| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08226044B2 |
Device for reducing aerodynamic drag of a vehicale
A device for reducing the aerodynamic drag of a vehicle includes at least one masking element for at least one part of a nozzle of the vehicle's engine, the masking element having a resorbable material designed to be eliminated in the nozzle's flow once the engine is ignited. A space craft includes the nozzle attached to the fuselage of the space craft. |
| US08226041B2 |
Steerable drogue
A steerable drogue (2) comprises a steering mechanism (22, 34, 36) for twisting the canopy support arms (6) to produce an aerodynamic force in flight which can be used to produce movement of the drogue in a required direction. |
| US08226038B2 |
Microvanes for aircraft aft body drag reduction
The invention relates a method and apparatus for reducing the drag on aircraft, particularly aircraft with an upswept afterbody. The method includes the steps of positioning a plurality of drag reducing elements on the fuselage of the aircraft, wherein the drag reducing elements are positioned on the fuselage from a position at the breakline of the fuselage and extending toward the tail of the aircraft. In preferred embodiments, each of the plurality of drag reducing elements is positioned such that a first end of the drag reducing element is at an angle of between approximately 15 and 35° nose up relative to the flow of air about the fuselage at the location where the drag reducing element is positioned. |
| US08226035B1 |
Blended wing aircraft
Apparatus and methods provide for a blended wing passenger or cargo aircraft. Aspects of the disclosure provide an aircraft having wings with spars having a thickness at the wing root corresponding to a height of the payload space within the fuselage to which the wings are attached. The wing spars within the wings on each side of the aircraft may each be spliced into an aircraft frame that is part of the fuselage. The wing thickness provides mounting locations for aircraft engines and other components within the wing and passing through the wing spars. With this mid-wing configuration, the fuselage provides support for the various loads experienced by the wings without the use of a conventional structural wing box. |
| US08226033B2 |
Frame element, storage bin and method for installing a storage bin in an aircraft
A frame element (10) for use in an aircraft component installation system (46) is attachable to an aircraft structure (36) and comprises a storage bin fastening device which is designed to fasten a storage bin (26) at various positions on the frame element (10). A storage bin (26) for use in an aircraft comprises a complementary device to the storage bin fastening device of the frame element (10), in order to fasten the storage bin (26) at various positions on the frame element (10). In a method for the installation of a storage bin (26) in an aircraft a frame element (10) is provided. A storage bin (26) is fastened in a desired position on the frame element (10). The frame element (10) is attached to an aircraft structure (36). |
| US08226031B2 |
Luggage locker and associated door which are intended in particular for an aircraft
A rack includes a compartment which has an open face for inserting and removing luggage, a lower face and an end wall opposite the open face. This compartment is mounted such that it can pivot about a fixed pivot axis between an open position in which the open face of the compartment is accessible, and a closed position in which the open face of the compartment is retracted. It also includes a door that is pivot-mounted in such a way that this door impedes access to the open face when the compartment is in the closed position and allows free access to this face when the compartment is open. A connection mechanism connects the door and the compartment of the luggage rack in such a way that the pivoting movement of the compartment causes the door to pivot. |
| US08226029B2 |
Engine mounting structure for aircraft with a rear engine attachment beam forming a spreader beam
An engine mounting structure for an engine aircraft including a rigid structure forming a caisson, together with an engine mounting system mounted on the structure, and a rear engine attachment, including an attachment strut to which is connected at least one shackle, to be connected to the engine. The engine mounting system includes a system for transmitting thrust efforts generated by the engine, including two lateral connecting rods connected to a spreader beam mounted in articulated fashion relative to the caisson. The attachment strut constitutes the spreader beam, wherein the body is mounted in articulated fashion relative to the caisson using an articulated shaft system. |
| US08226027B2 |
Engine assembly for aircraft with sliding nacelle
An aircraft engine assembly including a turbojet, a turbojet attachment pylon, and a nacelle mounted on the attachment pylon and surrounding the turbojet. The nacelle includes at least one mobile nacelle portion forming a single piece envelope all around a section of the turbojet, this mobile nacelle portion being mounted free to slide on the attachment pylon so that it can be moved from the forward position in the aft direction, and vice versa. |
| US08226025B2 |
Wing tip docking system for aircraft
A system and method for docking various types of aircraft is disclosed. An aerodynamic lifting structure docking mechanism for docking two or more aircraft is provided comprising an aerodynamic lifting structure. The aerodynamic lifting structure includes a first and second airflow adjustment mechanism. The aerodynamic lifting structure further includes a first hard docking mechanism, and a second hard docking mechanism, and still further includes a soft docking mechanism. The first and second airflow adjustment mechanisms are configured to substantially remove any aerodynamic lifting structure vortices around each of the aerodynamic lifting structure tip areas. The soft docking mechanism is configured to soft dock a first aerodynamic lifting structure with a second aerodynamic lifting structure. The first hard docking mechanism is configured to hard dock with the second hard docking mechanism, thereby temporarily attaching the first aerodynamic lifting structure with the second aerodynamic lifting structure. |
| US08226021B2 |
Food blender subassembly and method
A food blender subassembly; said subassembly comprising a blade assembly securing element for securing a blade assembly in the base of a blender jug; said blade assembly securing element including an internally threaded cylindrical upper portion and a downwardly extending rim; at least portions of an underside of said downwardly extending rim provided with resilient high-friction material. |
| US08226020B2 |
Safety accessory for coffee grinders-dispensers
A safety accessory for coffee grinders-dispensers includes a substantially cylindrical sleeve having a lower annular portion insertable into the base of a grinder-dispenser, an upper annular portion engagable with the neck of a container that contains coffee beans, and an intermediate annular portion provided internally with at least one interceptor member that allows the coffee beans to move into the grinding chamber but also prevents the insertion into the grinding chamber of an element in accordance with grinder-dispenser safety regulations. |
| US08226019B2 |
Systems for isotropic quantization sorting of automobile shredder residue to enhance recovery of recyclable resources
Systems and methods for increasing recyclable material recovery from automobile shredder residue. Embodiments include substantially isotropic quantization separation of automobile shredder residue such as a wind tunnel system and even substantially horizontal laminar air flow and can be used with or without out other traditional automobile shredder residue sorting systems perhaps creating additional recyclable quantities and even better separated results such as with zorba and zurik and the like. |
| US08226018B2 |
Fuel injector
The invention relates to a fuel injector with an injector housing which has a high-pressure fuel connection which is connected to a central high-pressure fuel source outside the injector housing, and with a pressure chamber within the injector housing. According to the pressure in a coupling chamber, fuel under a high pressure is injected from the pressure chamber into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine when a nozzle valve opens. The nozzle valve has a combustion chamber-remote end with a control pressure surface which is acted upon in the coupling chamber by the coupling chamber pressure. In order to create a fuel injector which can be produced inexpensively, the nozzle valve has at least one low-pressure surface which is averted from the combustion chamber and acted upon with low pressure. |
| US08226012B2 |
Ad-hoc wireless communication network using price checking stations
A technique for operating an ad-hoc wireless communication network includes providing 400 a plurality of price checking stations 102 having wireless communication capabilities, designating 402 one of the price checking stations 102 as a master station in the ad-hoc network, and designating the remaining stations as slave stations 100, and communicating with devices 104-110 deployed in the network using the wireless communications capabilities of the price checking stations 100, 102. |
| US08226008B2 |
Alternator and starter tester with bar code functionality and method
An alternator and starter tester system having a bar code reader. The bar code can contain information regarding the component being tested and can direct the tester to conduct the appropriate test. The bar code can also encode the results of the test on a second bar code. The second bar code can then be coupled to the tested component. |
| US08226007B2 |
Method and apparatus for using a limited capacity portable data carrier
A method for reading and using partial data from a portable data carrier includes reading data from a portable data carrier, determining if any data is missing, and if any data is missing, restructuring the data for use, such as for running an audio decoder and expander. A method for writing data to a portable data carrier having limited capacity includes receiving a data file and optimizing at least one encoding parameter to fit at least a portion of the data file into the portable data carrier. |
| US08225997B1 |
Single transit card to multiple rider trip methods and architecture
A mobile device is provided. The mobile device comprises a near field communication transceiver, a memory that contains a secure element, and an application that can pay multiple transit fares. The near field communication transceiver is used to complete fare payment transactions with a fare gate, based on a transit funds balance. The secure element in the memory stores the transit funds balance. The application, when executed on the mobile device, pays a plurality of fares corresponding to a plurality of passengers entering a public transportation system via the fare gate at substantially the same time. |
| US08225989B1 |
Banking apparatus controlled responsive to data bearing records
An automated banking machine operated responsive to data bearing records includes a card reader that is operative to read data from user cards including financial account identifying data, and to cause financial transfers responsive to the card data. The automated banking machine includes a sheet accepting device. The sheet accepting device is operative to receive a stack of sheets and to separate each sheet from the stack through operation of a picker. Each sheet is aligned with the sheet path and analyzed by analysis devices including at least one magnetic read head, an imager and/or a validation device. Sheets determined not to have at least one property of a genuine sheet are returned to a user of the machine. Sheets determined to have at least one property of genuine sheets are processed and stored in the machine. At least one image sensor is used to determine sheet movement data in a sheet path within the machine. |
| US08225987B2 |
Consular kiosks and methods
The invention provides various systems and methods for implementing electronic transfers with government consulates. The method includes presenting an interface terminal to a customer, wherein the interface terminal is configured to receive input from the customer, and receiving, via the interface terminal, a selection of a country's consulate. The method further includes receiving, via the interface terminal, a consulate service type selection, and receiving, at an input device, documentation necessary to complete the selected service type. Furthermore, the method includes receiving, via the interface terminal, a payment for the selected service, and transmitting to the selected country's consulate the service type selection, the documents, and the payment to the selected consulate. |
| US08225984B1 |
Thermal stir welding process
A welding method is provided for forming a weld joint between first and second elements of a workpiece. The method includes heating the first and second elements to form an interface of material in a plasticized or melted state interface between the elements. The interface material is then allowed to cool to a plasticized state if previously in a melted state. The interface material, while in the plasticized state, is then mixed, for example, using a grinding/extruding process, to remove any dendritic-type weld microstructures introduced into the interface material during the heating process. |
| US08225979B2 |
Locking shipping wedge
A locking shipping wedge is provided and generally includes a body portion having an elongate transverse member projecting from the body portion which is engageable with a drive assembly of a loading unit. A locking mechanism is provided on the body portion of the shipping wedge which is engageable with locking structure movably mounted within the loading unit. |
| US08225977B2 |
Wire feeder with run-in control
A wire feeder for an electric arc welder comprising feed rolls driven by an electric motor for moving a welding wire toward a workpiece for an arc welding process. The motor is rotated at a speed determined by a WFS signal from a controller when energized by actuation of a start switch, a switch network has a first condition allowing the motor to operate at the speed determined by the WFS signal and a second override condition forcing the motor to rotate at a fixed lower speed, a toggle circuit with a first position to shift the switch network into the second condition upon actuation of the motor start switch and a second position to shift the switch network to the first condition upon receipt of a toggle signal, and a device to create the toggle signal when the load current to the motor exceeds a given value. |
| US08225971B2 |
Strap with retrieving components
A strap with retrieving components includes an elongated strip of flexible material having a central portion extending along a longitudinal axis there through. The retrieving components are secured at opposite ends of the central portion of flexible material and comprise first and second rigid, hook shaped components, each secured at opposite ends of the central portion of flexible material so that the first and second hooked shaped components are disposed in a plane through the central portion of the strip of flexible material. Each of the first and second hook shaped components are curved in opposite directions from the longitudinal axis so that a free end of the first hooked shaped component extends in an opposite direction from a free end of the second hooked shaped component. |
| US08225965B2 |
Foamer pump
A foamer pump for dispensing foam has a simple construction and utilizes a single piston to reduce the volume of both a fluid chamber and an air chamber. A portion of the actuating mechanism helps to unseat a check valve at the outlet of the fluid chamber. The foamer pump has a fluid chamber, and an outlet of the fluid chamber is connected to a mixing chamber. An air chamber has an air channel that connects the air chamber to ambient air in a first position and to the mixing chamber in a second position. A piston causes the volume of air chamber and the liquid chamber each to be reduced, forcing air from the air chamber and foamable fluid from the liquid chamber into the mixing chamber where they blend to form an air/liquid mixture. |
| US08225962B2 |
Multiple-pump dispenser
A liquid product dispenser including a container equipped with several independent compartments, each of which is associated with a pump including a body which is blocked, at the bottom, by a suction valve and, at the top, by an applicator and/or an exhaust valve and which contains a piston mechanism cooperating with an elastic return system, characterized in that the pump bodies are solidly attached to one another in the form of a single shrunk-on ring by a linking spacer which also watertightly covers the container compartments. |
| US08225959B2 |
Wine extraction and preservation device and method
Devices and methods are disclosed for extracting fluids from within a container sealed by a cork or septum without removal of the cork or septum or the contamination of the fluid within the container by reactive gases or liquids. Embodiments of the device can include a needle connected to a valve which is in turn connected to a source of pressurized gas for displacing the fluid. Further embodiments of the device can comprise additional components that act to force the needle to be inserted through the cork or septum along a linear path, to aid in preventing buckling of the needle, to clamp the device to the container, to prevent expulsion of the cork or septum from the container, and to guide the needle through a specified region of the cork or septum. Various valves, pressure regulators, pressure ranges, needle geometries, gas selections are also presented. This device is particularly suited for the dispensing and preservation of wine. |
| US08225956B1 |
Precision pour drink shaker
A precision pour drink shaker is disclosed herein. The precision pour drink shaker includes a first means for containing one or more liquids, and a second means for measuring an amount of matter placed into the first means. In one aspect, the first means may include a shaker and the second means may include a post extending from the first means, for example, from an interior surface of a base of the first means. |
| US08225945B2 |
Rack frame
A rack frame includes a first frame pole, a second frame pole, a support pole and a bar fixed on the support pole. The support pole includes a first portion, a second portion intersecting with the first portion at a corner, and a plurality of securing holes defined on the first and second portions. Each of the securing holes includes an insert slot adjacent to the corner and a protrusion hole communicating with the insert slot. The bar includes a first side plate corresponding to the first portion, a second side plate corresponding to the second portion, and a plurality of hooks fixed on the first and second side walls corresponding to the plurality of securing holes. The plurality of hooks pass through the corresponding protrusion holes to insert in the insert slot. |
| US08225937B2 |
Method for separating differently additivated polymer components and use thereof
Disclosed is a method for separating differently additivated polymers based on polystyrene, the copolymers and/or blends thereof. This method is used in particular when recycling flame-retardant plastic materials, in particular from old electrical appliances. The method is characterised by a density separation with at least one liquid or gaseous separation medium. |
| US08225934B1 |
Container system
A container system foldable into a placemat includes a front panel, a back panel, a center panel, and a border panel. The front, back, and border panels each include an inner edge and an outer edge. The center panel includes three inner edges and an outer edge. The center panel is foldably connected to the front, back, and border panels, such that a first inner edge of the center panel is adjacent to an inner edge of the front panel, a second inner edge of the center panel is adjacent to an inner edge of the back panel, and a third inner edge of the center panel is adjacent to an inner edge of the border panel. An attachment mechanism extends along the outer edges of the center, front, back, and border panels. The attachment mechanism allows closure of the container system to define the substantially enclosed interior space. |
| US08225932B2 |
Break-open single-dose sealed package
A break-open single-dose sealed package having: a first sheet of semi-rigid plastic material; a second sheet of flexible plastic material set on top of and welded to the first sheet of semi-rigid plastic material to define a sealed pocket that contains a dose of a product; and an incision made in the first sheet of semi-rigid plastic material for guiding controlled breaking of the first sheet along the incision so as to bring about formation, through the first sheet, of an opening for exit of the product; the incision has along its own length a variable depth in order to determine a progressive breaking of the first sheet along the incision. |
| US08225931B2 |
Drawer-and-shell type package
A package (10) comprising a belt (42) extending between a first end (37) and a second end (39) of a belt path; and first and second tab members (14, 16) attached to the belt (42) such that when the first tab member (14) is moved in a first direction, the second tab member (16) is driven by the belt (42) to move in a second direction different to the first direction. The tab members (14, 16) are attached to the belt (42) by respective bonds (45, 46), the movement of the tab members (14, 16) in either direction being delimited by at least one bond reaching an end of the belt path; and when at least one of the tab members is in a closed position, said bond is positioned inwardly from the ends of the belt path so that said tab member can move in both the first and second directions from the closed position before the bond reaches an end of the belt path to delimit said movement. |
| US08225927B2 |
Method to substantially enhance shelf life of hygroscopic components and to improve nano-manufacturing process tool availablity
A process has been developed that significantly reduces moisture absorption of components, resulting in a component which is less susceptible to moisture and adsorption/absorption effects to the components functionality. In one embodiment, a component having reduced susceptibility to moisture exposure includes a component disposed in an air-tight package, the component having a blocking gas disposed in pores on a surface of the component. In another embodiment, a method for preparing a component having reduced susceptibility to moisture exposure includes driving water from a component in a controlled environment, exposing the component in the controlled environment to a blocking gas, removing the component in the controlled environment, and optionally sealing the component in an air-tight package. |
| US08225923B2 |
PET bottle gripper
In a bottle filling installation, an apparatus for gripping PET bottles when transferring bottles from a spider element to a spider element/ filling element/rinsing element includes a thrust body that opens and closes grippers; a guide, which is vertical in the operational position, that engages the thrust body; a first spring for exerting a force on the body in a lifting and lowering direction; and a roller for moving the thrust body around a control curve. |
| US08225920B1 |
Hydraulic clutch master cylinder firewall mounting adaptor
Installing of an SAE standard hydraulic clutch master cylinder, with a threaded push-rod, on an automobile firewall and operable by a pivotally mounted pedal/pedal arm assembly has a cylinder bracket with SAE standard cylinder mounting provisions and also provides a pivotal connection axis perpendicular to the cylinder axis for mounting the cylinder to a reinforcing plate which bolts to the firewall. The cylinder bracket pivots on a horizontal axis and is clamped in position with the push-rod extending to connect to the pedal so that it is aligned with the cylinder axis. The push-rod has a stop which limits fluid displacement by the master cylinder. |
| US08225916B2 |
Torque converter with cooling fluid flow arrangement and arrangement for torque transfer to a damper
A torque converter including: a membrane forming a portion of a release chamber for the clutch; a friction plate for a torque converter clutch, the plate rotationally connected to a turbine hub and disposed within the release chamber; and a damper element rotationally connected to the turbine hub and to the torque converter clutch. In lock-up mode for the converter, the plate is arranged to transmit torque to the turbine hub. The torque converter includes cooling fluid and a torus and the clutch further comprises friction material and in some aspects, during the lock-up mode, the release chamber is sealed except for a flow of the cooling fluid from the release chamber through the friction material to the torus. The plate includes oppositely disposed first and second radial surfaces and during a torque converter mode for the torque converter, respective pressures on the first and second surfaces are substantially equal. |
| US08225909B2 |
Elevator
An elevator may include an elevator car, a set of hoisting ropes, a traction sheave, and a compensating device. The set of hoisting ropes may include first and second rope portions. The elevator car may include one or more first diverting pulleys from which the first rope portions extend upward. The elevator car may include one or more second diverting pulleys from which the second rope portions extend downward. The first rope portions may be under a first rope tension. The second rope portions may be under a second rope tension that is different from the first rope tension. The compensating device may act in substantially opposite directions on the first and second rope portions. The compensating device may produce an auxiliary force acting substantially in a same direction as the first rope tension. |
| US08225904B2 |
Apparatus for supporting a worker on an upper chord of a roof truss
An apparatus is provided for supporting a worker on an upper chord of a roof truss. The apparatus includes a saddle member which is positioned over an installed upper chord of a roof truss and secured thereto to prevent inadvertent movement of the apparatus with respect to the upper chord upon which it is mounted. The apparatus includes a pair of hanger assemblies which are pivotally secured to the saddle member and which extend downwardly therefrom for supporting a pair of footrests thereon. In use, the worker straddles the saddle member and the chord upon which it is mounted with his/her feet resting on the footrests. The footrests may be adjusted to compensate for varying roof pitches. |
| US08225903B2 |
Cab suspension
A suspension for a cab base on the frame of a swather tractor includes four dampened springs at the four corners with three links each pivoted on one end of the frame and the other end on the base. The links include two parallel links in the fore and aft direction parallel to the mechanical speed control link arm and one side to side link which constrain movement of the base against fore and aft movement and side to side movement parallel to the mechanical steering control link arm. This arrangement restricts movement of the base while allowing roll and pitch movements of the cab structure with the links arranged such that steering and ground speed are substantially unaffected when the cab moves on the suspension. |
| US08225900B2 |
Pneumatic mechanical power source
An mechanical power system is provided for providing torque without using a heat engine in virtually any non-aviation application where fossil-fuel engines have conventionally been used, by simply replacing the fossil-fuel burning engine with a rotary pneumatic motor of appropriate size for the application and feeding pressure-regulated compressed gas to the rotary pneumatic motor. The rotary pneumatic motor can be used virtually anywhere, and requires merely a supply of compressed gas to run it, preferably compressed nitrogen. Automotive, marine and electrical generating applications are easily adaptable, and auxiliary fossil-fuel engines can be added for emergencies where a supply of compressed gas has been exhausted. A screw-type compressor can be electrically powered to supply compressed gas to the pneumatic motor where tanks of compressed gas have been exhausted. Tanks of compressed gas are to be conveniently user replaceable. |
| US08225899B2 |
Vehicle body mounting structure for exhaust system heat exchanger
A vehicle body mounting structure for an exhaust system heat exchanger is provided that enables good protection of an exhaust system heat exchanger disposed below a vehicle body floor. In the vehicle exhaust system mounting structure 10 there is an exhaust system heat exchanger 14, carrying out heat exchange between exhaust gas and engine cooling water, disposed at the bottom side of a floor tunnel 70 that is formed to a front floor panel 68. The lowermost portion of the exhaust system heat exchanger 14 in the vehicle up-down direction is positioned in the vehicle up-down direction above the lowermost portion of the body cross-member 80 of a vehicle body frame and an engine rear mount support member 90. |
| US08225890B2 |
Impregnated bit with increased binder percentage
Control of the carbide volume in the matrix in an impregnated bit is accomplished by coating the hard particles in the matrix to space them further apart to increase the soft binder percentage in a controllable manner. The softer binder due to lower volume content of hard particles allows more rapid matrix wear in the softer formations to allow more diamond grit to cut better before getting flat spots and to be replaced faster with additional diamond grit further into the matrix as the higher content of the softer binder and the softer coating on the hard particles in the matrix promotes more effective cutting with more frequent emergence of diamond grit on the bit face as cutting progresses. |
| US08225889B2 |
Drill head for rock drills
A drill head extending along a drill axis made of hard metal for rock drills is disclosed. The drill head features at least one major cutting edge and at least one minor cutting edge, where the major cutting edge extends from a first radially inner end to a first radial outer end which lies on a first diameter and where the minor cutting edge extends from a second radially inner end to a second radially outer end which lies on a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. A first enveloping surface defined by the minor cutting edge projects completely axially over a second enveloping surface defined by the major cutting edge. |
| US08225887B2 |
Casing and liner drilling shoes with portions configured to fail responsive to pressure, and related methods
A casing bit, which may comprise a composite structure, for drilling a casing section into a subterranean formation, and which may include a portion configured to be drilled therethrough. Cutting elements and methods of use may be included. Adhesive, solder, electrically disbonding material, and braze affixation of a cutting element may be included. Differing abrasive material amount, characteristics, and size of cutting elements may be included. Telescoping casing sections and bits may be included. Embodiments may include: at least one gage section extending from the nose portion, at least one rotationally trailing groove formed in at least one of the plurality of blades, a movable blade, a leading face comprising superabrasive material, at least one of a drilling fluid nozzle and a sleeve, grooves for preferential failure, at least one rolling cone affixed to the nose portion, at least one sensor, discrete cutting element retention structures, and percussion inserts. |
| US08225884B2 |
Rotor underreamer, section mill, casing cutter, casing scraper and drill string centralizer
A down hole well bore apparatus to underream and remove rock or cement or other material, cut or mill casing, clean or scrape casing, or centralize a drill string, which has a rotor which actuates blades, a compact overall length and can be operated with normal or reverse circulation. Simultaneous operations or multiple sequential operations can be made without removing the drill string. |
| US08225883B2 |
Downhole percussive tool with alternating pressure differentials
A downhole percussive tool is disclosed comprising an interior chamber and a piston element slidably sitting within the interior chamber forming two pressure chambers on either side. The piston element may slide back and forth within the interior chamber as drilling fluid is channeled into either pressure chamber. Input channels supply drilling fluid into the pressure chambers and exit orifices release that fluid from the same. An exhaust orifice allows additional drilling fluid to release from the interior chamber. The amount of pressure maintained in either pressure chamber may be controlled by the size of the exiting orifices and exhaust orifices. In various embodiments, the percussive tool may form a downhole jack hammer or vibrator tool. |
| US08225882B2 |
Apparatus for boring holes in rock mass
A device for boring holes in rock mass working in a system, in which the reference axis is the axis of gravity, with thermal, pressure and sound energy comprises an assembly of at least one cone-shaped disintegrator body having an inner feed space. The front of the body houses nozzles followed by pressure sensors and has drainage flow lines distributed at its sides and leading into the surrounding space. The assembly further includes a cooperating hollow geometrical penetrator body. A forced movement of at least one disintegrator body occurs within the inner space of the penetrator body. The penetrator body has a broader front part, the cavity of which houses combustion chambers as well as signal and power media feed controlling components and has relaxation flow lines distributed at its sides. The middle part houses technical assemblies separating the working space at the front from the feed space. |
| US08225877B2 |
Downhole release joint with radially expandable members
A downhole releasable tubing connection includes a joint between two tubing strings, wherein one of the two tubing strings is radially expanded and plastically deformed by an expansion device. When the expansion device is moved adjacent to the joint, a mechanism in the joint reacts to the radially outward forces of the expansion device and releasably expands, separates, breaks, or otherwise provides a release between the two tubing strings. One tubing string and the expansion device can then be removed to the surface of the well bore while the expanded tubing remains installed in the well bore. |
| US08225873B2 |
Oil well pump apparatus
An oil well pumping apparatus for pumping oil from a well to a wellhead provides a tool body that is sized and shaped to be lowered into the production tubing string of the oil well. A working fluid is provided that can be pumped into the production tubing. A prime mover is provided for pumping the working fluid. A flow channel into the well bore enables the working fluid to be circulated from the prime mover via the production tubing to the tool body at a location in the well and then back to the wellhead area. A pumping mechanism is provided on the tool body, the pumping mechanism including upper and lower spur gear or gears. The upper spur gear is driven by the working fluid. The lower spur gear is rotated by the first spur gear. The upper and lower spur gears are connected with a common shaft. |
| US08225872B2 |
Gas handling in a well environment
A technique is provided to facilitate movement of fluids in wells where the fluids have a relatively high gas-to-liquid ratio. A submersible pump is combined with a separate, dedicated mixer. The dedicated mixer is positioned upstream of the components of the submersible pump designed to move the well fluid. The mixer reduces large gas structures and homogenizes the fluid flow fed into the submersible pump. |
| US08225870B1 |
Method for making windows in oil well casings
A method for making gravel filters in oil well bores. The first step involves ascertaining the location of a producing formation adjacent to a cemented casing in a well bore. Then, a portion of the casing adjacent to the producing formation is cut, enlarging the bore adjacent to the producing formation. Subsequently, a sufficient amount of gravel is deposited in the enlarged portion of the bore to create an effective filter for a producing tube with a screen at its distal end. The distal end is positioned adjacent to the cemented bottom of the well bore. The method maximizes the diameter of the gravel deposited by delivering it exteriorly of the screen of the producing tube and through the annular space defined and sealed between the screen and the casing. |
| US08225864B2 |
Well string centralizer and method of forming
Centralizer includes a body formed of a first material and an outer shell formed of a second material. The outer shell is installed to resist destructive damage and longitudinal creep of the portion formed of the first material. The outer shell covers the entire exterior surface of the body, including ribs that protrude from the exterior surface. The outer shell material is more durable than the material of the body. The outer shell material may be steel and the body material may be a polymer. The ribs and exterior surface of the body bond to the outer shell. The centralizers fit on well pipes to centralize them within boreholes. |
| US08225863B2 |
Multi-zone screen isolation system with selective control
A modular screen system allows connection of screens using couplings that connect the annular space in each module between the screen material and the base pipe. A series of connected screens and couplings feed into a single valve to control the flow through many screens. The valve is preferably located in a coupling and the passages through the coupling or the screen can also accommodate instrumentation to detect, store or transmit well data or flows through the various screen modules. |
| US08225857B2 |
Breech lock mechanisms for blowout preventer and method
A blowout preventer for sealing a well includes a body having first and second chambers, the body including a channel on a face of the body; a ram block configured to move within the first chamber to seal a first region of the second chamber from a second region of the second chamber; a rod connected to the ram block and configured to extend along the first chamber; a cylinder configured to be attached to the body to border the first chamber, and a ring rotatably attached to the cylinder for attaching the cylinder to the body. |
| US08225854B2 |
Heat sink and cooling unit using the same
A heat sink including a compact cooling system, superior uniformity of heating, provides a compact cooling unit superior in uniformity of cooling. A heat sink includes a header for distribution connected to a cooling fluid inlet, a header for confluence connected to a cooling fluid outlet and parallel to and adjacent to the header for distribution and a heat transfer vessel including a heating element mounting surface as well as channels inside. The channels are connected to the header for distribution and the header for confluence. |
| US08225851B2 |
Aluminum alloy material and plate heat exchanger with superior corrosion resistance
Disclosed are an aluminum alloy material and a plate heat exchanger using the aluminum alloy material, both of which have superior corrosion resistance. Specifically, the aluminum alloy material includes an aluminum alloy base material having an anodic oxide layer with an average thickness of 1 to 20 μm as its surface layer, an organic phosphonic acid primer coating arranged on the surface of the aluminum alloy base material, and a fluorocarbon resin coating arranged on the surface of the organic phosphonic acid primer coating and having an average thickness of 1 to 100 μm after drying. |
| US08225848B2 |
Device for reducing fouling in a tubular heat exchanger
The invention relates to a device for reducing fouling in a tube (1) through which a fluid passes. The inventive device comprises a mobile rotary element (3) and a fixed bearing-forming element (2) which can be solidly connected to the upstream end of the tube (1). In addition, the mobile element (3), which is connected to the fixed element (2), comprises an upstream trunnion-forming part (4) and a downstream turbulence-generating part (5) which is shaped such as to be rotated by the flow of the fluid in the tube (1). The aforementioned upstream (4) and downstream (5) parts are connected to one another by means of an elongated flexible connector (6) that is deformable along the entire length thereof. |
| US08225845B2 |
Casting delivery nozzle
A metal delivery apparatus for casting metal strip includes at least one elongated segment having a main portion extending longitudinally through the main portion with end walls at opposite ends thereof, the main portion communicating with outlets along opposite sides of each segment adapted to upwardly discharge flow of molten metal into a casting pool. |
| US08225844B2 |
Method for processing moulding sand
The present invention concerns a method for processing molding sand.In order to provide a method with a simple regulating system to control the compressibility of a reclaimed molding sand, the invention proposes that the molding sand be divided into several charges and the processing parameters, such as the quantity of water, the quantity of new sand and/or the quantity of clay to be added, is corrected on the basis of the difference following processing between the actual compressibility and the reference compressibility of the molding sand, measured for the preceding charge. |
| US08225839B2 |
Retractable awning with automatic pitching gable or arch
A retractable awning that transforms automatically into a gable or arch is disclosed. The awning sheet extends using articulated hinged arms. A first end of each articulated arm is hingedly affixed to a stationary surface. The two articulated arms provide vertical support while extending the awning sheet. A swiveling hinge interface connects the ends of the articulated arms and the front support member. The front support member is a flexible spring member and resiliently arches the awning when extending. In another embodiment, the front support member is a left member and right member connected by a hinge and a spring. The spring resiliently urges the left and right member into a gabled configuration, thereby gabling the awning. When retracting the awning, the ends of the front support member and awning sheet are pulled outwards, thereby counteracting the naturally gabled or arched configuration. |
| US08225819B2 |
Portable waste transfer tank
A includes a main body portion defining a waste holding chamber, a vent path extending from the waste holding chamber to atmosphere, and a float member. The float member is coupled to the tank for movement between a first position and a second position. The float member is movable from the first position to the second position in response to an increase in fluid level within the storage chamber. The vent passage remains open for venting the storage chamber when the float member is in the first position and is blocks the vent passage in the second position. |
| US08225816B2 |
Pressurized gas filling and distribution head and tank equipped with one such head
The invention relates to a gas filling and distribution head (2) which is intended to be disposed in a hole in a pressurized gas storage tank. The inventive head (2) includes a mounting segment (21) which is intended to be housed in the hole in the tank and an expansion segment which houses a pre-expansion device (22), said pre-expansion device (22) being arranged in relation to the mounting segment (21) such as to be housed at least partially inside the tank when the head is in the mounted position. The head (2) also includes: a filling circuit which extends between a first end which is equipped with a filling hole (6) and a second end which is intended to communicate with the interior of the tank, and an extraction circuit which extends between a first end which is intended to communicate with the interior of the tank and a second end which is equipped with an extraction hole. The invention is characterized in that the filling hole (6) is aligned with the extraction hole. |
| US08225805B2 |
Protective member for automatic open close umbrella with anti-springing effect
A protective device for automatic open close umbrellas is revealed. The protective device includes a ratchet mounted in a handle and rotating elastically for retracting or releasing a string, a string whose bottom end is fixed on the ratchet while a top end is fixed on an outer tube of an umbrella shaft or a core tube, and a locking member that is reverse L-shaped and is arranged with an elastic member for turning back therein. The locking member includes an upper part, a lower part, and a middle axle, used as a first-class lever. The upper part is against the bottom of the umbrella shaft so that the fastener can lean against a top surface of the upper part. When the umbrella shaft is gradually folded, the top surface of the upper part of the locking member is separated from the fastener while the bottom of the lower part is locked to one of the ratchet teeth of the ratchet elastically so as to achieve anti-springing effect. |
| US08225802B2 |
Hair holding device with elastic closure operation
Novel hair holding devices having first and second pivotally connected body members including hair gripping portions, and methods for improving existing such hair holding devices, in which the improvement involves providing the first and second body members with at least one elastomeric member for biasing the first and second body members into a closed position and for conforming to gathered strands of a user's hair when the hair gripping portions come into contact with gathered strands of a user's hair. |
| US08225798B2 |
Method and devices for performing minimally invasive surgery
A device for use in performing minimally invasive surgery. A system for performing minimally invasive surgery comprising the device according to the present invention. A method for performing minimally invasive surgery. |
| US08225797B2 |
Method and system for swallow control resulting in improved posture and strength
A method and system for training a patient to improve swallowing, for retraining jaw muscles and for holding or keeping the jaw in a correct bite position. All of this in-turn causing an improvement in posture and increase strength. The system includes a combination of exercise and oral apparatus pieces or mouth-guards to retrain and balance the facial muscles and to develop a correct swallow. The mouth-guards of the present invention can improve biomechanical imbalance, posture and in turn athletic performance. A particular embodiment of an oral apparatus of the present invention includes top and bottom troughs for receiving top and bottom teeth into the apparatus. The troughs can be adapted to hold the upper canine teeth lower than the central and lateral incisor teeth and hold the upper teeth outside the lower teeth from the incisors to the molars. The apparatus can be pre-fabricated or custom made for a particular patient. Using heat moldable thermoplastics, some embodiments of the device can be formed in the patient's mouth after heating in hot water. |
| US08225796B2 |
Respiratory therapy system including a nasal cannula assembly
A nasal cannula, for supplying a respiratory gas to a patient, comprising: a pair of spaced apart supply lines which each have a head at one end thereof with a discharge opening therein. The opposite end of each supply line is connectable to a respiratory gas source. Each head is sized to be snugly received and retained within one of the nasal cavities of the patient while forming a sufficient leakage passage, between a portion of inwardly facing nasal cavity skin of a patient and a portion of an exterior surface of the head, to facilitate exhausting of any excess respiratory gas supplied to the patient through the leakage passage and also facilitate inhalation of any room air required in excess of the respiratory gas to be supplied to the patient. The invention also relates to a respiratory therapy system incorporating the nasal cannula, a method of treating a patient with sleep disorder by using the nasal cannula, a diagnostic tool for measuring nasal cavity pressure of a patient, and a method of using the diagnostic tool for measuring nasal cavity pressure of a patient. |
| US08225795B2 |
Kink resistant endotrachael tube
A kink resistant silicon endotracheal tube includes an inflatable cuff for positioning the endotracheal tube in a patient's trachea. The cuff is folded over onto itself to provide a cavity for accumulating bacteria and secretions that are then removed by suction. The cuff in the lower part of the endotracheal tube is also folded over onto itself for centering the endotracheal tube in the center of an airway. A suction catheter is also positioned in a portion of the tube under tension as opposed to a portion under compression to reduce the likelihood of kinking. A kink resistant endotracheal tube also includes a thickened and/or reinforced area of the curved portion of the endotracheal tube in an area under compression. |
| US08225794B2 |
Overtube
An over-tube of the present invention is an over-tube which guides a device having an insertion section to be inserted into a body of a patient, when inserting the insertion section into or retracting the insertion section from the body of the patient, wherein: a gas-supplying passage is defined between an inner face of the over-tube and the device to be inserted into the over-tube; the gas-supplying passage communicates with a gas-supplying port which is provided on a proximal end side of the over-tube, and a communicating port which is formed on an over-tube insertion section and supplies a gas into a trachea of the patient; and a first sealing member which secures an air passage for communicating the gas-supplying passage and the trachea of the patient via the communicating rod by sealing between a body wall of the patient and the communicating port, is provided on a periphery of an over-tube insertion section. |
| US08225791B2 |
Arespiratory gas supply circuit to feed crew members and passengers of an aircraft with oxygen
The invention relates to a respiratory gas supply circuit for an aircraft carrying passengers and/or crewmembers (1) in a cabin, including a source of breathable gas (R1, R2), at least one supply line (20) connected to said source, a first actuating device (60, 12) provided on said supply line to open at least partially or close the supply of breathable gas, a respiratory device (50) adapted to be worn on one passenger or crewmember's face, said respiratory device being connected to said supply line, and further including an ambient air inlet (40), said respiratory device providing to said one passenger or crewmember a respiratory gas to be inhaled corresponding to ambient air and/or breathable gas, wherein said ambient air inlet further includes a second actuating device (4, 11) to open at least partially or close said ambient air inlet; and, both said first and second actuating devices are operated so that at least one of said first and second actuating devices is closed at each instant of time. |
| US08225789B2 |
Pressure support ventilation of patients
A methodology and apparatus for determining ventilator settings including an end expiratory pressure setting, pressure swing, resistive unloading and target ventilation for delivering ventilatory support based upon generalized patient ventilation characteristics and/or disease classifications. An apparatus may be programmed with the instructions to accomplish the methodology interactively by prompting the user/physician during setup and calculating settings based upon measurements or input responses. Pre-assigned values associated with ventilation characteristics or disease classifications may be combined with a base pressure value or measured values to provide patient customized settings or adjustments to determine pressure levels for the delivery of ventilatory support. |
| US08225785B2 |
Vibratory PEP therapy system with medicated aerosol nebulizer
A positive oscillatory expiratory air pressure respiratory therapy device which is adapted to receive a nebulizer for administering aerosolized medicant for selective administration during oscillatory positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy. |
| US08225782B2 |
Filter cartridge having location-registered view window for end-of-service-life-indicator (ESLI)
A filter cartridge 12 that includes a filter material 42, an end-of-service-life-indicator (ESLI) 40, a housing 22, a cover 24, and a window 38. The filter material 42 has first and second major surfaces 45, 47 and is disposed in the housing such that the second major surface 47 of the filter material is located downstream to the first major surface 45. The housing has a sidewall 26 through which the ESLI 40 can be seen. The cover 24 is secured to the housing 22 and has an opaque extension 36 that masks at least a portion of the housing sidewall 26. The window 38 is positioned on the extension 36 at a registration position where the ESLI 40 can be seen through the window 38 such that a change in a certain color of the ESLI 40 indicates that the cartridge 12 needs to be replaced. The use of the cartridge cover to provide the ESLI registration position allows the filter cartridges to be mass assembled without risk of error in achieving proper window registration. |
| US08225781B2 |
Inhalation apparatus
In order to control the amount of evaporation of discharged agent droplets and so that a user can inhale agent droplets having a constant diameter regardless of use environment, an inhalation apparatus includes an airflow path communicating with a suction port through which the user inhales an agent, an agent discharging portion configured to discharge an agent supplied to the airflow path, and a humidifier located outside the airflow path and configured to humidify an airflow in the airflow path generated by an inhalation of the user. |
| US08225780B2 |
Medicament dispensing device with a multimaterial diaphragm bounding a pneumatic force chamber
Provided herein is a metered dose inhaler for use with a pressurized aerosol container which is preferably breath-actuated. The metered dose inhaler contains a diaphragm which includes a central disk of a first, relatively high stiffness material and a peripheral ring, coupled by a flexure of a second, relatively low stiffness material. |
| US08225779B2 |
Cable guard eliminator
A cable guard eliminator for a compound bow comprising a first limb and a second limb and having a bowstring and at least one cable strung between first and second connecting elements respectively mounted near outer ends of the first and second limbs. The cable guard eliminator comprises a first portion from which the cable extends to the first connecting element, a second portion from which the cable extends to the second connecting element, and, an intermediate portion defining a deflection area between the first end and the second end. The deflection area has a length in a direction generally parallel to the cable at least as long as a range of motion of the cable, such that at least some portion of the deflection area remains aligned with an arrow path throughout drawing and release of the bowstring. |
| US08225778B2 |
Vibration dampening apparatus
Apparatuses and structures for dampening vibrational energy from a system are disclosed. Particularly, at least one dampening member including an elongated body comprising a resilient, pliable material may be coupled to the base via at least one coupling structure structured for coupling at least a portion of the elongated body of the at least one dampening member to the dampening apparatus. Such a structure or dampening apparatus may be incorporated or attached to an archery system. Specifically, an archery system or an archery accessory component (e.g., a quiver or sight) may include at least one dampening member including a elongated body comprising a resilient, pliable material and at least one coupling structure structured for accepting at least a portion of the elongated body of the at least one dampening member so as to couple the at least one dampening member to the archery bow or component thereof. |
| US08225773B2 |
Valve arrangement for an exhaust gas recirculation device
The invention relates to a valve arrangement (2) for an exhaust gas recirculation device of an internal combustion engine, especially in a motor vehicle. Said valve arrangement (2) comprises a first valve (9) which is used to control a first gas path (7) and is mobile between an open position, a closed position, and at least one intermediate position. The inventive valve arrangement (2) also comprises a second valve (10) for controlling a second gas path (8) which is separate from the first gas path (7), said second valve being mobile between an open position, a closed position and at least one intermediate position independently from the first valve (9). The valve arrangement (2) also comprises a common housing (6) which contains both valves (9, 10) and through which the two gas paths (7, 8) are guided. |
| US08225771B2 |
Control apparatus and control method for internal combustion engine
In a startup operation of an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine is started by supplying fuel to only a first cylinder group formed of a portion of cylinders, from among a plurality of cylinders that make up the internal combustion engine, when a startup condition of the internal combustion engine has been satisfied, and then fuel starts to be supplied to a second cylinder group formed of the remaining cylinders after the internal combustion engine has started. Meanwhile, in a stopping operation of the internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine is stopped when a shutoff condition of the internal combustion engine is satisfied, by first stopping the supply of fuel to the second cylinder group and then stopping the supply of fuel to the first cylinder group after the supply of fuel to the second cylinder group has been stopped. |
| US08225766B2 |
Oil tank breather line solenoid valve
Disclosed herein is a device which provides a safety measure to vehicles by utilizing the dead man (tether) switch, or other electrical connection, in combination with a valve and actuator, to keep oil from leaking out of the lubrication system of the vehicle in a rollover situation. |
| US08225760B2 |
Valve motion for an internal combustion engine
A valve motion for an internal combustion engine which suppresses the height of the internal combustion engine low. In a valve motion for an internal combustion engine, a driving mechanism includes a ball screw disposed over an intake side camshaft and an exhaust side camshaft and having threaded portions provided thereon which are threaded in different directions from each other on the intake side and the exhaust side. Sliders are individually provided on the intake side and exhaust side and movable on the ball screw with connecting link members provided between the sliders and a holder member. |
| US08225759B2 |
Valve drive for activation of gas exchange valves of internal combustion engines
A valve drive for activation of gas exchange valves of internal combustion engines, with which valve stroke switching is accomplished with little effort, a low construction height, and at low switching forces. Incorrect switching and damage to the camshaft during valve stroke switching are avoided, even at high engine speeds of rotation. An adjustment shaft that is rotatable by the camshaft and parallel to the camshaft has two adjustment devices rotatably disposed on it, along with two tappets between the adjustment devices. The tappets are connected with a shift gate for valve switching between two different cam profiles of a cam package that is axially displaceable on the camshaft. The tappets each have a contour that contacts the adjustment devices via a guide pin. A gear wheel engages with a gear segment on the camshaft, via a drive on the adjustment shaft, to rotate the adjustment shaft. |
| US08225758B2 |
Continuously variable valve lift system for engines and controlling method thereof
The present invention relates to a continuously variable valve lift system for engines, which can prevent deterioration of fuel efficiency due to a friction loss by a return spring even in a low lift operation state by making a high lift swing angle be larger than a low lift swing angle, easily implement the CVVL by reducing a lost motion angle to an optimum condition, and securely generate an advancing effect in spite of reduction of the lost motion angle. Further, the continuously variable valve lift system is easy and convenient to adjust a clearance of an oscillating cam link, prevent the clearance of the oscillating cam link from being accumulated, and has a convenience of workability in adjusting the clearance in a narrow engine room. |
| US08225752B2 |
Cylinder head and head gasket
A cylinder head and a head gasket that is mounted on the cylinder head may include a reinforcing boss formed in outer edge of a valve boss portion adjacent to a coolant inlet portion of a water jacket, a bridge configured to divide the coolant inlet portion to form at least two coolant inlet holes, and/or a bolt boss portion integrally formed with edge circumference portion of the water jacket, a head bolt being mounted through the bolt boss portion, wherein the cylinder head gasket is attached to a gasket attachment surface of the cylinder head. |
| US08225748B2 |
Potty pole
This invention is to be used primarily in the reception and disposal of urination from animals within a set area. It is comprised of a base tray, a vertical, hollow cylinder and absorbent pads designed and crafted to securely cover the exterior of the cylinder and tray. The absorbent pads are contained within the hollow cylinder and removed through an opening at the top of the cylinder. The vertical aspect of the invention attracts animals to urinate as per their instinct similar to an animal urinating on a bush or fire hydrant. The soiled absorbent pad is removed and another clean pad will take its place after being removed from the interior of the cylinder through the top opening in the cylinder. |
| US08225747B2 |
Treat dispenser for animals and method
A dispenser device is provided for use by an animal to selectively dispense treats from the device. The device includes a body having an interior opening to receive treats, and an opening is formed in the body to allow dispensing of the treats. A base of the device includes a weighted material therein causing the device to reside in a normally upright position. Contact by the animal causes the device to tip, thereby allowing treats to fall through the opening in the body. Changing the amount and type of material used for the weighted material changes the characteristics of how the device moves when contacted by the animal that in turn, changes the rate and amount of treats that are dispensed. |
| US08225746B2 |
Pet bed
A pet bed that includes a fabric shell and a fill material contained therein. The shell defines a support region and sidewalls radially emanating therefrom. The sidewalls are defined by stitching which also define the support region and radially extending from the support region to substantially the outer edge of the sidewalls thus defining pocket regions therein. The sidewalls are sized to extend diagonally from the support region in a first orientation when in use and forming a substantially planar surface with the support region in a second orientation during storage. |
| US08225745B2 |
Chemical vaporizer for material deposition systems and associated methods
System and method for operating a material deposition system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method can include periodically injecting a precursor into a vaporizer through an injector at the vaporizer, vaporizing the precursor in the vaporizer and supplying the vaporized precursor to a reaction chamber in fluid communication with the vaporizer, and shutting down the vaporizer and the reaction chamber after a period of time. The method can also include conducting maintenance of the injector at the vaporizer by using a vapor solvent rinse. |
| US08225742B2 |
Apparatus for continuous processing of buffer layers for group IBIIIAVIA solar cells
A deposition method which deposits a CdS buffer layer on a surface of a solar cell from a process solution including all chemical components of the CdS buffer layer material. CdS is deposited in a deposition chamber by heating the surface of the solar cell absorber to cause the transfer of heat from the solar cell absorber layer to at least a portion of the process solution that is in contact with the surface. Used solution is cooled, and replenished in a solution container and redirected into the deposition chamber. |
| US08225741B2 |
Automated processing line for applying fluid to lengths of pipe
An apparatus and method for applying a fluid such as paint to the surfaces of a plurality of lengths of pipe, the apparatus including an automated processing line composed of a receiving platform configured for receiving the plurality of lengths of pipe, a vat down the line from the receiving platform for containing the fluid, a draining platform down the line from the vat, the draining platform being configured for elevating an end of each length of pipe of the plurality of lengths of pipe relative to an opposite end of the length of pipe, and a conveyor system configured for engaging the plurality of lengths of pipe and advancing the plurality of lengths of pipe through the vat and across the draining platform by rolling. In use, the plurality of lengths of pipe are loaded onto the pipe receiving platform, rolled into the vat one length of pipe at a time, advanced through the vat by receiving each length of pipe of the plurality of lengths of pipe between a pair of teeth extending downward from the conveyor system, and rolling the plurality of lengths of pipe through the vat, out of the vat and across the draining platform by advancing the conveyor system. |
| US08225734B2 |
Method for beaching a boat
A method for beaching a boat that includes four steps. The first step is to attach one end of a boat fender to one end of another boat fender to form a roller assembly. The second step is to position the roller assembly near and parallel to a shoreline of a body of water. The third step is to position a boat in the water and perpendicular to the shoreline with the center of the bow of the boat centered at the center of the roller assembly. The fourth step is to move the boat toward and onto land, the boat rolling on the roller assembly. In addition, an article of manufacture and an apparatus for joining boat fenders together to form such a roller assembly. The boat can be stowed on the roller assemblies and can be launched back into the water by reversing the method. |
| US08225732B2 |
Method for conversion of a tanker
A tanker (1) is converted to a floating production ship by a vertical opening (1) being cut out in the hull (1) and a cassette-like plate structure (7) inserted in the opening. The cassette (7) is composed of plate elements (12, 13) which are designed to fit and connect with the cut elements in the hull's opening. The cassette (7) will thereby form part of the ship's hull strength. The cassette has a vertical shaft (8) for mounting a turret (14) in/near the ship's bottom area. The turret (14) is wet-mounted in the shaft. |
| US08225731B2 |
Marine thrust wings
A wingsail assembly comprises a main symmetrical aerofoil which is freely rotatable about an upright axis and a control vane which is settable about an upright axis spaced from the axis of the main aerofoil to cause the main aerofoil to adopt an angle of attack to the direction of the wind. A pivoted aerodynamic slot-forming vane assembly is rotatable in response to wind pressure to open and close respective slots, one on each side of the leading region of the main aerofoil. A linkage inhibits movement of the slot-forming vane assembly away from a neutral position when the control vane is set to a neutral position. |
| US08225729B2 |
Three-dimensional wiping substrate and method therefor
A planar substrate has a moisture activated shrinking filament applied thereon. When wetted, the shrinking filament shrinks and causes the planar substrate to gather and pucker. The planar substrate with the filament thereon may be compressed into a compact shape when in a dry state. |
| US08225728B2 |
Multi-needle sewing machine
A multi-needle sewing machine including a needle-bar case transfer mechanism transferring a needle-bar case relative to a sewing machine body and a first wiring and a second wiring each connected to an electrical component provided at the needle-bar case and that is extended across the sewing machine body and the needle-bar case. The first and the second wiring are held such that the first wiring and the second wiring are separated in a direction of transfer of the needle-bar case and a first intermediate portion of the first wiring and a second intermediate portion of the second wiring are curved so as to either cross over or proximate one another to allow the first wiring and the second wiring to be moved relative to one another at the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion. |
| US08225724B2 |
Folding workstation
A portable workstation has a closed position and an operating position and can be easily installed or removed by one person. A portable workstation has two walls that are hingedly connected to either side of an elongated member with a foldable work surface hingedly connected to both walls, the work surface being shaped to provide a continuous work surface when unfolded. The workstation also has one or more foldable shelves. Preferably, all of the components of the workstation remain connected to the workstation in the closed position and in the operating position, and no assembly is required. One person can install or remove the workstation from a work area without tools. |
| US08225723B2 |
Table with a panel
A desk with panels, wherein a large open space is formed between a top board and a rear panel so that the rear upper surface of the top board can be effectively used and optional members can be installed in the open space with a sufficient allowance. The rear end parts of a pair of right and left top board support bodies are mounted on a frame formed by connecting the upper ends of the right and left leg bodies to each other through a lateral connection lever so as to be projected forward of the lateral connection lever, and the top board is supported by the right and left top board support bodies so that the most part thereof can be positioned forward of the lateral connection lever. Also, a pair of right and left panel support bodies are mounted on both sides of the frame so as to be extended rearward, and the rear panel in the vertical direction is supported by both panel support bodies at their rear ends. |
| US08225722B2 |
Crash module for a rail vehicle
A crash module for a rail vehicle is provided. The crash module includes a crash element, a frontal impact plate and a rear connecting plate, wherein a guide element is provided between the frontal impact plate and the rear connecting plate. The guide element has the form of a plate and is oriented essentially in a longitudinal direction of the rail vehicle. |
| US08225720B2 |
Friction damping system for a railway truck
A railway truck has two wheel sets, a bolster, and two side frames each having a bolster opening. At least one friction plate is connected to one of the bolster openings, a car body, and end portions of the bolster and extends generally vertically. Two suspension assemblies operatively connect the bolster to the side frames. Each suspension assembly includes at least one load supporting spring biasing a corresponding end portion of the bolster upwardly, two wedges disposed on either side of the at least one friction plate, and two springs biasing the wedges. Each wedge has a generally vertical and a sloping face. The two springs bias the sloping faces of the wedges against corresponding sloping faces provided in one of the bolster openings and end portions of the bolster such that the generally vertical faces of the wedges are pressed into contact with the at least one friction plate. |
| US08225718B2 |
Lead free frangible bullets
A lead-free, frangible bullet is provided. The lead-free, frangible bullet is manufactured without sintering or external heating of the bullet. The bullet is prepared by blending a lead-free copper powder mixture and cold compacting the powder in a die to form a bullet. The copper powder can be atomized copper powder, electrolytic copper powder, or a combination of atomized and electrolytic copper powder. The atomized copper powder can be water atomized, air atomized, and combination of water and air atomized. Preferably, the frangible bullet has a fragmentation less than 5 grains. |
| US08225707B2 |
Hydraulic radial piston engine
To avoid having to strip down a radial piston engine (1) into its individual components when it is disassembled, a rotary cylinder (5) has a collar (19) on which the rotary cylinder is supported against the cam disk (2), the cam disk (2) being rotationally fixed in position to a housing portion (13). |
| US08225706B2 |
Method for controlling a hydraulic cylinder and control system for a work machine
A method is provided for controlling a hydraulic cylinder, including detecting at least one operating parameter, and variably controlling a communication path between the piston-rod side and piston side of the hydraulic cylinder on the basis of the detected operating parameter. |
| US08225702B2 |
Stripping device
In the case of a stripping device (3) for use with a cutting tool (1) with a cutting element, in particular a punch (2), for machining a workpiece, in particular a curved metal sheet (6), at least one fastening piece (4, 28, 40) for fastening it to the cutting tool, a spring-elastic element (21) arranged outside the workpiece contact region, a stripping element (15, 34) which comes into contact with the workpiece and surrounds the cutting element (2), and at least one guide element (11, 26, 33) guiding the stripping element (15, 34) being provided, a device for securing against rotation is provided to essentially prevent the stripping element (15) from rotating. |
| US08225700B2 |
Locking pliers with quick jaw release
A jaw release mechanism for locking pliers which utilize an over-center toggle locking mechanism and wherein the normally stationary upper jaw of the pliers is pivotally fastened to the main body of the pliers. This normally stationary upper jaw is releaseably retained in a normally stationary position relative to the main body of the pliers by a thumb actuated trigger release mechanism whereby the locked pliers may be safely released with the same hand which grasps and manipulates the pliers. |
| US08225694B2 |
Piston rod assembly
A piston rod assembly for coupling between a power end and a fluid end of a high pressure reciprocating pump. Part cylindrical members are clamped together via pistons arranged orthogonally to the rod axis. The members grip the power and fluid end components in a knuckle joint or ball and socket. By providing orthogonal loading, a large contact area is obtained between the members and the components, which gives a mechanical advantage in keeping the parts together even when a maximum reciprocating force is applied by the pump. |
| US08225691B2 |
Conical involute gear and gear pair
A gear pair includes a small-diameter conical involute gear having a conical angle, and a large-diameter conical involute gear having a conical angle. The small-diameter conical involute gear and the large-diameter conical involute gear are constituted by an aggregate of imaginary cylindrical gears. |
| US08225690B2 |
Power transmission device
A power transmission device is provided with: a first gear having a plurality of teeth that share an identical tooth profile; an intermediate gear that is engaged with the first gear; and a second gear that is engaged with the intermediate gear, and has a plurality of teeth that share an identical tooth profile, wherein the first gear and the second gear have an identical number of teeth, an identical reference diameter, and an identical reference pitch; and the tooth profile of the first gear is different from that of the second gear. |
| US08225689B2 |
Compliant gear assembly, engine and gear train operating method
A compliant gear assembly for a gear train of an internal combustion engine includes a hub subassembly having a first hub component and a second hub component. The first hub component defines a first axis, and the compliant gear assembly includes a gear ring rotatable relative to the hub subassembly and defining a gear ring axis of rotation. The second hub component is movable relative to the first hub component in a direction normal to the first axis between a first stop position at which the gear ring axis of rotation is co-linear with the first axis and a second stop position at which the gear ring axis of rotation is parallel to but not co-linear with the first axis. A compliance mechanism is coupled between the first hub component and the second hub component and biases the second hub component toward the first stop position. Translating the second hub component relative to the first hub component in a direction normal to the first axis attenuates torque spikes induced for example via fuel injector actuation and/or cylinder firing in an engine gear train employing the compliant gear assembly. |
| US08225688B2 |
Device for reducing rattling noises in variable-speed transmissions
A device for reducing rattling noises in a variable-speed transmission having a main shaft, two countershafts and gearwheels that are mounted, with some radial play relative to the main shaft, for rotation around the main shaft. To engage a gear, a respective loose gearwheel can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the main shaft. In a first embodiment, at least one loose gearwheel is mounted on the main shaft by at least one roller bearing, and the roller bearing is axially fixed relative to the main shaft by at least one flexibly resilient element. In a second embodiment, the loose gearwheel is supported, by a roller bearing on a component that is fixed to the housing and has radial play. The roller bearing is axially fixed relative to the component fixed to the housing by at least one flexibly resilient element. |
| US08225685B2 |
Vibration generator
A vibration generator has at least two shaft groups, on which at least two imbalance groups are disposed, and which are connected with at least one drive by means of which they are put into rotation. The shaft groups are connected with the at least one drive so that the speed of rotation of one shaft group amounts to a multiple of at least one other shaft group, and the shaft groups demonstrate a significantly different static moment with regard to one another. At least one of the shaft groups is connected with a phase shifter, by way of which the static moment of the shaft group can be adjusted. |
| US08225671B2 |
Apparatus and method for non-contacting blade oscillation measurement
An apparatus and method for non-contact blade vibration measurement is disclosed. The apparatus and method includes sensors which are arranged around the circumference of a rotor which is formed with rotor blades, a signal detection unit, and an evaluation unit. Devices are provided to determine the rotor position and/or the housing deformation. This avoids the technical problems of the prior art, and provides an improved apparatus and an improved method for non-contact blade vibration measurement. In particular, the attainment according to the invention eliminates the effect of rotor radial movements and housing deformations, i.e., oval deformations, on the measurement data, thereby ensuring high amplitude resolution for the vibration analysis under all conditions. |
| US08225666B2 |
Shear modulus estimation by application of spatially modulated impulse acoustic radiation force approximation
A method for determining a shear modulus of an elastic material with a known density value is provided. In this method, a spatially modulated acoustic radiation force is used to initially generate a disturbance of known spatial frequency or wavelength. The propagation of this initial displacement as a shear wave is measured using ultrasound tracking methods. A temporal frequency is determined based on the shear wave. The shear modulus of the elastic material at the point of excitation may be calculated using the values of the spatial wavelength, material density, and temporal frequency. |
| US08225665B2 |
Method and system of measuring material loss from a solid structure
A method is described for measuring an amount of loss of material thickness from a solid structure in which acoustic waves can propagate. The structure is in operation in contact with substances susceptible to changing a thickness of the structure. A system operable to implement the method is also described. The system comprises acoustic transducers arranged in operation in contact with a surface of the solid structure. The system comprises a processing unit operable to drive one or more of the transducers to excite acoustic signals in a wall of the structure. The acoustic signals travel a distance within the structure and are received at the transducers to generate corresponding received signals for the processing unit to process and analyze. The analysis enables a degree of material loss from the structure to be computed and then optionally displayed on a display unit. The acoustic signals correspond to various modes and the processing unit (3) is operable to isolate signal components in the received signals, which provide a more reliable indication of the degree of material loss from the structure. |
| US08225663B2 |
Tuning fork-type vibrator, tuning fork-type vibrator manufacturing method, and angular velocity sensor
A tuning fork-type piezoelectric vibrator includes a substantially rectangular plate-shaped base to be supported by a circuit substrate and two pillar-shaped legs. The base includes a substantially rectangular plate-shaped junction arranged to be connected to the circuit substrate, and a body disposed between the junction and the two legs. In order for the difference between the resonant frequency in the drive mode of the tuning fork-type piezoelectric vibrator and the resonant frequency in in-plane, in-phase mode thereof to be at least about 1 kHz, the base and two legs are configured so that the product of the length of the body divided by the substantial width of the body minus the width of the legs and the resonant frequency in drive mode is at least about 60×103. |
| US08225662B2 |
Acceleration sensing device
An acceleration sensing device includes: an outer frame; a first drive arm having both ends supported by sides of the outer frame through respective base parts, the sides opposing each other; a second drive arm extending from one of the base parts of at least one of the sides toward the other side; and a sensing arm that is disposed midway between the first drive arm and the second drive arm and extends form the one base part of the one side toward the other side, the sensing arm having an electrode in order to extract electric charge generated in the sensing arm. In the device, the first drive arm and the second drive arm have excitation electrodes for a flexural vibration and form a tuning fork type resonator, and center positions in thicknesses of sections that are located in the base parts and on an extension line of the first drive arm differ from a center position in a thickness of the first drive arm. |
| US08225660B2 |
Dynamic quantity sensor and method of manufacturing the same
A dynamic quantity sensor includes a sensor chip, a base member, and bumps. The sensor chip includes a semiconductor substrate, a sensor part, and sensor pads electrically coupled with the sensor part. The base member includes a base substrate and base pads disposed on the base substrate. The bumps mechanically and electrically couple the sensor pads and the base pads, respectively, in a state where the sensor chip is curved with respect to the base member. The sensor pads include input pads and output pads. The first surface of the semiconductor substrate includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is closer to the base substrate than the second portion is. At least one of the input pads is disposed on the first portion and at least one of the output pads is disposed on the second portion. |
| US08225658B2 |
Three-dimensional microstructures and methods for making same
Microstructures can be formed as patterned layers on a substrate and then erecting the microstructures out of the plane of the substrate. The microstructures may be formed over circuits in the substrate. In some embodiments the patterned layer provides resiliently-flexible members such as cantilevers or springs that can be buckled to permit an edge defined by the patterned layer to engage a surface of the substrate. In some embodiments deformation of the resiliently-flexible members results the edge being forced against the substrate. Such microstructures may be applied in a wide range of applications including supporting optical elements, sensors, antennas or the like out of the plane of a substrate. Examples of accelerometer structures are described. |
| US08225649B2 |
Method for determining the oxygen storage capacity
During the measurement of the oxygen storage capacity of an oxygen storage system, which is assigned to a catalytic converter, a switchover operation from lean to rich exhaust gas or vice versa is effected. The measurement signals of a lambda probe are recorded; and an integral calculation is carried out over a time interval on the basis of the measurement values. Whereas in the past the start of the time interval was the point in time of the switchover operation, the present invention provides that the start of the second time interval is determined on the basis of the measurement signals of the second lambda probe i.e., the point in time is preferably fixed at the time at which these measurement values reach an extreme value. This design allows the oxygen storage capacity to be measured even if the lambda probe is not fully functioning totally correctly. |
| US08225648B2 |
Particulate matter sensor
A particulate matter sensor is provided for sensing particulate matter present in exhaust gases in a conduit. The particulate matter sensor includes a sensing element with a sensing face which extends into the exhaust conduit and provides a signal indicative of the amount of particulate matter detected in the exhaust conduit. An inner shield is provided to surround the sensing face and includes an inner shield inlet for admitting exhaust gases therein to be sensed. An outer shield surrounds a portion of the inner shield and defines an outer shield chamber extending axially beyond the inner shield. The outer shield has an outer shield inlet passage to receive exhaust gasses from the conduit. Exhaust gases enter the inner shield from the outer shield chamber through the inner shield inlet. |
| US08225645B2 |
Apparatus and method for predicting meat tenderness
An apparatus and method for predicting meat tenderness, particularly with respect to raw meat, is disclosed. The invention does not require the removal or destruction of any cuts of meat from the carcass to which the method is applied. The method allows for the identification of tender meat product that might not be identified as tender using conventional United States Department of Agriculture quality grading methods. The method includes the insertion of one or more blunt, flat-tipped blades into a meat sample, measuring a value such as stress, force, or energy upon insertion of the blade, and calculating a tenderness factor therefrom based on a tenderness threshold. |
| US08225643B2 |
Fluid control system for a medical device
The present invention provides a medical device having an elongate body with both a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the elongate body defines an intake lumen and an exhaust lumen. The medical device also has a first pliable element defining a cooling chamber disposed at a point along the elongate body, with the cooling chamber being in fluid communication with the intake lumen and the exhaust lumen. A second pliable element is provided which at least partially encloses the first pliable element, thereby defining a junction between the first and second pliable element. Moreover, a check valve is included which is in fluid communication with the junction between the first pliable element and second pliable element, the valve further being in fluid communication with the exhaust lumen. In addition, the medical device may include sensors or other monitoring means in fluid communication with the junction and the cooling chamber. |
| US08225637B2 |
Guiding device for the chocks of work rolls
A guiding device for the chocks of work rolls of a rolling stand comprising guides arranged fixedly or horizontally movably on the inner sides of the windows of the rolling stand, wherein the upper and lower bending blocks of each side are respectively assigned two guides arranged parallel to each other. Each bending block is assigned one of the guides, while it has a recess for the parallel running guide that extends around said guide, wherein the upper bending block is guided on one of the parallel guides and the lower bending block is guided on the other guide. |
| US08225635B2 |
Method for making bicycle pedal
Disclosed is a method for making a bicycle pedal, comprising the following steps: (A) cutting, in which an elongate metal plate is formed by pressing and two coupling holes are formed through the plate; (B) bending, in which the metal plate is bent to have the opposite ends jointed to each other, forming a circumferentially enclosed hollow pedal frame with the two coupling holes concentrically located and spaced from and opposing each other; and (C) welding, in which a collar is mounted outside the pedal frame concentric with respect to each of the coupling holes through welding to provide a sufficient contact area for rotatably receiving and supporting a spindle therein, whereby the pedal frame is rotatable about the spindle for pedaling operation of a bicycle. This method overcomes the various drawbacks occurring in metal-cast or plastic injection-molded bicycle pedals, providing economic advantages for high-mix low-volume productions. |
| US08225630B1 |
Dual-function padlock
A dual-function padlock includes a lock body, a numeral detent unit, a U-shaped hook, a hook member, a numeral unlocking member, and a lock core unit, providing a simple configuration. By an operation portion of a numeral unlocking member, the padlock can be unlocked by using numerals and can be conveniently locked without the need to match correct numerals. |
| US08225624B2 |
Refrigeration system
A compressor (20) is provided with compression mechanisms (61, 62) to have four compression chambers (61, 62, 63, 64) in total. In the compressor (20), the first compression chamber (61) and the second compression chamber (62) differ in the phase of capacity changing cycle from each other by 180° and the third compression chamber (63) and the fourth compression chamber (64) also differ in the phase of capacity changing cycle from each other by 180°. In a cylinder nonoperating mode, refrigerant is compressed in a single stage in each of the first compression chamber (61) and the second compression chamber (62) while the refrigerant compression operation is halted in the third compression chamber (63) and the fourth compression chamber (64). In a two-stage compression mode, refrigerant compressed in a single stage in each of the first compression chamber (61) and the second compression chamber (62) is further compressed in the third compression chamber (63) and the fourth compression chamber (64). |
| US08225622B2 |
Cooling system and freight container
A system for cooling items of freight on board an aircraft includes a refrigerating device and also a cooling station to which cooling energy generated by the refrigerating device is supplied by a refrigerant medium. The cooling station is capable of being connected to a freight compartment of the aircraft or to a freight container on board the aircraft, in order to lead the cooling energy supplied to the cooling station away into the freight compartment or into the freight container. A freight container for receiving items of freight designated for transportation on board an aircraft is capable of being connected to a cooling station of a system for cooling items of freight on board an aircraft, so that the cooling energy supplied to the cooling station is capable of being led away into the freight container. |
| US08225613B2 |
High altitude combustion system
A combustion system for performing stable combustion and flame stabilization at high altitudes is described. A primary liquid hydrocarbon fuel is atomized and vaporized within the main combustor chamber to produce a primary fuel vapor. When the combustion system operates at a high altitude, a secondary gaseous fuel is fed into the inlet air port such that the secondary fuel mixes with air, thereby enabling the mixture of the air and the secondary fuel to combust in a catalytic reactor to produce high temperature, oxygen-rich gases that flow into the main combustor chamber. Proper proportional amounts of the two fuels are determined as a function of altitude. |
| US08225609B2 |
Steam storage system for artificial solar island
A system [500] for producing solar energy at a desired temperature and pressure range includes a primary energy source [501] that is used in a Clausius Rankine cycle, with the primary energy source connected to and proximate to a plurality of solar collectors [520]. More particularly, at least one steam storage tank [501] feeds the expansion step of the Clausius Rankine cycle. This enables the system [500] to reliably supply energy during times when the solar collectors receive little or no radiation. According to one aspect of the invention, the solar collectors [520] reside on an artificial island [510a, 510b, 510c], preferably sea-based, or offshore, so that the steam storage tank [501a, 501b, 501c] can be located well below sea level. This enables the use of compressive forces from the sea water to counteract the outwardly directed pressure caused by the steam contained in the steam storage tank [501a, 501b, 501c]. Moreover, this storage tank [501c] may have a dual-walled structure [501d, 501e], for insulation purposes, and may be operatively connected to a sea level condenser [501i] to produce sweet water. Still further, steam from the steam storage tank [501] can be used to drive one or more absorption chiller devices housed within an absorption chiller unit [530a] that is operatively connected to an air conditioning system [530b]. And these structures can be located on the roof of a building [530] so as to supply air conditioning to the building [530]. |
| US08225602B2 |
Integrated pump and injector for exhaust after treatment
A urea solution injection system and an injector with which urea solution or other exhaust treatment liquid from a source tank can be injected as an atomized spray into an exhaust pipe. A metering pump with integrated injection nozzle are contained in a common housing mounted directly to the exhaust pipe, thereby eliminating the separate electric motor driven pump, line between pump, and injector in conventional systems. |
| US08225600B2 |
Method for remediating emissions
A method for remediating a NOx-containing lean diesel emission includes providing a LNT/SCR catalyst system including a SCR catalyst and a first and second LNT. The SCR catalyst is disposed downstream of the second LNT which is disposed downstream of the first LNT. The lean NOx-containing diesel emission is introduced to the first LNT with the NOx being absorbed on to the first LNT forming a substantially NOx-free lean diesel emission. An exotherm generating agent is introduced to the substantially NOx-free diesel emission between the first LNT and the second LNT to form a reactive lean diesel emission. The reactive lean diesel emission is introduced to the second LNT generating a quantity of heat effective for desorbing absorbed NOx. A reducing agent is introduced into the desorbed NOx between the second LNT and SCR catalyst. The desorbed NOx diesel emission is remediated in the SCR catalyst. |
| US08225594B2 |
Control device of an internal combustion engine
The control device of the internal combustion engine appropriately controls plural exhaust valves to effectively perform sulfur poisoning recovery in an exhaust gas purifying catalyst. The control device controls the internal combustion engine which performs lean burn. The exhaust system of the internal combustion engine includes: first exhaust valves and second exhaust valves provided in each of the plural cylinders; a first exhaust passage communicating with the first exhaust valves; a second exhaust passage communicating with the second exhaust valves; a first exhaust gas purifying catalyst provided at least one of the first exhaust passage and the second exhaust passage; and a second exhaust gas purifying catalyst provided on an exhaust passage downstream of a junction of the first exhaust passage and the second exhaust passage. The control means controls the exhaust valves such that an effect of rich combustion occurs more to the second exhaust gas purifying catalyst than to the first exhaust gas purifying catalyst, when performing rich combustion. By this, the consumption of the exhaust gas in the first exhaust gas purifying catalyst can be suppressed, and the temperature of the second exhaust gas purifying catalyst can be effectively risen. Therefore, the sulfur poisoning recovery and the like can be effectively performed. |
| US08225592B1 |
Microjet noise suppression system for jet engines
A jet engine noise suppression system uses a plurality of microjets that are located on a frame downstream of the exhaust port of a jet engine. Each microjet issues a microjet flow, either liquid or gas, directed at the main jet flow issued by the engine. The mass of the combined microjet flow is substantially smaller than the mass of the jet engine flow. The angle of at which each microjet issues its flow may be variable. The microjets may be located on a pop-up head of a blast deflector or on a upstanding rack. |
| US08225591B2 |
Apparatus and filtering systems relating to combustors in combustion turbine engines
A combustor for a combustion turbine engine, the combustor that includes: a chamber defined by an outer wall and forming a channel between windows defined through the outer wall toward a forward end of the chamber and at least one fuel injector positioned toward an aft end of the chamber; a screen; and a standoff comprising a raised area on an outer surface of the outer wall near the periphery of the windows; wherein the screen extends over the windows and is supported by the standoff in a raised position in relation to the outer surface of the outer wall and the windows. |
| US08225589B2 |
Drive arrangement for a mower with rotary cutter disks
A crop harvesting header includes a cutter bar mounted on a frame carrying a plurality of generally horizontal cutter disks. The cutter bar includes a first longitudinally extending hollow gear case and a second longitudinally extending hollow gear case divided at a position along the length of the cutter bar so as to form first and second separate sections. Each gear case includes a gear train of spur gears to drive the cutter disks. On each section the outermost disk is connected to an upstanding drive shaft with a right angle gear box connected to an upper end with a drive transfer shaft connecting the first and second gear boxes, an input hydraulic drive motor to the first gear box and an output shaft and the second gear box for driving the conditioner. |
| US08225585B2 |
Dosage-dispensing device
A device for dispensing a dosage material has a container with an outlet spout and a metering element adjoining the outlet spout. The metering element has an inlet opening on a side facing the container and an outlet opening on a side that faces away from the container. A wall of the metering element extends between the openings. A film material can be inserted into the device which passes at least through the inlet opening and the slot-shaped outlet opening and covers the inside of the wall. The device also has a feature that stretches a portion of a tube section of the film material. This stretching device includes at least two locations for fastening the portion to be stretched, the two locations being arranged on a stretch line that is at an angle to the lengthwise direction of the tube section. |
| US08225583B2 |
Closing apparatus for closing preferably bag-type packaging units
A closing apparatus for closing preferably bag-type packaging units by compression, which units have regions of differing thickness along the package opening to be closed, such as square bottom bags for instance, in particular made of coated or uncoated paper, paperboard, plastic, film, and/or woven material, which packaging units have at least one suitable sealing surface that is integrated in or applied to the material for permanent bonding to a surface that is adjacent to or opposite and pressed against the material, wherein the closing apparatus has a pressing device with at least one pressure device and at least one counter-pressure device between which the packaging units can be compressed, preferably with the application of heat, in the region of their sealing surface(s). In order to achieve a uniformly durable closure, the pressure device and the counter-pressure device have zones of different pressure and/or different temperature along the package opening to be closed. |
| US08225582B2 |
Automated solid pharmaceutical product packaging machine
An automated pharmaceutical product packaging machine simultaneously fills a plurality of product package templates in parallel with desired pharmaceutical dosing requirements. The templates are subsequently positioned over a temporary storage template having cavities for receiving solid pharmaceutical doses. A collector member is subsequently placed beneath the temporary storage template for receiving the pharmaceuticals which in turn is positioned over a solid pharmaceutical product package having a plurality of cavities which correspond to openings on the templates and wherein each of the templates fills a pharmaceutical package. |
| US08225577B1 |
Producing in-ground spas or pools from concrete pours around liner-like cores, and core products
A method of using liner-like cores or core assemblies for creating in-ground concrete spas or swim pools. For larger projects, that is for enlarged scale spas or swim pools, the inventive liner-like core comprises an assembly of sections. The cores or core assemblies are re-usable at least for several projects if reasonably maintained and cleaned. The core assembly comprises two long walls and two short wall defining the perimeter around a split level bottom with a shallow end, a deep end, and an intermediate transition slope. The liner-like core is constructed from a suitable rigid material like fiberglass for stiffening purposes and is an assembly of sections and also comprises: leveling blocks, transverse support beams, and hangers that attach to the walls of the core assembly and stiffens the long walls against being warped inward during the concrete pour. |
| US08225575B2 |
Brackets and bracket system for assembling playground equipment
A bracket system for assembling playground equipment includes a plurality of deck support brackets, at least two vertical frame brackets, at least two horizontal frame brackets, a swing bracket, and at least two ladder brackets. The deck support brackets secure horizontal deck support beams to vertical frame beams at first points along the vertical frame beams. The vertical frame brackets attach to at least two adjacent vertical frame beams at second points above the first points. The at least two horizontal frame brackets fix at least one horizontal frame beam to the at least two adjacent vertical frame beams at the second points; the horizontal frame brackets and the vertical frame brackets interconnect. The swing bracket fastens a swing support beam to the at least one horizontal frame beam at a third point along the at least one horizontal frame beam. The at least two ladder brackets connect a ladder to one of the horizontal deck support beams. |
| US08225572B2 |
Wall panel assembly
The present invention is a wall panel assembly for securing a protective and/or decorative panel to a wall, such as the exterior wall of a building. The panel includes a rail and channel arrangement along each edge of the panel designed to slideably engage panel clips having a cooperative guide rail and channel. The clips are used to secure the panel to a wall using common fasteners, such as screws. |
| US08225568B1 |
Backed building structure panel having grooved and ribbed surface
A backed paneling unit comprised of a backing portion that includes at least one of a depth portion and an elevated portion. An elevated portion and/or a depth portion may be formed using any suitable method including, but not limited to, molding, machining and heat stamping. Optionally, a backing portion may comprise a hydrophobic material. Such features may enable fluid flow (e.g., ventilation or liquid drainage) behind the backing portion. |
| US08225566B2 |
Tile for a synthetic grass system
A tile for a synthetic grass system having a top surface with a plurality of trusses, a bottom surface with a plurality of legs extending therefrom. The trusses intersect and form apertures. The top surface has a plurality of sections which are hingedly attached to adjacent sections with expansion members. |
| US08225565B2 |
Insulated natural log cabin
Interior insulation slots cut vertically through natural logs align to form a full wall interior insulation space within the stacked natural log wall. A plank cut out of the interior of each log is used in the interior structure of the building. Solid ends of the logs form corners with intersecting walls. Structural metal posts within the interior insulation space bind the logs together. Foam and vapor barrier insulation fill the interior insulation space. Only the curved natural log surfaces are exposed on the exterior and interior walls. |
| US08225559B2 |
Retractable column and method of forming
The present invention is an improved apparatus and method for forming a retractable tower or column. The present invention includes pointed hooks wherein the hooks are attached to each section of a section chain, one in a horizontal direction and one in an off-set manner. The section chains are placed on a take up mechanism in an operable position and then raised utilizing a motor. As the section chains are raised, they are guided by a guide tower, rollers, shims, and gear racks into a position whereby hooks from adjacent sections of the section chains form coupled engagements. The coupled engagement of the hooks of the sections of each adjacent section chains thereby form the column. |
| US08225553B1 |
Firezone fumetight seal
A method and apparatus for fireproofing a doorway, more particularly, the present invention relates to a gasket structure capable of sealing a doorway in the event of a fire. The gasket structure includes an outer silicon rubber core having a substantially D-shaped cross-section for mounting to a gasket retainer with a substantially U-shaped channel to a door frame. The gasket also includes an inner core of intumescent material within the outer core. The gasket is designed so that if the outer silicone rubber deteriorates because of fire, the intumescent material undergoes voluminous expansion to fill up voids left by the deterioration of the outer silicone rubber. |
| US08225549B2 |
Apparatus for aeroponically growing and developing plants
A self-contained apparatus for aeroponically growing and developing plants that comprises a reservoir for containing a liquid nutrient solution, a conical tower, a power supply, and a pump to move the liquid nutrient solution through the apparatus. The apparatus utilizes a pump to move the liquid nutrient solution from the reservoir vertically to a distribution pipe. Gravity then pulls the liquid nutrient solution downward through the distribution pipe, which is sealed at the opposite end. The pressure created within the distribution pipe creates sufficient force to disperse the liquid nutrient solution through the opening(s) in the distribution pipe onto the exposed root mass. Once the nutrient solution has been dispersed into the conical tower it is absorbed by the exposed root mass. The un-absorbed liquid nutrient solution collects the in base of the conical tower and is returned to the reservoir to be reused. |
| US08225546B2 |
Plant cultivation structure, root-preventing structure and root-preventing sheet used in them
To realize a root-preventing sheet with outstanding shape maintaining properties while being thin and light that even when affixed has no wrinkles, is difficult to tear, has excellent applicability, durability and adhesiveness and demonstrates definite root-preventing effects at low cost. The above problem is resolved by realizing a root-preventing layer structure set up on the construction surface of the soil layer that the plant is planted in and which prevents extrusion into the outer part of the soil layer of the plant root comprising: a resin film having the strength to be able to prevent extrusion of the plant root affixed to the construction surface; and an adhesive layer formed on the back face of the resin film, wherein a cover tape, which has an adhesive layer on the back face and has enough strength to be able to prevent extrusion of the plant root, is affixed to mutually abutting or overlapping resin film parts of the root-preventing layer to prevent extrusion of the plant root, and the thickness of the adhesive layer of the cover tape is formed to be smaller than the diameter of the extruding tip of the plant root. |
| US08225545B1 |
Landscape heated cover apparatus
A landscaping cover operable to be superposed a tree or a bush that functions to maintain a temperature that is greater than that of its environmental surroundings. The landscaping cover includes a flexible body that is generally planar in manner that can be adapted to cover a variety of different sizes of plants or trees. The landscape cover includes a plurality of heating elements that are disposed throughout the body. The landscape cover additionally includes a plurality of stakes that are electrically coupled to the heating elements and are operable to increase the ground proximate their location. |
| US08225544B2 |
Mounting rail
A firearm that includes a mounting rail having remotely powered electrical connectors with which modified prior art tactical accessories, such as tactical lights, night vision devices, laser sighting modules and the like can be interconnected. More particularly, the mounting rail of the invention includes electrical connectors that are operably interconnected with a relatively large, long life battery mounted in the stock of the firearm. |
| US08225541B2 |
Magazine for a firearm
A magazine for a firearm is provided. The magazine includes a magazine box, a base removably coupled to the magazine box and a follower disposed in the magazine box. A spring is coupled to said follower to bias ammunition cartridges towards a firearm receiver. The base includes at least one opening sized to receive an arm on said follower when the magazine is loaded with ammunition cartridges. The distance between the bottom of the follower and top of the base may be arranged to be less than the diameter of an ammunition cartridge when the magazine contains a predetermined number of rounds. |
| US08225537B2 |
Positioning and rotating apparatus for interring screw-in and self digging burial containers
Apparatus by which screw-in and self digging burial containers may be picked up, maneuvered into a desired position and pressed, rotated and or agitated for the purpose of interring such burial containers at nearly any angle into earth, sand, snow or other receiving material on dry land, wet land or under water. |
| US08225534B2 |
Article of footwear with a flexible arch support
An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure may include a flexible arch support adapted to provide support for a user's arch while permitting the arch to flex away from the user's foot. The flexible arch support may include a plurality of articulatable segments that, from a resting position, can rotate with respect to each other away from the user's foot, while resisting articulation in an opposite direction. The upper may include articulatable straps that secure the article of footwear to the user's foot while providing flexibility for foot bends or other movements. |
| US08225533B2 |
Component for use in a shoe
A component for supporting a wearer's foot includes a central plate joined at its periphery to one or more tubular portions. |
| US08225524B1 |
Air wiping device
An air wiping device for drying an elongated product that passes through the air wiping device. The air wiping device includes a housing having an internal elongated tubular passage through which the elongated product extends and including opposite one and other ends with the housing tubular passage having an inlet end and an outlet end for respectively receiving and passing the elongated product; a first set of nozzles mounted at the one end of the housing for communicating a compressed gas stream to the internal elongated tubular passage and second set of nozzles mounted at the other end of the housing for communicating a compressed gas to the internal elongated tubular passage. The first and second sets of nozzles are mounted for directing the respective gas streams obliquely to the internal elongated tubular passage. The first and second sets of nozzles are mounted for directing the respective gas streams in a direction having a compressed gas stream component toward each other for discharge transversely from the housing. |
| US08225519B2 |
Contact type measurement device having fine contact force adjustment mechanism
A contact type measurement device performs measurement with displacement of a probe, while a contact member attached to the probe is in contact with an object to be measured. Data on the relationship of a contact force of the probe to the object to be measured with an angle between the central axis of the probe and the direction of gravity, the amount of displacement of the probe, and a fluid pressure for applying a pushing-out or pulling-in force to the probe is stored in advance and, on the basis of this data, the fluid pressure or the amount of displacement of the probe is controlled to automatically and precisely adjust a fine contact force of the probe to the object to be measured. |
| US08225516B2 |
Pencil sharpening device
The present invention is a pencil sharpener having a hollow container having a sidewall, a closed bottom and a lid, a sharpening element being mounted on the lid, the lid having an opening below the sharpening element such that pencil shavings pass through the opening in the lid and into the hollow container. |
| US08225511B2 |
Portable direct action brittle pipe/soil pipe cutter
A lightweight, portable, and relatively small cutting tool is described. The tool engages with a standard press tool and is used for cutting brittle pipe such as cast iron soil pipe. The tool features a cutting chain assembly that is tensioned about the pipe by a movable ram block. The ram block is displaced by a ram or hydraulic cylinder in the press tool. |
| US08225510B2 |
Razors and razor cartridges with a decreased total interblade span
A wet shaving razor cartridge that comprises a plurality of at least five elongate blade assemblies disposed in parallel between a guard and a cap of a housing, each blade assembly having a sharp cutting edge; wherein said blade assemblies exhibit a cumulative interblade span of no greater than about 3 mm. Also, a wet shaving razor cartridge that comprise a plurality of at least four elongate blade assemblies disposed in parallel between a guard and a cap of a housing, each blade assembly having a sharp cutting edge; wherein said blade assemblies exhibit a cumulative interblade span of no greater than about 2.5 mm. |
| US08225507B2 |
Stereolithographic rocket motor manufacturing method
A hybrid rocket motor is manufactured by photopolymerizing the solid fuel grain in a stereolithography method, wherein fuel grains in a plastic matrix are deposited in layers for building a solid fuel rocket body in three dimensions for improved performance and for a compact design. |
| US08225505B2 |
Method of forming a rotating blade assembly
A method of forming a blade assembly for a gas turbine engine, the method comprising mounting turbine blades on a rotor in a number of radial stages. Sacrificial supports are placed on the blades, and nozzle guide vanes are located on the supports. The rotor is introduced into a casing, and the guide vanes are mounted to the casing. |
| US08225501B2 |
Method for making thermoacoustic device
The present invention relates to a method for making a thermoacoustic device. The method includes the following steps. A substrate with a surface is provided. A plurality of microspaces is formed on the surface of the substrate. A sacrifice layer is fabricated to fill the microspaces. A metal film is deposited on the sacrifice layer, and the sacrifice layer is removed. A signal input device is provided to electrically connect with the metal film. |
| US08225497B2 |
Permanent magnet rotor installation systems
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to rotor installation systems and, more particularly, to permanent magnet rotor installation systems, including those having an in situ magnetizer or magnet insertion device. In one embodiment, the invention provides a rotor installation system comprising: at least one magnetizer for permanently magnetizing a ferromagnetic material; and an arbor for receiving a rotor having at least one portion including a ferromagnetic material, wherein the at least one magnetizer is positioned relative to the arbor to allow permanent magnetization of the ferromagnetic material. |
| US08225496B2 |
Automated integrated solar cell production line composed of a plurality of automated modules and tools including an autoclave for curing solar devices that have been laminated
The present invention generally relates to a system that can be used to form a photovoltaic device, or solar cell, using processing modules that are adapted to perform one or more steps in the solar cell formation process. The automated solar cell fab is generally an arrangement of automated processing modules and automation equipment that is used to form solar cell devices. The automated solar fab will thus generally comprise a substrate receiving module that is adapted to receive a substrate, one or more absorbing layer deposition cluster tools having at least one processing chamber that is adapted to deposit a silicon-containing layer on a surface of the substrate, one or more back contact deposition chambers, one or more material removal chambers, a solar cell encapsulation device, an autoclave module, an automated junction box attaching module, and one or more quality assurance modules that are adapted to test and qualify the completely formed solar cell device. |
| US08225495B2 |
Localizing unit for an X-ray diagnostic system with a sterile drape
A localizing unit for an X-ray diagnostic system covered with a sterile drape is provided. In one embodiment, the localizing unit can be sterilized and has an adapter, which includes a mechanism for puncturing the sterile drape and a mechanism for temporarily securing the sterile drape on a housing of the X-ray diagnostic system. The adapter may be detachably held in predetermined holders on the housing of the X-ray diagnostic system and may be positioned on the housing in a reproducible manner. In some embodiments, the mechanism for temporarily securing the sterile drape on the housing includes an elastically deformable, surrounding seal, which upon positioning the adapter, produces a force on the sterile drape in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the housing. |
| US08225493B2 |
Electronic component mounting apparatus
Before a user starts the operation of an electronic component mounting apparatus, user's input representing as to whether the user is an operator, a programmer or a manager/maintenance person is accepted and further user level information representing degree of skill of the user as to the safety measures is accepted. The power supply of a mechanical portion operating a head portion is interrupted in accordance with the state of the apparatus including at least the user level information and the open/close state of a safety cover for covering the movable range of the head portion. |
| US08225488B1 |
Method for providing a perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) pole
A method for providing a PMR pole in a magnetic recording transducer comprises providing a mask on an intermediate layer, the mask including a line having at least one side, providing a hard mask on the mask, a first portion of the hard mask residing on the at least one side and a second portion residing on a surface of the intermediate layer, the hard mask including a dry-etchable layer and a high removal ratio layer on the dry-etchable layer, removing at least part of the first portion of the hard mask, at least a portion of the line being exposed, removing the line, thereby providing an aperture in the hard mask corresponding to the line, forming a trench in the intermediate layer under the aperture using a removal process, and providing the PMR pole, at least a portion of the PMR pole residing in the trench. |
| US08225485B2 |
Method of manufacturing a head suspension
A method of manufacturing a head suspension includes a punching process, a positioning process, and an affixing process. An objective part on the head suspension to which a damper 73 is affixed includes a discontinuous section 72. The punching process punches a damper material into the damper 73 whose shape corresponds to the shape of the objective part excluding the discontinuous section 72. The positioning process positions the damper 73 to the objective part so that the damper 73 avoids and surrounds the discontinuous section 72, and the affixing process affixes the damper 73 to the objective part. The method secures a uniform damping effect among manufactured head suspensions and improves the yield of dampers and head suspensions without deteriorating the functions and performances of the head suspensions. |
| US08225484B2 |
Method of manufacturing stator for electric rotating machine
A method of manufacturing a stator includes: (a) preparing a stator core and electric wires; (b) assembling together the stator core and the electric wires; (c) welding corresponding pairs of the electric wires to form a stator coil, wherein for each corresponding pair of the electric wires, end portions of the electric wires are radially bent toward each other to have distal end surfaces thereof abutting each other at a position axially outside an annular coil end part of the stator coil, the distal end surfaces are welded together to form a weld between the end portions, and the end portions together make up a crossover part that extends to cross over the coil end part; and (d) deforming, for each corresponding pair of the electric wires, the end portions so as to reduce an axial distance between the coil end part and the crossover part. |
| US08225482B2 |
Manufacturing method of waveguide having a metal alignment mark
A manufacturing method of a waveguide structure includes forming a metal layer of a predetermined size on a substrate to form a structure, forming a lower clad layer on the structure in order to completely cover the metal layer, forming a core layer of a predetermined size on the lower clad layer at the location corresponding to the metal layer, and forming an upper clad layer thereon in order to completely cover the core layer. |
| US08225481B2 |
Diffusion bonded composite material and method therefor
Methods and apparatus are provided for forming a diffusion bonded composite structure. The composite structure includes at least one internal void or feature. Surfaces to be bonded are cleaned and prepared for bonding. The exposed joints of the composite structure where the surfaces interface are sealed. The composite structure is placed in hot isostatic process furnace. The furnace is pressurized to a low pressure below 1500 pounds per square inch that forces the surfaces to be bonded in intimate contact with one another. The composite structure is heated to promote diffusion bonding at the interface of surfaces in contact with one another. |
| US08225480B2 |
Method and device for producing metal panels with a pattern
A device and method for producing metal panels. First a metal melt is produced, then a substrate, having a lower temperature than the metal melt, is contacted with it so that some of the metal melt crystallizes on the substrate. The substrate is then moved relative to the metal melt so that a metal foil is formed on the substrate. The metal foil is divided into metal panels. The substrate has grooves which are used to fit partitions between the panels, and grooves which are filled with liquid metal. The latter grooves provide a reinforcement for the metal panels. A pattern of recesses and/or elevations can be provided in the substrate so that the same pattern is formed in the metal foil. The pattern may include parallel grooves which ensure that the surface of the foil is enlarged. In the case of solar cells this results in greater efficiency. |
| US08225479B2 |
Method for joining two objects and corresponding joining element
A first and a second object (1 and 2) are joined with the aid of a joining element (8) including at least in the region of its distal and proximal ends (8.1 and 8.2) a thermoplastic material. Two blind holes (5 and 6) facing each other are provided in the two objects (1 and 2) and the joining element (8) is positioned in the blind holes such that its distal and proximal ends (8.1) are in contact with the bottom faces of the blind holes and such that there is a gap (9) between the two objects (1 and 2). This assembly is then positioned between a support (3) and a sonotrode (4). The sonotrode (4) and the support (3) are forced towards each other, while the sonotrode (4) is vibrated, thereby liquefying at least part of the material having thermoplastic properties, there, where the joining element ends (8.1 and 8.2) are pressed against the bottom faces of the holes (5 and 6) and allowing the liquefied material to infiltrate into pores of the hole surfaces or unevennesses or openings provided in the hole surfaces. |
| US08225475B2 |
Alignment device for fine pitch connector leads
A non-conductive stabilizer bar device for aligning and stabilizing fine pitch electronic components, specifically a nanominiature connector, while these components are being mounted to a printed circuit board. The stabilizer bar device provides for alignment and stability in the all directions. The stabilizer bar device provides a series of grooves having detents that come into contact with fine pitch electronic leads and hold fast the fine pitch electronic leads providing stability by maintaining the true positioning of the terminal ends of the contacts. |
| US08225473B2 |
Industrial tire ring tool
A tire ring tool used in connection with a lock ring and a retaining ring for securing a tire on a rim, the ring tool including a handle and a working end extending from the handle adapted to manipulate the lock ring. |
| US08225472B2 |
Methods of fabricating a membrane with improved mechanical integrity
Forming a thin film acoustic device by patterning a layer of non-conducting material on a first side of a substrate to expose a portion of the first substrate side; depositing layers of conducting material on the layer of non-conducting material and the exposed portion of the first substrate side; depositing a layer of piezoelectric material on the layers of conducting material; depositing and patterning additional layers of material on the layer of piezoelectric material to form a first device electrode; depositing and patterning a masking layer on a second side of the substrate to expose a portion of the second substrate side; etching away the exposed substrate portion to expose the patterned layer of non-conducting material and a portion of the layers of conducting material; and etching away the exposed portion of the layers of conducting material to form a second device electrode. |
| US08225471B2 |
Injection molded energy harvesting device
Embodiments of an injection molded energy harvesting device are described. In one embodiment, a piezoelectric cantilever is produced via an injection molding method to harvest vibration energy from an environment being sensed. The cantilever device consists of a piezoelectric material member, a proof mass of high density material coupled to the piezoelectric member, and a leadframe for electrical connection. The piezoelectric member is electrically attached to the leadframe with a standard connecting material. The entire assembly is then injection molded with plastic. The plastic encased piezoelectric member forms a cantilever that generates electricity in response to vibration exerted on the proof mass. |
| US08225464B2 |
Fastener arrangements
A fastener arrangement comprises: a) a fastener receiver (12) having a lip (13); b) a fastener element (14) having a body part (15) and a resiliently connected latch member (16) having a hook (17) adapted to engage the lip; c) the body part comprising a fulcrum (18) adapted to bear against the receiver at a position spaced from the lip when the hook engages the lip, with relative flexure of the body part and the latch member giving rise to a force holding the hook under the lip and the fulcrum against the receiver; d) the body part having a press-to-engage, press-to-release actuator member (19) connected to the body part on the side of the fulcrum remote from the latch member; f) the hook having a camming face which, when the engaged fastener element is tipped about the fulcrum by pressure on the actuator member, cooperates with the lip to flex the latch member away from the lip to release the latch member so that the fastener element can be withdrawn from the receiver. A no-release version is also disclosed. |
| US08225463B2 |
Rope clamping device
A rope or line clamping device, including an assembly of two interfit tubular molded plastic members each having an internal web which are juxtaposed with each other and formed with elongated holes offset from the rotary axis of the members so that the holes progressively become more misaligned upon relative rotation of the members in a direction reducing the overlapping of the two holes, with a ratchet mechanism holding the members in relatively rotated positions to hold the rope or line segments clamped together until the ratchet mechanism is selectively released allowing reverse relative rotation. |
| US08225460B2 |
Multiple axis hinge for a vehicle body side door
A vehicle door hinge assembly includes a first hinge supported to pivot about a first axis, a guide surface, a door located at a side of the vehicle, a bracket to which the door is secured, supported to pivot about the first axis and a second axis and including a follower engaged with the guild surface, and a strut secured to the bracket that extends as the bracket pivots toward an open position and retracts as the bracket pivots toward a closed position. |
| US08225459B2 |
Multi-link hinge
A multi-link hinge for a door includes a fastening element that is securable to a furniture body. A pivotable door bearing is movable with respect to the fastening element. The pivotable door bearing defines an opened position, a closed position, and a pivot range between the opened position and the closed position. Several levers are connected to one another in a scissored arrangement. The levers connect the fastening element to the pivotable door bearing. A spring is operably disposed between the fastening element and the pivotable door bearing. The spring is pre-tensioned to bias the pivotable door bearing into the closed position. A linear damper is operably disposed between the fastening element and the pivotable door bearing. The linear damper dampens a closing movement of the door bearing. The multi-link hinge may be employed to prevent slamming of refrigerator doors, for example. |
| US08225458B1 |
Intelligent door restraint
A method for controlling a door, comprising the steps of storing energy during a manual opening of a door, sensing an object within a doorway, selectively applying a force derived from the stored energy, to close the door, based on the sensing of an object in the doorway. The closure is preferably controlled by an electronic control. A door closing device comprising an energy storage device for storing energy during door opening and releasing the stored energy to subsequently close the door, a damping system for damping a closure of the door, a sensor for detecting an object within a doorway, having an output, a controllable device for selectively restraining the energy storage device from closing the door, and a control system for controlling the controllable device based on the output. |
| US08225456B2 |
Hand held vacuum cleaner
A hand held vacuum cleaner having a housing, a motor-fan unit, a dust container, an air passage opening into the dust container and through which dust laden air is directed into the dust container, and at least one filter arranged after the dust container, as seen in the flow direction. The dust container has a first emptying opening, which is normally being covered by a lid and is sized such that it allows the dust collected in the dust container to fall out through the opening when the lid is opened. The dust container also has a second emptying opening. In one aspect, the second emptying opening is adapted to be fluidly connected to an external vacuum source via a connection. In another aspect, a similar device is provided, and adapted so the dust container can be emptied through the first emptying opening without removing the dust container from the vacuum cleaner. In another aspect, the invention provides a vacuum cleaner dust container having an air inlet, an air outlet, a first dirt outlet, and a second dirt outlet. The first and second dirt outlets are separate from the air outlet. |
| US08225453B2 |
Cleaning sheet
Provided is a cleaning sheet in which a plurality of fiber bound materials produced by bundling a lot of fibers is joined on a base sheet, and at least adjacent two bound fiber materials have respectively different length in the longitudinal direction of the fibers, to constitute a cleaning portion and which can sufficiently wipe off even relatively large dirt particles. |
| US08225452B2 |
Mopping device with two mopping wings which can be folded together
A mopping device includes a mop plate including a first mopping wing and a second mopping wing. The first and second mopping wings are configured to fold toward one another, and the first and second mopping wings each include a first material and each include at least one sliding element made of a second material. The mopping device further includes a first squeezing arm and a second squeezing arm disposed movably relative to the first and second mopping wings. The first and second squeezing arms are configured to respectively slide on the respective at least one sliding element and fold the first and second mopping wings toward one another. |
| US08225450B2 |
Multifunctional nozzle attachment for lawn blower
A multifunctional nozzle attachment for a portable hand-held lawn blower. The multifunctional nozzle attachment includes a coupler which can be attached to the nozzle of the lawn blower. Various attachments including scrapers, rakes, and brushes are provided for use with the coupler. When attached to the coupler, the attachments may be used to break up debris that does not release from the ground using the air stream alone. Once the debris is broken up, the air stream carries the debris away. |
| US08225448B2 |
Lint roller
Disclosed is a lint roller having a handle, and first roll of tape and a second roll of tape. The handle has a support having a first portion and a second portion. The first roll of tape has an outwardly facing surface with adhesive and rotatable about the first portion of the support. The second roll of tape has an outwardly facing surface with adhesive and rotatable about the second portion of the support. |
| US08225446B2 |
Pool cleaning vehicle with endless loop track
Disclosed herein is a submersible pool cleaning vehicle having an endless loop track. The vehicle including a housing and the housing having members for moving the vehicle around the pool surface. The vehicle including an endless loop track. The track having an exterior and an interior, the interior having a series of ribs and ridges, the ribs having a predetermined width and pitch. The ribs being centrally located on the track while the ridges flank either side of the ribs. The vehicle including drive members for moving the vehicle around the pool surface. The drive members and associated members for moving the vehicle have an exterior surface with a series of grooves and ridges for compatible connection with the ribs. The width of the rib is substantially smaller than the width of the groove and the track ribs engaging the groves. |
| US08225443B2 |
Bedpan system
A bedpan system including an underlayment for supporting a supine human patient above a substantially horizontal supporting surface, wherein the underlayment has: a substantially horizontal top surface upon which the patient rests, a substantially parallel, spaced apart bottom surface for lying upon the supporting surface, and a bedpan cavity having an open top in registry with buttocks of the patient; the bedpan system comprising: an underlayment that is an inflatable mattress constructed substantially of flexible plastic sheet material comprising: a top sheet providing the top surface, a bottom sheet providing the bottom surface, side wall sheets attached between the top sheet and the bottom sheet providing substantially vertical side walls around the perimeter of the underlayment when it is inflated, and cavity sidewall sheets attached between the top sheet and the bottom sheet providing substantially vertical sidewalls in the cavity; a cavity base that is joined to the cavity sidewalls as a closed bottom for the cavity, thereby effectively making the bottom surface of the underlayment a single, unitary, or continuous sheet including under the cavity; a smooth junction where the cavity sidewalls join with the top surface; and a smooth junction where the cavity sidewalls join with the cavity base. |
| US08225442B2 |
Privacy blanket
A privacy blanket, including a blanket body having a first side surface and a second side surface. At least one engagement portion is provided to removably engage the privacy blanket with a user. The privacy blanket further includes at least one functional portion for providing a containment area, a storage arrangement, and/or a working area. |
| US08225433B2 |
Apparatus for minimising entanglement and bunching of an elongate means
An apparatus and method for minimizing entanglement and bunching of a retracting or extending cable (10, 11) for a swimming pool cover, comprises a shaft (4) with a roller (5, 6) to guide the cable. The roller slidably rotates on the shaft so that it rotates and moves axially in response to any forces provided by the cable when being retracted or extended, to minimize entanglement and bunching. |
| US08225429B2 |
Cold weather protection garment
A garment to be worn by a person having a neck and a pair of hands includes a shawl portion with first and second ends and a width extending between first and second edges extending between the ends, and a muff formed at at least one of the first and second ends. The muff has a transversely extending passageway with vertically extending opposed entranceways configured to receive the pair of hands of the person. The muff also has a receptacle pocket with a generally horizontally extending entranceway for carriage of small items located exterior to the passageway. The lower portions of the shawl may be folded upon themselves to form a pair of cuffs, the interior regions of the cuffs leading to the entranceway to the receptacle pocket. The cuffs may be further joined together above the muff to form a bib adjoining the muff. |
| US08225427B2 |
Glove with gripping surface
A glove with a base layer of a flexible material which extends along at least a palm-side portion of the glove which includes a palm area and inner sides of a plurality of finger stalls and a thumb stall. The glove also has a continuous second layer positioned on the palm-side portion and disposed on top of the base layer. The continuous second layer includes a plurality of contact areas and a contact surface. Also, the glove has a plurality of siping grooves which conduct liquid away from the contact surface and a plurality of channels which direct liquid away from the contact areas. |
| US08225426B2 |
Glove with gripping surface
A glove with a base layer of a flexible material which extends along at least a palm-side portion of the glove which includes a palm area and inner sides of a plurality of finger stalls and a thumb stall. The glove also has a second layer positioned on the palm-side portion and disposed on top of the base layer. The second layer includes a plurality of contact areas and a contact surface. Also, the glove has a plurality of siping grooves which conduct liquid away from the contact surface and a plurality of channels which direct liquid away from the contact areas. |
| US08225424B2 |
High visibility safety apparel
A high visibility safety vest for use with an air/oxygen bottle such as used with a SCBA. The vest includes a torso covering portion of high visibility material. The torso covering portion includes a back panel with an air/oxygen bottle receiving cover of the high visibility material formed in the back panel to extend therefrom and cover an air/oxygen bottle of a SCBA worn by a wearer of the vest. |
| US08225423B2 |
Torso garment
A torso-covering garment for playing paintball having gripping areas to enable the user to grippably contact a gripping area of the garment with the butt stock of the gun. Each gripping area comprises a pliant, non-cushioning substrate. Common embodiments of the garment are shirts, jerseys, jackets, and vests. A method of playing paintball which comprises wearing the garment of the invention, and a method of fabricating the garment. |
| US08225420B2 |
Helmet heat shield
A helmet heat shield affixed over the top of a helmet of the type worn by riders of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, bicycles, and other similar open-air vehicles. The inner surface of the heat shield conforms to the contour and shape of the upper portion of the helmet and further, provides an air gap between the helmet and the heat shield. A radiant barrier attached to the inner surface of the heat shield assists in dissipating heat away from the helmet surface. The air gap also permits air to circulate through freely, thereby significantly reducing the heat transfer to the exterior surface and interior of the helmet. The heat shield may be manufactured as an integral part of the helmet. |
| US08230516B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for network authentication and content distribution
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for network authentication and content distribution. The apparatus includes an authentication module configured to receive redirected network requests over a communications network from a firewall module and configured to present a user license agreement and not require user-identifiable information, and a content distribution module configured to synchronize over the communications network with a client module and transmit content to the client module. The system includes a firewall module connected with a global communications network, a network connected with the firewall module, a computing device configured to couple with the network, and the apparatus. The method includes receiving redirected network requests over a communications network from a firewall module, presenting a user license agreement and not requiring user-identifiable information, and synchronizing over the communications network with a client module and transmitting content to the client module. |
| US08230515B1 |
Parameter based operation
A device may include communication logic to receive a request to perform an activity on behalf of a client, where the activity is related to a primary application and a secondary application. The communication logic may send a response that allows the client to perform the activity when the client is authorized. The device may include evaluation logic to determine whether the client is related to the primary license and to determine whether a secondary license related to the secondary application is available. The evaluation logic may allocate the available secondary license to the client for use with the secondary application when the secondary license is available. The evaluation logic may authorize the client to perform the activity when the secondary license is allocated to the client. |
| US08230514B2 |
Method for preventing key logger from hacking data typed on keyboard through authorization of keyboard data
A method for preventing a key logger from hacking the keyboard data typed on keyboard through authorization of keyboard data according to the present invention involves transmitting a seed and hash counter, which were created according to a ready-to-input signal in an application program to be protected from hacking, to a device driver; creating a first key data on the basis of the seed and hash counter or a keyboard data created by a keyboard interrupt created from outside in the device driver; creating a second key data on the basis of the seed and hash counter when the application program receives the first key data or a keyboard event data equivalent to the keyboard data; comparing the keyboard event data with the second key data; and receiving the keyboard event data as the data typed on keyboard when the keyboard event data is not identical with the second key data according to the result of the comparison of the prior step. |
| US08230513B2 |
Method and apparatus for protecting networks from unauthorized applications
A traffic controller is provided which integrates black-box tests of unauthorized applications to extract application characteristics from associated Internet traffic, exploits the networking information learned by host clients, actively scans and controls hosts on the corporate network, and dynamically configures a corporate firewall to block traffic to and from critical application network elements. As a result, the traffic controller effectively manages unauthorized applications and their associated traffic in a corporate environment. |
| US08230511B2 |
Trusted operating environment for malware detection
Described herein are techniques and apparatuses for scanning a computing device for malware and/or viruses. In various embodiments, a trusted operating environment, which may include a trusted operating system and/or a trusted antivirus tool, may be utilized with respect to a computing device. More particularly, the trusted operating system may be used to boot the computing device. Moreover, the trusted antivirus tool may search the computing device for malware definition updates (e.g., virus signature updates) and use the trusted operating system to scan the computing device for malware. In other embodiments, the trusted antivirus tool may scan the computing device and remove any viruses detected by the trusted antivirus tool. The trusted operating system may then reboot the computing device into a clean environment once any detected viruses are removed. |
| US08230509B2 |
System and method for using rules to protect against malware
The invention provides a method of disabling malicious or unwanted software on a computer system using a plurality of rules, wherein the plurality of rules automatically disable functions originating from malicious software. In one embodiment, the method includes detecting a function that is attempting to act on an object within the computer system and identifying one or more rules from the plurality of rules that apply to the object. The function may then be automatically disabled when the identified rules indicate that the function should be disabled. |
| US08230508B2 |
Host intrusion prevention server
An intrusion-prevention server supporting a set of hosts comprises data filters and an engine which uses a set of encoded rules for assigning data filters to hosts according to metadata characterizing the hosts. Each data filter corresponds to at least one intrusion pattern from among a set of intrusion patterns and the data filters are continuously updated as intrusion patterns change. Metadata acquired from a host varies with a changing state of the host. Acquisition of metadata from each host is streamlined to reduce communications between the server and the hosts and to minimize processing effort for both the server and the hosts. |
| US08230505B1 |
Method for cooperative intrusion prevention through collaborative inference
The present invention is directed to an intrusion detection/prevention system that uses application layer event information to identify potential intrusions and notifies remote trusted peers in other enterprise networks of potential intrusions emanating therefrom. |
| US08230504B1 |
Shared tap DOS-attack protection
A method and system are provided for centralizing services subscribed to by customers of a service provider for detecting attacks at the customer-end of a communications network. A signal diverter is installed in a signal path carrying inbound communication signals common to subscribed customers and a portion of the collective inbound signals for each customer is diverted to a detection apparatus. Finally, based on parameters for each subscribed customer, a determination is made as to if a subscribed customer is experiencing an attack. |
| US08230499B1 |
Detecting and blocking unauthorized downloads
A hook is set for one or more downloading functions. Subsequently, code is executed within an application process. Responsive to the executed code calling one of the hooked functions, a return address of the called function is examined. If the return address is within a heap memory area of the application process, a remedial action, such as returning an error code or displaying an alert, is taken. |
| US08230496B2 |
Method for improving security of the security token and apparatus therefor
A method for improving security of the security token, comprising the steps of: detecting the bioelectrical signal of the host user; and allowing the host to access the data stored in the security token after verifying the user. The process of detecting the bioelectrical signal of the host user further comprises the following steps of: capturing the bioelectrical signal of the user; processing the captured bioelectrical signal to produce a bioelectrical feature vector; comparing the bioelectrical feature vector with the previously stored feature vector templates; and verifying the user if the comparing result is greater than or equal to a previously specified threshold. The present also provides two embodiments of an apparatus for improving security of the security token. The present invention eliminates the security problems of the prior art and improves the reliability and security of the security token. |
| US08230494B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and recording medium
An image processing apparatus, comprises: a document reader that reads images printed in a plurality of areas in a document; a printer that prints on a sheet image data read out from the document by said document reader; a security code detector that detects a security code given to each of the plurality of areas in said document; a password detector that detects a password given at least to one of the plurality of areas in said document; an entry requestor that requests a password to be entered; a password judgment part that judges whether or not said entered password is an appropriate one that corresponds to the password detected by the password detector; and a controller that decides an operation performed by said printer, to print image data from the area having the given password, depending on the judgment result drew by said password judgment part. |
| US08230492B2 |
Network device, method of controlling the same and network system
A method and apparatus for mitigating traffic increase due to both a proxy server and a network device transmitting response packets to a search request by multicast. The network device transmits to the proxy server information required for a client apparatus to communicate with the network device. When the proxy server is in a state where proxy-send of the information is possible, the network device restricts response to a search request by multicast from the client apparatus. |
| US08230489B2 |
Secure authentication systems and methods
Systems and methods are provided for authentication by combining a Reverse Turing Test (RTT) with password-based user authentication protocols to provide improved resistance to brute force attacks. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for user authentication, the method including receiving a username/password pair associated with a user; requesting one or more responses to a first Reverse Turing Test (RTT); and granting access to the user if a valid response to the first RTT is received and the username/password pair is valid. |
| US08230485B2 |
Method and system for controlling access privileges for trusted network nodes
A system and method for controlling access to a computer provides for loose security within a local network while retaining strong security against external access to the network. In one embodiment, a user has access to trusted nodes in a secured group within an unmanaged network, without being required to choose, enter and remember a login password. To establish such a secure blank password or one-click logon account for the user on a computer, a strong random password is generated and stored, and the account is designated as a blank password account. If the device is part of a secured network group, the strong random password is replicated to the other trusted nodes. When a user with a blank password account wishes to log in to a computer, the stored strong random password is retrieved and the user is authenticated. |
| US08230483B2 |
System, apparatus, program, and method for authentication
According to an aspect of the invention, a management of each authentication subprocess assures the each authentication subprocess, and assurance contents can be verified by verification side, so that trustworthiness of the whole authentication process can be improved. An authentication system includes authentication entity devices which separately execute authentication subprocesses P1 and P2 and a verification device which verifies the executed contents of each of the authentication subprocesses P1 and P2. The entity device includes a confidential information management unit which manages confidential information, an authenticator generating unit which generates an authenticator using the confidential information, and a context generating unit which generates a specific context pursuant to a specific format from the authenticator and the executed contents. |
| US08230475B2 |
Methods and computer program products for subcontent tagging and playback
A content provider inserts at least one begin tag and at least one end tag into a broadcast program. The at least one begin tag and at least one end tag defines a video clip segment for the broadcast program. The content provider transmits the broadcast program including the at least one begin tag and the at least one end tag over a network to a digital video recorder (DVR). Upon the broadcast program ending, the content provider transmits a wrapper over the network to the DVR. The wrapper includes wrapper information comprising at least one of a sponsor advertisement, a trailer broadcast, a header broadcast, or a summary of one or more video clip segments. |
| US08230474B2 |
User specified parallel data fetching for optimized web access
A hypermedia document display method can include presenting hypermedia content, the hypermedia content containing hyperlinks to additional hypermedia content; storing selected ones of the hyperlinks in a delayed viewing list; and, caching hypermedia content associated with the stored hyperlinks during the presenting step. The method can further include reconfiguring the stored hyperlinks to point to the cached hypermedia content. The presenting step can include displaying Web content in a Web browser. In that case, the Web content can contain hyperlinks to additional Web content. The presenting step also can include playing back multimedia content in a multimedia content player. Finally, the presenting step can include displaying audiovisual television content combined with hypermedia content in a television set. |
| US08230472B2 |
Camera image transmission
A data and image transmission system includes at least one interactive control server system, coupled to a communications network, to which a user may connect for interactive communication to at least one remote image-data acquisition system located behind a communications security firewall. The image-data acquisition system includes a tunnel client, and the interactive control server system includes a active connection to enable the interactive control server system and the image-data acquisition system to transmit and receive communications through the firewall. A set of rules and the operational specifications of the image-data acquisition system, operable on the interactive control server system, determine how the data from the image-data acquisition system is provided to the interactive control server system. Conflicts between the data received from the image-data acquisition system and the data requested by the user are resolved by a set of prioritizing rules to determine the data transmitted to the user. |
| US08230470B2 |
Full duplex wideband communications system for a local coaxial network
Systems and methods are disclosed for a full duplex wideband communications system for a local (e.g. in-home) coaxial network. The system employs a Frequency-division duplex (FDD) scheme that allows identical wideband modems to communicate with each other. To achieve this, the wideband modems contain a duplexer and a switch that allows reversing the connection of the wideband transmitter and receiver to the duplexer. Each wideband modem includes a control modem that is used to control access to the wideband channels. A wideband transmitter, which may be included in a modem associated with a server set-top terminal (STT), transmits a video presentation to a wideband receiver, which may be included in a modem associated with a client STT. |
| US08230467B2 |
Media asset management system for managing video segments from an aerial sensor platform and associated method
A method for managing video segments from an aerial sensor platform using a media asset management system includes collecting the video segments from the aerial sensor platform, associating corresponding geospatial data with each video segment, and creating a search thesaurus including search descriptors with cross-references therebetween. At least one respective search descriptor from the search thesaurus is associated with each video segment. The method further includes storing each video segment, its geospatial data and its at least one search descriptor on the media asset management system for later search and retrieval, such as by a surveillance organization. The search descriptors may be geospatial search descriptors that are cross-referenced in a hierarchical relationship. |
| US08230464B2 |
DOCSIS MAC chip adapted
Disclosed in one embodiment is the use of a terrestrial media access control (MAC) chip or circuit in a satellite modem. The satellite modem comprises a satellite receiver, a satellite transmitter, an adaptor, and a terrestrial MAC chip. The adapter translates between the satellite physical layer and the physical layer of the terrestrial MAC chip. Protocols, messaging and signaling is spoofed for the terrestrial MAC chip such that it can be integrated into a satellite system. The received satellite signal is filtered so select one or more sub-channels that are fed to the terrestrial MAC chip. The terrestrial MAC chip could use a variety of physical layers, for example, Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) or World Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX). |
| US08230462B2 |
Fast channel switching for encrypted mobile multimedia multicast system
Enhancing a stream layer transmission for a MediaFLO™ mobile multimedia multicast system comprising a transmitter and a receiver. Code word (CW) computations are performed on a current channel being accessed by the receiver. A favorite channel that a user is statistically mostly likely to switch to on the receiver at any particular time is anticipated. The Overhead Information Symbols (OIS) for each favorite channel is periodically monitored. The receiver remains in a sleep mode while data bursts are received from non-favorite channels, and then wakes up during data bursts of the favorite channel. The same CW computations are performed on the favorite channel as were being performed on the current channel. A cyclic redundancy check (CRC) is performed once the CW computations are performed upon selecting the favorite channel. |
| US08230461B1 |
Method for grouping and transmitting multimedia data
A method for the aggregation and the transmission of multimedia data is proposed, in which multimedia data (52) is analyzed according to its content and corresponding metadata (51) is generated and a user profile (21) is established. The user stipulates and/or modifies at least parts of the user data (211) of the user profile (21) in advance of a purchase of multimedia data from the central unit (20) by means of a communication device (10). Multimedia data (52) are selected utilizing the metadata (51) and based upon the user profile, and content oriented and user specific optimized multimedia data are produced out of the selected multimedia data by means of a repackaging module (30). The content oriented and user specific optimized multimedia data are stored and made available to the user via a database (41) of a content module (40) of the central unit (29). Particularly, the content oriented and user specific optimized multimedia data are made available to the user for various receiving devices of the user in the database (41) of the content module (40). |
| US08230457B2 |
Method and system for using coherence of biological responses as a measure of performance of a media
Various embodiments of the present invention create a novel system for rating an event in a media based on the strength of the emotions viewers feel towards the event. The viewer's responses to the media can be measured and calculated via physiological sensors. The metric for rating the strength of the media is created based on the mathematical coherence of change (up or down) of all pertinent physiological responses across multiple viewers. Such rating offers an objective ability to compare the strengths of events of the media, as there is a strong correlation between high coherence of physiological responses (all viewers feel the same thing at the same time) and strong ratings of emotionality, engagement, likeability, success in the marketplace/on screen. |
| US08230454B2 |
Motor device
A motor device includes: a rotor case rotated along with a shaft; a chuck housing mounted on a hub of the rotor case; a chuck member mounted on the chuck housing such that the chuck member is protruded from the interior to an outer side, to fix a disc; and a concave portion formed as a recess on the rotor case to form a gap with the chuck support in contact with the chuck member to thereby prevent a frictional contact between the rotor case and the chuck member. |
| US08230444B2 |
Global attribute uniqueness (GAU) using an ordered message service (OMS)
A method and computer program product for providing Global Attribute Uniqueness (GAU) using an Ordered Message Service (OMS) is presented. A database operation is received from a client. A determination is made regarding whether the operation changes a value to a current value and when the operation would change a value to a current value then operation is ended. When the operation would not change a value to a current value the operation is decomposed into ADD messages and DELETE messages. The ADD messages are sent to a GAU manager and GAU state is checked and updated. The updates are committed to GAU state and the Directory Server (DS) is updated. Operation is then returned to the client. DELETE messages are sent to the GAU manager and GAU state is updated. The updates are then committed. |
| US08230443B2 |
Supervisory process control and manufacturing information system application having a layered architecture
A supervisory process control and manufacturing information system application is disclosed. The components of the application are distributable to a plurality of networked computer devices in a multi-layered hierarchical manner wherein lower layers host higher installed layers of application components. Application objects reside at a relatively high level of the distributed application architecture and model entities within a process control system. Engine objects host execution of the application objects in a run-time environment. Thus, application objects are not deployed until a host engine object with which they are associated have been deployed. Engine objects are hosted by platform objects. The platform objects correspond to a physical computer system component for executing the engine objects and associated application objects. A configuration facility presents a variety of views including deployment and model views of the application. The views incorporate the relationships of the objects that make up the distributed application. |
| US08230437B2 |
Methods and apparatus for detecting deadlock in multithreading programs
A method of detecting deadlock in a multithreading program is provided. An invocation graph is constructed having a single root and a plurality of nodes corresponding to one or more functions written in code of the multithreading program. A resource graph is computed in accordance with one or more resource sets in effect at each node of the invocation graph. It is determined whether cycles exist between two or more nodes of the resource graph. A cycle is an indication of deadlock in the multithreading program. |
| US08230436B2 |
Aggregating recurrent schedules to optimize resource consumption
Coalescing schedules that use a resource to extend battery life. Each of the schedules is defined to execute at a recurrent activation time within a defined tolerance. After receiving notification of an event, the schedules are accessed to identify the schedules that may be executed early based on their activation time and tolerance. The identified schedules are aggregated for execution. |
| US08230433B2 |
Shared performance monitor in a multiprocessor system
A performance monitoring unit (PMU) and method for monitoring performance of events occurring in a multiprocessor system. The multiprocessor system comprises a plurality of processor devices units, each processor device for generating signals representing occurrences of events in the processor device, and, a single shared counter resource for performance monitoring. The performance monitor unit is shared by all processor cores in the multiprocessor system. The PMU comprises: a plurality of performance counters each for counting signals representing occurrences of events from one or more the plurality of processor units in the multiprocessor system; and, a plurality of input devices for receiving the event signals from one or more processor devices of the plurality of processor units, the plurality of input devices programmable to select event signals for receipt by one or more of the plurality of performance counters for counting, wherein the PMU is shared between multiple processing units, or within a group of processors in the multiprocessing system. The PMU is further programmed to monitor event signals issued from non-processor devices. |
| US08230432B2 |
Defragmenting blocks in a clustered or distributed computing system
Embodiments of the invention provides techniques for defragmenting blocks of resources allocated to perform computing jobs on a distributed or clustered system so that more contiguous physical resources may be made available to users submitting new job requests. Typically, the defragmentation process is performed when a job is submitted that requires access to a computing block that is larger than any currently available block in the parallel computing system. |
| US08230431B2 |
Guaranteed core access in a multiple core processing system
Exclusive access to a core or part of a core, or to multiple cores, but in any case less than all of the cores, of a multiple core processing system. The access can be requested by an instruction, or by a routine. Once granted, the access provides exclusive access to the core so that a program can be run which requires substantially uninterrupted access to the core. |
| US08230430B2 |
Scheduling threads in a multiprocessor computer
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for scheduling threads in a multiprocessor computer. Embodiments include selecting a thread in a ready queue to be dispatched to a processor and determining whether an interrupt mask flag is set in a thread control block associated with the thread. If the interrupt mask flag is set in the thread control block associated with the thread, embodiments typically include selecting a processor, setting a current processor priority register of the selected processor to least favored, and dispatching the thread from the ready queue to the selected processor. In some embodiments, setting the current processor priority register of the selected processor to least favored is carried out by storing a value associated with the highest interrupt priority in the current processor priority register. |
| US08230429B2 |
Detecting a deadlock condition by monitoring firmware inactivity during the system IPL process
Illustrative embodiments manage deadlock in a data processing system during an IPL process that includes monitoring the usage of locks in the Hardware Object Model (HOM) of the data processing system. The process further includes detecting a deadlock condition in response to an indication of the IPL process in the data processing system entering a hung state when at least one lock is in use. The process also includes handling the deadlock condition by performing one or more of the following: recording error information for the deadlock condition, and terminating the IPL process. |
| US08230428B2 |
Data management job planning and scheduling with finish time guarantee
A method is disclosed for scheduling data management jobs on a computer system that uses a dual level scheduling method. Macro level scheduling using a chained timer schedules the data management job for execution in the future. Micro level scheduling using an algorithm controls the actual dispatch of the component requests of a data management job to minimize impact on foreground programs. |
| US08230426B2 |
Multicore distributed processing system using selection of available workunits based on the comparison of concurrency attributes with the parallel processing characteristics
A distributed processing system delegates the allocation and control of computing work units to agent applications running on computing resources including multi-processor and multi-core systems. The distributed processing system includes at least one agent associated with at least one computing resource. The distributed processing system creates work units corresponding with execution phases of applications. Work units can be associated with concurrency data that specifies how applications are executed on multiple processors and/or processor cores. The agent collects information about its associated computing resources and requests work units from the server using this information and the concurrency data. An agent can monitor the performance of executing work units to better select subsequent work units. The distributed processing system may also be implemented within a single computing resource to improve processor core utilization of applications. Additional computing resources can augment the single computing resource and execute pending work units at any time. |
| US08230423B2 |
Multithreaded processor architecture with operational latency hiding
A method and processor architecture for achieving a high level of concurrency and latency hiding in an “infinite-thread processor architecture” with a limited number of hardware threads is disclosed. A preferred embodiment defines “fork” and “join” instructions for spawning new context-switched threads. Context switching is used to hide the latency of both memory-access operations (i.e., loads and stores) and arithmetic/logical operations. When an operation executing in a thread incurs a latency having the potential to delay the instruction pipeline, the latency is hidden by performing a context switch to a different thread. When the result of the operation becomes available, a context switch back to that thread is performed to allow the thread to continue. |
| US08230422B2 |
Assist thread for injecting cache memory in a microprocessor
A data processing system includes a microprocessor having access to multiple levels of cache memories. The microprocessor executes a main thread compiled from a source code object. The system includes a processor for executing an assist thread also derived from the source code object. The assist thread includes memory reference instructions of the main thread and only those arithmetic instructions required to resolve the memory reference instructions. A scheduler configured to schedule the assist thread in conjunction with the corresponding execution thread is configured to execute the assist thread ahead of the execution thread by a determinable threshold such as the number of main processor cycles or the number of code instructions. The assist thread may execute in the main processor or in a dedicated assist processor that makes direct memory accesses to one of the lower level cache memory elements. |
| US08230421B2 |
Efficient non-blocking K-compare-single-swap operation
The design of nonblocking linked data structures using single-location synchronization primitives such as compare-and-swap (CAS) is a complex affair that often requires severe restrictions on the way pointers are used. One way to address this problem is to provide stronger synchronization operations, for example, ones that atomically modify one memory location while simultaneously verifying the contents of others. We provide a simple and highly efficient nonblocking implementation of such an operation: an atomic k-word-compare single-swap operation (KCSS). Our implementation is obstruction-free. As a result, it is highly efficient in the uncontended case and relies on contention management mechanisms in the contended cases. It allows linked data structure manipulation without the complexity and restrictions of other solutions. Additionally, as a building block of some implementations of our techniques, we have developed the first nonblocking software implementation of load-linked/store-conditional that does not severely restrict word size. |
| US08230420B2 |
Apparatus for transferring a virtual machine using stored correspondence information
A virtual machine is transferred between an information processing apparatus and another information processing apparatus via a communication unit which communicates with the other information processing apparatus via a network. For a virtual machine which operates in the virtual machine operating environment of the information processing apparatus, correspondence relationship information representing the correspondence relationship between the virtual machine and a storage unit which stores a virtual disk file to be accessed by the virtual machine is managed using a storage correspondence table. Access from the virtual machine which has issued an access request to the virtual disk file is controlled by looking up the storage correspondence table. |
| US08230416B2 |
System, method and article of manufacture for using shadow installations of software modules during distributed system upgrade
A method, system and article of manufacture for upgrade of a software module executed in a distributed software computer system using shadow installations of software modules for minimum downtime. A first software module is executed on a first host and a second software module is executed on a second host, the two software modules in communication with each other. Target release of the first software module and a local release of the second software module are installed and deployed on the first host during the execution of the first software module. The first software module is switched to the target release in communication with the local release of the second software module. The communication with the second software module is reestablished after the upgrade. |
| US08230415B1 |
On-demand advertising of software packages
A network system includes an access control device and a client device. The access control device provides access to an enterprise network using a virtual private network (VPN) and provides a software update package to the client device. The client device includes an operating system that maintains a user context for a user having restricted privileges and a system context having elevated privileges. The client device further includes a user-level setup module, a system-level installation service and a user-level installation service. The setup module, system-level installation service and the user-level installation service interact to provide on-demand advertisement and installation of authorized software update packages on computing devices when needed by the user without requiring action by an administrator. |
| US08230413B2 |
Detecting incorrect versions of files
A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that in an embodiment issue a warning if a file to be used is an older version. In an embodiment, the warning includes an identification of the location of a newer version of the file. In an embodiment, the file is a class, and the old and new versions are found using a classpath, but in other embodiments any type of file or other object may be used. In this way, the use of incorrect versions of files may be detected and avoided. |
| US08230409B2 |
Code optimization when using multiple reader locks and a non-reader lock
A way to use multiple-reader locks for those paths where no writes occur is provided. Only if one of the writing paths executes will a full writer lock be acquired. Two copies of the critical section comprising a reading version and a writing version are created. The default execution leads to the reader version, which only acquires a reader-lock. The reader version of the code executes prior to execution of the writer lock only version, otherwise bypassing the writer lock only version. If the execution leads to a path in which a write would occur, the reader only version branches to the beginning of the writer version. The writer version is identical to the original code and obtains a full writer lock. If execution in the reader lock does not lead to a path that writes, then only the reader lock is acquired. |
| US08230407B2 |
Apparatus and method for accelerating Java translation
An apparatus and method for accelerating Java translation are provided. The apparatus includes a lookup table which stores an lookup table having arrangements of bytecodes and native codes corresponding to the bytecodes, a decoder which generates pointer to the native code corresponding to the feed bytecode in the lookup table, a parameterized bytecode processing unit which detects parameterized bytecode among the feed bytecode, and generating pointer to native code required for constant embedding in the lookup table, a constant embedding unit which embeds constants into the native code with the pointer generated by the parameterized bytecode processing unit, and a native code buffer which stores the native code generated by the decoder or the constant embedding unit. |
| US08230406B2 |
Compiler option consistency checking during incremental hardware design language compilation
Method, system, and program product for processing hardware design language code to facilitate reuse of compiled code units including options and option values in compiled code units. The method includes the steps of grouping options and option values to determine if code controlled by them will be reused; and determining options and option values that would permit and prevent reuse of compiled code units. |
| US08230405B2 |
Administrative tool environment
In an administrative tool environment, user input is supplied to an administrative tool framework for processing. The administrative tool framework maps user input to cmdlet objects. The cmdlet objects describe a grammar for parsing the user input and input objects to obtain expected input parameters. The input objects are emitted by one cmdlet and are available as input to another cmdlet. The input objects may be any precisely parseable input, such as .NET objects, plain strings, XML documents, and the like. The input objects are not live objects. The cmdlets may operate within the same process. Alternatively, one cmdlet may operate locally while another cmdlet operates remotely. The cmdlets may be provided by the administrative tool framework or may be provided by third party developers. The user input may be supplied to the framework via a host cmdlet. |
| US08230404B2 |
Computer program product containing instructions for providing a processor the capability of executing an application derived from a compiled form
An integrated circuit card is used with a terminal. The integrated circuit card includes a memory that stores an interpreter and an application that has a high level programming language format. A processor of the card is configured to use the interpreter to interpret the application for execution and to use a communicator of the card to communicate with the terminal. |
| US08230403B2 |
Typed-data translation for platform independence
A method, computer program and device for the translation of typed data objects in a heterogeneous computational environment is described. The operating system (or installed shared code libraries) translates typed data objects from a first format (e.g., big-endian) to a second format (e.g., little-endian) if the application sending the object and the application receiving the object utilize different formats. By placing data object format translation capabilities into the operating system, the software development effort required to permit an application (e.g., a user-level application) to execute in a heterogeneous environment is significantly reduced. |
| US08230398B2 |
Monitoring a software system based on a service oriented architecture
Monitoring a software system based on a service oriented architecture (SOA). The method may involve system components communicating with each other via sending messages. The method may include receiving a monitoring message by a monitoring component where the monitoring message may be sent from a system component of the software system. The method may further include providing an ontology including at least one interpretation rule for the message by the monitoring component. The method may also include reacting of the monitoring component in accordance with the at least one interpretation rule. |
| US08230391B2 |
Correlating events emitted by software components
The present invention improves correlation of events emitted by software components during a thread of execution. Each software component invoked during the thread registers with a correlation information manager associated with the thread of execution and then deregisters from said correlation information manager when it ceases to participate in the thread. The correlation information manager stores registered software components in a stack structure. Whenever an event is to be emitted by a software component, the associated correlation information manager provides explicit correlation information that identifies at least the software component that emitted the most recent event in the thread and all software components that registered with the correlation information manager after the software component that emitted the most recent event and that are still registered. |
| US08230390B2 |
Template-based rule generation
A rule-based monitoring framework offering a simplified GUI-driven and template-based way to specify and generate monitoring rules. The automatically generated rules can be directly deployed or further modified, in particular by combining plural templates. The modification can take place in two different views on the rule: the code view and the template view. The views can be changed at any time during the modification/generation process. Test data and rule documentation for the generated rule may be automatically generated from the GUI-driven input data. |
| US08230387B2 |
System and method to organize assets in a repository
The embodiments of the invention provide a method of organizing assets having artifacts in a repository. The method begins by organizing artifacts of at least one of the assets as internal nodes in a graph based on a context. The method simultaneously organizes the assets as external nodes in the graph based on the context. The internal nodes comprise artifacts having metadata that is updated by an artifact producer and/or an asset producer. Moreover, the external nodes comprise artifacts that are defined and/or updated by roles other than an artifact producer and/or an asset producer. |
| US08230385B2 |
Test effort estimator
A system, method, and computer program product for evaluating the test effort to be provided for functional testing during an application development project is disclosed. The major influencing parameters within testing applications in complex systems are used to compute a test case management effort and a defect effort, those parameters being scope, duration and product quality related, or organization related. A test effort consolidated measurement is generated and provided as a final summary report in a user-friendly format suitable for management analysis. |
| US08230384B1 |
Techniques for generating and processing a schema instance
Described are technique for generating a configuration schema instance. A layout file is received that specifies what portion of configuration information is to be extracted from a configuration data store. The portion of configuration information is extracted from said configuration data store in accordance with said layout file. A representation of said portion of configuration information is stored in said configuration schema instance. |
| US08230380B2 |
High speed reduced area cell library with cells having integer multiple track heights
A mixed-height cell library for designing integrated circuits is provided. The mixed-height cell library includes a first plurality of cells having a first track height and a second plurality of cells having a second track height that are configured to be coupled to the first plurality of cells at respective power and ground rail lines. A method for mixed-height cell placement and optimization is also provided. The method comprises abutting cells of different track heights to form a plurality of rows of cells by coupling power and ground rails of the cells at a secondary layer that is different from a primary layer that includes active material and determining whether re-ordering cells within rows allows for further compaction of adjacent rows. The method further comprises re-ordering cells within rows so to allow for further compaction of adjacent rows. The method also includes the steps of splitting rows vertically to minimize the distance between the split rows. |
| US08230374B2 |
Method of partitioning an algorithm between hardware and software
A method of partitioning an algorithm between hardware and software includes accepting a user defined algorithm specified in a source code, identifying worker methods and feature extraction methods within the user defined algorithm, replacing worker methods in the source code with hardware logic, replacing feature extraction methods with a combination of hardware logic and software libraries that interface with the hardware logic, and outputting an FPGA programming specification of the hardware logic and interface libraries. |
| US08230370B2 |
Circuit design assisting apparatus, computer-readable medium storing circuit design assisting program, and circuit design assisting method
A circuit design assisting apparatus for assisting designing of a circuit is provided. The apparatus includes a storage unit that stores information regarding a configuration of components used in a design-target circuit and wirings between the components, an acquiring unit that acquires label setting information that associates a label with the configuration information indicating the components of the design-target circuit and the wirings between the components, a selecting unit that selects, from the storage unit, information having a configuration that matches the configuration information included in the acquired label setting information. and a setting unit that sets a label that is associated with the configuration information by the acquired label setting information to the information selected by the selecting unit and registering the set label in the storage unit. |
| US08230369B2 |
Simulation method and simulation program
A method of simulating an optical intensity distribution on a substrate when a mask pattern formed on the mask is transferred to the substrate through a projection optical system by irradiating an illumination light obliquely on a mask surface of the mask, which comprises setting a phase difference between a zero-order diffraction light and a first-order diffraction light determined according to at least one of a distance between the zero-order diffraction light and the first-order diffraction light on a pupil of the projection optical system, thickness of a light-shielding portion formed on the mask, angle defined by an optical axis direction of the illumination light and an incident direction on the mask, and a difference between a size of the mask pattern and a half cycle of the mask pattern, and carrying out a simulation of the optical intensity distribution on the substrate according to the set phase difference. |
| US08230366B2 |
Dynamically changing cursor for user interface
A dynamic cursor for a computer graphical user interface changes according to the processing state of applications over which the cursor is located, or with respect to an operating system element. A normal cursor is displayed when either the operating system element, or an application over which the cursor is located, can be accessed in a normal manner. A standard wait cursor is displayed over busy applications that require a user to wait until interacting with the application, when the application is active in the foreground of the computer system. When the application is busy and operating in the background, a hybrid wait cursor is displayed that indicates to the user the busy state of the application and the user's ability to interact with operating system elements or other applications regardless of this busy state. Other forms of hybrid cursors are disclosed that indicate the results of a drag operation, and quantitative data pertaining to objects being dragged. |
| US08230363B2 |
Management of corporate entities
Systems and methods are provided to facilitate corporate entity management. According to some embodiments, a user interface is provided including an entity selection area allowing selection of at least one corporate entity from a plurality of corporate entities, and a plurality of selectable elements, each of the selectable elements being selectable to cause presentation of an associated area, wherein an area associated with each of the plurality of selectable elements presents information relating to the at least one corporate entity and to the associated selectable element. |
| US08230360B2 |
User interface for selection from media collection
Among other things, techniques and systems are disclosed for providing a graphical user interface (GUI) to user. A system includes a content source and a GUI communicatively connected to the content source. The GUI includes a user input area to receive user input and a display area to display available content items from the content source based on the received user input. The display area includes a presentation of the available content arranged in one or more rows. Each row includes a user selectable area to display at least one visual indication that represents one or more of the available content items. Each row includes a holding area to display another visual indication that represents other available content items not displayed in the user selectable area. The display area includes highlighting positioned over one of the available content items. |
| US08230357B2 |
Visually processing instance data
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for visually processing instance data. A visual placeholder for a data instance is provided as part of the design experience. A runtime configurable metadata store is provided to maintain the mappings between types and designers. Thus, configurations can be altered at the runtime of the control, rather than a fixed set of potential templates being provided at design time. Item presenters render contained data instances of a type using a designer specified in the metadata store. Item presenters can be used when a data instance is exposed as a property on the containing type. As such, property values can be visually moved to and from other properties, potentially within multiple owning objects. |
| US08230355B1 |
Visual representation of a characteristic of an object in a space
Visual representation of a characteristic of an object in a space is described, including collecting data associated with an object in a space, determining a characteristic of the object based on the data, and visually representing the characteristic of the object relative to other objects within the space using a scaled representation. |
| US08230352B2 |
Collaboration interface for a multi-channel collaboration window with context support
A collaboration window may provide a graphical user interface to a user for facilitating communication over at least one of a plurality of communication channels while providing data relevant to the communication and available from a backend application. A collaboration engine may be configured to generate the collaboration window including the graphical user interface, and configured to provide and receive information therewith regarding the communication. A collaboration manager may be configured to communicate, in accordance with a common collaboration interface, with each of a plurality of collaboration components, each collaboration component associated with at least one communication channel. The collaboration manager may include a component selector configured to select a selected collaboration component from among the plurality of collaboration components, the selected collaboration component associated with a communication channel for executing the communication, and a plurality of component managers, each associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of collaboration components and configured to communicate therewith using the common collaboration interface, wherein a selected component manager corresponding to the selected collaboration component is configured to relay information between the selected collaboration component and the collaboration engine to thereby execute the communication using the collaboration window. |
| US08230351B2 |
Method and apparatus for collaborative work
A method and apparatus for collaborative work is provided. One embodiment of a method for facilitating a collaborative task undertaken by a plurality of users, where each of the users uses a networked computing device that displays a user interface including a public panel representing a shared workspace and a private panel representing a personal workspace, includes receiving, by a server, a first request from a user to move a component from the shared workspace to the user's personal workspace The component represents an individual contribution to the collaborative task. The method then renders the component unavailable for use (e.g., moving or editing) by the other users. |
| US08230343B2 |
Audio and video program recording, editing and playback systems using metadata
A system for utilizing metadata created either at a central location for shared use by connected users, or at each individual user's location, to enhance user's enjoyment of available broadcast programming content. A variety of mechanisms are employed for automatically and manually identifying and designating programming segments, associating descriptive metadata which the identified segments, distributing the metadata for use at client locations, and using the supplied metadata to selectively record and playback desired programming. |
| US08230340B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying content list
A method and apparatus for displaying a content list are provided, which can display various content lists based on information on content being currently played through a user's simple manipulation. The method of displaying a content list includes receiving a user command, and displaying a content list belonging to a category set on the basis of information on content being currently played, in accordance with the received user command. |
| US08230338B2 |
Game determination of tag relevance for social bookmarking
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for game determined tag relevance for social bookmarking. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for the game determination of tag relevance for social bookmarking can be provided. The method can include rendering a game user interface in connection with content in a content browser, providing a list of tags previously associated with the content in the game user interface for a game participant and receiving relevance values for the tags through the game user interface provided by the game participant for each of the tags, comparing the relevance values to relevance values provided by others to generate a score and presenting the score in the game user interface, and applying the received relevance values to the tags to improve quality for each of the tags in association with the content. |
| US08230335B2 |
Enhanced visual representations of company related data and generation of virtual business cards
Data characterizing contact information for an individual is obtained. Thereafter, the contact information is associated with a company identifier for a company. A remote data source is then polled to obtain at least one graphical image characterizing a logo for the company so that a virtual business card containing the at least one graphical image and the contact information can be generated and displayed. In some implementations, other information from a remote data source can be used to generate a background portion of a virtual business card. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. |
| US08230333B2 |
Analysis of time-based geospatial mashups using AD HOC visual queries
An apparatus in one example has an analytical environment for mashup data having visual analysis metaphors, and linking and correlation functionality among the visual analysis metaphors. A system may have: at least one store having a predetermined floor plan layout; at least one predetermined location on the predetermined floor plan layout for displaying at least one product; analytical environment for mashup data having visual analysis metaphors, the mashup data formed from data indiciative of the predetermined floor plan layout, and data indicated of sales of the at least one product; and linking and correlation functionality among the visual analysis metaphors through a web browser. In one example, a plurality of products may be positioned on a plurality of shelves, and may be depicted in a geographical display. Sales of each product may be depicted in a in time line display that is linked to the geographical display. |
| US08230332B2 |
Interactive user interface for converting unstructured documents
An interactive interface facilitates the conversion of unstructured documents into XML-compliant documents. A document is parsed to identify fact items in the content of the document. A classifier associates initial labels with an identified fact items, and the fact items and associated initial labels are forwarded to a user for review and correction. An interface executing on a client computer presents the initial labels associated with fact items, and enables a user to correct the labels associated with the identified fact items. Upon receipt of corrected labels from the user, the classifier is trained to update probable associations of labels and fact items in accordance with the corrected labels. The interface enables the user to enter new labels and/or concepts for a taxonomy, and an extension to the taxonomy is automatically generated. |
| US08230330B2 |
Rewriting a part of a first flow description document into a reference to a corresponding part of a second flow description document
An apparatus which processes a flow description document detects a common part between the first and second flow description documents, and rewrites the common part in the second flow description document into a reference to that in the first flow description document. |
| US08230329B2 |
Enterprise-level transaction analysis and reporting
Systems and methods for a multi-level advanced caching engine that is designed for processing a high-volume of transaction data and ensuring high performance query processing is provided. A folio is interactively updated on-demand for an organizational hierarchy with aggregated information from pre-summarized balances. Responsive to user-generated folio-level queries which depend upon balance values not currently stored within the financial transaction system, multiple instances of balances are dynamically created and populated with new balance values based on the user-generated folio-level query. Responsive to new transaction data, clean balance values are maintained within the dependent balances by regenerating the associated balance values. Responsive to a user-generated folio-level query, an instance of a cube is dynamically created and populated having dimensions defined by parameters of the user-generated folio-level query and which aggregates the balance values of the balances into appropriate slices of the cube. |
| US08230328B2 |
Methods and systems for distributing localized display elements to an imaging device
Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods and devices for imaging device display content localization. Some aspects relate to methods and systems for sending geographical-locale-related information from an imaging device to a remote computing device where the geographical-locale-related information is matched with related data comprising a language and at least one of a time format, a date format, an address format, a calendar format, a currency type and a geographical-locale-related cultural custom, which is then sent to the imaging device for output to a user. |
| US08230322B2 |
Electronic spreadsheet for displaying and/or hiding a range of cells
The present invention is directed to a method, system and program for displaying and/or hiding, in an electronic multi-dimensional spreadsheet on a user interface, elements of a range of cells, a range of cells having one or more contiguous elements aligned along a given spreadsheet dimension, an element of a range of cells having one or more cells along one or a plurality of spreadsheet dimensions. The method includes (A) detecting a command for hiding at least one element in a selected range of cells, the command comprising means for identifying the selected range of cells and means for identifying a display focus level selected among a plurality of ordered display focus levels defined for the selected range of cells; (B) identifying the selected range of cells in the element to hide; (C) identifying the selected display focus level; (D) identifying a table associated with the selected range of cells, the table associating each defined display focus level with at least one cell content criteria to apply to the content of the at least one cell; and (E) selectively displaying the element on the user interface based on the relationship of the selected display focus level with the display focus level associated with the element. |
| US08230320B2 |
Method and system for social bookmarking of resources exposed in web pages that don't follow the representational state transfer architectural style (REST)
A system for social bookmarking of a resource provided through a Web application that doesn't follow the representational state transfer architectural style (REST). When processing a request for a social bookmarking operation, the system searches for a URL and potentially other resource information within the document object model of a currently loaded Web page. If such resource information is found, it is used to process the requested social bookmarking operation. Otherwise, if such resource information is not found in the document object model, the system uses the URL stored in the location bar of the Web browser to process the requested social bookmarking operation. The system includes semantic information in the DOM of a Web page that is used to identify subsets of content within the Web page that can be socially bookmarked. The semantic information may be stored in what is generally referred to as “microformatting”. |
| US08230317B2 |
Data protection method for variable length records by utilizing high performance block storage metadata
An enhanced mechanism for providing data protection for variable length records utilizes high performance block storage metadata. In an embodiment, an emulated record that emulates a variable length record, such as a Count-Key-Data (CKD) record or an Extended-Count-Key-Data (ECKD) record, is generated by a Host Bus Adapter (HBA) of a mainframe system. The emulated record comprises a sequence of extended fixed-length blocks, each of which includes a data block and a footer. A confluence of the footers defines a high performance block storage metadata unit associated with the emulated record and includes a checksum that covers all data blocks and all footers of the entire emulated record. In one embodiment, the checksum is checked during transit of the emulated record between a HBA and a storage subsystem (e.g., by the HBA when the emulated record is received from the storage subsystem, and/or by a switch in the data transfer path), during a hardening step when writing the emulated record to a disk, and/or during a verification step when reading the emulated record from the disk. |
| US08230314B1 |
Universal parity decoder
A data encoding system for a data stream comprises an interleaving module that receives the data stream as N bit data blocks and that reverses positions of at least two of the N bits of selected ones of the data blocks. A generating module generates P error checking bits for each of the N bit data blocks. An insertion module receives the P error checking bits from the generating module and inserts the P error checking bits into the corresponding data block received from the interleaving module. |
| US08230313B2 |
Low-power predecoding based viterbi decoding
In at least some disclosed embodiments, a system includes a Viterbi decoder and predecoding logic coupled to the Viterbi decoder. The predecoding logic decodes encoded data. The system further includes detection logic coupled to the predecoding logic. The detection logic tests decoded data, and the detection logic produces a binary result. The Viterbi decoder is enabled if the binary result is a first value, and the Viterbi decoder is disabled if the binary result is a second value. |
| US08230303B2 |
Memory system and data processing method thereof
A data processing method of a memory system including a flash memory, which includes judging whether data initially read from a selected page of the flash memory is correctable. If the initially read data is judged not to be correctable, the data is newly read from the selected page based upon each of newly determined read voltages. Thereafter, error-free sub-sectors of the newly read data are collected based upon EDC data corresponding to the initially read data. The data of the error-free sub-sectors are then corrected based upon ECC data corresponding to the initially read data. |
| US08230300B2 |
Efficient readout from analog memory cells using data compression
A method for data storage includes storing data in a group of analog memory cells by writing respective input storage values to the memory cells in the group. After storing the data, respective output storage values are read from the analog memory cells in the group. Respective confidence levels of the output storage values are estimated, and the confidence levels are compressed. The output storage values and the compressed confidence levels are transferred from the memory cells over an interface to a memory controller. |
| US08230299B2 |
Interleaving scheme for an LDPC coded QPSK/8PSK system
An approach is provided for interleaving low density parity check (LDPC) encoded bits in QPSK/8PSK modulation systems. By assigning the bits determining modulation symbols based on different bit degrees, one can efficiently find the desirable tradeoff between error performance and error floor provided by the LDPC codes in use. |
| US08230298B2 |
Overlapping sub-matrix based LDPC (low density parity check) decoder
Overlapping sub-matrix based LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) decoder. Novel decoding approach is presented, by which, updated bit edge messages corresponding to a sub-matrix of an LDPC matrix are immediately employed for updating of the check edge messages corresponding to that sub-matrix without requiring storing the bit edge messages; also updated check edge messages corresponding to a sub-matrix of the LDPC matrix are immediately employed for updating of the bit edge messages corresponding to that sub-matrix without requiring storing the check edge messages. Using this approach, twice as many decoding iterations can be performed in a given time period when compared to a system that performs updating of all check edge messages for the entire LDPC matrix, then updating of all bit edge messages for the entire LDPC matrix, and so on. When performing this overlapping approach in conjunction with min-sum processing, significant memory savings can also be achieved. |
| US08230297B2 |
Error correction device
An error correction device for reducing the amount of access to an external memory while preventing the capacity of an internal memory from increasing. An optical disc stores scramble data for each data block. A descramble circuit reads scramble data in the data blocks from the optical disc as read blocks and applies a predetermined scramble value to the scramble data of each read block to generate descramble data. A 1-shift calculator generates a first calculated value by shifting the scramble value by one byte using a generation polynomial. A second shift calculator generates a second calculated value by shifting the scramble value by a number of bytes corresponding to {(total bytes of the data block in the column direction)+1−(total bytes of each read block in the column direction)} using the generation polynomial. An EOR circuit generates descramble data by applying the first or second calculated value as the scramble value to the input scramble data. |
| US08230296B2 |
Iterative decoding of concatenated low-density parity-check codes
Techniques to perform iterative decoding of concatenated low-density parity-check codes (LDPC) are described. Iterative decoding of the concatenated code is achieved by performing T common iterations, wherein a common iteration comprises t1 decoding iterations on the inner LDPC code my means of a first decoder (340) followed by t2 decoding iterations on the outer LDPC code my means of a second decoder (350) , and wherein the two decoders exchange soft-output information. |
| US08230292B2 |
Method and apparatus for correcting and detecting multiple spotty-byte errors within a byte occurred in a limited number of bytes
An apparatus for correcting and detecting multiple spotty-byte errors within a byte occurred in a limited number of bytes and which has a function capable of controlling multiple spotty-byte errors within a byte occurred in the limited number of bytes, is provided.The apparatus for correcting and detecting multiple spotty-byte errors within a byte occurred in a limited number of bytes, comprises an encoding means for generating a transmitted word based on input information data; and a decoding means for inputting the transmitted word where errors occurred in an information transmission channel as a received word and correcting and detecting the errors. The encoding means generates the transmitted word by adding check information generated based on a parity check matrix expressing a spotty-byte error control code and the input information data to the input information data. The decoding means comprises a syndrome generating means for generating a syndrome of the received word based on the parity check matrix; and an error correction means for correcting and detecting the errors in the received word based on the syndrome generated by the syndrome generating means. |
| US08230284B2 |
Integrated circuit having electrically isolatable test circuitry
Special test circuitry in an IC for wafer level testing selectively connects the specialized test circuitry to the functional circuitry during wafer test. Following wafer test the special test circuitry is electrically isolated from the functional circuitry and power supplies such that it does not load functional circuit signals nor consume power. |
| US08230283B2 |
Method to test hold path faults using functional clocking
A system and method for detecting hold path faults in an integrated circuit is provided in exemplary embodiments. These exemplary embodiments introduce a method of identifying data paths within an integrated circuit with statistically the highest timing slack among the data paths within the integrated circuit that cover the entire process space of the circuit. By identifying these paths (i.e., shortest data paths), a robust test pattern can be generated that directly tests for hold path faults on short data paths within the integrated circuit using one functional clock pulse. |
| US08230282B2 |
Method and apparatus for low-pin-count scan compression
A low-pin-count scan compression method and apparatus for reducing test data volume and test application time in a scan-based integrated circuit. The scan-based integrated circuit contains one or more scan chains, each scan chain comprising one or more scan cells coupled in series. The method and apparatus includes a programmable pipelined decompressor comprising one or more shift registers, a combinational logic network, and an optional scan connector. The programmable pipelined decompressor decompresses a compressed scan pattern on its compressed scan inputs and drives the generated decompressed scan pattern at the output of the programmable pipelined decompressor to the scan data inputs of the scan-based integrated circuit. Any input constraints imposed by said combinational logic network are incorporated into an automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) program for generating the compressed scan pattern for one or more selected faults in one-step. |
| US08230281B2 |
Techniques for boundary scan testing using transmitters and receivers
A test driver transmitter drives a test signal through a resistive termination circuit to a first pin to test components on a board during a boundary scan test operation. A test receiver receives the test signal through a second pin and a pass gate coupled to the second pin during the boundary scan test operation. A test signal is transmitted to the test receiver during loopback operation through a loopback circuit. |
| US08230276B2 |
Writing to memory using adaptive write techniques
Techniques for writing to memory using adaptive write techniques. An adaptive write technique includes receiving at a computer a message including a plurality of symbols. The message is written to a memory. The writing to memory includes performing for each symbol in the message: writing a data value to a memory location in the memory and reading contents of the memory location after the data value has been written. The data value is determined at the computer in response to the symbol and to the contents of any memory locations previously read as part of writing the message to the memory. It is determined at the computer if the contents of the memory locations reflect the message. The writing is restarted at the computer in response to determining that the contents of the memory locations do not reflect the message. |
| US08230275B2 |
Use of parity bits to detect memory installation defects
Various systems and methods for detecting subsystem installation defects are provided. In one example method, a test value is generated in a detection tool to be applied to a subsystem through a plurality of interconnects. A first parity bit is then generated for the test value using the detection tool, and the test value is transmitted to the subsystem. A second parity bit is generated for the test value in the subsystem. Then, the first parity bit is compared with the second parity bit to determine if a fault exists in one of the interconnects. |
| US08230274B2 |
JTAG controlled self-repair after packaging
An integrated circuit containing memory includes IEEE 1149.1 (JTAG) controlled self-repair system that permits permanent repair of the memory after the integrated circuit has been packaged. The JTAG controlled self-repair system allows a user to direct circuitry to blow fuses using an externally supplied voltage to electrically couple or isolate components to permanently repair a memory location with JTAG standard TMS and TCK signals. The system may optionally sequentially repair more than one memory location using a repair sequencer. |
| US08230269B2 |
Monitoring data categorization and module-based health correlations
Architecture for aggregating health alerts from a number of related components into a single aggregated health state that can be analyzed to isolate the component responsible for the fault condition. In a hierarchy of related components within various component groups in a computer system, a number of health indicators can indicate alerts occurring in one or more of the related components whereas the fault condition occurs in only one component upon which the other components depend. The health indicators of related components are aggregated into an aggregated health state for each component group. These aggregated health states are analyzed to identify the related component associated with a root cause of the alert condition for an affected component group. |
| US08230267B2 |
Automated software testing framework
A generic testing framework to automatically allocate, install and verify a given version of a system under test, to exercise the system against a series of tests in a “hands-off” objective manner, and then to export information about the tests to one or more developer repositories (such as a query-able database, an email list, a developer web server, a source code version control system, a defect tracking system, or the like). The framework does not “care” or concern itself with the particular implementation language of the test as long as the test can issue directives via a command line or configuration file. During the automated testing of a given test suite having multiple tests, and after a particular test is run, the framework preferably generates an “image” of the system under test and makes that information available to developers, even while additional tests in the suite are being carried out. In this manner, the framework preserves the system “state” to facilitate concurrent or after-the-fact debugging. The framework also will re-install and verify a given version of the system between tests, which may be necessary in the event a given test is destructive or otherwise places the system in an unacceptable condition. |
| US08230265B2 |
Testing software in electronic devices
Software in an electronic device can be tested using a combination of random testing and deterministic testing. In various embodiments, deterministic tests can run for a prescribed duration and/or a prescribed number of iterations before and/or after random testing. Test results can be weighted using a metric representing an amount of code that was stressed during testing. This metric can be determined by tracking software code that is loaded into memory during testing. |
| US08230263B2 |
Automated specification based functional test generation infrastructure
A method comprising the steps of (A) generating a code, (B) applying one or more constraint constructs to the code, (C) generating a coverage code and a second code in response to applying the constraint constructs to the code, (D) generating a third code in response to the code, and (E) generating one or more assembly language tests in response to the second code. |
| US08230261B2 |
Field replaceable unit acquittal policy
A system and method for managing faults in a computer-based system are disclosed herein. For example, a system includes fault management logic, and a plurality of field replaceable units (“FRUs”). In response to a detected fault in the system, the fault management logic is configured to identify each FRU of a sub-plurality of the FRUs as a possible root cause of the fault. The fault management logic is further configured to store information, including an acquittal policy, that individually specifies for each identified FRU whether to dismiss the identified FRU from the sub-plurality based on detection of an event corresponding to the identified FRU. |
| US08230259B2 |
Automatic analysis of log entries through use of clustering
A set of log entries is automatically inspected to determine a bug. A training set is utilized to determine clustering of log identifications. Log entries are examined in real-time or retroactively and matched to clusters. Timeframe may also be matched to a cluster based on log entries associated with the timeframe. Error indications may be outputted to a user of the system in respect to a log entry or a timeframe. |
| US08230252B2 |
Time of day response
In an implementation of time of day response, time logic executed by each processor element of a logical processor generates a logical time in response to a time of day request. The logical time is generated to approximate the actual time such that each processor element of the logical processor returns the same logical time. |
| US08230246B1 |
Activating a computer device based on the detecting result from a single touch sensor if the battery level is high
In general, this disclosure describes techniques for managing power consumption states of a computing device. In one example, a method includes detecting, using at least one sensor of a computing device comprising a plurality of components, at least one indication of user contact with at least one surface of the computing device, wherein the at least one indication of user contact conforms with a touch pattern. The method further includes in response to detecting the at least one indication of user contact with at least one surface of the computing device, modifying a power consumption state of the computing device, wherein which components of the computing device receive power is based on the power consumption state. |
| US08230245B2 |
Method and system for operating-system-independent power management using performance verifications
Systems and methods are disclosed for power management in information handling systems using processor performance data to validate changes to processor performance states. Processor utilization data and processor performance data is obtained during system operation. The processor utilization data is analyzed to determine a desired performance state for the processor. Before setting the actual performance state of the processor to this desired performance state, however, processor performance data is analyzed to determine if prior changes to the performance state have been effective. The performance state of the processor is then changed are maintained based upon this additional performance verification analysis. |
| US08230243B2 |
Information processing apparatus
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a device controller, an operation mode switching circuit, a line switch, and a controller. The device controller includes a wakeup function and performs transmission with the external device through a data line. The operation mode switching circuit changes an operation mode of a sleep-and-charge function and performs transmission with the external device through the data line. The line switch selectively connects the data line with either of the device controller or the operation mode switching circuit. The controller controls a power supply to the device controller and a drive of the operation mode switching circuit and the line switch in accordance with the condition of the main body. |
| US08230240B2 |
Method and system for energy efficient networking over a serial communication channel based on forward error correction support
Aspects of a method and system for energy efficient networking over a serial communication channel are provided. In this regard, one or more circuits in an Ethernet PHY that communicates over one or more serial communication channels may transmit and/or receive physical layer signals to maintain and/or refresh synchronization and/or training parameters while operating in an energy saving mode. The Ethernet PHY may transition out of the energy saving mode upon transmitting and/or receiving a wake sequence via the serial communication channel(s), where the wake sequence comprises one or more deterministic forward error correction (FEC) block in instances that FEC is utilized for communications via the serial communication channel(s). The one or more circuits in the Ethernet PHY may be operable to perform forward error correction (FEC) functions and one or more of the FEC functions may be disabled while remaining ones of the FEC functions are enabled. |
| US08230236B1 |
Secure digital content distribution system and secure hard drive
A secure storage device includes a storage medium configured to store encrypted digital content and an encrypted content key. A public key decryption module is configured to generate a private key for the secure storage device based on an identification (ID) code of the secure storage device. The public key decryption module decrypts the encrypted content key using the private key to generate a content key. A block decryption module is configured to receive the encrypted digital content and the content key and decrypt the encrypted digital content using the content key to generate decrypted digital content. |
| US08230235B2 |
Selective encryption of data stored on removable media in an automated data storage library
In an automated data storage library, selective encryption for data stored or to be stored on removable media is provided. One or more encryption policies are established, each policy including a level of encryption one or more encryption keys and the identity of one or more data cartridges. The encryption policies are stored in a policy table and the encryption keys are stored in a secure key server. A host requests access to a specified data cartridge and the cartridge is transported from a storage shelf in the library to a storage drive. Based on the identity of the specified cartridge the corresponding encryption policy is selected from the table and the appropriate encryption key is obtained from the key server. The storage drive encrypts data in accordance with the key and stores the data on the media within the specified data cartridge. |
| US08230234B2 |
Semiconductor memory devices that are resistant to power attacks and methods of operating semiconductor memory devices that are resistant to power attacks
A semiconductor memory device according to some embodiments includes a random converter that receives data and address information including a start address value and an end address value of the address from a central processing unit (CPU), generates and stores at least one random number for each address value from the start address value to the end address value, performs a logical operation on the random number and the data corresponding to the address, and responsively generates randomized data to be stored in memory. Accordingly, the semiconductor memory device randomizes a power consumption signature that can occur when data is stored, thereby writing and reading data in a manner that is resistant to a power attack. |
| US08230233B2 |
Information processing terminal and program for use therewith
An information processing terminal includes: a first IC card chip constituted by a first control unit, a first storage unit configured to store applications to be processed by the first control unit, a first encryption unit configured to encrypt data created by any of the applications in the first storage unit before outputting the created data outside the chip, and a wireless control unit configured to permit noncontact wireless communication with a reader/writer; a second IC card chip constituted by a second control unit, a second storage unit configured to store applications to be processed by the second control unit, and a second encryption unit configured to encrypt data created by any of the applications in the second storage unit before outputting the created data outside the chip; and a terminal control unit configured to control data communication between the first IC card chip and the second IC card chip. |
| US08230232B2 |
System and method for determining a computer user profile from a motion-based input device
The present invention provides a system and methods for computer user profiling based on behavioral biometrics. The approach consists of establishing distinctive profiles for computer users based on how they use a motion-based input device such as, but not limited to, a mouse and/or a keyboard. The profiles computed in the present invention are more accurate than those obtained through the traditional statistical profiling techniques, since they are based on distinctive biological characteristics of users. |
| US08230227B2 |
Method for generating a temporally threaded CMI watermark
Disclosed is a method for generating a temporally threaded copyright management information watermark where fragile watermarks containing CMI are spread throughout a digital work temporally. In one embodiment of this invention, the copyright management information is divided into a multitude of copyright management information subparts; the copyright management subparts are applied to fragile sub-watermarks; and fragile watermarks are applied to temporally separated portions of the digital work. |
| US08230226B2 |
Advanced watermarking system and method
A method, computer program product, and computing device for obtaining an uncompressed digital media data file. One or more default watermarks is inserted into the uncompressed digital media data file to form a watermarked uncompressed digital media data file. The watermarked uncompressed digital media data file is compressed to form a first watermarked compressed digital media data file. The first watermarked compressed media data file is stored on a storage device. The first watermarked compressed media data file is retrieved from the storage device. The first watermarked compressed digital media data file is modified to associate the first watermarked compressed digital media data file with a transaction identifier to form a second watermarked compressed digital media data file. |
| US08230219B2 |
Reduced computation for bit-by-bit password verification in mutual authentication
Authentication methods are provided that allow for superior security, power consumption, and resource utilization over existing authentication methods. By computing only two hashes of a shared secret password for each protocol run, the methods described in this disclosure dramatically reduce the computational power needed to perform authentication. Similarly, by exchanging these hashes bitwise or piecewise for verification, rather than performing new hashes including each bit of the password separately, the methods described in this disclosure reveal less information about the password being authenticated than existing methods. The methods described in this disclosure also allow for authentication using fewer messages and with lower latency, reducing the amount of operational power used in the authentication process. |
| US08230218B2 |
Mobile station authentication in tetra networks
A method in a communication system. The mobile station is provided with two or more separate subscriber modules having separate authentication identities. The modules are authenticated and a session key is established between these subscriber modules using the system as a trusted party. The invention improves the ability of the communication system to adjust to the varying operational conditions of the users, and user organizations. |
| US08230216B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method therefor, information processing system, and program
To authenticate an authentication reference apparatus, authentication information generation reference data is transmitted to the authentication reference apparatus. First authentication reference data generated by the authentication reference apparatus using the authentication information generation reference data is acquired from the authentication reference apparatus. Second authentication reference data is generated using key information complying with a method of generating the first authentication reference data and the authentication information generation reference data. The first authentication reference data is compared with the second authentication reference data. The authentication reference apparatus is authenticated based on the comparison result. |
| US08230213B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for protecting a BSF entity from attack
A method, system and apparatus for protecting a bootstrapping service function (BSF) entity from attack includes: obtaining a first temporary identity and a second temporary identity after a user equipment (UE) performing mutual authentication with the BSF entity, where the first temporary identity is different from the second temporary identity; by the UE, originating a re-authentication request to the BSF entity through the first temporary identity; and originating a service request to a NAF entity through the second temporary identity. The present disclosure prevents attackers from intercepting the temporary identity at the Ua interface and using the temporary identity to originate a re-authentication request at the Ub interface, thus protecting the BSF entity from attack and avoiding unnecessary load on the BSF entity and saving resources. |
| US08230205B2 |
Image processing apparatus and program starting up method
An image processing apparatus has first through n-th pluralities of programs which, when executed by a computer processor, perform respectively first through n-th functions of the image processing apparatus, where n denotes an integer more than 1, and starts up, on a function-by-function basis, the first through n-th pluralities of programs respectively corresponding to the first through n-th functions. The image processing apparatus starts up, in a predetermined sequence, respective programs included in any one plurality of programs among the first through n-th pluralities of programs to a state in which the plurality of programs performs a corresponding function. |
| US08230200B2 |
Image forming apparatus capable of creating, managing and using job history and control method for the same
An image forming apparatus includes a job-history managing unit that creates and manages a job history, registers a job history, as a job history instance, containing an operation code that instructs a series of job operations to be executed and also containing an operating condition of the job operation, and that registers a macro instance which can be interpreted by other image forming apparatuses and is encoded to an executable shared code. The image forming apparatus also includes an interpreter unit that reads the job history instance, encodes the operation code to the shared code, and registers the shared code as the macro instance. |
| US08230199B2 |
Perform frame management function instruction for setting storage keys and clearing blocks of main storage
What is disclosed is a set key and clear frame management function defined for a machine architecture of a computer system. In one embodiment, a machine instruction is obtained which identifies a first and second general register. Obtained from the first general register is a frame size field indicating whether a storage frame is one of a small block or a large block of data. Obtained from the second general register is an operand address of a storage frame upon which the instruction is to be performed. If the storage frame is a small block, the instruction is performed only on the small block. If the indicated storage frame is a large block of data, an operand address of an initial first block of data within the large block of data is obtained from the second general register. The frame management instruction is performed on all blocks starting from the initial first block. |
| US08230198B2 |
System for synchronous code retrieval from an asynchronous source
The present invention discloses a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable code embodied on the computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable code including: program code for delivering, in response to a CPU request, from a host-system processor of a host system, for a command code, an SWI that is different than the command code. Preferably, the computer-readable code further includes: program code for selecting between providing the command code and providing the SWI based on an availability of the command code. Preferably, the computer-readable code further includes: program code for distinguishing between a command-code read-request and a data read-request according to a built-in command-codes table, wherein the command-code read-request and the data read-request are different. Preferably, the computer-readable code further includes: program code that uses SWI machine code to respond to the host-system processor, when the command code is a part of a missing-code segment, without causing latency. |
| US08230191B2 |
Recording medium storing allocation control program, allocation control apparatus, and allocation control method
An allocation control apparatus allocates duplicate logical volume divided areas to virtual storage areas that do not have data storage area in the physical storage area. The apparatus associates identification information of the allocated virtual storage areas, of the duplicate logical volume divided areas, and of duplication source logical volume divided areas to be set in the management information. The apparatus detects, upon a data writing request, based on the management information, the unallocated real storage area in the logical volume divided area. The apparatus reallocates the real storage area to the duplicate logical volume divided area to update the management information. The apparatus identifies, based on the management information, the real storage area allocated to the duplication source logical volume divided area corresponding to the duplicate logical volume divided area. The apparatus copies data stored in the real storage area to the real storage area. |
| US08230189B1 |
Systems and methods for off-host backups of striped volumes
A computer-implemented method for off-host backups of striped volumes may include identifying a striped volume of data on which to perform an off-host backup operation. The computer-implemented method may also include identifying a plurality of storage devices underlying the striped volume of data. The computer-implemented method may further include identifying stripe-aware extent metadata for the off-host backup operation. The computer-implemented method may additionally include reading data for the off-host backup operation from the plurality of storage devices in parallel using the stripe-aware extent metadata. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08230187B1 |
Techniques for integrating backup modules with virtualized storage
Techniques for integrating backup applications and/or modules with virtualized storage are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a computer implemented method for integrating a backup module with a storage appliance comprising sending a storage device command to a source storage appliance from a source backup module, executing at the source storage appliance the storage device command, and updating one or more source storage indicators associated with the source storage appliance, wherein the one or more source storage indicators include replication status information for one or more portions of electronic storage associated with the source storage appliance. |
| US08230181B2 |
Multiprocessor computing system with multi-mode memory consistency protection
Disclosed are a method and apparatus for protecting memory consistency in a multiprocessor computing system, relating to program code conversion such as dynamic binary translation. The exemplary multiprocessor computing system provides memory and multiple processors, and a set of controller/translator units TX1, TX2, TX3 arranged to convert respective application programs into program threads T1, T2, etc., which are executed by the processors. Each controller/translator unit sets a first mode where a single thread T1 executes on a single processor P1, orders a second mode for two or more threads T1, T2 that are forced to execute one at a time on a single processor P2 such as by setting affinity with that processor, and orders a third mode to selectively apply active memory consistency protection in relation to accesses to explicit or implicit shared memory while allowing the multiple threads T1, T2, T3, T4 to execute on the multiple processors. |
| US08230180B2 |
Shared memory burst communications
A method and apparatus are provided for sharing multipath-accessible memory between a plurality of processors, the method including connecting the plurality of processors in read/write communication to a same shared memory region; connecting the plurality of processors in read communication to a same semaphore area; selectably connecting one of the plurality of processors in write communication to the same semaphore area; exchanging shared memory access command messages between two processors for negotiating access to the same shared memory region; and storing protected variables indicative of the currently negotiated access to the same shared memory region in the same semaphore area, wherein the shared memory region has a channel relative to each processor, each channel having at least one buffer disposed for transferring a plurality of data packets in a burst mode. |
| US08230175B1 |
Data throughput optimization of a storage device having sequential data access
A system and method optimizing data throughput to a processor from a storage device having sequential data access capabilities where the processor enables its data cache for memory operations involving the storage device. The system includes a processor coupled to the data storage device, e.g., a NAND flash memory. The processor establishes an address window used as a cache (CW) for reading data from the flash memory and also establishes a non-cacheable address window (NCW) for commands, address delivery and writes to the flash memory. The CW is sized to be larger than the processor data cache to ensure that reads from the flash memory always encounter a cache-miss so that read data is obtained directly from the flash memory. By reading through the CW from the flash memory, the processor takes advantage of bursting, pipelining and data prefetch efficiencies which significantly increase data throughput. |
| US08230174B2 |
Multi-queue address generator for start and end addresses in a multi-queue first-in first-out memory system
A multi-queue FIFO memory device that uses existing pins of the device to load a desired number of queues (N) into a queue number register is provided. The queue number register is coupled to a queue size look-up table (LUT), which provides a queue size value in response to the contents of the queue number register. The queue size value indicates the amount of memory (e.g., the number of memory blocks) to be included in each of the N queues. The queue size value is provided to a queue start/end address generator, which automatically generates the start and end address associated with each queue in response to the queue size value. These start and end addresses are stored in queue address register files, which enable proper memory read/write and flag counter operations. |
| US08230173B2 |
Cache memory system, data processing apparatus, and storage apparatus
A cache memory system includes a plurality of first storage hierarchical units provided individually to a plurality of processors. A second storage hierarchical unit is provided commonly to the plurality of processors. A control unit controls data transfer between the plurality of first storage hierarchical units and the second storage hierarchical unit. Each of the plurality of processors is capable of executing a no-data transfer store command as a store command that does not require data transfer from the second storage hierarchical unit to the corresponding first storage hierarchical unit, and each of the plurality of first storage hierarchical units outputs a transfer-control signal in response to occurrence of a cache miss hit when executing the no-data transfer store command by the corresponding processor. |
| US08230172B2 |
Gather and scatter operations in multi-level memory hierarchy
Methods and apparatus relating to gather or scatter operations in a multi-level cache are described. In some embodiments, a logic may determine whether to perform gather or scatter operations at a first memory or a second memory, based in part on a relative performance of performing the gather or scatter operations at the first memory and the second memory. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08230171B2 |
System and method for improved media identification in a storage device
Systems and methods are provided for improved identification of removable storage media. A scanner may be used to read an identifier, such as a barcode, on a removable storage media. In the event that the scanner reads the identifier incorrectly due to a defect in the barcode, such as a damaged label, misaligned identifier, or because the scanner is incapable of reading the identifier type or the scanner's field of view is incorrect, a media management component receives the scanned identifier data and matches it to a known set of media identifiers to create a subset of matching identifier data. A closest matching media identifier may be identified from the subset of matching identifier data. An index may be updated with information indicating the closest matching media identifier and a location of the removable storage media. |
| US08230168B2 |
Hierarchical immutable content-addressable memory processor
Improved memory management is provided according to a Hierarchical Immutable Content Addressable Memory Processor (HICAMP) architecture. In HICAMP, physical memory is organized as two or more physical memory blocks, each physical memory block having a fixed storage capacity. An indication of which of the physical memory blocks is active at any point in time is provided. A memory controller provides a non-duplicating write capability, where data to be written to the physical memory is compared to contents of all active physical memory blocks at the time of writing, to ensure that no two active memory blocks have the same data after completion of the non-duplicating write. |
| US08230158B2 |
Memory devices and methods of storing data on a memory device
Apparatus and methods are disclosed, such as those involving a flash memory device. One such apparatus includes a memory block including a plurality of memory cells; and a data randomizer configured to randomly or pseudo-randomly change original data to be stored in the memory block to changed data. The original data is changed such that a pattern of data as stored in the memory block is different than what it would have been if the original data had been stored in the memory block during a write operation. This configuration can reduce or eliminate data pattern-dependent errors in data digits stored in memory cells. |
| US08230157B2 |
Memory device and method of multi-bit programming
Memory devices and multi-bit programming methods are provided. A memory device may include a plurality of memory units; a data separator that separates data into a plurality of groups; a selector that rotates each of the plurality of groups and transmits each of the groups to at least one of the plurality of memory units. The plurality of memory units may include page buffers that may program the transmitted group in a plurality of multi-bit cell arrays using a different order of a page programming operation. Through this, evenly reliable data pages may be generated. |
| US08230156B2 |
Method for controlling non-volatile semiconductor memory system
In a memory system using a storage medium, which is inserted into an electronic apparatus via a connector to add a memory function thereto, the storage medium has a GROUND terminal, a power supply terminal a control terminal and a data input/output terminal, and the connector has a function of being sequentially connected to each of the terminals. When the storage medium is inserted into the connector, the GROUND terminal and control terminal of the storage medium are connected to corresponding terminals of the connector before the power supply terminal and data input/output terminal of the storage medium are connected to corresponding terminals of the connector. Thus, it is possible to improve the stability when a memory card is inserted into or ejected from the memory system. |
| US08230154B2 |
Fully associative banking for memory
A system is provided that facilitates read access in a memory device. The system comprises a plurality of row addresses buffers that store high order addresses associated with one or more software threads. The system further comprises a plurality of row data buffers. The row data buffers are each associated with at least one row address buffer and store row data within the range of the high order addresses of the row address buffers. The system increase memory device performance by limiting the latency associated with context switching. The plurality of row address buffers and row data buffers enables software threads to associate with one or more buffers and maintain efficient subsequent memory accesses despite context switching. |
| US08230145B2 |
Memory expansion blade for multiple architectures
A memory expansion blade for a multi-protocol architecture, includes dual inline memory modules (DIMMs) and a multi-protocol memory controller coupled to the DIMMs and operable to control operations of the DIMMs. The multi-protocol memory controller includes one or more memory channel controllers, with each of the memory channel controllers coupled to a single channel of DIMM, and where the DIMM in each single channel operate according to a specific protocol. The controller further includes a protocol engine coupled to the memory channel controllers, where the protocol engine is configurable to accommodate one or more of the specific protocols, and a system interface coupled to the protocol engine and configurable to provide electrical power and signaling appropriate for the specific protocols. |
| US08230144B1 |
High speed multi-threaded reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processor
A reduced instruction set computer (RISC) includes at least one arithmetic logic units (ALUs), which are arranged to evaluate logical conditions. A processing pipeline is arranged to solve a decision problem that is representable as a decision tree including at least three nodes by processing a sequence of pipelined instructions that traverse the decision tree. At least some of the pipelined instructions instruct the one or more ALUs to evaluate respective logical conditions, such that the pipeline flushes the instructions from the pipeline no more than once in the course of processing the sequence regardless of whether the logical conditions evaluate to true or false. |
| US08230142B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing egress data in an embedded system
In one embodiment, a device is disclosed. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a memory core having a shared buffer, and an arbitration logic module for receiving a destination ready signal from a processing source of a plurality of processing sources. The device also comprises at least one pipeline stage for storing at least one piece of data read from the shared buffer, and at least one matching pipeline stage storing at least one valid signal associated with the at least one piece of data read from the shared buffer. The device also comprises a counter for storing a value, wherein the value represents a number of pieces of data read from the shared buffer, but have not been delivered to the processing source. |
| US08230141B2 |
Apparatus and method for sorting items
An apparatus for sorting items has a buffer device with a multiplicity of buffer storage locations, filled by a loading device, and an intermediate store with a multiplicity of intermediate storage locations. The intermediate store and the buffer device are arranged such that items stored at a buffer storage location can be transferred into an intermediate storage location. The intermediate storage locations are movable at a relative speed with respect to the buffer storage locations and are suitable for receiving more than one item, for presorting. The buffer device is arranged over the intermediate store such that an item located in a buffer storage location can fall into an intermediate storage location. The apparatus has a multiplicity of collecting containers, arranged under the intermediate store, and are at rest during the sorting operation and are filled during the sorting operation with items contained in the intermediate storage locations. |
| US08230132B2 |
Management device and computer readable medium
A management device for managing a device has: a control unit including: a status acquiring unit that acquires a status of the device; and a notifying unit that, if the device is in a specific status, notifies information about the specific status to another device; and a first management screen supply unit supplying first management screen data to a display unit, wherein the control unit determines whether a notifying function of the notifying unit is valid or invalid, if the notifying function is valid, the control unit controls the status acquiring unit to periodically acquire the status of the device regardless of whether the first management screen supply unit starts up, and if the notifying function is invalid, the control unit controls the status acquiring unit to acquire the status of the device when the first management screen supply unit starts up in response to an instruction from a user. |
| US08230124B2 |
Methods and systems to dynamically manage performance states in a data processing system
Data processing systems which operate in different modes, including a mode which supports providing an output of images through a port on the systems. In one embodiment, a data processing system includes a processing system, a cellular telephone transceiver, and a port which is configured to provide, as an output from the handheld data processing system, data representing movie video images. Methods and machine readable media are also described. |
| US08230122B2 |
Direct provisioning of storage devices to virtual OS partitions
An OS instance can maintain management responsibility for SAN adapters to ensure separation and isolation of WPARs, while WPARs are given the capability of configuring an adapter (e.g., adding endpoint storage devices to the adapter). An operating system instance allocates an adapter to a first of a plurality of virtual operating system instances. The first virtual operating system instance updates a device data structure with an entry that indicates the adapter. The first virtual operating system instance maintains the device data structure. The first virtual operating system instance modifies the entry in the device data structure to associate a set of one or more endpoint storage devices with the adapter. The set of endpoint storage devices are provisioned to the first virtual operating system instance from a storage area network. The first virtual operating system instance configures the set of endpoint storage devices. |
| US08230120B2 |
PCI express enhancements and extensions
A method and apparatus for enhancing/extending a serial point-to-point interconnect architecture, such as Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) is herein described. Temporal and locality caching hints and prefetching hints are provided to improve system wide caching and prefetching. Message codes for atomic operations to arbitrate ownership between system devices/resources are included to allow efficient access/ownership of shared data. Loose transaction ordering provided for while maintaining corresponding transaction priority to memory locations to ensure data integrity and efficient memory access. Active power sub-states and setting thereof is included to allow for more efficient power management. And, caching of device local memory in a host address space, as well as caching of system memory in a device local memory address space is provided for to improve bandwidth and latency for memory accesses. |
| US08230119B2 |
PCI express enhancements and extensions
A method and apparatus for enhancing/extending a serial point-to-point interconnect architecture, such as Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) is herein described. Temporal and locality caching hints and prefetching hints are provided to improve system wide caching and prefetching. Message codes for atomic operations to arbitrate ownership between system devices/resources are included to allow efficient access/ownership of shared data. Loose transaction ordering provided for while maintaining corresponding transaction priority to memory locations to ensure data integrity and efficient memory access. Active power sub-states and setting thereof is included to allow for more efficient power management. And, caching of device local memory in a host address space, as well as caching of system memory in a device local memory address space is provided for to improve bandwidth and latency for memory accesses. |
| US08230117B2 |
Techniques for write-after-write ordering in a coherency managed processor system that employs a command pipeline
A technique for maintaining input/output (I/O) command ordering on a bus includes assigning a channel identifier to I/O commands of an I/O stream. In this case, the channel identifier indicates the I/O commands belong to the I/O stream. A command location indicator is assigned to each of the I/O commands. The command location indicator provides an indication of which one of the I/O commands is a start command in the I/O stream and which of the I/O commands are continue commands in the I/O stream. The I/O commands are issued in a desired completion order. When a first one of the I/O commands does not complete successfully, the I/O commands in the I/O stream are reissued on the bus starting at the first one of the I/O commands that did not complete successfully. |
| US08230113B2 |
System, method, and computer-readable medium for development and deployment of self-describing controlled device modules in a control system
A system, method, and computer-readable medium for configuring a controlled device in a control system are provided. A self-describing device Module associated with a controlled device provides capabilities of a controlled device both at runtime and before installation. The controlled device Module includes a capabilities component that, when queried, provides a description of the controlled device's capabilities both as a capabilities object that can be queried at runtime and in a self-describing capabilities file implemented in an XML format prior to operational configuration of the Module or controlled device. The Module is configured to generate its runtime capabilities object and self-describing capabilities file. |
| US08230106B2 |
Methods and apparatus for improved transmission control protocol transmission over a wireless channel exhibiting rate and delay variations
Techniques and systems for managing transmissions from a TCP source by regulating the flow of acknowledgement signals to the TCP source are described. An acknowledgement signal regulator monitors a data queue used to buffer data packets received from the TCP source and an acknowledgement signal queue used to store acknowledgement signals to be transmitted to the TCP source. An acknowledgement signal release manager determines the available space in the data queue and the expected number of data packets arriving at the data queue, and manages the release of acknowledgement signals from the acknowledgement signal queue to the TCP source so as to prevent an undesired overflow of the data queue resulting from the arrival of an excessive number of data packets from the TCP source. |
| US08230101B2 |
Server device for media, method for controlling server for media, and program
Transfer control means (41) transfers part of held digital contents in an internal storage device (51) to a network storage device (57). List information presentation means (42) returns list information which makes the digital contents stored in the internal storage device (51) and the network storage device (57) as the held digital contents in response to a list presentation request for the held digital contents. Upon reception of a data transmission request, search means (43) searches where the held digital contents are currently stored. If the result of the search shows the network storage device (57), content data transmission processing means (44) allows the stream-delivery of the data from the network storage device (57) to a network player (56). There is provided a server device for media (40) capable of maintaining the convenience of playback in a network player, while properly dealing with the large total size of held digital contents. |
| US08230099B2 |
System and method for sharing playlists
A system for sharing playlists utilizes a network, such as the Internet. A player device other than a general purpose computer, such as a dedicated media player or a remote control for a dedicated media player, is in communication with the server over the network. The player device is configured to receive a playlist, queue the playlist, display the playlist, and play a selection from the playlist. A user profile may be used to identify playlists that are likely to contain selections of interest to the user. |
| US08230097B2 |
Method and system for broadcasting multimedia data
A broadcast system provides support for clients to receive transmissions over a unicast or a multicast channel from a broadcast server. A server administrator configures each of a first server and client systems connected to the server to receive data in one of a multicast or unicast transmission mode. An empirical test determines whether an intervening network can support the configured mode and if not, transmission is performed using a fall back mode. The first server is able to provide access to data streams from other servers to the client systems connected thereto. Upon requesting a data stream from another server, the first server receives the data stream, replicates the data stream, transmits the data stream to the requesting client system and stores the replicated data stream for immediate access by any requesting client server connected thereto. |
| US08230096B2 |
Methods and systems for generating playback instructions for playback of a recorded computer session
A protocol engine executing on a first device receives a recorded stream comprising a plurality of packets representing display data generated by an application program executed on a second device. The protocol engine determines for a packet in the recorded stream, to render the contents of the packet in a human-perceptible manner. The protocol engine stores the determination in a playback data structure. |
| US08230095B2 |
System and method for integrated on-demand delivery of operating system and applications
The present invention discloses a system and a method for integrated on-demand delivery of operating system and applications, where operating system images are separate and distinct from application images. Integration of operating system streaming and application streaming services makes streaming delivery possible to a wide range of client devices, including those without any local disk space such as thin-clients and diskless workstations. In addition, by integrating the centralized management of operating system delivery and application delivery, the present invention provides a complete solution to server-centric application management, thereby further reducing the total cost of ownership of network-based computing approach. Implementing the operating management functions at the client machine level of specificity and application management functions at the user level of specificity combined with providing separate and distinct operating system images and application images provides an inherently canonical architecture that allows proper scaling and affords appropriate security management functions. The result is a complete, scalable, robust, and reliable server-centric application and operating system management system with a lower total cost of ownership than existing products. |
| US08230090B2 |
System and method for TCP offloading and uploading
Systems and methods that provide transmission control protocol (TCP) offloading and uploading are provided. In one example, a multiple stack system may include a software stack and a hardware stack. The software stack may be adapted to process a first set of TCP packet streams. The hardware stack may be adapted to process a second set of TCP packet streams and may be coupled to the software stack. The software stack may be adapted to offload one or more TCP connections to the hardware stack. The hardware stack may be adapted to upload one or more TCP connections to the software stack. The software stack and the hardware stack may process one or more TCP connections concurrently. |
| US08230087B2 |
Enforcing geographic constraints in content distribution
Enforcement of geographic and location based constraints on content distribution is provided to allow distribution of content to remote devices while preventing unauthorized use and consumption of the content. Content requested by a device may be protected using a variety of content protection mechanisms that support geographic constraints. The requesting device may be required to validate and/or obtain the device's physical location prior to being granted access to the protected content. The requesting device may validate and/or obtain its physical location by requesting location information from a location server or another geographic aware device. The distribution of the location information from the location server may be limited to a predefined proximity. The proximity limit on the dissemination of the location information prevents remote devices from fraudulently using the location information. Location information may be encapsulated and may be formatted as a content file. |
| US08230086B2 |
Hidden group membership in clustered computer system
An apparatus, program product and method utilize hidden group membership to facilitate the processing of originator requests to a group in a clustered computer system. With hidden group membership, a requesting originator is temporarily joined to a group in such a manner that the originator is both hidden and provided with limited access rights, e.g., so that some of the messages sent by the members of a group when processing the request are neither sent to nor received by the originator. |
| US08230082B2 |
Methods and apparatus for randomization of periodic behavior in communication network
A technique for use in a client, wherein the client supports a state-based signaling protocol (e.g., Session Initiation Protocol or SIP), includes initiating a given session state between the client and a server that also supports the state-based signaling protocol, and refreshing the given session state in a randomized manner. Further, a technique for use in a server, wherein the server supports a state-based signaling protocol (again, e.g., SIP), includes randomly assigning an expiration time duration for a given session state between the server and a client that also supports the state-based signaling protocol, and reporting the randomly assigned expiration time for the given session state to the client. By randomizing various behaviors of the client, the server, or both, bursty traffic in the communication network is reduced or eliminated. |
| US08230081B2 |
Feature set based content communications systems and methods
In an exemplary system, a plurality of access devices comprising at least a first access device and a second access device is selectively and communicatively coupled to a profile management subsystem. The profile management subsystem is configured to maintain profile data representing a feature set of at least one of the plurality of access devices, receive a profile request signal representing a request for profile data corresponding to the second access device from the first access device, and transmit the requested profile data to the first access device in response to the profile request signal. The first access device is configured to transmit content to the second access device in accordance with a feature set represented by the profile data corresponding to the second access device. |
| US08230079B2 |
Method and apparatus for communicating data between two hosts
A method for communicating video data between at least a first host and a second host comprises: identifying, at a server, an address of the first host, to which the second host may communicate video data, and a sequence number expected by a network security system coupled between the first host and the server; and communicating, from the second host to the first host, video data using the address of the first host and the sequence number expected. The method may further comprise: identifying, at the server, an address of the second host, to which the first host may communicate video data, and a second sequence number expected by a network security system coupled between the second host and the server; and communicating, from the first host to the second host, video data using the address of the second host and the second expected sequence number. The second host may be adapted to perform the act of communicating without use of an intermediate server. The method may also further comprise communicating periodically, from the first host to the server, through the network security system, so as to maintain an open communication channel through the network security system to the first host at the address of the first host. The address of the first host may include address information and port information. |
| US08230074B2 |
System and method for reducing required memory usage between communication servers
An arrangement and method for reducing memory usage for communications between servers in a communication network utilizing the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) by controlling establishment of SIP-Tunnels. A single SIP-Tunnel for a certain event package is utilized for multiple subscriptions between one instance of a requesting server such as a Resource List Server (RLS) and one instance of an Application Server such as, for example, a Presence Server. The SIP-Tunnel is then used to send all SIP NOTIFY messages between these two entities to reduce memory usage at both ends by removing the overhead created by SIP. |
| US08230073B1 |
Service templates for an IP multimedia subsystem
The present invention provides a call/session control function for an Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem where a service template may be invoked in lieu of a single multimedia service. The service template identifies a number of multimedia services and associated logic for invoking the multimedia services, once the service template is invoked. In operation, a signaling message is received and appropriate filtering criteria are retrieved for the signaling message. Filtering criteria define a set of rules identifying any multimedia services that need to be invoked in light of receiving the signaling message. The filtering criteria will identify a service template, and perhaps other multimedia services to invoke directly. If a service template is invoked, the service template is obtained and the logic controlling invocation of the associated multimedia services is applied to effect invocation of the multimedia services. |
| US08230070B2 |
System and method for grid and cloud computing
A system and method for providing grid computing on a network of computing nodes, which includes a configurable service container executable at the nodes, including message dispatching, communication, network membership and persistence modules, and adapted to host pluggable service modules. When executed at the nodes, at least one instance of the container includes a membership service module for maintaining network connectivity between the nodes, at least one instance of the container includes a scheduler service module configured to receive one or more tasks from a client and schedule the tasks on at least one of the nodes, and at least one instance of the container includes an executor service module for receiving one or more tasks from the scheduler service module, executing the tasks so received and returning at least one result to the scheduler service module. |
| US08230068B2 |
Dynamic command capacity allocation across multiple sessions and transports
A method for dynamically allocating a plurality of command processing resources is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) allocating the command processing resources from a first protocol layer to a first pool of a second protocol layer below the first protocol layer, (B) allocating at least some of the command processing resources from the first pool to a plurality of second pools and (C) sending a particular one of the command processing resources from one of the second pools to the first protocol layer for processing an operation. |
| US08230066B2 |
Location independent backup of data from mobile and stationary computers in wide regions regarding network and server activities
The present invention relates to a computerized method and respective system for servicing a request for a networked data transfer from a client system, which is able to be serviced on a particular server system being a member of a plurality of server systems dedicated to service said client requests, in which the server systems are connected via a network and share information about a plurality of client systems, and in which the service is known to consume some non-negligible network bandwidth. In order to balance required bandwidth peaks and to improve user comfort, it is proposed to establish an inter-server communication, which determines the best suited server for providing the service, reflecting pre-collected client history data, favorite service provision times, etc. The method can be applied primarily for backup of data from distributed client systems, or for improving print services. |
| US08230064B2 |
Data providing system and data providing apparatus
A data providing system is provided with a data providing apparatus, a data utilizing apparatus configured to be connected with the data providing apparatus in a communicable manner, and a communication apparatus configured to be connected with the data providing apparatus in a communicable manner. The data utilizing apparatus is configured to send an identification information-sending request to the data providing apparatus, output identification information sent from the data providing apparatus, send the identification information to the data providing apparatus, and utilize data sent from the data providing apparatus. The communication apparatus is configured to allow a user to input the identification information and to designate data specifying information, and send the input identification information and the designated data specifying information to the data providing apparatus. The data providing apparatus is configured to send the identification information to the data utilizing apparatus in accordance with the identification information-sending request sent from the data utilizing apparatus, store the sent identification information, store an association of the identification information and the data specifying information sent from the communication apparatus on a condition that the identification information sent from the communication apparatus has been stored, and send data to the data utilizing apparatus. The data is specified by the data specifying information associated with the identification information sent from the data utilizing apparatus. |
| US08230058B2 |
Health reporting mechanism for inter-network gateway
A method of monitoring the stability of a network includes polling an inter-network gateway to collect data related to the inter-network gateway. In one example, the data is related to one or more of a flowcache, a virtual private routed network, or an internet key exchange security association. The data can then be processed to generate a number of parameters and a health report can be generated based on the parameters. |
| US08230054B2 |
Systems and methods for managing dynamic proximity in multi-core GSLB appliance
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for providing dynamic proximity load balancing via a multi-core intermediary device. An intermediary device providing global server load balancing (GSLB) identifies a local domain name service (LDNS) entries database and assigns each LDNS entry in the LDNS entries database to one of the plurality of packet processing engine base on a source internet protocol (IP) address of each LDNS entry. The first packet processing engine on the appliance receives a LDNS request for an IP address, determines that the LDNS entry for the IP address is assigned to a second packet processing engine of the plurality of packet processing engines, transmits a request to the second packet processing engine for the LDNS entry for the IP address, and determines a response to the LDNS request based on the LDNS entry for the IP address received from the second packet processing engine. |
| US08230052B2 |
Module diagnostic toolkit for client-server based protocols
This paper describes a server diagnostic module toolkit which provides for the non-intrusive inspection and/or data transformation of stages, modules, and data on a server utilizing a request-response protocol. Diagnostic modules are installed on a server so that diagnostic commands may be sent by a client within an otherwise normal request and received by the server to invoke debugging and monitoring functionality during the normal runtime processing of the server. Diagnostic data may then be stored and later retrieved so that debugging and monitoring may be accomplished without disturbing the normal processing of requests by the server. |
| US08230049B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing apparatus control method, and storage medium storing computer program
When an information processing apparatus has moved from one sub-area to another sub-area, anycast is performed to a plurality of management servers using an IP address for anycast in accordance with network management information. Network management information is acquired from a management server which has responded to the anycast. The acquired network management information and installed device driver information are analyzed. If there is a device driver for a device belonging to the sub-area managed by the management server which has responded, one of the devices belonging to the other sub-area is selected as a default device. This arrangement enables the selection of an appropriate default printer when a client has moved from a network environment managed by one management server to another network environment managed by another management server. |
| US08230048B2 |
Client device configuration with hooks
Configuring a client device including associating a hook in a configuration bundle with customized programming, downloading the configuration bundle for a client device to a services gateway, and executing the configuration bundle on the services gateway, including calling the hook. |
| US08230047B2 |
User interface system and method for inter-router protocol and transport configuration
An interface system and method for creation and configuration of a connection between routers is provided. The interface comprises facility for entry of physical connection information, and entry of protocols selection and configuration information. Information for selection and configuring routing instances, network interfaces, and protocols for the connection is only requested from the user interface once before it is forwarded to an NMS to carry out the steps for actually setting-up the connection. Transport and protocol profiles for re-use with various physical connections are also provided. |
| US08230045B2 |
System, method, and computer program for determining whether object is genuine or fake in metaverse
A server computer connected to a plurality of client computers through a network and controls objects in a Metaverse accessed by the client computers. The server computer includes: a storage unit for storing an object ID specifying a Metaverse object and authenticity information; a communication unit for communicating with each of the client computers; and an enquiry unit for causing the communication unit to transmit the authenticity information of the object ID to the communication unit. A method of controlling objects in a Metaverse accessed by client computers is also provided. |
| US08230044B2 |
Media channel management
The media session management of the invention encompasses a media server having access to multiple unicast-based media channels and a user terminal. The user terminal generates and transmits a generic, channel-transparent session request to the server. This request initiates a generic, channel-transparent media session setup procedure between the terminal and the server. The setup procedure involves exchange of requests and responses but no media channel is yet selected or notified at the server. Once the channel-transparent setup has been completed, the user terminal transmits a channel-specific rendering request for a desired media channel to the server. In a subsequent channel switch, the terminal simply transmits a new channel-specific request for a new channel to the server during the ongoing session and reusing the negotiated transport parameters of the channel-transparent setup procedure. |
| US08230043B2 |
Documentation process for invoking help from a server
The use of a map at a server allows flexibility to the operation of a help system. |
| US08230039B2 |
Systems and methods for accelerated playback of rich internet applications
Embodiments of systems and methods for accelerated playback of rich internet applications are disclosed. For example, one embodiment of the present invention includes a method having the steps of determining a frame rate associated with a rich internet application, the rich internet application comprising a plurality of frames; determining at least one timing signal to be generated by the rich internet application; and determining at least one frame at which the timing signal would be output at the frame rate. The method further includes generating each of the plurality of frames of the rich internet application at a rate greater than the frame rate; and outputting the at least one timing signal when the at least one frame associated with the timing signal is generated. In another embodiment, a computer-readable media includes code for a carrying out such a method. |
| US08230033B2 |
Message tracking functionality based on thread-recurrent data
A method, system, computer program product, and related business methods are described in the context of a web-based business information system having an internal e-mail facility, wherein e-mail communications between a native e-mail system of an end user of the web-based business information system and an external contact are facilitated and automatically tracked by the web-based business information system, the native e-mail system lying outside the web-based business information system but often being preferred by the end user over the internal e-mail facility of the web-based business information system. The described preferred embodiments provide for easy-to-use, reasonably transparent, “no-click” integration of the web-based business information system with the end user's native e-mail system in a manner that is independent of the particular type and choice of native e-mail system. |
| US08230029B2 |
Clearinghouse for messages between disparate networks
A system and method are directed towards managing interoperability between disparate IM networks. A clearinghouse server is provided that receives IM messages from disparate IM networks. The clearinghouse server examines the IM message to determine it is in a compatible protocol for a destination IM network. If the IM message is incompatible a translation service is used to translate the message into a compatible protocol. The translation service further determines if the destination IM network supports a feature employed by the received IM message. If the feature is supported or can be translated to a supported feature, the translation service will also perform the feature translation. Otherwise, the translation service may return an error message indicating that the received IM message includes an unsupported feature for the destination IM network. Upon satisfactory translation, the clearinghouse server forwards the translated IM message towards the destination IM network. |
| US08230027B2 |
Method and apparatus for utilizing portable e-mail addresses
A signal bearing medium tangibly embodies a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations comprising receiving an email message having an extended email address encoded virtual address, resolving said address to an actual email address, replacing the virtual address with the actual email address, and transmitting said email message. |
| US08230026B2 |
System and method for pushing information between a host system and a mobile data communication device
A system and method for message redirection receives an email message originating from a user's mobile data communication device for redirection. A record containing a domain name is obtained, based at least in part on a user ID associated with the email message. If the domain name is blank, the system uses an address associated with the user as the “from” email address and if the domain name is not blank, the system uses a juxtaposition of a user name and the domain name as the “from” email address for transmitting the message. |
| US08230025B2 |
System and method for delivering variable size messages based on spam probability
There is disclosed a system and method for delivering a message to a communication device. In an embodiment, the method comprises obtaining a probability that the message is spam; in dependence upon the probability that the message is spam, determining a variable message size; and sending the message to the communication device in dependence upon the determined variable message size. In an embodiment, the method further comprises receiving a user response whether the message is spam; and if the message is verified as being spam, then filtering the message from the communication device. |
| US08230023B2 |
Managing email disk usage based on user specified conditions
Mechanisms are provided for managing email disk usage based on user specified conditions. An incoming email for a user is scanned for email expressions. A determination is made as to whether one of the email expressions matches one of a number of listed expressions forming a matched expression. Responsive to a presence of a matched expression, a determination is made as to whether a first threshold associated with the matched expression is met or exceeded. Responsive to the first threshold being met or exceeded, a notification is sent to the user of the first threshold being met. |
| US08230020B2 |
Method and system for filtering electronic messages
A method for filtering an incoming electronic message sent by a sender and addressed to a user. The method includes providing a first temporary identifier, receiving the incoming electronic message from the sender, processing the incoming electronic message to detect the presence of the first temporary identifier therein, and upon detection of the first temporary identifier, allowing a delivery of the incoming electronic message to the user. |
| US08230019B2 |
Alerting electronic mail users of undeliverable recipients
A mechanism to alert to a user that an address of an e-mail message may be undeliverable is provided. If a “bounced” mail notification is received, an indicator is associated with the address to which the notification pertains. When accessed by the user, in response to the indicator being set, the address is displayed in conjunction with one or more perceptive cues, such as highlighted color etc. If an indication that the delivery problems with respect to the address are resolved, such as receipt of an e-mail from the addressee or a successful delivery notification, the indicator is cleared whereby the alert is terminated. |
| US08230016B1 |
Determining intent of a recommendation on a mobile application
Methods and systems are provided for determining the intent of a recommendation made by a user of a mobile application where the application includes a plurality of separable components, any one or more of which the recommendation can apply to. An application in which a user recommendation control is provided for presentation to a user also includes a tag indicating how a recommendation of the application should be interpreted with respect to the components included therein. The tag can be set by the application developer and can be in the form of text (e.g., a keyword or term) or a uniform resource locator (URL). Where a tag references multiple components of an application, a recommending user can be presented with a recommendation intent query. The recommendation intent query allows a user to designate one or more components of the application to which the user's recommendation should be attributed. |
| US08230015B2 |
Message posting system
A server unit provides a message board on a predetermined topic in which multiple unspecified users participate. A user can designate a message posted by an arbitrary user on the message board on the predetermined topic, as a watch target. When a plurality of users designate the same message on the message board on the predetermined topic as a watch target and post new messages on the message to be watched within a predetermined period, the users who have designated the same message as the watch target are grouped. The grouped users can use a message board for a temporary topic which is provided as separate from the message board for the predetermined topic. |
| US08230014B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method for controlling thereof and computer program
An information processing apparatus includes a storage unit adapted to store information of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, a reception unit adapted to receive from an other information processing apparatus a request to acquire information of the plurality of image forming apparatuses stored by the storage unit, a determination unit adapted to, by comparing an address of the image forming apparatus stored by the storage unit with an address of another information processing apparatus, determine whether the image forming apparatus has the address which another information processing apparatus can access, and a transmission unit adapted to transmit to another information processing apparatus the information of the image forming apparatus having the address which is determined by the determination unit to be accessible from another information processing apparatus. |
| US08230011B2 |
Networked computer alert system
An alert system for users of networked computers is described. The alert system includes local software installed on the user's personal computing device, such as personal computers, cell phones and personal data assistants as well as server software. The system allows for both anonymous and non-anonymous rapid communication from the user upon a triggering event of harassment or other actions while accessing the Internet using the personal computing device. The system includes flexible and customizable communication to a variety of pre-selected recipients by a variety of communication means. |
| US08230008B2 |
Persisting graphics structures across client change in graphics remoting environment
A server receives one or more hashes from a client, where each of the hashes represents a graphics structure maintained by the client. A first hash is generated from a graphics structure according to a hash algorithm, where the graphics structure is generated from an application hosted within the server, where the graphics structure represents a display output of the application. It is determined whether there is an existing hash from the one or more hashes received from the client that matches the first hash. The first hash is transmitted to the client without sending the graphics structure if there is an existing hash matching the first hash. The first hash is used by the client to identify a graphics structure maintained by the client for rendering a display of the client. |
| US08230007B2 |
Method for permitting and blocking use of internet by detecting plural terminals on network
The present invention is related to a technology for grasping the number of a plurality of terminals of a client using a Cookie in a private network in which plural terminals are shared by redirecting a session which is to be connected to a Web by analyzing a TCP/IP packet, detecting the accurate number of a plurality of terminals of a client using an Internet, and making the accurate number as a DB, and selectively permitting or blocking a connection to Internet according to TCP/IP by using the Cookie pool information of a DB type and JOB when the users configuring and using a private network connect to the Internet at the same time. |
| US08230006B2 |
Remote client management
A method for managing remote clients includes retrieving a client version identifier for an application program running on a client. The client version identifier is compared with a master version identifier for a master configuration file on a server. An active configuration of the application program on the client is altered while the application program is running. |
| US08230005B2 |
System and method for collecting, transferring and managing quality control data
The information system and method for collecting, transferring and administrating quality control data, and particularly HACCP data disclosed allows bi-directional communication between a plurality of remote wireless measurement devices and a central web server through a local com/data link. The com/data link provides wireless communication with the various measurement devices and communication with the web server via an Internet connection. An Internet based database and website interface provides centralized data storage and easily accessible data management and analysis. Administrator/users can access and manage the data from any location or device with Internet connectivity. The measurement devices allow their operation and functions to be configured and reconfigured by uploading customized device “data packets” into the devices system memory. The Internet-based user interface allows administrator/users to remotely customize and modify these “data packets” for each individual measurement device to suit each specific application. The bi-directional communication between the various wireless measurement devices and the web server allows administrator/users to reconfigure each individual measurement device remotely through an Internet-based user interface. |
| US08230003B2 |
XDM system and method for implementing XML document management function by using position description of XML document
A method for indirectly creating an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) document in an XDMS (XML Document Management Server) by using a URL (Uniform Resource Locator), which indicates the position of an XCAP (XML Configuration Access Protocol) document, in an XDM (XML Document Management) system including an XDMC (XDM Client) and an XDMS. The method includes transmitting an XCAP PUT request message, which contains an XCAP URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) and a storage position of an XML document to be created, to a corresponding XDMS by the XDMC; and receiving the XCAP PUT request message by the XDMS, retrieving an XML document corresponding to the XCAP URI contained in the XCAP PUT request message, and storing the XML document in the storage position. |
| US08230001B2 |
Providing information about a system using scripts
Methods and systems for providing information a client requested about a system using scripts are described. In one embodiment, one or more scripts request information about a computer system. A translator receives the information about the system from the scripts. The translator stores the information about the system in readily accessible data structures. |
| US08229998B2 |
Open interface device and method
An open interface device and method is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes i) receiving a standard application program interface (API) input for performing a biz template from a CP/SP, ii) generating a session key of the biz template, iii) performing an authentication process for a biz template requested by the CP/SP, iv) transforming the received standard API input from the CP/SP to a biz template performing request message by analyzing the received standard API input and transmitting the biz template performing request message to the business logic processing unit, v) receiving the biz template performing result message from the business logic processing unit and transforming the received biz template performing result message to a message format to transmit to the CP/SP and vi) transferring the biz template performing result message to the CP/SP. |
| US08229997B2 |
Method and system using a portable object for providing an extension to a server
In general, the invention relates to a method for executing at least a portion of a server operation. The method includes providing an extension to a client connected to the server, where the extension includes a portable object connected to the client. The method further includes performing at least the portion of server operation by the extension, where performing at least the portion of the server operation includes executing a copy of at least a portion of server software stored on the portable object. |
| US08229993B2 |
Method for performing decimal division
A method for performing decimal division including receiving a scaled divisor and a scaled dividend into input registers. A subset of multiples of the scaled divisor is stored in a plurality of multiples registers. Quotient digits are calculated in response to the scaled divisor and the scaled dividend. Each quotient digit is calculated in three clock cycles by a pipeline mechanism. The calculating includes selecting a new quotient digit, and calculating a new remainder. Input to the calculating a new remainder includes data from one or more of the multiples registers. |
| US08229991B2 |
Processor core and multiplier that support a multiply and difference operation by inverting sign bits in booth recoding
The present invention provides processing systems, apparatuses, and methods that support both general processing processor (GPP) and digital signal processor (DSP) features, such as vector and single value multiplication. In an embodiment, fractional arithmetic, integer arithmetic, saturation, and single instruction multiple data (SIMD) operations such as vector multiply, multiply accumulate, dot-product accumulate, and multiply-subtract accumulate are supported. In an embodiment, the process core and/or multiplier multiplies vector values or single values by creating partial products for each desired product. These partial products are added to produce intermediate results, which are combined in different ways to support various GPP and DSP operations. |
| US08229990B2 |
Method and structure for producing high performance linear algebra routines using a hybrid full-packed storage format
A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method to at least one of reduce a memory space requirement and to increase a processing efficiency in a computerized method of linear algebra processing. A hybrid full-packed data structure is generated for processing data of a triangular matrix by one or more dense linear algebra (DLA) matrix subroutines designed to process matrix data in a full format, as modified to process matrix data using said hybrid full-packed data structure into a hybrid full-packed data structure, as follows. A portion of the triangular matrix data is determined that would comprise a square portion having a dimension approximately one half a dimension of the triangular matrix data. A first triangular portion of the triangular matrix data is fitted into a first location relative to data of the square portion, and a second triangular portion of the triangular matrix data is fitted into a second location relative to data of the square portion, such that the first triangular portion, the second triangular portion, and the square portion fit together to form the rectangular data structure. The hybrid full-packed data structure provides a substantially rectangular full format data structure for an entirety of the triangular matrix data and the triangular matrix comprises a triangular or symmetric/Hermitian matrix. |
| US08229989B2 |
Method for controlling rounding modes in single instruction multiple data (SIMD) floating-point units
A method for controlling rounding modes in a single instruction multiple data (SIMD) floating-point unit is disclosed. The SIMD floating-point unit includes a floating-point status-and-control register (FPSCR) having a first rounding mode bit field and a second rounding mode bit field. The SIMD floating-point unit also includes means for generating a first slice and a second slice. During a floating-point operation, the SIMD floating-point unit concurrently performs a first rounding operation on the first slice and a second rounding operation on the second slice according to a bit in the first rounding mode bit field and a bit in the second rounding mode bit field within the FPSCR, respectively. |
| US08229988B2 |
Sampling circuit
A sampling circuit includes a latch circuit which latches the digital signal S1 at a constant period, an addition register which adds the sampled data for the same input code, a divider which divides the added value by a predetermined divisor, a digital memory which stores the divided value and outputs it at an arbitrary timing for a predetermined reading out number, an operator which operates the output data from the digital memory in accordance with a previously set algorithm, a judgment circuit which judges the operation result with a predetermined judgment criterion, and a control logic part which controls such that the addition and outputting processing by the addition register and the division and outputting processing by the divider are carried out concurrently with the sampling processing by the latch circuit. This sampling circuit in an AD converter or a DA converter can reduce inspection cost. |
| US08229987B2 |
Discrete time direct sampling circuit and receiver
A direct sampling circuit and a receiver which carry out discrete time analog processing with a high degree of design freedom and are provided with a filter property which is achievable to comply with the receipt of a broad band signal. A plurality of discrete time analog processing circuits (101) are connected in parallel with each other, a gm value and a capacitance of a capacitor in each circuit system are set independently based on a prescribed condition, and an output signal obtained from each circuit system is synthesized by means of a buffer capacitor (102), so that an equivalently high-dimensional IIR filter can be put into practice. |
| US08229983B2 |
Channel switch frame
Methods and apparatus to process multimedia data enabling faster channel acquisitions, improved error recovery and improved efficiency. An encoder device encodes a first portion of multimedia data using inter-coding to generate a first version, and encodes the first portion of multimedia data using intra-coding to generate a second version. A decoder device receives a first version of a first portion of multimedia data, wherein the first version is inter-coded, receives a second version of the first portion of multimedia data, wherein the second version is intra-coded, and selectively decodes the first and second received versions. |
| US08229982B2 |
Method and system for large volume data processing
This disclosure provides a method and a system for large volume data processing for solving the problem of system collapse caused by processing delays resulting from a failure of processing a large volume of data within a scheduled time. The method allocates a server to divide a source file into multiple small files, according to a source file naming scheme, and allocates multiple servers to distributedly process the small files. The allocation of servers can be based on the filenames named according to a file naming scheme. The disclosed method deploys multiple servers to divide and process large data files, thereby maximally improving the processing power of the system and ensuring the system to complete the processing of the files within scheduled times. Furthermore, the system promises good scalability. |
| US08229980B2 |
State buckets
Techniques involving state buckets are described. In an implementation, a plurality of axes are defined, each corresponding to a proposed separation or unification of state for software. For each of the axes, one or more scenarios are determined that are enabled by the defined separation or unification of the state for the software. The defined plurality of axes are then prioritized, one to another, based on respective said one or more scenarios. A plurality of buckets are defined based on the prioritizing, each corresponding to one or more said axes. |
| US08229979B2 |
Method and system for inspecting memory leaks
A system and method are provided to inspect memory leaks. In one embodiment, a method of inspecting memory leaks is disclosed. The method includes garbage collecting at a virtual machine to generate a garbage collection file having memory leak information identifying dirty objects of an application causing first memory leaks and providing a state of the dirty objects as they existed prior to causing the first memory leaks. The garbage collection file is periodically duplicated into a backup file to the garbage collection file, and, during runtime, the backup file having the memory leak information is analyzed including reviewing the state of the dirty objects as they existed prior to causing the first memory leaks to identify clean objects capable of turning dirty and causing second memory leaks. |
| US08229978B2 |
Method and apparatus for electronic collection, translation, grouping, and delivery of wage assignment information
A system electronically collects, translates, groups, and delivers wage assignment information from at least one initiator to at least one recipient via an accumulator. An initiator initially receives the wage assignment information. Then, an accumulator collects the wage assignment information from at least one initiator, such as a government agency. The accumulator then translates the wage assignment information into a format compatible with electronic data interchange (EDI), such as the ANSI X12 standard. The accumulator then groups the EDI wage assignment information into specific files, batching the files based upon one data field contained within the wage assignment information data set, such as a recipient. The accumulator then delivers a batched EDI wage assignment file to each respective recipient. Once the EDI wage assignment file is received by the recipient, the wage assignment may then be implemented. |
| US08229976B2 |
Data binding for XML schemas
A user interface may be generated from an XML schema. For a data object definition in an XML schema, a user interface object may be defined, and a memory store for the data object may be created and bound to the user interface object. The user interface component may be defined in the XML schema, as a separate file, or within an XML document. A user interface object may be selected based on the data type, and various limits and display mechanisms and input devices may be configured based on the schema. When bound, the data stored in the memory store may be reflected in the user interface component, and changes to the user interface component may be reflected in the memory store. |
| US08229975B2 |
Data compression apparatus, data decompression apparatus, and method for compressing data
A data compression apparatus for compressing structured data is provided. The data compression apparatus includes an input unit configured to input a plurality of structured data items to be compressed and a plurality of schema files each corresponding to one of the structured data items, an index data generating unit configured to derive a common vocabulary set from a combination of at least two of the schema files among the input schema files and generate index data for associating an index with each of vocabulary items included in the common vocabulary set, and a replacement unit configured to replace the vocabulary included in the structured data item with a corresponding index on the basis of the index data for each of the structured data items corresponding to the schema files included in the combination of schema files. |
| US08229973B2 |
Infrastructure and architecture for development and execution of predictive models
A system that enables development and execution of predictive models comprises a centralized data management system, a data extraction tool a model validation tool and a model execution tool. In embodiments, a data management system includes a data management server that can be accessed via a web browser that stores data. An extraction tool includes a data filter adapted to filter data based on, for example, a population criteria, a sample size, and a date range criteria. A model validation tool validates the model. A model execution tool allows a user to score the model. |
| US08229972B2 |
Extended data storage system
In one embodiment, an extended data storage system employs a first data storage and an extended data storage. A first level of metadata is established with respect to data from the using entity, the first level of metadata is provided in the first data storage. The data from the using entity is stored in the extended data storage. A second level of metadata at least describing the data as stored in the extended data storage is also established, wherein the second level of metadata associated with the first level of metadata for the stored data. The first level of metadata is made accessible to the using entity at the first data storage; and the second level of metadata is made unavailable to the using entity. Thus, the data is stored in the extended data storage and a small amount of metadata is stored in the first data storage. |
| US08229970B2 |
Efficient storage and retrieval of posting lists
A role tree having nodes corresponding to semantic roles in a hierarchy is defined. A posting list is generated for each association of a term and a semantic role in the hierarchy. The posting lists are stored contiguously on a physical storage medium such that a subtree of the hierarchy of semantic roles can be loaded from the storage medium as a single contiguous block. The posting lists for a subtree of the hierarchy are retrieved by obtaining data identifying the beginning location on the physical storage medium of the posting lists for the term at the top of a desired subtree of the hierarchy and data identifying the length of the posting lists of the desired subtree of the hierarchy. A single contiguous block that includes the posting lists for the desired subtree of the hierarchy is then retrieved from the beginning location through the specified length. |
| US08229965B2 |
System and method for maximizing edit distances between particles
Embodiments of the invention disclose a system and a method for transforming a set of particles in an output set of particles representing a set of words suitable for use in an information retrieval system. The method generates, for each particle in the set of particles, combinations of parts of a particle, and replaces the particle in the set of particles with the parts of a combination maximizing a total minimum edit distance (MED) of the set of particles. For example, the method determines a MED of each particle in the set of particles, determines the total MED of the set of particles as summations of the MED of each particle, and then determines the combination maximizing the total MED of the set of particles. |
| US08229963B2 |
Schema for federated searching
Embodiments of the present invention provide a schema to describe the structure of a data store that may be used to query the data store. The schema may include a property description describing static and contextual attributes of a property of the data store. The schema may also include a property reference describing contextual attributes of a property of the data store, while referencing static attributes from a property description in another schema. In some instances, the schema may further describe item types and/or kinds for the data store. |
| US08229954B2 |
Managing copies of data
A method in a computer system for retrieving data from one of multiple copies of the data is provided, referred to as the data management system. The data management system receives a request identifying a data object to be accessed. Then, the data management system queries a metabase to locate data copies that contain the identified data object, wherein the data copies are created from similar source data, and wherein for each data copy the metabase contains an indication of the availability of the copy relative to other copies. Next, the data management system determines one of the located data copies to use to access the identified data object, wherein the determination is made based on the indicated availability contained in the metabase for each of the located data copies. Then, the data management system accesses the identified data object using the determined one of the located data copies. |
| US08229953B2 |
Metric correlation and analysis
Techniques for improved metric correlation and analysis include, during a modeling phase, a user familiar with the types of system components deployed in an enterprise network and the metrics available for those types of system components specifying dependencies between metrics in a metric dependency model. During a binding phase, the metric dependency model is provided to a modified enterprise management (MEM) system which binds the model to particular enterprise system environment. During a metric correlation and analysis phase, the MEM system provides a user-interface through which a user visually compares metric data for metrics collected from system components deployed in an enterprise system environment bound to the model. The improved metric correlation analysis techniques allow users to more easily identify whether degradation in the performance of one metric is caused by performance degradation of underlying information technology system components as measured by related metrics specified in the metric dependency model. |
| US08229950B2 |
Paleoneighborhood hydrocarbon spatial system
A paleogeographic search system is provided for locating geoscience data relevant to a geographic search aperture. The paleogeographic search system comprises a geodatabase, an interface, a paleogeographic reconstruction engine, and a host processor. The paleogeographic engine is configured to transform the geographic search aperture according to tectonic plate movements to a transformed search aperture that the geographic search aperture occupied in a geological age of interest. The host processor is configured to apply a paleoaugmented geographic search aperture to a geodatabase for additional oil exploration data relevant to the geographic search aperture today. The paleoaugmented geographic search aperture is defined by augmenting the transformed search aperture to include relevant proximal locations for the selected geological age of interest to create an augmented transformed search area; and transforming the augmented transformed search aperture, according to tectonic plate movements, to the paleoaugmented geographic search aperture in present day world geography. |
| US08229949B2 |
Apparatus, method and program product for presenting next search keyword
Described is a next search keyword presentation apparatus, method and program for the presentation of the next recommended search keyword for use in conjunction with the search results. There is provided an apparatus of presenting relevant next search keywords, including an input unit for inputting a search keyword. A search control unit sends search keywords to a search system and receives search results which are displayed as documents on a display unit. A text body extraction unit extracts the text body and an analysis unit carries out a semantic attribute analysis of words contained within the text body. The search keywords are stored as user history data which is used with semantic attributes of each word to create document representative information. A cluster representative keyword extraction unit clusters document characteristic information and extracts cluster representative keywords which are displayed as search keyword candidates, providing recommended keywords based on browsing history. |
| US08229945B2 |
Scalable database management software on a cluster of nodes using a shared-distributed flash memory
A distributed database system has multiple compute nodes each running an instance of a database management system (DBMS) program that accesses database records in a local buffer cache. Records are persistently stored in distributed flash memory on multiple storage nodes. A Sharing Data Fabric (SDF) is a middleware layer between the DBMS programs and the storage nodes and has API functions called by the DBMS programs when a requested record is not present in the local buffer cache. The SDF fetches the requested record from flash memory and loads a copy into the local buffer cache. The SDF has threads on a home storage node that locate database records using a node map. A global cache directory locks and pins records to local buffer caches for updating by a node's DBMS program. DBMS operations are grouped into transactions that are committed or aborted together as a unit. |
| US08229942B1 |
Identifying negative keywords associated with advertisements
The present disclosure includes a system and method for identifying negative keywords associated with advertisements. In some implementations, a method for advertising includes identifying one or more keywords associated with an advertisement. The keywords used to embed the advertisement in Web pages such as those including search results. By scoring keywords to identify those keywords that are not relevant to the web page content, one or more negative keywords can be identified in order to limit the embedding of non-relevant advertisements in web page content. |
| US08229938B2 |
Systems and methods for correlating meta-data model representations and asset-logic model representations
Systems and methods for correlating meta-data model representations and asset-logic model representations in a system model. The system model may be deployed in conjunction with a production allocation application, whereby data pertaining to allocation changes to a production system might be more readily identified for different purposes such as, for example, technical and/or fiscal allocation. |
| US08229936B2 |
Content storage mapping method and system
A data storage method and system. The method includes defining, by a computing system, a meta-object, a schema based structured definition for the meta-object, and a taxonomy with configuration data. The computing system creates content associated with the taxonomy and associates topics of the content with a logical storage room representations. Reference coordinates associated with the logical storage room representations are associated with the taxonomy. The computing system generates updated configuration data that includes the reference coordinates and a uniform resource identifier associated with the content is generated. The computing system generates an account associated with the meta-object for a user. Metering charges for usage of the account and a report associated with the account and usage are generated. |
| US08229931B2 |
Digital media management apparatus and methods
Methods and apparatus for managing, finding and displaying objects such as digital images. Objects are tagged (“associated”) with descriptive textual and numeric data (“metadata”), and stored in a relational database from which they can be selected, sorted, and found. Tags can be defined by name, tag type, and associated attributes. Objects can be tagged by dropping a tag onto the object, or relating a database record for the tag to a database record for the object. Tagged objects can be searched for and displayed according to the degree to which their metadata matches the search criteria. Visual cues can indicate whether displayed objects match all, some but not all, or none of the search criteria. Database object distributions can be displayed as histograms or scatter plots, including timelines, calendars or maps. Object distributions can be used to search for objects or to limit search results for a previous search. |
| US08229929B2 |
Cross-domain clusterability evaluation for cross-guided data clustering based on alignment between data domains
A system and associated method for evaluating cross-domain clusterability upon a target domain and a source domain. The cross-domain clusterability is calculated as a linear combination of a target clusterability and a source-target pair matchability, by use of a trade-off parameter that determines relative contribution of the target clusterability and the source-target pair matchability. The target clusterability quantifies how clusterable the target domain is. The source-target pair matchability is calculated as an average of a target-side matchability and a source-side matchability, which quantifies how well target centroids of the target domain are aligned with the source centroids and how well source centroids of the source domain are aligned with the target centroids, respectively. |
| US08229928B2 |
3D object descriptors
Techniques for matching a 3D object are provided. In some embodiments, a 3D object retrieval apparatus includes an input unit configured to receive as input at least one sample view of a 3D query object to be inputted, and an object descriptor determining unit configured to generate at least one object representative image of the 3D query object from the at least one sample view and to determine a query object descriptor of the 3D query object from the at least one object representative image. |
| US08229927B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for information search
A search option input by a user is obtained through a user interface and a search term is determined based on the search option. A document database is searched to obtain a document that matches the search term and a search result is generated, including document information identifying the document that matches the search term and relevancy information indicating a degree of relevancy between the search term and the document. A display device displays the search result in a format indicating the correspondence relationship of the document information, the search term, and the relevancy information. |
| US08229926B2 |
Compiling information obtained by combinatorial searching
Some embodiments, among others, include a search for sensitive information of an individual. Once a result of the search has been obtained, a score is assigned to the obtained result in accordance with a predefined criterion. One embodiment is configured to perform searches for different combinations of items having sensitive information. Upon assigning a score to the obtained result, a report of the score is generated which indicates the individual's vulnerability to one or more various security concerns. Accordingly, scores may be assigned to a combination of items in the result which indicates a heightened security risk. |
| US08229925B2 |
Determining search query statistical data for an advertising campaign based on user-selected criteria
Techniques for determining search query information for an advertising campaign and communicating the search query information to a sponsor of the advertising campaign are described. The techniques include receiving, from a sponsor of the advertisement, a request for search query information relating to the advertisement having been presented by a search service, identifying previously executed search queries submitted by users of the search service, wherein search results of the identified search queries have been presented with the advertisement to one or more users of the search service, compiling search query information, the search query information including ad performance data associated with the advertisement for the identified search queries, and providing the sponsor with the compiled search query information. A user interface may be generated to receive user input of selection criteria and provide an interface to search query information. |
| US08229924B2 |
Statistics collection using path-identifiers for relational databases
Disclosed are a system, method, and computer readable medium for collecting statistics associated with data in a database. The method comprises determining an amount of memory needed to collect statistics for data associated with a defined data type in a relational database. The defined data type is based upon a mark-up language using a tree structure with one or more root-to-node paths therein. The amount of memory as determined is allocated for collecting the statistics for the data of the defined data type. A statistics collection is performed for the data of the defined data type in a single pass through the database and within the amount of memory which has been allocated. |
| US08229922B2 |
Query optimization in a multi-tenant database system
More efficient querying of a multi-tenant database using dynamic tuning of database indices. A layer of meta-data associates data items with tenants, e.g., via tags, and the meta-data is used to optimize searches by channeling processing resources during a query to only those pieces of data bearing the relevant tenant's unique tag. |
| US08229920B2 |
Index selection for XML database systems
A method, system, and computer program product for selecting indexes to be created over XML data are provided. The method, system, and computer program product provide for receiving a workload for the XML data, the workload including one or more database statements, and utilizing an optimizer to recommend a set of one or more path expressions based on the workload received, wherein the set of one or more path expressions is to be used to create one or more indexes over the XML data. |
| US08229915B1 |
Content item arrangement
A determination is made as to a first series of location rankings for one or more content item locations based on content item location data. Another determination is made as to a first series of content item rankings for one or more content items based on content item data. One of the content items having a first content item ranking is associated with one of the content item locations having a first location ranking. |
| US08229911B2 |
Network search engine utilizing client browser activity information
An Internet infrastructure that supports searching of web links selects search results by processing browser activity information along with one or more of favorite lists, and related metadata, user profiles, and trends based on browser activity behavior and favorite behavior. The Internet infrastructure consists of a plurality of web browsers located on client devices. The web browsers are incorporated with a browser activity-monitoring module that tracks user's Internet usage, processes this information, and sends this information periodically or upon user request to the server to aid in improving search operation results. The search engine server is communicatively coupled to the plurality of web browsers and supports delivery of search results/web links to the client device based upon a search string, browser activity information, and possibly the favorite lists and related metadata. The search engine server stores the gathered browser activity information, favorite lists, and related metadata in one or more server database that is associated with the search engine server, and delivers search results. |
| US08229905B2 |
Adaptive document management system using a physical representation of a document
Systems and methods for creating a Token and using it to operate and modify a case file in a document management system are described. An exemplary embodiment of a Token includes a representation of a case file. A Token may include a representation of a document associated with the case file, where the representation may include a brief description or visual summary of the document with an associated link to an electronic version of the document. In another exemplary embodiment, the Token may be used to facilitate retrieval and viewing of an electronic version of a document using its associated link. In another exemplary embodiment, the Token may be used to update the case file based on user input on the Token. |
| US08229903B2 |
Suggesting data interpretations and patterns for updating policy documents
A system and method for utilizing data mining to generate a policy document or to revise theory within a policy document. A data base of unknown events is mined for application to the development of a system management policy document. The results of the data mining of the database of unknown events are automatically incorporated into a policy document, subject to user approval, to produce a new policy document or an updated version of an existing policy document. |
| US08229898B1 |
Methods and systems for utilizing redundant data
A computer-implemented method, at least a portion of the method being performed by a backup computing system configured to backup data from first and second protected systems, may include receiving a request to restore data of the first protected system. The computer-implemented method may also include determining that at least a first portion of the data to be restored is located on the second protected system. The computer-implemented method may further include instructing the second protected system to send at least the first portion of the data to a recovery system. Another computer-implemented method may include receiving a request to create a clone of a first computing system, determining that data to be cloned is located on a second computing system, and instructing the second computing system to send the data to the clone. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08229896B1 |
Method and apparatus for identifying data blocks required for restoration
A method and apparatus for recovering a volume to a first recovery point using bitmap information is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises processing bitmap information associated with at least one recovery point, wherein the bitmap information comprises at least one bitmap that represents at least one changed block since a first recovery point of the at least one recovery point, wherein the first recovery point is associated with a backup image and restoring the at least one changed block from the backup image to a volume. |
| US08229895B2 |
Preservation management of digital content
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for configuring a life-cycle for preservation of digital content. Metadata associated with a digital object that is to be stored in a repository is examined. One or more preservation rules for the digital object are identified, based on the metadata for the digital object. The preservation rules describe a set of future actions to be taken on the digital object to ensure preservation of the digital object throughout the digital object's life-cycle. The identified preservation rules are applied to the digital object. The digital object is stored in the repository. |
| US08229892B2 |
Storage apparatus and data restoring method used therein
A storage apparatus includes a processor to control the apparatus according to a process including creating, in each of the management areas in response to the restore execution instruction from the host, update information that indicating whether the data in each of the management areas is updated from restore generation to be restored to the latest generation, on the basis of the backup information in each generation, extracting the data before update stored in the backup volume of the oldest generation as the data of the restore generation on the basis of the update information for the oldest generation in each of the management areas, and updating the current data stored in the same management areas as the management areas in which the data before update was stored, by the data before update extracted by the extracting process. |
| US08229889B2 |
Methods and systems for managing data
Systems and methods for managing data, such as metadata. In one exemplary method, metadata from files created by several different software applications are captured, and the captured metadata is searched. The type of information in metadata for one type of file differs from the type of information in metadata for another type of file. Other methods are described and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described. |
| US08229887B2 |
Method of integrating in real time large volumes of updates in a database
A method of integrating large volumes of updates in a database system. Each individual update includes of a coherent set of data records supplied by a data provider. The database system includes a master file repository and an active image repository. The method includes first obtaining for each individual update a unique modification identifier from a logistic table of the database system. The master file repository is then updated with the coherent set of data records of each uniquely identified individual update. A unique commit identifier is further obtained from the logistic table for each individual update that has been committed by the master file. The active image repository is synchronized by successively loading into the active image each individual update. Completion of the propagation of each individual update into the active image repository is achieved when the loading of each corresponding set of data records is committed by the active image. |
| US08229885B2 |
System and method for pharmacy administration
A pharmaceutical administrative system with a pharmacy and a service center network for preparing and dispensing medication. The pharmacy network prepares orders for medication from various customers for various patients. By retrieving information from a global database in the service center network, the pharmacy network conveys patient, customer and formulary information to users of the pharmacy network. Also, the pharmacy network prepares medication specific labels to identify and verify the contents of the medication. Furthermore, the pharmacy network provides additional safeguards and information, including balancing orders and displaying and/or generating hardcopies of solubility curves, to a health care provider using the pharmacy network with the additional ability to customize the medication. |
| US08229883B2 |
Graph based re-composition of document fragments for name entity recognition under exploitation of enterprise databases
Methods and systems are described that involve recognizing complex entities from text documents with the help of structured data and Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a document as input from a set of documents, wherein the document contains text or unstructured data. The method also includes identifying a plurality of text segments from the document via a set of tagging techniques. Further, the method includes matching the identified plurality of text segments against attributes of a set of predefined entities. Lastly, a best matching predefined entity is selected for each text segment from the plurality of text segments.In one embodiment, the system includes a set of documents, each document containing text or unstructured data. The system also includes a database storage unit that stores a set of predefined entities, wherein each entity contains a set of attributes. Further, the system includes a processor to identify a plurality of text segments from a document via a set of tagging techniques and to match the identified plurality of text segments against the set of attributes. |
| US08229881B2 |
System and method for creating and searching medical ontologies
A method for creating and searching medical ontologies includes providing a semi-structured information source comprising a plurality of articles linked to each other, each article having one or more sections and each article is associated with a concept, creating a directed unlabeled graph representative of the information source, providing a plurality of labels, labeling a subset of edges, and assigning each unlabeled edge an equal probability of being assigned one of the labels. For each node, the probability of each outgoing edge is updated by smoothing each probability by an overall probability distribution of labels over all outgoing edges of each node, and the probability of each incoming edge is updated the same way. A label with a maximum probability is assigned to an edge if said maximum probability is greater than a predetermined threshold to create a labeled graph. |
| US08229878B2 |
Methods and systems for interpreting text using intelligent glossaries
A computer implemented method used to interpret text, including from a set of formal glossaries which may refer one to the other and are intended to define precisely the terminology of a field of endeavor. Such glossaries are known as intelligent, in the sense that they allow machines to make deductions, without the need for human intervention. However, they may also accept human intervention. Once a word is defined in an intelligent glossary, all the logical consequences of the use of that word in a formal and well-formed sentence are computable. The process includes a question and answer mechanism, which applies the definitions contained in the intelligent glossaries to a given formal sentence. The methods may be applied in the development of knowledge management methods and tools that are based on semantics; for example: modeling of essential knowledge in the field based on the relevant semantics. |
| US08229876B2 |
Expediting K-means cluster analysis data mining using subsample elimination preprocessing
Improved efficiencies of data mining clustering techniques are provided by preprocessing a sample set of data points taken from a complete data set to provide seeds for centroid calculations of the complete data set. Such seeds are generated by selecting a uniform sample set of data points from a set of multi-dimensional data and then seed values for the cluster determination calculation are determined using a centroid analysis on the sample set of data points. The number of seeds calculated corresponds to a number of data clusters expected in the set of multi-dimensional data points. Seed values are determined using subsample elimination techniques. |
| US08229875B2 |
Bayes-like classifier with fuzzy likelihood
A method, system, and computer program product for building a classifier based on the concepts similar to a Bayesian classifier, but using fuzzy theory provides better understanding and an improved approach to modeling the data. The concept of prior information about the class is eliminated, and focuses on the likelihood function (obtained from training data). This is modeled as fuzzy sets. The process of classification uses the possibility-probability transformation. A method of performing data analysis processing includes constructing a fuzzy likelihood by modeling a likelihood of data given a training class using fuzzy sets and transforming the fuzzy likelihood into a probability distribution using a possibility-probability transformation. |
| US08229870B2 |
Constraint based system with domain splitting
A solver for a constraint satisfaction problem includes a plurality of variables and a plurality of constraints. A floating point variable has a domain and is assigned a value by first determining if a predetermined value can be assigned to the floating point variable if the predetermined value is in the domain. If not, the solver determines if a bound of the domain can be assigned to the floating point variable. If the predetermined value can not be assigned to the floating point variable and the bound of the domain can not be assigned to the floating point variable, the solver assigns a value to the floating point variable using domain splitting. |
| US08229869B2 |
Constraint processing with zero value handling
Systems and methods for managing floating point variables are described in the present disclosure. According to one example, an embodiment of a method is described. The method comprises providing a floating point variable having a domain that includes a flag representing whether a specific value is included in or excluded from the domain of the floating point variable. The method also includes analyzing a constraint on the floating point variable to determine if the constraint excludes the specific value from the domain of the floating point variable. A value of the flag is manipulated to indicate that the specific value is excluded from the domain of the floating point variable if it is determined that the constraint excludes the specific value. In some cases, the specific value can be the value zero, for example. |
| US08229859B2 |
Bit currency: transactional trust tools
Systems and methods are provided for utilizing a digital coin. A bit string is received. The number of bits in the bit string represents a coin value of the digital coin. The individual bit values of the bits of the bit string are used to determine an identity of the digital coin. The identity of the digital coin is validated by a node of an authentication hierarchy. The validation includes comparing bit values of at least a portion of the bits of the bit string to bit values of corresponding bits of known bit strings that represent known issued digital coins. The validation also includes checking that a matching known issued digital coin was not previously redeemed. A digital coin can also be split into multiple digital coins that are each a continuous sequence of bits of the bit string of the original digital coin. |
| US08229858B1 |
Generation of enterprise-wide licenses in a customer environment
An enterprise licensing system is provided that includes a licensing agent 172 operable to (a) provide a customer with a first set of enterprise licensable features and/or capacities and a second set of non-enterprise licensable features and/or capacities, with the enterprise licensable features and/or capacities, but not non-enterprise licensable features and/or capacities, being allocable freely by the customer among first and second computational components; (b) receive a first allocation of the members of the first set between the first and second computational components; and (c) generate first and second licenses reflecting the first allocation. The first license is for the first computational component and the second license is for the second computational component. |
| US08229856B1 |
Music subscription and distribution for wireless devices
A method for distributing music to a wireless communication device such as cellular telephone is provided. The method includes the step of providing a subscription service for the device, wherein the subscription service allows the device to download up to N music recordings onto the device from an on-line music content distribution site or sites, where N is an integer greater than one. The music is provided with restrictions designed to prevent effective transport of the music recordings off of the device in digital form such that the recordings cannot be played on other digital devices of any kind. The subscription service allows that the device may play the downloaded music recordings an unlimited number of plays. The subscription service also allows that the device may swap one music recording for another music recording, and may have a maximum number (S) of swaps in a given period. The service further includes billing the subscriber associated with the device a fee for the music subscription service. The values for N and S may be user configurable. The billing may also depend on the values of N and S. |
| US08229850B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing transactions
A system receives account access information from a user. The account is then accessed using the received access information. Data is harvested from a web page associated with the account or received from another financial data source. The user's ability to access the account is authenticated based on the obtained information. |
| US08229843B2 |
Method and system for debt protection or cancellation
A method for debt protection or cancellation may include providing an addendum for a debt protection or cancellation product for inclusion in a debt instrument. The method may also include serving the debt protection and cancellation product in response to a borrower purchasing the debt protection and cancellation product. |
| US08229841B2 |
Method and system for reserving future purchases of goods and services
A method and system for reserving future purchases of goods or services or events including plural electronic options with associated option fees for the goods or services or events. The plural electronic options include electronic option terms established by one or more suppliers who can supply the goods or services or events. The purchase of the electronic option is accepted according to electronic option terms established by the desired supplier. The option terms may vary greatly among the individual suppliers and no two suppliers may use the same option terms. Demographic information is collected from purchasers of electronic options and used to allow other suppliers of goods or services or events to target such purchasers. Various fees are generated for display, purchase, exercise or non-exercise of electronic options. |
| US08229838B2 |
Leg pricer
An electronic trading system utilizes a Match Engine that receives orders, stores them internally, calculates tradable combinations and advertises the availability of real and implied orders in the form of market data. The tradable combinations may include spread orders where one leg of the spread has a different tick size than the other or where the tick of the spread contract is different from the tick size in one or both legs. A method and system for calculating on-tick leg prices in an equitable and predictable manner is provided. |
| US08229832B2 |
Systems and methods for establishing first on the follow trading priority in electronic trading systems
Systems and methods for trading an item in an electronic trading system are provided. The method preferably includes transitioning the trading system from a first trading state to a second trading state. Once the trading system has transitioned to the second state, the method includes determining whether an existing order qualifies for trading priority and/or exclusivity in the second trading state with respect to an incoming contra order. This determining of trading rights in the second trading state is preferably based on the status of trading priority in the first trading state and also a set of predetermined criteria with respect to an incoming contra order in the second trading state. If the existing order qualifies for trading priority, then the system preferably presents the incoming contra order for trading exclusively or semi-exclusively to the participant associated with the existing order. |
| US08229831B2 |
Systems and methods for trading
The present invention is systems and methods for trading. In accordance with these systems and methods, a plurality of trader work stations that are connected to a central server may be provided. Through the work stations and central server, the systems and methods may perform participant qualification, instrument creation, bid/offer entry and response, when hit and take, workup, price retention, price improvement, request for market, bid/off restoration, price generation, position conversion, marking to market, and delivery functions. |
| US08229826B2 |
Collateral trust management system
A computer implemented method and system is provided for managing counterparty risks associated with collaterals held by counterparties and minimizing systemic risk. A collateral trust management system (CTMS) is provided. Trust accounts are created for holding assets associated with a fund counterparty or collaterals from a derivative counterparty. A central collateral trust is created for providing funding to the trust accounts for the assets and for exposing the assets in the CTMS. The trust accounts are assigned to the counterparties. Leverage is determined for the trust accounts. Risk of assets in the trust accounts, assets' funding requirements, and amount of collaterals to be posted for external funding provided to the trust accounts are calculated. Collaterals, equity, and/or assets are pooled into the central collateral trust and assets are rehypothecated based on the calculation, for obtaining financing for the trust accounts. The CTMS securitizes risk of default of the trust accounts. |
| US08229824B2 |
Combined estimate contest and prediction market
Users participate in an estimate contest and a prediction market for forecasting an outcome of a future event. Data from the estimate contest and the prediction market can be combined to obtain accurate information about overall group beliefs and individual or sub-groups beliefs. In the estimate contest, users provide estimated probabilities of occurrence for different possible outcomes of the event. Trades can be proposed, or automatically executed, based on differences between the user's estimated probabilities and probabilities obtained from a prediction market in which the user can buy and sell securities which represent the different outcomes. For example, a buying opportunity may be present when the user's estimated probability exceeds the prediction market's probability. Further, the user can express a risk level which is factored into the proposed trades. |
| US08229822B2 |
Computer-implemented method for financial analysis
A computer-implemented method for evaluating an investment employs entries and associated impact groups to define analytical lines that represent financial activity of a business entity over time. Distribution factors can be used to allocate the value of the respective entries over corresponding user-defined time periods. Annual entries can be defined and allocated into corresponding entries. Conditional calculations pertaining to the analytical lines can also be carried out. In addition, rules-based logic can be used to adjust dates pertaining to the analytical lines (such as shifting days ahead in manner that accommodates for non working days). The analytical lines are processed to simulate information that forecasts financial activity of the business entity. The user can apply variation factors to numeric values used in the method. Such variation factors permit the method to quickly and conveniently model scenarios that affect a primary entry or item or other calculation. |
| US08229813B2 |
Access point for mobile devices in a packet based network and a method and a system for billing in such a network
An access point for mobile devices with wireless communication capability for usage in a packet based network, said network comprising at least one gateway having access to a remote service, the access point comprises communication means for establishing communication with at least one or more access point in order to form a network between at least said access points. Also, there are means for adding the identity of the mobile device; and registering means for registering the identity of data packets transferred through said access point. The invention also concerns a method and system for billing in such a network. |
| US08229808B1 |
System and method for providing a distributed decisioning environment for processing of financial transactions
A system and method for providing one or more client systems for communicating with a host system over a network. The client systems use a scanner to convert a paper form of a check, coupon, or other paper document to a digital representation and then the client systems send the digital representation over a network to the host system for storage. The host system archives the digital representation and determines the appropriate processing stream for a transaction related to the paper document (e.g. coupon, check), via a decisioning engine, based on a set of predefined stream selection rules. The host system then communicates the transaction to a back end transaction destination, according to the selected processing stream. Examples of the transaction destination can include ACH, Reproduce Paper, and Remittance. The host system can make use of a data buffer system for coordinating the storage of the digital representations in the host system as well as coordinating the respective settlement process, a distributed decisioning environment for assisting the host system in decisioning of the digital representations, and a hierarchy for coordinating the configuration of the host and client systems as well as coordinating the settlement process for the digital representations. |
| US08229807B2 |
System and method of offsetting invoice obligations
Methods for resolving invoice obligations are disclosed that include: a) providing at least one sales invoice, wherein each sales invoice comprises a credit value, b) providing at least one purchase invoice, wherein each purchase invoice comprises a debit value, and c) offsetting at least part of the debit value of a purchase invoice with at least part of the credit value of a sales invoice. Methods are also disclosed for resolving invoice obligations that include: a) providing at least one seller having at least one sales invoice, b) providing at least one customer having at least one sales invoice and at least one purchase invoice, wherein at least one of the at least one sales invoice and at least one of the at least one purchase invoice forms an invoice chain; and c) offsetting the at least one sales invoice of the seller with at least one sales invoice of the customer, at least one purchase invoice or a combination thereof. Systems and software for resolving invoice obligations are disclosed that include: a) an executable code for intelligently determining an invoice chain comprising at least one purchase invoice having a debit value and at least one sales invoice having a credit value and offsetting the debit value with the credit value, b) a medium for executing the executable code, c) a display device, and d) an interaction tool for executing the executable code. |
| US08229804B2 |
Term catering system and term catering method
In a term catering system, a management device held by a delivery agent and a manufacturer of cooking appliances outputs reservation sequence information including sequence identification data corresponding to a reserved cooking menu for each customer and obtains feedback information from the customer. The cooking appliance lent to the customer for a certain term controls cooking of a food material delivered by the delivery agent, according to cooking sequence data specified by the output reservation sequence information, among a plurality of cooking sequence data stored beforehand. |
| US08229803B2 |
Systems and methods for tracking lumber in a sawmill
At least one geometric characteristic for each of a number of pieces of lumber is determined. Each of the pieces of lumber may then be logically associated with at least one of a log or a cant from which the piece of lumber was sawn. |
| US08229802B2 |
Stock monitoring
System(s) and method(s) for stock monitoring are provided. Stock monitoring system(s) may include, e.g., a housing, one or more doors disposed in or on the housing, a sensor for sensing the condition of the door(s) and providing a door closed signal indicative of the door(s) having been closed by a user; one or more containers for stock items, located within the housing, the or each container having associated therewith a weight sensor for providing a weight signal indicative of the current weight of the container, and control circuitry, coupled for communication with the weight sensor(s). Method(s) may include, e.g., receiving a door closed signal; receiving one or more weight signals; and determining, for the or each container, the number of stock items removed from the container(s) by the user, from the weight signal(s) occurring during a predetermined sensing period, the predetermined sensing period being dependent upon the door closed signal. |
| US08229800B2 |
System and method for an enhanced shopping experience
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for creating a virtual shopping area. The method includes receiving a query from a user and an automated input specific to the user from a computing device, generating a list of merchants based on the query and the automated input, generating a virtual shopping area from the list of merchants and based on one or more constraints, and displaying the virtual shopping area on the computing device. One optional step is presenting to the user an interface to purchase query-related items from merchants in the virtual shopping area. The method optionally includes receiving an indication of intent to purchase an item from the user, displaying an image of the item to the user, and dynamically updating the displayed image of the item as the user specifies item-specific details. The list of merchants can be restricted to merchants geographically close to the user. |
| US08229798B2 |
Methods and apparatus for modeling relationships at multiple scales in ratings estimation
Systems and techniques for generating item ratings for a user in order to allow for recommendations of selected items for that user. A set of known ratings of different items for a plurality of users is collected and maintained, and these known ratings are used to estimate rating factors influencing ratings, including user and item factors. Initial user and item factors are estimated and new user and item factors are successively added, with the original rating factors being progressively shrunk so as to reduce their magnitude and their contribution to the rating estimation as successive factors are added. When an appropriate number of user and item factors has been estimated, the rating factors are used to estimate ratings of items for a user, and the estimated ratings are employed to generate recommendations for that user. |
| US08229787B2 |
Customer relationship management system for physical locations
A method for outputting information about a person includes identifying the person utilizing a wireless system upon entry into a physical location, and also includes locating the person within the physical structure. An engagement plan is retrieved based on the identification of the person and output. The engagement plan has information useful for interacting with the person. The engagement plan is created based at least in part on personal information of the person, the preferences of the person, and the past transactions of the person. A system for outputting information about a person, such as a customer, includes an object carried by the person, which is capable of being identified by a wireless system. A wireless interface communicates with the object. A computing device correlates the identification of the object with the person. An output device outputs information relating to the person. |
| US08229785B2 |
Mobile network dynamic workflow exception handling system
Methods for using an exception handling system are provided for dynamically recovering from a workflow exception occurring in a healthcare mobile network communication system. An individual user can access the system through a hand-held mobile device. The system has multiple workflows and at least one mission critical item. Attack tree modeling analyses are performed to identify the mission critical item. Another operation includes writing a plurality of forward recovery rules to protect the mission critical item. The recovery rules are enabled through an engine in communication with the mobile network communication system. The multiple workflows are monitored for indication of a system attack on any one of the multiple workflows. A new workflow is automatically generated upon detection of the system attack. The exception handling system is overlayed on the mobile network. Authorization is provided by the system for the individual user. |
| US08229783B2 |
Identifying industry segments with highest potential for new customers or new spending for current customers
A method and system are used to identify industry segments with highest potential for new customers or new spending for current customers. This includes receiving data, segregated into each of a plurality of industries, relating to a number of small businesses, cost of goods sold for each of the small businesses, and percentage of cost of goods sold that is spent on raw materials and inventory for each of the small businesses. Capturing data, segregated into each of the plurality of industries, relating to average amount charged per current card member, percentage of the current card members charging the raw materials and the inventory, percentage of card member penetration, and total estimated charging for the current card members. Determining which of the plurality of industries or segments of the plurality of the industries are available for a highest potential for new card members or that are available for a greatest amount of incremental increased charging by the current card members. Communicating with the current card members in each of the plurality of industries or segments and receiving data therefrom based on one or more of the previous steps. Communicating with internal and external sources to capture additional industry-specific charging data. Receiving data relating to industry reports and census data. Generating ranked data sets based on the previous steps. |
| US08229782B1 |
Methods and systems for processing distributed feedback
One embodiment of the present invention distributes data via a network to remotely located individuals. Evaluation feedback by one or more of the individuals is transmitted to others so that the feedback may be used by others to quickly locate the more useful data. The evaluation feedback may be in the form of ratings of product reviews. The feedback helps customers by allowing the more useful reviews can be quickly located. |
| US08229781B2 |
Systems and apparatus to determine shopper traffic in retail environments
Methods and apparatus to determine shopper traffic in retail environments are disclosed herein. In a disclosed example method of generating shopper traffic data, in-person-based count data and sensor-based count data are obtained. The in-person-based count data is indicative of a first quantity of shoppers within a first zone of a monitored establishment is obtained. The sensor-based count data is indicative of a second quantity of shoppers within the first zone of the monitored establishment. The example method also involves determining a relationship value indicative of a relationship between the in-person-based count data, the sensor-based count data, and first sales data associated with the first zone of the monitored establishment. |
| US08229779B2 |
Method and system for workflow management of a business process
A method and system for workflow management in a business process environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes determining respective attributes of a plurality of business documents received via an input device of the computing device, and receiving a set of business rules associated with the plurality of business documents. The set of business rules are based on the attributes of the plurality of business documents. The method also includes forming a plurality of queue filters for segregating a set of transactions associated with the plurality of business documents based on the set of business rules, and forming a plurality of queues based on the plurality of queue filters and at least one activity associated with the set of transactions. Further, the method includes generating on a display of the computing device, a list of agents assigned for each of the plurality of queues. |
| US08229777B2 |
Automated system and method for managing a process for the shopping and selection of human entities
This invention is a system and method for automatically managing a multi-step process in which human providers are selected for some purpose. Typical applications include the selection process associated with employment and dating services. The invention is directed to linking and coordinating the various steps of the selection process through automated sequencing, coordinating, tracking and status reporting processes. The interviewee answers questions that are printed, displayed, or spoken by an automated mechanism or questions are printed or displayed for use by a tester or interviewer. Answers can be written, spoken, or entered directly into a system by the interviewee. The invention provides a system and method for automatically scoring and ranking human providers with respect to selection criteria, making use of expert system concepts. Human shoppers are matched up and the usefulness of each match is scored on the basis of stated selection criteria of each human shopper. |
| US08229772B2 |
Method and system for processing of data related to insurance
This invention relates generally to a computer system and method for integrating insurance policy underwriting. In one aspect it integrates the older legacy insurance policy generating systems to on line systems where users access the system through browsers. The computer system to perform the process of underwriting, rating, quoting, binding, and booking an insurance policy includes browsers, data bases, processors and a dispatcher that parses the information to select an insurance process. Suitable software programs review messages received from users to determine if certain messages are less than a prescribed limit. If a message is greater than the limit, then the message is parsed into a header information and one or more data fields whereby the header information is provided to a legacy processor and to policy generation software for further creation of policy related information and documentation. |
| US08229771B1 |
Systems and methods for insuring stored food
A person may store food to prepare for an emergency. An insurance policy may be issue to cover the stored food against loss, theft, spoilage, etc. In issuing the insurance policy and setting the premium, the insurer may take various factors into account, such as the type of food to be stored (e.g., canned, dried, etc.), where the food is to be stored (e.g., a cellar, a closet, a food locker, etc.), and whether the stored food is rotated with new food to prevent the stored food from spoiling due to age. During the life of the insurance policy, the insurer may issue alerts to the policyholder in order to advise the policyholder to rotate old food out of storage. |
| US08229770B2 |
Healthcare claims loss control systems and methods
A method for controlling healthcare claim payment losses including accessing information about a claim after a payer is prepared to pay, but prior to payment, evaluating the information including at least one of determining indications of fraud, validating service coding and editing as indicated, identifying possible payment discounts, and developing analytics indicative of risk for future claims, and providing loss control recommendations based at least partially on the evaluation, prior to paying the claim. Also a loss control system for healthcare claims with a loss control engine and a database in communication with the loss control engine, wherein the loss control engine accesses information about healthcare claims from the database after the claims have been processed for payment and wherein the loss control engine further analyses the claims for potential cost savings and returns a loss control recommendation for each claim to the database before payment of the respective claim. |
| US08229768B1 |
Systems and methods for processing overhead imagery
Systems and methods to process overhead imagery received from overhead image sources are described herein. In one example, the method may include receiving an overhead image, detecting features on a property and deriving business information using the features. In another example, the system may include an overheard imagery module to positionally correlate images and an image analyzer to determine one or more features on a property. In a further example, the method may include receiving an overhead image, correlating the image with land maps, parsing individual properties, determining the property's values and aggregating the values across the image to derive a risk. |
| US08229766B2 |
System and method for producing a flexible geographical grid
A variable resolution grid provides a mechanism for focusing specific concentrations of risk exposure on a geographical grid to determine projected loss caused by a particular catastrophe. The geographic grid provides a stable base map by using latitudes and longitudes to define the grid points and cells. Each cell is assigned a geographic identifier or geocode that identifies the location of the cell and its associated resolution. The resolution of the grid may be varied depending in part, on the resolution of any available of hazard data. |
| US08229765B2 |
Automatically assessing drug interactions while protecting patient privacy
A drug interaction utility can retrieve the patient's current medications from a medication information card on the smart card by interacting with an identity selector on the provider's computer. The identity selector can transmit the current medications to the drug interaction utility without disclosing any information about the current medications to the provider and without disclosing any information identifying the patient to the drug interaction utility. |
| US08229761B2 |
Enhanced multiple resource planning and forecasting
A system configuration and techniques for optimizing schedules and associated use predictions of a multiple resource planning workflow are disclosed herein, applicable to environments such as radiologist scheduling in a teleradiology workflow. In one embodiment, a series of computing engines and components are provided to allow detailed forecasting and the generation of customized recommendations for scheduling and other resource usage scenarios. This forecasting can factor resource efficiencies, changes in resource demand volume, resource specialties, resource usage preferences, expected future events such as the removal or addition of resources at future times, and other resource availability or usage changes. The forecasts may be further enhanced through the use of historical data models and estimated future data models. Additionally, a calendar and other tools may be presented through a user interface to allow forecast and scenario customization based on selection of a series of future dates. |
| US08229760B2 |
System for communication of health care data
A computer system configured to extract and integrate health care data from a plurality of health care payors. The computer system includes a computer configured to communicate with payor computer systems from two or more payors. The computer is also configured to receive health care data of a type related to claims information. A staging database is in communication with the computer and configured to receive the claims information from each of the payor computer systems. The claims information is converted into a normalized format by a normalization system. A rules engine of the normalization system establishes the predefined format, predetermines how each of the plurality of health care data is to appear in its respective field, and remodels any of the health care data that is not expressed as predetermined by the normalized format into the normalized format. Normalized data expressing information having the same meaning will be expressed in the same format. |
| US08229757B2 |
System and method for managing health care complexity via an interactive health map interface
To empower a member to make informed health care decisions, a health care organization (HCO) graphically presents the member with a manageable closed universe of health care information via an online interactive visual interface. The online interactive interface comprises a custom category node display of member health care data based on analyzing the member profile in light of the overall health care data taxonomy built by the HCO. Upon identifying the subset of relevant health care data categories, HCO initiates the display of the identified categories by way of a dynamically linked category node interface. To enhance the member's understanding of the relationships between the category nodes, the HCO preferably employs a ring node topology by displaying the online interface as a closed network or map, such as by locating each category node along one or more closed, loop-shaped wireframes, which connect the interrelated categories. |
| US08229753B2 |
Web server controls for web enabled recognition and/or audible prompting
Web server controls are provided for generating client side markups with recognition and/or audible prompting. Three approaches are disclosed for implementation of the controls. |
| US08229751B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic detection and identification of unidentified Broadcast audio or video signals
A system and method of detecting unidentified broadcast electronic media content using a self-similarity technique is presented. The process and system catalogues repeated instances of content that has not be positively identified, but are sufficiently similar as to infer repetitive broadcasts. These catalogued instances may be further processed on the basis of different broadcast channels, sources, geographic locations of broadcasts or format to further assist the identification thereof. |
| US08229747B2 |
System and method for spelling recognition using speech and non-speech input
A system and method for non-speech input or keypad-aided word and spelling recognition is disclosed. The method includes generating an unweighted grammar, selecting a database of words, generating a weighted grammar using the unweighted grammar and a statistical letter model trained on the database of words, receiving speech from a user after receiving the non-speech input and after generating the weighted grammar, and performing automatic speech recognition on the speech and non-speech input using the weighted grammar. If a confidence is below a predetermined level, then the method includes receiving non-speech input from the user, disambiguating possible spellings by generating a letter lattice based on a user input modality, and constraining the letter lattice and generating a new letter string of possible word spellings until a letter string is correctly recognized. |
| US08229740B2 |
Apparatus and method for protecting hearing from noise while enhancing a sound signal of interest
An apparatus for sound enhancement has at least two microphones (9) that provide a directional microphone array which is arranged to be pointed in the direction of a sound source. The directional microphone array thereby receives sound emitted by the sound source and generates sound signals. A processor (20) processors the sound signals generated by the microphone array to enhance the sound received by the directional microphone array from the sound source relative to other sound received by the directional microphone array. The processor (20) generates a corresponding enhanced signal (ES). Loud speakers (22) reproduce the enhanced signal as audible sound. Furthermore, sound suppression devices (7, 7a) are provided to suppress ambient should from reaching the eardrums of the user. This sound suppression acts in conjunction with the directional microphone array and the processor (20) which enhance the SOI to provide a listening environment in which the SOI is enhanced. |
| US08229738B2 |
Method for differentiated digital voice and music processing, noise filtering, creation of special effects and device for carrying out said method
A method for differentiated digital voice and music processing, noise filtering and the creation of special effects. The method can be used to make the most of digital audio technologies, by performing a pre-encoding audio signal analysis, assuming that any sound signal during one frame interval is the sum of sines having a fixed amplitude and a frequency which is linearly modulated as a function of time, the sum being temporally modulated by the signal envelope and the noise being added to the signal prior to the sum. |
| US08229737B2 |
Name classifier technique
A particular technique for classifying a name includes accessing a name; dividing the name into a series of first n-grams; forming multiple concatenated second n-grams by concatenating pairs of the first n-grams; for each of multiple groups, for each of the second n-grams, determining the term frequency-group frequency score; for each of the multiple groups, summing up the term frequency-group frequency scores for each second n-gram for that group; and determining a likelihood that the name belongs to one group of the multiple groups based on the summed scores, wherein a largest summed score indicates a greater likelihood that the name belongs to the one group. |
| US08229735B2 |
Grammar checker for visualization
A visualization development system is provided. The system includes a visualization tool to develop one or more visualizations and a grammar engine that operates with the visualization tool to automatically detect visualization problems during the development of the visualizations. |
| US08229726B1 |
System for application level analysis of hardware simulations
An object-oriented software analysis framework is provided for enabling software engineers and hardware engineers to gain insight into the behavior of software applications on emerging hardware platforms even before the hardware is fabricated. In this analysis framework, simulation data containing instruction, address and/or hardware register information is sent to interchangeable and parameterizable analyzer and profiler modules that decode the data and perform analysis of the data according to each module's respective analysis function. This detailed analysis is performed by constructing a tree of such modules through which the data travels and is classified and analyzed or filtered at each level of the tree. Each node of the tree is represented by an analyzer or a profiler module that performs sub-analysis based on the analysis performed by its parent such that at the end of a hardware simulation, each node, starting at the root, recursively calls on its children to dump their analysis, resulting in a categorized performance report. |
| US08229724B2 |
Signal transmission system evaluation apparatus and program, and signal transmission system design method
A parameter acquisition section acquires model information about a waveform simulation model of a system of signal transmission, a first parameter of a waveform variation in a time direction in the system, and a second parameter of a waveform variation in an amplitude direction in the system. A first eye pattern calculation section calculates a first eye pattern of the system through a waveform simulation based on the model information acquired by the parameter acquisition section. A second eye pattern calculation section calculates, based on the first and second parameters acquired by the parameter acquisition section, a second eye pattern through processing of the first eye pattern calculated by the first eye pattern calculation section. And a transmission margin calculation section calculates, as a transmission margin, a positional relationship between a specific area and an aperture of the second eye pattern calculated by the second eye pattern calculation section. |
| US08229722B2 |
Electrical power system modeling, design, analysis, and reporting via a client-server application framework
A system for intelligent web-based monitoring and management of an electrical system is provided. The system is configured to acquire real-time data output from the electrical system, and to transmit a user interface to a client terminal which is configured to display the user interface. In an embodiment, the system is configured to store a virtual system model of the electrical system. The system is configured to generate a predicted data output for the electrical system utilizing the virtual system model of the electrical system, monitor the real-time data output and the predicted data output of the electrical system, and initiate a calibration and synchronization operation to update the virtual system model when a difference between the real-time data output and the predicted data output exceeds a threshold. |
| US08229719B2 |
Finite element algorithm for solving a fourth order nonlinear lubrication equation for droplet evaporation
The present invention is directed towards systems, methods and a computer-readable medium for simulating the evolution of a height of an evaporating droplet. The simulation includes a simulation space with boundary conditions. The simulation includes generating a height function that is representative of the height of the droplet at a first point in time at a plurality of points in the simulation space based upon a lubrication equation that is a differential function describing variation of the height function over time. The simulation determines the height function at a second point in time by finding an approximate solution that satisfies the lubrication equations and boundary conditions. |
| US08229718B2 |
Use of scientific models in environmental simulation
Use of scientific models to generate graphical virtual environments is described. In an embodiment at least two different scientific models are used. Input data which is representative of a real world environment is used by a first scientific model, such as a climate model, and data output by the first scientific model is then fed into a second, different, scientific model, such as an ecological model, in order to generate simulation data. The simulation data, which may, for example, detail the required population density of particular plant species and their size and age, is then used by a graphical simulation engine to generate a graphical virtual environment which may, for example, be used in a computer game such as a flight simulation game. |
| US08229717B2 |
Method for simulating the behavior of a bonded joint of two parts
A method for simulating the behavior of a bonded joint of two composite material parts with an adhesive material layer. The method includes the steps of a) providing a Finite Element Model with all the relevant information for analyzing the structural joint; b) providing a calculation model for calculating the deformations of the adhesive material layer when it is subjected to tensile/peel and shear stresses, including a plastic behavior of the adhesive of a linear type under tension/peeling and of a non-linear type under shearing; and c) simulating the behavior of the bonded joint by applying the calculation model to obtain the failure indices of each failure mode. A system which is useful as an aid in the design of the structural joint using a computer-implemented Finite Element Model of the structural joint. |
| US08229714B2 |
Method for simulating a physical property of a technical structure by a component model
A method for simulating a physical property of a component model comprising a computer accessible construction model of a technical structure, by automatically generating a mesh of a component model. The component model is first described by a fine mesh of finite elements, and, based on the fine mesh, a fine natural frequency of the component model is determined. The component model is then described by a coarse mesh of finite elements, and based on the coarse mesh, a coarse natural frequency of the component model is determined. In this context, for example, the deviation of the coarse natural frequency from the fine natural frequency is used as a measure for the quality of the coarse mesh. |
| US08229712B2 |
Analysis method using finite element method, program causing computer to execute same, and system for same
An FEM analysis system is provided which is capable of analyzing with high accuracy and within a short time in a drop shock analysis of electronic devices in which a very small mesh size is incorporated. Processing to be performed by an optimal solution selecting and analyzing section includes a step of checking whether an analysis to be performed is a shock analysis, a step of searching for a minimum mesh size when the analysis to be performed is judged to be a shock analysis, a step of creating a simplified analysis model using the minimum mesh size, a step of performing a preliminary analysis on a simplified model by an implicit method and explicit method, and a step of selecting either of the implicit method or explicit method as an optimal analysis method by comparing results from preliminary analysis, results from these analyses and experiments or exact solution. |
| US08229711B2 |
Method of analysis for kinetic properties of golf club head and golf club therefor
The accuracy or computation speed of analysis of a club head using the finite element method is improved. In a method of analysis of a golf club head, a model of the golf club head represented by a set of elements including tetrahedral solid elements 30 is prepared on a computer, nodes 32 are provided at the vertexes and on at least one side of the tetrahedral solid element, and the kinetic properties of the golf club head are computed by the finite element method in which the elements and nodes of the model are used and the nodes are made output points of computation. At this time, in at least some of the tetrahedral solid elements, the number of nodes provided per one element is made not fewer than ten. |
| US08229705B1 |
Performance monitoring in computer networks
The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for monitoring performance of a Maintenance Entity (ME) in a computer network. In one embodiment, a method of monitoring performance of an ME includes receiving a control frame via the ME. The method further includes using a hardware performance monitor to provide to a programmable processor a metric indicative of a performance parameter associated with the ME based at least in part on information in the control frame. The method further includes using the programmable processor to determine the performance parameter associated with the ME based at least in part on the metric provided using the hardware performance monitor. |
| US08229702B2 |
Robotic arm for moving a stent support, and stent support gripper assembly
An apparatus for weighing a stent includes a buffer for storing a stent support with a stent mounted thereon, a stent mounting and dismounting assembly that mounts and dismounts the stent from the stent support, a robotic arm for moving the stent support with the stent between the buffer and the stent mounting and dismounting assembly, and a scale assembly for weighing the stent. The stent mounting and dismounting assembly moves the stent into the scale assembly after the stent has been dismount from the stent support. |
| US08229699B2 |
Scalable sensor localization for wireless sensor networks
Adaptive rule-based methods to solve localization problems for ad hoc wireless sensor networks are disclosed. A large problem may be solved as a sequence of very small subproblems, each of which is solved by semidefinite programming relaxation of a geometric optimization model. The subproblems may be generated according to a set of sensor/anchor selection rules and a priority list. The methods scale well and provide improved positioning accuracy. A dynamic version may be used for estimating moving sensors locations in a real-time environment. The method may use dynamic distance measurement updates among sensors, and utilizes subproblem solving for static sensor localization. Methods to deploy sensor localization algorithms in clustered distributed environments are also provided, permitting application to arbitrarily large networks. In addition, the methods may be used to solve sensor localizations in 2D or 3D space. A preprocessor may be used for localization of networks without absolute position information. |
| US08229695B2 |
Meter electronics and methods for geometric thermal compensation in a flow meter
Meter electronics for geometric thermal compensation in a flow meter is provided according to the invention. The meter electronics includes an interface configured to receive sensor signals and a temperature signal (T) of the flow meter. The meter electronics further includes a processing system coupled with the interface and configured to receive the sensor signals and the temperature signal (T) and compute a geometric thermal compensation factor (TFe) for one or more flow conduits of the flow meter using the temperature signal (T). The geometric thermal compensation factor (TFe) is used to process the first and second sensor signals. |