194935B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
Plural kinds of feature information for identifying an object and a period of time, set for each kind of the feature information, for which the feature information is effective are stored in connection with each other. A feature is extracted from image data, the extracted feature is compared with the feature information, which is within the set period of time, among the stored feature information, and an object is recognized. |
| US08194934B2 |
Apparatus for and method of using reliability information to produce and update image recognition data
In an information processing apparatus, an acquisition unit acquires information of a predetermined type, and a reliability information producing unit produces reliability information indicating reliability of the information of the predetermined type on the basis of a deviation from a predetermined standard condition. A storage unit stores the reliability information indicating the reliability of the information of the predetermined type produced by the reliability information producing unit, in association with the information of the predetermined type. |
| US08194922B2 |
System and methods for dynamically generating earth position data for overhead images and derived information
Distributed adaptive geopositioning includes an objective architecture for imagery geopositioning. The positioning is distributed to fulfill the need to perform accurate geopositioning whenever and wherever it is needed. The positioning is adaptive to implement the idea that geopositioning is a dynamic, not static, quality of geospatial intelligence, for which accuracy can be improved over time as more data is collected and ingested. Focus is placed on the need for improved geopositioning throughout all areas of geospatial intelligence exploitation, not just for specific products or tools. Legacy data is re-computed to align with the geopositioned imagery and also benefits from improved accuracy. |
| US08194920B2 |
Method and system for detecting objects using far infrared images
An object detection system is disclosed in at least one embodiment. The system includes a far IR sensor operable to sense thermal radiation of objects and surroundings in a field of view and to generate a far IR image in response thereto, and an image processing device operable to receive and process the far IR image to detect the presence of one or more objects in the field of view. The image processing device can be configured to process the far IR image by generating an initial threshold image based on the far IR image and an initial threshold value, iteratively obtaining a number of successive threshold images based on the far IR image and a number of successively increased threshold values, and determining the presence of one or more objects in the field of view based on the threshold images and threshold values. |
| US08194919B2 |
Authenticating identification and security documents
The application discloses identification and security documents and methods and systems for authenticating such identification and security documents. In one implementation, a document includes a first surface; and a second surface. The first surface comprises a first set of print structures and a second set of print structures. The first set of print structures and the second set of print structures cooperate to obscure the location on the first surface of the second set of print structures. The second set of print structures is arranged on the first surface so as to provide a reflection pattern. In one example, the reflection pattern includes a diffraction grating. The second set of print structures is preferably provided on the first surface with metallic ink. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too. |
| US08194915B2 |
Wavelet domain watermarks
A wavelet domain watermark encoder and decoder embed and detect auxiliary signals in a media signal, such as a still image, video or audio signal. The watermark encoders and decoders employ techniques that take advantage of processing plural levels of resolution of the signal to embed and detect auxiliary information in the media signal. |
| US08194914B1 |
Encoding and decoding data into an image using identifiable marks and encoded elements
An encoded image and methods for encoding and decoding encoded images. In one example, an encoded image may include at least one identifiable mark (also referred to herein as an anchor image); a triggering image that indicates the presence of the encoded image; and at least one encoded element adjacent to the identifiable mark, the at least one encoded element positioned at a location relative to the identifiable mark, the location representing a value. In one embodiment, a method to form an encoded image may include the operations of selecting a value, the value having one or more digits; based on at least one or more of the digits, selecting an anchor image; selecting at least one element for positioning proximate to the anchor image; forming the image using the anchor image and the at least one element; and based on at least one or more of the digits, forming a characteristic of the at least one element. A method of decoding an encoded image may include, in one example, receiving the encoded image for decoding, the encoded image comprising a decoding trigger, an anchor image, and at least one encoded element; recognizing the decoding trigger within the encoded image; recognizing the anchor image within the encoded image; selecting a decoding process from a plurality of decoding processes based on the anchor image; and decoding the encoded image using the selected decoding process. |
| US08194912B2 |
Method and apparatus for analyzing image, and computer product
In analysis of a panorama image that is created by processing a series of picture frames, a partial image to constitute a part of the panorama image is extracted from one picture frame among the picture frames, optical flows of the one picture frame is calculated, each of the optical flows with each pixel in the partial image are associated with each other, and a distance to a subject appearing in the partial image is calculated based on the associated optical flows. |
| US08194909B2 |
Earphone, headset and ear protector
There is provided an earphone comprising a hoop (1) with a first and a second pivot point (A0, B0) at least one end of the hoop (1). The earphone has at least one earpiece (3) for receiving at least one electroacoustic transducer. The earpiece (3) has a first and a second pivot point (A, B). The earphone further has a first coupling element (2) for coupling the first pivot point (A0) of the hoop (1) to the first pivot point (A) of the earpiece (3) and a second coupling element (4) for coupling the second pivot point (B0) of the hoop (1) to the second pivot point (B) of the earpiece (3). |
| US08194906B2 |
Antenna and speaker assembly and wireless communication device
Disclosed is an antenna-speaker assembly, including an antenna unit including a radiator, a speaker unit including a speaker and coupled to the antenna unit, and a sound-absorbing part formed to conform to a circumference of a coupling surface of the antenna unit and the speaker unit, the sound-absorbing part being interposed between the antenna unit and the speaker unit. According to the present invention, the antenna-speaker assembly equipped with the structure of generating clear sound is provided. Furthermore, in a wireless communication device including an antenna-speaker assembly, the antenna-speaker assembly include an antenna unit including a radiator, a speaker unit including a speaker and coupled to the antenna unit, and a sound-absorbing material formed on a circumference of a face where the antenna unit and the speaker unit are coupled in such a manner as to be interposed between the antenna unit and the speaker unit. |
| US08194904B2 |
Speaker system with broad directivity
Disclosed herein is a speaker system unit with a cone type vibration plate, a horn and a diffuser. The horn is disposed such that a small-diameter opening thereof is positioned inward from a front opening of the vibration plate, and an outer surface of the horn is arranged along an inner surface of the vibration plate to form a first acoustic path. The diffuser has a base portion, a front end portion and an outer peripheral surface extending therebetween, and is disposed such that the base portion is positioned inward from a front opening of the horn, opposite the small-diameter opening of the horn. The diffuser has a specific shape such that the outer peripheral surface expands along an inner surface of the horn to form a second acoustic path and then narrows toward the front end portion of the diffuser. |
| US08194903B2 |
Hearing apparatus with battery compartment locking
A hearing apparatus is provided with a housing and/or frame and a battery compartment that is mounted rotatably in or on the housing or frame between an open position and a closed position. The battery compartment, radially relative to the axis of rotation, has a first locking element within the battery charger area. A second locking element that corresponds to the first locking element is arranged on the housing or frame so that the battery compartment engages removably in a specified pivoted position between the open position and the closed position. |
| US08194898B2 |
Sound reproducing system and sound reproducing method
A sound reproducing system includes a first speaker that is supplied with audio signals of a first channel and that is placed so that a reproduced sound image generated by the audio signals of the first channel is localized in a position in a front direction of a listener; a pair of second speakers that are supplied with audio signals on which a virtual sound source process is performed; a virtual sound source processing unit to perform the virtual sound source process on the audio signals of a plurality of channels; a volume detecting unit to detect the volumes of the first channel and the other channels; a volume comparing unit to compare the volume of the first channel with each of the volumes of the other channels; and a control unit to control the gains of the audio signals of the first channel and the other channels. |
| US08194895B2 |
Condenser microphone
There is provided a condenser microphone in which electromagnetic shielding in the connecting part of a microphone capsule and a microphone main body is made more reliable. In the condenser microphone including a microphone capsule 10 and a microphone main body 20, the microphone capsule 10 being configured so that an electrostatic acoustic-electric converter is accommodated in a metallic capsule housing 11, and an extraction electrode 15 of a backplate 142 is disposed in substantially the central portion of a connection-side opening part 120, and the microphone main body 20 being configured so that a circuit board 22 is disposed at a predetermined depth position in a connection-side opening part 210 of a metallic microphone housing 21 to which the capsule housing 11 is detachably connected, and a field effect transistor 23 and a conductive contacting means for connecting the gate of the field effect transistor 23 to the extraction electrode 15 are disposed; and configured so that the extraction electrode 15 is connected to the gate of the field effect transistor 23 via the conductive contacting means with the connection of the capsule housing 11 to the microphone housing 21, as the conductive contacting means, a conductive elastic material 31 such as a conductive resin foam or a conductive cloth is used, and a ferrite material 32 is disposed on the circuit board 22 so as to surround the conductive elastic material 31. |
| US08194891B2 |
Volume controlled prenatal music belt
The present invention transmits sounds and/or music to an unborn baby in the mother's womb via a waist belt and speaker disposed within the belt, where the speaker connects to most audio devices via a universal audio plug. The waist belt can also be used to temporarily house/transport appropriate portable audio devices in an internal pocket. The speaker of the present invention utilizes a volume control unit that is separate from a volume control of an attached audio device and that allows for limiting and/or adjusting the sound volume delivered by the speaker. The separate volume control unit is an improvement over any previously known devices because it provides additional safety for the developing baby's hearing. |
| US08194876B2 |
Sound transmission system
The present invention relates to a sound transmission system using a human body as a propagation medium. The transmission system includes a first signal transmitter and a second signal transmitter respectively generating signals having frequencies corresponding to each other, the first and second signal transmitters being coupled to the human body, wherein the first and second signal transmitters respectively generate high frequency signals having an opposite phase to each other, and the respective signal transmitters combine the audio signals and the high frequency signals to transmit the combined signals to the human body. The respective signal transmitters combine the generated audio signals and high frequency signals, adjust an output phase of the combined signals, and transmit the combined signals through the human body. |
| US08194872B2 |
Multi-channel adaptive speech signal processing system with noise reduction
An adaptive signal processing system eliminates noise from input signals while retaining desired signal content, such as speech. The resulting low noise output signal delivers improved clarity and intelligibility. The low noise output signal also improves the performance of subsequent signal processing systems, including speech recognition systems. An adaptive beamformer in the signal processing system consistently updates beamforming signal weights in response to changing microphone signal conditions. The adaptive weights emphasize the contribution of high energy microphone signals to the beamformed output signal. In addition, adaptive noise cancellation logic removes residual noise from the beamformed output signal based on a noise estimate derived from the microphone input signals. |
| US08194864B2 |
Earhealth monitoring system and method I
Methods of operating an audio device are provided. A method includes calculating estimated sound pressure levels (SPLs) for drive signals directed to an ear canal receiver (ECR) during a time increment Δt; calculating an estimated SPL_Dose during the time increment Δt using the estimated sound pressure levels; and calculating a total SPL_Dose at a time t of the audio device using the estimated SPL_Dose. |
| US08194863B2 |
Speaker system
A speaker array is provided which can increase the orientation when reproducing front channels of a surround sound, increase the density effect, improve the narrow directivity when reproducing a stereo sound and increase the selectivity in selecting reproduction methods which match setting environments. When reproducing a stereo sound by a speaker array for reproducing a surround sound by converting a sound into a beam of sound, the speaker array is divided into a sound reproducing region for an L system and a sound reproducing region for an R system at a central portion thereof. Then, each of the reproducing regions so divided is further divided in to bands. In addition, since a high frequency reproducing region has a high directivity and a strong orientation when the sound is attempted to be reproduced simultaneously by the plurality of speakers as is described above, a reproducing region is limited to part of the reproducing regions. Additionally, when stereo reproducing a front system of a surround sound source, the center orientation is improved by implementing different processings for the L, R systems and C. By adopting this configuration, it is possible to reproduce a sound with a natural stereo effect with no high frequency sound converted 25 into a beam of sound. |
| US08194860B2 |
Audio signal processing system and surround signal generation method
To provide an audio signal processing system, a surround signal generation method and so on that are capable of obtaining stable output signal level and feeling of soundscape without depending on an audio input signal. A DSP inputs audio input signals respectively corresponding to a plurality of channels, and generates surround signals that have reflection sound and reverberate sound and that respectively correspond to the plurality of channels. The DSP generates the surround signal corresponding to one channel based on an audio input signal corresponding to the one channel, a variable number changing within the predetermined range in response to a signal level of the surround signal at a preceding predetermined time corresponding to the one channel, and the audio input signal corresponding to the other channel. |
| US08194851B2 |
Voice processing apparatus, voice processing system, and voice processing program
A voice processing apparatus includes a band dividing portion dividing a first voice signal generated by a first microphone and a second voice signal generated by a second microphone into predetermined frequency bands, a sound source segregating portion segregating an echo component of a voice emitted by a first sound source included in a voice emitted by a second sound source in each of the predetermined frequency bands based on the power of the first and second microphones, and a band synthesis portion synthesizing the first and second voice signals from which the echo component of the first sound source has been segregated by the sound source segregating portion into a voice signal including the voice emitted by the first sound source and a voice signal including the echo component of the first sound source. |
| US08194849B2 |
System and method for providing audible messages in replacement of telephone tones
A computer implemented system and method for providing at least one audible message at a communication device in replacement of a pre-determined telephone tone. There is provided a tone detector interface for detecting the pre-determined telephone tone provided at the communication device; an audible messages database accessible to the tone detector interface and the communication device, the audible messages database storing the audible messages; and a tone replacement module in communication with the tone detector interface. The tone replacement module, in response to detecting the pre-determined telephone tone, may provide the audible message in replacement of the pre-determined telephone tone. |
| US08194847B2 |
Method and system for voice monitoring
A system and method may provide processing of a communication request for establishing a communication session to communicate signals between an interactive voice response device and a first communication device over a network, identifying a monitoring request requesting monitoring of the communication session, and instructing establishment of a monitoring session for conferencing a second communication device into the communication session to receive the signals communicated between the interactive voice response device and the first communication device at the second communication device. |
| US08194845B2 |
Telephone system
A telephone and voice mail (voice processing) system is implemented using only a single processing means for controlling operations of both the telephone system and the voice mail system. The single processing means communicates with a hard disk, which stores programs for running the various operations of the system, voice prompts and all voice mail messages. The single processing means is coupled to signal processing circuitry, which emulates analog electronics that would be used for filters, tone decoder, generators, etc. The single processing means and signal processing circuitry are coupled to central office lines and station lines by a digital cross-point matrix, which can connect any voice path to another voice path. The system integrates call processing and voice processing into one system controlled by one set of software and a single processing means. |
| US08194842B2 |
Implementing feature interactions between an AIN-based service and a switch-based forwarding service
The present invention provides a method and system for implementing feature interactions between an AIN-based service and a switch-based call-forwarding service. In the present invention, the switch-based call-forwarding generates an Off-Hook Delay (OHD) trigger. In response, the SSP suspends call processing and sends the forward-to number to the SCP. Based upon the SCP's determination of whether the forward-to number is for voicemail and other criteria such as time of day, day of the week, etc, the SCP determines whether the switch-based call-forward should be permitted or inhibited. |
| US08194840B2 |
Teleconference subscription control for agenda subscription tools
A method, system, and computer program product for autonomously controlling caller access to a teleconference based on specified preferences of a moderator. Using preferences established by the moderator of a teleconference, a conference control system may grant or restrict access of participants of the teleconference. The conference control system may authorize callers of a teleconference based on the current agenda item being discussed or the amount of time a caller has been on the ongoing teleconference. When a specific caller is not authorized to be on a conversation, the conference control system may mute the conversation for a specific caller, or disconnect the caller. The conference control system may autonomously re-connect the caller when an authorized agenda item for the caller is being discussed. |
| US08194837B1 |
Multimedia call request scheduling
Techniques for setting up calls between two or more parties are described. A scheduler, operating in combination with a telecommunications network, may set up calls between two or more parties based on a queue of prioritized and/or communication mode required requests. The calls may be set up when all of the required parties are deemed to be available, based on prior scheduled events, and/or based on presence information. In one embodiment, available modes of communication, such as text, audio, data, video, of each party may be considered based on requested parameters for the call. |
| US08194836B2 |
Enhanced extension mobility
In one embodiment, a method for enhanced extension mobility includes accessing user input indicating either a desire of a user to logon at an endpoint in a private mode according to which the endpoint supports only an extension of the user or a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a shared mode according to which the endpoint concurrently supports an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users. The method includes configuring the endpoint to support only an extension of the user if the user input indicates a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a private mode according to which the endpoint supports only an extension of the user. The method includes configuring the endpoint to concurrently support an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users if the user input indicates a desire of the user to logon at the endpoint in a shared mode according to which the endpoint concurrently supports an extension of the user and one or more other extensions of one or more other users. |
| US08194835B1 |
Enhanced caller identification using caller readable devices
A method for providing enhanced caller information to a communications recipient includes storing enhanced caller information in memory of a card distributed to a cardholder. An information reader reads the enhanced caller information from the memory of the card when the cardholder attempts to initiate a telephone call. The read enhanced caller information is inserted into voice signals used to establish the telephone call with the communications recipient. The voice signals with the inserted enhanced caller information are transmitted to the communications recipient over a network. A cellular telephone includes an information reader for reading the enhanced caller information from an external caller information storage device, for example, a card. An information insertion module of the cellular telephone merges the enhanced caller information with voice signals used to establish a telephone call with a communications recipient. The cellular telephone includes a transmitter for transmitting the voice signals with the merged enhanced caller information over a network to the communications recipient. |
| US08194834B2 |
Method for selective call-waiting in a communication system
A system and method (300) are disclosed for selective call-waiting in a communication system. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device (102) having a controller (206) that manages operations of a transceiver (202) for exchanging messages in a communication system, and a user interface (UI) (204) for exchanging messages with an end user of the communication device. The controller can be programmed to establish (302) voice communications with a first party, receive (308) a caller ID associated with a call from a second party while voice communications are taking place with the first party, compare (314) the caller ID with a phonebook, and if an entry in the phonebook matches the caller ID, submit (316, 320) a notification to the end user of the communication device that identifies the call from the second party. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08194831B2 |
Determining a preferable mode of communicating with a called party
A called party's communications habits are determined from the party's communications history, and the habits and the called party's current state (presence) are analyzed in view of a calling party's parameters for a desired communication with the called party to determine a preferable mode and/or time for the desired communication. The preference is indicated to the calling party to assist the calling party in effecting the desired communication. |
| US08194830B2 |
Method for predicting churners in a telecommunications network
Data pertaining to interactions between a plurality of customers is obtained. A graph is formed, having a plurality of nodes representing the customers and a plurality of edges representing interactions between the customers. A sub-set of the customers are denoted as previously churned customers. A spreading activation model is applied to the graph to identify, based on the graph and the previously churned customers, the potential churning customers. |
| US08194823B2 |
X-ray image capturing and interpretation system with cassette and mobile X-ray image capturing apparatus
A cassette allows radiation image information stored therein to be used immediately after an X-ray radiation image is captured in a patient's room, and a mobile X-ray image capturing apparatus incorporates such a cassette. The mobile X-ray image capturing apparatus has a cradle serving as a mount for receiving the cassette which has a radiation detector. The mobile X-ray image capturing apparatus captures a radiation image of the patient (subject) in the patient's room. The cassette serves as a mobile station. While the cassette (mobile X-ray image capturing apparatus) is moving, the radiation image information stored in the cassette is transmitted to a server via a transmitting and receiving terminal, a mobile hospital communication network, and a hospital LAN. |
| US08194822B2 |
X-ray inspection based on scatter detection
Systems and methods for inspecting an object with a scanned beam of penetrating radiation. Scattered radiation from the beam is detected, in either a backward or forward direction. Characteristic values of the scattered radiation are compared to expected reference values to characterize the object. Additionally, penetrating radiation transmitted through the inspected object may be combined with scatter information. In certain embodiments, the inspected field of view is less than 0.1 steradians, and the detector is separate from the source of penetrating radiation and is disposed, with respect to the object, such as to subtend greater than 0.5 steradians in the field of view of the object. |
| US08194821B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer-program products to correct degradation in tomographic images caused by extraneous radiation
Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer program products that generate estimates of errors caused by extraneous radiation in tomographic systems, such as cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) systems, fluoroscopic tomography systems, radiographic tomography systems, laminar tomography imaging systems, and the like. In one group of inventions, spatial errors are estimated from projection data collected where a known spatial perturbation has been introduced into radiation intensity of the source. In another group of inventions, temporal errors are estimated from a sequence of projections where a known perturbation in the radiation intensity of the source for different projections has been introduced. |
| US08194820B2 |
Optimal weights for measuring spectral x-ray data
A method for determining a composition of an object using a spectral x-ray system is provided. X-ray photons of at least two different energies are transmitted through the object. The energy of each detected x-ray photon using a detector in the x-ray system is estimated. A first weighted sum of the number of detected photons of each energy is found using a first weighting function, wherein the first weighting function is dependent on the attenuation coefficient function of a first material. In another embodiment, the photons are binned into two energy bins wherein there is a gap between the energy bins. |
| US08194817B2 |
Shift register circuit
A shift register circuit comprises a first transistor connected between a clock terminal and an output terminal, a second transistor for charging a control electrode of the first transistor in response to activation of an output signal of the preceding stage, a third transistor for discharging the control electrode of the first transistor, an inverter using a control electrode of the third transistor as an output end, and a fourth transistor which discharges an input end of the inverter at power-off and is turned off after power-on. A fifth transistor which is a load element of the inverter charges the control electrode of the third transistor at power-on. It is thereby possible to initialize the respective levels of the nodes without any external initialization signal and prevent a decrease in the level change rate of the output signal in the shift register circuit. |
| US08194816B2 |
Boiling water reactor nuclear power plant with alcohol injection
A nuclear power plant is provided including a BWR, a reactor cooling system cooling the BWR, an HWC hydrogen injection system connected to the reactor cooling system and an alcohol injection system connected to the reactor cooling system. Methods for providing methanol and hydrogen are also provided. |
| US08194814B2 |
Detecting fission from special nuclear material sources
A neutron detector system for discriminating fissile material from non-fissile material wherein a digital data acquisition unit collects data at high rate, and in real-time processes large volumes of data directly into information that a first responder can use to discriminate materials. The system comprises counting neutrons from the unknown source and detecting excess grouped neutrons to identify fission in the unknown source. The system includes a graphing component that displays the plot of the neutron distribution from the unknown source over a Poisson distribution and a plot of neutrons due to background or environmental sources. The system further includes a known neutron source placed in proximity to the unknown source to actively interrogate the unknown source in order to accentuate differences in neutron emission from the unknown source from Poisson distributions and/or environmental sources. |
| US08194812B1 |
Apparatus and method for sampling a data signal in a manner independent of a hold time of the data signal
A data sampling apparatus and associated method are provided, including a first inverter receiving a data signal, and inverting the data signal to produce a trigger signal, a first flip-flop receiving the trigger signal, and outputting an output signal, a second flip-flop and a third-flop flop each receiving the output signal from the first flip-flop, the second flip-flop further receiving a strobe signal, and a second inverter inverting the strobe signal, and outputting the inverted strobe signal to the third flip-flop. An output of the second flip-flop indicates a value of the output signal output from the first flip-flop when the strobe signal is of a first state and an output of the third flip-flop indicates a value of the output signal output from the first flip-flop when the strobe signal is of a second state. |
| US08194810B2 |
Cyclic delay diversity in a wireless system
A system includes a first transmitter, a second transmitter, and a legacy receiver. The first transmitter transmits information via a first channel to the legacy receiver. The second transmitter transmits a time-shifted version of the information via a second channel to the legacy receiver. The legacy receiver combines the information received via the first channel and the time-shifted information received via the second channel to provide combined information. The legacy receiver processes the combined information as though it is received via a single channel. |
| US08194802B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting cyclic prefix length in mobile communication system
An apparatus and method for detecting a Cyclic Prefix (CP) length in a mobile communication system are provided. The apparatus includes first, second, third and fourth correlators, an average unit, and a length detector. The first, second, third and fourth correlators respectively correlate first, second, third and fourth CP parts within a frame boundary. The average unit averages the correlation values of the first, second, third and fourth correlators. The length detector determines the CP as an extended CP if the average value minus the correlation value of the fourth correlator is greater than a first threshold value. Accordingly, less memory may be required to determine a CP length as compared to the conventional art. |
| US08194801B1 |
Efficient decoding of spatially-multiplexed signals
A method for communication includes receiving a spatially-multiplexed signal using multiple receivers to produce multiple respective received signals. The spatially-multiplexed signal includes multiple simultaneously-transmitted symbols, which are selected from respective sets of constellation symbols, each constellation symbol representing a respective set of values of a group of data bits.Combinations of the constellation symbols are traversed iteratively. Each combination includes one constellation symbol from each of the sets of the constellation symbols and represents N data bits. The traversed combinations are searched for a combination that matches the received signals.During traversal of the combinations, at least 2N measures of likelihood regarding the values of the data bits represented by each traversed combination are accumulated. The accumulated measures of likelihood are processed to produce soft bit metrics. The values of the data bits carried by the multiple transmitted symbols are reconstructed responsively to the soft bit metrics. |
| US08194800B2 |
Reducing equalizer error propagation with a low complexity soft output viterbi decoder
Novel systems and methods are described in which performance of equalizers can be improved by reducing the effects of error propagation in equalizers that use a Viterbi Decoder. Systems and methods of symbol correction in prediction decision feedback equalization architectures are described including systems and methods that include an enhanced Viterbi decoder and novel methods of symbol correction to obtain better system performance. The use of a blending algorithm is described to reduce errors in symbol decoding. Histories of deep trace back depth symbols can be maintained to enable more accurate decisions. Systems and methods described can provide advantage in the feedback path of adaptive equalizers in trellis decoders. The invention provides novel techniques for improving the performance of equalizers by reducing the effects of error propagation in equalizers that use a Viterbi Decoder. |
| US08194791B2 |
Joint, adaptive control of equalization, synchronization, and gain in a digital communications receiver
Various aspects and embodiments of the present invention derive statistics of received signal quality and use these statistics to jointly control operation of timing recovery, carrier recovery, automatic gain control, and equalization functions. |
| US08194787B2 |
Communication system, transmitter, communication method, and transmitter detection method
Disclosed is a communication system, having: a transmitter including: a first frequency converter converting a frequency of a provided signal to a first frequency band to generate a first signal and converting the frequency of the provided signal to a second frequency band to generate a second signal, the second frequency band having a given frequency difference against the first frequency band; and a combiner combining the first signal and the second signal to output a transmission signal, and a receiver including: a second frequency converter converting the transmission signal to a frequency-shifting signal shifted by the given frequency difference; a first multiplier multiplying the transmission signal and the frequency-shifting signal together to output a multiplied signal; a filter extracting a baseband signal from the multiplied signal; and a detector detecting significant information from the baseband signal. |
| US08194786B2 |
Wireless communication method, wireless transmitter and wireless receiver
A wireless communication method by which unnecessary retransmission request is suppressed and feedback information is reduced at the same time in a MIMO communication system. The wireless communication method is provided for transmitting signals by using a plurality of antennas (314), and has a step of applicably selecting the group configuration of the antennas (314), and a step of adding data to be used for error detection to a signal to be transmitted by using the antennas (314), by following the results of the selection. |
| US08194785B2 |
Architectural techniques for envelope and phase signal alignment in RF polar transmitters using power amplifier feedback
In an envelope comparison embodiment, a delay calibrator produces a delay signal based on a comparison of a feedback signal and an envelope component of the transmitted signal. A down-converter produces the feedback signal from an outgoing modulated RF signal based on at least one local oscillation. Envelope detectors in the delay calibrator and the envelope signal path are operably coupled to a summing node that produces a delay error signal based on a temporal difference between the two envelopes. One embodiment includes phase detectors to detect and adjust the zero crossings of the feedback signal and the envelope signal path. As the delay mismatch between the envelope signal path and the phase signal path increases, the power spectrum increases in adjacent communication channels. A mask margin measurement technique measures the power level in an adjacent channel and adjusts the envelope path delay accordingly. |
| US08194784B2 |
DTV transmitter and method of coding data in DTV transmitter
A DTV transmitter includes a pre-processor expanding original enhanced data, a data formatter generating enhanced data packets including the expanded enhanced data and inserting known data place holders into the data packets, a multiplexer multiplexing the enhanced data packets with main data packets including main data, and an RS encoder adding systematic RS parity data to each main data packet and adding non-systematic RS parity data holders to each enhanced data packet. It further includes a data interleaver interleaving the RS-coded data packets, a known data generator generating know data symbols, a converter converting the interleaved data packet into symbols, and a symbol processor processing the converted symbols. The symbol processor removes symbols representing the null data, encodes symbols representing the original enhanced data at a rate of N/M, and replaces symbols representing the know data place holders with known data symbols. |
| US08194781B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving control channel message in a MIMO mobile communication system
A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a control channel message in a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) mobile communication system are provided, in which a control channel message generator generates a pilot/MIMO field indicating at least one of a pilot format, a MIMO transmission rank being a number of transmission layers for transmitting encoded packet streams, and precoding information for MIMO data transmission, and outputs a control channel message including the pilot/MIMO field, and a transmission module converts the control channel message to a radio signal and transmits the radio signal to an MS. In the case of using common pilots for data demodulation and at least one of knock-down precoding and ready-made precoding for the MIMO transmission, the pilot/MIMO field includes information about the at least one precoding. In the case of dedicated pilots for data demodulation, the pilot/MIMO field indicates a format of the dedicated pilots. |
| US08194780B2 |
Differential signal output device
A differential signal output device is disclosed that outputs transmission data as a differential signal. The device includes a first differential signal generation circuit that amplifies a signal representing the transmission data and generates the differential signal from the amplified signal; a dummy data generation circuit that is synchronized with a reference clock of the transmission data and generates dummy data that change only in a bit where the transmission data do not change; and a second differential signal generation circuit that amplifies a signal representing the dummy data and generates another differential signal from the amplified signal. |
| US08194775B2 |
Method of differential space-time coding
The present invention relates to a differential space-time coding of blocks of 2, 4 or 8 information symbols belonging to a 2-PPM modulation alphabet, for a pulse UWB MIMO system with 2, 4 or 8 transmitter antennas. The proposed differential space-time code does not introduce an inversion of the polarity of the pulses, whilst offering maximum diversity and a unit rate.The invention also relates to a pulse UWB transmitter system with 2, 4, or 8 antennas which uses this differential space-time coding, as well as an associated receiver system which does not require channel estimation. |
| US08194772B2 |
Constellation rotation relay system and constellation rotation relay method
Provided is a constellation rotation relay system and constellation rotation relay method which can acquire full diversity gain by performing constellation rotation for a channel matrix in a relay network when configuring a virtual MIMO channel. The constellation rotation system includes a matrix creator for creating a symbol matrix by configuring a symbol transmitted in parallel from a source of a relay network; and a constellation rotation unit constellation rotating the symbol in the symbol matrix by adding a constellation rotation matrix to the created symbol matrix. |
| US08194770B2 |
Coded MIMO systems with selective channel inversion applied per eigenmode
Techniques to perform selective channel inversion per eigenmode in a MIMO system to achieve high spectral efficiency while reducing complexity at both the transmitter and receiver are presented. The available transmission channels are arranged into a number of groups, where each group may include all transmission channels (or frequency bins) for a respective eigenmode of a MIMO channel. The total transmit power is allocated to the groups using a particular group power allocation scheme. Selective channel inversion is then performed independently for each group selected for use for data transmission. For each such group, one or more transmission channels in the group are selected for use, and a scaling factor is determined for each selected channel such that all selected channels for the group achieve similar received signal quality (e.g., received SNR). |
| US08194766B2 |
Constant false alarm rate robust adaptive detection using the fast fourier transform
A signal detection apparatus includes electronics configured to receive an RF input and to process the RF input applying a decision rule that is a normalized quantity to determine if a man-made signal is present or if only noise is present while achieving a constant false alarm rate. |
| US08194762B2 |
Feedforward of non-quantized precoding weights in a wireless communications system
An apparatus and method to feedforward non-quantized precoding weights in an OFDM communication system includes a first step (300) of sending feedback information from a subscriber station (SS) to a base station (BS). A next step (302) includes deriving non-quantized weight information from the feedback information. A next step (304) includes transmitting symbols carrying the non-quantized weight information and non-precoded pilot symbols by the BS. A next step (305) includes receiving the information and symbols by the SS. A next step (306) includes estimating the non-quantized weights from the symbols carrying the non-quantized weight information and the non-precoded pilot symbols by the SS. A next step (308) includes decoding data from the BS by the SS using the estimated non-quantized weight information. |
| US08194760B2 |
Method and apparatus for distributed space-time coding in wireless radio networks
A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for performing distributed space-time coding. In one embodiment, the distributed space-time coding is used for downlink communications in wireless radio networks. In one embodiment, the method comprises storing information-bearing sequence at two or more base stations in a group of base stations; and transmitting data corresponding to the information-bearing sequence from a number of base stations for receipt by a receiver of a user, where the number of base stations is not globally known a priori and indicates a diversity of order, such that the diversity of order M is obtained if a total of M number of antennas spread over multiple base stations transmit the information-bearing sequence, where M is an integer. |
| US08194752B2 |
Method for mapping memory addresses, memory accessing apparatus and method thereof
A memory accessing apparatus and a method thereof are provided, which are suitable for methods and apparatuses that access memory data in blocks, such as a video decoder. An advanced memory mapping method is adopted to generate the column address and row address of a data word in a memory based on the logic address of the data word in a video frame. Macroblocks are organized into clusters, macroblocks of the same cluster are stored in the same row of the memory, and the orders in which the video decoder reads and writes macroblocks are rearranged so as to reduce the number of row changes in memory access and improve the throughput of memory access. Furthermore, memory accesses between the video decoder and the display controller can be coordinated. |
| US08194750B2 |
System and method for digital communication having a circulant bit interleaver for equal error protection (EEP) and unequal error protection (UEP)
A system and method for processing uncompressed high definition video data to be transmitted over a wireless medium is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes i) a plurality of convolutional encoders configured to input a plurality of video data streams and output a plurality of encoded data streams, respectively, wherein each data stream includes a plurality of data bits, ii) a group multiplexer configured to multiplex the plurality of encoded data streams into a multiplexed data stream, wherein the group multiplexer is further configured to multiplex a plurality of data bits together at one time and iii) a circulant bit interleaver configured to receive an m×n data stream block having n columns and m rows or convert the multiplexed data stream to an m×n data stream block, wherein the m×n data stream block comprises m×n data bits, and wherein the bit interleaver is further configured to interleave the received data bits diagonally and in a circulant manner with respect to the m×n block. The circulant bit interleaver interleaves the multiplexed data bits such that all data bits in one QAM symbol come from different convolutional encoders. |
| US08194746B2 |
Moving picture signal coding method, decoding method, coding apparatus, and decoding apparatus
Moving picture motion compensation coding/decoding predicts a motion vector in a coding block from a motion vector of the adjacent position and codes a differential motion vector calculated from the motion vector to be coded and its prediction motion vector. The coding is performed by switching the coding accuracy between a coding accuracy of the differential motion vector (1) and a coding accuracy of the prediction motion vector and the coding motion vector (2) for each block. Moreover, when decoding the motion vector from the differential motion vector coded by the aforementioned coding, a reversed processing with respect to the coding is performed. |
| US08194745B2 |
Motion vector coding and decoding methods
A motion vector coding method and apparatus that improves efficiency of coding motion vectors when a current block is coded using a plurality of motion vectors. The apparatus includes a motion vector coding unit that codes a motion vector inputted from a motion vector detecting unit. A motion vector for each current block is coded based on a difference between the motion vector and a predicted vector obtained from motion vectors for previously coded neighboring blocks. The predicted vector is generated by one of the following processes: (A) the motion vectors which refer to the same picture are selected from among the motion vectors for the neighboring blocks so as to generate the predicted vector; (B) the motion vectors for the respective neighboring blocks are ordered in the predetermined order, and the motion vectors of the same order rank are selected from the ordered motion vectors so as to generate the predicted vector; and (C) the predicted vector for the second motion vector of the current block shall be the first motion vector, and if the second motion vector and the first motion vector refer to different pictures, the first motion vector is scaled according to the temporal distance between the pictures so as to generate the predicted vector. |
| US08194744B2 |
Method and/or apparatus for implementing reduced bandwidth high performance VC1 intensity compensation
An apparatus comprising a first circuit, a second circuit and a third circuit is disclosed. The first circuit may be configured to generate an output signal and one or more motion vectors in response to (i) a bitstream signal and (ii) a predictor signal. The second circuit may be configured to generate one or more reference data pixels in response to an address signal and the output signal. The third circuit may be configured to generate the predictor signal and address signal in response to (i) the motion vectors and (ii) the reference data pixels. |
| US08194739B2 |
Trick play using temporal layering
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for encoding video content into a novel temporal layered coding structure. In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of sub-sequence layers are defined in a layer hierarchy in accordance with the present invention. A plurality of images within a sub-sequence of a group of images are selectively assigned to a respective one of the sub-sequence layers. A grouping of images contained in any sequential combination of sub-sequence layers that includes a hierarchically lowest of the sub-sequence layers results in a group of images that temporally are substantially evenly spaced. A related method and apparatus for decoding the temporally layered video content are also disclosed. |
| US08194735B2 |
Video encoding apparatus and video encoding method
A video encoding apparatus provides with a generator to generate a decoded image corresponding to an image obtained by decoding an encoded image obtained by encoding an original image by a first prediction scheme, a selector to select one of the original image and the decoded image as an input image according to a flicker of an image, and an encoder to encode the input image by a second prediction scheme to generate encoded data. |
| US08194732B2 |
Integrated circuit with conversion capability for portable media player
Presented herein are system(s), method(s) and apparatus for an integrated circuit with conversion capabilities for transferring data to a portable media player. In one embodiment, there is presented an integrated circuit for providing video data. The integrated circuit comprises at least one input, at least one output, an encoder, and at least another output. At least one input receives video data. At least one output provides the video data to a display screen. The encoder encodes the video data into a particular compressed format. The at least another output for provides the video data in the particular compressed format to an interface. |
| US08194731B2 |
Picture coding method and picture decoding method
A picture coding method for preventing occurrence of a malfunction includes: an adding step (Step S203) of coding a memory management command for the first picture of a predetermined picture number and adding the coded command to the second picture that is different from the first picture; and a re-adding step (Steps S205 to S208) of coding the memory management command again and re-adding re-coded command to the section other than the second picture in a coded picture stream VSt. In the re-adding step, re-addition of the memory management command is prohibited when the first picture is not immediately previous in coding order among the pictures of the predetermined picture number included in the coded picture stream VSt. |
| US08194730B2 |
Efficient use of storage in encoding and decoding video data streams
Some embodiments facilitate encoding/decoding of a frame by organizing frame data in a storage structure in a novel manner. Specifically, in a portion of the storage structure allocated for a frame slice, used partition entries are stored in a first section of the allocated portion and unused partition entries are stored in a second section of the allocated portion, the first and second sections each comprising a continuous area of storage in the storage structure so that used partition entries are not interspersed with nonused partition entries. In some embodiments, additional data useful in the encoding or decoding of video data is determined and stored into the unused bytes of used partition entries (such as macroblock header data or canonical reference frame index data). In some embodiments, two or more identical partitions of a macroblock are coalesced into a single partition. |
| US08194727B2 |
Equalizer characteristics optimizing method and transmission system
An equalizer characteristics optimizing method includes acquiring a recovery clock timing from a reception signal; acquiring a predetermined sampling clock timing with respect to the recovery clock timing; latching the reception signal at the recovery clock timing; latching the reception signal at the sampling clock timing; comparing logic values obtained in the latching steps; collecting, after changing a characteristics setting of an equalizer, logic value comparison result data by repeating the recovery clock acquiring step, the acquiring of the sampling clock timing, the latching of the reception signal at the individual clock timings, and the comparing of the logic values, using the changed characteristics setting; and determining an optimum characteristics setting of an equalizer based on the collected logic value comparison result data. |
| US08194720B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method
A wireless communication system which performs data transmission using spatially multiplexed streams from a first terminal including N antennas to a second terminal including M antennas (N is an integer of 2 or more and M is an integer of 1 or more) is disclosed. The system includes notifying means, training means, channel matrix estimation means, beamforming information feedback means, transmission weight matrix setting means, and beamforming means. |
| US08194716B2 |
Space-time coding method for a multi-antenna communication system of the UWB pulse type
The invention relates to a space-time coding method for a UWB transmission system comprising a plurality of radiative elements, said method coding a block of information symbols S=(σ1, σ2, . . . , σP) belonging to a PPM modulation alphabet, into a sequence of vectors, the components of a vector being intended to position-modulate a UWB pulse signal for a given radiative element of said system and a given transmission channel use, each component corresponding to a PPM modulation position, in which said vectors are obtained from the elements of the matrix: C = ( σ 1 σ 2 … σ P Ω σ P σ 1 ⋱ ⋮ ⋮ ⋱ ⋱ σ 2 Ω σ 2 … Ω σ P σ 1 ) a row of the matrix corresponding to a use of the transmission channel and a column of the matrix corresponding to a radiative element, the matrix C being defined to within a permutation of its rows and/or its columns and Ω carrying out a permutation operation on the PPM modulation positions. |
| US08194706B2 |
Method of transmitting data in a communication system
A method of processing a signal received at a node in a network, comprising the steps of; receiving the signal at the node; determining characteristics of a first part of the signal; determining characteristics of a second part of the signal that is subsequent to the first part of the signal; quantifying an effect on the signal caused by applying an action to the first part of the signal, based on characteristics of the first part of the signal; quantifying an effect on the signal caused by not applying the action on the first part of the signal, based on characteristics of the second part of the signal; applying the action to the first part of the signal if it is determined that the effect on the signal caused by applying the action to the first part of the signal is less detrimental to at least one measure of the signal quality than the effect on the signal caused by not applying the action to the first part of the signal. |
| US08194705B2 |
Method for formatting digital broadcast transport stream packet for improved receiving performance, digital broadcast transmitter, and signal processing method thereof
A method of formatting a digital broadcast transport stream packet, a digital broadcast transmitter, and a signal processing method thereof, includes constructing a transport stream packet that includes a stuffing region for an insertion of a known supplementary reference signal (SRS) data therein, randomizing the packet that includes the stuffing region is randomized, and the SRS data is inserted into the stuffing region of the randomized packet. Adding a parity for an error correction to the packet into which the SRS data has been inserted, the packet to which the parity has been added is interleaved, and a trellis encoding of the interleaved packet is performed. Inserting a segment sync signal and a field sync signal into the trellis-encoded packet, and a vestigial side band (VSB) modulation and an RF conversion of the packet are performed to transmit the VSB-modulated and RF-converted packet. |
| US08194692B2 |
Apparatus with and a method for a dynamic interface protocol
An apparatus with a dynamic interface protocol and a method for a dynamic interface protocol are provided. The apparatus is capable of consolidating multiple interface protocols to a single output terminal to reduce the number of output pins and the complexity and the cost of the apparatus. The apparatus is characterized by providing an output via the output terminal of the apparatus in accordance with a data protocol in a data mode, and providing the output via the output terminal in accordance with a video protocol in a video mode. |
| US08194691B2 |
Data link/physical layer packet buffering and flushing
A buffering structure including at least a first FIFO storage structure to stage at least a selected one of undiverted egress packets and undiverted ingress packets is provided. The buffering structure further includes at least first associated packet drop logic to selectively effectuate head or tail flushes of the first FIFO storage structure. In various embodiments, one or more additional FIFO storage structures are also provided to stage one or more diverted and/or insertion of egress/ingress packets. Those use for staging diverted egress/ingress packets are likewise provided with associated packet drop logic to perform tail flushes of these additional FIFO structures. In one application, the buffering structure is employed by a multi-protocol network processor, which in turn is employed by an optical networking module. |
| US08194689B2 |
Method for bring-up of voice over internet protocol telephones
A system and method for implementing telephony devices in a distributed network environment is disclosed. The present invention provides for voice transmissions to be given a dedicated virtual local area network (“VLAN”) for packet transmission and reception to prevent poor quality of service. Non-voice data packets are transmitted on a separate VLAN. |
| US08194688B2 |
Node disposition apparatus, node disposition method and computer readable medium thereof
A node disposition apparatus, a node disposition method and a computer readable medium thereof are provided. The node disposition apparatus may determine where a base station (BS) and a relay station (RS) should be disposed according to a connected mobile station amount of each node disposition candidate position in a non-transparent wireless network. Thereby, the BS and the RS may be disposed effectively to overcome the defects of the conventional BS and RS disposition way. |
| US08194686B2 |
Communications relay device, program and method, and network system
The present invention relates to a communications relay device placed between networks. The communications relay device includes a unit of translating a content of a call control packet flowing between the networks, a unit of storing translation information for translating a content of a data packet for each session, a unit of translating a data packet in accordance with the stored translation information, a unit of analyzing a content of a call control packet flowing between a first communication device placed in the first network and a communication device for call control and registering translation information, and a unit of associating two pieces of translation information generated based on call control packets relevant to a session between communication devices placed in the first network. |
| US08194685B2 |
Method and system for managing multiple networks over a set of ports
A system has a switch that allows virtual private networks to be created dynamically. The system includes at least one network. The system also includes a computer having an address. The system also includes a plurality of ports for coupling to the computer. The system also includes a switch that assigns one of the plurality of ports to a private network according to the address of the computer. The switch assigns the port by correlating the address with an address list. |
| US08194677B2 |
System for setting an ad-hoc network for terminal and method of controlling the same
A system and method for setting an ad-hoc network in a terminal are provided. The system includes a storage unit for storing a critical value of acceleration of the terminal, an acceleration sensor for measuring the acceleration of the terminal to provide a value of the measured acceleration, and a transmission frame processor for controlling transmission of a Media Access Control (MAC) frame for setting the network depending on whether the value of the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor exceeds the critical value of acceleration pre-stored in the storage unit. The system performs Radio Frequency (RF) control on the terminals, each of which must operate as a host and a router in the ad-hoc network, using the acceleration sensor, thereby preventing use of unnecessary resources and reducing an amount of unnecessarily broadcast frames. |
| US08194676B2 |
Streaming segmentation and reassembly in asynchronous transfer mode communications
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided that enable streaming of ATM cells between a transmit/receive data processing application and a transmission convergence function. Data to be segmented into an ATM cell is received at a SAR engine, and provided to a transmission convergence function, with the first cells transmitted to the transmission convergence function before the SAR function receives an end-of-packet indication from the optimization engine. Data received at a transmission convergence function is placed in a received packet queue at the SAR function, with packets provided to an application after a start-of-packet indication is received, and before an end-of-packet indication is received, at the SAR function. |
| US08194674B1 |
System and method for aggregating communications and for translating between overlapping internal network addresses and unique external network addresses
A gateway device including an access interface to an external network, a trunked interface, and translation logic. The access interface is associated with multiple external source addresses. The trunked interface is interfaced with multiple different virtual local area networks (VLANs), where each VLAN is associated with a corresponding VLAN tag and at least one of potentially overlapping internal source addresses. The translation logic translates between each external source address and each unique combination of internal source address and VLAN tag. A method of network address translation including assigning one of first network addresses to each first device of a first network, dividing the first network into a plurality of VLANs, separating the first devices with the same first network address into different VLANs, and assigning first devices with the same first address to different second network addresses. |
| US08194673B2 |
Policy based network address translation
A system and method is described for providing policy-based Network Address Translation (NAT) configurations wherein each user/resource policy within a network protection device may use a different set of address translation mappings. |
| US08194671B2 |
Method for reactivating connections in a cellular telephony system
A method for a cellular communications system (100) with a user (UE, 110) and a hierarchy of nodes between a UE (110) and an external network (150). The hierarchy comprises at least first (125) and second (130) nodes, and there can be a plurality of connections between the UE (110) and the network (150) via data channels (160) between the nodes, and plurality of data containers (170) with data regarding the data channels. A connection between a UE (110) and the external network (150) can be inactivated whilst the corresponding data container (170) is preserved, and an inactivated connection can be reactivated by the external network (150). When a connection is to be reactivated, the second node (130) utilizes information from the external network (150) in order to reactivate the data channel or channels which is/are concerned and which have had their data containers (170) preserved. |
| US08194670B2 |
Upper layer based dynamic hardware transmit descriptor reclaiming
In general, the invention relates to reclaiming transmit descriptors by configuring a media access control (MAC) to execute a first MAC layer thread to reclaim a first number of transmit descriptors (TDs) from a first hardware transmit ring (HTR) using a first reclaim algorithm, where the first reclaim algorithm is associated with a first transmission pattern and a first TDR status. The invention further includes receiving, by a virtual NIC (VNIC) executing within the MAC layer, a first number of packets, forwarding the first number of packets to a device driver on the host associated with the physical NIC, and forwarding the first number of packets from the device driver to the physical NIC using the first number of TDs, where the first plurality of TDs are reclaimed by the first MAC layer thread according to the first reclaim algorithm. |
| US08194669B1 |
Method and system for identifying media type transmitted over an atm network
A system and method suitable for identifying the type of communication that is transferred between two intermediate nodes over a communication link that has a plurality of different channels or sub-channels each of which carry user's data. With accurate identification of the communication types, subsequent bandwidth management decisions can be made such that a telecommunications system can have increased bandwidth utilization without jeopardizing user contracted QoS levels. |
| US08194667B2 |
Method and system for inheritance of network interface card capabilities
A method for obtaining a capability from a network interface card (NIC), involving sending a query to the NIC for the capability, obtaining the capability from the NIC in response to the query, sending the capability to a virtual NIC, and sending the capability from the virtual NIC to a virtual network stack associated with the virtual NIC, wherein the capability is used by the virtual network stack to process packets. |
| US08194662B2 |
Inspection of data
An in-band inspection device receives a packet and/or frame, and inspects the packet and/or frame “on the fly.” The device can accept, reject, and/or modify the received packet and/or frame in accordance with the inspection. The device can operate in a fast mode wherein the received packet and/or frame can be transmitted as soon as, for example, a port address in the packet and/or frame is received, or in a slow mode wherein the received packet frame is buffered until, for example, at least the CRC of the packet and/or frame is beginning to be received. |
| US08194658B2 |
Transmitting and receiving method and apparatus in real-time system
A method and apparatus transmitting and receiving in a real-time system are disclosed. The method of transmitting in a real-time system includes scheduling a task included in a socket based on a predetermined transmission option designated to the socket, and transmitting a packet generated by the scheduled task based on the predetermined transmission option, so that real-time communications of a network communication can be secured and resources of the system can be efficiently used, thereby, transmitting and receiving data according to the required characteristics of transmission and reception. |
| US08194656B2 |
Metro ethernet network with scaled broadcast and service instance domains
A method of operation for a provider edge device of a core network includes receiving a customer frame from an access network; the customer frame having a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag of a first predetermined bit length. The first VLAN tag including a service instance identifier. The service instance identifier of the first VLAN tag is then mapped into a second VLAN tag of a second predetermined bit length greater than the first predetermined bit length. |
| US08194652B2 |
Serializer for generating serial clock based on independent clock source and method for serial data transmission
A method for serially transmitting data from a system including a serializer for converting a parallel data signal into a serial data signal and a parallelizer for converting the serial data signal into the parallel data signal includes storing a value of the parallel data signal in a register in the parallelizer, generating a serial clock signal independent from a clock signal of the parallel data signal using an external clock source, and recovering the parallel data signal by using the value of the parallel data signal stored in the register. |
| US08194650B2 |
Method for establishing the IP flow map updating connection in a high rate packet data network
The present invention discloses a method for establishing connections in IP flow mapping update in a HRPD network, comprising steps of: (1) when a PCF receives a request for establishing A8 connections that need to be re-mapped, if determining that there is A8 connection supported, sending an A11-registration request to a PDSN; (2) when the PDSN receives the information on A10 connections in the A11-registration request, if determining that there is A10 connection supported, establishing those A10 connections and sending an A11-registration reply; (3) when the PCF receives the reply message, establishing all the A8 connections corresponding to the A10 connections and sending an A9-connect-A8 to the AN; (4) an AT and the AN releasing and removing the IP flow that can not be mapped to any of the A8 connections or resource reserved by the IP flow according to the A9-connect-A8 received. |
| US08194648B2 |
Cellular communication system and a method of operation therefor
A cellular communication system comprises a media gateway (111) which interfaces between a packet switched network (113) and a circuit switched network (115). The media gateway (111) time aligns received packet data in response to timestamps of these. Each of first and second RNC (105, 109) comprise a Node B interface (201) which receives real time data being data of an air interface communication from the remote station (101) to a base station (103, 107) supported by the RNC (105, 109). A packet processor (203, 205) then transmits the data packets to the media gateway (111) via the packet switched network (113). A timestamp processor (207) determines timestamps for the data packets in response to a timing characteristic of the air interface communication. |
| US08194645B2 |
System for blind/attended transfer in session initiation protocol (SIP)-based network and method of controlling the transfer
A method for controlling blind/attended transfer in an SIP-based network includes: transmitting, by an SIP-based terminal, a call request message to a third terminal, which is an object of a call transfer, after pausing a communication with a second terminal by transmitting a call waiting message to the SIP server; determining, by the SIP-based terminal, whether a call transfer function (Hook on) has been activated prior to receiving a call response (200OK) signal from the SIP server; and performing, by the SIP-based terminal, the blind transfer with the third terminal by transmitting a call transfer message (REFER) to the SIP server upon the call transfer function (Hook on) being activated prior to receiving the call response message from the SIP server. The SIP-based terminal processes the blind/attended transfer using one input, thereby providing convenience to a user. |
| US08194644B2 |
Client/server queuing method to coordinate connection attempts to a server
A client/server network includes a plurality of IP devices in communication with a central server. The plurality of IP devices communicate with one another to queue themselves onto a linked list. The plurality of IP devices then connect to the central server in the order determined by the linked list. Prior to attempting to connect to the central server, each of the plurality of IP devices verifies that a number of IP devices currently attempting to connect to the central server is not equal to a maximum number. |
| US08194640B2 |
Voice over IP (VoIP) network infrastructure components and method
A voice over Internet protocol communication system and method provides infrastructure components as intermediaries between networks, the components include multi-protocol session controllers and a multi-protocol signaling switch as well as a management system. The session controllers process calls and participate in the calls that flow through it. The session controllers process calls that are either at the edge of the network or at the core of the voice over Internet protocol network. The session controllers associate calls with one another in call peers for incoming calls as ingress call peers and for outgoing calls as egress call peers. A centralized database of call routing policies is provided to the session controllers. The session controllers provide cost management, topology hiding, and inter-working, or conversion, of calls from SIP networks to H.323 networks for both voice and video. |
| US08194639B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing automated processing of a multicast service alarm
A method and apparatus for providing automatic processing of an alarm related to a multicast service in a network are disclosed. For example, the method receives an alarm related to a multicast service, and retrieves multicast data, wherein said multicast data comprises one or more of: a source Internet Protocol (IP) address for a source, a group IP address, and Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) data. The method retrieves interface information, wherein the interface information comprises one or more of: an interface IP address, a PIM mode, and a Designated Router (DR) IP address. The method retrieves a status of a neighbor of the source in accordance with the source IP address, and determines if a neighbor is established for the source IP address. |
| US08194634B2 |
Method and system for extending a mobile directory number to a landline-based voice-over-packet network
A mobile station is coupled to a docking station that has a landline connection to a packet-switched network. In response, the mobile station's mobile directory number (MDN) is registered, via the packet-switched network, as being accessible via the docking station. As a result, when a call is placed to the MDN, the call is routed to the docking station via the packet-switched network. Communication devices coupled to the docking station may then be used to answer the call and/or participate in the call. |
| US08194633B2 |
Method for transmitting data in a WLAN network
A method for transmitting data in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) including transmitting a WLAN message between a terminal device and an access node of the WLAN network in the Layer 2 protocol layer. An Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) message is transmitted in the WLAN message. The EAP message includes a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message having SIP authentication data. |
| US08194631B2 |
System and method for providing data to a wireless communication device
A system and method allowing a mobile device user to initiate a transaction over the most widely used network such as a CDMA or GSM network and then have the device complete the transaction over a specialized data network such as Wi-Fi. The system includes a server communicating with a wireless device that maintains indexed data from the user's original transaction to ensure integrity through the completion of the transaction. The system also includes a method for the user to purchase content, download the content and upon successful completion, have it appropriately billed. |
| US08194630B2 |
Method and system for interference reduction through proximity based transmission mode change
A method for transmission mode change in a telecommunication network, said network having a public network comprising at least one public base station (NB) covering a public cell and a private network comprising at least one private base station (PBS) covering a private cell, wherein said at least one private base station has limited access rights for User Equipment (UEs) in the private network, and where said UEs are able to also communicate with the public network, comprising the step of: performing a private base station transmission mode change when the private base station is in an interference reduction transmission mode to an active transmission mode when a UE with access right to said private base station is detected in proximity of said private base station, where a detection of said proximity is based on information being specific for said UE and its relation to said private base station. The disclosure also relates to a telecommunication system. |
| US08194629B2 |
Method for distributing media in an infrastructure based communication system
A wireless communication device acquires membership in a predefined group, joins an ad hoc network associated with the predefined group, and joins and participates in a first session established through an infrastructure device for distributing media to the predefined group. If the wireless communication device is a duplicator node for the ad hoc network, then it receives the media from the infrastructure device and distributes the media other nodes of the ad hoc network, otherwise it receives the media from the duplicator node. The infrastructure device identifies the duplicator node for each ad hoc network associated with the predefined group and each member of the predefined group that is not a node of any of the ad hoc networks and distributes the media only to these members of the predefined group. |
| US08194627B1 |
Apparatus and method for communication with a mobile communications device in an IP network
A system and method for communication with a mobile communications device in an Internet Protocol (IP) network is disclosed. In an embodiment, the system includes an application server and a mobile communications device. A first foreign agent and a first home agent are coupled to the application server and a second foreign agent and a second home agent are coupled to the mobile communications device. The first foreign agent creates a first binding for the second foreign agent and the second foreign agent creates a second binding for the first foreign agent. The first foreign agent communicates directly with the second foreign agent by utilizing the first binding and the second foreign agent communicates directly with the first foreign agent by utilizing the second binding. |
| US08194626B2 |
Reduced interframe spacing in a wireless transmission system
Providing wireless transmission, where in a first transmission mode, transmitting a plurality of frames using a first interframe spacing interval. When in a second transmission mode, transmitting the plurality of frames using a second interframe spacing interval, wherein the second interframe spacing is less than the first interframe spacing. |
| US08194624B2 |
Resource allocating method among mobile-stations in distribution communication network
A method of resource allocation among mobile stations in distributed communication network enables a mobile station to perceive existence of another mobile station through a time slot for resource allocation without having to communicate with a sensor node. If perceiving another mobile station, the mobile station allocates time slot resources not to overlap with the time slot resources of another mobile station, and performs location measurement or media access and reception of service from the sensor node through the allocated time slot resources. Because the mobile stations of the network can perceive each other by communicating with each other, and accordingly allocate their own resources without overlapping with the resource of the others, frequent collision of the signal for location measurement can be prevented. |
| US08194622B2 |
Method and system for managing communication between a base station and subscriber stations
A method and system for managing a communication between a base station (102) and plurality of subscriber stations (104, 106, 108 and 110) is disclosed. The method includes determining (504) whether a Round Trip Delay (RTD) component is greater than the duration of a data slot for at least one subscriber station of the plurality of subscriber stations. The RTD component is a part of a Transmit/receive Transition Gap (TTG) of the base station. The method also includes scheduling (506) the data slot for the at least one subscriber station using the RTD component of the base station when the duration of the RTD component is greater than the duration of the data slot for the at least one subscriber station. |
| US08194621B2 |
Method of allocating uplink transmission channels in a communication system
A method of allocating channels in a user equipment is disclosed. In particular, a method of allocating a plurality of Dedicated Physical Channels (DPCHs) and Enhanced Dedicated Channels (E-DCHs) in a user equipment of a multicode transmission system. The method includes determining whether a High Speed Downlink Shared Channel (HS-DSCH) is configured for the user equipment (UE) and determining a number of codes used by the DPCH and the E-DCH. The method further includes allocating the DPCH and the E-DCH channels to an I branch or a Q branch based on the number of codes used by the DPCH and the E-DCH and the HS-DSCH configuration. |
| US08194614B2 |
Methods and systems for MOB—HO-IND message enhancement
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and apparatus for efficient reactivation of a previously exited sleep mode. The proposed method may send a request for reactivation of the sleep mode along with the handover cancellation message to the serving base station. For certain embodiments, the request may include a set of sleep mode parameters used in the previously exited sleep mode. |
| US08194612B2 |
Wireless communication device
Upon handover, a mobile station receives, from the movement origin base station, information on the movement destination base station and information relating to a sequence to be used for transmitting a random access signal to the movement destination base station. The mobile station receives a synchronization channel signal transmitted from the movement destination base station. The mobile station transmits the random access signal to the movement destination base station at a timing offset by a prescribed period from a timing of receiving a synchronization channel and at a frequency corresponding to that of the synchronization channel. A position of the timing/frequency used for transmitting the random access signal for the handover is used exclusively by the random access signal transmitted from the mobile terminal for which a handover is being performed or is used exclusively at the same time by a plurality of mobile stations for which handovers are performed. |
| US08194611B2 |
System and method of automatically optimizing an operational radio access network
Systems and methods of automatically optimizing an operational radio access network are provided. Objective and operational cost functions for the radio access network are generated, and a deviation between the generated cost functions is determined. At least one aspect of the radio access network is adjusted in order to minimize the determined deviation between cost functions. |
| US08194608B2 |
Telecommunications system and method
A mobile communications session is provided to a mobile node using an internet protocol. A home packet data network communicates with an affiliated mobile node. The home packet data network includes a home agent of the mobile node. A visited packet data network communicates with an affiliated mobile node. A packet data gateway controls the communication between the home and visited packet data networks. Following a change of affiliation from the home packet data network to the visited packet data network, the packet data gateway and the home agent establish a route to the mobile node via the packet data gateway, which controls communication between the home packet data network and the mobile node affiliated with the visited packet data network. If the mobile node roams between a 3GPP network and a non-3GPP network; the packet data gateway controls communication, using resources on the 3GPP network by the mobile node. |
| US08194607B2 |
Handover control method and apparatus for efficiently buffering packets in wimax network
A handover control method and apparatus are provided to efficiently buffer packets in a Mobile Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WIMAX) network. A serving radio access station (S-RAS) and an access control router (ACR) divide and buffer packets to be sent to a mobile station before and after a predetermined message exchange process. The Access control router (ACR) sequentially tunnels a packet buffered in the serving radio access station (S-RAS) and a packet buffered in the Access control router (ACR) into a target radio access station (T-RAS) when a handover for the mobile station is completed. Since an unnecessary buffering operation is not performed in the Access control router (ACR) and the radio access station (RAS), a resource waste may be avoided. |
| US08194606B2 |
Method for scanning access points during station's handoff procedure in wireless communication system and station performing the method, and network interface supporting the method and wireless communication system enabling the method
A wireless communication system includes at least one AP assigned with a unique MAC address and a shared virtual MAC address; and at least one mobile station to search the at least one AP, receive AP information from the retrieved AP, and perform a handoff, wherein the mobile station transmits query data to the shared virtual MAC address, receives response data from the AP, determines whether the AP exists on a predetermined channel, and when the AP exists on the channel, requests the AP having the shared virtual MAC address for AP information, and receives the AP information from the AP. |
| US08194605B2 |
Global virtual local area network for voice communication sessions in a wireless local area network
A first wireless AP of a WLAN in a first subnet segment of a network has both a local ESSID and a global ESSID for mobile devices to associate with it. Similarly, a second wireless AP of the WLAN in a second subnet segment of the network has both a local ESSID and the global ESSID for mobile devices to associate with it. The global ESSID is used for accessing a global VLAN which spans across the first and the second subnet segments. Initially, a mobile device associates with the first wireless AP using the local ESSID. Just prior to a VoIP session, the mobile device reassociates with the first wireless AP using the global ESSID. If a handoff to the second wireless AP is made during the VoIP session, the mobile device associates with the second wireless AP using the global ESSID. |
| US08194603B2 |
Subframe component reduction and notification in a heterogeneous wireless communication system
A wireless base unit (102) supporting carrier aggregation determines a truncation time period (159, 169) in order to create a reduced subframe component (154, 164) on an additional component carrier (120) such that the truncated subframe component (154, 164) does not interfere with the control region (171, 172) of a subframe (170, 180) transmitted on an overlapping component carrier (130) by an uncoordinated second base unit (105). The wireless base unit (102) transmits the truncated subframe component (154, 164) and also transmits truncation time period information within a control region (151, 161) of an anchor carrier (110). A remote terminal (104, 108) that supports carrier aggregation searches a control region (151, 161) of a subframe (150, 160) transmitted on the anchor carrier (110) for truncation information and uses the truncation information to determine a boundary of a data region in a subframe component (154, 164) received on the additional component carrier (120). |
| US08194597B2 |
Method and apparatus for cellular communication over data networks
Cellular signals or other wireless signals/messages are introduced into a building or to an outside location by transmitting packets corresponding to those signals over a data network and low cost cables to designated locations within the data network. Once the designated packets containing the signals reach the destination, they are then broadcast over the air to a terminal capable of receiving the wireless message. In a first embodiment, an in-building gigabit Ethernet network, such as that currently existing presently in many buildings, is used to distribute radio signals indoors. Instead of transmitting the radio signals over the air from a repeater connected to a base station, coded baseband signals generated by the coding processor (e.g., a CDMA Modem Unit) in the base station are packetized and sent over the Ethernet network to radio processing equipment and antennas distributed throughout the building. The radio processing equipment strips the packet headers from the baseband signal packets so those signals can be broadcast via the antennas to one or more mobile terminals. |
| US08194593B2 |
Quality of service architecture for home mesh network
An embodiment is a technique to perform QoS. An interface between an upper layer and a lower layer in a multi-hop mesh network receives and transmits packets from and to a local node and a remote node. A classifier classifies the received packets into a plurality of packet types having different priority levels. A queue manager manages a plurality of buffers organized according to the packet types. The plurality of buffers stores the classified packets based on the packet types. A scheduler schedules distributing the packets from the plurality of buffers based on the priority levels according to a scheduling policy. |
| US08194590B2 |
System, method, and computer-readable medium for processing call originations by a femtocell system
A system, method, and computer readable medium for processing a call setup in a network system are provided. A femtocell system receives a call origination from a user equipment located within a service area of the femtocell system and performs a service connection with the user equipment. The femtocell system creates a connection for an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem core network, transmits an INVITE message to a called telephone device via the Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem, and completes the call setup between the user equipment and the called telephone device. |
| US08194587B2 |
Adaptive network supporting single to concurrent interfering wireless transmissions
A wireless network infrastructure supporting a plurality of wireless end point devices containing a wireless access point and a plurality of end point wireless devices that supports single transmission and reception and/or concurrent interfering transmission and reception. The wireless access point transmits data to the end point wireless devices that supports single transmission and reception during a first portion of a first data transmission period and simultaneously transmits data to the end point wireless devices that supports concurrent interfering transmission and reception during a second portion of the first data transmission period. The wireless access point simultaneously receives data from the end point wireless devices that supports concurrent interfering transmission and reception during a second data transmission period. The wireless access point detects and separates data that arrive from the Plurality of end point wireless devices that supports concurrent interfering transmission and reception. |
| US08194583B2 |
Method and system of radio frequency (RF) power transmission in a wireless network
A method and system of radio frequency (RF) power transmission among multiple wireless stations is provided. Control signals for switching a receiving station between a power reception mode and a data reception mode are generated. The control signals provide switching information about which of the modes to switch to, and timing of the switching. In the data reception mode, the receiving station processes an RF transmission from a sending station as a data communication. In the power reception mode the receiving station processes the RF transmission as energy radiation for powering the receiving station. One type of control signal for power mode switching is generated at the MAC layer of a receiving station and sent to the PHY layer of that station for power mode switching. Another type is RTS/CTS control signal exchanged between the sending and receiving stations. |
| US08194581B1 |
Account holder notification for an infracting mobile station or mobile directory number (MDN)
A mobile communication network offers notification to an account holder upon occurrence of an infraction of a subscriber selected restriction by operation of one of the mobile stations under the subscriber's account. In the examples, the subscriber can select a directory number/station under the account, a desired one of a number of available restriction options and one or more parameters of the selected restriction. When the mobile communication network detects an infraction, caused by operation of the mobile station through the network, a system or processor obtains a destination address designated for an account holder, for the subscriber's account, such as the directory number for one of the subscriber's stations selected as that of the account holder. The system sends a notification of the infraction intended for the account holder, using the destination address, for example, as a text message sent through the network to the account holder's mobile station. |
| US08194580B2 |
System and method for broadcasting application-specific information in wireless local area networks
A system and method for a novel broadcasting scheme (NBS) in a wireless local area network are described, which can operate with or without a network connection. The system permits transmission of application-specific data through a specific field in a beacon frame, the Service Set Identity (SSID). By implementing a NBS Processor in an AP and a NBS Parser in stations, the AP can broadcast application-specific data while the stations can automatically act upon the receipt of the broadcast. |
| US08194579B2 |
Method of transmitting and receiving point-to-multipoint service in mobile communication system
A method of transmitting a point-to-multipoint service in a mobile communication system, method of receiving the same, apparatus for transmitting the same and apparatus receiving the same are disclosed, by which a transmission parameter of a channel providing a point-to-multipoint service to a plurality of cells can be informed to UEs receiving the point-to-multipoint service. The present invention includes receiving at least one transmission parameter on a point-to-multipoint signaling channel providing scheduling information of the point-to-multipoint service wherein the point-to-multipoint signaling channel is mapped to the point-to-multipoint channel, combining the point-to-multipoint channel transmitted from a plurality of cells by using the at least one transmission parameter, and receiving the point-to-multipoint service on a point-to-multipoint traffic channel wherein the point-to-multipoint traffic channel is mapped to the point-to-multipoint channel. |
| US08194572B2 |
Method and apparatus for increasing performance of a wireless communication system
A method for increasing performance of a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes determining (220) quality of service parameters that will result in a reduced likelihood that an application assigned the determined quality of service parameters will be scheduled for transmission, identifying (230) an application to be provided service that is less than best effort, and assigning (240) the determined one or more quality of service parameters to the identified application. In an embodiment, the method further assigns (250) a dedicated bearer to the identified application and either does not schedule (260) the dedicated bearer at all or schedules (270) the dedicated bearer less frequently compared to a frequency of scheduling a default bearer. |
| US08194570B2 |
Configuration tool for MPLS virtual private network topologies
Configuration tool for virtual private network (VPN) topologies. In particular implementations, a method includes accessing a network topology configuration set comprising one or more route target groups (RTGs), wherein each RTG comprises a topology type identifier, one or more site identifiers, one or more role identifiers associated with each of the site identifiers, and one or more route target identifiers; generating one or more route target statements, based on the topology type identifier and role identifiers of one or more RTGs, defining the export or import of network layer reachability information between one or more routing nodes in a virtual private network (VPN) topology; and transmitting the one or more route target statements to one or more routing nodes. |
| US08194568B1 |
Telecommunications network traffic monitoring
Blocked traffic is monitored in a telecommunications network. Respective switch data is collected from each of the switches including respective routing tables and trunk performance parameters for a current time period. Final trunk groups are identified for each respective switch in response to the respective routing tables. The number of circuits within each final trunk group is determined. The total usage of each of the final trunk groups is determined in response to the respective trunk performance parameters. A blocking value for each of the final trunk groups is determined. A network portrayal is generated wherein each of the switches is depicted according to one of a plurality of ranges of aggregate blocking values for each respective switch. A plurality of switch portrayals is generated wherein each switch portrayal depicts each final trunk group within a respective switch according to a plurality of ranges of blocking values. |
| US08194566B2 |
Information processing device, and bubble packet transmission method and program
A first information-processing device at a communication source, is equipped with span of packet life setting part and bubble packet transmitter. The span of packet life setting part sets a span of packet life in a range where a bubble packet transmitted for leaving a transmission history in a NAT at the communication source so that a packet transmitted from the information-processing device at the communication destination, does not reach the information-processing device at the communication destination. Meanwhile, bubble packet transmitter transmits a bubble packet having the span of packet life set by span of packet life setting part through the NAT at the communication source. With such a configuration, the present invention provides an information-processing device that appropriately establishes communications through a NAT with high-level security. |
| US08194564B2 |
Message filtering method
A message filtering method makes use of a database in which domain names of a network, such as the Internet, are associated with IP addresses, or with geographic locations. Electronic messages are tested for authenticity by comparing domain names and IP addresses for a message being tested with information in the database. If the sender information in the message does not have the same associations as information in the database, the message may be blocked, flagged as spam, or subjected to further filtering. |
| US08194562B1 |
Method and system for management of RF access probes based on RF conditions
A method and system for dynamically optimizing access channel parameters in a cellular wireless communication system. A computer system monitors the level of access channel occupancy and the level of reverse link noise in a given cell sector, and the computer system then automatically adjusts access channel parameters for the sector if the access channel occupancy and reverse link noise cooperatively meet certain threshold criteria. Ideally, the adjustments in access channel parameters will help to improve the success of access channel communications. The computer system may be integrated as part of a base station or may be provided as a separate entity. |
| US08194561B2 |
Packet relay device and method for transferring packet therein
A packet relay device receives an input packet via a first communication port out of a plurality of communication ports of the packet relay device and transmits the input packet via a second communication port out of the plurality of communication ports. The packet relay device includes a learning table storage, a header adder, a discard determiner, and a packet reducer. The learning table storage stores a source address contained in the input packet, in association with an input port identifier capable of identifying the first communication port. The header adder adds an internal transfer header containing the input port identifier to the input packet to generate an internal transfer packet. The discard determiner determines whether to discard the internal transfer packet. The packet reducer reduces the internal transfer packet to preserve at least the source address and the input port identifier upon determining to discard the internal transfer packet. |
| US08194551B2 |
Methods and apparatus for network controlled mobile IP flow movement
Methods and apparatus for network controlled mobile IP flow movement. An infrastructure node, such as a home agent, signals a mapping between care-of-addresses (CoAs) and flows to be transmitted from a mobile device in uplink communications. The CoA associated with each flow is determined from network, device, and/or flow information. A mobile node or mobile gateway receives the mapping and updates its local policy information. When a selected flow is to be transmitted in an uplink transmission, the local policy information is used to determine the CoA associated with the selected flow. The CoA is then used to determine an access network (or access path) on which the uplink transmission of the selected flow is to occur. |
| US08194547B1 |
Configuring flow control settings
Flow control settings are configured. Credit settings for credit types of input/output interconnect ports are programmed at a low value. The system type of a system containing the input/output interconnect ports is detected. The credit settings are reprogrammed in accordance with the system type. |
| US08194544B2 |
Network delay shaping system and method for backhaul of wireless networks
A distributed or centralized network backhaul delay system includes a plurality of cellular base transceiver stations. Each cellular base transceiver station includes a network backhaul delay element. The network backhaul delay element is configured to calculate delay information associated with network delays between cell sites. The network backhaul delay element is configured to adjust and shape the relative network delays to minimize network delays between cell sites to enable soft handoff to be performed. |
| US08194539B2 |
System and method for monitoring congestion in communication systems
A system and method for monitoring congestion in a communication system including an external packet switched network. The communication system includes a plurality of interconnected host devices, such as base stations, consoles, zone controllers. To determine the presence of congestion on links between a pair of host devices, a series of sequential packets are transmitted between the pair. The sequentially transmitted packets are then monitor fluctuations in transmission delays and lost packets. These two criteria are used to identify congestion levels present on the various links in the communication system, and communications on the relevant interzone link are controlled based on the identified congestion level. |
| US08194536B2 |
Vehicle active network with fault tolerant devices
A vehicle active network (12) communicatively couples devices (14-20) within a vehicle (10). Device operation is independent of the interface (22-28) of the device (14-20) with the active network (12). Additionally, the architecture of the active network (12) provides one or more levels of communication redundancy. The architecture provides for the total integration of vehicle systems and functions, and permits plug-and-play device integration and upgradeability. |
| US08194534B2 |
Blade server system with at least one rack-switch having multiple switches interconnected and configured for management and operation as a single virtual switch
Described is a rack-switch including a rack and a plurality of blade server chassis within the rack. Each blade server chassis has a plurality of server blades in communication with at least one switch. Each switch includes a plurality of external ports. At least two of the external ports of each switch are inter-switch link (ISL) ports. The rack-switch also includes a plurality of inter-switch links. Each inter-switch link electrically connects one ISL port of one of the switches to one ISL port of another of the switches. The plurality of inter-switch links interconnects the switches such that the switches are daisy chained in a loop. The inter-switch links convey Ethernet packets representing server-to-server communications between server blades of different blade server chassis. |
| US08194532B1 |
Mixed radix discrete fourier transform
An efficient circuit and method for performing radix-3 Discrete Fourier transform (DFT) of a 3*2M size data frame are provided. The data frame is split and fast Fourier transform (FFT) processed as three sub-frames. Radix-3 operations are performed on the FFT processed sub-frames over a number of stages with time shared hardware to compute the DFT of the data-frame. FFT operations are performed on the second and third sub-frames to produce respective sub-transforms. Concurrently with FFT processing of the first sub-frame, butterfly operations are performed on the sub-transforms of the second and third sub-frames. Through the use of time-shared hardware and arranging FFT operations to correspond with radix-3 operations at various stages of processing, the DFT is performed with existing FFT processors while reducing resource requirements and/or reducing DFT transform time over the full-parallel radix-3 implementation. |
| US08194529B2 |
Frame and data pattern structure for multi-carrier systems
The present invention relates to a transmitting apparatus (54) for transmitting signals in a multi carrier system on the basis of a frame structure, each frame comprising at least one signalling pattern and one or more data patterns, said transmitting apparatus comprisingframe forming means (59) adapted to arrange signalling data in said at least one signalling pattern in a frame, and to arrange data and at least one pilot signal in said one or more data patterns in a frame, whereby the length of each of said one or more data patterns in the frequency direction is equal to or a multiple of a minimum data pattern length, transforming means (60) adapted to transform said at least one signalling pattern and said one or more data patterns from the frequency domain into the time domain in order to generate a time domain transmission signal, and transmitting means (61) adapted to transmit said time domain transmission signal. The present invention further relates to a corresponding transmitting method and a frame structure as well as a receiving apparatus and method, as well as a transmitting and receiving system and method. |
| US08194525B2 |
Information storage medium, information read/write device, coordination system, control program for the device or system, and computer-readable storage medium
There are provided at least a first information storage area 20A and a second information storage area 40A. The first information storage area 20A contains, in advance, an OS or mpeg data. The second information storage area 40A is either write-once or rewriteable and available for writing OS update information or movie correction information. The configuration enables easy backup and restoration of software, content, and various information including update information for use by the software and content with reduced user time and workload. |
| US08194524B2 |
Data reproduction apparatus
When a user requests a reproduction operation via a remote control, a microprocessor determines whether or not data on a medium of the type selected in advance by a user using the remote control can be reproduced. When the microprocessor determines that data on a medium of the selected type can be reproduced, it selectively reproduces data on the medium of the selected type. When the microprocessor determines that data on a medium of the selected type cannot be reproduced, it sequentially determines whether data on media other than media of the selected type among multiple types of media can be reproduced or not, sets the type of a medium on which data can be reproduced, which is found as a result of the determination, as the type of media to be played, and reproduces data on the medium on which data can be reproduced. |
| US08194522B2 |
Aspheric lens and optical pickup including the same
An aspheric lens includes at least one aspheric lens surface, and an angle of inclination on the aspheric lens surface is smaller than or equal to 65°. The aspheric lens surface is given by the equation Z ( r ) = cr 2 1 + 1 - ( 1 + K ) c 2 r 2 + Lr 2 + Ar 4 + Br 6 + Cr 8 + Dr 10 + Er 12 + Fr 14 + Gr 16 + Hr 18 + Jr 20 where L≠0, c is a curvature, r2=x2+y2, K is a conic integer, and L and A through J are aspheric coefficients. |
| US08194520B2 |
Disc structure for bit-wise holographic storage
An optical disc for micro-holographic data storage, including: optically-enabled material configured to store holographic data; guide grooves; a first coating disposed on the guide grooves and configured to reflect a tracking beam and to transmit a read or record beam; and a second coating disposed to cover the guide grooves and disposed on the first coating. |
| US08194519B2 |
Method for transmitting content with copy control information, content identification information and content status information
A content transmitting apparatus and the like which execute copy control of content more securely than conventional, and can count copy number correctly according to the situation, even in the case where content transfer is interrupted are provided. The content reproducing apparatus 10 for transmitting content that is digital copyrighted work including a plurality of content blocks comprises: the content reproducing unit 11 which reads out content and the like from the DVD 30; the control unit 12 which repeats, for each of the plurality of content blocks, transmitting in parallel with the content blocks, the copy control information indicating copy permission of the content, the content identification information identifying content, and the content status information indicating status of the content blocks in the overall content; the data building unit 15; the transmission unit 16; and the like. |
| US08194518B2 |
Optical disc device and optical disc playback method
According to one embodiment, a device includes a filter which limits a frequency bandwidth of a reproduced signal from an optical disc, an AD conversion module which converts an output signal from the filter into a multilevel digital signal, an equalizing module for equalizing a waveform of the multilevel digital signal based on a predetermined partial response class and generating an equalizing playback signal, a detection module for generating binary data corresponding to data recorded on the optical disc based on the equalizing playback signal, a module for determining an amplitude value of each of an input signal to and an output signal from the equalizing module with respect to each binary data sequence output from the detection module, and a module for adjusting a high-frequency amplification amount of the filter such that an amplitude value before waveform equalization and an amplitude value after waveform equalization satisfy a predetermined relationship. |
| US08194517B2 |
Hologram recording and reproducing device and method for recording hologram
A hologram recording and reproducing device controls an optical beam output from an external cavity semiconductor laser to improve a diffraction efficiency. The hologram recording and reproducing device includes an external cavity laser, a photodiode, a laser drive circuit and a laser diode controller. The external cavity laser has a laser diode adapted to emit an optical beam that is used to generate data light and reference light with which a hologram recording medium is irradiated. The photodiode detects the amount of the optical beam output from the external cavity laser. The laser drive circuit supplies a current to the external cavity laser. The laser diode controller controls the laser drive circuit to ensure that a value obtained by integrating the detected intensity of the optical beam with respect to time over a predetermined period is equal to predetermined recording energy. |
| US08194513B2 |
Optical data recording medium and method for reproducing recorded data
An optical data recording medium, in which irradiation of a light beam is used for recording and/or reproducing data includes (i) a substrate having an a rise and/or a recess which are a light-incident surface, (ii) a reflective layer, provided on the light-incident surface of the substrate, for reflecting the light beam, (iii) a light absorption layer for converting, to heat, a light of the light beam to heat on the surface of the reflective layer, (iv) a reproducing layer, provided on the surface of the heat-light converting layer, having a transmittance that changes in accordance with a light intensity distribution of the light beam. The optical data recording medium is excellent in super-resolution property, and enables reproduction of a shorter mark length. |
| US08194512B2 |
Head structure for thermally-assisted recording (TAR) disk drive
A thermally-assisted recording (TAR) head structure has a semiconductor substrate as the head carrier with a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) on its front surface, a TAR head formed directly on the VCSEL, and a highly reflecting third mirror on its back surface. The semiconductor substrate serves as an extended cavity for the VCSEL. The TAR head is fabricated on the outer surface of the VCSEL in the same manner as proposed for fabrication of a TAR head on a conventional slider. The TAR head includes a conventional read head and write head, and an optical waveguide with a grating coupler and a near-field transducer (NFT). The laser radiation is output through a partially reflecting output mirror of the VCSEL through the front surface to the grating coupler, which turns the incoming laser radiation 90 degrees and directs it into the waveguide from where it is directed to the NFT. |
| US08194510B2 |
Heat-assisted magnetic recording head with near-field light generating element
A near-field light generating element has an outer surface. The outer surface includes a bottom surface, first and second inclined surfaces, an edge part that connects the first and second inclined surfaces to each other, and a front end face located in a medium facing surface. The front end face includes a first side that lies at an end of the first inclined surface, a second side that lies at an end of the second inclined surface, and a tip that is formed by contact of the first and second sides with each other and forms a near-field light generating part. Each of the first side and the second side has a lower part and an upper part that are continuous with each other. An angle formed between the upper part of the first side and the upper part of the second side is smaller than that formed between the lower part of the first side and the lower part of the second side. |
| US08194507B2 |
Hidden display and clock audio apparatus including same
A hidden display may be used in an apparatus to display information to a user. The display hardware is generally hidden within the apparatus and illuminated information appears on an outside surface of the apparatus to display the information. The hidden display may couple light into a display panel from the inside of the apparatus to provide the illuminated information on the outside surface of the display panel. The display panel may provide diffuse reflection of ambient light on the outside of the display panel such that the display hardware is not visible behind the display panel but without providing a mirror-like reflection. The display may be used in a variety of different apparatuses or devices including, but not limited to, clocks and clock audio devices. |
| US08194506B2 |
Analog radio controlled clock with audio alarm arrangement
An analog radio controlled clock includes a housing, a plurality of indicating, a radio controlled unit, and an audio alarm arrangement, which includes an alarm control unit and an audio device. The alarm control unit is disposed in the receiving cavity of the housing to communicate with the driving control unit for allowing setup of an alarm time. The audio device is electrically connected with the alarm control unit, and is arranged to generate interactive audible signal to a user regarding setting of an alarm time, wherein the audio device is arranged to commands and transmits them to the alarm control unit for setting up the alarm time, so that the user is able to set up the alarm time through commands such as voice instructions and simple physical actuation to the analog radio controlled lock. |
| US08194505B2 |
Time display control device, navigation device, method for controlling time displayed, and program
A self-position detecting unit detects a self-position. A time calculating unit calculates a time of a time zone where the self-position detected using the self-position detection unit exists. A time display unit displays the time calculated using the time calculating unit. A display control unit causes the time display unit to display time of the first time zone where the self-position exists continually in an area in a second time zone, which is adjacent to the first time zone, when determining that the self-position moves into the second time zone. The area has a predetermined width from a boundary between the first time zone and the second time zone. The display control unit further causes the time display unit to display time of the second time zone when determining that the self-position moves beyond the area. |
| US08194500B2 |
Method and device for locating a sound source
A method of locating a sound source based on sound received at an array of microphones comprises the steps of determining a correlation function of signals provided by microphones of the array and establishing a direction in which the sound source is located based on at least one eigenvector of a matrix having matrix elements which are determined based on the correlation function. The correlation function has first and second frequency components associated with a first and second frequency band, respectively. The first frequency component is determined based on signals from microphones having a first distance, and the second frequency component is determined based on signals from microphones having a second distance different from the first distance. |
| US08194499B2 |
Ultrasonic underwater detector with voltage and envelope control
The present disclosure provides an underwater detector including a power source for applying a predetermined voltage, a voltage control circuit for controlling the voltage based on a control signal, a gate signal generating module for outputting a gate signal, a switching circuit for outputting a reference signal based on the voltage controlled by the voltage control circuit and the gate signal outputted from the gate signal generating module, and a transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic signal underwater, an envelope of which being controlled based on a waveform of the control signal by being applied with the reference signal. |
| US08194496B2 |
Circuit and method for recovering clock data in highly integrated semiconductor memory apparatus
Circuit and method for recovering clock data in highly integrated semiconductor memory apparatus includes a plurality of signal receiving units configured to receive signals through a plurality of input/output pads and transfer the signals according to a receiving reference clock, the signal receiving units being divided into groups, a plurality of phase detection units configured to detect phases of signals output from the groups of the signal receiving units, a plurality of phase detection control units configured to control the phase detection units so that the phase detection units sequentially detect the phases of the signals output from each of the groups of the signal receiving units and a notification unit configured to output signals output from the phase detection units. |
| US08194494B2 |
Word line block/select circuit with repair address decision unit
A word line block select circuit includes a dummy repair logic unit including a dummy logic circuit to output a first control signal and having a delay path for a repair address decision, and a word line activation unit for activating a word line in response to the first control signal and an active command signal. |
| US08194492B2 |
Variable resistance memory device and system
Disclosed is a semiconductor memory device including a memory cell array having a plurality of variable resistance memory cells divided into first and second areas. An I/O circuit is configured to access the memory cell array under the control of control logic so as to access the first or second area in response to an external command. The I/O circuit accesses the first area using a memory cell unit and the second area using a page unit. |
| US08194489B2 |
Paired programmable fuses
A plurality of fuses are arranged in pairs and configured such that each pair of fuses represents a data bit when one fuse of the pair is blown; represents an un-programmed bit when no fuse of the pair is blown; and represents a zero-ized bit when both fuses of the pair are blown. A fuse programming system programs the fuses of the pairs such that each pair represents a bit, comprising blowing a first fuse of a pair to represent a “1” bit, blowing a second fuse of a pair to represent a “0” bit, and blowing both fuses of a pair to represent a zero-ized pair, whereby if neither fuse of a pair is blown represents a null, un-programmed bit. |
| US08194487B2 |
Refreshing data of memory cells with electrically floating body transistors
A semiconductor device along with circuits including the same and methods of operating the same are described. The device comprises a memory cell including one transistor. The transistor comprises a gate, an electrically floating body region, and a source region and a drain region adjacent the body region. Data stored in memory cells of the device can be refreshed within a single clock cycle. |
| US08194481B2 |
Semiconductor device with main memory unit and auxiliary memory unit requiring preset operation
A semiconductor device that can implement a method comprising selecting a group of rows of auxiliary cells forming part of an auxiliary memory unit, the auxiliary cells being arranged into rows and columns; driving a plurality of bitlines each connected to a respective column of the auxiliary cells, so as to set each of the auxiliary cells to a first logic state; writing input data to selected ones of a plurality of main cells, wherein each of the auxiliary cells corresponds to a respective set of the main cells; selecting a particular row of auxiliary cells that includes at least one auxiliary cell whose corresponding main cells are among the selected cells; and driving the bitlines so as to set the at least one auxiliary cell to a second logic state different from the first logic state. |
| US08194474B2 |
Data bus power-reduced semiconductor storage apparatus
In one or more of the disclosed embodiments, the number of times toggle operations of a data bus are performed at the time of a data transmission in a semiconductor storage apparatus is reduced, thereby reducing the power consumption. For example, a semiconductor storage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a DRF bus, a DR11F bus, a GDRF bus and a GDR11F bus. The DRF bus and DR11F bus, and the GDRF bus and GDR11F bus, are placed in parallel for the purpose of reducing the number of times toggle operations of a data bus are performed at the time of a data transmission. The DR11F bus is added to make the DRF11F bus perform a toggle operation only when the DRF buses on both sides are made to perform a toggle operation if the data transmission were performed in a conventional system. |
| US08194470B2 |
Methods of forming flash device with shared word lines
Word lines of a NAND flash memory array are formed by concentric, rectangular shaped, closed loops that have a width of approximately half the minimum feature size of the patterning process used. The resulting circuits have word lines linked together so that peripheral circuits are shared. Separate erase blocks are established by shield plates. |
| US08194466B2 |
Charge pump operation in a non-volatile memory device
A charge pump in a memory device is activated to produce a programming voltage prior to data loading during a programming operation. During an initial programming cycle, first and second load voltages are charged from the charge pump. The first load is removed from the charge pump during a verify operation. The first load voltage is subsequently recharged by charge sharing from the second load voltage so that the charge pump is not initially necessary for recharging the first load voltage. |
| US08194463B2 |
Flash memory device and programming method thereof
A programming method of a flash memory device having memory cells, and a flash memory device to perform the method, including programming selected memory cells according to loaded data, sensing states of the programmed memory cells and firstly latching the sensed states, and determining whether a program-inhibited memory cell among the selected memory cells has been programmed, with reference to the loaded data and the latched states, before determining whether the selected memory cells have been properly programmed. |
| US08194461B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having dummy cells in NAND strings applied with an additional program voltage after erasure and prior to data programming
A semiconductor memory device with NAND cell units arranged therein, the NAND cell unit including: a plurality of electrically rewritable and non-volatile memory cells connected in series; first and second select gate transistors disposed at the both ends of the NAND cell unit for coupling it to a bit line and a source line, respectively; and dummy cells disposed adjacent to the first and second select gate transistors in the NAND cell unit, wherein the dummy cells are set at a state with a threshold voltage higher than that of an erase state of the memory cell. |
| US08194453B2 |
Three dimensional stacked nonvolatile semiconductor memory
A three dimensional stacked nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to examples of the present invention includes a memory cell array comprised of first and second blocks disposed side by side and a driver disposed between the first and second blocks. At least two conductive layers having the same structure as that of the at least two conductive layers in the first and second blocks are disposed on the driver, and select gate lines in the first and second blocks are connected to the driver through the at least two conductive layers on the driver. |
| US08194449B2 |
Memory device and operating method
A method of operating a memory device includes; defining a plurality of read levels, using the plurality of read levels to determine electrical property differences between first and second memory cells adjacent dispose along a common word line, and determining read data stored in the first and second memory cells in relation to the determination of electrical property differences between the first and second memory cells. |
| US08194448B2 |
Technique to reduce FG-FG interference in multi bit NAND flash memory in case of adjacent pages not fully programmed
A method of reducing floating gate-floating gate interference in programming NAND flash memory is provided. Prior to programming an upper page of a memory cell, the method includes checking whether adjacent pages of near memory cells have been programmed. The method may program adjacent pages of near memory cells that have not been programmed. |
| US08194445B2 |
Semiconductor storage device comprising dot-type charge accumulation portion and control gate, and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a first insulation film, Charge accumulation portions, a second insulation film, and a control gate. The first insulation film is located on an active area (AA). The charge accumulation portions comprise minute crystals arranged on the first insulation film. A density of the charge accumulation portions at an end portion in an AA width direction of the first insulation film is higher than a density of the charge accumulation portions at a central potion in the AA width direction. The second insulation film is located on the first insulation film so as to coat the charge accumulation portions. The control gate is located on the second insulation film. |
| US08194443B2 |
Memory device and memory
A memory device includes: a memory layer that retains information based on a magnetization state of a magnetic material, a first intermediate layer and a second intermediate layer that are provided to sandwich the memory layer and are each formed of an insulator, a first fixed magnetic layer disposed on an opposite side of the first intermediate layer from the memory layer, a second fixed magnetic layer disposed on an opposite side of the second intermediate layer from the memory layer, and a nonmagnetic conductive layer provided between either the first intermediate layer or the second intermediate layer and the memory layer, the memory device being configured so that spin-polarized electrons are injected thereinto in a stacking direction to change the magnetization direction of the memory layer, thereby storing information in the memory layer. |
| US08194441B2 |
Phase change memory state determination using threshold edge detection
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to techniques to read a memory cell that involve a threshold edge phenomenon of a reset state of phase change memory. |
| US08194439B2 |
Magnetic random access memories and methods of operating the same
A spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM) and includes: a memory cell and a reference cell configured to operate as a reference when data stored in the memory cell is read. The memory cell includes: a first magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) element and a first transistor connected to the first MTJ element. The reference cell includes: second and third MTJ elements connected in parallel; and second and third transistors that are connected to the second and third MTJ elements, respectively. The STT-MRAM further includes a control circuit having a write circuit configured to supply write currents having opposite directions to the second and third MTJ elements. |
| US08194435B2 |
Memory Device
This invention relates to a high-speed volatile and non-volatile memory assemblies. And, an inventive FET and capacitor are also revealed and introduced into the memory assembly to enhance its performance. Further, the memory assembly has physical addressing capability with CPU so that operating system stored in the memory assembly can be quickly booted. |
| US08194434B2 |
Resistance change memory device
A resistance change memory device including: a cell array with memory cells arranged therein, the memory cell storing a resistance state as data in a non-volatile manner; a write buffer configured to supply voltage and current to a selected memory cell in accordance with data to be written in it; and a write control circuit configured to make a part of current supplied to the selected memory cell flow out in accordance with the selected memory cell's state change in a write mode. |
| US08194432B2 |
Ferroelectric memory device for adjusting the capacitor of a bit line
By separately setting a capacitor on BL depending on whether the mode is a DRAM mode or an FRAM mode, it is compatible with improvement in a speed by BL capacitor reduction in the DRAM mode and a sufficient BL capacitance in the FRAM mode.A ferroelectric memory device includes: a plurality of bit lines BL disposed in a column direction; a plurality of word lines WL disposed in a row direction; a plurality of plate lines PL and a bit line capacitor control signal BLC; a ferroelectric memory cell (32) disposed at an intersection of the plurality of bit lines BL, the plurality of word lines WL, and the plurality of plate lines PL, and composed of a ferroelectric capacitor CF and a memory cell transistor QM; and a load capacitor adjustment cell (34) disposed at an intersection of the plurality of bit lines BL and the bit line capacitor control signal BLC, and composed of a load capacitor CL and a load capacitor adjustment transistor QL. |
| US08194430B2 |
Information storage devices using movement of magnetic domain wall and methods of manufacturing the information storage device
An information storage device includes a magnetic layer and a supply unit. The magnetic layer includes a plurality of regions, a first region having a first magnetic anisotropic energy and a second region having a second magnetic anisotropic energy. The first and second regions are arranged alternately, and the second region is doped with impurity ions. The second magnetic anisotropic energy is less than the first magnetic anisotropic energy. The supply unit applies energy to the magnetic layer for moving magnetic domain walls within the magnetic layer. |
| US08194426B2 |
DC converter with independently controlled outputs
A power supply includes a transformer having a primary winding and one or more secondary windings. The power supply also includes a primary switch coupled to the primary winding, a control unit coupled to control the primary switch, and N output circuits each to provide a respective one of N output voltages. N is an integer greater than one. Each of the N output circuits also includes a feedback circuit to produce a respective feedback signal representative of the respective one of N output voltages to the control unit to regulate the respective one of N output voltages. The power supply also includes a switching arrangement coupled to the N output circuits. The switching arrangement is to selectively couple each of at least N−1 of the N output circuits to a respective one of the one or more secondary windings during a respective time period. The switching arrangement is to couple the respective feedback signal representative of the respective one of the N output voltages to the control unit during the respective time period. |
| US08194415B2 |
Backlight device and liquid crystal display device
A light-emitting diode element including a through hole and a thermal via hole is mounted. An electrical connection region and a heat radiation region with respect to a plurality of packages or substrates are separately mounted on a printed circuit board. Electrical connection is made in the printed circuit board, and a driver, a resistance, a capacitor, and the like are connected. Heat is diffused and radiated by heat transport to a heat radiation base material connected to the printed circuit board. |
| US08194413B2 |
Head substrate and thermal head substrate
A head substrate for mounting a driver IC that selectively drives a plurality of driving elements is provided. An input signal wiring pattern electrically connects external connection terminals with the pads in a first pad array and a second pad array. The input signal wiring pattern includes a clock signal line for supplying the clock signal to the driver IC and a logic power line for supplying the logic power to the driver IC. A part of the clock signal line and a part of the logic power line are disposed between the first pad array and the second pad array. |
| US08194410B2 |
Printed circuit board sensor mounting and alignment
Sensors modules adapted to be mounted to a motherboard under challenging conditions by using automated manufacturing processes are disclosed. A sensor module can include a sensor mounted to a sensor PCB, a connector coupled to the sensor and having a plurality of guide pins extending therefrom in a vulnerable manner, with the guide pins being adapted to be inserted into guide pin holes on an associated motherboard, and a disposable carrier adapted to hold the connector and protect the guide pins thereof prior to mounting. The disposable carrier is removed from the sensor module before the sensor module is mounted directly to a motherboard by press-fitting the guide pins into guide pin holes on the motherboard and soldering connections thereto in an automated surface mounting operation. Disposable carrier protected sensor modules can be stored and processed in a tray or tape-and-reel automated manufacturing system. |
| US08194405B2 |
Accessory strap securing mechanism
An accessory strap securing mechanism is positioned in a portable electronic device to assemble an accessory strap thereon. The portable electronic device defines an assembling slot. The accessory strap securing mechanism includes an assembling portion and a securing member. The assembling portion is formed in the portable electronic device. The securing member includes a fixing portion and a holding portion. The fixing portion is fixed to the assembling portion. The holding portion includes a clasp, and the clasp is deformed to allow the accessory strap to separate when a force applied to the accessory strap exceeds a predetermined amount. |
| US08194403B2 |
Display with slide structure
The present invention is related to a display with slide structure. The display comprises a rear casing, a stand, a fixing unit, a movable unit and at least one spring. The stand has an arc structure disposed beneath. The fixing unit is firmly disposed at the rear casing and contains at least one first holding part and at least one rail. The movable unit connects with the stand and contains at least one second holding part; wherein the movable unit is repeatedly movable by means of the rail. The spring is respectively connected to the first holding part and the second holding part with two ends. Whereby, the stand could be repeatedly movable against the rear casing by means of the movable unit and touch a flat surface by distinct sites of the arc structure, so that the display might maximize its inclined angle. |
| US08194402B2 |
Information processing unit
An information processing unit of the present invention includes: a housing that incorporates an information processor; a handle arranged on one side surface of the housing; and support members that are arranged on the one side surface of the housing to protrude and support the handle. The support members respectively are arranged continuously from the one side surface to a pair of other side surfaces adjacent to the one side surface in a direction in which the handle is bridged. Each of the support members has a bent portion between the one side surface and each of the other side surfaces. Thus, a stress applied between the first housing and a handle mechanism when, for example, a user carries a notebook PC holding a handle can be dispersed, so that the handle can be fixed to the first housing with improved strength. |
| US08194400B2 |
Electronic device
According to one embodiment, an electronic device, includes: a first housing; a second housing comprising a first wall portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion, the first wall portion being provided with a keyboard mounting portion on which a keyboard is mounted, the second end portion opposing the first end portion; a hinge portion provided near the first end portion, and rotatably connecting the first housing and the second housing; a circuit board housed in the second housing, and positioned between the keyboard mounting portion and the second end portion; and a flexible first support portion supporting the circuit board so that the circuit board is spaced apart from the first wall portion. |
| US08194397B2 |
Computer case and adapter module thereof
A computer case includes a housing, a fixing bracket and an adapter module. The fixing bracket is fixed in the housing. The adapter module is detachably fixed in the fixing bracket. The adapter module includes a shell and a rear plate fixed to an end of the shell. The shell defines a receiving portion to receive a slim drive. The rear plate includes a first jack received in a port of the slim disc drive. |
| US08194396B2 |
AC adapter unit, storage tray for an AC adapter and electronic device
An AC adapter unit compactly houses the AC adapter block and DC cable so that radiation noise from the DC cable is not amplified. The AC adapter unit 4 has an AC adapter 7 that includes an AC adapter block 52 and a DC cable 51, and a storage tray 6 that stores the AC adapter 7. The connector-side cable part 51b of the DC cable 51 is stored in the storage tray 6 on the left-side part 6D of the AC adapter block 52. The connector-side cable part 51b has a bundled part 51c with a figure-8 shape when seen from the top opening 6a side of the storage tray 6. The long axis of this bundled part 51c is parallel to the long axis of the AC adapter block 52. Because the DC cable 51 has a figure-8 shaped bundled part 51c, the part that runs parallel to electronic circuit boards inside the AC adapter block 52 is reduced and amplification of radiation noise is reduced. |
| US08194394B2 |
Polarized electrode and electric double-layer capacitor
The present invention provides a polarized electrode 12 containing mixed activated carbon composed of at least two activated carbons with different specific surface areas, and the specific surface area of the mixed activated carbon is not less than 900 m2/g and less than 1900 m2/g. By setting the specific surface area of the mixed activated carbon to less than 1900 m2/g, the resistance reduction ratio of the polarized electrode 12 rapidly increases. |
| US08194393B2 |
Capacitor unit and its manufacturing method
There is provided a capacitor unit including plural capacitors, each including end face electrode at one end face and side face electrode having a polarity different from end face electrode at a side face, arranged side by side; bus bar connected to end face electrode of capacitor, and partially connected to side face electrode of adjacent capacitor unit; and a circuit substrate arranged at the one end face sides or the other end face sides of plural capacitors; wherein bus bar and the circuit substrate are electrically connected through conductive portion arranged from bus bar towards the circuit substrate. |
| US08194392B2 |
Ceramic material and electronic device
A ceramic material has a perovskite structure and is represented by formula of (1−x)ABO3-xYZO3. In the formula, “x” is a real number that is greater than 0 and is less than 1 each of “A,” “B,” “Y,” and “Z” is one or more kinds selected from a plurality of metal ions M other than a Pb ion and alkali metal ions, “A” is bivalent, “B” is tetravalent, “Y” is trivalent or combination of trivalent metal ions, and “Z” is bivalent and/or trivalent metal ions, or a bivalent and/or pentavalent metal ions. |
| US08194390B2 |
Multilayer ceramic capacitor and fabricating method thereof
A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a capacitor body in which inner electrodes and dielectric layers are alternately laminated, and a length difference rate (D) of the inner electrodes is 7% or less. The length difference rate (D) is defined by D={L−1}/L×100, where L is a maximum length of the inner electrode, and l is a minimum length of the inner electrode. |
| US08194389B2 |
Multilayer chip capacitor including two terminals
A multilayer chip capacitor includes a capacitor body including first and second longer side surfaces facing each other and first and second shorter side surfaces facing each other, first and second external electrodes respectively disposed at the first and second longer side surfaces, one or more first internal electrode pairs each including first and second internal electrodes, and one or more second internal electrode pairs each including third and fourth internal electrodes. The first to fourth internal electrodes each have one lead and are sequentially disposed in a stacked direction. The first to fourth internal electrodes have first to fourth leads respectively extending to first to fourth corners or portions adjacent thereto, and alternately connected with the first and second external electrodes. The first internal electrode pair and the second internal electrode pair cause a current to diagonally flow in opposite directions with respect to a long side direction. |
| US08194388B2 |
Electric component comprising external electrodes and method for the production of an electric component comprising external electrodes
An electrical component includes a ceramic base body that includes a surface that is partially ceramic, electrodes in the ceramic base body that have ends that form parts of the surface of the ceramic base body, and a bonding layer on the surface of the ceramic base body. The bonding layer has a composition such that, when the bonding layer is heated, the bonding layer is less adhesive to the ends of the electrodes than when not heated. |
| US08194384B2 |
High temperature electrostatic chuck and method of using
An electrostatic chuck configured for high temperature reduced-pressure processing is described. The electrostatic chuck comprises a chuck body having an electrostatic clamp electrode and an optional heating element, and a heat sink body having a heat transfer surface spaced in close relationship with an inner surface of the chuck body, wherein the heat sink body is configured to remove heat from the chuck body due to the close proximity of the inner surface and the heat transfer surface. The electrostatic chuck further comprises a table assembly configured to support the chuck body and the heat sink body, and an expansion joint disposed between the chuck body and the table assembly, and configured to sealably join the chuck body to the table assembly while accommodating for differential thermal expansion of the chuck body and the table assembly. |
| US08194381B2 |
Electrical ground transient eliminator assembly
An electrical ground transient eliminator assembly for attenuating high frequency transients and protecting a continuous attenuator circuit of the assembly from overheating due to excessive transients generated on an electrical load is provided. The electrical ground transient eliminator assembly includes a continuous attenuator circuit, which is electrically coupled in parallel to a relay. The assembly includes three lead wires, which are interconnectable to an earth ground line, a neutral line and a load ground of a system that has an electrical load coupled to external AC power lines. |
| US08194380B2 |
Endoscope apparatus
A scope unit 2 including a control unit 3 and an insertion portion 4 is attached to a main unit 1 via a scope connector 5. An optical adaptor 8 is attached to a tip of the insertion portion 4. The CCD 31, HICs 32, 33, and the thermistor 34 are attached to the tip of the insertion portion 4. A liquid crystal module 36 is attached to the optical adaptor 8. A barrier circuit 64 limits energy supplied to these components in a circuit disposed in the scope unit 2. By disposing the barrier circuit 64 in the scope connector 5, the portion extending from the barrier circuit 64 to, i.e., the control unit 3, the insertion portion 4, and the optical adaptor 8 are of the explosion-proof construction. Thus, these can be used in a hazardous explosive location. Thus, an endoscope apparatus that can be used in combustible gas or dust can be provided. |
| US08194377B2 |
Driver and over-current protection circuit therein
An over-current protection circuit includes a voltage generating unit and a comparing unit. The voltage generating unit is configured for receiving a first voltage and generating a reference voltage. The reference voltage has an offset positively dependent on temperature and negatively dependent on the first voltage, and the offset of the reference voltage varies along with another offset varying within a sense voltage sensed by the over-current protection circuit. The comparing unit is configured for comparing the reference voltage with the sense voltage to output a control signal for de-asserting the sense voltage when the sense voltage is correlated to an over-current condition of the sense voltage exceeding the reference voltage. A driver is also disclosed herein. |
| US08194369B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes: an output pad from which an output signal is outputted; an output signal line connected with the output pad; a first pad configured to function as a ground terminal or a power supply terminal; a first wiring connected with the first pad; an output driver connected with the output pad and configured to generate the output signal; an ESD protection device connected with the output signal line and having a function to discharge surge applied to the output pad; and a first trigger MOS transistor used as a trigger device. The output driver includes: a first protection target device connected between the output signal line and the first interconnection; and a first resistance element connected between the first protection target device and the first interconnection. The first trigger MOS transistor configured to detect a voltage generated in the first resistance element by a gate of the first trigger MOS transistor and to allow the ESD protection device operate in response to the detected voltage. |
| US08194365B1 |
Method and system for providing a read sensor having a low magnetostriction free layer
A method and system for providing a magnetic structure in magnetic transducer is described. The magnetic structure includes a pinned layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, and a free layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the pinned layer and the free layer. The free layer includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a magnetic insertion layer between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The first magnetic layer has a first magnetostriction. The second magnetic layer has a second magnetostriction opposite to the first magnetostriction. The magnetic insertion layer provides a growth texture barrier between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. |
| US08194364B2 |
Magnetoresistive effect element in CPP-type structure including ferromagnetic layer configured with CoFe system alloy and magnetic disk device therewith
In an MR element of the present invention, an effect of an extremely-high MR ratio is obtained since a crystal structure of a CoFe magnetic layer in the vicinity of an interface with a spacer layer is formed as a close packed structure, such as an hcp structure and an fcc structure, and a total existing ratio of these crystal structures is 25% or more by an area ratio. |
| US08194359B2 |
Piezoelectric element having etched portion to form stepped recesses between layers and manufacturing method thereof, head gimbal assembly, and disk drive device with the same
A piezoelectric element comprises a first laminated structure body and a second laminated structure body. Side surfaces of the first and the second laminated structure bodies that are parallel to a laminating direction both have at least a portion etched to form a recess so that a step distance is formed between sides of the two adjacent electrode layers that are parallel to the laminating direction. The design of the step distance increases insulation resistance between the two adjacent electrode layers on the opposite surfaces of the piezoelectric layer, and lowers reject rate. The first and the second laminated structure bodies are symmetrically laminated and bonded together, thus optimizing force balancing performance. The present invention also discloses a method of manufacturing a PZT element, a HGA with the PZT element and a disk drive unit having such HGA. |
| US08194358B2 |
Voice coil motors and magnetic circuits therefor
A magnet of rectangular prism or parallelepiped prism shape is disposed on a yoke having a triangle shape or a frusto-triangular shape to construct a magnetic circuit for a voice coil motor. The magnetic circuits facilitate positioning and holding of a moving coil, and the voice coil motor is improved in positioning precision of a magnetic head. |
| US08194355B1 |
Head stack assembly with a laminated flexure having a snap-through feature
A novel head stack assembly (HSA) includes a flex cable with a first side and an opposing second side, and having a hole therethrough. The HSA also includes a head gimbal assembly (HGA) having a load beam, a laminated flexure attached to the load beam, and a head attached to the laminated flexure. The laminated flexure includes a flexure tail with a snap-through feature. The snap-through feature has a plurality of windows in the flexure tail, a snap-through feature central portion that is centric to the plurality of windows, and a plurality of lobes. Each lobe extends out from the snap-through feature central portion radially into one of the plurality of windows. The laminated flexure overlies and contacts the flex cable on its first side, but the snap-through feature is disposed through the hole so that each of the plurality of lobes contacts the flex cable on its second side. |
| US08194352B2 |
Manufacturing twisted base plate of head suspension for reducing off-track errors
A head suspension 15 includes a base plate 27, a load bend 35, a load beam 37, a flexure 39, and a slider 25 that are assembled together through several processes including a pressing process. In such a head suspension 15 that is a finished product in a conventional sense, a front end 30 of the base plate 27 is twisted so that the front end 30 inclines toward one of inner and outer circumferences of a disk-like recording medium 33. The twisting process is carried out before attaching the head suspension 15 to an arm 13 of a carriage to be installed in a hard disk drive. The head suspension 15 with the twisted front end 30 prevents off-track errors even when it is used for a multi-arm assembly involving a plurality of head suspensions. |
| US08194347B2 |
Designed roughness and surface treatments for capillary buffer of fluid dynamic bearings
A contoured region is disposed within a capillary buffer of a Fluid Dynamic Bearing. In one embodiment, the contoured region comprises at least one defined edge for arresting the displacement of a lubricant within the capillary buffer. |
| US08194341B1 |
Disk drive seeding data path protection with system data seed
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of data sectors. A redundancy generator is loaded with a first seed value corresponding to system data generated internal to the disk drive. First data path redundancy symbols are generated in response to the first seed value, and the system data and the first data path redundancy symbols are written to a first data sector. A syndrome generator is loaded with the first seed value to generate first syndromes when reading the system data and first data path redundancy symbols from the first data sector. The validity of the system data is verified in response to the first syndromes. |
| US08194339B2 |
Write performance monitor in a storage device
An apparatus comprising a write circuit, a processing circuit and a monitor circuit. The write circuit may be configured to generate one or more write control signals in response to an input signal. The processing circuit may be configured to generate an intermediate control signal in response to (i) the input signal, (ii) a reference clock signal and (iii) one or more user input signals. The monitor circuit may be configured to generate a sample signal in response to (i) the write control signals and (ii) the intermediate signal. The sample signal may represent a waveshape of the write control signals used to monitor writing to a data storage system. |
| US08194335B2 |
Optical lens on wafer level and related method for forming the optical lens one wafer level
An optical lens on wafer level consists of a first optical component, a first spacer, a second optical component, at least a first via plug, and an adhesion material. The first spacer includes at least a first via plug passing through the first spacer, wherein the first optical component and the second optical component are separated by the first spacer. The adhesion material is coated in between the first optical component and the first spacer and coated in between the first spacer and the second optical component, and is filled in at least a portion of the first via plug. |
| US08194333B2 |
Imaging lens and imaging device using the same
The present invention provides an imaging lens composed of four lenses that can be made compact (downsized, thinned), allows a reduction in cost and is compatible with a high pixel imaging element having a megapixel or more incorporated in a small mobile product such as a mobile phone. The imaging lens 7 includes, in order from the object side to the image surface side: an aperture stop 5; a first lens 1 having positive power; a second lens 2 composed of a meniscus lens having negative power whose lens surface facing the image surface side is concave; a third lens 3 composed of a meniscus lens having positive power whose lens surface facing the image surface side is convex, and a fourth lens 4 having negative power whose lens surfaces are both aspheric and lens surface facing the image surface side is concave in the vicinity of the optical axis. A diffractive optical element is formed on one of the lens surfaces of the first lens 1 or one of the lens surfaces of the second lens 2. |
| US08194332B2 |
Fresnel optical element and optical system using the same
A Fresnel optical element has a plurality of slopes that refract or reflect light, and the variation of the slope angle between adjacent slopes is constant. |
| US08194328B2 |
Imaging optics with adjustable optical power and method of adjusting an optical power of an optics
The invention relates to optics comprising adjustable optical elements and, if desired, lenses of fixed focal lens. By use of an appropriate controller for the adjustable optical elements, characteristics of the optics can be advantageously varied. For this purpose, systems are provided which are suitable for use as surgical stereo-microscope, objective, ocular or zoom. A zoomable imaging optics comprises lenses and of variable optical power, which are oppositely controlled by means of a controller to change an imaging ratio, so that the optical power of the one lens is increased and the optical power of the other lens is decreased. Moreover, the imaging optics may comprise still further assemblies of fixed optical power. |
| US08194327B2 |
Optical component and method for producing the same
This is to shed light on a glass composition suitable for a thin lens, and provide a lens (an optical component) manufactured with using the glass. A concave lens as an optical component is made of glass containing 12 to 16% of B2O3, 35 to 44% of La2O3, and 3 to 8% of ZnO, expressed as wt %. The concave lens has a thickness t1 in its center portion of 0.5 mm or less, and a ratio (W/t1) of an external diameter W with respect to the thickness t1 of 24 or more. The concave lens can be produced suitably by press forming. |
| US08194326B2 |
Optical device, method of producing the device and optoelectronic component comprising the device
An optical device having a specific form is provided that includes a resin molding compound having an adhesion-reducing, chemically modified surface layer. |
| US08194320B2 |
Method for designing optimized multi-channel grating structures
A method is described for designing a multi-channel grating structure having at least one specified spectral characteristic in a photosensitive material, the multi-channel grating structure having at least one free spectral characteristic which is not a specified spectral characteristic. An initial value is provided for each free spectral characteristic, and an initial multi-channel grating function is provided that describes an initial multi-channel grating structure by applying a spectral to spatial domain algorithm to the specified predetermined spectral characteristic using the initial value. A target multi-channel grating function is provided which describes a target multi-channel grating structure in the photosensitive material and an updated value is determined for each initial value with reference to the spectral characteristics of the target multi-channel grating function. An updated multi-channel grating function is derived which describes an updated multi-channel grating structure in the photosensitive material by applying a spectral to spatial domain algorithm to the predetermined spectral characteristic using the at least one updated value. After at least one iteration, the updated multi-channel grating function is output to describe the multi-channel grating structure. |
| US08194319B2 |
Optical system and optical apparatus including the same
An optical system and an optical apparatus capable of properly correcting chromatic aberration over a visible wavelength range are obtained. An optical system includes a diffractive optical element and a refractive optical element on at least one of an object side and an image side of a stop. The following conditions are satisfied: |Δθgd|>0.038 0.003<|δθdC|<0.038 (ΦR×νd×δθdC)×(−ΦD)<0 where νd represents an Abbe number of the refractive optical element, θgd represents a partial dispersion ratio for a g-line and a d-line, θdC represents a partial dispersion ratio for the d-line and a C-line, ΦR represents an optical power provided when light incident and exit surfaces of the refractive optical element are both in contact with air, and ΦD represents an optical power of the diffractive optical element. Here, Δθgd=θgd−(−1.687×10−7·νd3+5.702×10−5·νd2−6.603×10−3·νd+1.462), and δθdC=θdC−(−0.1968θgd+0.5480). |
| US08194318B2 |
Telescope optical system
A telescope optical system TL comprising, in order from an object side: an objective lens 1; an erecting prism 2; and an eyepiece 3; the objective lens 1 comprising, in order from the object side, a first lens group G1 having positive refractive power, a second lens group G2 having negative refractive power, and a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power, focusing being carried out by moving the second lens group G2 along an optical axis, and an image position being movable by moving the third lens group G3 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, thereby providing a telescope optical system having optimum optical performance for a telescope. |
| US08194317B2 |
Zoom lens system, interchangeable lens apparatus and camera system
A zoom lens system is provided that includes a compactly constructed focusing lens unit and that has a suppressed change in the image magnification at the time of movement of a focusing lens unit. The zoom lens system according to the present invention, in order from an object side to an image side, comprises: a first lens unit having positive optical power; a second lens unit having negative optical power; a third lens unit having negative optical power; and at least one subsequent lens unit, wherein at the time of zooming, all lens units move in a direction along the optical axis so that intervals between the lens units vary, and at the time of focusing, a lens unit included in the at least one lens unit moves in a direction along the optical axis. |
| US08194315B2 |
Polarization preserving projection screen with engineered particle and method for making same
Polarization preserving projection screens provide optimum polarization preservation for 3D viewing. The projection screens additionally provide improved light control for enhanced brightness, uniformity, and contrast for both 2D and 3D systems. Generally, the disclosed method for providing a projection screen comprises embossing at least a first side of a first substrate to produce an optically functional material and then cutting the optically functional material into pieces to produce a plurality of engineered particles. The plurality of engineered particles may then be deposited on a second substrate to produce a substantially homogeneous optical appearance of the projection screen. |
| US08194310B1 |
All fiber pulse generator for pumping a non-linear converter
An all fiber mid-IR pulse generator is disclosed that may be used to drive an external non-linear converter. The generator comprises fiber laser oscillator and fiber amplifier elements wherein diode lasers are used to cladding pump the different fiber elements depending on different configurations of the pulse generator. Gain switching of the fiber lasers precludes the need for discrete devices such as Q-switches to generate pulses. The fiber laser and fiber amplifier elements are all fused together, along with fiber isolators and reflective gratings, so there is no free space coupling, and there are no optical elements except as may be needed to couple the output of the generator to a non-linear converter. The all fiber implementation has a single transverse mode at the lowest order mode of operation which results in a nearly diffraction limited output which causes non-linear converters to operate more efficiently. To further increase the efficiency of the non-linear converters the fiber laser oscillator has Bragg gratings with a narrow spectral bandwidth of less than 0.5 nanometers. |
| US08194309B2 |
Optical amplifier using delayed phase matching fiber
The present invention has an object to provide an optical amplifier capable of realizing a good response characteristic in a wide frequency band, even when a population inversion state is formed by a pumping light supplied to an optical amplification medium and an ASE light generated in the optical amplification medium. To this end, in the optical amplifier according to the present invention, a delayed phase matching fiber in which a first fiber whose response speed is relatively low is arranged on the input side and a second fiber whose response speed is relatively high is arranged on the output side, is used as the optical amplification medium doped with a rare-earth element. |
| US08194308B2 |
Method and arrangement for the frequency conversion of coherent optical radiation
The present invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for the frequency conversion of coherent optical radiation with adjustable wavelength by way of a two-stage non-linear optical process. In the method and the arrangement, a frequency doubling is carried out in a first non-linear optical crystal (301, 302) and a sum frequency generation or a frequency doubling is carried out in a second non-linear optical crystal (401, 402) which is connected downstream. A positively birefringent crystal, in which the frequency doubling is carried out during a phase matching of type I from the extraordinary wave of the output frequency according to the |
| US08194302B2 |
Active chiral photonic metamaterial
An active chiral photonic metamaterial having a dynamically controllable photonic material parameter is employed in a system and a method of polarization rotation. The active chiral photonic metamaterial includes a first chiral photonic element formed in a first metal layer, a second chiral photonic element formed in a second metal layer, and an active material layer disposed between the first and second metal layers. The active material layer includes the photonic material parameter that is dynamically controllable. A coupling between the first chiral photonic element and the second chiral photonic element is a function of the photonic material parameter of the active material layer. The system further includes a means for controlling the dynamically controllable photonic material parameter. The method includes illuminating the active chiral photonic metamaterial with an optical signal and applying a control signal to vary the dynamically controllable photonic material parameter. |
| US08194296B2 |
Image sensor with improved light sensitivity
A system for capturing a color image, includes a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and the first group of pixels has individual pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors; the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least twelve pixels, and a plurality of non-overlapping cells wherein each cell has at least two pixels representing a specific color selected from the first group of pixels and a plurality of pixels selected from the second group of pixels; a structure for combining pixels of like color from at least two of the plurality of cells within the minimal repeating unit. |
| US08194294B2 |
Image reading device and image forming device
The present invention is aimed at providing an image reading device that suppresses generation of a so-called edge shadow while suppressing uneven intensity of light emitted onto an original. A color copy machine 1 includes an illumination portion 347a that irradiates an original G with light. The illumination portion 347a includes a plurality of LEDs 501 disposed at predetermined intervals in a main scanning direction, an elliptical diffuser plate 507 that is disposed between the plurality of LEDs 501 and the original G and causes the light emitted by the plurality of LEDs 501 to diffuse, and a second reflection mirror 541B that reflects light, which is a portion of the light diffused by the elliptical diffuser plate 507 and not directly irradiated onto the original G, so as to irradiate the light onto the original G. |
| US08194293B2 |
Scanner apparatus and information display system provided with the same
A compact scanner apparatus is provided that is suitable for constituting an information display system by being stored in a pedestal which supports a display apparatus. The scanner apparatus is composed of an upper unit provided with an automatic document feeder and a lower unit provided with an image reading device, wherein a width guide rack mechanism having a function of detecting an original size is independent from a paper feed tray and disposed above the paper feed tray. Thereby, it is possible to store the paper feed tray and the whole of the width guide rack mechanism within the apparatus. |
| US08194291B2 |
Image-reading device
An image-reading device includes a linear image sensor and a cable. The linear image sensor is divided into, at least, first, second and third blocks. The first block is disposed adjacent to the second block. Each block reads images on an original document and generates image signals. The cable includes, at least, first, second and third signal wires corresponding to the first, second and third blocks respectively. Each signal wire transmits the image signals generated by each block. The third wire is sandwiched between the first signal wire and the second signal wire. |
| US08194288B2 |
Adjusting the neutral behavior of a color marking device
What is disclosed is a novel system and method for adjusting the gray balance of a multifunction color marking device in order to change the device's neutral behavior to a desired level of acceptability. The gray balance aim curve is specified by: L*, L*(aim), a*(aim) and b*(aim), where L*(aim)=f1(L*), a*(aim)=f2(L*), and b*(aim)=f3(L*). After receiving the user-modified gray balance aim curve, the target color device constructs a 3-D N×N×N L*a*b* to L*a*b* pre-LUT to reflect the neutral aim change by transforming a neutral axis input of L*, a*=0 and b*=0 to L*(aim), a*(aim) and b*(aim). Colors further away from the neutral axis are shifted by a lesser amount. The pre-LUT is then concatenated with the current color LUT to produce an updated color LUT which is applied to the device to achieve the desired neutral behavior. The gray balance aim curve can also be based upon a pre-determined user preference. |
| US08194281B2 |
Processing image data for printing based on print correction parameter or computed amount of correction
A printing system includes: a camera unit for performing an electro-optic conversion on an image from a subject, generating image data storable in a storage unit, and storing print instruction information as associated with the image data according to the capture information relating to the capture of the image; an image editing unit for performing image editing on the image data; an information rewriting unit for rewriting the print instruction information stored as associated with the image data corresponding to the contents of image editing by the image editing unit; and a printing unit for performing a printing process after performing a predetermined image processing on the image data corresponding to the print instruction information. |
| US08194280B2 |
Direct printing of a desired or multiple appearances of object in a document file
A method and apparatus for direct printing of multiple views of 3-D objects in a PDF file is described. When a PDF file containing 3-D object data is sent to a printer, without using an application or print driver, the controller of a printer generates and prints a plurality of views of the 3-D object based on pre-defined viewing angle settings. The printer controller opens the PDF file, converts the 3-D PDF data to PS data based on the viewing angle, performs raster image processing, prints the bitmap images corresponding to the viewing angle, and repeats the process for all viewing angles. The plurality of views may be printed on separate pages, or on one page in an N-in-1 format. More generally, the method applies to direct printing of files containing objects that are capable of providing multiple appearances, where multiple or desired appearances of the objects are automatically printed. |
| US08194279B2 |
Image data combining apparatus and method
An image data combining apparatus combines m lines of image data that have been output from a reading unit. The reading unit outputs m lines of image data based upon the pixel data that has been output upon being divided into the plurality of lines, and stored then in a memory. An upper address for accessing the memory is decided based upon first data indicating position, along the sub-scan direction, of an image that has been read by the reading unit, and a lower address for accessing the memory is decided based upon second data indicating position of the image along the main-scan direction. For the lower address utilizes values in which the sequence of a plurality of bits constituting the first data is interchanged, so that p items of pixel data at a time are extracted successively from each of the m lines of image data. |
| US08194273B2 |
Program transmission system, program transmission method, and storage medium storing control program to transmit software from a server to a device
A program transmission system in which a program is transmitted from a transmission apparatus to an image forming apparatus is provided. The program transmission system includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire operational state information about an operational state in the image forming apparatus, a determination unit configured to determine timing to transmit the program to the image forming apparatus according to the operational state based on the operational state information acquired by the acquisition unit, and a transmission unit configured to transmit the program from the transmission apparatus to the image forming apparatus according to the timing determined by the determination unit. |
| US08194270B2 |
Printing control method and printing system
An object of the present invention is to provide a printing control method and a printing controller which are capable of performing high-quality printing in a short period of time, and which are capable of reducing human error. To achieve this end, the printing control method is used to control a printing system, which is equipped with a server to store printing data which contains platemaking data and related information, a printing machine equipped with a plurality of printing presses, a terminal unit for acquiring the printing image data and outputting command information to the printing machine, detectors for detecting a state of a printed page, and controllers for controlling the printing presses based on the printing data and detection information. In a pre-printing step, the operating conditions of the printing machine are loaded from the server, a supply of ink is preset based on the printing data, one of a plurality of sets of data for selection is selected as printing data, platemaking data is displayed on a display unit, and the state of arrival of the platemaking plate data to the terminal unit and the data that arrived are confirmed. In a printing step, feedback control employing the detection information is performed based on the data sent from the terminal unit. |
| US08194268B2 |
Method of and apparatus for broadcast printing via a network
A method and apparatus for broadcast printing via a network are provided. The method and apparatus comprise managing an address list of the clients; determining whether the broadcast printing of data for printing is required; generating a packet including addresses of the clients included in the list if the broadcast printing of the data is determined to be required; transmitting the data to the clients by using the generated packet; and respectively instructing the clients to print the data. Accordingly, since the broadcast printing does not use a group managing protocol, operations for group management and for setting data transmission routes are not required. Moreover, overloads due to data transmission in the network are prevented and data is quickly transmitted. |
| US08194266B2 |
Positional error detection method and apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium
A positional error detection method forms, on a belt which is transported in a transport direction, positional error detection marks for detecting a positional error between image positions of first and second colors, detects the positional error detection marks on the belt, and computes the positional error based on the detected positional error detection marks. The positional error detection marks include first and second marks which are inclined in mutually opposite directions with respect to the transport direction, and third marks which are perpendicular to the transport direction. |
| US08194264B2 |
Method and apparatus for printing using synchronization signal
A method and apparatus for printing using a synchronization signal are provided. Printing processes are performed in the apparatus by determining points in time for performing the printing processes based on a synchronization signal so that it is possible to reduce a waiting time for printing. |
| US08194262B2 |
System for masking print defects
A method of printing includes, on an ongoing basis, determining a print defect state of a printing system, selecting a screen which has a halftone print parameter which masks a detected print defect, such as one or more of a screen frequency parameter, a screen angle parameter, and a dot growth parameter. The method further includes printing images according to the selected halftone print parameter. Alternatively, where the printing system includes more than one marking engine, the method includes selecting a marking engine according to the determined defect states of each of the marking engines. |
| US08194260B2 |
Data processing method in network system connected with image processing apparatus
When an ID card (41, 81) including user ID stored therein is set in an image processing apparatus (1, 71), the user ID is read out of the IC card. Upon depression of a key instructing individual setting, ID information including the user ID and apparatus ID is transmitted to a computer terminal (3; 3-1, 3-2) which stores a plurality of user ID's and setting information corresponding to the apparatus. Responding to the ID information transmitted, the computer terminal transmits individual setting information stored therein for each user back to the image processing apparatus, whereupon the apparatus stores the individual setting information in a memory and realizes the individual setting for each user, which corresponds to the set user ID, in a control panel (8) of the apparatus. |
| US08194257B2 |
Simplified operation of scan based devices
A document scanner comprises a scan bed, and a processor means which is adapted to: analyse a scanned image to detect one or more defined markings on the scanned document in addition to and adjacent the document content desired to be scanned by the user; and in response to detection of one or more defined markings, to control the document scanner in response to the defined markings. |
| US08194255B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a cover section, an image reading device including a document hold member and a document hold member cover, and a lock mechanism. When the document hold member cover is not in close contact with the document hold member, the lock mechanism prevents opening of the cover section or sliding of the image reading device. |