| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08210220B2 |
Pneumatic tire
A pneumatic tire having a tread surface provided with a plurality of circumferential grooves and lateral grooves each having one end opened into that circumferential groove and the other end terminating in a land portion. At least one lateral groove is always included completely in the ground contact surface of the tread. The groove width of the lateral grooves is at least locally not less than 30% of the groove width of the circumferential grooves. Each lateral groove has an extending length not less than 40% of an extending length of the circumferential grooves in the ground contact surface and is provided with a region having a cross-sectional area which increases from its side of opening into the circumferential groove toward its terminal end, and including a starting end with a minimum cross-sectional area that is situated closer to the circumferential groove in which the lateral groove opens. |
| US08210219B2 |
Pneumatic tire with tread having crown rib and middle ribs
A pneumatic tire comprises circumferentially-continuously-extending crown main grooves and shoulder main grooves to divide the tread portion into one crown rib, two middle ribs and two shoulder ribs. The middle rib is provided with a circumferentially-continuously-extending middle sub groove to define an axially inner part and an axially outer part. The axially inner part is provided with inner middle lug grooves comprising an axially outer wide main part and an axially inner narrow part. The axially outer part is provided with outer middle lug grooves comprising an axially outer main part an axially inner sipe-like narrow part . The width and position of the middle sub groove, and the widths of the lug grooves are specifically defined in order to improve the wet performance and noise performance in a well balanced manner while maintaining the steering stability. |
| US08210218B2 |
Pneumatic tire with tread having isosceles trapezoidal block portion between lug grooves
A pneumatic tire which prevents one-sided biased abrasion from being generated, the pneumatic tire having a non-directed rotational direction and comprises lug grooves 20 cutting across a land portion at a shoulder side of a tread portion 16 at both sides in a tire width direction. Each of the lug grooves 20 has a tapered groove portion 21 such that the groove width gradually becomes narrower such that a trapezoidal block portion 22 having a short side at the shoulder side as seen from a tire tread surface side is formed between the lug grooves 20 in a tire peripheral direction. The tapered groove portion 21 is formed so as to extend beyond a one quarter point Q from a tread end T. Accordingly, since in whichever direction the pneumatic tire 10 is rotated, a lug angle α of a trailing end near the one quarter point Q becomes 90 degrees or less, it is possible to prevent one-sided biased abrasion from being generated. |
| US08210216B2 |
Paint supplying system and apparatus
A paint supplying system and apparatus for delivering paint to a container system from a supply of paint at a remote location by a paint delivery system to permit application of the paint delivered to the container by a separate coating implement is provided. The container system includes a vessel having a bottom and a peripheral side wall, the peripheral side wall and the bottom define an open interior space. A connector includes a body with opposed first and second ends, a first port on the first end, a second port on the second end, and a through passage connecting the first and second ports, the body being attached at the first end to the bottom such that the first port is in fluid communication with the open interior space, and connectable at the second end to the hand wand such that the second port is in fluid communication with the supply passage. |
| US08210214B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing hydrogen at a high pressure
An apparatus and method for providing a hydrogen rich gas stream at a high pressure for use by hydrogen vehicles or other devices requiring hydrogen rich feed streams are disclosed in the present invention. As the pressure of gaseous hydrogen is increased, the temperature of the gaseous hydrogen also increases due to the heat of compression. The apparatus and method of the present invention utilize localized cooling via a vortex tube to cool the gaseous hydrogen caused by the increase in pressure. |
| US08210211B2 |
Method of manufacturing a unitary conduit for transporting fluids
A method for fabricating a unitary conduit is disclosed the method comprising the steps of determining three-dimensional information of the unitary conduit having at least one flow passage, converting the three-dimensional information into a plurality of slices that each define a cross-sectional layer of the unitary conduit, and successively forming each layer of the unitary conduit by fusing a metallic powder using laser energy. A unitary conduit is disclosed, comprising a body and a flow passage, wherein the flow passage and the body have a unitary construction, and made by using a rapid manufacturing process. |
| US08210209B2 |
Microfluidic system including a bubble valve for regulating fluid flow through a microchannel
A microfluidic system includes a bubble valve for regulating fluid flow through a microchannel. The bubble valve includes a fluid meniscus interfacing the microchannel interior and an actuator for deflecting the membrane into the microchannel interior to regulate fluid flow. The actuator generates a gas bubble in a liquid in the microchannel when a sufficient pressure is generated on the membrane. |
| US08210207B2 |
Directly piloted valve assembly
A directly piloted valve assembly has a valve body including a bore, at least one inlet port, at least one outlet port and at least one exhaust port or second outlet port wherein the ports are all in fluid communication with the bore. A spool is received in the bore. The spool includes a wall defining a lumen. An actuator is received in the lumen. The actuator includes a shuttle seal channel. A shuttle seal is received in the shuttle seal channel. A solenoid is connected to the valve body. The wall of the spool includes at least one pilot hole in fluid communication with the lumen defined by the spool and the bore of the valve body. |
| US08210198B1 |
Wall hydrant with support brackets
A wall hydrant assembly for movably positioning a wall hydrant between a first and second structural member includes a first and second rail adapted to be secured to the first and second structural member. The first rail is adapted to engage a first portion of the wall hydrant and the second rail is adapted to engage a second portion of the wall hydrant to allow the wall hydrant to move substantially along the length of the first and second rails. The wall hydrant assembly can include first and second tabs which co-act with the first and second rails. The first and second rails can each define an elongated slot. The first and second tabs can each include a shaft which co-acts with the elongated slot to allow the wall hydrant to be moveable along the first and second rails. |
| US08210196B2 |
Vacuum control system and vacuum control method
A vacuum control system using a vacuum pump to control a vacuum pressure and a flow of a processing gas in a vacuum chamber. The vacuum control system includes: a plurality of vacuum control valves, each of the valves being connected between each of a plurality of gas discharge ports and the vacuum pump; a pressure measurement unit configured to measure the vacuum pressure of the processing gas supplied to the object; and a controller configured to manipulate respective openings of the valves in accordance with the measured vacuum pressure. |
| US08210193B2 |
Sun shade protector
An apparatus for providing protection from rays from the sun while performing outdoor tasks including at least one of mowing a lawn with a lawn mower and pushing a stroller. The apparatus comprises a sunshade having a predetermined shape, a predetermined size and formed of a first predetermined material. A frame member includes at least two substantially U-shaped members and is engageable with an underside of the sunshade. A respective one of a pair of elongated members is engageable at a first end thereof with a respective end of one of the at least two substantially U-shaped members and is further engageable on a second end with a handle of at least one of a lawn mower and a stroller. One of a clamp and a screw member is used for securing the pair of elongated members to such handle of such lawn mower and such stroller. |
| US08210192B1 |
Oscillating washbox for cylinder head utilizing echelon formation nozzle alignment and an improved nozzle plate design
A bottom wall, a pitched top wall, and sidewalls cooperate to define a washbox for washing a part. The pitched top wall has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The exterior surface is pitched with a maximum distance from the bottom wall at a peak of the pitched top wall. The exterior surface is smooth and free from projections. The washbox further includes ports that extend through the sidewalls to provide fluid to the washbox. A plurality of bores extend through the pitched top wall and are arranged in a row echelon pattern for spraying the part. |
| US08210191B2 |
Dishwasher having multi-mode spray arm system
A spray assembly for an automatic dishwasher is provided comprising a conduit system for receiving pressurized washing liquid, and an elongated spray arm including an upper surface and a lower surface. The spray arm includes a dividing wall between the upper surface and the lower surface. The spray arm includes a plurality of orifices formed in the upper surface and the lower surface for distributing the liquid throughout the dishwasher. The dividing wall and the upper surface define an upper interior compartment and the dividing wall and the lower surface define a lower interior compartment. The conduit includes a water feed system and a water diverting mechanism for selectively diverting water into the upper compartment, the lower compartment, or both the upper and the lower compartments. |
| US08210189B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for bi-solvent based cleaning of precision component
A bi-solvent cleaning system for cleaning precision components without the use of VOC solvents. The bi-solvent cleaning system provides for is a two mode operation for cleaning and rinsing precision components using VOC exempt solvents that is as effective as prior art VOC solvent based systems while subsequently allowing for recovery and reuse of a VOC exempt solvent. |
| US08210184B2 |
Controlled biothermotherapy
A method for thermotherapy of a biological tissue by determining the temperature at which to heat a target site to be treated to provide a temperature to the site to effect therapy, the temperature above body temperature but below a protein denaturation temperature, as determined by a patient's experience of a sensation of pain. Thermotherapy is effected in the absence of coagulative effects by providing oscillatory energy at the predetermined temperature. |
| US08210183B2 |
Device, system, kit, and method for epicardial access
Described are equipment, a system, a kit and a method for the performance of a minimally-intensive body access, such as cardiac access. Epicardial Access Surgery (EAS) is disclosed. EAS does not need general anesthesia or extracorporeal circulation nor does it need a chest opening, which is very advantageous for various aspects. For instance an operation of a coronary artery bypass is created by creating a direct path of flow from one body artery into a coronary artery with the aid of catheter-based minimally-invasive EAS based bypass surgery. In addition, various medical devices are used, such as a special partially flexible needle, a special partially covered stent, and a special partially flexible port. |
| US08210180B2 |
Mask with integral cushion and forehead piece
A respiratory mask has an adjustable forehead support member that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. The forehead support member may be adjusted by rotating a forehead pad about an off-center bore or by bending an angular adjustment beam. The mask has a mask cushion with an accordionate membrane having at least two hinged portions. The mask may be constructed with a mask frame, the mask cushion, and the forehead support member molded as one piece. |
| US08210176B2 |
Method and system to decrease intracranial pressure, enhance circulation, and encourage spontaneous respiration
Systems and methods are provided for decreasing intracranial pressure and enhancing circulation in a breathing person, as well as for increasing the respiratory rate and encouraging spontaneous respiration. According to such methods, a valve system is interfaced to a person's airway. The valve system has a threshold valve and an airway member that interfaces with the person's airway. The threshold valve is configured to prevent respiratory gas flow to the person's lungs during a portion of an inhalation event until the inspiration equals or exceeds an opening pressure of the threshold valve. Also, a small level of external vacuum is constantly supplied at a juncture between the threshold valve and the airway member. |
| US08210166B2 |
Vial multi-access adapter
A multi-access adapter operable to dispense doses of a medicament in succession from a bulk container, such as a vial. A preferred adapter may be used alone, or in combination with various discharge devices. A first preferred combination includes the adapter paired with a needle for injection of the medicament into one or more patients. A second preferred combination includes an atomizing nozzle affixed to the adapter and arranged for discharge of the medicament therethrough. Sometimes the atomizing nozzle carries a nostril guide structure that can be absorbent and may operate as a splash guard. |
| US08210159B1 |
Multiple eye paintball loader motor control
A multiple eye paintball loader motor controller having a container and an outfeed tube to direct paintballs to a marker. Ball sensors are in the loader outfeed tube to predict incoming paintballs and the rate of supply. A controller is connected to the ball sensor to sense the incoming balls to control or adapt the operation of the loader in accordance with the supply rate. Secondary sensors may also be utilized to provide additional information. Secondary sensors may be placed in the outfeed tube, placed to provide supplemental side information, or a combination of these placements. Various placements provide feed rate information and may also detect jammed ball positions in the transition area at the end of the outfeed tube. |
| US08210155B2 |
Method of and device for controlling pressure in accumulation chamber of accumulation fuel injection apparatus
A method of and a device for controlling a pressure is provided in which control performance of accumulation chamber pressure is not deteriorated even in the presence of a disturbance by estimating, with observer control, a disturbance pressure that acts on an accumulation chamber (common rail) constituting an accumulator fuel injection apparatus adapted for use in a diesel engine and the like, and by correcting a pump discharge command with a compensation value capable of compensating for the estimated disturbance pressure.Provision of a feedback control unit 42 capable of calculating a pump discharge command value of a fuel pump based on a pressure difference between an actual accumulation chamber pressure detected by a fuel pressure sensor 46 and a target pressure of an accumulation chamber and a disturbance observer control unit 44 capable of deriving a compensation value compensating the disturbance by the numerical model of the pump discharge command value to the fuel pump, the disturbance pressure acting on the accumulation chamber, and an accumulation chamber pressure by using a transfer function of the fuel pump and by estimating the disturbance pressure from the numerical model, and an output from the feedback control unit 42 is corrected with the disturbance compensation value from the disturbance observer control unit 44. |
| US08210154B2 |
Variable valve actuation apparatus of internal combustion engine
In a variable valve actuation apparatus of an internal combustion engine configured to variably control at least a working angle of an engine valve, a valve actuation mechanism is configured to control a valve acceleration characteristic of the engine valve depending on an engine operating condition. The valve actuation mechanism is configured to bring about a first state where a maximum positive valve-closing acceleration of the engine valve becomes less than a maximum positive valve-opening acceleration of the engine valve, at a maximum working angle. The valve actuation mechanism is further configured so that a second state where the maximum positive valve-opening acceleration of the engine valve becomes less than the maximum positive valve-closing acceleration of the engine valve, exists at a working angle less than the maximum working angle. |
| US08210150B2 |
Frictionless hybrid thermionic rotary engine
A motor according to the invention includes a combustion chamber; a central rotor disposed within the combustion chamber; a shaft, which engages the rotor longitudinally and extends from the combustion chamber in opposite directions; and a proximal rotor and a distal rotor, which are coupled to the shaft in symmetrically opposite positions and have passages defined thereon to receive at least some of the exhaust gas exiting the combustion chamber and impart a vertical motion to that exhaust gas. After exiting the proximal and distal rotors, the exhaust gas is directed to an interspace between the shaft and a housing of the motor and forms pneumatic bearings between the shaft and the housing, which maintain the shaft in a frictionless suspended position during operation of the motor. In one embodiment, some of the exhaust gas energizes batteries disposed around the motor. |
| US08210149B2 |
Baffle plate
A baffle plate includes a discharge portion that discharges lubricating oil that has dropped onto the baffle plate, to an oil pan. The discharge portion extends to be inclined in a direction in which cylinders are arranged, with respect to a rotation central axis of a crankshaft. The discharge portion includes a guide groove in which an upstream portion in a rotational direction of the crankshaft is located under a counter weight, and a downstream portion in the rotational direction of the crankshaft is located under a crank bearing. The discharge portion includes a discharge hole that is formed in the downstream portion of the guide groove in the rotational direction, and that provides communication between the oil pan and an engine block. |
| US08210143B2 |
Adjustable camshaft arrangement
A camshaft arrangement having two shafts disposed coaxially, one inside the other. A connecting element is inserted into a receptacle in the inner shaft, such that a part of the connecting element protrudes out of the receptacle, and that the protruding part is inserted at least partially in a recess, the recess is designed to be open at least toward an end face of the inner shaft cam, and that the protruding part has at least two opposite side surfaces contacting two corresponding inner surfaces of the recess of each inner shaft cam with a force fit. The further connecting element is designed as a radial pin pressed through a hole in the inner shaft cam element into a receptacle of the inner shaft. |
| US08210139B2 |
Engine electronic valve actuation
A head assembly for an internal combustion engine includes an electromagnetic valve actuation system. The head has an intake or exhaust passage defined therein. A valve is disposed in the passage and is operable to selectively open and close the passage. The head has a cooling passage defined therein for passage of a cooling fluid. An electromagnetic actuator has a piston in mechanical communication with the valve and a coil in fluid communication with the cooling passage. The electromagnetic actuator is operable to move the valve between a closed and an open position. |
| US08210133B2 |
Engine-driven power generator apparatus
Engine cooling structure directs cooling air, introduced into a case by operation of a fan, to a cylinder block of an engine and then discharges the cooling air out of the case through an outlet port along meandering flow passages. Case cooling structure directs cooling along the inner surface of the case. Further cooling flow passage directs the air to vertically-oriented heat radiating fins so that the cooling air flows upward along the fins and then is discharged through the outlet port. Metal cooling-fan cover is supported by the lower cover via mounting members, and a resin-made cover guide is fastened to the engine together with supporting portions and interposed between the fan cover and the engine. |
| US08210124B2 |
Method of artificially rearing lobster larvae and rearing apparatus
A method of artificially rearing lobster larvae, in which lobster larvae of the Palinuridae and Scyllaridae families are guided toward jellyfish so that the lobster larvae parasitize the jellyfish and grow on the host jellyfish. An apparatus for rearing lobster larvae wherein a symbiotic feeding tank (1), in which the larvae are reared in the state of being parasitic on the jellyfish, and a jellyfish rearing tank (2) are connected together via a pipe (3), through which water and the jellyfish are supplied from the jellyfish rearing tank (2) to the symbiotic feeding tank (1), and the pipe (3) is provided with a switching valve (7). |
| US08210118B2 |
Food breader
A breading machine for dispensing a coating material onto a food product includes a breading chamber, a continuous conveyor for transporting food products through the breading chamber, a hopper including at least one downspout and a sloped bottom for dispensing coating material onto the food products, a hopper conveyor positioned within the hopper. At least one of an angular position or a vertical position of the hopper conveyor is adjustable to accommodate a variety of free flowing and non-free flowing coating materials. One or more air knives may be positioned in the downspouts to fluidize the coating material to alleviate bridging and/or build-up of the coating material within the downspout. |
| US08210113B1 |
Web cutting and sewing apparatus
A sewing system is disclosed for facilitating the sewing together with a sewing machine ends of at least two webs that are held by a spooling machine. A substantially horizontal carriage rail is supported by a support mounting means in fixed relationship with the spooling machine and itself slidably supports a sewing carriage adapted to hold the sewing machine. A trimming carriage is also slidably supported on the carriage rail and supports a conventional trimming machine that trims the ends of each web ahead of the sewing machine. The trimming carriage is selectively and mechanically fixed with the sewing carriage with a mechanical fastener, so that as the sewing carriage is moved along the carriage rail, the trimming carriage is also moved along thereby. A substantially horizontal support platform is fixed with the carriage rail and adapted to hold each web fixed with respect thereto with a plurality of vertically-movable pins that traverse each web in a raised position. |
| US08210112B2 |
Method for improving the slag quality of grate firing systems
A method for improving a slag quality of slag in a grate firing system. The method includes providing slag in a grate firing system including a combustion chamber disposed above a combustion bed. The combustion bed has a plurality of fixed-bed burnout zones in series on a combustion grate. The fixed-bed burnout zones include a first series of fixed-bed burnout zones and a second fixed bed burn-out zone disposed downstream of the first series. The first series of fixed-bed burnout zones is traversed with a flow of oxygen-containing gas. A portion of the combustion bed associated with the second fixed bed burn-out zone is traversed with a flow of a hot combustion gas from the combustion chamber. |
| US08210109B1 |
Pneumatic adjustable-height table
An adjustable table is easily moved from coffee table height to dining table. The weight of the table top is supported by a pneumatic cylinder, preferably exerting a force slightly greater than the weight of the table top. The cylinder connects to a much larger air tank, so that essentially constant lifting force is exerted. For stability of the table top a guide mechanism firmly retains the table against rotation, side movement or tilting. A unique locking mechanism retains the table at a selected height and is easily released with a finger lever. |
| US08210107B2 |
Plastic pallet structure
An industrial platform for material handling, such as a plastic pallet, is constructed of three scuffed thermoplastic sheets, including exterior intumescent polymeric surfaces for resisting the spread of combustion flames and insulating the interior surfaces from the high temperature of fire. The pallet is reinforced with optional rigidifying structures without article modification. Pallet members are joined with snap together features providing an assembled article. The pallet includes handles for ergonomic manipulation by worker, and is readily adapted to receive a number of unitization accessories for enhancing material handling operations. |
| US08210104B2 |
Moveable printing plate registration member
A method for registering a printing plate includes supporting the printing plate on a support surface. A plurality of registration members adapted to register an edge of the printing plate is provided. The first printing plate is moved over the support surface along a first direction to a position where the edge of the printing plate contacts a first registration member of the plurality of registration members. The first registration member is moved along a second direction that intersects the first direction while maintaining contact between the first registration member and the edge of the printing plate at a location on the edge that does not substantially vary as the first registration member moves along the second direction. Contact is established between the printing plate and a second registration member of the plurality of registration members after the first registration member has commenced moving along the second direction. |
| US08210102B2 |
Switch-over processing method and apparatus
A switch-over processing method includes the steps of performing a first process on a sheet passing between a first cylinder and a second cylinder with a first mounted body being mounted on a circumferential surface of the second cylinder arranged to oppose the first cylinder, and performing a second process different from the first process on the sheet passing between the first cylinder and the second cylinder with a second mounted body being mounted on a circumferential surface of the second cylinder in place of the first mounted body. A switch-over processing apparatus is also disclosed. |
| US08210100B2 |
Cooking apparatus and method with product recognition
Cooking apparatus having first and second platens with product recognition. A positioning mechanism moves the second platen toward the first. A detector senses the second platen making contact with a food product disposed on the first platen and provides a signal. A controller uses the signal to measure the travel distance of the second platen. The product thickness is a function of the travel distance, which is used to select a cooking procedure for the food product. The controller then executes the selected cooking procedure to cook the food product. The detector can include a micro switch, proximity sensor, touch sensor, strain sensor, thermal sensor, optical sensor, sonar sensor or positioning load change sensor. |
| US08210099B2 |
Baby formula maker
A baby formula maker including: a main body in which a water tub and a baby formula tub are installed; a heating portion installed in the main body and heating water contained in the water tub; a time controller controlling time at which the water is heated by the heating portion; a cooling portion including a radiator cooling the water heated by the heating portion and one or a plurality of Peltier cooling modules attached to the radiator so as to lower the temperature of the radiator; and a electric current controller controlling temperatures of the one or the plurality of Peltier cooling modules. The time required to make milk for nursing can be remarkably reduced, and if milk for nursing is needed, immediate nursing can be carried out, and speed and convenience can be provided to the user, and the baby formula maker is sanitary and compact and has a simple structure and thus can be economically manufactured on a mass scale. |
| US08210098B2 |
Brewing device for capsule with closure mechanism of variable transmission ratio
A brewing device for the brewing of a capsule containing a beverage ingredient, the device including a main frame, a first capsule holding part, a second capsule holding part for at least partially holding the capsule mobile relative to the first capsule holding part in the frame and linked to the frame by a closing mechanism that includes knuckle joints; and a manual handle forming lever to activate via the closing mechanism the second holding part from the open position to the closed position and vice versa. The closing mechanism includes an additional force transmitting member associated with the handle and arranged to de-multiply the force applied by the handle on the knuckle joints that compensates for the increase of the force needed for closing the holding parts on the capsule. |
| US08210097B2 |
Machine for automatically preparing and dispensing beverages, by performing mechanical operations on spherical capsules
The technical problem of the present invention is to provide a machine for automatically preparing and dispensing beverages that has an infusion chamber of simple design and optimises the infusion of the capsule so that all areas of the latter are subjected to water injection. The solution of the invention is an assembly including a machine for automatically and dispensing beverages that comprises an infusion chamber (11) adapted for receiving a capsule (1) formed by a compacted aggregate of a substance to be infused trapped in an airtight and watertight conditioning envelope, said infusion chamber being provided with a member (12) for puncturing said conditioning envelope, penetrating into said aggregate of substance to be infused and injecting pressurized water into said capsule, said infusion chamber including a puncture area (20) adapted for locally puncturing or piercing said conditioning envelope, said puncture area (20) communicating with a device (21, 21a, 22) for recovering the liquid flowing through the punctured or pierced area of said conditioning envelope, characterized in that the puncture area (20) is located in the infusion chamber (11) on the same side as the puncturing member (12), said puncture area being provided at the base of said puncturing member and connected thereto, the water being injected towards the portion of the capsule (1) opposite said puncture area so as to be evenly distributed into the entire capsule. |
| US08210096B2 |
Infusion device for prepare beverages from single-serving capsules
A device including a first portion of an infusion chamber and a second portion of an infusion chamber, movable with respect to each other according to an opening and closing direction; a first duct to feed an infusion fluid into said infusion chamber; a second duct for delivery of the food product from the infusion chamber; a pair of guide channels to insert a capsule into a space between the first portion of the infusion chamber and the second portion of the infusion chamber. The guide channels are each produced on a respective movable element; and the movable elements are positioned substantially opposite each other and can be opened to release the capsule into the infusion chamber. |
| US08210087B2 |
Apparatus and method for securing a suppressor to a weapon
The invention is an adapter and a method for securing a silencer/suppressor to the barrel of a firearm. The invention incorporates a uniformly deformable spring washer positioned within a cavity within the adapter. The cavity communicates with an opening in the silencer/suppressor into which the discharge end of the barrel of the firearm is fitted. As the silencer/suppressor is secured to the discharge end of the barrel of the weapon, the uniformly deformable spring washer is deformed uniformly, locking the silencer/suppressor together with the barrel of the weapon, and preventing the silencer/suppressor from separating from the barrel. |
| US08210080B2 |
Workpiece cutting method and band saw machine
A workpiece cutting method utilizing a band-saw machine, includes the following steps of: guiding tooth tips of an endless band-saw blade provided on the band-saw machine in a direction of a workpiece by a band-saw blade guiding apparatus; and applying vibrations to the band-saw blade in a cutting direction to the workpiece so as to perform cutting of the workpiece by a vibration applying unit provided on the band-saw blade guiding apparatus. |
| US08210077B2 |
Device for cutting labels in a labelling machine
A device (1) for cutting labels in a labelling machine, including a cutting roller (2) having at least one blade (3) co-operating with a fixed counter-blade (4) able to be operatively associated to the roller for cutting the labels, a mechanical shaft (5) whereon is keyed said cutting roller (2), a frame (6) to support said mechanical shaft (5) and a heat exchanger circuit containing an operating fluid. Precisely, a first portion (9a) of said circuit is constructed on said support frame (6) and a second portion (9b) of said exchanger circuit is constructed on said mechanical shaft (5), said exchanger circuit thermally interacting with said frame (6) and with said cutting roller (2). The device further includes an impeller for generating a flow of said operating fluid within the heat exchanger circuit, said impeller for generating a flow of said operating fluid being connected to the mechanical shaft (5) and being operatively inserted in said heat exchanger circuit. |
| US08210066B2 |
Electromagnetic synchronizer actuating system
An assembly for actuating a synchronizer includes a shift fork, a shift rail, and a permanent magnet connected to the shift rail. A first control coil is disposed in proximity to the permanent magnet. The first control coil is operable to produce a magnetomotive force on the permanent magnet in a first direction when a current is applied to the first control coil. A second control coil is disposed in proximity to the permanent magnet. The second control coil is operable to produce a magnetomotive force on the permanent magnet in a second direction when a current is applied to the second control coil. The permanent magnet is moved to a first position when the current is applied to the first control coil and the permanent magnet is moved to a second position when the current is applied to the second control coil. Movement of the magnet in turn moves the synchronizer between engaged positions. |
| US08210061B2 |
Gas sensor fitting structure
A gas sensor is fitted to an exhaust pipe such that an end face in which a vent-hole is formed is not visible from any position of inlet portions of the exhaust pipe. Thus, it is possible to suppress entry of condensed water through the vent hole formed in the end face of the gas sensor. As a result, it is possible to minimize occurrence of a crack in the gas sensor. |
| US08210058B2 |
LNG sampling cylinder and method
A sampling cylinder for LNG (liquefied natural gas) is provided. The sampling cylinder includes a piston cylinder arrangement having opposite end members closing the chamber inside the cylinder. Various porting arrangements are provided for allowing fluid to be fed into a chamber inside the cylinder on opposite sides of a piston. A sample chamber is provided at one end member of the cylinder. The end member containing the sample chamber is also provided with a heat exchanger that may be connected to a source of coolant and preferably the LNG to be sampled to effect cooling of the end member at least partially prior to the sample chamber having a sample of LNG injected thereinto. |
| US08210056B2 |
Air filtration sampling point adaptor
Air filtration sampling point adaptors for pulsed air filtration sampling of gas turbine air intakes. According to one aspect of the invention, a sampling apparatus is described. The sampling apparatus can include a mounting base plate having a first surface and a second surface, an outer tubing shell having a first end disposed on the first surface of mounting base plate, a tripod configuration coupled to the mounting base plate and the outer tubing shell and a sampling nozzle disposed on a second end of the outer tubing shell and configured to receive an air flow. |
| US08210053B2 |
Apparatus for testing object strength
An apparatus for testing object strength includes a support platform, a force gauge for reading push or pull force exerted on an object, an installation mechanism for slidable installation of the force gauge on the support platform, an installation board supporting the object, a pull-push mechanism connected to the force gauge to be pushed or pulled by the force gauge and exert force on the object, and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism includes a pedestal secured to the support platform, a slider slidably mounted to the pedestal, an adjustment rod pivotally mounted to the pedestal and threaded into the slider, and a manipulation member fixed to the adjustment rod. The manipulation member rotates the adjustment rod relative to the slider. Thus the slider slides relative to the pedestal. The installation board adjusts the object relative to the support platform. |
| US08210051B2 |
System and method for cyclic testing
A control system is disclosed for controlling a mechanical test comprising a flow control valve that controls a fluidic mechanical muscle having a sheath and a bladder disposed within the sheath, and a servo-controller that controls the operation of the flow control valve based on an output signal from a master controller based on an input signal corresponding to a desired test profile. A method of controlling a component test is disclosed comprising the steps of programming a test profile in a logic controller, supplying a signal to a master controller, supplying a signal from the master controller to a servo-controller, and controlling the flow of a fluid into a fluidic mechanical muscle having a sheath and a bladder disposed within the sheath for applying and reducing mechanical loads on a test specimen. |
| US08210046B2 |
Composition for acoustic damping
In one embodiment of the invention, a composition for a damping wedge in an ultrasonic probe having a wedge body is disclosed, the composition including: a viscoelastic material having a ratio of the imaginary part to the real part of the modulus of elasticity of at least about 5% and an acoustic impedance less than that of the wedge body; a filament-shaped filler in an effective amount to provide good dispersability in the viscoelastic material and to substantially match the acoustic impedance of the damping wedge to the wedge body; and a viscosity enhancer in an effective amount to increase the viscosity of the composition to maintain a homogenous distribution of the filament-shaped filler by preventing the filament-shaped filler from settling. |
| US08210045B2 |
Continuous laser generation of ultrasound
A new invention for the laser-based generation of ultrasound is described. In conventional laser-based ultrasound, a pulse of light is incident on a solid. The light is converted to heat expanding the material near the surface. This thermoelastic expansion creates an acoustic wave in the material. Detection of the ultrasound allows the nondestructive inspection of the material. The rate of performing an ultrasound scan is inherently limited by the pulse rate of the laser. In this invention, a continuous wave (cw) high-power laser sweeps across the material, using thermoelastic expansion to create an ultrasound wavefront on the surface of and in the material. Detection of the ultrasound wavefront provides evidence of the strength of the material and the presence of defects. With Continuous Laser Generation of Ultrasound, material analysts will be able to perform ultrasound scans potentially hundreds of times faster than the current methods. |
| US08210044B1 |
Covert laser remote sensing and vibrometry
Designs of single-beam laser vibrometry systems and methods. For example, a method for detecting vibrations of a target based on optical sensing is provided to include operating a laser to produce a laser probe beam at a laser frequency and modulated at a modulation frequency onto a target; collecting light at or near the laser to collect light from the target while the target is being illuminated by the laser probe beam through an optical receiver aperture; using a narrow-band optical filter centered at the laser frequency to filter light collected from the optical receiver aperture to transmit light at the laser frequency while blocking light at other frequencies; using an optical detector to convert filtered light from the narrow-band optical filter to produce a receiver electrical signal; using a lock-in amplifier to detect and amplify the receiver electrical signal at the modulation frequency while rejecting signal components at other frequencies to produce an amplified receiver electrical signal; processing the amplified receiver electrical signal to extract information on vibrations of the target carried by reflected laser probe beam in the collected light; and controlling optical power of the laser probe beam at the target to follow optical power of background illumination at the target. |
| US08210039B2 |
Vibrating gyroscope with quadrature signals reduction
A vibrating gyroscope includes a proof mass (1); a spring suspension system (5, 6, 7, 8; 9) for suspending the proof mass; an electrical drive mechanism for vibrating the proof mass along a drive axis (x); and electrodes (2, 3) for building together with at least a part of the proof mass (1) a capacitance system for detecting moves of the proof mass along a sense axis (z) perpendicular to the drive axis. The gyroscope is arranged so that quadrature forces generate displacements of the proof mass without substantially displacing the neutral point (10) of the proof mass along the sense axis (z). This may be achieved by tilting the proof mass while keeping its neutral point at a constant position along the sense axis, or by applying a constant electrostatic force. |
| US08210038B2 |
Drive frequency tunable MEMS gyroscope
A drive frequency tunable MEMS sensor in one embodiment includes a mass, a mass drive component configured to drive the mass within a plane, a plurality of non-linear springs supporting the mass a first tuner operably connected to the plurality of non-linear springs for modifying the stress condition of the plurality of non-linear springs in response to a trim voltage, and a trim circuit electrically coupled with the first tuner for providing the trim voltage. |
| US08210030B2 |
Fluid probe
A device for detecting a property of a fluid includes a body region and a flexible element having a first end and a second end. The first end is fixedly located on the body region. The flexible element is arranged to move from at least a first configuration to a second configuration via bending of the flexible element. The flexible element includes an actuating portion arranged to move the flexible element between the first configuration and the second configuration. The device also includes a movement detector for detecting movement of the flexible element. |
| US08210029B2 |
Pipe pressure testing method and apparatus
A pipeline pressure testing assembly has a fitting defining a flow path and having a port on a wall of the fitting into which a pressure testing device is removably inserted along a central axis of the port for pressure testing. The port is circular, larger than the interior diameter of the pipeline and located at or above the tube forming the flow path through the fitting. The fitting has a recess encircling at least part of the flow path and opening to the port to receive the testing and sealing devices. The recess is formed by two opposing walls inclined relative to the central axis of the recess. The recess walls at the top of the flow path by the port are spaced apart a distance as large as the pipe diameter for cleanout and inspection. A tubular valve stem screws into the testing device and has a rotary valve blocking flow through the tubular valve stem. Flow through the fitting is blocked with the rotary valve closed and the tubular valve stem in a first position. Flow through the testing device is allowed with the rotary valve closed and the tubular valve stem in an open position. With the rotary valve open, flow through the tubular valve stem is permitted when the tubular valve stem is in either the first or second position to provide multiple drain and fill options. |
| US08210024B2 |
Damage impactor
In one embodiment a damage impactor comprises a housing defining a passage, an impact assembly, an actuator assembly, and an engagement assembly. In one embodiment the impact assembly comprises a guide rod comprising an impact head, and a bias mechanism to bias the guide rod in a first direction. The actuator assembly comprises an actuator, and an actuator rod coupled to the actuator. The engagement assembly selectively couples the impact assembly to the actuator assembly by driving the actuator rod in the first direction to an engagement position where the engagement assembly couples the actuator rod to the guide rod, retracting the actuator rod in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to a release position and releasing the guide rod from the actuator rod. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08210023B2 |
Method for calibrating a scale factor in an axisymmetrical vibrating gyrometer
The method of calibrating a scale factor of an axially-symmetrical vibrating rate gyro operating by applying an amplitude control signal (CA) and a precession control signal (CP) to a vibrator member (1) set into vibration at a given frequency comprises a pre-calibration step consisting in calculating a reference gain ratio between a drive gain (Gmx) in a first direction and a drive gain (Gmy) in a second direction in modal quadrature with the first direction, and in storing the reference gain ratio, and a calibration step consisting in calculating a value for a measurable magnitude associated with the scale factor by a proportionality relationship including the reference gain ratio, and calculating a corrected scale factor on the basis of the value of the measurable magnitude and the stored reference gain ratio. |
| US08210014B2 |
Flexible forming device for forming three-dimensional shaped workpieces
A flexible forming device for forming three-dimensional shaped workpieces, comprising a frame, at least two working rollers, one or more working roller driving mechanisms and one or more adjusting mechanisms, wherein the working rollers, the one or more working roller driving mechanisms and the one or more adjusting mechanisms are installed on the frame respectively. At least one of the working rollers is a flexible working roller, which is bendable and adjustable. The forming device need not use mold and can realize the continuous formation of a three-dimensional curved surface of a plate-shaped workpiece, and the gradual formation of a tube-shaped or bar-shaped three-dimensional shaped workpiece. The forming device can save manpower, material and time. |
| US08210011B2 |
Continuous repetitive rolling method for metal strip
A continuous repetitive method of rolling a series combination of asymmetric rolling and skin pass rolling operations is provided. Differential-speed rolling is performed as the asymmetric rolling, and a winder temporarily winds a metal strip with a collapsed plate shape by traverse winding (loose winding which allows the metal strip to be wound in a zigzag manner). Then, the skin pass rolling is performed, and orderly winding is performed in a coil form. In the flow of rolling, tandem rolling may be performed by arranging two or more rolling mills side by side so that the asymmetric rolling and the skin pass rolling operations are continuously performed without the traverse winding therebetween. |
| US08210008B2 |
Ignition module with multi-beam spring
An ignition module assembly having a housing member connectable to an ignition system the housing having an undulating surface. A slider member is connected to the housing member and moved between a plurality of discrete positions. The slider member controls the ignition system based on its discrete position. The slider member is configured to receive a key fob. A spring member is compressed between the slider member and the undulating surface and is configured to slide along the undulating surface as the slider member moves between the plurality of discrete positions. The undulations correspond to the discrete positions and a user inserting the key fob into the ignition module assembly and moving the slider member receives haptic feedback to discern the position of the slider member. |
| US08209997B2 |
ISO-pressure open refrigeration NGL recovery
The present invention relates to an improved process for recovery of natural gas liquids from a natural gas feed stream. The process runs at a constant pressure with no intentional reduction in pressure. An open loop mixed refrigerant is used to provide process cooling and to provide a reflux stream for the distillation column used to recover the natural gas liquids. The processes may be used to recover C3+ hydrocarbons from natural gas, or to recover C2+ hydrocarbons from natural gas. |
| US08209995B2 |
Collapsible insulated container
A collapsible insulated container has a base wall and a peripheral wall with an open end defining an enclosure. The peripheral wall has at least two layers and is divided into elongate pockets between the layers, with foldable crease lines between adjacent pockets. Each pocket contains a flexible-walled, insulating gel pack which substantially fills the pocket. The crease lines may be defined by stitching securing the outer and inner layers of the container together. The gel packs may be surrounded by matting, foam or mesh material which is sewn into the lines of stitching, or may have integral peripheral rims sewn into the lines of stitching. The container is foldable between an erect, open condition and a storage condition in which it is folded along the crease lines into a substantially flattened package. |
| US08209994B1 |
Water condensing system
A community-scale water condensing system which reclaims and stores double-filtered potable water from the air utilizing at least one condenser unit including polyethylene pipe suspended over a collection tank and shaken by a self-contained power source upon activation of a moisture sensor to release water into the collection tank. Water flows from the collection tank into a storage tank through a ball valve and a water storage filter. At least one dispensing unit operationally communicates with the storage tank, each dispensing unit including at least one feeder line with an output valve that can be accessed by an individual through a water tap or other outlet mechanism. A water usage filter disposed between each output valve and each water tap removes debris from the water prior to dispensing the water from the water tap. An auxiliary dispensing unit selectively dispenses additional water during maintenance or shutdown of the other dispensing units. |
| US08209993B2 |
Warm water cooling
A method of providing cooled air to electronic equipment includes capturing heated air from a volume containing electronic equipment, cooling the heated air by more than fifteen degrees Celsius in an air-to-water heat exchanger, and supplying cooling water to the air-to-water heat exchanger at a temperature above a dew point temperature of the heated air. |
| US08209991B2 |
Cooling storage and method of operating the same
The liquid refrigerant from the compressor 20 and the condenser 21 is alternately supplied to the cooling device for the freezing room 27F and the evaporator for the refrigeration room 27R through the three-way valve 24, so that the freezing room and the refrigeration room are alternately cooled. Here, the ratio of the refrigerant supply time to each evaporator is controlled based not on a deviation between a target temperature set for each storage room and an actual storage room temperature measured in each storage room, but on an integrated value obtained by integrating the difference of these deviations. In a cooling storage, in which from one compressor a refrigerant is selectively supplied to multiple evaporators respectively disposed in multiple storage rooms of varied thermal loads, a one-storage room cooling mode is prevented from being unnecessarily switched to a alternate cooling mode. |
| US08209989B2 |
Microarchitecture control for thermoelectric cooling
An integrated circuit is cooled by microarchitecture controlled Peltier effect cooling. In one embodiment, a temperature sensor thermally coupled to at least a portion of the integrated circuit of a die is adapted to provide an output as a function of the temperature of an integrated circuit portion. Operation of a thermoelectric cooler thermally coupled to the integrated circuit portion is controlled as a function of the sensor output, wherein a controller of the integrated circuit controls the thermal electric cooler. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08209987B2 |
Augmentor pilot
A gas turbine engine augmenter has a gas flowpath. A number of vanes extend into the gas flowpath. A number of augmenter fuel conduits have outlets along at least some of the vanes. At least one burner discharge outlet is along at least one of the vanes for discharging a pilot gas. |
| US08209986B2 |
Multi-tube thermal fuse for nozzle protection from a flame holding or flashback event
A protection system for a pre-mixing apparatus for a turbine engine, includes: a main body having an inlet portion, an outlet portion and an exterior wall that collectively establish a fuel delivery plenum; and a plurality of fuel mixing tubes that extend through at least a portion of the fuel delivery plenum, each of the plurality of fuel mixing tubes including at least one fuel feed opening fluidly connected to the fuel delivery plenum; at least one thermal fuse disposed on an exterior surface of at least one tube, the at least one thermal fuse including a material that will melt upon ignition of fuel within the at least one tube and cause a diversion of fuel from the fuel feed opening to at least one bypass opening. A method and a turbine engine in accordance with the protection system are also provided. |
| US08209972B2 |
X-tube and corresponding exhaust system
An X-tube (1) is provided, for an at least partly double-flow exhaust system (2) of an internal combustion engine, especially of a motor vehicle, with a housing (3), which comprises two half shells (4, 5) and which has two inlet openings (7, 8) on an inlet side (6) and two outlet openings (10, 11) on an outlet side (9). The housing provides an interior space (12), which is enclosed by the housing (3) and to which the openings (7, 8, 10, 11) are connected in a communicating manner, with a bottom—partition (13), which is designed as a separate component in relation to the two half shells (4, 5) and which divides the interior space (12) into two ducts (14, 15), which are each connected to an inlet opening (7, 8) and to an outlet opening (10, 11) in a communicating manner. The bottom (13) is made permeable for airborne sound and connects the two ducts (14, 15) to one another in an airborne sound-transmitting manner. |
| US08209968B2 |
Hybrid vehicle and method of controlling same
A hybrid vehicle including an engine, a generator capable of generating power by being driven by the engine, an electric motor capable of running on power supplied from the generator, a power split device that transmits output from the engine to a driving wheel and the generator and also transmits output from the electric motor to the driving wheel, and a main ECU that controls an output ratio of the engine and an output ratio of the electric motor using the power split device according to the running state of the vehicle. When the operating mode of the engine is switched between a lean burn operating mode and a stoichiometric burn operating mode, the main ECU selectively increases and decreases the output ratio of the electric motor so that the total output, which is the combined output of the engine and the electric motor, is constant. |
| US08209967B2 |
Internal combustion engine exhaust system
An internal combustion engine exhaust system comprises an exhaust gas recirculation pipe which, in use, recirculates engine exhaust gas into the engine air intake. A particulate filter is provided and a burner arrangement is arranged to burn off particulates caught by the filter. |
| US08209965B2 |
Additive-agent diffusion plate structure in exhaust passage, and additive-agent diffusion plate in exhaust passage
An additive-agent diffusion plate structure in an exhaust passage for an engine includes: an injection port that injects an additive agent, and that is disposed so that the injected additive agent crosses the exhaust passage; and an additive-agent diffusion plate that diffuses the additive agent injected from the injection port into the exhaust passage, at a position upstream of an exhaust gas purification device disposed in the exhaust passage. The additive-agent diffusion plate includes: a bottom wall that is disposed to extend in an exhaust-gas flow direction in which exhaust gas flows; a collision portion with which the additive agent injected into the exhaust passage collides; and a passage portion that is open behind the collision portion, when the additive-agent diffusion plate is seen from a position of the injection port. |
| US08209961B2 |
Engine-off ammonia vapor management system and method
A method of managing vapors generated from an ammonia-containing reductant delivery system for a vehicle is described. The method may include storing ammonia containing vapors generated in the reductant delivery system during engine-off and then purging said stored ammonia into an exhaust of the engine to react in a catalyst in the exhaust flow during engine operation. |
| US08209954B2 |
Exhaust purification device of an internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine wherein an NOx storing catalyst is arranged in an engine exhaust passage and an NOx selective reducing catalyst is arranged downstream of the NOx storing catalyst. Just before the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NOx storing catalyst is temporarily switched from lean to rich to release NOx from the NOx storing catalyst, an amount of NOx necessary for removing ammonia adsorbed on the NOx selective reducing catalyst is fed to the NOx selective reducing catalyst under a lean air-fuel ratio. |
| US08209948B2 |
Multilayer structured spun yarn, process for producing the same, and, fabricated from the yarn, heat-resistant fabric and heat-resistant protective suit
The multilayer-structured spun yarn of the present invention is a multilayer-structured spun yarn C composed of a core fiber A and a cover fiber B that wraps around the core fiber; the core fiber A is in a range of 20 to 50 wt %; the cover fiber B is in a range of 50 to 80 wt %; the core fiber A contains a para-aramid fiber and is a stretch breaking twist yarn; the cover fiber B contains a flame-retardant acrylic fiber, a polyetherimide fiber, or a meta-aramid fiber; the direction of twist of the stretch breaking yarn and the direction of twist of the multilayer-structured yarn are the same; and the multilayer-structured yarn C has a twist number 1.2 to 1.6 times greater than that of the stretch breaking yarn. The heat-resistant textile of the present invention uses the aforementioned multilayer-structured spun yarn. The heat-resistant protective suit of the present invention uses the aforementioned heat-resistant textile. |
| US08209944B1 |
Custom dispensing of prescription pharmaceuticals
A pharmaceutical storing and dispensing device including a child resistant mode and a non-child resistant mode between the container and the closure. The closure comprises a non-child resistant cap shaped to removeably engage the container and a child-resistant cap shaped to be permanently fixed to the non-resistant cap. The non-child resistant cap and child resistant cap are provided in intentionally varying quantities such that the quantity of child resistant caps is less than the quantity of non-child resistant caps. |
| US08209943B2 |
Distributed medicine supplying device and medicine packaging device
There is provided a distributed medicine supplying device, which allows medicines to be distributed at a time relative to a plurality of prescription data and to be distributed appropriately in response to various types of requests. The distributed medicine supplying device includes: a receiving unit 7 for receiving prescription data; a storing unit 8 for storing an assignment condition to medicine to be accommodated in measures 4 of a tray 5; a central processing unit 10 for determining a position of the medicine to be distributed to each of the measures 4 of the tray 5 in accordance with the assignment condition stored in the storing unit 8 based on the prescription data 12 sequentially received by the receiving unit 7; and a displaying unit 9 for displaying the distribution position determined by the central processing unit 10. |
| US08209939B2 |
System and method for supporting a load across a plurality of non-intersecting beams
A system for supporting a load across non-intersecting beams each having a web depending from an upper chord with an upper surface generally parallel with a chordal plane includes at least one crossing member intersecting the beams at intersection loci. At each intersection locus the beam presents a channel receiving a crossing member in a nesting orientation in an installed orientation. The crossing member includes a support expanse configured for an abutting relation with the upper chord to present the upper surface and a top surface of the crossing member as coplanar in the installed orientation. The beam and the crossing member have aperture-pairs in register in the installed orientation. The apertures accommodate tension resisting members or compression resisting members coupled with the upper chord and traversing the crossing member for resisting tension or compression forces on the upper chord in the installed orientation. |
| US08209933B2 |
Connector
A connector comprising a guide tube, and a dowel, the guide tube being arranged to receive an end of the dowel, characterized by the end of the dowel passing through the guide tube into a fixing chamber via an orifice, 5 the fixing chamber being arranged to receive a fixing means, the fixing means being arranged to restrict the motion of the dowel within the guide tube. |
| US08209927B2 |
Structural fiber cement building materials
A structural fiber cement sheet containing cementitious matrix and reinforcing cellulose fibers distributed throughout the matrix having a dry density less than 1.25 g/cm3, a thickness less than 0.7500 in, and able to withstand uniform loads of 200 psf or greater according to test method of Section 6.4.2.4 of PS2 and with a deflection of less than 0.067 inches at 60 psf when spaced on a span of 24 inches or less on center. |
| US08209926B2 |
Assembly for reducing ice damming on roof
An assembly for reducing ice damming along a roof using solar energy is provided including at least one tabular solar collection panel having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface shaped in a rectangular shape. Each panel includes a plurality of holes extending entirely through the panel. A plurality of pads is attached to the opposing surface of said tabular panel for spacing the entire tabular panel from a substrate such as a roof surface. Each panel further includes a “U” shaped offset member attached to an interconnecting member which in turn is attached to the assembly. |
| US08209925B2 |
Connector system for securing an end portion of a steel structural member to a vertical cast concrete member
A steel structural member such as a joist or beam is secured to a vertical cast concrete by a connector system including a fabricated steel receiver embedded within the wall. Embedded anchors are attached to the receiver which has front wall portions flush with the concrete wall and define a front opening. A support bracket has an attachment plate secured to the beam and a vertical plate which fits through the front opening within the receiver. The bracket is attached to the beam which is then elevated, and the vertical plate is inserted through the opening into the receiver. The beam and vertical plate are then shifted until opposite edge portions of the vertical plate are blocked by the front wall portions of the receiver. In the illustrated embodiments, the front opening and vertical plate are generally triangular, and the support bracket has a vertical or horizontal attachment plate. |
| US08209919B2 |
Mounting support for photovoltaic modules
A mounting support for mounting photovoltaic modules constructed with at least one glass pane on a flat roof surface includes a flexible elongated strip having a bottom side with a substantially smooth surface for attachment to the roof surface and a top side with a substantially smooth surface for supporting the photovoltaic modules. The top side of the strip includes recesses oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the strip and separating strip segments which allows the mounting support or strip to be easily rolled up. The strip segments include integrally formed fastening members configured to engage with cooperating fasteners for securing the photovoltaic modules on top side of the strip. The top surface may also include longitudinal grooves or tubes holding the fastening members. |
| US08209917B1 |
Temporary, non-load bearing wall assembly
A temporary, non-load bearing wall panel that when joined together with other like panels, is used as a barrier (also known as a barricade wall) that keeps a construction area, vacant store, or any other undesirable element out of the reach and view of pedestrians. If required by the end user, the panels could be laminated with a visual graphic for reasons of aesthetic enhancement, advertisement of service, announcement of future business expectations, etc. A door and/or window display, dust curtains, etc. may be added to the panels as dictated by the end user. |
| US08209915B2 |
Wall construction air barrier system
A wall construction air barrier system includes a foundation structure and a frame structure positioned on top of the foundation structure. The frame structure has an exterior surface and the frame structure includes a sill plate. At least one exterior sheathing is attached to the frame structure. The exterior sheathing has an interior surface. A continuous sealing gasket has a lateral portion positioned between the sill plate and the foundation structure and an extension portion positioned between the exterior surface of the frame structure and the interior surface of the exterior sheathing. |
| US08209914B2 |
Roofing grommet forming a seal between a roof-mounted structure and a roof
A roof mount assembly mounts a structure to a roof having a rafter and a substrate supported by the rafter. The roof mount assembly includes a piece of flashing positioned on the substrate. The flashing includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an aperture extending through the flashing. A fastener extends through the flashing aperture. A bracket is connected to the flashing via the fastener, and the bracket is sized to support at least one roof-mounted structure on the roof. A seal is positioned between the flashing aperture and the fastener. The seal is sized to form a water-tight seal with the aperture to inhibit flow of fluid through the aperture. The seal includes a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion is positioned to abut the flashing first surface and the second portion is positioned to extend through the aperture. |
| US08209913B2 |
Tubular structure and wind turbine generator
An object of the invention is to propose a tubular structure and a wind turbine generator in which work on an outer surface of the tower structure can be performed easily. A tubular structure comprises: a plurality of tubular sections 21 that are stacked one on top of another in a vertical direction, the adjacent tubular sections 21 being joined together with use of a splice plate 22 arranged on at least one of an inner surface and an outer surface of abutting ends of the adjacent tubular sections 21 and a fastening member 25 fastening the splice plate 22 and the adjacent tubular sections 21; an opening for operation 26 which is arranged in a vicinity of the splice plate 22 on a circumferential surface of the tubular sections 21; and a reinforcing rib 28 arranged in the vertical direction on the circumferential surface of the tubular sections 21, wherein a vertical position of the reinforcing rib 28 includes at least a vertical range where the opening for operation 26 is arranged. |
| US08209912B2 |
Horticulture light fixture with glass retention rails
A horticulture light system comprising a housing, glass retention rails, gasket, glass sheet, and threaded fasteners. The housing constructed of no more than three portions of sheet metal, defining an interior space therein and having an open end towards the plants, the housing interior space constructed and arranged for containing a grow lamp and reflector to project a pattern of light out the open end of the housing at the plants, the open end including a rectangular sealing face for mating with the gasket, the gasket sealing the glass surface to the rectangular sealing face when compressed by the glass retention rails. The glass retention rails also constructed from sheet metal, easily formed into a L shape, attached by common threaded screws, and as tightened, compressively secure the glass to the gasket and housing. Loosening the threaded screws removes the compressive force, unsealing the glass from the housing, making for easy glass removal, facilitating maintenance and cleaning. |
| US08209906B2 |
Noise dampener for a garage door opener
A noise dampener for a garage door opener includes a pair of resilient members, each resilient member of the pair of resilient members having first and second opposite ends. The first ends are adapted for mounting to a garage ceiling mounting bracket. The second ends are adapted for mounting to motor mounts mounted to an upper side of a motor housing of the garage door opener. The first and second ends of the resilient members are mountable to the ceiling mounting bracket and the motor mounts respectively by fastening means through apertures in the first and second ends. A vibration dampening pad is provided for mounting between the garage wall adjacent the garage door and a chain channel support extending from the motor housing. |
| US08209905B2 |
Greening system
A greening system us disclosed for enabling plants/vegetation to grow only with natural rainfall, without any particular irrigation facilities, enabling a full-blown garden to be constructed on building rooftops, minimizing the applicable loads on the building, and free from the risk of leakage. Planting container 1 comprises box 2 with stickers 3 to carry perforated partition panel 4. The lower half of the container is constituted as water storage 5, and drain holes 6 are opened on sides of the container. Soil layer 7 placed on partition panel 4 is formed of light woody soil-based on charcoal 9 and humus timber chips for absorbing moisture transported from the water 8 stored in water storage 5 by evaporation or difference in humidity, to have a large water capacity letting less water evaporate into the air. Charcoal 9 absorbs water from the air inside the lower half of the container to water the plants. Water storage 5 assures an amount of water necessary for plants to grow. |
| US08209901B2 |
Administering substances to plants by injection
The invention relates to a method and device for administering at least one substance to a plant or plant material, comprising of: (i) providing at least one substrate with a surface and at least one plant location therein; (ii) providing injecting means; (iii) moving the substrate and the injection means relative to each other; (iv) controlling an alignment of the injecting means relative to the plant location; and (v) injecting the substance of the position of the plant location using the injecting means. |
| US08209899B2 |
Flyline connecting device
The invention provides a convenient, lightweight and streamlined connecting device for attaching a leader or tippet to a fly-fishing line. The Fly Line Connecting Device is configured with an expandable tubular lattice that allows for an in-line connection to the fly line. The connection device has an integral tubular lattice sized with an internal diameter that is slightly smaller that the fly line and when compressively displaced, operates to expand the internal diameter to allow insertion of the fly line. Once the fly line is fully inserted, the tubular lattice is allowed to contract and elastically constrict onto and thereby grip the semi-resilient surface of the fly line. When the fly line and leader line are placed in tension through the connecting device, the tubular lattice acts to constrict down on the fly-line to resist separation. The connecting device of the invention is configured with a loop, eyelet, knot-trapping feature, or short tippet to allow for the convenient attachment of the leader line. Alternatively, the connecting device is permanently attached or integrally formed with a full-length leader. The preferred embodiment of the connecting device is injection molded in an intermediate form that is configured to be manually or machine cold-drawn to the final working dimensions and optimal physical properties. |
| US08209898B2 |
Sight accessory
The instant invention is a sight accessory that attaches to a scope. The double vision blocker attaches with hook and loop fasteners and is further secured by a plurality of “O” rings. The blocker allows the user to sight with both eyes open preventing the occurrence of double vision. This creates an opportunity for the user to be more accurate on a consistent basis. The device is also suitable for use for both right handed and left handed users without any modification. The sight accessory can be attached to archery sights, scopes and any other instrument used for sighting. |
| US08209887B2 |
Wear resistant support structures for utility equipment
The present invention relates to a wear shoe for use with utility equipment comprising a unitary housing having therein at least one cavity containing a wear resistant insert bound within the unitary housing and methods for making the same. Most preferably, the wear resistant insert is a ceramic material. |
| US08209882B2 |
Actively ventilated shoe
The invention relates to an article of footwear, in particular a sports shoe, wherein the article of footwear includes a ventilation system with at least one active ventilation element arranged in a midfoot area of the article of footwear. Furthermore, the article of footwear includes at least one air channel with an inlet and an outlet which are arranged in the sole area in the interior of the article of footwear. The active ventilation element is arranged such that air is sucked from the interior of the article of footwear through the inlet and is blown into the interior of article of footwear shoe through the outlet. |
| US08209881B2 |
Condensation type dryer
Disclosed herein is a condensation type dryer. The dryer includes a circulation tube communicating at both ends thereof with a tub to define a passage through which air inside the tub is circulated, a blowing fan disposed inside the circulation tube to circulate the air inside the tub, a heater disposed inside the circulation tube to heat air supplied into the tub, and a condensation tube connected to a water supply source to supply cooling water into the circulation tube, the condensation tube has a serpentine shape. |
| US08209880B2 |
Dryer and method of controlling the same
Disclosed herein is a dryer having a function of spraying steam onto laundry. The dryer includes a cabinet, a drum rotatably disposed inside the cabinet, an exhaust part communicating with the drum and provided with a ventilation fan, a drive unit rotating the drum and the ventilation fan; and a drive force transmission unit selectively transmitting a drive force from the drive unit to the ventilation fan. A method of controlling the dryer is also disclosed. |
| US08209879B2 |
Method for removing chemistry buildup in a dispensing dryer
A method for operating a dispenser dryer to remove treating chemistry in the dispenser dryer. |
| US08209877B2 |
Hair straightening device
The present invention relates to a hair straightening device to be placed on an air blower, comprising a first straightening element and a second straightening element positioned on either side of an air diffuser (9), each of the two elements comprising an outer comb (1) and an inner comb (2), removably attached so as to allow a sliding movement of one relative to the other, said sliding movement of the two outer (1) or inner (2) combs allowing to grip the hair and to stretch it above the air diffuser (9), the teeth of the outer combs (1) being formed by a succession of arches (3) whose holes define two tunnels (4) that make space for the inner combs (2) in such a way as to allow an arrangement of said inner combs (2) beneath said outer combs (1) within said tunnels (4) and to allow said sliding movement of the inner combs (2) relative to the outer combs (1) in order to displace the teeth (5) of said inner combs (2) relative to the planes formed by the arches (3) of the outer combs (1). |
| US08209874B1 |
Building frame construction tools and methods using laser alignment
A frame construction tool system, for wood frame buildings, or for metal, polymer, concrete, or composite frame buildings, and methods of using some or all of the tools of said tool system, are particularly well-adapted for roof and/or wall construction. Preferably, a laser light unit comprises a plurality of adjustments for directing the laser light in a variety of directions, preferably for vertical, horizontal, and pivotal adjustment. The laser light unit may be used with targets, cuttings guides, and/or prism units for splitting and/or redirecting the laser beam. In one embodiment, the laser light unit is used with reflective and/or translucent/transparent targets to accurately build a “build-over roof” wherein the laser light unit maps out points and lines of an accurate connection between the roofs. In another embodiment, the laser light unit is used with one or more targets used at the top of a stud wall, to produce a straight line reference from one end/corner of a wall to another. In another embodiment, the laser light unit may be used with a cooperating cutting guide, to measure and properly cut a straight overhang for the roof or a deck and/or to measure and properly cut upending stud members in a pony wall. The preferred laser unit may be used with prism units to layout an entire building. |
| US08209870B2 |
Safety cutting apparatus
A cutting apparatus has a unidirectionally-locking blade cover that automatically snaps back over the exposed blade after each cut, and a dependent, index finger operated unlocking trigger. |
| US08209869B2 |
Cantilever comb guard
A shaving blade assembly having a blade unit with at least one blade and a guard bar positioned in front of the blade. A cantilever guard is positioned in front of the blade unit defining a gap between the guard bar and the cantilever guard. The cantilever guard has a plurality of spaced apart fingers extending transverse to the blade. The fingers have a wedge shaped cross section in a direction transverse to the blades and are movable relative to the guard bar between a first position and a second position during a shaving stroke. |
| US08209866B2 |
Method for producing fire rated door by inserting intumescent material in a perimeter channel of a first and second door panel
The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for producing fire rated doors having added strength, better finishing and low cost manufacturing flexibility. The fire rated doors are made from two panels “sandwiched” together. An optional interior layer (e.g., fire resistant material, lead sheeting, steel or Kevlar) can be added between the door panels for various purposes. Splines, stiles or sticks are inserted in longitudinal channels in the door panels to provide assistance in aligning the door panels and greater hardware holding strength. An intumescent banding material concealed by a banding material around the perimeter of the door seals the door within its frame during a fire. The door design and the automated manufacturing process provide greater design choice, reduced cost and faster fabrication. |
| US08209863B2 |
Methods of manufacturing rotor core for motor-driven valve, rotor feed screw and rotor
To improve methods of manufacturing a rotor core, a rotor feed screw, and a rotor for motor-driven valves and reduce manufacturing cost of the motor-driven valves. A method of manufacturing the rotor core comprising the steps of: using an openable/closable die device 23 defining a molding recess 28 for the sleeve 14; forming to the die device 23 a molding recess 24a for the valve closing limit stopper 14a and a first positioning portion 27a positionally corresponding to the molding recess 24a; forming to the bushing 11 a second positioning portion 11c such that when the second positioning portion 11c coincides with the first positioning portion 27a a thread-cut leading end 11b of the female screw 11a and the molding recess 24a for the valve closing limit stopper 14a are positionally corresponding to each other; mounting the bushing 11 to the die device 23 such that the second positioning portion 11c coincides with the first positioning portion 27a; and closing the die device 23 and casting molten resin into the molding recess 28 to manufacture the rotor core 19. In the same manner as described above, a rotor feed screw 20 and a rotor 40 can be manufactured. |
| US08209860B2 |
Method of manufacturing printed circuit board having metal bump
Disclosed herein are a printed circuit board having metal bumps which have uniform diameter and are formed at fine pitch, and a method of manufacturing the printed circuit board. |
| US08209859B2 |
Techniques for direct encasement of circuit board structures
A technique for processing an electronic apparatus (e.g., manufacturing an assembled circuit board, treating an assembled circuit board, etc.) involves applying encasement material to an area of the circuit board assembly while leaving at least a portion of the circuit board assembly exposed. The technique further involves causing the applied encasement material to harden (e.g., heating the encasement material in a curing oven, applying radiation, providing a chemical catalyst, etc.). Application and hardening of the encasement material may take place shortly after circuit board assembly (e.g., by automated equipment at a manufacturing facility in order to treat newly assembled boards) or at some later time in the field (e.g., by a technician servicing a legacy board). |
| US08209858B2 |
Method for mounting electronic components on a support
An arrangement for mounting a multiplicity of components (9, 10), particularly with irregular surface topography, on a support (7) using an assembly tool which has a tool substructure (5) and a tool superstructure (6), where the tool substructure (5) is designed to receive the support and the components which are to be mounted thereon, and the tool superstructure (6) has, in addition to an arrangement (11, 12) for transmitting assembly forces, an arrangement for compensating for tilts between the components and the support and/or an arrangement for compensating for irregular surface topologies. |
| US08209857B2 |
Method of making a thin film device
A thin-film device and a method of fabricating the thin-film device are provided herein. The thin-film device comprises a bond layer, a film layer that has bulk material properties, and a substrate that has a heat-sensitive component disposed thereon. The method of fabricating the thin-film device comprises the step of providing an active material that has bulk material properties. The active material is bonded to the substrate through the bond layer. After bonding the active material to the substrate, the active material that is bonded to the substrate is thinned to produce the film layer of the thin-film device. The substrate is provided with the heat-sensitive component disposed thereon prior to bonding the active material to the substrate. |
| US08209856B2 |
Printed wiring board and method for manufacturing the same
Embodiments of the present invention provide a printed wiring board in which solder bumps of a mounted semiconductor chip are less prone to be ruptured. The printed wiring board includes a coreless substrate which includes: a dielectric layer having a main surface and a connecting pad embedded in the dielectric layer. The connecting pad is shaped like a brimmed hat. That is, the connecting pad includes a plate portion whose diameter φ1 is about 95 μm and a contact portion whose diameter φc is about 75 μm. The main surface of the contact portion is exposed at the main surface of the dielectric layer. Since diameter φc of the contact portion is substantially the same as diameter φ2 of an under bump metal at the semiconductor chip side, even if mechanical stress is applied in a direction in which the semiconductor chip is peeled off from the coreless substrate, the stress disperses evenly to both of the connecting pad and the under bump metal, and thus rupture is less prone to occur. |
| US08209853B2 |
Rework soldering jig
A rework soldering jig is used for heating a surface mounted slot. The rework soldering jig includes a body and an assembly frame. The assembly frame is detachably disposed on the body. The body and the assembly frame together wrap the surface mounted slot. Since the rework soldering jig has the detachable assembly frame, a size thereof can be adjusted according to different forms of slots. |
| US08209852B2 |
Arrangement for locking the screws of electric terminals
An arrangement for securing at least one screw of an electric terminal includes a deformable insulating housing element, and at least one shaft having a shaft wall extending vertically in the housing element. The shaft wall includes profiling in an area thereof. The shaft is configured to receive a screw having a screw-head so that the screw is countersunk. The profiling is elastically deformable and configured to deform during insertion of the screw and to elastically return towards an interior of the shaft so as to secure the screw. At least one of the shaft and the screw has a non-circular shape. |
| US08209845B2 |
Machined component manufacturing method for enhanced low cycle fatigue life
A manufacturing method includes providing a component, such as a superalloy aircraft component, with a substrate surface having damaged brittle compound particles from machining. The manufacturing method removes the damaged compound particles from the substrate surface without producing significant amount of new damaged compound particles in the substrate surface. In one example, the damaged compound particles are removed with an abrasive media. The method results in a machined substrate surface free from damaged intermetallic component particles. |
| US08209844B2 |
Brake pad for a disc brake
A brake pad includes a support plate which is embodied as a cast piece as well as a friction lining that is attached therein. The support plate is provided with a planiform base and raised, positively connected parts, which are molded onto the base and are enclosed by the friction lining. At least some of the positively connected parts are surrounded in at least some areas by an adjacent cavity of the base, resulting in an improved connection of the friction lining to the support plate. |
| US08209843B2 |
Non-porous graft with fastening elements
A method of making a non-porous tubular graft is disclosed. The method includes the step of securing a plurality of fastening elements extending through an outer layer of knitted, woven, or braided material along a length of the outer layer, wherein the fastening elements extend outwardly from the outer layer. The method further includes the steps of placing an inner layer of non-porous material within the outer layer such that an underside of each fastening element is positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer and laminating the outer layer to the inner layer to form the non-porous tubular graft. |
| US08209841B2 |
Method of manufacturing multicolored illuminator
A method of manufacturing a multicolored illuminator is disclosed. In an embodiment, a first transparent sheet comprising light diffusing particles is provided. Second and third transparent cladding sheets are provided on either sides of the first transparent sheet. A mirror is provided adjacent to the second sheet. The first sheet, second sheet, third sheet and mirror are merged to give a multicolored illuminator. |
| US08209840B2 |
Rotating coupling for robotic tool changer
In a robotic tool coupler, a rotating cam member having a plurality of surfaces formed therein urges a plurality of ball members in one tool coupling unit radially to contact an angled surface in the other tool coupling unit. Further rotation of the cam member exerts a radial force through the ball members onto the angled surface. A component of that force is directed by the angled surface toward the opposite tool coupling unit, locking the two units together. The cam member may include a failsafe surface and/or a failsafe lobe to maintain the two units locked together in the event of a loss of power to positively actuate the cam member. |
| US08209834B2 |
Centering a part inside a shaft
A device for centering a tube inside a hollow shaft is disclosed. The device includes a deformable device interposed between the tube and the hollow shaft and including bearing members for bearing against the inside surface of the shaft and suitable for being spaced away from the inside surface of the shaft in order to enable them to be moved inside the shaft. The deformable device is made of a shape-memory material suitable for deforming to press the bearing members against the inside surface of the shaft or to space them away therefrom on being subjected to a predetermined temperature. |
| US08209831B2 |
Surface conditioning for thermal spray layers
The invention relates to a process for roughening metal surfaces to improve adhesion of layers which are thermally sprayed thereon, in that in a first process step recesses or depressions (2) are introduced into the surface in a material-detaching or material-removing treatment so that the protruding metal of the surface forms raised microstructures (3), in particular projections, ridges, protuberances or bumps, these microstructures being reworked in at least a second process step by shaping and/or breaking so that a significant proportion of the structures form undercuts (4) in relation to the surface. |
| US08209828B2 |
Method for making a piezoceramic device
The invention concerns a method for making a piezoelectrical device, whose electrode layers contain copper. The usage of copper in the electrode layers is enabled by a debindering process, which is carried out by steam. |
| US08209824B2 |
Magnetic jewelry clasp with catch
A magnetic jewelry clasp is described that includes a first body member having a magnet that defines a first magnetically attractive surface. The clasp includes a second body member that has a magnet that defines a second magnetically attractive surface that magnetically connects to the first magnetically attractive surface to define a first locking arrangement of the clasp. The clasp includes a safety catch that has a first protuberance that is adapted to open and close the safety catch. The safety catch includes a second protuberance that fits over the end of the second body member which defines a second locking arrangement of the clasp. The Safety catch is designed so that it will function whether the two bodies are brought together with both right side up or with one up side down. It includes a pair of side panels that prevent misalignment of the first and second body members. There is also disclosed a safety catch with a magnet. |
| US08209822B2 |
Draw cord adjuster
A draw cord adjuster includes a closure member having a first end and a second end. At least one locking member is anchored to one of the first end and the second end of the closure member. At least one anchoring member is positioned proximate the one of the first end and the second end of the closure member to which a corresponding locking member is anchored, with each anchoring member being movably secured to the corresponding locking member. |
| US08209821B1 |
Lockable ratchet buckle
The ratchet buckle for tightening a strap under a ratchet action provides a lock to positively prevent the ratchet buckle from inadvertently releasing the strap. The lock requires a removable handle to be installed on the ratchet buckle before the lock can be released. The removable handle extends the ratchet buckle crank arm for increased leverage in exercising the ratchet buckle and when removed reduces the overall size of the ratchet buckle and eliminates a crank arm portion that would otherwise extend beyond the ratchet buckle base. |
| US08209814B2 |
Air intake for vacuum-conveyance waste collection system
There is provided an air intake for a vacuum-conveyance waste collection system, to form a high-speed air flow by allowing air to enter a conveying line through which waste being put into a waste receiving device is conveyed to a central waste collection station.The air intake for the vacuum-conveyance waste collection system according to the present invention comprises: an air inflow pipe 1 including an upper air inflow opening 1a and a lower air inflow opening 1b to allow outside air to enter; a noise pipe 4 with an upper end inserted under the air inflow pipe 1 and a sound absorption material 4c attached to an inner wall of the noise pipe 4; and a housing 5 including an air suction valve 6 installed inside and a sound absorption material 5a attached to an inner wall of the housing 5, the housing connected to a lower end of the noise pipe 4, to guide the air entered through the air inflow pipe 1 to a waste conveying line 10, wherein un upper rain cap in a cone shape is installed at an upper position in the air inflow pipe, a mesh is installed at the upper end of the noise pipe, and a lower rain cap in a frustum shape including a central through-hole is installed between the upper rain cap and the mesh. |
| US08209812B1 |
Grill cleaning brush
The grill cleaning brush provides for the cleaning of accumulated deposits from the sides of grill grate bars, along with the simultaneous cleaning of collected grease, oil, fat and other liquids or semi-liquids that have accumulated on the grill grate. The grill cleaning brush includes a base having opposed upper and lower surfaces, a gripping handle mounted on the upper surface of the base, and a cleaning layer attached to the lower surface of the base. The cleaning layer includes both a wire scrubber and a grease absorbent pad embedded within the wire scrubber. Preferably, the wire scrubber is provided as first and second wire scrubber pads attached to the lower surface of the base, the grease absorbent pad being sandwiched therebetween. The grease absorbent pad may be formed from cotton, paper, a combination of the two, or the like. |
| US08209811B2 |
Disposable floor mat carrying sanitizer
A disposable mat that carries a sanitizer and is sized and shaped to be positioned on a floor and enables a user to stand upon the mat without directly contacting the floor. The mat may have a toe fold formed in or attached to the front portion of the mat, which toe fold forms an envelope that is closed on at least three sides and allows a user to insert their toes into the envelope. The mat may also be separable along an approximate midline of the disposable mat. |
| US08209809B2 |
Artificial field litter pick-up device
A device for cleaning an artificial “infill turf” field includes a rotating brush assembly and a basket for receiving waste and infill material. The basket has a bottom with openings that allow infill material to be returned to the field, and a vibrator to promote separation of infill from waste. The device may include wheels connected to the brush assembly in a manner effective to rotate the brush when one or both of the wheels rotate, and a magnet for picking magnetic waste material from the field. The device may include an actuator for adjusting the height of the brushes, and a tow bar that allows the device to be positioned in an “active” orientation to sweep a field, or an “uplifted” orientation to transport the device across curbs or rough terrain. Multiple brushes and/or baskets may be provided. |
| US08209808B2 |
Toothbrush and attachment therefor
An attachment for an electric toothbrush, including a working head and coupling member mountable on a toothbrush handpiece. The coupling member includes a sleeve-shaped coupling insert with an engagement section for locking with the handpiece. The coupling insert is displaceable relative to the coupling member or an actuating member such that an axial movement of the coupling insert relative to the coupling member or actuating member produces an unlocking/locking movement of the engagement section in a direction transverse to the attachment longitudinal direction. The attachment or actuating member is first moved axially relative to a locked coupling insert until the axial relative movement releases the lock for the coupling insert and the attachment to be separated from the toothbrush handpiece. This two-stage attaching or connecting mechanism permits use of non-self-locking connecting or faying contours because the locking movement takes place in a direction transverse to the attachment longitudinal direction. |
| US08209805B2 |
Operating method in washing machine
An object of the present invention is to provide a washing method of a washing machine, in which an out of order of a water level sensor in a steam generator which generates steam is detected exactly, for safe protection of the steam generator and laundry, and effective performance of the washing. To achieve the object of the present invention, the washing method includes the steps of ($ sensing a water level sensor being out of order during steam washing, and (B) turning off the′ steam generator if it is sensed that the water level sensor is out of order. |
| US08209803B2 |
Patient transport support
A patient transport device includes a generally planar board having a width, length, and thickness defining a volume. At least one handle element is movably connected to the board. The at least one handle element is movable between a first, storage position in which the handle element is contained within the volume of the board, and a second, deployed position in which the handle element extends outwardly from the board. At least one foot support element is movably connected to the board, and is movable between a first, storage position in which the foot support element is contained within the volume of the board, and a second, deployed position in which the foot support element extends outwardly from the board. At least one roller element is rotatably secured to a bottom surface of the board. A patient to be transported is secured to the board and partially supported by the foot support and rolled via the at least one roller element by a single user of the board grasping the at least one handle element. |
| US08209800B2 |
Single driver connecting structure for an electric bed or chair
A single driver connecting structure for an electric bed or chair comprises: a primary frame, a driver and a link rod. The second structural component has two first angle brackets, and the first angle brackets each include a sliding slot. The third structural component has two second angle brackets, and each second angle bracket includes an aperture. The driver has a positioning portion and an extendable rod, and the positioning portion is pivoted to the securing aperture. The link rod has a first aperture and a second aperture. The first aperture is pivoted to the through hole of the driver with a control pin, and the control pin is slibable in, and limited in, the sliding slot. The second aperture and the aperture of the third structural component are pivoted together such that the driver drives the link rod to affect different movements of the main frame. |
| US08209795B2 |
Prefabricated shower pan having varying sidewall heights and method of attaching a modular curb
A prefabricated, polyurethane reaction injection molded, leak-proof shower module suitable for use in constructing a tiled shower includes a floor and a plurality of sidewalls wherein a first sidewall is taller than at least a portion of a second sidewall and the difference in height between the first sidewall and the second sidewall is sufficient to permit the attachment of a modular curb to the second sidewall. The floor is bounded along peripheral edges by the plurality of sidewalls which extend substantially vertically from the edges. A method of installing a tiled shower is implemented in one embodiment by applying adhesive material on a subfloor within an area bounded by stud framing, setting the prefabricated shower module in place on the subfloor, installing a prefabricated modular curb proximate to at least one sidewall of the module, attaching wallboard to the framing, and installing tile over the wallboard, module and curb. |
| US08209794B1 |
Automatic pool level
An automatic pool level controller that maintains a water level water in a swimming pool to protect the pool both from a low water level and from overflow conditions that disable pool equipment from operating. The controller monitors water level with a plurality of adjustable conducting sensors that connect to a plurality of relays that control a plurality of switches and a solenoid valve to automatically add water to the pool when the water level falls below the desired level, and halt addition of water when the desired level is achieved, automatically turning on a pump to expel water to reduce the water level, and automatically turning a pump off to halt the discharge of water when the water is reduced to the desired level, maintaining the water level sufficient for operating pool equipment. The controller has an immersible sensor board, a submersible pump and runs on household current. |
| US08209791B2 |
Toilet leak alert
Embodiments of the invention include devices for reliably indicating when the water level in a toilet tank rises to the top of the overflow tube. Indicators use the presence of water in the overflow to provide for visual, olfactory and/or auditory indication of the malfunction. Features of the invention provide for a safe, inexpensive and reliable device for detecting toilet malfunction. Indicators are housed in a device that is positioned to intercept overflow water passing from the toilet tank to the toilet bowl. The presence of water in the device housing is used to release indicators into the toilet bowl water or into the air. Improvements are provided that eliminate false positive indications and prevent inadvertent damage to the toilet. |
| US08209788B2 |
Chemical solution distributing apparatus and chemicals
A chemical solution distributing apparatus which is installed in a water tank in water closets or the like and distributes chemical solutions periodically in the water tank including a bottomed tubular apparatus main body which has an opening at its lower end; a chemical retaining section which is present inside this apparatus main body and mounts/retains chemicals; and a drawn-water passage section which is installed outside the apparatus main body and in which one end thereof is connected to the inside of the apparatus main body via the opening while the other end thereof is positioned higher than the lower end of the apparatus main body; wherein the chemical retaining section has holes in order to mix chemicals with the water inside the apparatus main body or inside the water tank; and wherein a check valve to allow release of air inside the apparatus main body to the outside is also formed. |
| US08209784B2 |
Helmet with an attachment mechanism for a faceguard
A helmet having a shell configured to fit about a head of a wearer of the helmet. The shell includes a top portion that defines a front edge and a bottom portion adjoining the top portion. The bottom portion defines a first side edge integral with a first end of the front edge and a second side edge integral with a second end of the front edge. The front edge, first side edge, and second side edge define a segment of a circumference of the shell. The helmet includes a faceguard comprising a faceguard assembly formed in a substantially closed loop. A top portion of the faceguard assembly overlies the top portion of the shell and substantially overlies and coincides with an entire shape of the front edge. At least a segment of a top portion of the faceguard assembly makes direct contact with the top portion of the shell. |
| US08209783B1 |
Helmet visor with wiper apparatus
The helmet visor with wiper apparatus provides a visor that can wipe inclement weather products off of the visor center section with a pendulum action wiper blade that is replaceable. The visor removably fits most existing helmets. The center section of the visor provides for less curvature than do the left section and right section, thereby providing for most efficient cleaning. The center section outward flares provide best all around visibility from the center section. Also, the wiper mechanism removably fastens to the visor, providing for inexpensive wiper mechanism replacement without having to replace the entire apparatus and further providing for the various components of the wiper mechanism to be serviced and replaced easily, without great expense. The flexible blade is replaceable. |
| US08209782B1 |
Motorcycle helmet horns
A motorcycle helmet enhancing horn having a horn shaped, hollow body initiating at a broad base tapering to a distal point. The horn arches is formed about a curved central axis spanning between a center of the broad base and a central point of the distal end. The central axis can be a single or compound curved shape. A mounting flange supports the horn body. The mounting flange is contiguous about and extends substantially perpendicularly outward from the base edge. An adhesive is applied to the bonding surface of the mounting flange for securing the horn to a motorcycle helmet. The horns can be provided in mirror image pairs having individual flanges or in a series assembled in a linear, spatial arrangement on a single flange. The flanges are shaped in a compound curve for mating to an outer surface of a motorcycle helmet. |
| US08209781B2 |
Protective earflap unit
During use of a firefighter helmet or a similar helmet, a detachable protective earflap unit can be used to provide convenient and easy storage of personal items for the firefighter or other helmet wearer secured at the back of the helmet and below the rear brim or rear lower edge of the helmet by a utility strap securement assembly. The protective earflap unit comprises an earflap having a utility strap securement assembly that selectively may encircle and retain eyewear, an eyewear case, a utility bag, or other small personal item. |
| US08209774B2 |
Coated glove with multiple material layers
The present invention is a knit or cloth glove that includes one or more additional protective layers attached thereto to improve the protective attributes of the glove as desired by the wearer. The protective layers are formed of materials that provide puncture, cut, chemical and water resistant properties to the glove, and are secured to a base layer of the glove that is formed of a stretchable and breathable natural or synthetic fabric material. An outer coating layer is applied over the base layer and the protective layers to provide enhanced protective features, as well as a seamless appearance, to the glove. |
| US08209771B1 |
Protective pad with inter-digit separators
A protective pad for the palm of a wearer's hand consisting of a compressible, sponge-like material contained within an impervious material held in the palm region by a single attachment strap surrounding the wearer's hand. The attachment strap uses an adjustable fastener, preferably hook-and-loop material or a self-adhesive system. The pad shape is chosen to be non-obvious to others when in place on a user's hand. It may be provided in more than one size to help accomplish that objective. The palm pad is designed as a low-cost, disposable unit to promote sanitation (e.g., prevent infection, etc.) through daily exchanges of the pads. The compressibility of the pads is believed to provide therapeutic benefit by preventing further tightening of the hand while preventing nail impaction. |
| US08209769B1 |
Hands free bomb suit tool carrier
A bomb suit carrier is constructed from a sheet of fabric material shaped to fit within the front torso portion of a bomb suit. A sheet of loop material is attached to the sheet of fabric material and a plurality of parallel straps are attached to the side of the sheet of fabric material having the sheet of loop material. The parallel straps form a pouch attachment ladder system and include loop material along their entire length. A hole passes through the sheet of fabric material to accommodate a rapid doffing handle of a bomb suit to which the bomb suit carrier is attached. An attachment mechanism is provided to secure the sheet of fabric material to the bomb suit. |
| US08214913B2 |
Physically secure computing system and device, and physically secure container therefor
A secured computing system and container therefor may comprise: a base for receiving a computing device; a securable first cover for substantially enclosing at least part of the computing device when the first cover is in a first position in the base; a securable second cover for preventing access to the computing device when the second cover is in a secured position, wherein access to the computing device is available when the second cover is not in the secured position. The computing device may be substantially enclosed when the first cover is in the first position in the base and the second cover is in the secured position; and one or more user features of the computing device may be accessible when the first cover is not in the first position in the base. The computing device may include a computer processor or computer peripheral. |
| US08214910B1 |
Obscuring an accelerometer signal
The present disclosure presents techniques for determining when to obscure an accelerometer signal from an accelerometer of a mobile device. The techniques include determining whether a user has been prompted to provide sensitive input data to the mobile device using an input device of the mobile device. When the user has been prompted to provide sensitive input data, the technique includes obscuring a portion of an accelerometer signal outputted from an accelerometer, and receiving the sensitive input data from the user at the input device while the accelerometer signal is obscured. In some embodiments, the accelerometer signal can be obscured by (i) switching the accelerometer 216 off, (ii) inserting a random noise signal into the accelerometer signal, (iii) masking the low-order bits of the accelerometer signal, (iv) passing the accelerometer signal through a filter, (v) actuating a vibrator of the mobile device, and/or (vi) otherwise degrading the accelerometer signal. |
| US08214906B2 |
System, method and program product to determine security risk of an application
A system, method and program product for evaluating a security risk of an application. A determination is made whether unauthorized access or loss of data maintained or accessed by the application would cause substantial damage. A determination is made whether the application is shared by different customers. A determination is made whether a vulnerability in the application can be exploited by a person or program which has not been authenticated to the application or a system in which the application runs. A numerical value or weight is assigned to each of the foregoing determinations. Each of the numerical values or weights corresponds to a significance of the determination in evaluating said security risk. The numerical values or weights are combined to evaluate the security risk. Other factors can also be considered in evaluating the security risk. |
| US08214905B1 |
System and method for dynamically allocating computing resources for processing security information
Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for dynamically allocating computing resources for processing security information. In one example, the system receives from an antivirus application deployed on a user's computer information about user's actions related to the security of said computer. The system analyzes the received information to determine user's level of expertise in the field of computer security. The system then classifies the user into one of two or more different roles based on the determined level of expertise. The system automatically selects, based on the user's role, configuration setting of the antivirus application for collecting information about security threats detected by the user. The system also automatically allocates and configures, based on the user's role, computing resources and services for processing information collected by the antivirus application deployed on the user's computer about security threats detected by the user. |
| US08214904B1 |
System and method for detecting computer security threats based on verdicts of computer users
Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for detecting unknown security threats. In one example, a system receives from an antivirus application deployed on a user's computer information about an unknown security event associated with a software executing on the computer and a user's verdict indicating that the software is harmful or clean. The system identifies the user of the computer and a role of the user. The role indicates user's level of expertise in the field of computer security. If the user has a high level of expertise in computer security, the system accepts the user's verdict. If the user has a low level of expertise, the system analyzes the information about the security event to verify that the user's verdict is correct. If the user's verdict was accepted or verified to be correct, the system updates an antivirus database associated with the antivirus application. |
| US08214903B2 |
Analysis of scripts
A method and system for analyzing scripts. A script is processed, which executes text blocks of code derived from the script and copied to an output file in a sequential order. The script is the first text block that is copied to the output file. Executing the text blocks includes interpreting each text block to generate and execute a corresponding interpreted block of code. Processing the script results in the text blocks being sequenced in the output file in the sequential order. The text blocks include an original text block of code that includes text that may be directly inferred from text appearing in the script. The blocks of code include a new text block of code, which includes text that may not be directly inferred from text appearing in the script. The new text block is generated from executing the original text block. |
| US08214885B2 |
Managing network components using USB keys
Devices and methods for managing a communications network include using USB keys to provision and management components in the network by having the network component establish a connection to a network administrator device, such as a laptop, PDA, or desktop workstation. A first USB key is used to provision a network component so that it has the necessary security information to interact with a second USB key, used to enable actual management of the component. Once the component has the security information, the second USB key is inserted and certain callback data are made available to the component. It uses this data to make a “call” or connection to an administrator's device. The callback data may be an IP address of the device, an e-mail address, VoIP data, instant messaging data, dial-up data, and so on. Once the connection, initiated and established by the network component, is made the administrator can begin managing the component. |
| US08214884B2 |
Computer-based dynamic secure non-cached delivery of security credentials such as digitally signed certificates or keys
A management server acts as a repository for a plurality of user certificates corresponding to a plurality of users. When a user wishes to access a remote computer such as a secure-enabled host requiring a secure credential, his/her computer sends a request message to the management server. The management server may perform its own validity checking. In response to a request and conditioned on the management server authorizing access to a computing resource that requires an authorization credential, the management server delivers the requested credential and executable code, the authorization credential comprising information that enables access to the computing resource and the delivered executable code manages the lifecycle of the delivered authorization credential by allowing only temporary storage without caching of the delivered authorization credential. |
| US08214883B2 |
Using social networks while respecting access control lists
Techniques are described for use with social networks and associated access information, such as access control lists, indicating which users are allowed to access the social networks. The social networks represent relationships between users. The social networks and access control lists may be represented in a graph which is traversed in connection with performing different operations using the social networks. |
| US08214878B1 |
Policy control of virtual environments
When copying a guest from a source virtual environment to a target virtual environment, policy control of the target environment is provided. A configuration specification is created based on the source virtual environment and the guest to be copied. The configuration specification contains specific policies and/or requirements of the guest. The guest and the configuration specification are copied to the target virtual environment. The target virtual environment is examined to determine whether it is compliant with the copied configuration specification. If so, the copied guest runs in the target virtual environment. If not, the target virtual environment can be modified to be in compliance with the configuration specification. |
| US08214877B1 |
System and method for the implementation of policies
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for developing policies which govern entities and applying the developed policies against representations of entities, where the representations are contained in a repository. One embodiment of a method of the present invention includes obtaining a policy comprising a rule, wherein the rule comprises a condition associated with compliance to the rule, generating one or more filters according to the condition, applying the one or more filters to a plurality of representations in a repository, wherein each representation represents an entity and determining a set of entities compliant with the rule based on the application of the one or more filters to the plurality of representations. |
| US08214876B2 |
System and method for statistical analysis of border gateway protocol (BGP) configurations
Routing and connectivity in the Internet is largely governed by the dynamics and configuration of the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). A configuration analysis toolkit enables network operators to discover, analyze and diagnose their BGP configuration, policies and peering relationships. Statistical variance analysis in such a toolkit exploits the recurrence of policies in large networks for analysis. In a large network, policies that have similar functions are examined, e.g. all inbound route maps associated with customer autonomous systems. For n occurrences of similar policy P, it is possible to flag k deviant configurations, and evaluate the probability that the deviant configurations are in error. Analysis and policy visualization of implemented BGP configurations enable service providers to move from checking of low-level configuration to extracting analyzable BGP level policy information across a multitude of BGP routers in order to validate consistency of policies and operator intent across distributed BGP configurations using a flexible, customizable analysis engine. |
| US08214873B2 |
Method, system, and computer-readable medium for employing a first device to direct a networked audio device to render a playlist
A method for playing music includes displaying a list of playlists names, selecting one of the displayed playlists names, sending at least one attribute of a playlist corresponding to the selected playlist name to a playlist server, receiving a playlist from the playlist server wherein the received playlist corresponds to the attribute(s), selecting at least one song from the received playlist, sending information representative of the selected song to a content server, receiving the selected song from the content server, and playing the selected song(s). Requesting a playlist on the first device based on attributes, sending the same attributes to a second device having the second device request the playlist and start playing. |
| US08214872B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data in digital broadcasting system
A digital broadcasting system and a data processing method are disclosed. A receiving system of the digital broadcasting system includes a baseband processor, an IP network stack, and a handler. The baseband processor receives a broadcast signal including mobile service data and main service data. Herein, the mobile service data configures a Reed-Solomon (RS) frame, and the RS frame includes mobile service data and an internet protocol (IP) signaling channel having pre-decided IP access information included therein. The IP network stack accesses the IP signaling channel from the RS frame using the IP access information, thereby collecting signaling table information received through the IP signaling channel. And, the handler identifies and parses the collected signaling table information based upon a table identifier of each signaling table received through the IP signaling channel, thereby storing the parsed result. |
| US08214865B2 |
Video signal receiving apparatus, display device, display system, and information updating method of display system
A video signal receiving apparatus, includes: a plurality of receiving parts which receive a video signal; a plurality of communicating parts which transmit the video signal to a plurality of external display devices, and transmit and receive control data for changing a display property of the video signal and a setting of the display devices to and from the external display devices; and a control part which controls the communicating parts to transmit the video signal received by the receiving part to the external display devices, and to receive the control data and to transmit a signal which controls the corresponding display devices if the control data is input from the external display devices. |
| US08214864B2 |
On-train video information delivery control and display system
A delivery control central device installed in a lead car of a train delivers video information including moving image information and still image information to a delivery control terminal device of each subsequent car via an inter-car transmission path. The video information is delivered based on video content and a content display schedule that are both wirelessly received from a ground station through a transceiver device. The delivery control terminal device of each car is sequentially connected to the delivery control terminal device of an adjacent car, sequentially delivers the delivered video information to the adjacent car, and delivers the delivered video information to a video output device via an in-car transmission path inside its own car. A video output device generates video signals from the delivered video information, outputs the video signals to a display device, and displays the video signals by the display device. |
| US08214856B2 |
Emergency alert system for video on demand viewers
Viewers of video on demand (“VOD”) programs are automatically presented with Emergency Alert System (“EAS”) information during an invocation of the EAS system. A VOD Support System receives notification of an EAS event and directs EAS information to be stored in a VOD Server. The VOD Support System then invokes a function in the VOD Server, causing the VOD server to suspend all active VOD streams and, instead, stream out the EAS information comprising a preamble and emergency information identified by the VOD Support System. Upon completion of streaming this information, the VOD Server will automatically resume each of the VOD programs previously suspended. VOD viewers watching a VOD session that is interrupted by an EAS test are thus automatically returned to their VOD programming at the point where their program was interrupted. |
| US08214852B2 |
Disc device including disc loading mechanism
In a disc device including a disc loading mechanism for transporting a disc between an inside and an outside of the disc device, a frame acting as an exterior of the disc device is disposed with at least a motor as a power source, and a switch for controlling the rotation or the stop of the motor by switching on or off, and a pressing unit for switching on or off of the switch is disposed integrally with the frame. With the configuration, the rotation control of the motor as the power source is realized by a simple structure. |
| US08214848B2 |
Method and apparatus for installing printer drivers of image forming apparatuses in printing environment employing universal printer driver
A method of installing printer drivers of image forming apparatuses in an environment that employs a universal printer driver is provided. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an environment for using printer drivers of image forming apparatuses that is convenient to a user by deleting printer drivers of image forming apparatuses that were previously installed by using the universal printer driver and by installing printer drivers of image forming apparatuses corresponding to a predetermined standard. |
| US08214847B2 |
Distributed messaging system with configurable assurances
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for configuring assurances within distributed messaging systems. A defined set of message log and cursor components are configurably activatable and deactivatable to compose a variety of different capture assurances, transfer assurances, and delivery assurances within a distributed messaging system. A composition of a capture assurance, a transfer assurance, and a delivery assurance can provide an end-to-end assurance for a messaging system. End-to-end assurances can include one of best effort, at-most-once, at-least-once, and exactly once and can include one of: durable or non-durable. Using a defined set of activatable and deactivatable message log and cursor components facilities more efficient transitions between desired assurances. In some embodiments, a composition of a capture assurance, a transfer assurance, and a delivery assurance provides durable exactly-once message delivery. |
| US08214846B1 |
Method and system for threshold management
One or more computer-readable media that enable a method of recording object configurations at and after an incident occurs in the object. The present invention captures object configurations surrounding an incident that allows changes to be made in response to the incident to be analyzed. The present invention also may generate an incident classification based on a comparison of the configuration when the incident occurs and after it is resolved. |
| US08214843B2 |
Framework for distribution of computer workloads based on real-time energy costs
Energy costs for conducting compute tasks at diverse data center sites are determined and are then used to route such tasks in a most efficient manner. A given compute task is first evaluated to predict potential energy consumption. The most favorable real-time energy costs for the task are determined at the various data center sites. The likely time period of the more favorable cost as well as the stability at the data center are additional factors. A workload dispatcher then forwards the selected compute task to the data center having the most favorable real-time energy costs. Among the criteria used to select the most favorable data center is a determination that the proposed center presently has the resources for the task. |
| US08214840B2 |
Optimization with unknown objective function
Nonlinear optimization is applied to resource allocation, as for example, buffer pool optimization in computer database software where only the marginal utility is known. The method for allocating resources comprises the steps of starting from an initial allocation, calculating the marginal utility of the allocation, calculating the constraint functions of the allocation, and applying this information to obtain a next allocation and repeating these steps until a stopping criteria is satisfied, in which case a locally optimal allocation is returned. |
| US08214836B1 |
Method and apparatus for job assignment and scheduling using advance reservation, backfilling, and preemption
A method for scheduling computing jobs in a scheduling event. A computing node is identified that is able to satisfy the required resource during a first time period. A second computing job is determined to have previously been scheduled to execute during a second time period, where the second time period overlaps a first time period. Execution of the second computing job is preempted if the first computing job's priority is greater than the second computing job's priority by at least a threshold amount, and if preempting the second job frees the required resource for use by the first computing job. Execution of the first computing job is scheduled to take place on a first computing node during the first time period, where a start time associated with the first time period is a time selected from the group consisting of a current time and a future time. |
| US08214829B2 |
Techniques for placing applications in heterogeneous virtualized systems while minimizing power and migration cost
N applications are placed on M virtualized servers having power management capability. A time horizon is divided into a plurality of time windows, and, for each given one of the windows, a placement of the N applications is computed, taking into account power cost, migration cost, and performance benefit. The migration cost refers to cost to migrate from a first virtualized server to a second virtualized server for the given one of the windows. The N applications are placed onto the M virtualized servers, for each of the plurality of time windows, in accordance with the placement computed in the computing step for each of the windows. In an alternative aspect, power cost and performance benefit, but not migration cost, are taken into account; there are a plurality of virtual machines; and the computing step includes, for each of the windows, determining a target utilization for each of the servers based on a power model for each given one of the servers; picking a given one of the servers with a least power increase per unit increase in capacity, until capacity has been allocated to fit all the virtual machines; and employing a first fit decreasing bin packing technique to compute placement of the applications on the virtualized servers. |
| US08214821B1 |
Method and system for automatic firmware updates in a portable hand-held device
A method for automatically updating firmware of a hand-held device. To initiate the automatic update, a reset of the hand-held device is detected and an update application is executed. The update application determines whether a flag, indicating a pervious execution of the update application, has been set. If the flag is set, the update application terminates, otherwise, the update application performs an identification test by determining whether a device ID of the device matches a device ID stored in a table of the update application. If the device ID does not match, the update application terminates and the flag is set. If the device ID matches, the update application updates the firmware of the hand-held device, sets the flag, and terminates. In so doing, the firmware of the hand-held device is updated without requiring user intervention or interaction. |
| US08214819B2 |
Determining call counts in a program
Function calls for a program are sampled to determine call counts in the program. The call counts are determined based on sampled function calls collected during sampling intervals. |
| US08214815B2 |
Reducing the run-time cost of invoking a server page
The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for reducing the run-time cost of invoking a server page. The system can include a server page translation unit configured to translate a server page document into program code. The system also can include a program code compiler configured to compile the program code into a program object. Finally, the system can include an optimization processor programmed to modify the program code to permit direct invocation of the program object by external program objects bypassing a server engine typically used to invoke the server page. Notably, in a preferred aspect of the invention the server page can be a JSP. Similarly, the program code can be Java source code and the program object can be a Java class. Finally, the external program objects can be servlets. |
| US08214813B2 |
Code optimization across interfaces
A method of optimizing code which invokes methods on a system across an interface is described. High level information relating to the system is accessed and this information is used in performing code transformations in order to optimize the code. |
| US08214809B2 |
Grid-enabled ANT compatible with both stand-alone and grid-based computing systems
A grid-enabled ANT system that includes ANT XML task files that can run on both grid-enabled machines or stand-alone computers is disclosed. A network file server is used to store files accessed during the build process, and ANT's standard XML tagging and parameters are used, thus enabling the user to use a standardized format for entering XML information. This grid-enabled ANT is transparent to the user since ANT parses the tasks and automatically sends jobs to the grid, when appropriate, instead of the user deciding which tasks to implement as grid tasks. |
| US08214808B2 |
System and method for speculative thread assist in a heterogeneous processing environment
A system and method for speculative assistance to a thread in a heterogeneous processing environment is provided. A first set of instructions is identified in a source code representation (e.g., a source code file) that is suitable for speculative execution. The identified set of instructions are analyzed to determine the processing requirements. Based on the analysis, a processor type is identified that will be used to execute the identified first set of instructions based. The processor type is selected from more than one processor types that are included in the heterogeneous processing environment. The heterogeneous processing environment includes more than one heterogeneous processing cores in a single silicon substrate. The various processing cores can utilize different instruction set architectures (ISAs). An object code representation is then generated for the identified first set of instructions with the object code representation being adapted to execute on the determined type of processor. |
| US08214801B2 |
Applying persistence to selected attributes of static and dynamic operating system components
A process for managing customizations for components in a component tree includes for each customization associated with the parent of a component, matching the pathname of the component with the customization path. The process further includes associating the customization with the component, if the matching results in a partial match. The process further includes applying the customization to the component, if the matching results in a complete match. |
| US08214800B2 |
Compact representation of vendor hardware module revisions in an open architecture test system
Method and system for associating software components with vendor hardware module versions in an open architecture test system are disclosed. The method includes receiving a set of hardware versions of a vendor hardware module, receiving a set of software components supported by the vendor hardware module, processing the set of hardware versions, where the set of hardware versions is represented as an equivalence class of hardware version numbers using a mask value, obtaining user choices of hardware versions of the vendor hardware module, validating the user choices of hardware versions of the vendor hardware module, and creating a system profile in accordance with the user choices of hardware versions. |
| US08214799B2 |
Providing information to an isolated hosted object via system-created variable objects
A system-created variable object may expose a property of an object model to an internal object that does not have access to the object model directly. The system-created variable object may provide a mechanism for communicating the external state of an object model to an internal member (object) without exposing the object model to the internal object. This feature enables an object model object to be isolated, a concept that can be advantageously exploited. |
| US08214797B2 |
Visual association creation for object relational class development
A development system is provided. The system includes a workspace component to visually display one or more class components. A linking component identifies a database relationship between at least two of the class components, where the database relationship is employed to automatically create a class association between the at least two class components. |
| US08214795B2 |
Efficient automated translation of procedures in constraint-based language
A method is provided for translating sets of constraint declarations to imperative code sequences based on defining an instantiatable object per set, inserting calls to a notification callback mechanism on state modification and defining calls in the constraint context as imperative code sequences that, in response to these callbacks, take actions to maintain these constraints. This notification and callback mechanism can also be employed in connection with external events, thereby providing for efficient implementation of event-sequenced imperative procedures in a constraint programming language. |
| US08214793B1 |
Automatic restoration of tool configuration while navigating layers of a composition
A selection of a layer is received from a plurality of layers of a composition. A tool type and one or more tool setting(s) are obtained based at least in part on the selected layer, where in the event the selected layer was previously selected at least once, the obtained tool type and tool setting(s) were in use a last time the selected layer was selected. A tool is automatically configured using the obtained tool type and tool setting(s), where the tool is associated with manipulating the composition. |
| US08214792B2 |
System for implementing business transformation in an enterprise
A business enterprise is assessed by a consultant using a computer implemented tool for practicing component business modeling techniques. The tool builds a map of components, filters the map to form a heat map and identifies collaborations. Key performance indicators are evaluated. |
| US08214791B1 |
User interface for inherited connections in a circuit
Certain embodiments of the present invention enable a user to display and edit the effects of inherited connections in a circuit that is characterized as a hierarchical arrangement including cell instances and connectors. The hierarchical arrangement may include a tree structure where the cell instances include devices and the connectors include wires and pins. Property names are associated with connectors for identifying corresponding signal sources, and property-setting expression are associated with cell instances for specifying property-name values and making the corresponding identifications. Displays may include a path along the hierarchical arrangement from a given connector to a corresponding signal source including the effects of property names and property-setting expressions along the path. Displays may enable editing by the user to change property names and property-setting expressions along the path and view corresponding results for the inherited connections. |
| US08214789B2 |
Method and system for keyboard managing and navigating among drawing objects
A system and method for navigating drawings on a computing system is provided. The method includes loading drawings and associated object data. The drawings and the associated object data are arranged into at least two types of navigation networks, each type of navigation network having a plurality of parameters to interact with the drawings. Keys in a keyboard are mapped based on the plurality of parameters of the at least two types of navigation networks. A navigation network for the drawings is selected from the at least two types of navigation networks and the drawings are displayed. The drawings are manipulated using the mapped keys based on the selected navigation network, wherein the at least two types of networks include at least two of a row and column network, a flow chart network, a wiring diagram network, and a component location drawing navigation network. |
| US08214788B2 |
High-frequency VLSI interconnect and intentional inductor impedance extraction in the presence of a multi-layer conductive substrate
Embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for extracting impedance for a circuit design are disclosed herein. Some of the disclosed embodiments are computationally efficient and can accurately compute the frequency-dependent impedance of VLSI interconnects and/or intentional inductors in the presence of multi-layer conductive substrates. In certain embodiments, the resulting accuracy and CPU time reduction are a result of a Green's function approach with the correct quasi-static limit, a modified discrete complex image approximation to the Green's function, and a continuous dipole expansion to evaluate the magnetic vector potential at the distances relevant to VLSI interconnects and intentional inductors. |
| US08214787B1 |
Cell uniquification
Methods reduce the number of newly created cells when creating new cells to optimize a design. Cells are created to optimize a design, but neighbor cells fitting a distribution of drive strengths and P/N ratios are used instead. This allows reducing the number of newly created cells to optimize the design, through uniquification of neighbor instances with respect to the distribution grid. |
| US08214784B2 |
Accurate parasitic capacitance extraction for ultra large scale integrated circuits
A system and method for extracting the parasitic contact/via capacitance in an integrated circuit are provided. Parasitic extraction using this system can lead to an improved accuracy on contact/via parasitic capacitance extraction by taking into account of the actual contact/via shape and size variation. The common feature of the various embodiments includes the step of generating a technology file, in which the contact/via capacitance in the capacitance table is derived from an effective contact/via width table. Each element of the effective contact/via width table is calibrated to have a parasitic capacitance matching to that of an actual contact/via configuration occurring in an IC. |
| US08214782B1 |
Systems for total coverage analysis and ranking of circuit designs
In some embodiments of the invention, a method and apparatus of consolidating all types of coverage metrics, obtained from an HDL simulator, under a single common framework is described. In other embodiments of the invention, a method and an apparatus are disclosed for performing ranking from a verification plan using total coverage metric. |
| US08214773B2 |
Methods for E-beam direct write lithography
A method of forming integrated circuits for a wafer includes providing an E-Beam direct write (EBDW) system. A grid is generated for the wafer, wherein the grid includes grid lines. An integrated circuit is laid out for the wafer, wherein substantially no sensitive features in the integrated circuit cross the grid lines of the grid. An EBDW is performed on the wafer using the EBDW system. |
| US08214772B2 |
Model import for electronic design automation
Methods and systems for providing processing parameters in a secure format are disclosed. In one aspect, a method for providing semiconductor fabrication processing parameters to a design facility is disclosed. The method comprises providing a set of processing parameters of a fabrication facility; creating a model from the set of processing parameters; converting the model into a corresponding set of kernels; converting the set of kernels into a corresponding set of matrices; and communicating the set of matrices to the design facility. In another aspect, a method for providing semiconductor fabrication processing parameters is disclosed. The method comprises providing a set of processing parameters of a fabrication facility; creating a processing model from the set of processing parameters; encrypting the processing model into a format for use with a plurality of EDA tools; and communicating the encrypted processing model format to a design facility. |
| US08214770B2 |
Multilayer OPC for design aware manufacturing
A method is provided for designing a mask layout for an integrated circuit that ensures proper functional interaction among circuit features by including functional inter-layer and intra-layer constraints on the wafer. The functional constraints used according to the present invention are applied among the simulated wafer images to ensure proper functional interaction, while relaxing or eliminating the EPE constraints on the location of the wafer images. |
| US08214769B2 |
System and method for initiating a call using a phone hard-button and a screen dialer of a personal digital assistant
A system and method is described for managing phone calls initiated from a phone device of a personal digital assistant. In one example, a system for managing a phone call is described. The system comprises, among other things, a personal digital assistant. The personal digital assistant includes the following: a display device; a phone device; a call device configured to control the phone device and to display a selectable interface on the display device; a hard button configured to initiate the call device; and a selection mechanism configured to receive user selections from the selectable interface. |
| US08214762B2 |
Presenting information regarding selected items
An approach is described for recording the selections made by a user and then presenting information regarding these selections to the user in various contexts. Each selection corresponds to the user's express request to receive information (such as a telephone number) that is useful in performing a transaction (such as calling a particular business entity). |
| US08214761B2 |
Imaging device
The present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus superior in operability and visibility at the time of setting and adjusting functions thereof.The apparatus includes GUI screen image generating means for generating a GUI screen image for operating the imaging apparatus to display the GUI screen image on image display means; operating means for operating the GUI screen image displayed on the image display means; controlling means for controlling the imaging apparatus in accordance with the operation of the GUI screen image by the operating means; storing means for storing hierarchy type main menu information; menu generating means; and menu editing means capable of editing the unique menu information generated by the menu generating means. The controlling means controls the GUI screen image generating means when detecting a predetermined operation by the operating means, and the GUI screen image generating means generates the GUI screen image in which the index information to operate the menu editing means is included in the unique menu information, in accordance with the control by the controlling means, and displays the GUI screen image on the image display means. |
| US08214757B2 |
Control device for a medical imaging technology system with an integrated web browser that automatically supplements queries
To execute a program, a computer opens a usage window of a user interface of the program when calling the program. Via the opened usage window, the computer receives usage commands for a usage part of the program from a user, the usage commands being presented during the input thereof in the usage window, or in a usage command window of the user interface. The computer executes a usage action corresponding with a usage command after validation of the usage command, and receives retrieval commands from the user to retrieve additional information. The retrieval commands are presented in a retrieval command window of the user interface during the input of said retrieval commands. Additional information is received from a web server after the validation of the respective retrieval command. The retrieval and output of the additional information is an action different from the usage action. The information window, the retrieval command window, the usage window and the usage command window are different windows. |
| US08214755B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method
An object is designated as a designated object. Two or more image data items containing objects each being different from the designated object by an amount smaller than or equal to a first predetermined value are selected from among a specific image data item group. The selected two or more image data items are displayed in two or more display regions provided on a display unit. The objects each being different from the designated object by the amount smaller than or equal to the first predetermined value are defined as main objects, the two or more image data items are adjusted such that differences in position and size of the main objects in the display regions between the two or more image data items are made smaller than or equal to a second predetermined value, and the adjusted two or more image data items are displayed. |
| US08214749B2 |
Method and system for sensing and reporting detailed activity information regarding current and recent instant messaging sessions of remote users
A system for providing a local computer user with detailed activity information regarding remote users, in order to assist the local user in determining whether to initiate a communication session with a remote user. The system provides activity information describing the number of instant messaging sessions one or more remote users are currently involved in, the identities of participants in those sessions, activity levels, time period information, and other information. The system further provides detailed activity information describing recent instant messaging sessions of one or more remote users. |
| US08214748B2 |
Meeting agenda management
A method for scheduling a meeting based on data collected from previous meetings includes: creating an agenda for a meeting with a computerized meeting management system, the agenda having at least one recurring agenda item; presenting a suggested amount of time for the at least one recurring agenda item to a user through the computerized meeting management system, the suggested amount of time being based on data regarding the recurring agenda item from at least one previous meeting. |
| US08214747B1 |
Role based state and dynamic feature enablement for collaborative and non-collaborative workspaces and imbeded applications
In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification includes a workspace definition which includes a workspace identifier referring to a workspace where an application container having a user interface can instantiate the workspace based on the workspace definition; a plurality of application identifiers each referring to an application provider for an application, and where each application is configured to execute in the application container for the instantiated workspace and where each application has a visual representation in the user interface; and a one or more participants where each participant refers to one or more workspace participants. |
| US08214744B1 |
Integrated device interface using multiple web servers
A method is provided for operating a system which includes a local device running a local web server and a remote device running a remote web server. The method includes (a) running a web browser on the local device, (b) rendering a series of web pages on the web browser, the series of web pages including (i) a set of local web pages served from the local web server, the set of local web pages providing configuration information regarding the local device, and (ii) a set of remote web pages served from the remote web server, the set of remote web pages providing configuration information regarding the remote device, and (c) controlling the configuration of the local device or the remote device based on user interaction with the series of web pages. Computer program products for causing a computer to perform various operations to perform the method are also provided. |
| US08214743B2 |
Data management techniques
The exemplary embodiments provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing data. A graphical user interface is generated. The graphical user interface comprises a first selecting component for receiving a selection from a user of at least one attribute of a record from a set of records to be measured for relevancy, a second selecting component for receiving a selection from the user for a granularity of the at least one attribute to be measured for relevancy, and a displaying component for displaying a result to the user, wherein the result includes a visual representation of the relevancy of the at least one attribute selected by the user based on the granularity selected by the user. |
| US08214742B2 |
Method of rapidly creating visual aids for presentation without technical knowledge
A computer implemented method for capturing and enhancing illustrating pane content for use as sequential slides in a presentation includes illustrating a static image on an illustrating pane in a plurality of colors. Each color used to illustrate the static image representing a single element of the static image. The method further includes digitally capturing a single finished image of the illustrated static image and enhancing the background, geometry and colors comprising the finished image. The single finished image is separated into a plurality of single color images with each single color image comprising only a portion of the single finished image comprising that specific color. A ordered presentation is built from the single colored images and the presentation is displayed. |
| US08214737B2 |
Processing life and work events
A method allows a user to process a life or work event by enabling the user to perform certain operations, including creating at least one event instance based on an event definition that includes a specification of data required from an external source, a list of tasks to be completed, a task order, and one or more resources associated with each task, and processing the event instance by importing the data from the external source and by iteratively allowing the user to select a task in accordance with the task order and to access the resources associated with the selected task. The imported data may be used to pre-populate forms, or as other input within the tasks. If the imported data is processed or used to produce output data, the output data may be exported to an external destination. |
| US08214733B2 |
Automatic forms processing systems and methods
Systems and methods analyze the physical structure of text rows in a document image, including the positions of one or more alignments of one or more character blocks in one or more text rows of the document image. The systems and methods determine one or more groups of text rows that are placed into a class based on the structures of the text rows, such as the positions of the one or more alignments of the one or more character blocks in each text row. A pattern matching system then determines if one or more classes should be further combined into a combined class. |
| US08214731B2 |
Independently refreshing portlet content in a portal view
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to portlet content refreshing and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for independently refreshing portlet content in a portal view. In an embodiment of the invention, a system for refreshing portlet content in a portal view can include a portal server configured to render a portal page, a portlet aggregator configured to provide portlet markup for different portlets in different refresh controllers having independently refreshable portions, and a refresh servlet coupled to the portlet aggregator that includes programming to configure the portal page with the different refresh controllers. |
| US08214730B2 |
System and method for digital signal transmission with reduced error rate
A signal processing system is provided with a transmitting-side apparatus transmitting a digital signal, and a receiving-side apparatus receiving the digital signal. The transmitting-side apparatus includes a digital signal transmitter transmitting the digital signal and a signal controller controlling the digital signal. The receiving-side apparatus includes a digital signal receiver receiving the digital signal, an error rate detector detecting the error rate of the digital signal received, and a receiving-side controller transmitting error rate data based on the detected error rate to the transmitting-side apparatus. The transmitting-side apparatus further includes a transmitting-side controller receiving the error rate data and controlling the signal controller in response to the error rate data. |
| US08214729B2 |
Error detecting/correcting scheme for memories
A method for detecting and correcting errors in a memory having a read/write paradigm is presented. In these implementations, various approaches to detect errors on a per word or per group of words basis and correct errors on a per group of words or per page basis, respectively, in relation to a memory and its associated differing read/write operations, are provided. For instance, in one implementation, errors are detected on a per word basis and corrected on a per page basis for a NOR Flash Memory having differing read/write operations of reading on a per word basis and writing on a per page basis. Advantageously, benefits of the various implementations include reduced encoder/decoder complexities, reduced parity overhead requirements, and reduced performance degradation. |
| US08214726B2 |
Wireless communication device transmitting and receiving CEC messages of HDMI
When a wired interface circuit receives a CEC message destined for a node device connected through a wireless transceiver circuit, a CEC controller of a wireless node device outputs an ACK for the received CEC message from the wired interface circuit, and transmits a wireless data packet containing contents of the CEC message from the wireless transceiver circuit. The CEC controller also waits for the wireless interface transceiver circuit to receive a wireless ACK packet for the transmitted wireless data packet. |
| US08214722B2 |
Method and system for signal error determination and correction in a flexray communication system
A signal error determination and correction system is provided which comprises an error correction value calculation means which processes a predetermined segment of a signal to calculate an error correction value, and a signal correction means and prediction which applies the error correction value to at least part of the signal to correct the part of the signal. The invention further provides a method of signal error determination and correction. |
| US08214720B2 |
Bit error prevention method and information processing apparatus
Whether the comparison value of temporarily stored data which is read out from a flash memory by a host system exceeds a threshold value related to a bit error or not is checked, and if the comparison value exceeds the threshold value, the temporarily stored data which is read out is rewritten into the flash memory. If the temporarily stored data has an error, the error is corrected by an error correction part and then the data is rewritten. The threshold value includes, e.g., the number of readouts, the number of bit errors and the number of accumulated occurrences of bit errors. The present invention is suitable for prevention of bit errors due to read disturb and can recover the bit data which changes with time, and therefore makes it possible to improve the reliability of the flash memory by preventing occurrence of bit errors. |
| US08214719B1 |
Long latency protocol for hard disk controller interface
Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method comprising receiving a stream of codewords from a hard disk controller (HDC), receiving a write gate signal, the write gate signal configured to request a read/write (R/W) channel to write at least a first part of the stream of codewords to a media, and receiving a symbol count signal indicating a number of symbols in the first part of the received stream of codewords. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08214717B2 |
Apparatus and method for decoding LDPC code based on prototype parity check matrixes
Provided is an apparatus and method for decoding a Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) code based on prototype parity check matrixes. The apparatus, includes: a parity check matrix selecting means for determining multiple prototype parity check matrixes according to a sub-matrix size and a parallelization figure for processing the parity check matrix; a bit input means for receiving a log likelihood probability value for input bit according to the sub-matrix size and the parallelization figure; a check matrix process means for sequentially performing a partial parallel process on the parity check matrix based on the received log likelihood probability value and the determined multiple prototype parity check matrixes; and a bit process means for determining a bit level based on the partial-parallel processed parity check matrix value and recovering the input bit according to the sub-matrix size and the parallelization figure. |
| US08214716B2 |
Method for processing noise interference in data accessing device with serial advanced technology attachment interface
A method for processing noise interference in a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) interface. In the method, when a receiver does not receive a SOF primitive (start of frame primitive) but does receive an EOF primitive (end of frame primitive) or WTRM primitive (wait for frame termination primitive), the receiver outputs a R_ERR primitive (reception error primitive) to enable a transmitter to resend original data and thus to eliminate the interference. In addition, if the transmitter detects an error during the data transmission, a HOLD primitive (hold data transmission primitive) will be issued to temporarily stop the data transmission. |
| US08214715B1 |
Hardware implementation of QPP interleaver
A hardware implementation of a QPP interleaved address generator, or QPP interleaver, for use in a QPP turbo decoder uses state machines to determine BCJR engine QPP interleaved row and column addresses used by a soft-bit decoder operating in interleaved half-iteration alpha scan mode or interleaved half-iteration beta scan mode, as well as during non-interleaved half-iterations, if desired. Because QPP interleaving is pseudorandom in nature, the QPP address generator state machines leverage off knowledge of previous row/column addresses generated, as well as knowledge of the maximum row/column dimensions of the systematic soft-bit data store, to reduce the complexity of the processing performed. The described QPP address generator may be implemented in hardware with reduced hardware footprint, reduced power consumption, less heat production and an improved time response. Generated addresses may be provided to BCJR engines directly, or used to retrieve stored systematic soft-bits provided to the respective BCJR engines. |
| US08214713B2 |
Wireless communication system and wireless communication method
When a determination section of a reception apparatus determines that a control channel is intended for the reception apparatus, a comparing section of the reception apparatus compares control information transmitted on the control channel with a reception capability of the reception apparatus. A data channel reception section of the reception apparatus receives a data channel when the control information is within the reception capability of the reception apparatus, but does not receive the data channel when the control information exceeds the reception capability of the reception apparatus. When the control information exceeds the reception capability of the reception apparatus, the transmission section does not transmit an ACK signal and a NACK signal with respect to the data channel. |
| US08214712B2 |
Method for transmitting real-time streaming data in a communications system and apparatuses utilizing the same
A communications system is provided. A first communications device requests one or more dedicated service periods, via a request, to transmit a high rate real-time streaming data. A second communications device receives the request and schedules the dedicated service periods and one or more contention based periods. A third communications device receives the high rate real-time streaming data and requests the first communications device to re-transmit a portion of the high rate real-time streaming data. The request includes information about the high rate real-time streaming data and information pertinent to a probability of re-transmission. The contention based periods are scheduled to provide the first communications device having higher priority over communications devices of the communications system. The first communications device transmits the high rate real-time streaming data using the dedicated service periods, and re-transmits the portion of the high rate real-time streaming data using the contention based periods. |
| US08214711B2 |
Next data indicator handling
A method and apparatus for a base station engaging in transmissions via at least a media access layer with a user entity are disclosed. The base station transmits data to the user entity over a high speed scheduling and packet data scheduling channels. The base station has a plurality of hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) entities cooperating with a scheduler for transmitting frames from at least the base station to the user entity for a given HARQ process. Each HARQ entity receives either a not acknowledge or an acknowledge signal or detects a discontinuous transmission for a given HARQ process. The base station transmits a next data indicator to the user entity. The user entity has at least one buffer associated with a given HARQ process. The buffer stores and performs incremental combining of received data relating to data from the base station. The buffer is capable of being flushed. |
| US08214703B2 |
Testing multi-core processors
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for testing multicore processors. In some embodiments, the tested multicore processor may include at least a first core and a second core, a data input coupled to a first scan chain in the first core and a second scan chain in the second core, and a multiplexer including at least a first input and a second input, the first input coupled with a data output of the first scan chain and the second input coupled with a data output of the second scan chain, the multiplexer further including an output that couples to one or more pins on a package of the processor, the multiplexer further including a select signal that couples to the one or more pins on the package of the processor, and wherein the data input couples to the one or more pins on the package of the processor. |
| US08214702B2 |
Distributed joint test access group test bus controller architecture
Apparatus and other embodiments associated with a distributed Joint Test Access Group (JTAG) test bus controller (TBC) architecture are described. One example method includes providing first on-board scan programming (OSP) data to a first circuit board configured with a first TBC and located in a computer. The example method also includes providing second OSP data to a second circuit board configured with a second test bus controller and located in the same computer. The example method also includes controlling OSP to be performed at least partially in parallel on the first circuit board and the second circuit board. |
| US08214701B1 |
Hardware and software debugging
An integrated hardware and software debugging system debugs software running on a processor and debugs hardware blocks that perform operations separate from the processor. Cycle traces are recorded for hardware block operations and the data is presented to a user through the same interface used for software debugging. Where hardware blocks are implemented in configurable circuitry (such as an FPGA) from source code, hardware debugging is linked to the source code to simulate stepping through the source code. |
| US08214699B2 |
Circuit structure and method for digital integrated circuit performance screening
Disclosed is a semiconductor chip with a digital integrated circuit, such as a memory device (e.g., static random access memory (SRAM) arrays, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) arrays, content addressable memory (CAM) arrays, etc), that can be selectively operated in either a functional mode or in a performance screening mode. In the functional mode, a first signal supplied by an external signal generator is used to activate a first device in the circuit and, in response, a second device in the circuit outputs a data output signal. In the performance screening mode, a second signal is internally generated by an internal signal generator based on the data output signal. This second signal is then used to activate the first device in the circuit and, in response, the second device outputs the data output signal. Thus, in the performance screening mode, the digital integrated circuit is effectively converted into a performance screen ring oscillator (PSRO), the output of which can be monitored to determine whether performance criteria for the digital integrated circuit are met. |
| US08214698B2 |
Solid state storage system with improved data merging efficiency and control method thereof
The presented solid state storage system provides an efficient manner of processing read and write operations in a memory block that has a faulty page of memory within it. The solid state storage system includes a flash memory area and a memory controller. The memory controller stores link information into a buffer, allocates a first temporary physical block to resume operations of the bad block past the first bad page, updates and stores mapping information associated with the remaining portions of the bad block past the first bad page, and merges together those valid pages from among the bad block into a final physical block by merging together all prior successfully operated valid pages from among the bad block with any subsequently successfully operated valid pages which are associated with successful operations subsequently to the failure in the first bad page of the bad block. |
| US08214696B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting signal using bit grouping in wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for transmitting a signal using a bit grouping method in a wireless communication system is disclosed. Interleaved subblocks are maintained, and output bit sequences are modulated in due order after bit grouping and bit selection. The bit grouping method is advantageous in that bit reliability is uniformly distributed. |
| US08214695B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information notification method therefor, and control program
To enable the host server side to be aware of the recovery of an error when the error is recovered by the user's power off/on operation, the most recent state regarding occurrences of errors at printer 16 (steps S61 and S62) is stored in the backup RAM 12a each time a status change occurs (steps S63 and S64), and when an user performs a power off/on operation and a printing device is re-activated (step S65), if a most recent state at the time of the previous activation was in a state of service call error occurrence (step S66), the current status of the printer 16 is then sent (steps S68 and S69). |
| US08214685B2 |
Recovering from a backup copy of data in a multi-site storage system
To make available a backup copy of source data in a multi-site storage system, the source data is provided at a first storage site and an operational copy of the source data is provided at a second storage site. In response to a request to create a backup copy of the source data, the backup copy of the source data is produced at each of the first and second storage sites. In response to failure that causes the first storage site to be unavailable, recovery of a version of the source data is enabled based on accessing the backup copy of the source data at the second storage site, and accessing the operational copy of the source data at the second storage site. |
| US08214684B2 |
Incomplete write protection for disk array
The embodiments of the invention provide methods of protecting data blocks while writing to a storage array, wherein storage units in the storage array include write logs. The data protection level of the write logs is equal to or greater than the data protection level of the storage units. Moreover, the write logs have metadata describing contents of the write logs, wherein the metadata include a sequence number identifying the age of the metadata. Each of the data blocks is a member of a parity group having addressable data blocks and first parity blocks. The addressable data blocks have at least one host data block and at least one associated data block. |
| US08214682B2 |
Synchronizing signals related to the operation of a computer system
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that synchronizes signals related to the operation of a computer system. During operation, a set of correlation coefficients between a first signal and a second signal is generated, wherein each correlation coefficient is associated with a different phase shift between the first signal and the second signal. Then, a synchronizing phase shift associated with the highest correlation coefficient in the set of correlation coefficients is determined in order to synchronize the first signal and the second signal. |
| US08214681B2 |
Power control system, power monitoring device, record medium having power monitoring program recorded therein, and power monitoring method
The present invention has an object of realizing a power source redundancy of each of devices constructing a network while suppressing a processing load of each device with a simplified configuration. A power monitoring device includes a power configuration generator for preparing power control information based upon device information including necessary power information, being information indicative of a power necessary for operating each monitored device itself, and power status information indicative of a received power in each monitored device, causing a power configuration information storage to store the prepared power control information, and further transmitting the prepared power control information to each monitored device. Further, the monitored device includes a power controller for controlling the power of its own device based upon the transmitted power control information. |
| US08214677B2 |
Voltage regulator with suspend mode
A system is disclosed. The system includes a central processing unit (CPU) to operate in one or more low power sleep states, and a power converter. The power converter includes phase inductors; and one or more power switches to drive the phase inductors. The one or more power switches are deactivated during the CPU sleep state. |
| US08214676B2 |
Information processing apparatus, power mode control method, and power mode control program product
An information processing apparatus switches from a regular power mode to a power saving mode in the event that a first control unit does not process packets for a certain period of time. The information processing apparatus includes a packet table in which packets to be processed by the first control unit are registered, and a determining unit for determining whether the system of the information processing apparatus can switch to the power saving mode. In the event that the determining unit determines that the system can switch to the power saving mode, a network controller processes the packets based on the packet table. |
| US08214672B2 |
Method and systems for power consumption management of a pattern-recognition processor
Disclosed are methods and devices, among which is a device that includes a pattern-recognition processor. In some embodiments, the pattern-recognition processor includes a first block of feature cells coupled to a decoder via a first plurality of local input conductors, a first block-disabling circuit, and a plurality of global input conductors. The pattern-recognition processor further includes a second block of feature cells coupled to the decoder via a second plurality of local input conductors, a second block-disabling circuit, and the plurality of global input conductors. |
| US08214671B2 |
Managing dependencies among objects of a system for energy conservation
Under the present solution, dependencies and relationships of objects are stored and are updatable by consumers and optionally manufacturers through a local UI or web interface. These dependencies and relationships are stored in a “collection profile” which describes the capabilities of objects. When a request to reduce energy is received the system can query the collection profile to determine the downstream effect of reducing energy to a single object. The collection profile will identify which other objects rely on that object and would also need to have energy reduced. Being able to identify these linkages and effects of changes across the system will be critical for good energy management. |
| US08214669B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing power in computer systems
The invention is directed towards minimizing power consumption in computer systems. One embodiment of the invention is a power management system that is used for a computer system that has at least one device and one power domain. This embodiment uses two different power managers to manage the power consumption of the device and the power domain. Specifically, this embodiment has (1) a first power manager that determines when to change power state of the device, and (2) a second power manager that determines when to change power state of the power domain. Each of these power managers decides to change the power state of its corresponding device or domain based on information from several different sources. These sources can include power-management clients and power managers of related domains or devices. |
| US08214662B2 |
Multiprocessor control unit, control method performed by the same, and integrated circuit
A multiprocessor control unit acquires first non processing time information on a first non processing time represented for each processor, wherein the first non processing time represents a time in which a first block is not executed in a first barrier establishment time from barrier synchronization start until barrier synchronization establishment of the first program block, and acquires second non processing time information on a second non processing time represented for each processor, wherein the second non processing time represents a time in which a second block is not processed in a second barrier establishment time from barrier synchronization start until barrier synchronization establishment of the second program block. The multiprocessor control unit controls a power supply for the processors while the first and second program blocks are consecutively executed in parallel, using the first and second non processing time information acquired. |
| US08214653B1 |
Secured firmware updates
When providing a user with native access to at least a portion of device hardware, the user can be prevented from modifying firmware and other configuration information by controlling the mechanisms used to update that information. In some embodiments, an asymmetric keying approach can be used to encrypt or sign the firmware. In other cases access can be controlled by enabling firmware updates only through a channel or port that is not exposed to the customer, or by mapping only those portions of the hardware that are to be accessible to the user. In other embodiments, the user can be prevented from modifying firmware by only provisioning the user on a machine after an initial mutability period wherein firmware can be modified, such that the user never has access to a device when firmware can be updated. Combinations and variations of the above also can be used. |
| US08214652B2 |
Biometric identification network security
Systems and methods for regulating user access in the context of a biometric security system are disclosed. One method disclosed includes receiving a remotely transmitted data packet containing an encryption key, utilizing a decryption component to decrypt the data packet, and utilizing the encryption component to encrypt biometric data. Another method disclosed includes utilizing a processor, within a client computing device, to perform an encryption function within a biometric security system, wherein the encryption function is incorporated into an authentication process that involves a transfer of biometric information between the client computing device and a remotely implemented server. |
| US08214649B2 |
System and method for secure communications between at least one user device and a network entity
A system and method are provided for secure encryption via use of at least two different communication channels, such as the internet and a Short Message Service (SMS) channel, to transmit an authentication request and/or encryption information between at least one user device that is associated with a common user and a network entity. In this regard, an authentication request and/or the encryption information generated in response to an authentication request is separated into at least two portions and transmitted via different communication channels. Even if a third party accesses one of the communication channels and receives a portion of the authentication request and/or the resulting encryption information, the system and method effectively prevent the third party from receiving information sufficient to enable the third party to successfully interpret future communications between the parties since other portion(s) of the authentication request and/or the encryption information is transmitted via other channel(s). |
| US08214646B2 |
Bundle verification
Systems, devices, and methods for modifying a signed bundle and verifying the modified bundle are disclosed. A signed bundle may be modified by removing a file specified in a server file list from a plurality of files in the bundle. The signed bundle comprises a catalog of files in the signed bundle and their associated hashes. The modified bundle includes the remaining files of the signed bundle that are not specified in the server file list and the catalog file of the signed bundle, the catalog signature of the signed bundle. The modified bundle may be verified by verifying the catalog signature of the modified signed bundle, and checking that the files specified in the catalog are either in the modified signed bundle or specified in the server file list. The hashes of the files in the modified signed bundle may also be checked to verify the modified signed bundle. |
| US08214641B2 |
File access in multi-protocol environment
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to providing file access in a multi-protocol environment. In aspects, a file server is operable to receive requests formatted according to two or more file access protocols. If a request is formatted according to a first file access protocol, the file server applies access rights associated with the file to an account associated with a requester to determine whether to grant access. If the request is formatted according to the second file access protocol, the file server may first attempt to find an account for the requester. If an account is not found, the file server may then grant access based on access rights associated with the file as applied to information in the request without consulting an account on the file server. |
| US08214640B2 |
Method of embedding information in implementation defined SIP header fields
A method is provided for passing control messages and other information through a SIP network by embedding the information in SIP messages. The information is sent from one SIP agent to another by encrypting the information, embedding the encrypted information in one or more implementation-defined SIP header fields, and transmitting a SIP message that includes the field or fields in which the information is embedded. |
| US08214639B2 |
Application executing device, managing method, and program
A BD-ROM stores a disc root certificate that is issued by a root certificate authority and assigned to the disc medium. An application manager acquires a hash value from the disc root certificated and verifies the authenticity of an application by using the hash value. If the authenticity is verified, a virtual machine executes the application. A local storage has a plurality of domain areas. From among the plurality of domain areas, a security manager allocates to the application a domain area that corresponds to the hash value. |
| US08214638B1 |
Using multiple certificates to distribute public keys
A source computer is associated with multiple certificates. The source signs each certificate with a separate private key. From time to time, the source generates (a) new key pair(s) to replace (an) old one(s). The source uses the new private key(s) to sign the associated certificate(s). The source then requests a connection to a destination computer, the request being associated with the multiple certificates which identify the source. The source also transmits the new public key(s). The destination receives the request, and checks the certificates for validity. If less than all but at least a threshold number of the certificates are valid, the destination notes that one or more new public keys are being distributed. The destination accepts the connection, receives the new public key(s) associated with the invalid certificate(s), and replaces the corresponding old public key(s). |
| US08214637B2 |
Public key certificate issuing system, public key certificate issuing method, digital certification apparatus, and program storage medium
A public key certificate issuing system is disclosed which comprises a certificate authority for issuing a public key certificate for an entity, the certificate authority including a plurality of signature modules each executing a different encryption algorithm and a registration authority that receives a public key certificate issuance request from the entity. |
| US08214632B2 |
Method of booting electronic device and method of authenticating boot of electronic device
Provided is a method of booting an electronic device including a host central processing unit (CPU) and a security module. The method includes: the host CPU starting to boot a system by using boot information in response to a reset or power on event of the electronic device; and when an authentication start instruction is not received by the security module from the host CPU until a first predetermined period elapses after an occurrence of the reset or power on event of the electronic device, controlling an operation of the host CPU by the security module. According to the method, when the authentication start instruction is received before the first predetermined period elapses, the security module authenticates the boot information and controls the operation of the host CPU based on an authentication result. A method of authenticating a boot of the electronic device in the security module is also provided. |
| US08214630B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling enablement of JTAG interface
A method, device and system for controlling JTAG interface enablement within a communication device. The JTAG interface can be selectively enabled based on the receipt of an encrypted access token generated by an access token server. The access token server generates the access token in response to an end user providing appropriate device-specific information. The access token includes appropriate information that, upon appropriate authentication and decryption, can temporarily device bind the boot code image of the device in a manner that enables the JTAG interface. Alternatively, the access token includes appropriate information that instructs the general purpose processor to choose between JTAG interface enablement information and JTAG interface disablement information for use with the boot code image of the device. The access token can include expiration information that causes an enabled JTAG interface to revert back to its disabled status upon expiration of the access token. |
| US08214629B2 |
Computer system with secure instantly available applications using non-volatile write-protected memory
A method and apparatus for instantly-available applications in a computer system is presented. A computer that incorporates fast non-volatile primary memory for storing the application software and/or operating system, resulting in an instant-on computer is presented. Large parts of the application code and/or operating system code are stored in non-volatile write-protectable areas of the memory that cannot be modified by malicious sources, resulting in a secure computer. It solves the problem of typical computers having to load the applications from a slow device such as the hard disk to the main memory. This loading is avoided by permanently housing the applications in a non-volatile main memory. The system also solves the problem of corruption of application software areas from malicious sources. The memory system contains writeable and write-protected areas and a memory controller that controls the access to the various regions of the memory. |
| US08214624B2 |
Processing long-latency instructions in a pipelined processor
There are provided a method and a processor for processing a thread. The thread includes a plurality of sequential instructions. The plurality of sequential instructions include some short-latency instructions and some long-latency instructions and at least one hazard instruction. The hazard instruction requires one or more preceding instructions to be processed before the hazard instruction is processed. The method includes the steps of: a) before processing each long-latency instruction, incrementing by one, a counter associated with the thread; b) after each long-latency instruction has been processed, decrementing by one, the counter associated with the thread; c) before processing each hazard instruction, checking the value of the counter associated with the thread, and i) if the counter value is zero, processing the hazard instruction, or ii) if the counter value is non-zero, pausing processing of the hazard instruction until a later time. The processor includes means for performing steps a), b) and c) of the method. |
| US08214621B2 |
Storage optimization across media with differing capabilities
A storage device can comprise storage media that can have differing characteristics. A storage manager can obtain the characteristics of a storage device, and of individual portions, such as individual media, of the storage device, by querying the device, querying a database, or through empirical observation or testing. The storage manager can then divide the media of the storage device into storage media parts, that can comprise some or all of the individual storage media. Data can then be stored on one or more storage media parts in accordance with the information provided by metadata associated with the data, such that the data is stored on storage media parts that are optimal for such data, from among the available storage media parts, based on the information from the associated metadata. |
| US08214620B2 |
Computer-readable recording medium storing data storage program, computer, and method thereof
A computer-readable recording medium storing a data storage program, a method and a computer are provided. The computer includes a cache table including an address area for storing an address and a user data area for storing user data corresponding to the address, and executes an operation including, reading user data at a specified address from a recording medium, delta-decoding the read difference data, and determining the decompressed user data to be the read user data, and writing the read user data in the user data area of the cache table when a size of the user data read by the delta-decoding is equal to or less than a threshold value and writing an address corresponding to the read user data in the address area of the cache table, obtaining difference data between the user data requested to be written and the corresponding user data and writing the difference data. |
| US08214618B2 |
Memory management method, medium, and apparatus based on access time in multi-core system
A memory management method and apparatus based on an access time in a multi-core system. In the memory management method of the multi-core system, it is easy to estimate the execution time of a task to be performed by a processing core and it is possible to secure the same memory access time when a task is migrated between processing cores by setting a memory allocation order according to distances from the processing cores to the memories in correspondence with the processing cores, translating a logical address to be processed by one of the processing cores according to the set memory allocation order into a physical address of one of the memories, and allocating a memory corresponding to the translated physical address to the processing core. |
| US08214615B2 |
Control method of device in storage system for virtualization
In a system where a first storage system and a second storage system are connected to a third storage system, when the first storage system virtualizes and provides a device in the third storage system as a device in its own storage system, update data stored in a cache in the first storage system is written into the device of the third storage system to be reflected, attributes of the device are transferred to the second storage system, and the second storage system virtualizes the device of the third storage system as a device of its own storage system. |
| US08214614B2 |
Avoiding information disclosure when direct mapping non-page aligned buffers
A method and a processing device are provided for mapping a non-page aligned memory buffer to an address space of a process. A beginning portion of a non-page aligned memory buffer and an ending portion of the non-page aligned memory buffer may be copied from respective original memory pages to new memory pages. Unused portions of the new memory pages may be initialized to zeros, ones, or other values. A safe buffer may be created, which resides in the new memory pages and all original memory pages of the non-page aligned memory buffer, except for the original memory pages including either the beginning portion or the ending portion of the non-page aligned buffer. The safe buffer may then be mapped to an address space of a process while avoiding unintended information disclosure. |
| US08214609B2 |
Data transference to virtual memory
Some embodiments comprise a method for selecting data to be transferred to a storage space of virtual memory and include identifying a set of data and determining subsets. Determining subsets may allow for delays before transferring the subsets and allow access to memory of the subsets during the delays. Accesses during the delays may enable embodiments to select other data to be transferred to the storage space and prevent transference of the accessed data. Other embodiments comprise apparatuses that have a paging space, a page identifier, and a page transferrer to transfer pages to the paging space after a delay. The delay may prevent a number of pages from being transferred to the paging space, such as for pages that were accessed during the delay. |
| US08214606B2 |
Storage system and control method thereof
The plurality of host systems or the plurality of applications include an insertion unit for sending the identifier. The storage controller includes an analysis unit for identifying a host system or an application based on the identifier contained in the access information and analyzing an access pattern of access information sent from the identified host system or application, a management unit for managing the identifier, the analysis result of the access pattern analyzed with the analysis unit, and a control method for controlling the processing of data to be sent from a host system based on the analysis result or data to be stored in a logical volume, and a data processing controller for controlling the processing of data to be sent from a host system or data to be stored in a logical volume according to the control method managed by the management unit. |
| US08214601B2 |
Purging without write-back of cache lines containing spent data
The present invention provides a system with a cache that indicates which, if any, of its sections contain data having spent status. The invention also provides a method for identifying cache sections containing data having spent status and then purging without writing back to main memory a cache line having at least one section containing data having spent status. The invention further provides a program that specifies a cache-line section containing data that is to acquire “spent” status. “Spent” data, herein, is useless modified or unmodified data that was formerly at least potentially useful data when it was written to a cache. “Purging” encompasses both invalidating and overwriting. |
| US08214600B2 |
Data processing system and method for efficient coherency communication utilizing coherency domains
In a cache coherent data processing system including at least first and second coherency domains, a master performs a first broadcast of an operation within the cache coherent data processing system that is limited in scope of transmission to the first coherency domain. The master receives a response of the first coherency domain to the first broadcast of the operation. If the response indicates the operation cannot be serviced in the first coherency domain alone, the master increases the scope of transmission by performing a second broadcast of the operation in both the first and second coherency domains. If the response indicates the operation can be serviced in the first coherency domain, the master refrains from performing the second broadcast. |
| US08214597B2 |
Cache tentative read buffer
An apparatus having a cache and a circuit. The cache may store old lines having old instructions. The circuit may (i) receive a first read command, (ii) fetch-ahead a new line having new instructions into a buffer sized to hold a single line, (iii) receive a second read command, (iv) present through a port a particular new instruction in response to both (a) a cache miss of the second read command and (b) a buffer hit of the second read command and (v) overwrite a particular old line with the new line in response to both (a) the cache miss of the second read command and (b) the buffer hit of the second read command such that (1) the first new line resides in all of the cache, the buffer and the memory and (2) the particular old line resides only in the memory. |
| US08214593B2 |
Serial interface cache controller including comparison control unit and finite state machine, control method and micro-controller system using the same
A serial interface cache controller, control method and micro-controller system using the same. The controller includes L rows of address tags, wherein each row of address tags includes an M-bits block tag and an N-bits valid area tag. The M-bits block tag records an address block of T-byte data stored in an internal cache memory, and the N-bits valid area tag records valid bit sectors in the address block. Each valid bit sector has the size of T/N bytes. The controller needs to read T/N bytes of data from an external memory to the internal cache memory at each time without the need of reading the T-byte data of the whole address block. Because the T-byte data of the whole address block is not necessary to be read by the micro-controller, the waiting time of the micro-controller may be shortened, and the performance can be increased. |
| US08214590B2 |
Systems and methods for storing parity groups
A system and method for dynamic redistribution of parity groups is described. The system and method for dynamic redistribution of parity groups operates on a computer storage system that includes a plurality of disk drives for storing parity groups. Each parity group includes storage blocks. The storage blocks include one or more data blocks and a parity block that is associated with the data blocks. Each of the storage blocks is stored on a separate disk drive such that no two storage blocks from a given parity set reside on the same disk drive. The computer system further includes a redistribution module to dynamically redistribute parity groups by combining some parity groups to improve storage efficiency. |
| US08214588B2 |
Parallel asynchronous order-preserving transaction processing
A method for data mirroring including receiving a sequence of transactions at a first storage node from a host indicating data to be stored by the node, storing the data therein, and delineating a first batch of the transactions. The node returns to the host an acknowledgment of having stored the data, delineates a second batch of the transactions received subsequent to the acknowledgment, and conveys the data to a second storage node. The first node also conveys to the second node a first record of the transactions in the first batch and a second record of the transactions in the second batch, and the data are stored in the second node responsively to the first and second records, so that all data indicated by the transactions in the first batch are stored by the second node prior to storing data indicated by the transactions in the second batch. |
| US08214582B2 |
Non-volatile memory system storing data in single-level cell or multi-level cell according to data characteristics
Provided is a system storing data received from an application or file system in a non-volatile memory system of single-level cells and multi-level cells in accordance with one or more data characteristics. The non-volatile memory system includes a non-volatile memory cell array having a plurality of multi-level cells forming a MLC area and a plurality of single-level cells forming a SLC area, and an interface unit analyzing a characteristic of the write data and generating a corresponding data characteristic signal. A flash transition layer receives the data characteristic signal, and determines whether the write data should be stored in the MLC area or the SLC area based on whether or not the write data will be accessed by the file, or whether the address associated with the write data is frequently updated or not. |
| US08214573B2 |
Method and system for handling a management interrupt event in a multi-processor computing device
A method and system for handling a management interrupt, such as a system management interrupt (SMI) and/or a platform management interrupt (PMI), includes allocating two or more processor cores from a plurality of processor cores to form a group of management interrupt handling processor cores. Generated management interrupts are directed to this first group of processor cores and not to remaining processor cores, which form a second group. At least one of the processor cores in the first group handles the management interrupt without disrupting the current operation of the processor cores in the second group. |
| US08214571B2 |
Simple serial interface—method of communication and information exchange, and electronic devices based on this method
A new simple serial interface method and device based on this method, which reduces the complexity of the existing universal serial bus (USB) interface, and allows fast and efficient data exchange, and quick development of hardware and software for this device.The method allows equal exchange of information between 2 participants wherein: each participant can initiate sending of information, the data exchange can occur at any time, with no wait or a reference in a ‘frame’. The device based on the method implemented as: separate UTMI or wireless interface chip and separate control chip, single chip which includes UTMI or wireless part, and control part, special mode included in the existing—USB host, USB device, USB OTG chips. |
| US08214570B2 |
Memory controller and method utilizing equalization co-efficient setting
A chip includes a transmitter circuit and a register provided to store a value representative of an equalization co-efficient setting. The transmitter circuit includes an output driver configured to adjust an output data signal based at least in part on the equalization co-efficient setting. |
| US08214566B2 |
Configurable health-care equipment apparatus
An apparatus, system and method for providing health-care equipment in a plurality of customizable configurations. A configuration includes a selection and arrangement of health-care equipment modules that each provide specialized support for the provision of health care, including the measurement of physiological parameters. Various types of configurations include those adapted to be mounted upon a desk top or a wall surface, or adapted for wheel mounting or hand-carriable mobile configurations. |
| US08214564B2 |
Content transfer system, information processing apparatus, transfer method, and program
A content transfer system composed of a content reproduction terminal and an information processing apparatus is disclosed. A storage section stores information representing a file format and a bit rate of content reproducible by the reproduction terminal. A transmission section transmits the information stored in the storage section to the information processing apparatus. An obtainment section obtains the information representing the file format and the bit rate of the content reproducible by the reproduction terminal therefrom. A conversion section converts content having a predetermined file format and a predetermined bit rate as a transfer target into content having the file format and the bit rate represented by the information obtained by the obtainment section. A transfer section transfers the content converted by the conversion section to the reproduction terminal. |
| US08214562B2 |
Processing of data to perform system changes in an input/output processing system
A computer program product, an apparatus, and a method for processing communications between a target and an initiator an input/output processing system are provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes: sending a message from the initiator to the target, the message requesting suspension of input/output operations between the initiator and the target for a period of time, the period of time being defined by the message; responsive to the message, suspending input/output operation messages for the period of time; performing a system change comprising at least one of: at least one update, a computer program installation, a recovery, and a change in operating parameters; and initiating new input/output operations after at least one of: expiration of the period of time and initiation of new input/output operations by the initiator. |
| US08214557B2 |
Measuring direct memory access throughput
Methods and systems for measuring available direct memory access (DMA) throughput are disclosed, including providing a plurality of DMA channels, the DMA channels comprising a measuring DMA channel and other DMA channels, the measuring DMA channel having a lowest data rate priority, and determining an available DMA throughput by measuring a current data rate at which the measuring DMA channel is serviced in response to initiating a data transfer on the measuring DMA channel. |
| US08214554B2 |
Periodic and non-periodic data transfer circuit analyzing pointer information
In one cycle for transferring data, a controller forming a data transfer circuit stores pointer information P_A for periodic transfer and pointer information P_B for non-periodic transfer read from a memory respectively in first and second storage areas. The controller sequentially transfers, to a communication bus, data D_A for periodic transfer and data D_B for non-periodic transfer read from the memory by referring to the P_A and P_B. If transfer by a data length indicated in the P_B has not been completed upon the transfer of the D_B, the controller updates the data length to a data length of the remaining data, and updates an address indicated in the P_B to an address on the memory of the remaining data. In the next cycle for transferring data, the controller reads the remaining data from the memory by referring to the P_B, and transfers the remaining data to the communication bus. |
| US08214550B2 |
Method for controlling icon display corresponding to a USB mass storage, associated personal computer, and storage medium storing an associated USB mass storage driver
A method for controlling icon display corresponding to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Mass Storage is provided. The USB Mass Storage is electrically connected to a USB port of a personal computer. The method includes: when it is detected that there is nothing inserted into any memory card slot of the USB Mass Storage, preventing the USB Mass Storage from triggering a specific icon to be displayed, wherein the specific icon is selectively utilized for indicating that at least one USB device is electrically connected to the personal computer; and when it is detected that a memory card is inserted into any of at least one memory card slot of the USB Mass Storage, allowing the specific icon to be displayed. An associated personal computer and a storage medium storing an associated USB Mass Storage driver for controlling icon display corresponding to the USB Mass Storage are further provided. |
| US08214549B2 |
Methods for personal emergency intervention
A method according to an aspect of the present invention includes receiving a communication from a patient through an interactive voice response (IVR) system; providing a guided voice prompt from the interactive voice response system to the patient; receiving a response of the patient to the guided voice prompt through the interactive voice response system; analyzing the response of the patient to the guided voice prompt; determining, based on the response of the patient, whether a command should be transmitted; and transmitting a command to a device controlled by the patient after a determination that the command should be transmitted. This method can be practiced automatically to allow a medical device for a patient or other subject to be monitored without requiring the patient to manually enter information. |
| US08214544B2 |
Register access protocol
A system and a method are disclosed for allowing a host device to communicate with an accessory device using a lightweight communications protocol. A communications link is first established between the connected accessory and host device. The host device sends a request for a register map file (RMF) to the accessory device. A RMF identifies registers for elements of the accessory device. The accessory device sends the RMF to host device, responsive to the request and the host device maps the RMF to interface with a higher level language such as C++ or JavaScript, allowing the host to act on the register mapping. Such interaction can be handled at the driver layer of an operating system, the application framework layer or the application layer. This permits both a layered service model and a fine-grant access at the application layer of the host device. |
| US08214539B1 |
Command mapping systems relating input devices to application program interfaces
Command mapping systems that provide extended command functions to input devices in addition to translating between multiple APIs to provide compatibility between a user-selected input device and a user-selected program. |
| US08214534B2 |
Method and apparatus for outputting event of third party device in home network supporting UPnP remote protocol
An apparatus for outputting an event of a third party device in a home network is provided, which includes a remote user interface (RUI) client taking part in a user interface (UI) session using a universal plug and play (UPnP) remote protocol; an RUI server taking part in the UI session, judging whether the RUI client exists on the home network, storing and transmitting an event message of a third party device that does not take part in the UI session; and an i-box receiving the event message from the RUI server if the RUI client does not exist on the home network, and transmitting the event message to the RUI client existing outside the home network by using an external network. |
| US08214530B2 |
Data collection in which data is recompressed without conversion of code into symbol
It is an object to provide a data collection system that is configured to reduce a communication amount, etc. at the time when data are collected from a plurality of devices, so as to reduce a communication amount attended by the collection of data without increasing processing loads imposed on devices. A symbol classifying unit of a data relay device classifies received data that have been already compressed. A data recompressing unit replaces codes contained in the classified already compressed data with other codes, so as to recompress the already compressed data. A symbol set clustering unit sends a transfer destination renewal device a communication speed at the time when the recompressed data are transferred to other devices, a processing speed at the recompressing time, etc. The transfer destination renewal device generates transfer destination information on the basis of the communication speed, the processing speed, etc. |
| US08214528B2 |
Address identifier scaling in converged networks
Embodiments of the present invention allow for address scaling of existing addresses in a FC, FCoE, CEE or other type of network. More specifically, subaddresses can be used in conjunction with existing addresses, so that a combination of a subaddress and existing address can identify an addressable entity. Thus, multiple entities can be share a single existing address and be distinguished among each other by way of their respective subaddresses. Some embodiments of the invention allow for use of the inventive subaddressing scheme in conjunction with devices or network elements (e.g., gateways, switches, etc.) that may not be subaddressing aware. Further embodiments allow for the multiple distinct devices to communicate with a single Fiber Channel switching element through a single port by using N_Port_ID Virtualization. |
| US08214526B2 |
Context-based routing in multi-hop networks
Context-based routing in multi-hop networks involves using a context-based routing metric. In a described implementation, respective path values are calculated for respective ones of multiple paths using the context-based routing metric. A path is selected from the multiple paths responsive to the calculated path values. Data is transmitted over at least one link of the selected path. In an example embodiment, the context-based routing metric is ascertained responsive to an estimated service interval (ESI) of a bottleneck link of each path of the multiple paths. In another example embodiment, the context-based routing metric is ascertained responsive to an expected resource consumption (ERC) metric. In an example embodiment of path selection, the path is selected using a context-based path pruning (CPP) technique that involves maintaining multiple local contexts at each intermediate node, with each local context representing at least one partial path. |
| US08214522B2 |
Internet protocol version 6 network connectivity in a virtual computer system
A method for sharing a network connection between a host system and a virtual machine is disclosed. The method includes sending an outgoing data frame from the virtual machine to a computer network. The host system is enabled to use the network connection using a first layer 2 address and a first layer 3 address. The first layer 2 and the first layer 3 addresses are associated with the network connection. The virtual machine is enabled to attempt to use the network connection using a second layer 2 address and a second layer 3 address. The first layer 3 and the second layer 3 addresses are compliant with IPv6. An occurrence of the second layer 2 address is replaced within the outgoing data frame with the first layer 2 address. If the outgoing data frame includes a network discover protocol (NDP) message of a selected type, the second layer 2 address in the NDP message is replaced by the first layer 2 address. |
| US08214521B2 |
Systems and methods for changing computational tasks on computation nodes to minimize processing time variation
Systems and methods are disclosed to process streaming data units (tuples) for an application using a plurality of processing units, the application have a predetermined processing time requirement, by changing an operator-set applied to the tuple by a processing unit, on a tuple-by-tuple basis; estimating code requirement for potential operators based on processing unit capability; and assigning the potential operators to the processing units. |
| US08214519B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing bookmark information for content stored in a networked media server
A method and apparatus for managing bookmark information of a media server through a network based on the UPnP AV standard is disclosed. If a request for bookmarking a content item is made, a bookmark item is created and the created bookmark item is linked to the content item by adding the ID of the created bookmark item to the property information of the content item and recording the ID of the content item to be bookmarked in the created bookmark item. |
| US08214518B1 |
Dynamic multimedia presentations
A method, system, and medium are provided for using a synchronized and distributed SMIL document to provide a dynamic multimedia presentation while maintaining client anonymity. An embodiment of the invention includes receiving a client request for a multimedia presentation. Client-specific information is removed from the client request and a SMIL document is generated for facilitating provision of the multimedia presentation. The SMIL document is synchronized across a plurality of network elements, and is configured to provide an interactive experience to a user. |
| US08214517B2 |
Methods and systems for quick and efficient data management and/or processing
System(s) and method(s) are provided for data management and data processing. For example, various embodiments may include systems and methods relating to relatively larger groups of data being selected with comparable or better performing selection results (e.g., high data redundancy elimination and/or average chunk size). In various embodiments, the system(s) and method(s) may include, for example a data group, block, or chunk combining technique or/and a data group, block, or chunk splitting technique. Various embodiments may include a first standard or typical data grouping, blocking, or chunking technique and/or data group, block, or chunk combining technique or/and a data group, block, or chunk splitting technique. Exemplary system(s) and method(s) may relate to data hashing and/or data elimination. Embodiments may include a look-ahead buffer and determine whether to emit small chunks or large chunks based on characteristics of underlying data and/or particular application of the invention (e.g., for backup). |
| US08214514B2 |
Auto-generation or auto-execution of web service description language call flow implementation
Development tooling receives the extended Web services description language with call flow interactions. The development tooling allows the user to select trivial message exchanges in the call flow. The development tooling may generate servlets for the selected message exchanges automatically to form a template form of the application that will execute in the converged application engine. Alternatively, the development tooling may generate a template form of the application that may be interpreted in an interpretive engine. The user may then drop in higher level business logic. The automatically generated servlets, or template form of the application to be interpreted, are configured to pass to the Web services information, including the last message contents. |
| US08214512B2 |
Control entity and method for setting up a session in a communications network, subscriber database and communications network
Control entity and method for setting up a session in a communications network, subscriber database and communications network The invention relates to a control entity for setting up a session in a communications network, comprising an input device for receiving a request to set up a session in the communications network, a processor unit for processing the request, and an output device for sending messages. The control entity further comprising or having access to a memory for storing information. The processor unit is arranged to determine if the request comprises a valid Communication Service Identifier, CSI, the Communication Service Identifier identifying the type of communication service of the session that is to be established over the communications network. And if the request does not comprise a valid Communication Service Identifier to execute a default CSI procedure using default CSI information stored in the memory. |
| US08214510B2 |
Maintaining state information on a client
The present invention provides a system and method of maintaining state information on a client. In response to a client request for a file located on a server, the file is transmitted from the server to the client. An unmodifiable cookie that specifies state information from the server is also transmitted to the client. The client then stores the unmodifiable cookie. A user is unable to alter the unmodifiable cookie on the client machine. |
| US08214505B2 |
Systems and methods of handling non-HTTP client or server push on HTTP Vserver
The present application presents systems and methods for handling by an HTTP virtual server (HTTPVS), connections via which non-HTTP data is transmitted between clients and servers. HTTPVS intercepts a request from a client to establish first transport layer connection (TLC) with a server. HTTPVS establishes second TLC with the servers in response to receiving an acknowledgment from a client to establish the first TLC. HTTPVS determines if a first network packet transmitted via first TLC comprises an HTTP payload or non-HTTP payload. If HTTPVP the first network packet includes HTTP payload, HTTPVS may process all transmissions from the first TLC in accordance with connection tracking and forward the processed transmissions to the server via the second TLC. If HTTPVS determines that the first network packet does not include an HTTP payload, HTTPVS may link the first TLC and the second TLC so the client and server exchange non-HTTP communication without interruption. |
| US08214504B2 |
Method of establishing a connection on a communication network
A method of establishing connections between at least a first and a second terminal on a communication network includes: sending to the second terminal a network signal requesting the network availability to establish the connection and a terminal signal requesting the availability of the second terminal to run an application exchanging data between the first and second terminals; receiving at the second terminal the network signal and the terminal signal; and sending on the network a response signal carrying information based on the network and terminal signals and assuming a content corresponding to the availability/unavailability of the network to establish the connection combined the availability/unavailability of the second terminal to run the application. |
| US08214501B1 |
Methods and systems for electronic data exchange utilizing centralized management technology
Methods and systems are provided for exchanging information between companies in a partnership. One method embodiment includes operatively associating a first company with a transaction directory through a directory management portal. The transaction directory is configured to permit establishment of at least one connection to a translation engine for permitting at least one transaction to occur through the connection. The method also includes connecting at least a second company to the translation engine to permit the transaction to occur between at least the first and second companies. The transaction includes an exchange of information between at least the first and second companies. |
| US08214495B2 |
System and method for performance management in a multi-tier computing environment
Apparatus for monitoring a selected tier in a multi-tier computing environment, the apparatus including a context agent and a dynamic tier extension, the context agent associated with the selected tier and coupled with other context agents, each of which is associated with a respective tier, the dynamic tier extension coupled with the context agent and with specific predetermined points of the selected tier, the dynamic tier extension monitoring request traffic passing through the selected tier, the monitored request traffic including at least one entering request received at a request entry port from an adjacent tier, the dynamic tier extension identifying each request in the monitored request traffic and sending at least a request identifier to the context agent, the context agent also receiving information relating to the request context of the entering request from the context agent associated with the adjacent tier, the context agent associating the information relating to the request context of the entering request with the entering request, in accordance with the received request identifier. |
| US08214494B1 |
Network device management technology
Techniques are described for providing network device management. In some implementations, a native mobile device application enables use of a mobile device to add new devices to a network, remove devices from a network, change network and device profile settings, troubleshoot a network, provide an interface into network devices, communications, diagnostics, etc., and provide remote access to the network for installation, programming, troubleshooting, and inclusion. |
| US08214492B2 |
Method and system for adapting a session timeout period
A method for adapting a session timeout period of an application comprising one or more parts, each part of the application having a corresponding predetermined session timeout period for receiving an input from a user connected to a part of the application, comprising the steps of determining the rate of timed out sessions for the part of the application after the number of connections to the part has reached a predetermined level; comparing the rate of timed out sessions of the part of the application with a predetermined threshold value of the rate of timed out sessions; adapting the predetermined session timeout period of that part (400) of the application based on the comparison to give rise to an adapted session timeout period. |
| US08214489B2 |
Peer to peer network
Peer-to-peer networks employing simple peers and super peers strike a balance between centralized (client-server based) and entirely flat peer-to-peer approaches. They introduce hierarchy into peer-to-peer networks in the form of super peer nodes, peers which have extra capabilities and duties in the network. There are problems in the identification and election of peers to take the role of super peer: in particular, the need for regular update messages to communicate peer availability across the network significantly impacts discovery times (when a simple peer attempts to advertise a service or requests a service from another peer). A presence server is implemented in the network in order to monitor the availability of each peer. A device called the “super peer elector” subscribes to receive updated availability information from the presence server and assigns super peer status to the most appropriate, and available, simple peer. |
| US08214486B2 |
Method and apparatus for internet traffic monitoring by third parties using monitoring implements
Disclosed is an internet traffic monitoring method. In the method, a first packet, sent from a user client, having a web content request meeting certain monitoring selection criteria is detected. Upon detection of the first packet, a second packet is forwarded to the user client. The second packet has a redirection with a fabricated web content request to a monitoring web page including at least one monitoring implement. |
| US08214485B2 |
Using SNMP as an RPC mechanism for exporting the data structures of a remote library
A semi-automatic mapping of a library definition to a simple network management protocol (SNMP) management information base (MIB). By exposing the internal data needed to remotely access arbitrary user space libraries as SNMP data structures which can be directly modified over the network, the internal data, its operations, and usages operations can be modeled remotely. |
| US08214484B2 |
Method to predict edges in a non-cumulative graph
To predict edges in a non-cumulative graph, based on a sequence of non-cumulative previous occurrences of the graph, the sequence of non-cumulative previous occurrences of the graph is obtained, and topological properties of each of the previous occurrences of the graph are extracted. Topological similarities between each of the previous occurrences of the graph are computed based on the topological properties. The edges of the graph are predicted by computing a score for each possible edge of the graph, based upon the topological similarities. |
| US08214481B2 |
Firewall permitting access to network based on accessing party identity
The inventive communications management systems manage access to a local area network or network content by external users, applications, and devices. The systems and methods are implemented on a network appliance to manage content within the network and facilitate content transmission through a firewall that separates the network from a larger networking environment, such as the World Wide Web. Other applications operating on the network appliance are made firewall aware so that existing network appliance identity schemes can be used to also control gate access to and from the network, to and from applications that run on the network appliance, and to and from other applications that run on the local network. Because the firewall is integrated closely with other application on the network appliance, after the external user is granted access to the network, network applications can control and terminate access through the firewall as desired. |
| US08214476B2 |
Computer network software and hardware asset configuration and discovery system and method
A method, system, and network for interfacing the work-flow monitoring and reporting of a host computer, a local network of information technology devices, a community of network users, and a global information technology community. This includes the processes and system features for initiating an inventory of a plurality of information technology devices associated with the local network of information technology devices. The present disclosure further includes determining needs of the local network of information technology and associating the needs to similar needs of the community of network users, and solution product and services of the global information technology community. The system directs the host computer to research and purchase resources similar in temperament of the needs of the local network of the information technology devices, and drive the global information technology community advertisements of the needs of the local network to the user of the host computer. |
| US08214474B2 |
Autonomic computing system with model transfer
Methods and systems are provided for autonomic control and optimization of computing systems. A plurality of component models for one or more components in an autonomic computing system are maintained in a system level database. These component models are obtained from a source external to the management server including the components associated with the models. Component models are added or removed from the database or updated as need. A system level management server in communication with the database utilizes the component models maintained in the system level database and generic component models as needed to compute an optimum state of the autonomic computing system. The autonomic computing system is managed in accordance with the computed optimum state. |
| US08214471B2 |
Synchronizing information through profile management between a host system and a mobile device
A system for enabling control and managing the assets by synchronizing information between a host system server and a mobile client device is disclosed. Control of the mobile client devices from remote locations enables an administrator to provide specific profiles for the mobile devices. These profiles are consistent and ensure that the user can perform all of the required tasks. The system also includes a multi-level security mechanism. The security provision maintains control of the hardware (mobile device) and the information stored thereon. The administrator also controls the distribution of applications and services to the mobile device, including restoring information which may have become lost. |
| US08214470B2 |
Upgrading software in radio base station nodes
A cluster-based, delegated software upgrade scheme facilitates software upgrade for radio base station nodes comprising a cluster of a flat radio access telecommunications network. The plural radio base stations are grouped into clusters (30), and a master radio base station (RBSM) designated for each cluster. The master radio base station (RBSM) is used to initiate software upgrade of the radio base stations comprising the cluster. The master radio base station (RBSM) can also perform a monitoring of implementation of the software upgrade at the radio base stations of the cluster, and on the basis of the monitoring, determine whether a cluster-wide software upgrade is successful. In one of its example modes, the master radio base station can further prepare a software upgrade report which confirms/summarizes implementation of the software upgrade at the radio base stations of the cluster. |
| US08214462B1 |
System and method for providing a personalized media service
A system and method for providing a personalized media service. In one aspect, the system includes an on-demand system, a plurality of subscriber devices, and a network to which the on-demand system and the subscriber devices are coupled so that the on-demand system and the subscriber devices can communicate with each other. The on-demand system enables a user to create one or more personalized media channels by enabling the user to specify his/her media preferences for each channel. The on-demand system includes a media server for streaming media to the plurality of subscriber devices. The media is preferably implemented using a video-on-demand server. |
| US08214461B1 |
Method of processing request by server computer system
In an embodiment, a method of processing a request by a server computer system begins with a step of receiving an object. The object comprises the request, an exception criterion, and a recovery operation. The method continues with a step of determining that the server computer system is unable to fulfill the request due to an exception which meets the exception criterion. The method concludes with a step of applying the recovery operation to resolve the exception. In an embodiment, the server computer system comprises a resource management system for a shared computing environment and the object comprises a resource request object. The resource request object comprises a resource request, the exception criteria, and the recovery operation. The resource request indicates resources requested from the shared computing environment by a start time and for a time period. |
| US08214457B2 |
Post-to-profile control
Multimedia content is featured on user pages of an online social network using embed codes that are generated using a configuration file associated with the source ID for the multimedia content and a content ID for the multimedia content. The configuration file, the source ID and the content ID are stored locally by the online social network so that any changes to the embed codes can be made by changing the configuration file associated with the source and regenerating the embed codes. By managing multimedia content in this manner, greater control can be exercised by the online social network over the multimedia content that are featured on its user pages. |
| US08214455B2 |
Human-machine interface support of remote viewing sessions
A human-machine-interface (HMI) system comprises a machine interface, a communication interface, and a processing system. The machine interface receives operation data from a plurality of machines within an industrial automation environment, wherein the operation data corresponds to operations of the plurality of machines. The communication interface receives a request for a remote viewing session from a communication device, and in response to the request, transfers graphics data and the operation data for delivery to and display by the communication device. The processing system monitors for changes to the graphics data and the operation data during the remote viewing session. The communication, upon a change occurring to the graphics data, transfers updated graphics data for delivery to and display by the communication device, and upon a change occurring to the operation data, transfers updated operation data for delivery to and display by the communication device. |
| US08214454B1 |
Seamless retrieval of non-standard items for a mobile device
Systems and methods for seamless retrieval of coupons and other non-standard items to a mobile device. Some method embodiments comprise: receiving a communication that specifies a user id and a coupon id, and storing the user id and a location of the coupon in a table in response to said receiving. A response to the communication is sent to the mobile device to invoke an application that accesses the table to determine the coupon location and uses the coupon location to download the content. The communication may be a web page request from a browser on the mobile device, and the application may be a coupon organizer external to the web browser. The communication may further include origination information, so that once the retrieval is complete, the mobile device once again displays the original web page and the user is given the perception that the download was accomplished within the browser. |
| US08214450B2 |
Dynamic bandwidth allocation
According to the invention, a content delivery network (CDN) for delivering content objects from a content provider to a recipient is disclosed. The CDN includes a dynamic pricing engine and a second web location. The dynamic pricing engine is coupled to a first web location. The first web location, which is associated with a content provider, allows the recipient to order a content object. The delivery quote is solicited by the first web location for delivering a content object one or more times. The second web location delivers the content object to a recipient system of the recipient. The second web location is associated with the dynamic pricing engine. The dynamic pricing engine automatically produces the delivery quote, which is affected by at least one of the content object or a web location of the recipient system. |
| US08214448B2 |
Optimized utilization of DMA buffers for incoming data packets in a network protocol
A method, system and computer program product for facilitating network data packet management. In one embodiment, a controller is configured to receive data packets. Incoming data packets are stored in DMA mapped packet buffers. A time stamp is associated with the packet buffers. When the associated time stamp exceeds a defined threshold, the controller is configured to copy the packet buffers stored in DMA memory to non-DMA memory. Once copied, the DMA memory previously used to store the packet buffers is available to receive new data packets. The controller is configured to continue copying aged packet buffers to non-DMA memory until an unallocated amount DMA memory is reached. |
| US08214445B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing electronic subscriptions
Managing electronic subscriptions includes receiving user input for modifying an electronic subscription of a user to prevent receiving a redundant subscription message for the electronic subscription. Whether a future subscription message is redundant is determined based on at least one of an identifier for the subscription message and content included in the subscription message. Redundant future subscription messages associated with the electronic subscription is excluded from presentation to the user based on the redundancy determination and the user input. |
| US08214443B2 |
Electronic mail forwarding service
A system and method are disclosed that enable an email service provider to implement an email forwarding service without losing associated page views. In one embodiment, rather than forwarding the entire email message, the email forwarding service generates a summary email message, and sends this summary email message to the forwarding email address pre-specified by the subscriber. This summary email message includes a link that is selectable by the user to view the original email message on a web site of the email service provider. Thus, even if the forwarding email address is hosted externally, the subscriber still views the full email message on a web site of the provider of the email forwarding service. |
| US08214442B2 |
Facilitating an extended IM session in a secure way
A method includes steps of: receiving a prompt from a user to activate a message interface in order to begin a session; activating the message interface such that said message interface is presented to the user and is able to receive input from the user; receiving user input from the message interface, including: a user selection of at least one target correspondent; and a first message to be sent to the at least one target correspondent; identifying the session with a unique identifier; and sending the first message to a messaging system for delivery to the target correspondent when the target correspondent is available. |
| US08214440B2 |
Controlling the display of sensitive information and managing visual clutter in a live session display area system
A system for clearing content displayed in the live session display area of an instant messaging system. The system enables a session participant to clear the content currently visible to each other participant in the session, either immediately, or in response to a criteria such as elapsed time or elapsed time since active in the session. The content that is cleared from the live session display area is not permanently lost, but is only temporarily hidden from the live session display area. The system further enables a local participant to recall such temporarily hidden content back into the live session display area. |
| US08214438B2 |
(More) advanced spam detection features
The present invention involves a system and method that facilitate extracting data from messages for spam filtering. The extracted data can be in the form of features, which can be employed in connection with machine learning systems to build improved filters. Data associated with the subject line, timestamps, and the message body can be extracted and employed to generate one or more features. In particular, subject lines and message bodies can be examined for consecutive, repeating characters, blobs, the association or distance between such characters, blobs and non-blob portions of the message. The values or counts obtained can be broken down into one or more ranges corresponding to a degree of spaminess. Presence and type of attachments to messages, percentage of non-white-space and non-numeric characters of a message, and determining message delivery times can be used to identify spam. A time-based delta can be computed to facilitate determining the delivery time. |
| US08214432B2 |
Differential dynamic content delivery to alternate display device locations
Differential dynamic content delivery including providing a session document for a presentation, wherein the session document includes a session grammar and a session structured document; identifying a recording period within a presentation session; recording, during the recording period, a presentation control instruction; selecting from the session structured document a classified structural element in dependence upon the recorded presentation control instruction and in dependence upon user classifications of a user participant in the presentation; and presenting the selected structural element to the user. |
| US08214428B1 |
Optimized prepopulation of a client side cache in a deduplication environment
A backup cache on a client is prepopulated with fingerprints corresponding to data stored on a backup server. A plurality of fingerprints of data are received from the client, each received fingerprint corresponding to data present on the client which is subject to backup to the server. For each received fingerprint, an attempt is made to locate data corresponding to the received fingerprint stored on the backup server. Responsive to locating data corresponding to a received fingerprint stored on the backup server, data stored on the backup server considered to be “in the neighborhood” of the located data is identified. Fingerprints (e.g., hashes) identifying data stored on the backup server in the neighborhood of the located data are created and transmitted to the client, for prepopulating the backup cache on the client. |
| US08214423B2 |
CAD system
A computer aided design (CAD) system is described where each type of change in a CAD-generated object is automatically and chronologically protocoled so that the object directly includes an abstract description of the history of the object independent of the CAD module used. This is particularly advantageous with decentralized CAD systems in which several constructors/designers are working together on the same draft, but located in different places. At the end of a session, the object history, i.e., the changes which have taken place, are directly exported, together with the object data, into the destination system. The abstract description is in a form independent of the system used. |
| US08214420B2 |
Method and device for digitizing an analogical signal
This device (10) includes elements (12) for receiving an analogical signal including a data signal in a frequency channel, elements (18) for amplifying the received signal, elements (20) for filtering the amplified signal so as to cut out frequencies outside the frequency channel of the data signal, members (24) for converting the filtered analogical signal into a digital signal, elements (32) for measuring the power (Pwhole) of the whole received signal after amplification and before filtering, and members (26) for determining an amplification control signal for the received signal amplification as a function of the received signal measured power (Pwhole). |
| US08214417B2 |
Subnormal number handling in floating point adder without detection of subnormal numbers before exponent subtraction
In an embodiment, a floating point unit (FPU) comprises an adder configured to add a first mantissa and a second mantissa and an operand adjust unit coupled to provide at least the first mantissa to the adder. The operand adjust unit is coupled to receive a first operand and a second operand for a floating point add operation, and is configured to: right shift at least one mantissa corresponding to one of the first and second operands responsive to a shift count generated from exponent portions of the first and second operands; to detect whether or not neither, one, or both of the first and second operands are subnormal numbers in parallel with at least a portion of the right shifting; and to left shift by one bit the right shifted mantissa responsive to only one of the first and second operands being a subnormal floating point number. |
| US08214415B2 |
Interpolator for a networked motion control system
An interpolator for a system, such as a motion control system, where a stream of values of at least a first command signal is communicated across a communications medium according to a predefined update rate. The integrator is configured to calculate at a higher rate relative to the update rate to generate at least one interpolated prediction of the first command signal. |
| US08214413B2 |
Electronic calculator with a formula display function
When the intake input mode is set and a 2D function key, such as “√{square root over ( )}” or “a/b,” is operated in a state where the cursor has been moved to an arbitrary position on the formula displayed on the display unit of an electronic calculator, the range of the formula covered by the input 2D function (or to be calculated) is determined on the basis of the position of the cursor by recognizing a formula part sandwiched by parentheses or a chunk of the formula part of a function with parentheses, recognizing a chunk of a formula part of a 2D function, recognizing a chunk of a formula part with successive numerals and characters, and recognizing the position of an arithmetic symbol (“+,” “−,” “×,” or “÷”) or a delimiter (“:” or “,”). The determined range is taken in by the input 2D function. |
| US08214412B2 |
Playlist editing apparatus and playlist editing method
A playlist editing apparatus includes a management unit 11 that manages a playlist, a playlist name input unit 12 for newly setting a playlist name, a determination unit 13 that determines whether conversion of a character code of a playlist name set for an existing playlist is required, based on a relationship with a character code of a set playlist name, a changing unit 14 that changes a character code flag of the existing playlist to a flag corresponding to a character code to be converted to, when it is determined that character code conversion is required, a character code conversion unit 15 that converts a character string targeted for conversion to a designated character code, in response to changing of the character code flag, and a playlist name setting unit 16 that sets the converted character string as the playlist name. This enables a playlist to be edited so that inconsistency in character codes throughout the playlist and the disk does not occur. |
| US08214409B2 |
Adapter architecture for mobile data system
A data architecture provides View objects that define an enterprise data source interface to an application through connectors, and also by Data Objects defined by Commands. Thus, a Data Object comprises a configurable request for data that is issued through Commands to the Adapters of the enterprise data sources. The architecture provides an application developer with the ability to create custom enterprise connectivity to disparate backend enterprise data sources. |
| US08214405B2 |
Longest-match/shortest-match search apparatus, search method, and program
A coupled node tree comprises a root node and a node pair, the node pair being a branch node and leaf node, or a pair of branch nodes, or a pair of leaf nodes located in adjacent storage areas. The branch node includes a discrimination bit position of the search key and a position information of a primary node, which is one node of a node pair of a link target. The leaf node includes an index key that is a bit string that is the target of a search. A coupled node tree is searched using a longest-match/shortest-match search key and the longest-match/shortest-match node is determined through a comparison of the difference bit position between the index key resulting from the search and the longest-match/shortest-match search key and the discrimination bit position of a branch node on the search path memorized when the search is performed. |
| US08214394B2 |
Propagating user identities in a secure federated search system
A flexible and extensible architecture allows for secure searching across an enterprise. Such an architecture can provide a simple Internet-like search experience to users searching secure content inside (and outside) the enterprise. The architecture allows for the crawling and searching of a variety or sources across an enterprise, regardless of whether any of these sources conform to a conventional user role model. The architecture further allows for security attributes to be submitted at query time, for example, in order to provide real-time secure access to enterprise resources. The user query also can be transformed to provide for dynamic querying that provides for a more current result list than can be obtained for static queries. |
| US08214387B2 |
Document enhancement system and method
A system, apparatus and method for enhancing documents, including using a graphical capture device, are described herein. |
| US08214378B2 |
Time-critical filtering of information using domain ontologies
An ontology that is used to determine relationships between instances of objects having types. The ontology is made from a text file containing a DAML+OIL description of the ontology and includes a set of ontology objects and an accelerator that accelerates determination of the relationships. The accelerator is implemented using database tables and indexes. The ontology may be used as a data filter. A decision-centered visualization system uses the ontology to relate data items contained in event instances to task instances and to determine for a given task instance what portion of the data in the data item should be provided for display by a given task instance. |
| US08214376B1 |
Techniques for global single instance segment-based indexing for backup data
Techniques for global single instance segment-based indexing are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for global single instance segment-based indexing for backup data. The method may comprise dividing an item being backed up into segments, generating a fingerprint for each segment, and saving an entry for each segment in an index database. Each entry may comprise the fingerprint for the segment. |
| US08214375B2 |
Manual and automatic techniques for finding similar users
A user data engine records profile data supplied by a user and usage data that is based on interactions between the user and a software application. A group data engine receives a set of user data comprising the profile data and the usage data for each user of a plurality of users. The group data engine determines a similarity value between each pair of users of the software application. The group data engine identifies groups of similar users based on the similarity values by executing one or more clustering algorithms. A user may then search for other users and groups of users of the software application and may then receive information from the users and/or groups of users that is related to use of the software application. |
| US08214374B1 |
Methods and systems for abridging video files
Techniques for generating automated tags for a video file are described. The method includes receiving one or more manually generated tags associated with a video file, based at least in part on the one or more manually entered tags, determining a preliminary category for the video file, and based on the preliminary category, generating a targeted transcript of the video file, wherein the targeted transcript includes a plurality of words. The method further includes generating an ontology of the plurality of words based on the targeted transcript, ranking the plurality of words in the ontology based on a plurality of scoring factors, and based on the ranking of the plurality of words, generating one or more automated tags associated with the video file. |
| US08214373B1 |
Systems and methods for assignment of human reviewers using probabilistic prioritization
The present application discloses systems and methods for using probabilistic prioritization to assign human reviewers to review data stored in or indexed by an information system. Some embodiments include accessing an index of data items, where individual data items have a corresponding probability f of having a problem, a cost to review the data item, a penalty if a problem associated with the data item is not remedied, and a gain if a problem associated with the data item is remedied; identifying a subset of data items having a corresponding f that is greater than or equal to a decision threshold based on the data item's corresponding cost, penalty, and gain; and ranking at least a portion of the subset of data items based at least in part on their corresponding cost, f, and gain. |
| US08214366B2 |
Systems and methods for generating a language database that can be used for natural language communication with a computer
A system for knowledge representation in a computer that can enable unrestricted natural language communication with a computer, comprising a database configured to store at least one table, the table configured to store associations between concepts in a text string and associated concept identifiers; and a builder interfaced with the database, the builder configured to construct a table that represents knowledge defined by a text string, the text string comprising (n) operands and (n−1) operators, by performing a process comprising the following steps: combining concepts in the text string into first order sub-concepts according to precedence defined by the operators, combining the first order sub-concepts into higher order concepts according to the precedence defined by the operators, repeating the steps until the higher order sub-concepts join to form a concept that represents the entire text string, and storing the concept, first order sub-concepts, and higher order sub-concepts in the database. |
| US08214365B1 |
Measuring confidence of file clustering and clustering based file classification
A uniformity of a cluster of samples is determined, and a corresponding raw confidence value is calculated. A confidence interval weight is calculated using a confidence interval to determine reliability of the uniformity. A trace length weight is calculated, as a function of traces of the samples. An n-gram weight is calculated, as a function of numbers of n-grams generated by the samples. A compactness weight is calculated, as a function of the similarity of the samples. A cluster weight is calculated as a function of the four above-described weights. A cluster confidence measurement is calculated as a function of the cluster weight and the raw confidence value. When a new sample is assigned to the cluster, an assignment confidence measurement is calculated, as a function of the cluster's confidence measurement and the sample's trace length, n-grams and similarity. |
| US08214364B2 |
Modeling user access to computer resources
Embodiments of the invention provide a method for detecting changes in behavior of authorized users of computer resources and reporting the detected changes to the relevant individuals. The method includes evaluating actions performed by each user against user behavioral models and business rules. As a result of the analysis, a subset of users may be identified and reported as having unusual or suspicious behavior. In response, the management may provide feedback indicating that the user behavior is due to the normal expected business needs or that the behavior warrants further review. The management feedback is available for use by machine learning algorithms to improve the analysis of user actions over time. Consequently, investigation of user actions regarding computer resources is facilitated and data loss is prevented more efficiently relative to the prior art approaches with only minimal disruption to the ongoing business processes. |
| US08214355B2 |
Small table: multitenancy for lots of small tables on a cloud database
Methods and apparatus are described for partitioning native tables in a database cluster into logical tables. Each logical table is mapped into a unique portion of the native table by an intermediary server. Clients access a logical table as an ordinary, full-fledged database table through the intermediary server, which translates queries on the logical table into queries on the corresponding portion of the native table. The mapping may use the application name, logical table name, and a version number to create a native table key for each key in the logical table. A data structure storing these mappings may be stored at the intermediary server or in a native table in the database. This approach affords clients quick and flexible access to the database with better data integrity and security than native tables allow. |
| US08214354B2 |
Column constraints based on arbitrary sets of objects
Techniques for using arbitrary sets of objects to constrain objects in database systems. The constraint set of objects is associated with the constrained object in the database system and the database system will perform an operation which adds an object to the constrained object only if the object being added belongs to the constraint set. In a preferred embodiment, the techniques are employed to obtain constraint sets of terms from ontologies which are then used to constrain columns containing those terms. An implementation of the techniques makes a materialized view out of the objects in the constraint set and uses the materialized view to define a referential integrity constraint on the constrained column. |
| US08214352B2 |
Modular query optimizer
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for modular query optimizer. In one aspect, a method includes selecting one or more projections from a set of projections for each table in a database query wherein each of the selected projections for the table has leads to an estimated lower execution cost for the query as compared to non-selected projections; generating join orders for the query based on data distribution of one or more of the selected projections among sites in a computer network wherein the join orders reflect different combinations of data distribution operations applied to the output of one or more of the query's joins; and selecting a join order from the join orders based on evaluation of the join orders using a cost model. |
| US08214350B1 |
Pre-computed impression lists
Systems, methods, and computer program products identify one or more web page impressions satisfying one or more simply queries, each of the one or more web page impressions associated with a respective impression ID. Respective impression IDs of the one or more web pages satisfying the one or more simple queries are stored in an impression log. Subsequent to storing the respective impression IDs, a query is received from a client device, and a number of impression IDs for the one or more web pages satisfying the query are identified based on the identified one or more web page impressions satisfying the one or more simple queries. |
| US08214347B2 |
Search result sub-topic identification system and method
A method and apparatus for sub-topic identification from a search result that matches a query, said method including the steps of receiving a search result, extracting snippets from said search result that contain said query, truncating snippets on an instance of a boundary token, identifying phrases within said snippets that include the query, comparing all said phrases to determine optimal phrases, and presenting said optimal phrases. The apparatus for sub-topic identification from a search result that matches a query may include a dedicated server or a proxy for processing the search and sub-topic query. |
| US08214346B2 |
Personalization engine for classifying unstructured documents
Unstructured electronic documents are classified for profiling and targeting users for additional relevant content. Behavioral data is gathered from user activity, and user documents and actions are categorized. Profile information is combined with collaborative and editorial data to provide users with credible information regarding products. Author-generated document classification information is analyzed and assigned a first taxonomic noun to characterize the document. User-generated tags characterizing a portion of the document are assigned a second taxonomic noun. Search terms that resulted in the user accessing the document are identified and assigned a third taxonomic noun. Attributes related to how the document was accessed are evaluated and assigned a fourth taxonomic noun. The document is processed using pattern rules to extract a fifth taxonomic noun. The taxonomic nouns are aggregated to determine term vectors representing the document, and the document is categorized using the term vectors, the taxonomic nouns, or the author-generated classification. |
| US08214345B2 |
Custom constraints for faceted exploration
The Facet Navigator permits users to set custom constraints for searching databases by facet, displays facets representing fields in a database, and provides a manipulator for each facet. The manipulator may be a slider bar, or a drop-down menu, or some other interactive device known to persons skilled in the art. When a user sets constraints for a facet with the manipulator, the Facet Navigator searches the database based on the constraints and displays a list of items in the database that satisfy the constraints. The Facet Navigator displays a preview of interim results whenever a cursor is moved over an active region of the manipulator, where the preview includes details of database items meeting a search criteria based on the location of the cursor on the manipulator. |
| US08214342B2 |
Supplier identification and locator system and method
A method to identify a supplier of good or services over the Internet by providing a home page with at least one link to a directory Web site for a class of goods or services. The directory Web site includes a directory Web site domain that at least partially describes a class of goods or services. The directory Web site also contains at least one supplier link to a corresponding supplier Web site and a rollover window. The home page and the directory Web site are configured to allow a user to access the home page; select a directory Web site based at least in part on the directory Web site domain name; activate the link to the selected directory Web site; and select and activate the supplier link for a supplier of goods or services. |
| US08214339B2 |
Method and system for profile typing in batch loading documents into a service registry in a computing environment
A method and system for profile typing in batch loading document files into a service registry module in a computing environment, is provided. One implementation involves loading document files into a service registry by profile typing document files for loading into a service registry of a service oriented architecture (SOA) computing environment, including automatically identifying a profile of each document file; and batch loading the document files into the service registry based on their corresponding profile type. |
| US08214336B2 |
Preservation of digital content
Methods for generating a characterizing summary and generating a collection of relevant preservation objects in a preservation system are provided. A characterizing summary is generated by collecting first information about a preservation object; collecting second information about other preservation objects or other metadata; generating a characterizing summary according to the first information and the second information; and adding the characterizing summary to the preservation object. A collection of relevant preservation objects is generated by accessing one or more preservation objects by way of one or more metadata included in a target preservation object constructed for content data; determining whether each of the accessed preservation objects is relevant to the target preservation object; adding each relevant preservation object to a list of relevant preservation objects; and generating the collection of relevant preservation objects according to the list of relevant preservation objects. |
| US08214333B2 |
Storage system for managing a log of access
Provided is a storage system including: a first interface connected to a host computer; a second interface connected to a manager terminal; a control unit connected to the first interface and the second interface and equipping a processor and a memory; and one or more disk drives in which data that is requested to read by the host computer is stored, in which the control unit detects an access from the host computer to the first interface and an access from the manager terminal to the second interface, and generates log data of operations according to the accesses. Accordingly, log data concerning every action and every operation of the storage system is maintained and stored. |
| US08214332B2 |
Data retention using logical objects
Various embodiments are provided for facilitation of data retention using logical objects. Following an operation creating a redundant copy of the data performed on a scheduled interval, a logical object containing a number of managed file versions, represented by a number of member objects for a recovery point, is created. The logical object is assigned a policy of a data retention policy construct associated with the recovery point. The logical object is adapted for reassignment between policies of the data retention policy construct associated with various recovery points. During the reassignment, the plurality of member objects representing the plurality of managed file versions are logically retained instead of performing a data copy operation to associate the plurality of managed file versions with another recovery point. |
| US08214329B2 |
Remote data collection systems and methods
The present disclosure provides remote data collection systems and methods for retrieving data including financial, sales, marketing, operational and the like data from a plurality of databases and database types remotely over a network in an automated, platform-agnostic manner. The present invention is designed to work across a plurality of LOB applications, database vendors and business models or businesses, as well as business infrastructure (various PCs, embedded devices and POS devices) and business processes while still providing the centralized ability to automatically collect data from multiple remote business sites. The present invention includes one or more central servers communicating with a plurality of remote data collection agents. The remote data collection agent is designed to overcome existing requirements or limitations as it is able to automatically collect remote data from a wide range of businesses, as well as multiple LOB applications while connecting to multiple databases vendors and formats. |
| US08214328B2 |
High-performance asynchronous peer-to-peer remote copy for databases
Database content changes are asynchronously remotely copied from a primary site to a remote site by associating sequential identification with each respective log record write and each corresponding data record write received at the primary site. Each respective log record write is asynchronously remotely copied from the primary site to the remote site, and an acknowledgement corresponding to a log record write that has been completed at the remote site is received at the primary site. Each data record write having a sequential identification that is prior to or equal to the sequential identification of the log record write corresponding to the received acknowledgement is then asynchronously remotely copied to the remote site. A log record write is asynchronously remotely copied from the primary site to the remote site before a data record write is asynchronously remotely copied from the primary site to the remote site. |
| US08214326B2 |
Reducing data storage requirements on mail servers by storing a shared copy of a message
A mail server detects if an incoming message is addressed to multiple recipients, in which case redundant data storage is reduced. A single shared copy of the message is stored, and a reference message, which refers to the shared message, is provided to the addressed recipients. A record of the number of existing reference messages is maintained, and decremented as each reference message is deleted by recipients. When no reference messages remain, the shared message is also deleted. A record of recipients authorized to access the shared message is also maintained, and updated as recipients delete their reference messages. |
| US08214320B2 |
Litigation cost management system
The litigation cost management system (FIG. 1) provides modules for outlining the process of litigation (12), establishing pricing variables to each step of the litigation (14), all at the outset of the case. A case budget (16) is then generated and the case is managed by outside counsel based upon the agreed upon budget and process. When exceptions occur during the course of litigation, outside counsel electronically submits requests for new work to corporate counsel, which in turn can be approved or denied. Point and click billing allows immediate simplistic invoicing which requires no review by corporate counsel as the work performed has already been approved. Statistical reporting provides corporate counsel with real time analysis of all the cases that are in the system. |
| US08214315B2 |
Systems and methods for prioritizing mobile media player files
Disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods for prioritizing mobile media player files by providing for the automated addition and/or deletion of media items for a mobile media player. In some embodiments, a statistical method may be provided for inferring which media items on a mobile media player should be deleted based on, for example, user taste data. In some embodiments, new media items may be loaded onto a user's mobile media player by creating one or more playlists from a playlist builder. The playlist(s) may be created by using user taste data. Rankings may also be created to determine an order for deletion of the media items currently on a mobile media player and/or for addition of new media items to the device. |
| US08214313B1 |
Turn rate calculation
A data store includes item configuration data for a plurality of configurations of an item and inventory mix rate data. A computing device is configured to generate a matrix that combines the item configuration data with the inventory mix rate data such that cells in the matrix include an indication of an inventory mix rate related to an item feature; use the matrix to develop a plurality of neural network inventory turn rate models; and use the turn rate models to associate a value with each configuration in the plurality of configurations. |
| US08214311B2 |
Enhanced learning and recognition operations for radial basis functions
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to pattern identification and pattern recognition. In some particular implementations, the invention provides a flexible pattern recognition platform including pattern recognition engines that can be dynamically adjusted to implement specific pattern recognition configurations for individual pattern recognition applications. In some implementations, the present invention also provides for a partition configuration where knowledge elements can be grouped and pattern recognition operations can be individually configured and arranged to allow for multi-level pattern recognition schemes. |
| US08214307B2 |
Multiple-user processing device with intuitive learning capability
A processing device having one or more objectives is provided. The processing device comprises a probabilistic learning module having a learning automaton configured for learning a plurality of processor actions in response to a plurality of actions performed by a plurality of users, and an intuition module configured for modifying a functionality of said probabilistic learning module based on said one or more objectives. |
| US08214306B2 |
Computer game with intuitive learning capability
A computer game and a method of providing learning capability thereto are provided. The computer game has an objective of matching a skill level of the computer game with a skill level of a game player. A move performed by the game player is identified, one of a plurality of game moves is selected based on a game move probability distribution comprising a plurality of probability values corresponding to the plurality of game moves, an outcome of the selected game move relative to the identified player move is determined, the game move probability distribution is updated based on the outcome, and one or more of the game move selection, the outcome determination, and the game move probability distribution update is modified based on the objective. |
| US08214304B2 |
Method and device for calculating a similarity metric between a first feature vector and a second feature vector
The method of calculating a similarity metric between a first feature vector of a first audio and/or video signal and a second feature vector of a second audio and/or video signal of the invention comprises the step of calculating a distance between the first feature vector and the second feature vector, both the first feature vector and the second feature vector comprising a feature value of a second dimension, wherein a weighting factor is used that gives a stronger weight to the first dimension than to the second dimension. The electronic device of the invention comprises electronic circuitry, which is operative to perform the method of the invention. The software of the invention makes a programmable device operative to perform the method of the invention. |
| US08214300B2 |
Social network method and apparatus
A social networking apparatus includes a first project involvement module, a second project involvement module, and a relationship determination module. The first project involvement module determines a first degree of involvement with a project for a first person. The second project involvement module determines a second degree of involvement with the project for a second person. The relationship determination module determines a social relationship between the first and second person based on the first and second degree of involvement. A combined project involvement module may also determine a combined degree of involvement that takes into account the contributions of substantially all project participants, which combined degree of involvement may be further employed when determining the social relationship. In this manner, social relationships may be determined in a more efficient manner. |
| US08214295B2 |
Internet system for facilitating human user advisement and licensing of copyrighted works of authorship
An Internet system for disseminating information regarding works or authorship, including a server and a client device connected to the Internet and wherein when any one web page out of a set of web pages is displayed on the client device and when a work of authorship is displayed as part of the web page, an image is also displayed near the work of authorship, as part of the webpage and when a user clicks on the image, copyright information concerning the work of authorship is presented in a user-perceivable manner. |
| US08214293B2 |
Methods and system for cardholder initiated transactions
A cardholder-initiated financial transaction using a cardholder controlled input device in communication with a payment card network and a database is disclosed. The cardholder uses a payment card issued to the cardholder by an issuer bank. An exemplary method includes the steps of storing merchant data within the database including data identifying the merchants registered to utilize the card network and receiving from the input device transaction data relating to the financial transaction. The transaction data includes an authorization request and merchant identifying data that identifies the merchant involved in the transaction. The method further includes determining that the identified merchant is registered to utilize the card network by comparing the transaction data with the merchant data stored in the database, forwarding the authorization request to the issuer bank, receiving a response to the request from the issuer bank, and automatically forwarding the response to the input device. |
| US08214292B2 |
Post-authorization message for a financial transaction
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for enabling a financial institution to communicate with a merchant regarding post-authorization processing of a financial transaction. The merchant assesses feasibility of the financial transaction after receiving an authorization from the financial institution for the financial transaction and accordingly processes the financial transaction based on the feasibility assessment. The processing of the financial transaction may either result in fulfillment or non-fulfillment of the financial transaction depending on the feasibility assessment. Finally, the merchant provides the financial institution details related to the processing of the financial institution in real-time following the authorization. |
| US08214290B1 |
Self-service terminal reporting
Apparatus and methods for monitoring a plurality of electronic self-service devices. The apparatus and methods may involve a receiver module, a database module, and a web server module. The receiver module may receive from each of the electronic self-service devices information regarding a fault-related event. The database module may associate each of the fault-related events with one of multiple event types. The database module may store the fault-related event information in machine readable memory. The web server module may provide reporting information based on the fault-related events to a user. |
| US08214286B1 |
Computerized extension of credit to existing demand deposit accounts, prepaid cards and lines of credit based on expected tax refund proceeds, associated systems and computer program products
Systems, computer program products, and computer-implemented methods apply or otherwise make available new credit or additional credit to demand deposit accounts, prepaid cards, and existing lines of credit of a customer based on expected tax refund amounts. A computerized estimate of the tax refund available from a tax return of the customer is formed. A portion of the computerized estimate of the tax refund which can be made available as the line of credit is then determined. The existing line of credit is then adjusted based on the expected refund determined to be available, which will serve as an additional source of repayment for the line of credit. One or more of several adjustments may then be made to an existing line of credit. The invention may be implemented as a computerized process, a computer system or a computer program product. |
| US08214285B2 |
Real time adaptive control of transaction review rate score curve
Modern technologies of signal processing and real-time feedback adaptive control are applied to a fraud screen model to enable the fraud screen model to adapt to changes in shopping behavior to effectively maintain the model's performance on a review rate score curve continuously. Multiple techniques disclosed herein integrate control technologies with modeling technology to control the review rate score curve in real time. |
| US08214284B2 |
Computer system and computer-implemented method for managing funding of catastrophe relief efforts
A special purpose entity offers a financial product linked to a charitable organization. A monetary donation is made to the charitable organization for paying a premium assigned to the financial product. Capital payments are received from one or more investors for the financial product. The premium is paid by the special purpose entity to the investors. Upon occurrence of a catastrophic event assigned to the financial product, the capital is paid from the special purpose entity to the charitable organization, for funding relief efforts for the catastrophic event. Otherwise, the capital is repaid from the special purpose entity to the investors. Charities and donors can prepare a country for natural and man-made disasters by putting in place funding before a catastrophic event actually occurs. |
| US08214275B1 |
Multiple transaction property valuation
Property valuation that uses multiple transactions in predicting a value for a property. Instead of choosing only one prior transaction, valuation uses multiple transactions for a given property to provide a more accurate mark-to-market value. Preferably, a weighted combination of mark-to-market values provided by an HPI and individual ones of the multiple transaction records provide a predicted value for the given property. Weighting factors recency and transaction type to correct for both sources of potential inaccuracy. |
| US08214274B2 |
Financial activity based on natural events
A financial activity network includes a central managing system connected to a plurality of participant terminals. Rules governing operation of the financial activity are stored for future reference. A participant provides investment information such as a map location for the predicted strike by the natural event and, optionally, one or more secondary parameters relating to the natural event, such as the time interval between the time of investment and the time of an event strike and/or the severity of the event strike according to an established scale. In one example, an external objective independent information source is consulted, with the external objective independent information source providing monitoring, interpretation and derived determination of parameters pertaining to the natural event. Methods and articles of manufacture are also disclosed. |
| US08214269B2 |
Transactional tax settlement in personal communication devices
A transactional tax settlement system for use with a personal communication device is provided. The system has particular usefulness in determining a taxing authority and calculating a tax rate imposed by the taxing authority in a communication network environment. The system may be used to determine a tax authority and corresponding tax rate for a buyer/seller transaction over a network, e.g., the Internet. The system may also be used to determine a tax authority and corresponding tax rate in a mobile telecommunications network, e.g., a cellular phone. The system includes a tax information system for determining the taxing authorities and corresponding tax rates by evaluating factors pertaining to the transaction such as, location, tax status, and transaction description. In addition, the tax information system may validate a payment modality, collect taxes, and account for the transaction. |
| US08214263B2 |
Community management for electronic business to business transactions
Systems, methods, and devices for the automated, community-based exchange of procurement documents. In some embodiments, there may be different sets of rules for each of a number of different communities of trading partners. Each set of rules may be made up of rules data for the automated exchange of procurement documents in respective communities. By way of example, a host trading partner may select the rules for exchange of procurement documents for a community. Invited trading partners may register for the community, and rules for the community may then be distributed to the registered trading partners. |
| US08214260B2 |
On-line sales method and system
An on-line sales method includes providing a website operated by at least one computer connected to the Internet, receiving a user's submission of an amount for conducting a sales transaction, providing a plurality of items available for the user to select from and to potentially purchase at the submitted amount, and providing a selection option of the user determined based on the submitted amount. The method further includes receiving, on the website, the user's selection of multiple ones among the plurality of items in accordance with the user's selection option, conducting a computerized drawing to draw one out of the multiple items selected by the user. The drawn item has a published price that is equal to or higher than the submitted amount. |
| US08214257B1 |
Proxy transactions and delegation of transaction capabilities and roles for a cash handling device
Financial transaction capabilities and roles may be delegated by one user to another user allowing a user to act as a proxy for the other user. Allowing one user to conduct transactions on behalf of another may increase efficiency by reducing potential downtime due to transporting funds, setting up and other time consuming tasks. In one or more configurations, a user may conduct transaction on behalf of another user without requiring explicit permission by the other user. The user conducting the transaction may be allowed to do so by virtue of his or her role or position. According to another aspect, roles may be delegated such that one employee may assume the role of another employee in a business. A role may include a set of transaction capabilities, authorizations, responsibilities and the like. |
| US08214253B1 |
Identifying influencers among a group of wireless-subscription subscribers
An embodiment of the current invention is directed to retaining customers for a wireless-service provider (“carrier”). A plurality of users who are influencers are identified from a group of wireless-service subscribers, wherein an influencer is a user who is likely to affect decisions of other users regarding whether to cancel or maintain their subscriptions with a particular carrier based on whether the influencer cancels or maintains his or her subscription. A list of influencers is thereby created. An incentive to provide the list of identified influencers is determined. The incentive increases the likelihood that the set of influencers will retain their respective subscriptions, thereby increasing the likelihood that other subscribers who might be influenced will also retain their respective subscriptions. |
| US08214252B2 |
System comprising a consumer good and server and a method to bestow an advantage with a monetary value
A system comprising a consumer good, especially a packet of cigarettes or packet of pharmaceutical products, and a server has a consumer good fitted with a concealed code, wherein the code is associated with an advantage having a monetary value and can be transmitted to a server via a telecommunication link, the server being used to check whether the code is registered as valid, and depending on the result of this test, an advantage with a monetary value is credited by the server to the telecommunication number of the caller. |
| US08214251B2 |
Methods and systems of organizing vendors of production print services by ratings
Methods and systems of evaluating customer satisfaction with a plurality of print-related items are disclosed. A plurality of evaluator ratings, each including an ordinal scale value, may be received for each print-related item in a set. A rating distribution may be determined for each print-related item based on the received evaluator ratings. A similarity value between the rating distribution for the print-related item and each other print-related item may also be determined. The set of print-related items may be divided into one or more clusters based on the corresponding similarity values. A comparison of the one or more clusters may be displayed. The comparison may include a comparison of the similarity values and/or a rating variability between rating distributions associated with the print-related items in one or more clusters and/or a comparison of average rating distributions associated with one or more clusters. |
| US08214249B2 |
Resource planning system with carbon emission input
Embodiments of systems, methods, and software associated with the development of a resource or production plan within an enterprise's integration system are described in the present disclosure. In one of many embodiments, a method is described. Upon obtaining a master planning schedule, the method includes evaluating an inventory of resource associated with the master planning schedule. A production schedule associated with the master planning schedule is evaluated. Also, the method includes estimating carbon emission information associated with the master planning schedule. |
| US08214245B2 |
Method and system for synchronizing inclusive decision branches
A method and system for reconstructing an original process model that includes an inclusive decision into a reconstructed process model that includes synchronized branches. The inclusive decision is replaced with a fork. Each original path of the inclusive decision is reconstructed into a corresponding reconstructed path. Each reconstructed path includes a decision, an activity included in the corresponding original path, and a merge. The decision includes a first output connected to the activity, whose output is connected to a first input of the merge. The decision further includes a second output connected to a second input of the merge. A join is created to recombine output branches from the merge node and other merge nodes included in reconstructed paths. The output branches are synchronized so that all activated reconstructed paths must finish processing before a modeling element connected to an output of the join is executed. |
| US08214244B2 |
Commercial investment analysis
A technique for performing commercial venture analysis involves establishing an empirically-derived structure and evaluating companies using analytical techniques within that structure. The technique may involve defining jobs, or goals a customer is attempting to reach, with dozens or even hundreds of outcomes. Ideally, the structure and tools facilitate analysis that would not be possible otherwise. Moreover, the nature of the system enables real-time input for changing conditions and the ability to calculate returns for new markets in which products or services do not exist. |
| US08214242B2 |
Signaling correspondence between a meeting agenda and a meeting discussion
Signaling correspondence between a meeting agenda and a meeting discussion includes: receiving a meeting agenda specifying one or more topics for a meeting; analyzing, for each topic, one or more documents to identify topic keywords for that topic; receiving meeting discussions among participants for the meeting; identifying a current topic for the meeting in dependence upon the meeting agenda; determining a correspondence indicator in dependence upon the meeting discussions and the topic keywords for the current topic, the correspondence indicator specifying the correspondence between the meeting agenda and the meeting discussion; and rendering the correspondence indicator to the participants of the meeting. |
| US08214241B2 |
System and method for web-based customer check-in
A web-based system and method allows customers to remotely check-in to a wait list for a service from a business. A website is provided through which an address submitted by the customer can be received. Multiple locations of the business in the vicinity of the address and wait times for the service at each location can then be geographically displayed. A selection of a location at which to receive the service can be received and the customer can then be placed on a waiting list for the selected location. The multiple locations can be displayed on a map showing the relative proximity of the address and the locations. The wait times can be calculated using historical data related to the performance of the service at each location, such as the amount of time that employees at the location have taken to perform the service in the past. |
| US08214235B2 |
Method and apparatus for enterprise risk management
A method of enterprise risk management includes defining a hierarchical organizational model to represent an enterprise. The model has a master level and one or more levels subordinate to the master level. The master level has plural materiality grades and plural probability grades, each subordinate level including one or more entities have a reporting relationship to one of the entities in the preceding level, each entity having plural materiality grades. Risk information is collected which includes risk items, each associated with a particular entity in the hierarchical organizational model and having a materiality measure and a probability measure. Selected portions of the collected risk information is output in an output view that for each selected risk item relates the probability measure to the plural probability grades and the materiality measure to either the plural master level materiality grades or the plural entity level materiality grades depending on a selected level. The output view may be presented in a graphical or tabular format. The materiality grades may be defined in financial terms and/or in synonymous terms. |
| US08214221B2 |
Method and apparatus for decoding an audio signal and identifying information included in the audio signal
A method and apparatus for encoding and decoding an audio signal are provided. The present invention includes receiving an audio signal including an audio descriptor, recognizing that the audio signal includes a downmix signal and a spatial information signal using the audio descriptor, and converting the downmix signal to a multi-channel signal using the spatial information signal, wherein the spatial information signal includes a header each a preset temporal or spatial interval, and the spatial information signal includes a header each a preset temporal or spatial interval thereby the header can be selectively included in the spatial information signal and if the header is plurally included in the spatial information signal, it is able to decode spatial information in case of reproducing the audio signal from a random point. |
| US08214220B2 |
Method and apparatus for embedding spatial information and reproducing embedded signal for an audio signal
An apparatus for encoding and decoding an audio signal and method thereof are disclosed, by which compatibility with a player of a general mono or stereo audio signal can be provided in coding an audio signal and by which spatial information for a multi-channel audio signal can be stored or transmitted without a presence of an auxiliary data area. The present invention includes extracting side information embedded in non-recognizable component of audio signal components and decoding the audio signal using the extracted side information. |
| US08214217B2 |
System and method for performing speech synthesis with a cache of phoneme sequences
Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer readable media for performing speech synthesis. The method embodiment comprises applying a first part of a speech synthesizer to a text corpus to obtain a plurality of phoneme sequences, the first part of the speech synthesizer only identifying possible phoneme sequences, for each of the obtained plurality of phoneme sequences, identifying joins that would be calculated to synthesize each of the plurality of respective phoneme sequences, and adding the identified joins to a cache for use in speech synthesis. |
| US08214216B2 |
Speech synthesis for synthesizing missing parts
A simply configured speech synthesis device and the like for producing a natural synthetic speech at high speed. When data representing a message template is supplied, a voice unit editor (5) searches a voice unit database (7) for voice unit data on a voice unit whose sound matches a voice unit in the message template. Further, the voice unit editor (5) predicts the cadence of the message template and selects, one at a time, a best match of each voice unit in the message template from the voice unit data that has been retrieved, according to the cadence prediction result. For a voice unit for which no match can be selected, an acoustic processor (41) is instructed to supply waveform data representing the waveform of each unit voice. The voice unit data that is selected and the waveform data that is supplied by the acoustic processor (41) are combined to generate data representing a synthetic speech. |
| US08214212B2 |
Systems and methods for extracting meaning from multimodal inputs using finite-state devices
Multimodal utterances contain a number of different modes. These modes can include speech, gestures, and pen, haptic, and gaze inputs, and the like. This invention use recognition results from one or more of these modes to provide compensation to the recognition process of one or more other ones of these modes. In various exemplary embodiments, a multimodal recognition system inputs one or more recognition lattices from one or more of these modes, and generates one or more models to be used by one or more mode recognizers to recognize the one or more other modes. In one exemplary embodiment, a gesture recognizer inputs a gesture input and outputs a gesture recognition lattice to a multimodal parser. The multimodal parser generates a language model and outputs it to an automatic speech recognition system, which uses the received language model to recognize the speech input that corresponds to the recognized gesture input. |
| US08214210B1 |
Lattice-based querying
A system for processing a query operates by receiving a first query segment that includes audio speech. Next, the system generates a representation for this first query segment, where the representation includes at least two paths associated with alternative phrase sequences for an ambiguity in the audio speech. The system then compares the paths in the representation to a group of documents and determines matching scores for the group of documents based on the comparisons. Finally, the system presents a ranking of the group of documents, where the ranking is based on the matching scores for the group of documents. |
| US08214208B2 |
Method and system for sharing portable voice profiles
An embodiment of the present invention provides a speech recognition engine that utilizes portable voice profiles for converting recorded speech to text. Each portable voice profile includes speaker-dependent data, and is configured to be accessible to a plurality of speech recognition engines through a common interface. A voice profile manager receives the portable voice profiles from other users who have agreed to share their voice profiles. The speech recognition engine includes speaker identification logic to dynamically select a particular portable voice profile, in real-time, from a group of portable voice profiles. The speaker-dependent data included with the portable voice profile enhances the accuracy with which speech recognition engines recognize spoken words in recorded speech from a speaker associated with a portable voice profile. |
| US08214207B2 |
Quantizing a joint-channel-encoded audio signal
Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for quantizing a joint-channel-encoded audio signal, e.g., by: identifying a target quantization unit for reduction of quantization step size based on quantization errors; determining whether the target quantization unit has been jointly sum/difference encoded with another quantization unit; if the target quantization unit has been jointly sum/difference encoded with another quantization unit, then (i) designating the sum or difference channel quantization unit as a target S/D quantization unit in based on which has a greater quantization error and (ii) re-quantizing the target S/D channel quantization using a decreased quantization step size; recalculating the quantization error for the target quantization unit; and repeating the process until a specified criterion is satisfied. |
| US08214205B2 |
Speech enhancement apparatus and method
A speech enhancement apparatus and method and a computer-readable recording medium having a program recorded thereon execute a speech enhancement method. The speech enhancement apparatus includes a spectrum subtraction unit generating a subtracted spectrum by subtracting an estimated noise spectrum from a received speech spectrum, a correction function modeling unit generating a correction function to minimize a noise spectrum using variation of a noise spectrum included in training data, and a spectrum correction unit generating a corrected spectrum by correcting the subtracted spectrum using the correction function. |
| US08214198B2 |
Translation supporting program, apparatus, and method
In a computer for supporting translation work, an acquisition unit retrieves a pair of original document including a plurality of original sentences and translated document including a plurality of translated sentences from a document storage unit. An estimation unit counts the number of original sentences included in the original document and the number of translated sentences included in the translated document, and estimates a position of a translated sentence corresponding to each original sentence in the translated document based on a ratio of the number of original sentences to the number of translated sentences and a positional order of each original sentence in the original document. An alignment unit aligns each original sentence with the translated sentence located at the estimated position, and outputs information indicating the correspondences between the original and translated sentences. |
| US08214196B2 |
Syntax-based statistical translation model
A statistical translation model (TM) may receive a parse tree in a source language as an input and separately output a string in a target language. The TM may perform channel operations on the parse tree using model parameters stored in probability tables. The channel operations may include reordering child nodes, inserting extra words at each node (e.g., NULL words) translating leaf words, and reading off leaf words to generate the string in the target language. The TM may assign a translation probability to the string in the target language. |
| US08214195B2 |
Testing in a hardware emulation environment
A system and method is disclosed for testing emulation boards in a hardware emulation environment. In one embodiment, test files can be maintained that identify a list of test commands. Such a list can be easily changed without recompiling. In another embodiment, the list of commands can be read by a first server. The commands can be passed (e.g., sequentially) to a second server associated with one or more emulator boards. The second server can ensure that the commands are executed on the specified emulator boards for testing the emulator boards. In yet another embodiment, a user can request a series of tests to be executed. The tests can be included in a list of test names. Each test name can correspond to a list of test commands associated with the test name. Thus, a first server can read a test name, read a file of test commands associated with the test name and pass the test commands to a second server to ensure the test commands are executed. |
| US08214189B2 |
Performance evaluation simulation
A performance evaluation simulation apparatus divides a process into basic process units based on an execution log, calculates a throughput of each basic process unit from information held in the execution log, changes an arrangement structure so that a basic process unit with the calculated throughput exceeding a predetermined threshold is disposed in a hardware model, and performs a performance evaluation simulation on the hardware model and a software model to generate statistical information on which performance evaluation is based. |
| US08214188B2 |
Methods and systems for modeling, designing, and conducting drilling operations that consider vibrations
A method and apparatus associated with the production of hydrocarbons is disclosed. The method, which relates to modeling and operation of drilling equipment, includes constructing one or more surrogates for at least a portion of a bottom hole assembly (BHA) and calculating performance results from each of the one or more surrogates. The calculated results of the modeling may include one or more vibration performance indices that characterize the BHA vibration performance of the surrogates for operating parameters and boundary conditions, which may be substantially the same as conditions to be used, being used, or previously used in drilling operations. The selected BHA surrogate may then be utilized in a well construction operation and thus associated with the production of hydrocarbons. |
| US08214182B2 |
Methods of predicting residual stresses and distortion in quenched aluminum castings
Computational systems, methods, and articles of manufacture to predict at least one of residual stresses and distortion in quenched aluminum castings. Residual stresses and distortion may be predicted through incorporating thermal strains induced during quenching with the nonlinear constitutive behavior of quenched microstructures of a quenched aluminum casting, wherein thermal strains arise generally from non-uniform transient temperature distribution of the casting during quenching. The transient temperature distribution of the aluminum casting during quenching may be calculated based on heat transfer coefficients specific to one or more nodes, elements and/or zones on the surfaces of the aluminum casting. The nonlinear constitutive behavior of the quenched aluminum casting may be modeled as functions of temperatures, strain rates, and microstructure variations. A material constitutive model accounts for not only strain hardening and creep, but also precipitate hardening. Thereby, residual stresses and distortion in the quenched aluminum castings can be predicted using the embodiments. |
| US08214181B2 |
Method for generating a model representative of a process
A method for generating a model representative of a process. The process includes a result variable representing a product of the process, and a plurality of process variables representing characteristics of the process other than the product of the process. The method includes steps of acquiring a plurality of test values of the result variable; acquiring, for each process variable of the plurality of process variables, a plurality of test values of the process variable, each test value being associated with a result variable value; providing, for each first coefficient of a plurality of first coefficients, a separate test value of the first coefficient associated with each process variable; and, for each second coefficient of a plurality of second coefficients, providing a separate test value of the second coefficient associated with each test value of each process variable. |
| US08214178B2 |
Method and system for optimizing the vibrational characteristics of a structure
A structural optimization engine generates a response profile based on a vibrational analysis of a three-dimensional (3D) structure. The structural optimization engine determines whether the 3D structure complies with one or more design goals set for the 3D structure based on the response profile. When the 3D structure does not comply with the design goals, the structural optimization engine retrieves dependency data from a structure database. The dependency data indicates various dependencies between response characteristics included in the response profile and specific regions of the 3D model. Based on the dependency data, the structural optimization engine determines structural modifications that can be made to the 3D structure to bring the 3D structure into compliance with the design goals. A multi-axis computer-aided manufacturing unit then makes the structural modifications to the 3D structure. |
| US08214176B2 |
Exhaust gas sensor abnormality diagnostic device
An exhaust gas sensor abnormality diagnostic device includes an exhaust gas sensor, and a judgment means that judges whether execution conditions are established for making an abnormality diagnosis of element breakage in the exhaust gas sensor. The device also includes an abnormality diagnosis means that makes the abnormality diagnosis in accordance with an output signal generated by the exhaust gas sensor. Further, when the integrated value of intake air amounts of an internal combustion engine is not smaller than a predetermined value, the judgment means judges that the execution conditions are established. The abnormality diagnosis means cancels the establishment of the execution conditions when an intake air amount of the internal combustion engine remains less than a predetermined value for a predetermined period of time. |
| US08214175B2 |
Method and device for monitoring and analyzing signals
A method and system for monitoring and analyzing at least one signal are disclosed. An abstract of at least one reference signal is generated and stored in a reference database. An abstract of a query signal to be analyzed is then generated so that the abstract of the query signal can be compared to the abstracts stored in the reference database for a match. The method and system may optionally be used to record information about the query signals, the number of matches recorded, and other useful information about the query signals. Moreover, the method by which abstracts are generated can be programmable based upon selectable criteria. The system can also be programmed with error control software so as to avoid the re-occurrence of a query signal that matches more than one signal stored in the reference database. |
| US08214174B2 |
Algorithm for online adaptive polarization curve estimation of a fuel cell stack
An algorithm for determining a polarization curve of a fuel cell stack. When the fuel cell stack is running and certain data validity criteria have been met, the algorithm goes into a data collection mode where it collects stack data, such as stack current density, average cell voltage and minimum cell voltage. When the stack is shut down, the algorithm uses a cell voltage model to solve a least squares problem to estimate predetermined parameters that define the polarization curve. If the estimated parameters satisfy certain termination criteria, then the estimated parameters are stored to be used by a system controller to calculate the polarization curve of the stack. |
| US08214171B2 |
Semiconductor memory device including test mode circuit
A semiconductor memory device having a test mode circuit is presented which includes: a mode setting unit, in response to an external command and a first address signal for a mode set, providing a mode register set signal corresponding to predetermined mode setting; and a test mode circuit, in response to the mode register set signal and a second address signal for test enable control in an initial operation, performing test mode enable; the test mode circuit, in response to the mode register set signal and a third address signal for test item selection in the test mode enable state, outputting a test mode item signal; and the test mode circuit, in a subsequent operation, receiving the fed-back test mode item signal to maintain the test mode enable state. |
| US08214170B2 |
Test pattern compression
A method for test pattern compression generates a first test pattern comprising a plurality of bits. The method identifies bits comprising a don't-care bit value in the first test pattern and replaces the identified bit values with random bit values, to generate a second test pattern. The method determines a fault coverage level of the second test pattern. In the event the determined fault coverage level of the second test pattern exceeds a predetermined individual test pattern fault coverage level, for at least one bit position in the second test pattern corresponding to a replaced identified bit value and detecting at least one fault, the method exchanges the don't care value in the bit position in the first test pattern with the bit value in the corresponding bit position in the second test pattern. The method merges subsequent test patterns that increase fault coverage with the second test pattern. |
| US08214168B2 |
Noninvasive testing of a material intermediate spaced walls
A sensor probe provides a pair of unique signal paths through a test material, wherein one configuration of the probe provides identical external portions of the signal paths such that a selected parameter of a measuring signal passing along at least two of the unique signal paths is measured. From these measurements, a method is provided for calculating at least one parameter of the test material, wherein the parameter can include an intrinsic parameter as well as a condition of state. |
| US08214166B2 |
Method and its system for calibrating measured data between different measuring tools
A method, and a corresponding system, are provided for calibrating data of an object measured by different measuring tools, including measuring a Critical-Dimension (CD) and roughness of an object by using a CD-SEM tool, calculating a number of cross section measurement points required for calibration, by statistically processing the roughness of the object, measuring the cross section of the object by using a cross section measuring tool to obtain cross section data at the calculated number of cross section measurement points, calculating the average measurement of the cross section measurement height, and calculating a calibration correction value that is a function of a difference between the average CD measurement of the object and the average measurement of the cross section measurement height of the object. |
| US08214165B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for precise early detection of AC power loss
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for determining power source failure. A sampling module samples an alternating current power waveform as input to a power supply, at a sampling frequency which is a multiple of a predetermined frequency, to obtain a sampled amplitude at a known point within the predetermined period. A comparison module compares the sampled amplitude to a stored threshold amplitude to obtain a comparison result, corresponding to the known point. An accumulation module accumulates most recent comparison results. A warning module asserts an early power off warning signal if a predetermined number of the most recent comparison results each indicate that the sampled amplitude is smaller in absolute value than the stored threshold amplitude. |
| US08214160B2 |
State detection device, state detection method, state detection program, and information recording medium
A state detecting apparatus S for detecting a current operating state of an LM (linear motion) system includes an AE sensor 1 generating a detection signal Sae by detecting an AE wave elastically generated when a plurality of balls contained in the LM system revolve in a circulation portion while spinning themselves; and a signal processing unit 4 generating a parameter indicating an intensity of the AE wave based on only the detection signal Sae corresponding to an operating frequency of the ball, and uses the parameter to determine a lubrication state of the LM system. Thereby, it is possible to provide the state detecting apparatus capable of predicting failure occurrence in the LM system; providing an improved maintenance to a user of the LM system and further longer lifetime thereof; and providing a performance guarantee and an improved quality of a device or equipment manufactured using the LM system. |
| US08214157B2 |
Method and apparatus for representing multidimensional data
The present invention relates to methods for representing multidimensional data. The methods of the present invention are well suited but not limited to the representation of multidimensional data in such a way as to enable the comparison and differentiation of data sets. For example, the invention may be applied to the representation of flow cytometric data. The invention further relates to a program storage device having instructions for controlling a computer system to perform the methods, and to a program storage device containing data structures used in the practice of the methods. |
| US08214154B2 |
Systems for rapid identification of pathogens in humans and animals
“The present invention provides systems for: identifying pathogens in biological samples from humans and animals, resolving a plurality of etiologic agents present in samples obtained from humans and animals, determining detailed genetic information about such pathogens or etiologic agents, and rapid detection and identification of bioagents from environmental, clinical or other samples.” |
| US08214153B1 |
Methods for determining the genetic affinity of microorganisms and viruses
Selecting which sub-sequences in a database of nucleic acid such as 16S rRNA are highly characteristic of particular groupings of bacteria, microorganisms, fungi, etc. on a substantially phylogenetic tree. Also applicable to viruses comprising viral genomic RNA or DNA. A catalogue of highly characteristic sequences identified by this method is assembled to establish the genetic identity of an unknown organism. The characteristic sequences are used to design nucleic acid hybridization probes that include the characteristic sequence or its complement, or are derived from one or more characteristic sequences. A plurality of these characteristic sequences is used in hybridization to determine the phylogenetic tree position of the organism(s) in a sample. Those target organisms represented in the original sequence database and sufficient characteristic sequences can identify to the species or subspecies level. Oligonucleotide arrays of many probes are especially preferred. A hybridization signal can comprise fluorescence, chemiluminescence, or isotopic labeling, etc.; or sequences in a sample can be detected by direct means, e.g. mass spectrometry. The method's characteristic sequences can also be used to design specific PCR primers. The method uniquely identifies the phylogenetic affinity of an unknown organism without requiring prior knowledge of what is present in the sample. Even if the organism has not been previously encountered, the method still provides useful information about which phylogenetic tree bifurcation nodes encompass the organism. |
| US08214151B2 |
Methods of identifying high neutron capture cross section doped proppant in induced subterranean formation fractures
Methods are provided for determining the locations and heights of fractures in a subterranean formation using a neutron-emitting logging tool. Utilizing predetermined relationships (1) between logging tool count rates and associated apparent formation hydrogen index values and (2) between logging tool count rate ratios and associated apparent formation hydrogen index values, the methods detect the presence and heights in the formation of proppant containing high thermal neutron capture cross section material in a manner substantially eliminating proppant determination uncertainty resulting from a prior change in formation hydrogen index values. A second, associated, method employing logging tool count rates and count rate ratios to determine the presence of proppant containing high thermal neutron capture cross section absorbers utilizes a crossplot of count rate versus ratio. Logged intervals containing no proppant will fall on a trend/trendline on the crossplot, whereas logged intervals containing proppant will fall off from this trend/trendline. |
| US08214139B2 |
Position source selection
Techniques are described for position source selection. In an implementation, an electronic device provides a variety of functionality including at least functionality to determine position. The electronic device may be further configured to select between a plurality of position sources to determine position based upon a variety of selection criteria. In an implementation, a last known position may be stored when position is being determined through the plurality of position sources. The last known position may be used as an alternative to determining position via the position sources when one or more of the position sources are unavailable. In another implementation, the last known position may be employed to automatically select one of the plurality of position sources to be used by the electronic device for determining position. |
| US08214127B2 |
Torque based clutch fuel cut off
An engine control system comprises a clutch cut off enable module and a torque control module. The clutch cut off enable module generates an enable signal based on a clutch engagement signal and an accelerator pedal signal. The torque control module reduces a spark advance of an engine to a minimum value and disables fueling of cylinders of the engine based on the enable signal. The minimum value is a minimum allowed spark advance for current engine airflow. |
| US08214125B2 |
Apparatus for changing a vehicle speed setting of cruise control
A vehicle speed setting of cruise control is changed based on an operation by a driver. At this time, it is determined whether the vehicle is traveling in a passing lane or a traveling lane (S202). If the vehicle is traveling in a passing lane, the speed at which the vehicle speed setting is changed is increased (S206). If a blinker on the passing lane side of the vehicle is on (S205), the speed at which the vehicle speed setting is changed is also increased (S206) even if the vehicle is traveling in the traveling lane. |
| US08214121B2 |
Brake control interlock logic
A brake control circuit for determining if a brake command from a brake pedal is valid is provided. The brake control circuit includes at least two independent channels configured to receive data indicative of brake pedal deflection for the brake pedal, and logic circuitry operatively coupled to the at least two independent channels. The logic circuitry is configured to generate a valid brake flag when the respective channels receive data that are within a predetermined range of one another, and to generate an invalid brake flag when the respective channels receive data that are not within a predetermined range of one another. |
| US08214120B2 |
Method to manage a high voltage system in a hybrid powertrain system
A powertrain includes an electromechanical transmission operative to transmit torque between an input member and an electric machine and an output member to transmit tractive torque. The electric machine is electrically connected to an inverter device which is electrically connected to an energy storage device. A method for operating the powertrain includes detecting a shutdown event, commanding the transmission to neutral, commanding the electric machine to cease operating in a torque generating mode, and electrically disconnecting the energy storage device from the inverter device. |
| US08214115B2 |
System and method of changing engine performance curves to manage heat generation
A system and method for managing the heat produced by operation of an internal combustion system utilizes an electronic controller to control operation the engine that is coupled to a transmission. The transmission can include a high drive ratio and a low drive ratio. Stored in the controller are a plurality of different performance curves. When the transmission is in the low drive ratio, the controller selects a performance curve that comparatively increases the amount of torque and/or power the engine produces. When the transmission is in the high drive ratio, the controller selects a performance curve that comparatively reduces torque and/or power produced by the engine. Because the engine generates less heat when it produces less torque, the engine can accommodate additional emissions control devices and/or techniques that may otherwise adversely affect heat rejection. |
| US08214114B2 |
Control of engine torque for traction and stability control events for a hybrid powertrain system
An internal combustion engine is mechanically coupled to a hybrid transmission to transmit mechanical power to an output member. A method for controlling the internal combustion engine includes determining an accelerator output torque request based upon an operator input to the accelerator pedal, and determining an axle torque response type. A preferred input torque from the engine to the hybrid transmission is determined based upon the accelerator output torque request. An allowable range of input torque from the engine which can be reacted with the hybrid transmission is determined based upon the accelerator output torque request and the axle torque response type. The engine is controlled to meet the preferred input torque when the preferred input torque is within the allowable range of input torque from the engine. The engine is controlled within the allowable range of input torque from the engine when the preferred input torque is outside the allowable range of input torques from the engine. |
| US08214111B2 |
Adaptive machine control system and method
A machine control system and method includes an on-board GPS receiver, an on-board processor adapted to store a preplanned guide pattern and a guidance device. The processor includes a comparison function for comparing the vehicle GPS position with a line segment of the preplanned guide pattern. The processor controls the guidance device for guiding the vehicle along the line segment. Various guide pattern modification functions are programmed into the processor, including best-fit polynomial correction, spline correction, turn-flattening to accommodate minimum vehicle turning radii and automatic end-of-swath keyhole turning. |
| US08214110B2 |
Construction machine and method of controlling construction machine
The present invention provides a construction machine where overheating of mounted electric devices can be prevented properly with a simple structure and a method of controlling the construction machine. For this purpose, a pump target discharge flow rate of a hydraulic pump is calculated based on an operated amount of an operating unit, a temperature of an electric device mounted on the construction machine is detected, an engine minimum speed, which is a minimum possible speed of an engine in carrying out low-speed matching for matching output of the engine and pump absorbing horsepower of the hydraulic pump to each other in a low-speed region where speed of the engine is lower than set speed, is calculated by using the detected temperature of the electric device, and a maximum value out of a corresponding speed of the pump target discharge flow rate and the engine minimum speed is generated as a candidate for an engine target speed. |
| US08214108B2 |
Vehicle system and method for selectively coupled vehicles
A vehicle system and method includes a primary vehicle (PV) and an auxiliary vehicle (AV) selectively connectable to the primary vehicle. The PV and AV vehicles each having an ECU, a propulsion system a braking system, and a directional control system for steering at least one wheel thereon. The ECU of the PV and the ECU of the AV in communication with one another to form an interactive control system that control operation of the systems of the PV and the AV when connected to one another. The vehicle system also includes a docking system for connecting the AV and the PV. The docking system includes an automatic docking actuator that automatically connects the AV to the PV when actuated. Optionally, a remote control device communicates with the ECU of the AV for controlling the AV through the ECU of the AV when disconnected from the PV. |
| US08214106B2 |
Adaptive suspension control for a motor vehicle
A suspension control system for a motor vehicle having a chassis and wheels connected to the chassis by a suspension system the stiffness of which is variable under the control of the suspension control system comprises a controller adapted to modify autonomously the stiffness of the suspension system depending on a current state of motion of the vehicle. |
| US08214101B2 |
System and method for detecting machine movement and speed sensor failure
A method for indirectly detecting a movement of a machine and a failure of a speed sensor is disclosed. The method may include receiving an operator input signal, and determining a first factor based on the operator input signal. The method may also include measuring a machine operation parameter, and determining a second factor based on the machine operation parameter. The method may further include identifying a movement of the machine if the first factor is out of a first threshold range and the second factor is out of a second threshold range for at least a first threshold length of time. The method may also include determining a speed sensor failure if the movement of the machine is identified and no speed is detected by the speed sensor for at least a second threshold length of time. |
| US08214100B2 |
Internet-based system for monitoring vehicles
The invention provides a method for monitoring a vehicle that features the steps of: 1) generating a data packet including vehicle data retrieved from the vehicle using a wireless appliance; 2) transmitting the data packet over an airlink with the wireless appliance so that the data packet passes through a network and to a host computer system; 3) processing the data packet with the host computer system to generate a set of data; and 4) displaying the set of data on a web page hosted on the internet. |
| US08214095B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting engine firing in a hybrid powertrain system
A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system includes commanding engine operation to transition from an engine-off state to an engine-on state. A control scheme detects engine firing based upon input speed, input torque and a change in the input torque. |
| US08214088B2 |
Device for piloting a drone
The device (10) for piloting a drone (8) comprises a housing having a tilt detector (12) for detecting tilts of the housing, and a touchpad (16) displaying a plurality of touch zones (30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42). A self-contained stabilizer system to stabilizes the drone in hovering flight in the absence of any user commands. The device comprises a controller controlled by a touch zone (30) forming an activation/deactivation button to cause the drone piloting mode to switch in alternation between an activation mode in which the self-contained stabilizer system of the drone is activated, in which mode said piloting commands transmitted to the drone result from transforming signals delivered by the touch zones and a deactivation mode in which the self-contained stabilizer system of the drone is deactivated, in which mode the piloting commands transmitted to the drone result from transforming signals emitted by the tilt detector of the housing. |
| US08214087B2 |
Object specifying device for a vehicle
An object specifying device mounted in a controlled vehicle has a unit for tracking objects, existing in a monitoring area set along a running direction of the controlled vehicle, to detect the objects as forward objects, a unit for specifying one forward object running in the area as a forward vehicle, a unit for specifying each of other forward objects as a candidate for a control-based object when the forward object is placed in an inter-vehicle area between the controlled and forward vehicles, and a unit for specifying each candidate, tracked for a tracking period equal to or longer than a reference tracking period, as a control-based object and specifies each candidate, tracked for a tracking period shorter than the reference tracking period, as a non-control-based object. The controlled vehicle is controlled according to a movement of the control-based objects, regardless of a movement of the non-control-based objects. |
| US08214085B2 |
Ventilator control optimizer
A ventilator control optimizer allowing the control of a ventilator without the need for manual input. The ventilator control optimizer analyzes trends in indoor environmental conditions (dew point, relative humidity, etc.) and makes decisions based on these trends. The ventilator control optimizer is able to change ventilator fan speeds depending on the detected trends. This will prevent the ventilator from operating under conditions which might aggravate the humidity problem indoors. The ventilator control optimizer also allows auxiliary systems (dehumidifier, etc.) to be controlled automatically to deal with high humidity conditions. |
| US08214080B2 |
Method and device for the compensation of geometrical errors in machining machinery
A method to compensate geometrical errors in processing machines, in which a workpiece holder (8) is arranged such that it can be adjusted on the basis of measurement signals that have been received by being able to be rotated relative to a fixture (9) in the processing machine to which the workpiece holder is attached. A method for the alignment of a workpiece in processing machines, and an arrangement for the realization of the method are disclosed. The arrangement includes a workpiece holder (8), the angle of which relative to a fixture (9) in the processing machine to which the workpiece holder (8) is connected can be adjusted. |
| US08214078B1 |
Kiosk for dispensing items
A kiosk and a method for dispensing items therefrom. In various embodiments, the kiosk comprises a shelf system for holding items to be dispensed from the kiosk and a gripper capable of transporting items from the shelf system to a dispenser. The shelf system preferably comprises a series of parallel shelves, each shelf capable of holding one dispensable item. When not in operation, the shelves of the shelf system remain in an inclined position, thereby preventing the items situated thereon from falling off the shelves. To dispense an item, the shelves are rotated into a substantially horizontal position so the gripper may engage the selected item and transport the item to a dispenser. |
| US08214075B2 |
System and method for modelling a flight
A method of modelling a flight of an aircraft using at least one computer system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes: sourcing flight details from at least one data source using at least one data acquisition system, the flight details representative of the activity of the aircraft within a flight information region, and compiling a flight model from the flight details using a processing system, the flight model indicating the activity of the aircraft over the duration of the flight in two or more FIRs or for an entire flight undertaken in a single FIR. |
| US08214072B2 |
Apparatus for monitoring and securing danger zones on power-driven textile machines
In an apparatus for monitoring and securing danger zones on power-driven textile machines, in particular spinning room preparatory machines, having movable machine parts, an optical monitoring device monitors a movable danger zone to form a movable protection zone, such that a person and/or an object intruding into the danger zone triggers a switching operation. To produce an apparatus that allows guarding of danger zones in a simple and reliable manner, stationary monitoring device is present, which is selectively activatable and forms a dynamically movable protection zone around the movable danger zone. |
| US08214070B2 |
Method and device for controlling an actuator
In a method and a device for controlling an actuator, the first setpoint value for the position of the actuator is predefined. A change in the setpoint value for the control of the actuator to the first setpoint value is limited to a first setpoint value change limitation. For the reaching of the first setpoint value, a second setpoint value is predefined. A change in the setpoint value for the position of the actuator to the second setpoint value is limited to a second setpoint value change limitation. If the actual value of the change of the setpoint value to the first setpoint value using the first setpoint value change limitation would be greater than the change of the setpoint value to the second setpoint value using the second setpoint value change limitation, the first setpoint value is predefined for the setpoint value and the change in the setpoint value for the control of the actuator to the first setpoint value is limited according to the first setpoint value change limitation. |
| US08214069B2 |
Automated hierarchical configuration of custom products with complex geometries: method and apparatus
The present invention is a method and apparatus for automatically generating an optimal configuration of a product having a complex design, using logic implemented on a digital computer processing system. A general configuration for the product will be broken down into a hierarchy of subdesigns by a designer of an artifact type, such as a bus. A particular instance of the product type must satisfy a set of external parametric constraints specified by a user. These constraints may take the form of a range of values for some performance characteristic of the product. Constraints may also be imposed for other reasons, such as governmental regulations or business requirements. The hierarchical decomposition facilitates the solution of highly complex problems. Criteria for a best solution may be specified for a given subdesign, for a collection of subdesigns, or globally. The tentative selection of a particular subdesign may impose internally generated parametric constraints upon a subsequent subdesign solution. If no acceptable solution is found for a given subdesign, the candidate overall configuration is rolled back to the most complete viable partial collection of subdesigns. The method transforms the constraints into a concrete design. The method will ordinarily be executed on a digital computer, and the instructions to program the computer will be stored on tangible digital media. |
| US08214062B2 |
Plant control system and thermal power generation plant control system
The plant control system has a measurement signal data database, a model to estimate the value of measurement signal data used at a time when an operation signal is given to the plant, and an operation signal learning unit to learn a method of generating a model input, which is equivalent to an operation signal, so that a model output, which is equivalent to the measurement signal data, attains a target value. The plant control system also has an evaluation function calculating unit to calculate an evaluation function value from the model output obtained as a result of an operation carried out by the operation signal learning unit for the model, and an evaluation function adjusting unit to adjust evaluation function parameters used in calculation of an evaluation function. |
| US08214057B2 |
Surgically implantable electrodes
Paddle lead electrodes that are capable of performing peripheral nerve stimulation, thereby modulating, controlling and/or reducing neuropathic pain in a patient, that are also surgically implantable, and that will remain fixed in place at the site of implantation when in use are provided. More specifically, one or more embodiments of the electrodes are capable of being surgically implanted underneath a sheath of protective connective tissue that covers electrically excitable tissues and are adapted to electrically stimulate those tissues. Electrodes contemplated by some embodiments are particularly well suited for perineurial implantation. Some embodiments include methods of use associated with the electrodes. |
| US08214056B2 |
Nerve cuff, method and apparatus for manufacturing same
A nerve cuff comprising a wall band member having an inner surface defining a lumen when the wall band member is in a closed configuration for receiving a nerve therethrough. At least one longitudinal and contiguous conductor extends within the lumen. The conductor is insulated and has at least one exposed portion thereby providing an electrode. When mounting the nerve cuff to a nerve, each electrode is in electrical communication with the nerve. A multi-channel nerve cuff further comprises a plurality of longitudinal ridges formed on the inner surface with each adjacent pair of ridges defining a longitudinal chamber. Each chamber comprises a respective conductor extending therein. When mounting the multi-channel nerve cuff to the nerve, the ridges abut the nerve providing for each chamber to isolate respective longitudinal portions of the nerve. A method and an apparatus for manufacturing such nerve cuffs are also disclosed. |
| US08214055B2 |
Implantable pulse generator comprising MRI current limiting windings in header structure
In one embodiment, a pulse generator for generating electrical stimulation for delivery to a patient, comprises: a hermetically sealed housing containing pulse generating circuitry; a header coupled to the housing for receiving one or more stimulation leads, wherein feedthrough wires are provided to conduct electrical pulses from the pulse generating circuitry to the header; the header comprising a plurality of connectors for electrically connecting to each terminal of the one or more stimulation leads, wherein an inductive winding is disposed around or adjacent to each of the connector structures and is electrically connected between the respective connector structure and a corresponding feedthrough wire to limit MRI induced heating of a respective electrode of the one or more stimulation leads. |
| US08214052B2 |
Method of improved vein closure
There are disclosed methods of vein closure. In an embodiment, a method includes elevating a leg of a patient during a vein closure procedure so as to effect substantial emptying of the vein. The method also includes applying radio-frequency energy to a vein within the leg of the patient to cause the vein closure. In another embodiment, a method includes elevating a leg of a patient during a vein closure procedure within a range of about 30 degrees to about 45 degrees from a horizontal position. The method also includes applying radio-frequency energy to a vein within the leg of the patient. In one embodiment, a method includes elevating a leg, and emptying of a segment of the vein prior to applying radio-frequency energy. In another embodiment, the method includes elevating a leg of a patient, and applying energy to a vein. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08214049B2 |
Gastric stimulation systems and methods utilizing a transgastric probe
Gastric stimulation devices, systems and methods are provided, particularly for stimulating a gastric organ having an internal cavity. Such devices and systems are typically implanted outside of the gastric organ while the environment of the internal cavity is probed and monitored by one or more sensors. The sensor information may be used to affect the stimulation signals provided to the gastric organ by the devices and systems. Such feedback integration assists in providing treatments and stimulation programs that are tailored to the needs of the individual patient. |
| US08214047B2 |
Method of using spinal cord stimulation to treat gastrointestinal and/or eating disorders or conditions
The present invention involves a method and a system for using electrical stimulation to treat gastrointestinal and/or eating disorders. More particularly, the method comprises surgically implanting an electrical stimulation lead that is in communication with predetermined thoracic vertebral segments to cause spinal nervous tissue stimulation, thus treating a wide variety of gastrointestinal disorders. |
| US08214046B2 |
Pre-molded header with universal tip-to-tip feedthru adaptor
In fabricating a header assembly of an implantable medical device, one end of a bore contact wire attached to a connector block is keyed with one guiding channel at an upper region of a feedthru adapter and through the adapter to its undersurface. An opposite end is bent into conformance with an orientation channel on the adaptor undersurface. A tip end of a feedthru wire connected to electronic circuitry of the medical device and projecting out of a casing mounting surface is bent for alignment with the orientation channel so end portions of the feedthru wire and bore contact wire are in end to end engagement, then welded together. A plastic header is molded to encapsulate the adapter, connector block, and bore contact wire and, when solidified, has an undersurface for engagement on the casing and an elongated receptacle aligned with a connector block bore to receive the lead. |
| US08214044B2 |
Telemetry apparatus for communications with an active device implanted in a patient's thoracic region
Apparatus for telemetry equipment for communication with an active device implanted in the thoracic area of a patient This equipment includes a wave collector (16) essentially sensitive to a magnetic field so as to allow an exchange of signals through magnetic coupling (i.e., an inductive channel) with the implanted device (14). The wave collector is connected to an electronic circuit package (24) for transmission/reception and signal processing of acquired data and programming. The apparatus further comprises a cloth (10) in the form of a vest to be worn by and able to cover at least one part of the patient's anatomy, a support structure (18) for receiving and supporting the wave collector, and adjustable members able to fix the support structure at a chosen location of the cloth, for example, by means of hooking tapes (20) disposed on the support (18) and cooperating surface material on the cloth. Thus, after initial positioning of the wave collector in front of the area where the device is implanted, placement and maintaining of the wave collector will be fixed to that location each time the patient puts the cloth on. |
| US08214043B2 |
Control of a defibrillator and/or pacemaker
An electronic medical monitoring and treatment apparatus allows a person access to a medical professional (MP) who can monitor, diagnose and treat the person from a remote site. The apparatus includes a medical monitoring and treatment device (MMTD) coupled to an electronic adapter designed to communicate with a local, first transmitting/receiving (T/R) device which, in turn, is adapted to electronically communicate with a remote, second transmitting/receiving (T/R) device used by the MP. The MMTD may comprise a cardiac treatment circuit for effecting cardiac pacing and/or defibrillation and a cardiac signal circuit for receiving cardiac signals. The cardiac signals are (1) transmitted from the signal circuit to the second T/R device for evaluation by the MP, (2) the MP may transmit a control signal to the treatment circuit, and (3), in response thereto, the treatment circuit may generate one or more electrical pulses for treatment of the person. |
| US08214040B2 |
Intermittent stress augmentation pacing for cardioprotective effect
A device and method for delivering electrical stimulation to the heart in a manner which provides a protective effect is disclosed. The protective effect is produced by configuring a cardiac pacing device to intermittently switch from a normal operating mode to a stress augmentation mode in which the spatial pattern of depolarization is varied to thereby subject a particular region or regions of the ventricular myocardium to increased mechanical stress. |
| US08214038B2 |
Post-shock recovery monitoring for tachyarrhythmia discrimination
A cardiac rhythm management device is configured to discriminate between ventricular and supraventricular tachycardias (referred to as SVT/VT discrimination) by utilizing a morphology criterion in which the morphology of electrogram waveforms during ventricular beats are analyzed to determine if the beats are normally conducted. After the delivery of a cardioversion/defibrillation shock, however, the intraventricular conduction system is left in a modified state which alters the subsequently generated electrogram signal. Use of the morphology criterion for SVT/VT discrimination is discontinued after delivery of such a shock and resumed after a predetermined minimum number of normally conducted ventricular beats has been detected. |
| US08214036B2 |
Atrial capture test for an active implantable medical device
An active implantable medical device that is able to perform an atrial capture test. The device includes circuits for delivering atrial stimulation pulses, and testing atrial capture, namely to detect the occurrence of an atrial contraction after the application of an atrial stimulation pulse. An acceleration sensor is used to deliver an EA signal representative of the movements produced by the contractions of the atrial cavity. The EA signal is analyzed to recognize and isolate in this EA signal a component EA4 corresponding to the fourth endocardiac acceleration peak (PEA4) associated with the atrial activity. The presence or absence of this component EA4 is used to define the atrial capture or loss of capture. The signal analysis preferably quantifies an EA parameter (T, T+D), such as the energy of the EA signal within analysis time windows, each having duration D, of successive analysis (W1 . . . Wn) triggered after the atrial stimulation (P) and ending before a ventricular detection or stimulation. |
| US08214033B2 |
Interferential cardiac preconditioning and depolarization
Exemplary systems, devices, and methods pertaining to cardiac related therapy and particularly to interferential cardiac preconditioning and depolarization are described. A cardiac arrhythmia is detected from electrogram data sensed from a patient's heart and a region of the heart affected by the cardiac arrhythmia is determined. The affected region is interferentially energized by multiple cycles of two concurrently delivered alternating currents which are offset in frequency. |
| US08214028B2 |
Electrocardiogram analysis and parameter estimation
A system, method and memory medium for operating on an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. A multiscale short-time Fourier transform (STFT) is performed on a set of ECG samples {s(n)} to obtain a transform array. For each sufficiently energetic peak in the transform array, a refined window width value and a refined window displacement value is generated by: computing an inner product between the set of samples and each of a plurality of functions, where the plurality of functions are sufficiently close to a coarse approximation function given by the peak location; and solving a linear system Av=c for the unknown vector v, where the vector c is determined by the inner products, where the matrix A is determined by the center times of the plurality of functions. After appropriate selection, the refined window width and refined window displacement may be used to represent ECG waveform features. |
| US08214022B2 |
Hysterography and intrauterine venography catheter
A single device is provided for performing hysterography and intrauterine venography having a marker that aids in positioning the device within the patient, having a bulb-tip to seal the cervix, having a bulb-tip opening to allow an image enhancing medium to be discharged from a needle and injected into the uterus to perform the hysterography, having a needle to discharge and inject an image enhancing medium into the fundal myometrium to perform the intrauterine venography, and having a needle securing mechanism to secure the needle to prevent patient injury during transcervical introduction of the device. |
| US08214021B2 |
Medical imaging system and method containing ultrasound docking port
An ultrasound medical imaging system and non-ultrasound medical imaging system are combined and communicate via a suitable docking port, which is supported by the non-ultrasound medical imaging system and configured to receive the ultrasound medical imaging system. The systems can communicate directly, indirectly, and/or wirelessly. Each can also be configured for cross-imaging in the other modality, displaying medical imagery from the other modality on respective and/or combined displays, and/or control by a user interface of the other and/or a common user interface. Registry between patient imagery is possible, and improved workflow is provided. |
| US08214019B2 |
Robotically guided catheter
Apparatus is provided for use with a steerable catheter that includes a thumb control adapted to control a deflection of a distal tip of the catheter. The apparatus includes a robot, including an end-effector, adapted to be coupled to the thumb control, and a controller, adapted to drive the end-effector to deflect the distal tip by manipulating the thumb control. |
| US08214014B2 |
System and methods for improved access to vertebral bodies for kyphoplasty, vertebroplasty, vertebral body biopsy or screw placement
A method of determining the size and/or placement of screws or other instruments in pedicles during surgery in a selected spinal area, comprising generating a dimensionally true three-dimensional image of the bony spine in the selected spinal area; hollowing out the vertebra in the three-dimensional image with cortical wall thicknesses selected by a surgeon performing the surgery; determining the narrowest cross section (isthmus) within each pedicle; generating a straight line starting at the center of the isthmus and extending inwardly to a point centered within the anterior cortex so that it is positioned concentrically within the pedicle without touching the walls thereof, the line terminating inside the vertebral body a predetermined distance from the anterior inner cortical wall and extending outwardly in the opposite direction to penetrate the posterior pedicle cortex; expanding the line concentrically and radially to a cross sectional size that is less than that of the isthmus, the line being expanded into a cylinder that stops growing when any portion thereof contacts the inner cortical wall of the hollowed out vertebral body, with the exception of the posterior pedicle cortex; and calculating the ideal pedicle screw or instrument diameter, length and/or trajectory based on the dimensions and trajectory of the cylinder generated for each pedicle. Also, a new and improved method for providing access to the interior of a pedicle for a desired transpedicular procedure, and a new and improved pedicle cannula construction are disclosed herein. |
| US08214013B2 |
Accelerated shells trajectory MRI acquisition
A method for prescribing a scan on an MRI system includes selecting a general pulse sequence to be used during a time-resolved imaging process of a subject using an MRI system. The method also includes setting a first set of scan parameters to more specifically prescribe the general pulse sequence and setting a second set of scan parameters using a formula that relates time resolution and spatial resolution resulting from the first set of scan parameters. The method then includes performing the time-resolved imaging process using the general pulse sequence, the first set of scan parameters, and the second set of scan parameters. |
| US08214011B2 |
System and method for remodeling prediction using ultrasound
A system and method for remodeling prediction using ultrasound are provided. The method includes obtaining ultrasound information relating to a heart and determining a likelihood of myocardial remodeling of the heart based on the ultrasound information. |
| US08214009B2 |
Electrode for living body and device for detecting living signal
A biosignal measurement device includes an electrode and a signal processing member. The electrode includes an insulation sheet having a hole, a device contact portion provided on the top surface of the insulation sheet and a body contact portion provided on the bottom surface of the insulation sheet, the device contact portion and the body contact portion electrically connected to each other via the hole. The signal processing member includes an externally exposed terminal to make surface contact with the device contact portion, an analog signal processing unit, an A/D signal converter and a digital signal processing unit. Also, the device contact portion and the body contact portion are formed of a material which is both conductive and adhesive. Accordingly, the signal processing member may be directly attached. Noise may be reduced. Also, a biosignal may be accurately measured. |
| US08214008B2 |
Textile-based electrode
Textile-based electrodes include a fabric portion having stretch-recovery non-conductive yarns and an electrically conductive region having stretch-recovery electrically conductive yarn filaments. The electrodes can further include float yarns and can be configured in a textured or ribbed construction. When incorporated into a garment, the electrodes can be used to monitor biophysical characteristics, such as the garment wearer's heart rate. In addition, two garments with textile based electrodes are disclosed. First, a wrist band for use with a cardiac patient remote monitoring system includes two fabric layers with integral textile-based electrodes. The skin contacting surface of the band includes a conductive region formed as a continuous ring or stripe. A connector links the conductive region to a lead to a device. Second, an infant garment includes textile based electrodes at the torso region and optionally at other regions in order to monitor the infant's biophysical characteristics as the garment is worn. |
| US08214004B2 |
Driver information system
A driver information system comprises an operating device 10 having at least two operational control units 20 and a holding unit 12 for the operational control units 20. A control device 62 for validating control signals delivered by the operational control units 20 is also provided. The operational control units 20 are freely arrangeable within the holding device 12. |
| US08214003B2 |
RF radiation redirection away from portable communication device user
A case for a wireless device includes a number of RF coupling elements mounted in the case and configured such that RF radiation is coupled from an internal antenna of the wireless device out of the device to a first RF coupling element, and from the first RF coupling element to a RF redirector coupling element that redirects the RF radiation in a direction outward from said wireless device that is opposite to a user side of the wireless device. A corrugated metallic shield is optionally provided on an opposite side of the case, facing a user of the device. |
| US08214000B2 |
Locking device for internal battery pack cover of mobile phone
Provided is a locking device for an internal battery pack cover of a mobile phone, which is mounted on a lower case frame of a main body of the mobile phone, and which includes a locking member formed on the lower case frame; and a locking module coupled to the cover and rotating around a hinge axis with a sliding movement of a button unit to be mounted within or released from the lock member, thereby causing the cover to be coupled to or detached from the main body. |
| US08213999B2 |
Controlling method and system for handheld communication device and recording medium using the same
A controlling method and a controlling system for a handheld communication device are provided. In the present method, a tilting state of the handheld communication device is detected by using a G-sensor when a notice is activated. Then, whether the tilting state is changed from a face up state to a face down state is determined. The handheld communication device is controlled to perform a function when the tilting state is confirmed to be changed from the face up state to the face down state. Accordingly, the handheld communication device may be controlled to perform a function timely according to the positioned state of the device without going through complicated procedures, so as to provide a more intuitive and convenient way to control the handheld communication device. |
| US08213991B2 |
Mobile terminal, associated storage devices and methods of using the same
A mobile terminal and its associated storage devices and various methods of controlling and using them are discussed. According to an embodiment, a method for launching an application for a mobile terminal, includes receiving, by a first storage device connected to the mobile terminal, information on a second storage device after the second storage device is connected to the mobile terminal; and accessing, by the first storage device, a content stored in the second storage device based on at least the received information on the second storage device. |
| US08213985B2 |
Mobile communication terminal supporting TTY device for hard-of-hearing or speech-disabled person and communication method thereof
A mobile communication terminal supporting a teletypewriter (TTY) device for a hard-of-hearing or speech-disabled user is provided. The mobile communication terminal includes: a controller activating a vocoder corresponding to a TTY mode selected by a user; a vocoder encoding a Baudot tone received from the TTY device into a voice data packet based on the selected TTY mode; a TTY mode processor including TTY mode information selected by a user in part of the voice data packet; and an RF transmitter transmitting an encoded voice data packet including the TTY mode information. |
| US08213980B2 |
Method and system for controlling transmission power of a downlink signaling channel based on enhanced uplink transmission failure statistics
A method and system for controlling the transmission power of at least one downlink (DL) enhanced uplink (EU) signaling channel such that enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) DL signaling is delivered efficiently and reliably. The system includes at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), at least one Node-B and a radio network controller (RNC). At least one of the WTRU and the Node-B compute EU transmission failure statistics on the DL EU signaling channel and report the EU transmission failure statistics to the RNC. The RNC then adjusts a transmission power offset of the DL EU signaling channel to be used in determining transmission power level of the DL EU signaling channel at the Node-B based on the EU transmission failure statistics. |
| US08213979B1 |
Method and system for forward link and/or reverse link power control
Methods and systems for adjusting a transmit power of a forward link or reverse link signal make use of variable adjustment parameters. The wireless signal is received to obtain a received signal. An observed signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and an observed frame error rate (FER) for the received signal are determined. In an outer loop process, an adjustment increment is selected based on how much the observed FER differs from the target FER, and the target SNR is adjusted by the adjustment increment. In an inner loop process, a power adjustment command is selected based on a comparison between the observed SNR and a target SNR. The power adjustment command instructs the transmitter of the wireless signal to either increase or decrease the transmit power of the wireless signal. The power adjustment increment may also depend on the observed FER. |
| US08213978B1 |
Estimating mobile local propagation environment characteristics for wireless communications
Characterization and enhancement of a mobile local scattering environment. The system includes a channel component and a link control component, wherein the channel component facilitates communication of a ping signal, which is used to estimate the delay spread characteristics and/or angle of arrival in order to characterize the mobile local scattering environment. This information is sent to the link control component, which enhances radio link performance based on the received information. The system can be used to assist in E-911 location applications, such as determining the location of an indoor user. |
| US08213974B2 |
System and method for sequencing radio items for a multi downlink multi carrier receiver
A system and method are provided for sequencing radio events in a mobile device with a multi downlink multi carrier receiver. In the mobile device, there is a processor in communication with a timing control unit (TCU), whereby the TCU is in communication with two or more radios. The processor collects one or more radio events corresponding to the two or more radios and then sorts the radio events from highest priority to lowest priority to form a sorted list. The processor then loads the sorted list, beginning with a highest priority radio event, onto the TCU. |
| US08213972B2 |
Mobile advertising packages for displaying advertisement display messages on personal cellular telecommunications devices
Mobile advertising packages offered for sale on personal cellular telecommunications devices for displaying advertisement display messages on personal cellular telecommunications devices. Mobile advertising packages specify the contents of advertisement display messages, and their transmission details including inter alia geographical area, number of exposures, schedule. |
| US08213970B2 |
Method of utilizing forced alerts for interactive remote communications
The system and method having a specialized software application on a personal computer or a PDA/cell phone that that enables a participant to force an automatic acknowledgement and a manual response to a text or voice message from other participants within the same network. Each participant's PDA/cell phone includes a force message alert software application program for both creating and processing these forced message alerts. The system and method enabled by the force message alert software application program provides the ability to (a) allow an operator to create and transmit a forced message alert from a sender PDA/cell phone to one or more recipient PCs and PDA/cell phones within the communication network; (b) automatically transmit an acknowledgement of receipt to the sender PDA cell phone upon the receipt of the forced message alert; (c) periodically resend the message to the recipient PCs and PDA/cell phones that have not sent an acknowledgement; (d) provide an indication of which recipient PCs and PDA/cell phones have acknowledged the forced message alert; (e) provide a manual response list on the display of the recipient PC and PDA/cell phone's display that can only be cleared by manually transmitting a response; and (f) provide an indication on the sender PDA/cell phone of the status and content the manual responses. |
| US08213969B2 |
Mobile terminal for chatting by using SMS and method thereof
The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal that supports a text chatting function by using a short message service, and a text chatting service method. For this purpose, the present invention provides a mobile communication terminal including a program memory, a data storage unit, a key input unit, a display, and a microprocessor. The program memory stores a text chatting program for the text chatting service and a program that performs additional functions executed in the text chatting service. The data storage unit stores a text chatting message transmitted/received through the text chatting service. The key input unit includes a key button for generating the text chatting message. The display displays the transmitted/received text chatting message on a chatting window. The microprocessor executes the text chatting program and performs a control function to display text chatting messages communicated with a mobile communication terminal of a chatting contact on the chatting window. Herein, the text chatting message is transmitted/received by using a short message service. According to the present invention, a text chatting service using a short message service can be realized by simply changing a user interface of the mobile communication terminal so that a user can check a transmitted/received short message through one screen window, and provide a cost reduction by using a less expensive short message service than a data charge. |
| US08213965B2 |
Method of paging in a wireless communication system
A method of paging in a wireless communication system is disclosed. In the method, a base station generates a paging advertisement message that includes a paging group ID bitmap indicating whether there are any mobile stations that perform paging for each of paging groups that include the base station, and transmits the paging advertisement message to the mobile stations. |
| US08213964B2 |
Communication system and method for mobile and stationary devices
A communication system for mobile and stationary devices has at least one transmitter/receiver unit provided for the mobile and stationary devices and covering a defined transmission/reception range, and is formed so that at least partial overlap of the transmission/reception ranges of the mobile and/or stationary devices results in accidental communication between the mobile and/or stationary devices, and this accidental communication changes to a targeted communication. |
| US08213963B2 |
Network based location measurement method and system using pCELL database
The present invention provides a network-based location measurement method using a pCELL database, comprising the steps of establishing a pCELL database in which a location measurement service target area is divided into lattices each having a predetermined size; continuously determining whether a request for location measurement occurs by a service subscriber; and, when the request for location measurement is generated, comparing fundamental information received from a mobile terminal with the pCELL database, determining a matching pCELL, and reporting the pCELL to the service requester. Furthermore, the present invention is constructed to periodically update a initially established pCELL database using the results of A-GPS-based location measurement and reflect variation in BTSs within a mobile communication network to the pCELL database, thereby always maintaining the optimal database. The present invention contributes to the activation of location-based services by resolving problems related to stability of location measurement due to relays, and the degrading of accuracy of location measurement in a network-based location measurement method in a mobile communication system. Furthermore, the present invention improves the service usage rate of indoor subscribers, occupying about 70% of overall location measurement attempts and service quality and minimizes the need for human and physical resources upon initial commercialization and optimization by resolving the problem due to the considerable amount of human and physical resources required upon initial commercialization and optimization. Therefore, it is possible to replace A-GPS-based location measurement with relatively small costs. |
| US08213962B2 |
Vehicle computer link to mobile phone
A method is implemented by a mobile device associated with a short-range wireless network in a vehicle. The method includes identifying a paired device within the short-range wireless network, the paired device having access to a vehicle information system, and receiving, from the paired device, vehicle status information from the vehicle information system. The mobile device determines if the vehicle status information triggers a safety mode for the mobile device and disables particular features or components of the mobile device based on the determination. |
| US08213958B2 |
Electronic device and method for managing call records
An electronic device and a method for managing call records includes presetting a virtual icon corresponding to each call types; obtaining current position information of the electronic device from the GPS when a call is established and generating a call record when the call is finished. The electronic device and method for managing call records further include determining the call type of the call from the call record, and finding the location on a map of the electronic device according the recorded position information, and marking the corresponding virtual icon at the location on the map. |
| US08213955B2 |
Network measurement report caching for location of mobile devices
A system and method for determining an approximate location of a mobile device. The occurrence of a predetermined event may be determined at a first node of a network. Measurement data associated with the mobile device may be stored at a second node of the network. An attempt may be made to determine a location of the mobile device using a first location methodology. Upon failure of the location attempt, the mobile device data may be received at a third node of the network from the second node. At the third node an approximate location of the mobile device may be determined using the mobile device data. |
| US08213949B1 |
Adjustable modulation for overhead information in wireless communication networks
What is claimed is a method of transferring overhead information in a wireless communication system, where the overhead information is encoded with a first modulation scheme, and where the overhead information is wirelessly transferred to a plurality of wireless communication devices in communication with the wireless communication system. The method includes receiving signal quality information from each of the plurality of wireless communication devices, processing the signal quality information to determine a second modulation scheme for the overhead information, where the second modulation scheme is determined to allow the overhead information to be decoded by each of the plurality of wireless communication devices, and the second modulation scheme is of a higher order of modulation than the first modulation scheme. The method also includes transferring an indicator of the second modulation scheme to the plurality of wireless communication devices, and transferring the overhead information to the plurality of wireless communication devices encoded with the second modulation scheme. |
| US08213943B2 |
Constrained hopping of DL reference signals
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate employing constrained frequency hopping of downlink reference signals. Constrained frequency hopping of reference signals provides a sufficiently large set of frequency hopping patterns while enhancing channel estimation. Respective subsets of resource elements can be selected to carry reference signals from a plurality of antennas for a first subframe of a sequence. Further, respective subsets of resource elements used to carry reference signals from the plurality of antennas for a second subframe can be constrained based upon the respective subsets for the first subframe. Moreover, the first subframe frame and the second subframe (and similarly any additional subframes in the sequence) can be transmitted. An access terminal receiving the sequence of subframes can combine reference signals sent from common antennas at common frequency locations in the plurality of subframes and perform channel estimation as a function of the combined reference signals. |
| US08213940B2 |
Mobile communication method and mobile station
The present invention relates to a mobile communication method in which a mobile station performs a handover from a handover source radio base station to a handover target radio base station. The mobile communication method includes the steps of: (A) acquiring, at the handover target radio base station, from the handover source radio base station or a switching center, a key for calculating a first key for generating a certain key used in a communication between the handover target radio base station and the mobile station; and (B) acquiring, at the handover target radio base station, from the switching center, a second key for calculating a first key for generating a certain key used in a communication between a next handover target radio base station and the mobile station. |
| US08213935B2 |
Creating a globally unique identifier of a subscriber device
To register a mobile device located in a first network with a packet-switched services network, a registration request is received from an aggregation device in the first network. The registration request contains an identifier of the aggregation device and identification information of the mobile device, where the identification information is previously unknown to the packet-switched services network. A globally unique identifier of the mobile device is dynamically created based on the identifier of the aggregation device and the identification information of the mobile device, wherein the globally unique identifier is used for uniquely identifying the mobile device in the packet-switched services network. |
| US08213934B2 |
Automatic selection of a home agent
The claimed subject matter relates to assigning a home agent to a wireless terminal during authentication, authorization, and/or accounting with respect to the wireless terminal. The wireless terminal can provide identifying indicia which can be relayed to a AAA server by way of a base station. The AAA server can then determine one or more home agents that can be associated with the wireless terminal. If more than one home agent can be assigned to the wireless terminal, the base station can resolve which home agent to utilize during registration of the wireless terminal. Such determination can be important with respect to MVNOs. |
| US08213933B2 |
Wireless communication between a base station and a mobile device
System and method for wirelessly communicating between a base station and a mobile device. The base station wirelessly sends a first one or more overhead messages to the mobile device. The first one or more overhead messages may include at least one parameter. The mobile device may wirelessly receive the first one or more overhead messages from the base station, including the at least one parameter. The base station may wirelessly send a second one or more messages to the mobile device according to a schedule based on the at least one parameter. The mobile device may wirelessly receive the second one or more messages according to the schedule based on the at least one parameter. The mobile device may schedule a sleep cycle based on the at least one parameter, which may reduce battery consumption in the mobile device. The second one or more messages may be sent less frequently than the first one or more overhead messages. |
| US08213932B2 |
Apparatus and method for differentiating services in multimedia networks to roaming subscribers
A mechanism enabling users roaming in a visited network to specify whether they prefer to dial numbers belonging to their home network in local format or in international format from the visited network. Restrictions based on the type of call, and the geographic locations and preferences of the users involved in the call, are correspondingly applied. Information about the location of the user, taking into account the access location and user preferences, is sent from a home subscriber server to a serving call session control function entity, both in the home network of the user. |
| US08213927B2 |
Mobile phone with maximum output power calibration
A mobile phone utilizes a radio frequency (RF) chip transceiving RF signals via a front end circuit. A power detector detects power output from a power amplifier and converts the power to voltage to transmit to a central processing unit (CPU). A base station tester measures output power of the mobile phone and transmits to the CPU in a test mode. A microwave chamber measures power radiated by the antenna in an operation mode. A high voltage circuit provides a high voltage signal continuously. A detection circuit detects a connection status of the base station tester and the testing connector and outputs the high voltage signal to the CPU according to the connection status. The CPU determines an operating mode of the mobile phone based on output of the detection circuit, and outputs a maximum output power according to the test mode and operation mode maximum output power calibration tables. |
| US08213921B2 |
Server for sending new application portions to mobile wireless communications devices and related methods
A communications system is to communicate with an application server storing a plurality of applications. The communications system includes a mobile wireless communications device configured to store at least one application from among the plurality of applications, the at least one application having stored version information associated therewith. An intermediate server is configured to update the mobile wireless communications device by at least obtaining respective current version information for associated current versions of the plurality of applications and obtaining the stored application version information from the mobile wireless communications device for the at least one stored application. The stored application version information is compared with the current version information for the at least one stored application. New application portions are downloaded from a current application associated with the current version information, and the new application portions are sent to the mobile wireless communications device. |
| US08213913B2 |
Providing location based services for mobile devices
Systems and methods are provided that allow the delivery of location based services within a communication network. The location information can be retrieved using information from the mobile node when the mobile node registers in the network. The location information can then be cached or stored in one or more places in the communication network and correlated with the mobile node's addressing information. If a request for location based services is received without location based information, the gateway can use location based information regarding the mobile node to provide location based services. The gateway can enable non IMS mobile nodes to obtain IMS location based services or incompatible mobile nodes to obtain location based services. |
| US08213912B2 |
Mobile system for providing personalized information
An information system includes a server that creates an information reservoir with data units for a user of a mobile communication device based on a unique user profile of the user of the mobile communication device. The server creates the unique user profile based on interaction of the user with the mobile communication device or with another computing system. The server transfers the information reservoir to the mobile communication device and each time the user requests data from a web site, the server scans it to find key terms. If the server finds key term(s) in the data, it uses a tagging rule to mark the key term(s) and, then, it transfers the data with the marked term(s) to the mobile communication device. The user may, then, select a marked key term to call/display a data unit that is locally stored on the mobile communication device. The server may also mark terms in data units and a data unit stored on the mobile communication device may be called using a key term that is marked in another data unit. |
| US08213909B2 |
Method and apparatus for sending voice message in mobile network
To use the supplementary services of a conventional mobile communication service, such as Short Message Service (SMS) and Voice Mail System (VMS) service, there are problems in that an access method to each service must be known and several steps must be undergone. The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for sending voice messages in a mobile communication network and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus that gain access to the service providing page of the wireless Internet in such a way as to input the telephone number of a counterpart and a wireless Internet access key, and send a voice message to the counterpart. |
| US08213902B2 |
Smart card accessible over a personal area network
Some embodiments of a smart card accessible over a personal area network have been presented. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a wireless transceiver to communicatively couple to a personal area network (PAN) to receive an authentication request via the PAN from a device. The device may include a computer. The apparatus further includes a storage device to store a digital certificate that uniquely identifies a user. An authentication module in the apparatus may authenticate the user in response to an authentication request from the device using the digital certificate, wherein the user is allowed to access the computer upon authentication. |
| US08213901B2 |
Subscriber identities
There is disclosed a method for verifying a first identity and a second identity of an entity, said method comprising: receiving a first and second identity of said entity at a checking entity; sending information relating to at least one of the first and second identities to a home subscriber entity; and verifying that said first and second identities both belong to the entity from which said first and second identities have been received. |
| US08213895B2 |
Multi-wideband communications over multiple mediums within a network
A powerline communications device comprises a powerline communications interface and at least one other communications interface configured to communicate over a computing network. The powerline communications interface is further configured to receive electrical power. The computing network may comprise mediums including powerlines, telephone lines, and/or coaxial cables. In some embodiments, the powerline communications interface may communicate with a network apparatus, such as a personal computer, via an Ethernet interface. The powerline interface, the telephone line interface, and/or the coaxial cable interface may all be associated with the same media access control (MAC) address. The powerline communications device may receive a message via a first medium and repeat the message via a second medium based on a quality of service (QoS) metric. In some embodiments, the powerline communications device may communicate using multiple frequency bands. |
| US08213894B2 |
Integrated circuit passive signal distribution
For one disclosed embodiment, an integrated circuit may comprise an internal transmission line in one or more layers of the integrated circuit. The internal transmission line may be coupled to receive a signal from an external transmission line at a first end of the internal transmission line without use of termination circuitry. The internal transmission line may transmit the signal passively to a second end of the internal transmission line. The integrated circuit may also comprise first circuitry having an input coupled to the internal transmission line at a first location of the internal transmission line to receive the signal and second circuitry having an input coupled to the internal transmission line at a second location of the internal transmission line to receive the signal. The second location may be different from the first location. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08213893B2 |
Mixer arrangement
A quadrature connected passive mixer arrangement for frequency converting analog signals from a first to a second frequency. The arrangement comprises two parallel connected mixers provided as transistors. First and second LO signals and their inverse signals having separated phases are provided for driving the transistors. Signal path switches are provided between the RF terminals and the mixer transistors. The switches are driven by signals having a different phase than the signal driving the corresponding mixer transistor. Thus, any short circuit between IF terminals of the arrangement may be eliminated. |
| US08213887B2 |
Pre-distorting a transmitted signal for offset cancellation
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a pre-driver to receive data of a first clock phase and to pre-drive the data, a driver coupled to the pre-driver to drive the data onto a link operable to be coupled to a receiver, and an offset driver to drive an offset value associated with the first clock phase onto the link with the data. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08213885B2 |
Impedance measurement in an active radio frequency transmitter
A transmitter and method for determining impedance measurement in an active radio frequency transmitter of an antenna are provided. Voltage and current samples are obtained from a modulating signal delivered to an antenna. The voltage and current samples are converted from analog to digital format, and decimation occurs to reduce the number of samples. Complex demodulation is performed of each of the voltage and current samples to baseband levels and decimation of the voltage and current samples is performed to reduce the number of samples. An impedance estimate can then be estimated from the voltage and current samples. |
| US08213884B2 |
Baseband-derived RF digital predistortion
A baseband-derived RF predistortion system using a lookup table having coefficients extracted at baseband and then applied at RF by means of a vector modulator. The architecture combines the narrowband advantage of envelope predistortion with the accuracy of baseband predistortion, and including compensation for memory effects. A polynomial-based alternative is also described. |
| US08213883B1 |
Additive pre-distortion for linearization
In one embodiment, a signal processor for linearizing a non-linear circuit through pre-distortion of an input signal is provided that includes: a first coupler for extracting a version of the input signal, wherein a remaining portion of the input signal not extracted by the first coupler is provided to a first node; a mixer for multiplying the extracted version of the input signal with a pre-distortion signal to produce an additive signal, the pre-distortion signal having a relatively small or zero constant component such that the additive signal includes either no linear version of the input signal or a linear version of the input signal that has a lower power than the remaining portion of the input signal; and a second coupler to add the additive signal to the remaining portion of the input signal at the first node to form a pre-distorted input signal, whereby if the non-linear circuit processes the pre-distorted input signal to form an output signal, the output signal is a substantially linear function of the input signal. |
| US08213882B2 |
Voltage converting circuit and radio communication apparatus
A common resistor is connected to load impedances that convert differential currents respectively generated by current sources into differential voltages. A constant current generated by the current sources is supplied to the common resistor to cause the common resistor to generate an in-phase current and set a common potential. |
| US08213879B2 |
Radio-frequency signal reception and/or transmission device with noise reduction
The radio-frequency signal reception and/or transmission device includes an antenna (8) for picking up or transmitting radio-frequency signals, a bandpass filter (9), at least one low noise amplifier (11) for amplifying the filtered signals, an oscillator stage (1) for generating first high frequency signals (SVCO), at least one frequency divider (14) for dividing by M the frequency of the first signals in order to generate second high frequency signals (SD), where M is an integer number greater than 1, at least a first mixer unit (12) for mixing the filtered and amplified radio-frequency signals (SR) with the first high frequency signals (SVCO), and at least a second mixer unit (13) for mixing the intermediate signals supplied by the first mixer unit with the second high frequency signals in order to produce baseband signals (IR, QR). The stage oscillator (1) is configured to generate first high frequency signals (SVCO), whose frequency is outside the frequency band of the bandpass filter and higher than the frequency of the received radio-frequency signals by a factor M/N comprised between 1 and 2, where N is an integer number greater than 1. |
| US08213875B1 |
Learning and adaptive communication services
A mobile communication device is provided. The mobile communication device comprises a touch screen adapted for receiving touch inputs and for presenting a visual display, a processor coupled to the touch screen, and an application. The application, when executed by the processor, analyzes a plurality of inputs to the mobile communication device to infer a behavior pattern and presents a sequence of teachings about how to use selected features of the mobile communication device on the touch screen, the selected features distinct from the inputs and selected based on the inferred behavior pattern. |
| US08213871B1 |
Data management tool
A data management tool is provided. The tool comprises a first processor, a server application that, when executed on the first processor, manages allocation of equipment serial numbers (ESNs) used in executing test cases related to mobile devices, aggregates test progress data in a defect board, maintains a test chat forum, and sends a notification of a defect when the defect is reported to the server application, a second processor, and a thick client that, when executed on the second processor, receives the notification of the defect, participates in the test chat forum and requests one of the equipment serial numbers from the server application. |
| US08213870B2 |
Beamforming using predefined spatial mapping matrices
Systems and methods for transmitting packets to a receiver. In an implementation, the method includes storing, in a memory, a plurality of predefined spatial mapping matrices for use in a transmission of one or more packets to a receiver; sequentially transmitting one or more packets to the receiver, in which each of the sequential transmissions of one or more packets comprises using a different one of the plurality of predefined spatial mapping matrices stored in the memory; and selecting one of the plurality of predefined spatial mapping matrices stored in the memory for use in a subsequent transmission of one or more packets to the receiver, in which the selection of the one of the plurality of predefined spatial mapping matrices for use in the subsequent transmission is based on a quality of reception of the one or more data packets transmitted in each of the sequential transmissions. |
| US08213862B2 |
Headset charge via short-range RF communication
Embodiments of the present invention enable energy transfer via short-range RF communication between a main device and an associated device, thereby allowing the main device to energy charge the associated device. Accordingly, the need for a separate charger for the associated device can be eliminated. Embodiments of the present invention are suitable for applications in which the main device and the associated device operate in close proximity to each other. Further, embodiments of the present invention are suitable for applications in which the associated device is more energy-constrained than the main device. According to embodiments, energy transfer applications can be supported using near field communication (NFC). In an embodiment, energy transfer via NFC is enabled between a Bluetooth enabled cellular phone and a Bluetooth headset. In another embodiment, energy transfer via NFC is enabled between a Bluetooth enabled digital camera and a Bluetooth enabled digital frame. |
| US08213861B2 |
Method of vehicle to vehicle communication
A method of communicating information that has been formatted for Internet publication from a principal vehicle using short range wireless communication components to communicate with a second vehicle. The method includes storing a web page (blog, social networking page, etc.) or other information formatted for Internet publication in the principal vehicle. An introductory signal is transmitted to the second vehicle. A communication link is established between the principal vehicle and the second vehicle using the respective short range wireless communication components. The second vehicle is then queried for authorization to transmit the information and, if given, the information is then transmitted to the second vehicle via the communications link. User-selected categories can be used to identify common interests between users of the two vehicles. The method can be used to share user information with other potentially interested drivers to facilitate human interactions and relationships. |
| US08213858B2 |
Wireless display system and method thereof
A wireless display system is disclosed comprising a host-side data communication apparatus connected to a host and configured to acquire media data containing at least display data from the hardware of the host, generate data message and transfer the data message wirelessly, and a display-device side data communication apparatus configured to receive the data message transferred wirelessly, interpret it into media data and then output to a display device. With the system of the present invention, CPU does not need to execute a screen-capturing program to acquire display information from a display memory unit and thus has a reduced work load, and transmission delay can also be reduced. |
| US08213853B2 |
Printer system and method for recovery from a document assembly failure
A system and method are provided for recovering from print assembly failure in a printer with printed medium assembly capabilities. The method generates a first print set including a plurality of physical medium sheets, and stores the first print set of a first interim stacker. A second print set is generated including a plurality of physical medium sheets. Sheets are accessed sheets from the first interim stacker and assembled with sheets from the second print set, generating a final print set with a plurality of sheets in a first order. The final print set is stored in an output stacker. In the event of a first print set failure, first print set replacement sheets are generating. In one aspect, generating the final print set includes directly merging first print set replacement sheets (bypassing the interim stacker) with sheets from the second print set. |