| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08234715B2 |
Activating streaming video in a blu-ray disc player
Techniques are described herein for using cryptographic elements of the Advanced Access Content System (AACS) in a client-server environment to cryptographically authenticate client applications that are executing on non-revoked AACS-compliant playback devices. The techniques described herein may be used to protect a server application from providing information to client applications executing in non-AACS-compliant or revoked environments. In one embodiment, the techniques are used to authenticate a Blu-ray Disc Java Application executing on a non-revoked AACS-compliant Blu-ray Disc Player. |
| US08234712B2 |
Executable content filtering
A method, apparatus, and machine-readable medium to implement executable content filtering is disclosed. According to a one example embodiment, a method is provided which comprises analyzing a stream of one or more parsed elements of a network message with a set of one or more executable content filters, wherein the stream of one or more elements are streamed from a network message parser. The described method embodiment further comprises modifying the stream of one or more parsed elements to disable executable content in the network message based, at least in part, on a set of one or more rule sets being applied with the set of one or more executable content filters to the stream of parsed elements. |
| US08234711B2 |
Apparatus and method for checking PC security
Provided are an apparatus and method for checking Personal Computer (PC) security. The apparatus includes a check module for checking a security configuration of a PC on the basis of a check policy received from a security check server and outputting check results, and a control module for changing the security configuration of the PC on the basis of a control policy received from the security check server and the check results received from the check module. According to the apparatus, a security check agent installed in each PC performs security check and changes a security configuration according to a control policy, such that the security configurations of PCs in a network can be managed collectively. |
| US08234709B2 |
Streaming malware definition updates
A method, system and apparatus for assembling and publishing frequent malware signature definition updates through the use of additive or “streaming” definition packages is provided. Embodiments of the present invention provide such functionality by publishing not only full malware signature definition updates on a long periodicity but also streaming malware signature definition updates containing newly certified signature definitions on a short periodicity. As newly-certified malware signature definitions are received, those newly-certified signature definitions are incorporated not only in the full signature definition file but also in a streaming signature definition update that contains only newly-certified signature definitions received during a streaming update period. At the end of the streaming update period, a streaming signature definition file is made available by publication to anti-malware clients. A streaming signature definition file only contains those signature definitions received during the assembly period for that streaming definition file. Embodiments of the present invention replace a previous streaming signature definition file with a new streaming signature definition file at the time of publication of the new streaming signature definition file. |
| US08234707B2 |
Overlay network for tracking denial-of-service floods in unreliable datagram delivery networks
An approach for tracking denial-of-service (DoS) flood attacks using an overlay IP (Internet Protocol) network is disclosed. One or more tracking routers form an overlay tracking network over the network of an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The ISP network includes numerous transit routers and edge routers. The tracking routers communicate directly with all the edge routers using IP tunnels. The edge routers within the ISP network perform security diagnostic functions, in part, to identify a DoS flood attack that has been launched by one or more attackers. To track down an attacker, an egress edge router identifies the DoS flood attack datagrams, rerouting these datagrams to the overlay tracking network. The tracking routers perform hop-by-hop input debugging to identify the ingress edge router associated with the source of the DoS flood attack. |
| US08234694B2 |
Method and apparatus for re-establishing communication between a client and a server
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that re-establishes communication between a client and a server after an unexpected termination of communication. During operation, the system receives a request from the client at the server to re-establish communication between the client and the server, wherein the request includes a temporary credential. If the temporary credential is valid, the system temporarily re-establishes communication between the client and the server, until the client can be re-authenticated with a permanent credential. |
| US08234688B2 |
Managing privacy settings for a social network
Methods for managing privacy settings for a social network using an electronic computing device are presented including: causing the electronic computing device to receive a triggering event on the social network; and causing the electronic computing device to determine a number of privacy indices in response to the triggering event, where the number of privacy indices correspond with at least one target user, where the number of privacy indices are normalized from a summation of a number of privacy scores, where the number of privacy scores are each derived from a sum of attribute scores, and where the sum of attribute scores are each derived from a weighted sensitivity value of an attribute and a user relationship distance value of a user and the target user. |
| US08234684B2 |
Digital detector for ATSC digital television signals
A Wireless Regional Area Network (WRAN) receiver comprises a transceiver for communicating with a wireless network over one of a number of channels, and an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) signal detector for use in forming a supported channel list comprising those ones of the number of channels upon which an ATSC signal was not detected, wherein the ATSC signal detector is a threshold-based detector and detects an ATSC signal as a function of at least one threshold, and wherein the ATSC signal detector is responsive to at least one of a carrier tracking loop lock signal, a symbol timing recovery lock signal and a synchronization (sync) lock signal. |
| US08234681B2 |
Method of transmitting and receiving broadcast signal and apparatus for receiving broadcast signal
Disclosed are a method of transmitting and receiving a broadcast signal and an apparatus for receiving the broadcast signal. In the present invention, first program table information describing a broadcasting stream, and second program table information including additional service identifier information of the multiplexed stream and third program table information describing the additional service data for the multiplexed stream are obtained. The additional service can be provided with the additional service data by using the third program table information. |
| US08234679B2 |
Technique for selecting multiple entertainment programs to be provided over a communication network
In an entertainment service providing on-demand programs over a broadband communications network, a user is allowed to view multiple programs in a continuous manner. The user's enjoyment of the entertainment service is enhanced especially when the on-demand programs are short, e.g., on-demand music videos which typically are a few minutes long. The user is provided with graphical user interfaces for selecting the desired programs to watch, and also allowed to determine the order in which the selected programs are to be played, which may be random. |
| US08234675B2 |
Method of constructing information on associate meanings between segments of multimedia stream and method of browsing video using the same
Disclosed are a method of constructing information on associate meanings between segments of a multimedia stream, which can describe the cause/effect or abstract/detail relationship between segments of the video streams to efficiently browse the video stream and a method of browsing a video using the same. The present invention defines the cause/effect or abstract/detail relationship between the segments, event intervals, scenes, shots, etc. existing within one video stream or between the video streams, and provides a method of describing the relationship in a data region based on the content of a video stream as well as a method of browsing a video by using the information on the cause/effect or abstract/detail relationship obtained by the aforementioned method. Accordingly, a video browsing on associate meanings is available with easy manipulation and easy access to a desired part, thereby providing an effective video browsing interface for easy browsing of desired segments in a short period of time. |
| US08234668B2 |
Content access
Techniques are described to provide content access. In an implementation, a determination is made at a client that a high-definition channel has content that matches content provided by a standard-definition channel. Access is provided to the content via the high-definition channel and access is restricted to the content via the standard-definition channel up the client is capable of outputting the content and high definition. |
| US08234664B2 |
Ejection device for ejecting an optical disk and related method
The invention provides a method for ejecting an optical disk and a related ejection device for a slot-in disk drive. The ejection device includes a block disposed on a contact end of an unloading bar. The block stretches out of the contact end of the unloading bar along a longitudinal direction of the unloading bar for pushing a small size optical disk so that a distance between a center of the small size optical disk and a contact end of a loading bar exceeds a predetermined distance. When the small size optical disk is unloaded, the unloading bar backs to an initial position, the slot-in disk drive idles to load and unload the small size optical disk continuously for pushing the small size optical disk outwardly further. |
| US08234663B2 |
Transferring data from an application to a destination
Illustrative embodiments disclose sending content from a first application at a first location to a second application at a second remote location. In response to a user input indicating a selection of content for transfer to the second application, the selection of the content is copied to form copied content. The copied content is then automatically sent to the second application at the remote second location without requiring additional user manipulation of the copy content. Additionally, the destination may be another user. In this case, the second application is employed to automatically transfer the copied content to that second user. |
| US08234657B1 |
System and method for communicating state and title information between a browser and a rich internet application with browser forward and back button support
A system and method communicates address and state information from a browser to a rich Internet application to allow the Rich Internet Application to start at a location, or preload variables, corresponding to the state information. The system and method communicates address and state information from the Rich Internet Application to the browser to allow such information to be displayed by the browser for use or retrieval. The system and method allows the user to navigate within the Rich Internet Application using the browser's forward and back buttons. |
| US08234652B2 |
Performing setup operations for receiving different amounts of data while processors are performing message passing interface tasks
Mechanisms are provided for performing setup operations for receiving a different amount of data while processors are performing message passing interface (MPI) tasks. Mechanisms for adjusting the balance of processing workloads of the processors are provided so us to minimize wait periods for waiting for all of the processors to call a synchronization operation. An MPI load balancing controller maintains a history that provides a profile of the tasks with regard to their calls to synchronization operations. From this information, it can be determined which processors should have their processing loads lightened and which processors are able to handle additional processing loads without significantly negatively affecting the overall operation of the parallel execution system. As a result, setup operations may be performed while processors are performing MPI tasks to prepare for receiving different sized portions of data in a subsequent computation cycle based on the history. |
| US08234650B1 |
Approach for allocating resources to an apparatus
An approach for allocating resources to an apparatus generally involves a resource allocator receiving a request that specifies one or more characteristics for the apparatus. A resource allocator determines the logical devices to be included in the apparatus so that the apparatus has the specified characteristics. For at least one logical device, the resource allocator determines whether a physical device is available that corresponds to the logical device. If a physical device is available, the resource allocator allocates the physical device to the apparatus. If a physical device is not available, the resource allocator does not allocate the physical device to the apparatus. |
| US08234643B2 |
CRON time processing implementation for scheduling tasks within a multi-tiered enterprise network
A computer implemented system and method for scheduling jobs. A method according to one embodiment includes the operations of: determining a first possible execution time of a job from a data object containing a job timing entry; determining if a specified base time is less than a first possible execution time of the job; if the specified base time is less than the first possible execution time, then subtracting the base time from the first possible execution time to determine the time until the next execution of the job; and if the specified base time is greater than the first possible execution time, then searching for a next execution time which is greater then the specified base time and subtracting the base time from the next execution time to determine the time until the next execution of the job. |
| US08234642B2 |
Filtering processor requests based on identifiers
Processing within a computing environment is facilitated by filtering requests of the computing environment. A processing unit that receives a request determines whether it is to perform the request. This determination is made by, for instance, comparing an identifier of the request with an identifier of the processing unit making the determination. If there is a mismatch, then the request is blocked. Other processing within the computing environment is also facilitated by selectively using buffer entries. The selection criteria is based, for instance, on identifier information. |
| US08234636B2 |
Source code modification technique
A modification to source code is applied in an automated manner to improve program performance while maintaining the meaning of an associated program. Source code is rewritten to improve the operation of the associated program. Prior to applying the source code optimization to the program, confirmation of approval by the programmer must be maintained. In one embodiment, the programmer is presented with numerical data pertaining to an improvement ratio associated with application of the source code optimization. |
| US08234627B2 |
System and method for expediting information display
Exemplary systems and methods for expediting information display on a user device are provided. In exemplary embodiments, a request for information is received. An application server then generates and provides source code for a web page containing the requested information. In exemplary embodiments, a removal module is returned with the source code for the first web page. The removal module is configured to remove unnecessary elements from subsequent source code in order to expedite loading and displaying of subsequent web pages on the user device. In some embodiments, the web page comprises a syndicated web page within a window of a main web page. |
| US08234625B2 |
Optimized look-up table calculations in block diagram software
Pre-lookup index search blocks and multidimensional interpolation blocks that use the results of the pre-lookup index search blocks in a block diagram to graphically specify (and perform) multidimensional interpolation calculations. The pre-lookup index search and interpolation blocks are defined so as to provide for a separation of breakpoint set data and table data, thus enabling a user to explicitly manage the use of common breakpoint set data. A block diagram created using pre-lookup index search blocks and interpolation using pre-lookup index search blocks shows all tables that use a particular breakpoint set via graphical connections on the block diagram between the pre-lookup index search blocks and the interpolation using pre-lookup index search blocks. |
| US08234615B2 |
Constraint programming based method for bus-aware macro-block pin placement in a hierarchical integrated circuit layout
Assigning pins to macro-blocks of an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip is described. The macro-block pin assignments are automatically placed using Constraint Programming (CP) techniques to position the pins on the periphery of a macro-block. Bus-ordering and pin-spacing constraints are performed considering all the nets forming the IC design simultaneously. The CP formulation includes modeling detailed and discrete constraints required to achieve an optimal pin-assignment. A stochastic CSP solver is used to define the cost function on search points giving full assignments to all the variables. The macro-block pins are ultimately moved to computed locations. |
| US08234614B1 |
Multi-threaded global routing
A method is described for routing a semiconductor chip's global nets. The method includes identifying a subset of the global nets and routing the subset of global nets using multiple threads, where, each of the global nets within the subset are routed by one of the threads in isolation of the subset's other global nets. The method further includes identifying a second subset of the global nets and routing the second subset of global nets using the multiple threads, where, each of the global nets within the second subset are routed by one of the threads in isolation of the second subset's other global nets but in respect of the routes of first subset of global nets. |
| US08234609B2 |
Method and system for implementing top down design and verification of an electronic design
Disclosed is a method and system for performing design and verification using stepwise refinement techniques, which can also include or be referred to as “top-down” design verification. With the present stepwise refinement approach, the electronic design can be acted upon at different levels of abstraction, but with approximately the same level of resolution at each abstraction level. A strong relationship of consistency exists between the successive abstraction levels of the design. On account of this consistency, properties that are established or true at one level of the design remain true for all subsequent levels of abstraction of the design. The present approach also allows designers to more efficiently and accurately perform hardware/software co-design. For the co-design process, consistency between different levels of abstraction allows a designer to safely implement a systematic and concurrent divide-and-conquer approach to the hardware and/or software elements in a design. |
| US08234605B2 |
Minimal leakage-power standard cell library
A minimal leakage power Standard Cell Library is provided. The minimal leakage power Standard Cell Library provides minimal leakage power cells with improved speed characteristics. The minimal leakage power Standard Cell Library includes cells from an existing Standard Cell Library and a set of minimal leakage power cells for a selected set of logic functions. The minimal leakage power Standard Cell Library is formed by identifying a set of logic functions. For each logic function in the identified set, a base case for an unfolded implementation of the logic function is determined. Widths for transistors in a transistor topology used in the unfolded implementation of the logic function are determined based on the non-linear leakage power characteristics for the transistor topology to achieve minimal leakage power. The determined widths are then assigned to the transistors and the minimal leakage cell is added to the library. |
| US08234604B2 |
Co-optimization of embedded systems utilizing symbolic execution
Co-Optimization utilizing Symbolic Execution (COSE) works across components of an embedded design to optimize structures therein. COSE utilizes symbolic execution (SE) to analyze software components and defines a limited set of values that software feeds hardware as constraints. SE explores substantially all possible paths of execution of the code specifying a component. It accomplishes this by accumulating path conditions (PCs) and annotating them to the corresponding segments of the component. A PC is associated with a branch of code and consists of the conjunction of conditions over input and state variables necessary and sufficient for the branch to execute. These PCs define constraints that limit the set of values that software feeds hardware. These constraints are then propagated across the networks of the design and employ static analysis techniques such as constant propagation, redundancy removal, and don't care optimizations to reduce the hardware components. |
| US08234603B2 |
Method for fast estimation of lithographic binding patterns in an integrated circuit layout
The present invention provides a lithographic difficulty metric that is a function of an energy ratio factor that includes a ratio of hard-to-print energy to easy-to-print energy of the diffraction orders along an angular coordinate θi of spatial frequency space, an energy entropy factor comprising energy entropy of said diffraction orders along said angular coordinate θi, a phase entropy factor comprising phase entropy of said diffraction orders along said angular coordinate θi, and a total energy entropy factor comprising total energy entropy of said diffraction orders. The hard-to-print energy includes energy of the diffraction orders at values of the normalized radial coordinates r of spatial frequency space in a neighborhood of r=0 and in a neighborhood of r=1, and the easy-to-print energy includes energy of the diffraction orders located at intermediate values of normalized radial coordinates r between the neighborhood of r=0 and the neighborhood of r=1. The value of the lithographic difficulty metric may be used to identify patterns in a design layout that are binding patterns in an optimization computation. The lithographic difficulty metric may be used to design integrated circuits that have good, relatively easy-to-print characteristics. |
| US08234597B2 |
Tool and method to graphically correlate process and test data with specific chips on a wafer
A tool and method is provided to graphically correlate process and test data with specific chips on a multi-project wafer. The tool and method is configured and implemented to select certain sites and export these sites to an industry standard map that can be used in a variety of chip picking or test tools. In one embodiment, the method includes importing a wafer floor plan with chips of different design parameters and importing manufacturing logistical information of the chips. The method further includes graphically rendering each chip on the wafer to scale within a unit cell using the imported wafer floor plan and the manufacturing logistical information. |
| US08234592B2 |
Displaying scaled-down versions of documents on favorites and recent menu
A system for accessing the World Wide Web or other information sources using the Internet incorporates scaled-down versions of images associated with recently-viewed documents or documents designated as favorites into a recent menu or a favorites menu, respectively. As a user accesses a Web page, a scaled-down version of the Web page is inserted into a recent menu. The user can view the recent menu and visually determine the identity of the recently-viewed Web pages, which allows the user to conveniently select Web pages to access. This recent menu also enables the user to access recently-viewed documents in any order, which does not need to be in the chronological order in which the pages were originally viewed or in a reverse chronological order. Scaled-down versions of Web pages designated as favorites are stored in the favorites menu, thereby assisting the user in recalling the content of the favorite documents. |
| US08234589B2 |
Device and method for previewing themes and categories of sequenced symbols
A computer device, such as a mobile phone or PDA for example, is able to output a message based upon selection of a corresponding sequence of symbol. Such symbols can be polysemous in nature and thus be associated with a plurality of different meanings depending upon other symbols sequenced therewith. By utilizing polysemous symbols, a relatively large number of sequences can be developed and associated with stored messages in the computer device. To aid a user in accessing a desired sequence or to aid in training the learning of stored sequences, for example, a category relating to at least two symbol sequences is fed back to the user upon pre-selecting a symbol; a theme relating to at least two symbol sequences is fed back to the user upon selecting a symbol and pre-selecting a next symbol; and/or a message associated with a sequence is fed back to the user upon selecting and/or pre-selecting at least one symbol completing a symbol sequence. |
| US08234586B2 |
User interface framework and techniques
A set of declarative language instructions (“DEIs”) defines three hierarchically-related data structures (“DSs”) to provide a naming taxonomy for use with a user interface (“UT”) framework. A first DS stores references to user-selectable objects (“USOs”) that are presentable via a UI of a software application. The USOs provide access to other USOs or to resources. A second DS stores references to actions to be taken upon user selection of particular USOs. A third DS stores information for indirectly accessing resources or USO configuration data during runtime of the software application. Another set of DEIs defines sets of computer-executable instructions (“CEIs”) corresponding to actions referred to via the second DS, which are triggered for execution upon user selection of particular USOs. Information from the third DS associated with a selected USO is passed to a particular set of CEIs. Runtime indirection and decoupling of content/functionality from UI components is achieved. |
| US08234582B1 |
Visualizing object behavior
A visualization service generates a graphical representation or visualization of each user's behavior within a network resource, such as a website. In one example, the visualization service provides a dynamic visualization of each user accessing the network resource. Each user is graphically represented in the visualization with an indicium, such as a point or dot. The visualization (and thus, the position of each indicium representing a user) is dynamically updated as each user accesses data files from the network resource and thus, moves from state to state (or page to page) over time. The effect is similar to watching cars move along a complex highway system. |
| US08234574B2 |
Method and system for navigating through a repository of displays
A method and system enabling a user to navigate through a repository of graphical displays and maintain knowledge of the location of any display in the repository. The navigation enables a user to create a slide presentation by searching, selecting, downloading and compiling slides from a central slide repository. Graphical displays are arranged in a repository in a grid-like configuration such that a list of groups displayed in one direction and the specific displays within that group are listed in another (e.g., perpendicular) direction. These groups of slides are arranged in a set of directories and sub-directories that are linked to each directory. A hierarchy of the display repository displays the particular directory and sub-directory path taken by a user to retrieve any particular graphical display. A user may navigate through the display repository and select displays and determine their location in the display repository. |
| US08234573B2 |
Computer program and methods for automatically initializing an audio controller
A computer program of the type commonly known as a “wizard” is disclosed that initializes user interface software for controlling an audio conferencing device. The wizard allows the desired audio inputs (e.g., microphone, telephones, etc.) and audio outputs (speakers, recording devices, etc.) to be chosen by an audio system administrator. Thereafter, the wizard allows an audio conferencing device (or devices) to be chosen by the administrator, or allows such a device(s) to be optimally chosen dependent upon the chosen inputs and outputs. The wizard then maps the inputs and outputs to the input and output ports on the audio conferencing device. When the administrator finishes the wizard, the wizard computes the mapping parameters and other audio-optimizing parameters for the selected inputs and outputs. These parameters are then loaded into the user interface software automatically. |
| US08234572B2 |
Remote access to advanced playlist features of a media player
A media player can have advanced-playlist creation capabilities such as the ability to automatically generate a playlist around a “seed” song selected by a user. In some embodiments, the accessory can determine whether the media player can use a particular song as a seed song for an advanced playlist and can so inform the user. The user can then operate the accessory's user interface to create an advanced playlist based on a particular song, rather than having to interact directly with the media player. |
| US08234563B1 |
Editing of customised documents
A method of generating a second customised document incorporating amendments made to a previously generated first document, where the customised documents include one or more selected predetermined portions of document content, comprises the steps of: determining which portions of document content are comprised in the first document but which are not comprised in the second document; deleting the portions of document content determined in the preceding step from the first document; determining which portions of document content are comprised in the second document but which are not comprised in the first document; and copying the portions of document content determined in the preceding step from the second document to the first document. |
| US08234559B2 |
Managing rich presence collections
A method and system for increasing the computational and network efficiency of presence servers having collections of publications is provided. The presence system uses several techniques that enable a presence server to provide rich presence information without requiring expensive processing. First, the presence system accepts batches of publication updates in a single presence update request. Similarly, the presence system accepts batches of subscription requests. Next, the presence system supports new expiration types for publication update requests that eliminate the need for a publishing user to continually refresh presence information that has not changed. Finally, the presence system accepts access lists that contain membership groups rather than an individual list of users that are to have access to a particular presence collection. |
| US08234546B2 |
Mitigation of transmission errors of quantized channel state information feedback in multi antenna systems
Methods are disclosed for improving communications on feedback transmission channels, in which there is a possibility of bit errors. The basic solutions to counter those errors are: proper design of the CSI vector quantizer indexing (i.e., the bit representation of centroid indices) in order to minimize impact of index errors, use of error detection techniques to expurgate the erroneous indices and use of other methods to recover correct indices. |
| US08234545B2 |
Data storage with incremental redundancy
A method for operating a memory includes encoding input data with an Error Correction Code (ECC) to produce input encoded data including first and second sections, such that the ECC is decodable based on the first section at a first redundancy, and based on both the first and the second sections at a second redundancy that is higher than the first redundancy.Output encoded data is read and a condition is evaluated. The input data is reconstructed using a decoding level selected, responsively to the condition, from a first level, at which a first part of the output encoded data corresponding to the first section is processed to decode the ECC at the first redundancy, and a second level, at which the first part and a second part of the output encoded data corresponding to the second section are processed jointly to decode the ECC at the second redundancy. |
| US08234544B2 |
Data access apparatus and data access method
A data access apparatus includes: a flash memory controller; a mirror means; and a flash memory including at least one data region and at least one mirror region. The mirror means copies data to form mirror data to the mirror region when the flash controller writes the data into the data region. The flash memory controller reads the mirror data to replace the data if the flash memory controller determines that the data include error(s) while the data are being read. |
| US08234543B2 |
Detection and correction of fuse re-growth in a microprocessor
A microprocessor includes control hardware that receives and stores control values and provides the control values to circuits of the microprocessor for controlling operation of the microprocessor. The microprocessor also includes a first plurality of fuses selectively blown collectively with a predetermined value, and a second plurality of fuses selectively blown collectively with an error correction value computed from the predetermined value collectively blown into the first plurality of fuses. In response to being reset, the microprocessor reads the first and second plurality of fuses, detects an error in the value read from the first plurality of fuses using the value read from the second plurality of fuses, corrects the value read from the first plurality of fuses back to the predetermined value using the value read from the second plurality of fuses, and uses the corrected predetermined value to write the control values into the control hardware. |
| US08234542B2 |
Storage controller and method for controlling input and output of data between a storage apparatus and a host computer
A storage controller detects error with relative ease when reading data from a storage apparatus. An address data appending device appends address data to each of logical blocks with respect to the data received from a host. A device communication control device determines a divisional position in every data with a size of a predetermined number of blocks, counterchanges the data in anterior and posterior parts around the divisional position, and stores the data in the storage apparatus. When reading the data from the storage apparatus, an address data checking device determines whether or not the value of the address data appended to the block read out and an expected value of the address data calculated based on the divisional position match with each other. If the values match, the data is sent to the cache memory. If the values do not match, an error is detected. |
| US08234541B2 |
Method and controller for data access in a flash memory
A method for controlling access to data in a Flash is provided, including steps as follows: outputting at least one main data block to a buffer area of the Flash continuously, the buffer area of the Flash being adapted to buffer data to be inputted to a storage area of the Flash; generating and buffering checksum data for each main data block while outputting the at least one main data block; and outputting the buffered checksum data of the at least one main data block to the buffer area of the Flash. Another method for controlling access to data in the Flash, apparatuses corresponding to the methods and methods for controlling data access by a controller are also provided. The efficiency of data access in the Flash is raised. |
| US08234537B2 |
Layered decoder and method for performing layered decoding
Embodiments of a decoder and method of decoding blocks of soft bits in a wireless receiver are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, a memory is initialized with encoded input data and updated with sums of extrinsic reliabilities. Decoded output data is provided from the memory after a predetermined number of iterations. |
| US08234536B1 |
Iterative decoder using input data pipelining and time-interleaved processing
In one implementation, a decoding architecture is provided that includes an input buffer configured to receive and store one or more codewords to be processed, and a decoder coupled to the input buffer. The decoder is configured to receive a first codeword and a second codeword from the input buffer, and simultaneously process the first codeword and the second codeword such that each of the first codeword and the second codeword is processed only for a minimum amount of time for the first codeword or the second codeword to become decoded. The input buffer is further configured to load a third codeword into the decoder responsive to the first codeword or the second codeword being decoded. |
| US08234532B2 |
Data transmitting and receiving system
A system having a transmission unit transmitting an output data signal formed from output data and related error detection code and a corresponding receiving unit. The output data signal is pre-emphasized by a pre-emphasis driver in the transmission unit. The receiving unit includes an equalizer equalizing the received output data signal and an error detector analyzing the error detection code to determine whether a bit error is present in the received data. Upon successive data transmission failures either an equalization coefficient in the equalizer or a pre-emphasis coefficient in the pre-emphasis driver are changed. |
| US08234531B2 |
System-on-chip with master/slave debug interface
A System-on-Chip (SOC) integrated circuit (IC) debugging system includes a plurality of SOC ICs connected to a shared debug bus. One of the plurality of SOC ICs is a master SOC IC having a master/slave debug interface. The master/slave debug interface on the master SOC IC is a bidirectional debug interface operable to send and receive debug data between the SOC ICs and an external host system. |
| US08234527B2 |
Method for error test, recordation and repair
In a memory device, an on-die register is provided that is configured to store a row address as well as a column address of a memory cell that fails a test. Storing the row address frees testing from being limited to activating at one time only rows related to a common redundant segment. Storing the row address also guides repair using segmented redundancy. As an addition or alternative, information may be stored in an anti-fuse bank that is designed to provide access to a redundant cell but has not yet enabled access to that cell. If the information stored in the anti-fuse bank relates to the failure of the redundant cell, such information may be used to avoid repairing with that redundant cell. |
| US08234525B2 |
Method and system for anomaly detection in software programs with reduced false negatives
A method, system and article of manufacture are disclosed for detecting anomalies in a software program. The method comprises the steps of running the software program as a client; and the software program sending to a server a multitude of tokens at specified points in the program, each of the tokens having information about the software program. The server implements code to analyze said tokens and to compare information in the tokens to stored data to identify anomalies in the software program. In a preferred embodiment, the tokens identify patterns of operation of the software programs, and the implementing step includes the step of comparing these program patterns with stored acceptable patterns to identify anomalous program patterns. This comparing may be done by the logging, as potential anomalies, selected ones of the program patterns that do not match any of the stored acceptable patterns. |
| US08234524B1 |
Protocol analysis with event present flags
The present invention discloses a method to record trace data in a way that significantly reduces the time required to search for specific events, to create an index, to create a histogram, or to analyze the protocol. During capture, the analyzer recognizes infrequent events and sets an Event-Present Flag (“EP Flag”) indicating that a specific event has occurred. The trace is divided into pages, with a separate set of Event-Present Flags for each page indicating whether an event occurred in that page of the trace. This division of a trace into separate pages results in significant efficiencies. |
| US08234521B2 |
Systems and methods for maintaining lock step operation
A system is provided for rapidly synchronizing two or more processing elements in a fault-tolerant computing system. Embodiments of this system allow for the rapid synchronization of two processing elements through partial copies of the contents of memory associate with each processing element. |
| US08234520B2 |
Wear leveling of solid state disks based on usage information of data and parity received from a raid controller
A controller configures a plurality of solid state disks as a redundant array of independent disks (RAID), wherein the plurality of solid state disks store a plurality of blocks, and wherein storage areas of the plurality of solid state disks corresponding to at least some blocks of the plurality of blocks have different amounts of estimated life expectancies. The controller includes in data structures associated with a block that is to be stored in the storage areas of the plurality of solid state disks an indication that the block includes parity information corresponding to the RAID, wherein parity information comprises information corresponding to an error correction mechanism to protect against a disk failure. The controller sends the data structures to the plurality of solid state disks, wherein the plurality of solid state disks allocate a storage area that is estimated to have a relatively greater life expectancy in comparison to other storage areas to store the block that includes the parity information. |
| US08234513B2 |
Power management method
A method of managing IT resources when an IT resource managed by a coordinator is subject to a power-off request is provided. The method includes, in an event a sufficient quantity of resource statistics is present, analyzing resource statistics and operational policies to determine whether execution of the power-off request is currently, futuristically or potentially futuristically achievable with a threshold efficiency, and, in an event the power-off request is currently, futuristically or potentially futuristically achievable with the threshold efficiency, executing the power-off request, identifying a first time when the power-off request is achievable, instituting a first delay until then and, subsequently, executing the power-off request, and identifying a second time when the power-off request is potentially achievable, instituting a second delay until then and, subsequently, returning control to the analyzing operation, respectively. |
| US08234511B2 |
Speed binning for dynamic and adaptive power control
A representative digital circuit of the invention has an on-chip, non-volatile memory, to which chip-specific speed-binning data that characterize performance of the digital circuit are written during production testing. During normal operation, the power controller that controls power-supply signals applied to the digital circuit reads the speed-binning data from the on-chip memory for use as input parameters for dynamic supply-voltage scaling, dynamic clock scaling, and/or adaptive power control that optimize (e.g., minimize) power consumption in the digital circuit. Advantageously over the prior art, the accuracy and efficiency of dynamic and/or adaptive power control arc improved because the chip-specific speed-binning data enable the power controller to better customize the power-management algorithm for the given digital circuit. |
| US08234509B2 |
Portable power supply device for mobile computing devices
A portable power supply device for a mobile computing device is provided. The portable power supply device comprises a retention structure to retain the mobile computing device, a power source, and an inductive signal interface. The inductive signal interface is used to inductively signal power from the power source to a corresponding inductive signal interface of the mobile computing device. |
| US08234502B2 |
Automated password authentication
A method of automated password authentication by pattern matching regions of screen pixels against a repository of previously captured regions, and submitting a username and a password stored with the regions of the screen pixels for authentication includes triggering an autorunnable application to startup by inserting a memory stick by a user, challenging the user for a master password to access an encrypted database held on the memory stick, running the autorunnable application as a background task following a successful authorization of the user, and checking whether the user has triggered the autorunnable application by a pre-defined key sequence. If the user has triggered the autorunnable application, then the method proceeds with prompting the user to highlight at least one rectangle around a text or an image which uniquely identifies a login panel, capturing a username and a password when entered by the user, and returning the autorunnable application to a background task. If the user has not triggered the autorunnable application, then the method proceeds with monitoring a screen buffer for a matching signature based on the rectangle drawn by the user. |
| US08234501B2 |
System and method of controlling access to a device
A method of controlling access to a device. First information is provided. Second information is retrieved from the device. The first information is used to retrieve associated third information. A key is generated based on the second information and the third information. Access to the device is controlled by using the key. |
| US08234497B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing secure linking to a user identity in a digital rights management system
Disclosed is a DRM device and method for providing secure linking to a user identity. A first request is sent to a subscriber identity module. A message is received from the subscriber identity module via a secure authenticated channel. The message comprises at least a master key identifier, a random number, and a derived key. In response to the message, a second request is sent to a DRM server. The second request comprises at least a master key identifier, the device identifier, and a random number. Also disclosed is a DRM server and method for providing secure linking to a user identity. A first request is received from a DRM device. The first request comprises at least master key identifier, a device identifier, and a random number. The DRM device is authenticated. A second request for an application specific key is sent to a trusted key management server. The second request comprises at least a master key identifier. At least a key is received from the trusted key management server. A derived key is determined from the key received from the trusted key management server based at least on the device identifier and the random number. A challenge/response scheme is used to determine whether the derived key of the DRM server matches a derived key of the DRM device. |
| US08234494B1 |
Speaker-verification digital signatures
A speaker-verification digital signature system is disclosed that provides greater confidence in communications having digital signatures because a signing party may be prompted to speak a text-phrase that may be different for each digital signature, thus making it difficult for anyone other than the legitimate signing party to provide a valid signature. |
| US08234493B2 |
Method for transmitting content in home network using user-binding
A method for transmitting content to a user device from a home server in a home network is provided. The method includes: receiving an allocated user public key and a user private key of a user to whom the home server belongs; generating an arbitrary session public key and a session private key, generating an encrypted session private key by encrypting the session private key using a device public key that is a public key of the user device, and transmitting the encrypted session private key to the user device; and transmitting the content encrypted using a predetermined content key and a content key encrypted using the session private key to the user device. According to the method, by binding the content to each user, instead of to each device, the content can be safely and conveniently shared. |
| US08234492B2 |
Method, client and system for reversed access to management server using one-time password
Provided are a method, client and system for reservation access to a management server using a one-time password. A generated personal identification number (PIN) is transmitted to the management server when a reservation time comes. The management server generates a random number encrypted using the PIN and transmits the random number to the client. The random number encrypted using the PIN is received, the received random number is encrypted by a symmetric-key algorithm using a client secret key and is transmitted to the management server. The management server receives the random number encrypted using the client secret key, and decrypts the received random number using a server secret key and the PIN. A random number before the encryption using the PIN is compared with a decrypted random number, and access of the client is accepted if the two numbers are identical. Automatic access to a system employing a one-time password authentication method can be made through an arbitrary route according to previously reserved settings to perform information collection and to process specific functions in the case where a system manager is unable to directly access the system through a determined route because of temporal and spatial limitations. |
| US08234490B2 |
Server certificate issuing system
In a server certificate issuing system according to the invention, the Web server includes a control panel which configures and manages a Web and a mail. The control panel is loaded with an entry screen generator to input application items for an issuance of a server certificate, password generator for generating a password which is used to encrypt, and a verification page generator to indicate intention of requesting the issuance of the certificate. On the verification page, the generated password is indicated as verification information for example. The registration server retrieves the password from the received server certificate request and accesses the Web server to read out the verification information indicated on the verification page, and compares the read verification information with the password. As the result of the verification, the verification information read from the Web server is identical to the password, the registration server decides that the Web server for which is to be issued the server certificate exists. Then, the registration server generates the key pair and the CSR and transmits the generated CSR to the certificate issuing server. |
| US08234486B2 |
Managing reboot operations
The disclosure provides a mechanism which is activated when a user opts to hibernate their computer (at the end of the day) rather than switching it off. In particular, on receipt of a hibernate request, an embodiment provides a mechanism for determining whether (as a result of, for example, a distribution or installation of software to a computer) there are any outstanding reboot operations for the computer.If there are any outstanding reboot operations for the computer, an embodiment advises the user of the fact; and allows the user to reconsider whether or not they wish to shut the computer down (or reboot the computer), or hibernate the computer. An embodiment then reboots the computer or hibernates the computer in accordance with the user's wishes. |
| US08234485B2 |
Method relating to rule-regulated software configuration
A method relating to rule-regulated configuration of software includes receiving an unsuccessful configuration that a sender computer system sends to a recipient computer system upon software being unsuccessfully configured in the sender computer system. Validation rules for configuring the software allowed the unsuccessful configuration. The validation rules are modified in the recipient computer system using the using the unsuccessful configuration. The modified validation rules are provided to the sender computer system. Several sender systems may routinely report new configurations to the recipient computer system. The rules may be modified upon creating a variation of the configuration and determining whether it successfully configures the software. The variation may involve using a probabilistic distribution. |
| US08234482B2 |
Universal embedded controller for freeing CPU from operations of peripheral subsystem units with table of functions including an instruction specifying battery controller select protocol
A subprocessor is used to interface between subsystems and to reduce the amount of dedicated hardware used to implement the subsystems in a hand-held computer. The subprocessor includes basic processing system resources such as random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a processor, input/output (I/O) facilities, etc. Selected functions in subsystems are achieved by firmware instructions executed by the subprocessor as opposed to a main processor that is also used in the computer. This approach can provide efficiencies such as low power consumption, less required space, less routing overhead, easier transfer of inter-subsystem information, and other advantages. |
| US08234480B2 |
Storage capacity management system in dynamic area provisioning storage
Provided is a capacity monitoring method for use with a computer system including one or more application computers, one or more storage systems, and a management computer. The storage system includes a physical disk and a disk controller. In the capacity monitoring method, a storage area of the physical disk belongs to a storage pool, the storage system provides a volume, and the management computer monitors a used capacity of the storage pool, judges whether or not a storage capacity required for operating the application computer for a predetermined time period is present in the storage pool based upon an increasing speed of the used capacity of the storage pool to be monitored, and executes a predetermined process operation when the storage capacity required for operating the application computer for the predetermined time period is not present in the storage pool. Accordingly, the storage pool is properly operated and managed. |
| US08234475B2 |
Save set bundling for staging
Backing up data blocks is disclosed, including: receiving an indication that a first backed up data block is to be processed; determining that the first backed up data block and a second backed up data block are related at an application level and are to remain stored together; and processing together the first and second backed up data blocks based at least in part on the determination that the first and second backed up data blocks are related at an application level and are to remain stored together. |
| US08234469B2 |
Backup of virtual machines using cloned virtual machines
A system and method for creating a backup of a virtual machine running on a host computer is described herein. The system and method operate by creating a copy or “clone” of a virtual machine running on a first host computer on a second host machine connected thereto. After generation of the clone, a backup of the virtual hard disk of the clone can be obtained in a manner that does not consume any resources of the first host machine. The backup of the virtual hard disk of the clone can then be used as the backup of the original virtual machine. |
| US08234463B2 |
Data processing apparatus, memory controller, and access control method of memory controller
A data processing apparatus includes a memory which receives and outputs data with a predetermined data width, an operation circuit which outputs a read command or a write command to access the memory, and an access control circuit which replaces a part of first read data read from the memory with a partial data, and outputs partially replaced data as write data to the memory when receiving the write command and the partial data with a data width smaller than the predetermined data width associated with the write command, from the operation circuit. The access control circuit replaces a part of second read data which has been acquired in response to the read command outputted before, instead of the first read data, with the partial data, and outputs replaced partially data as the write data if the write command has been outputted in connection with a read command outputted before the write command. |
| US08234459B2 |
Switch module based non-volatile memory in a server
A switch module having shared memory that is allocated to other blade servers. A memory controller partitions and enables access to partitions of the shared memory by requesting blade servers. |
| US08234458B2 |
System and method for maintaining cache coherency across a serial interface bus using a snoop request and complete message
A method and system for maintaining cache coherency across a serial interface bus such as a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) bus. The method includes generating a snoop request (SNP) to determine whether first data stored in a local memory is coherent relative to second data stored in a data cache, the snoop request including destination information that identifies the data cache on the serial interface bus, and causing the snoop request to be transmitted over the serial interface bus to a second processor. The method further includes extracting a cache line address from the snoop request, determining whether the second data is coherent, generating a complete message (CPL) indicating that the first data is coherent with the second data, and causing the complete message to be transmitted over the bus to the first processor. The snoop request and complete messages may be vendor defined messages. |
| US08234457B2 |
Dynamic adaptive flushing of cached data
Method and apparatus for flushing cached writeback data to a storage array. Sets of writeback data are accumulated in a cache memory in an array with a view toward maintaining a substantially uniform distribution of the data across different locations of the storage array. The arrayed sets of data are thereafter transferred from the cache memory to the storage array substantially at a rate at which additional sets of writeback data are provided to the cache memory by a host. Each set of writeback data preferably comprises a plurality of contiguous data blocks, and are preferably written (flushed) to the storage in conjunction with the operation of a separate access command within a selected proximity range of the data with respect to the storage array. A stripe data descriptor (SDD) is preferably maintained for each set of writeback data in the array. |
| US08234455B2 |
Method and apparatus for ensuring data cache coherency
An apparatus for controlling memory access in a multithreaded processor supporting a plurality of threads is provided. The apparatus includes a processor core; a cache memory storing data accessible by each of the plurality of threads; a main memory storing data accessible by a plurality of threads; an incoherency detection module; and a memory arbiter. The incoherency detection module is connected between the processor core and the memory arbiter, and the memory arbiter is connected between the incoherency detection module and the main memory. There is a separate request queue for each thread for read and write requests sent from the cache memory to the memory arbiter. The incoherency detection module stores an indication of a memory address for each write request sent from the cache memory to the main memory in a write address memory, and compares the address of each subsequent read request sent from the cache memory with indications in the write address memory. If the address of the subsequent read request matches an indication, the incoherency detection module inserts a barrier corresponding to the read request into the request queue of the thread to which the matching indication belongs. The memory arbiter prevents the read request from accessing the memory bus until the corresponding barrier has been received by the memory arbiter. |
| US08234451B1 |
Caching in multicore and multiprocessor architectures
A multicore processor comprises a plurality of cache memories, and a plurality of processor cores, each associated with one of the cache memories. Each of at least some of the cache memories is configured to maintain at least a portion of the cache memory in which each cache line is dynamically managed as either local to the associated processor core or shared among multiple processor cores. |
| US08234449B2 |
Storage subsystem that connects fibre channel and supports online backup
The storage system includes first and second disk arrays. The first disk array has a first port coupled to a second port of the second disk array, a port controller controlling the first port, a plurality of disk devices to store data, and a controller managing a plurality of logical units on the plurality of disk drives. The first port controller controls the first port so as to execute, in a time-sharing manner, data transfer corresponding to a initiator task and data transfer corresponding to a target task. The initiator task is generated to execute the data transfer from a first logical unit on the plurality of disk drives of the first disk array to a second logical unit on a plurality of disk drives of the second disk array. The target task is generated to execute the data transfer to receive data from the second disk array. |
| US08234446B2 |
Disk array apparatus, data distribution and management method, and data distribution and management program
A parity-data generating unit generates, in response to a write request containing update data, updated parity data in the parity group to which the update data belongs. A time-series-information generating unit generates time-series information indicating an anteroposterior relationship during writing between the update data and existing data stored in the unit storage area to which the update data is to be written. A time-series-information adding unit adds the time-series information, generated in response to the write request, to the update data as certification time-series information and that adds comparison time-series information to the updated parity data in association with the update data, the comparison time-series information having the same value as the certification time-series information. A writing unit distributes and writes, to the multiple storage devices, the update data to which the certification time-series information is added and the updated parity data to which the comparison time-series information is added. |
| US08234438B2 |
Operation method of non-volatile memory
Example embodiments provide a method of operating a non-volatile memory in which the non-volatile memory may only be changed from a first state to a second state and may not be changed from the second state to the first state during a programming operation. |
| US08234434B2 |
System and method for operating a media device
A media device and docking device used in a home entertainment system are described. The entertainment system 100 includes a docking device operating in several modes allowing the media device to be charged by the docking device and allowing the docking device to be used for conveying a signal to the media device from the docking device when the media device is connected to the docking station and conveying the signal through the docking device to another media device when the first media device is not connected to the docking device. |
| US08234432B2 |
Memory structure to store interrupt state for inactive guests
In an embodiment, a system comprises a memory system configured to store a data structure. The data structure stores at least an interrupt request state for each destination in each of a plurality of guests executable on the system. The interrupt request state identifies which interrupts have been requested at the corresponding interrupt controller in the corresponding guest of the plurality of guests. A guest interrupt manager is coupled to receive an interrupt message targeted at a first destination in a first guest of the plurality of guests, and the guest interrupt manager is configured to update the interrupt request state in the data structure that corresponds to the first destination and the first guest. |
| US08234424B2 |
Efficient strip-down and re-alignment of ingressing physical layer/data layer packets in an aggregated PCI-express port having eight lanes
In PCI-Express and alike communications systems, number of lanes used per channel or port can vary as a result of negotiated lane aggregation during network bring-up. Disclosed are systems and methods for efficiently realigning packet data and stripping out control bytes in a by-eight port configuration as the packet data ingresses from the physical layer (PL), past the data link layer (DL) and into the transaction layer (TL). It is shown that data routing can be reduced to just two, mux-selectable permutations based on whether the STP (start of packet) character arrives in an even numbered double-word side (DW0) or an odd-numbered double-word side (DW1) of a physical layer register. |
| US08234422B2 |
Interfaces, circuits, and methods for communicating with a double data rate memory device
An input/output interface reads data from and writes data to a DDR memory. The interface includes data and strobe circuits. The strobe circuit includes preamble logic, a first counter operating with a strobe clock, a second counter operating with an ASIC-generated clock, a strobe park circuit and a first synchronizer. The preamble logic receives strobe signals from the DDR memory and generates a preamble signal. The first counter generates a first input of the strobe park circuit. The second counter generates a second input of the strobe park circuit. The strobe park circuit controllably replaces the strobe signals from the DDR memory with respective non-transitioning signals when data is not being read. The data circuit includes a FIFO buffer and a second synchronizer. The FIFO buffer receives data with the strobe clock. The second synchronizer generates a representation of the data in response to the ASIC-generated clock. |
| US08234420B2 |
Method, system, and apparatus for communicating using multiple controllers
Operating a control system includes repeatedly transmitting a first interrupt to at least one interface unit by a first controller of a plurality of controllers, wherein the first interrupt is transmitted at a first frequency. A first response is received at the first controller from the at least one interface unit responsive to the first interrupt, and a second response is received at a second controller of the plurality of controllers from the at least one interface unit, wherein the second response is aperiodic with respect to the first frequency. |
| US08234417B2 |
Systems and methods of media management, such as management of media to and from a media storage library, including removable media
A system and method for determining media to be exported out of a media library is described. In some examples, the system determines a media component to be exported, determines the media component is in the media library for a specific process, and exports the media component after the process is completed. |
| US08234415B2 |
Storage device and control unit
A storage and a controller each include an assignment number-managing unit for managing the number of command-processing resources assigned corresponding to a command-sending/receiving pair in combination of an external device and a logical device receiving a data input/output-requiring command; and an assignment-controlling unit for assigning the data input/output-requiring command to the command-processing resource corresponding to the command-sending/receiving pair, the number of the command-processing resources being equal to or lower than the number to be assigned that is managed by the assignment number-managing unit. |
| US08234412B2 |
Method and system for transmitting compacted text data
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a method for transmitting compacted text data. A standard form data message is translated into a compacted form data message. The translating includes first locating a long tag in the standard form data message. A short tag in a sender translation table that corresponds to the long tag is identified in a sender translation table. The compacted form data message is created by substituting the short tag for the long tag in the standard form data message. The compacted form data message is transmitted to a receiver system. Then, a flag is set in response to determining if the sender translation table needs to be transmitted to the receiver system and the flag is transmitted to the receiver system. The sender translation table is transmitted to the receiver system in response to the determination of whether the translation table needs to be transmitted. Additional embodiments include a system and storage medium for transmitting compacted text data. |
| US08234409B2 |
Intelligent network address translator and methods for network address translation
An intelligent network address translation system and methods for intelligent network address translation. In one embodiment, a network packet is received from a host device, and a stored record associated with the host device is identified. The stored record includes information relating to connection parameters associated with the host device. Using the stored record, a processor determines whether the network packet should be assigned a dedicated address. If so, then the network packet is transmitted using communication parameters including a dedicated IP address. If the packet should not be assigned a dedicated address, then the packet is transmitted using connection parameters including a default public IP address and a port number. |
| US08234408B2 |
Differentiating unique systems sharing a common address
A system for differentiating unique systems and/or users sharing a common address may include an interface, a device identifier, a communication interceptor and a communication processor. The interface may be operative to receive a designation of a plurality of devices and/or users and a specification of corresponding services to be provisioned. The device identifier may be operative to cause the devices to provide a unique identifier with each communication originated by the device and store the unique identifier and the associated specification in a memory. The communication interceptor may be operative to intercept a communication originated by one of the devices and determine the unique identifier associated with the communication. The communication processor may be operative to determine the associated device and/or user specific service to be provisioned based on the unique identifier and process the communication in accordance with the associated device and/or user specific service to be provisioned. |
| US08234407B2 |
Network use of virtual addresses without pinning or registration
A system comprising a compute node and coupled network adapter (NA) that allows the NA to directly use CPU virtual addresses without pinning pages in system memory. The NA performs memory accesses in response to requests from various sources. Each request source is assigned to context. Each context has a descriptor that controls the address translation performed by the NA. When the CPU wants to update translation information it sends a synchronization request to the NA that causes the NA to stop fetching a category of requests associated with the information update. The category may be requests associated with a context or a page address. Once the NA determines that all the fetched requests in the category have completed it notifies the CPU and the CPU performs the information update. Once the update is complete, the CPU clears the synchronization request and the NA starts fetching requests in the category. |
| US08234402B2 |
Method and apparatus for request routing
A method and apparatus for dynamically encoding transactional information into a document over a network. The transactional information may include information about client data, object properties, or network conditions. The document may contain embedded links with embedded objects that can be requested by a client. The embedded links may contain URLs with associated domain names. The transactional information may be inserted into the domain name so that when the object request is subsequently translated by a DNS server, the DNS server can utilize the transactional information to intelligently translate the domain name into an IP address of a network device that can most advantageously serve the request. |
| US08234400B2 |
Shaping virtual machine communication traffic
Cloud computing platforms having computer-readable media that perform methods to shape virtual machine communication traffic. The cloud computing platform includes virtual machines and a controller. The controller limits the traffic associated with the virtual machines to enable the virtual machines to achieve desired communication rates, especially when a network servicing the virtual machines is congested. The controller may drop communication messages associated with the virtual machines based on a drop probability evaluated for the virtual machines. |
| US08234399B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic phy calibration based on negotiated link speed
A serial ATA interface calibrates serially connected components of a computer system linked by the interface to a negotiated data transmission speed. The interface negotiates the fastest data transmission speed supported by the serially connected components. Link parameters associated with the negotiated data transmission speed are calibrated and implemented in a Phy layer of the interface before data is transmitted across the interface. The calibrated link parameters include signal transmission settings for amplitude, pre-emphasis, equalization and timing. Default settings of the link parameters correspond to the slowest data transmission speed supported by the serially connected components. The serially connected components are calibrated each time system power is initialized. The serially connected components can be a host computer linked to a data storage device such as a backplane-based storage subsystem. |
| US08234397B2 |
Media article adaptation to client device
Systems and methods provide for on-the-fly adaptation of a send rate for content sent to a client based on a detected read rate of the client system for data previously sent. The system and method work within the bounds of simple, existing, open protocols and the media files served are playable by standard media playback clients. The method is driven by a request for media content from a client, in response to which the server provides portions of the media content and monitors the reception rate of the content as it is sent to the client. This method allows for dynamic modification of the send rate of the content after the server has calculated an adjustment to correct for the difference between the reading rate and sending rate, thereby allowing for a send rate most compatible with the client. |
| US08234387B2 |
Interoperable systems and methods for peer-to-peer service orchestration
Systems and methods are described for performing policy-managed, peer-to-peer service orchestration in a manner that supports the formation of self-organizing service networks that enable rich media experiences. In one embodiment, services are distributed across peer-to-peer communicating nodes, and each node provides message routing and orchestration using a message pump and workflow collator. Distributed policy management of service interfaces helps to provide trust and security, supporting commercial exchange of value. Peer-to-peer messaging and workflow collation allow services to be dynamically created from a heterogeneous set of primitive services. The shared resources are services of many different types, using different service interface bindings beyond those typically supported in a web service deployments built on UDDI, SOAP, and WSDL. In a preferred embodiment, a media services framework is provided that enables nodes to find one another, interact, exchange value, and cooperate across tiers of networks from WANs to PANs. |
| US08234385B2 |
Format negotiation for media remoting scenarios
Format negotiation for media remoting involves at least one media data format. In an example embodiment, a media format negotiation for playing media data is begun between a server and a client. The media data format is transferred from the server to the client. A notification that indicates if an attempt at the client to construct a media topology responsive to the media data format was a success or a failure is transferred from the client to the server. Whether and/or how the media data is to be transferred from the server to the client may be impacted by the notification. |
| US08234384B2 |
Computer systems and methods for process control environments
This invention generally relates to computer systems and architectures, methods and computer program code for increasing the robustness of process control and manufacturing automation systems and the like, in particular to provide improved handling of error and/or failure conditions. We describe an architecture for an OPC Failover system, the architecture comprising: a plurality of OPC servers; at least one OPC client; a computer network linking said OPC servers and said OPC client; and an OPC Failover service coupled to said network and not coupled between said OPC client and said OPC servers, said OPC Failover service being configured to monitor at least one of said OPC servers for an error condition and to redirect network communications of said OPC client from one of said servers to another on detection of said error condition. |
| US08234382B2 |
Service and capability negotiation in a network using single numbering scheme
The invention proposes a method of controlling a network to which a communication device is connected, comprising the steps of obtaining (S13) connection capability information from the network and evaluating (S14) a connection service based on to the obtained connection capability information. The invention also proposes a correspondingly adapted communication device. Thus, network capabilities related failures may be eliminated since the communication device is aware of the relevant connection capabilities in the network etc. |
| US08234379B2 |
System and method for facilitating distribution of limited resources
A method is provided for distributing limited resources. The method comprising the following steps. A plurality of limited resources about to expire on a given day is determined. The plurality of limited resources is made available simultaneously. Resource requests from a plurality of clients for a registration period are allowed starting at a predetermined time. The resource requests are processed after the registration period by correlating the limited resources with the received resource requests. |
| US08234370B2 |
Determining web analytics information
A system and associated method for determining web analytics information. A Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request for a target page referred from a referring page by a mouse click is processed to calculate web analytics data in the target page. The web analytics data regarding a mouse cursor position, a 2-dimensional information of the target page, and the URL of the referring page is transmitted to a web analytics server to generate the web analytics information for the referring page in format of a heat map of the referring page. |
| US08234367B2 |
Techniques for hierarchical report tool session management
Techniques are presented for hierarchical report tool session management. A user interacts with a hierarchical reporting tool during a first session and reaches a specific nested level within the tool for a particular hierarchy being accessed by the user. At some point in time the user exits the tool (normally or abnormally). The specific nested level is maintained on behalf of the user. So, when the user initiates a second and subsequent session with the tool, the user is presented with the specific nested level when the tool is started for that subsequent session. |
| US08234363B1 |
Dynamic object management protocol
An extensible communications protocol configured to enable dynamic discovery and management of self-aware devices in a multiple element computing architecture is provided. The protocol enables a message consisting essentially of a destination ID, a source ID, a message type, optional payloads, and a delimiter arrangement. The protocol is based on a scheme which represents structured data. Within the scheme, stacked delimiting characters are used to separate higher level data. Escape sequencers are selected to represent at least the escape character, the delimiting character, and the NULL (nothing at all). The lowest data partition may embed encoded data of any level, and can form nested encapsulation. New optional data types and message types can be added. Basic message types are supported to achieve the dynamic discovery and management of self-aware devices, and such protocol is used as the base of a dynamic device discovery and management system for self-aware devices. |
| US08234361B2 |
Computerized system and method for handling network traffic
A computerized system and method for processing network content associated with multiple virtual domains. The processing may include anti-malware scanning and/or content filtering. The content associated with multiple domains may be processed in the same daemon process. In response to connection requests from virtual domains, the service process creates separate sockets to communicate with each virtual domain. A global configuration management module is used to provide configuration parameters for each session to the service process. A logging manager processes both the global logs and the logs from each virtual domain. Alternatively, the service process may initiate other service processes to handle incoming connections from one or more virtual domains, in order to better utilize resources in a multiple-CPU environment. Different service processes may be used to handle various aspects of content processes, for example one process may handle anti-malware scanning, while another process may handle content filtering. |
| US08234358B2 |
Communicating with an entity inside a private network using an existing connection to initiate communication
A system is disclosed that allows an entity outside of a private network to initiate communication with another entity inside the private network. A first entity inside the private network maintains a persistent connection with a second entity outside the private network, with a port identification associated with the first entity's persistent connection. A third entity outside the private network obtains the port identification and initiates communication with the first entity by sending a message to the first entity using the port identification. The first and third entities then exchange communications outside the persistent connection. In an alternate implementation, the third entity uses the port identification to send the first entity a request for establishing a connection. The request is forwarded to the first entity through the persistent connection. The first entity responds by establishing a connection with the third entity outside the persistent connection. |
| US08234356B2 |
Method and system for coordinating device setting between a communications client and its host device
A system and method for propagating device settings to a data communications client from a host on a mobile device, the system having at least one host application adapted to operate on the mobile device host and further adapted to change device settings on the mobile device; a notification means adapted to notify the data communications client of device settings changes on the mobile device; a mode setting at the data communications client, the mode setting adapted to indicate whether client applications on the data communications client should use device settings from the host; and a client settings application adapted to receive a notification from the notification means and change device settings for the client applications if the mode setting indicates the client applications should use device settings from the host. |
| US08234353B2 |
Method, system, and service server for providing firmware through communication network
A firmware providing method in which firmware for an electronic device is downloaded from a service server provided on a communication network to a communication terminal. Display information to be displayed on a display of the electronic device is stored in the service server as language standard data that responds to a plurality of languages in accordance with a model of the electronic device. The communication terminal downloads, from among the language standard data, data in which a model of the electronic device and a language are specified, edits at least a portion of the language standard data, and then transmits the edited display information to the service server. In response thereto, the service server generates firmware for the electronic device of the same model based on the edited display information and returns the firmware to a return target terminal. |
| US08234350B1 |
Systems and methods for generating targeted manifest files
A computerized method for dynamically generating a targeted manifest file for use by a playback device to retrieve a video stream including targeted content, includes periodically receiving a manifest file that identifies a sequence of media files, and updating a master manifest file to identify the sequence of media files from each periodically received index file, such that the master manifest file identifies a continuous master sequence of media files that constitute the video stream. The sequence of media files constitutes a portion of a video stream. The method further includes, upon request from a playback device, generating a targeted manifest file from the master sequence of media files. The targeted manifest file identifies a custom sequence of media files that includes targeted content, wherein one or more consecutive media files identified in the master sequence are substituted with a different number of targeted media files in the custom sequence. |
| US08234348B1 |
Determining if an application is cached
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for determining if a web application is cached. A source web application that is executed by a web browser that is installed on a computing device determines that the web browser is to navigate to a target web application. The source web application determines whether resources for the target web application are cached at the computing device. The source web application performs actions to request resources for the target web application based on the determination whether resources for the target web application are cached, wherein the actions comprise requesting resources for the target web application using a first address if the target web application is determined to be cached and using a second address if the target web application is determined to not be cached. |
| US08234320B1 |
Bitwise comparator for selecting two smallest numbers from a set of numbers
A group of numbers from which the smallest and second-smallest are to be selected are compared in a cascaded tree. Each comparison stage will select the smallest number from two numbers output by the previous stage, into which four numbers are input. The second-smallest number is one of the other three inputs to the previous stage and, as before, all bits of the second-smallest number will not be known until the smallest number is determined. However, because at each stage of the determination, the next stage is reached because the bit values being examined are the same, those bit values of the second-smallest number (and indeed of the smallest number) are known ahead of the final determination of the smallest number. Accordingly, one can begin to output bits of the second-smallest number (as well as of the smallest number) even before that final determination. |
| US08234314B2 |
Method and system for facilitating migration of a computing environment
Systems and methods are described which facilitate the integration of data into a content management system. Legacy data is inspected, and content types are generated based on a data model. From these content types, content type objects may be generated. The data may then be examined to acquire a key set, and a content instance object generated for each datum found which matches a content type. This content instance object can then be associated with the datum using one or more key values, saved, and subsequently used to manage the data. These methods and systems allow data to be migrated to a content management system without any modification to the existing data repository or its associated structures. |
| US08234313B2 |
Shared business intelligence elements
Some aspects relate to reception of a selection of a business intelligence report element in a first business intelligence report of a first file format, creation of a serialized description of the business intelligence report element in a second file format based on a business intelligence report element data model, reception of an instruction to add the business intelligence report element to a second business intelligence report of a third file format, and addition of the business intelligence report element to the second business intelligence report in the third file format based on the serialized description of the business intelligence report element. |
| US08234305B2 |
Method for determining communicative value
A method of determining which users are experts and which tags are appropriate without some of the disadvantages of the prior art is described. The level of a user's expertise is determined based on previous tags, the categorization of one or more tags, and the rating of the tags previously left by the user. The appropriateness of a tag is based on previous tagging of information by the user, by the number of times a user has tagged information with the same categorization, and the rating of a user. |
| US08234304B2 |
Traceable and theft deterrent reclaimable product
A theft deterrent cable may be provided. First, a plurality of unique codes may be created. Then a plurality of indicia may be placed periodically and longitudinally on the cable. The plurality of indicia may respectively correspond to the plurality of unique codes. In a database, the plurality of unique codes may be assigned to an organizational entity. The organizational entity may comprise a first enterprise. Next, an indication that the cable is to be transferred from the first enterprise to a second enterprise may be received. In response to the received indication, the plurality of unique codes may be assigned in the database from the organizational entity comprising the first enterprise to the organizational entity comprising a second enterprise. |
| US08234303B2 |
Single parse, diagram-assisted import into a unified modeling language based meta-model
Systems and methods for conversion and importation of models that describe system behavior into a UML meta model-based representation, include parsing through the textual model for the plurality of elements, searching for an element semantic definition, element view definitions corresponding to a semantic definition, or an element view containing diagram definition within the textual model for each of the plurality of elements, generating element reference nodes for placement on an internally constructed custom tree, attaching a listener to each of the element reference nodes, wherein the listener is configured to await population of the element reference node with an equivalent unified modeling language semantic element, wherein a listener awaiting population is an awaiting sequenced listener, completing an inheritance hierarchy between the element reference nodes up to a parent node inferred from the diagramming definitions and resolving awaiting sequenced listeners that are made aware of an awaited unified modeling language value. |
| US08234302B1 |
Controlling access to electronic content
A system and method for controlling access to electronic content stored on a content provider's server is provided. A content provider may control and restrict unauthorized access to electronic content through an identified user account by limiting a number of devices from which requests to access the content through the account have been received. A content provider may also collect usage information of interest by monitoring authorized access to electronic content. |
| US08234291B2 |
Method and system for determining junk information
The present invention is a method and a system for determining junk information related to the fields of information filtering, and can solve the problem of improperly predefined junk information. The method includes: pre-defining junk information keywords in data samples; computing keyword scores for each of the keywords; simulating filtering of the data samples using the keyword scores to obtain a filtering index value; determining whether the filtering index value satisfies an evaluation index; if not satisfied, revising the keywords or the keyword scores and repeating the simulating to obtain a new filtering index value; and if satisfied, terminating the revising. The disclosed method can help a user more reasonably define junk information keywords and keyword scores, and determine whether information is junk information based on the keywords and corresponding scores, thereby improving efficiency of information filtering. The invention can be widely adopted in a variety of applications and systems such as feedback systems, guestbook systems, forums and junk mail processing. |
| US08234288B2 |
Method and device for generating reference patterns from a document written in markup language and associated coding and decoding methods and devices
Reference patterns are generated which represent hierarchized data, the hierarchized data being structured in accordance with a schema and being organized in a plurality of items. Primary structural patterns are extracted from the schema, each of the primary structural patterns representing a set of structural information. A list of instances is created for at least one extracted primary structural pattern, each instance associating items of the plurality of items with a primary structural pattern. Instances of one and a same primary structural pattern are grouped into groups of instances according to a predetermined criterion applied on items of distinct instances. For each group, at least one piece of structural information common to each instance of one of the groups of instances is extracted. A reference pattern is generated from the primary structural pattern associated with the one group of instances, the reference pattern including the extracted piece of structural information. |
| US08234287B2 |
Sorting records based on free text field content
Disclosed are a method, system and computer program product for sorting records based on content in a free text field. A request is received by a sort function to sort a free text field. The sort function request is intercepted. The content in the free text field is analyzed. One or more new focus words are identified by the analysis. The new focus words are used to sort the free text field. The focus words in the free text field are highlighted and sorted alphabetically. Sorted free text field results based on the new focus words are displayed to a user on the user's display. |
| US08234285B1 |
Context-dependent similarity measurements
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining similarity measures for objects in a dataset that include contextual associations of the objects with contexts. In one aspect, a method includes calculating a similarity measure for any two objects that include a common feature f based, in part, on the likelihood that the two object representations in the dataset that both include f will we associated with distinct contexts, and the likelihood that the two objects in the dataset that both include f will be associated with the same context. |
| US08234277B2 |
Image-based retrieval for high quality visual or acoustic rendering
The embodiments of the invention relate to method for image-based retrieval of an image or text, comprising capturing a digital image; matching the digital image against digitally-stored documents; and retrieving one or more of the digitally-stored documents that match the digital image. Other embodiments relate to a device for image-based retrieval and rendering, comprising an image capturing device for capturing digital image; a device for processing the digital image to match it against digitally-stored documents; a device for retrieving a digitally-stored document that matches the digital image; and a device for rendering the selected retrieved image. |
| US08234275B2 |
Methods and systems for searching, selecting, and displaying content
Methods and systems for identifying and presenting information are described. Search results are received from a search engine. An entity associated with a networked site is selected using a selection criterion. A determination is made as to whether the listing includes a link to the networked site or includes the link to the networked site at a list position that fails to satisfy a first criterion. After determining that the link to the site associated with the entity is not included in the search result listing, or that the link to the site associated with the entity is not at a position in the search result listing that satisfies the first criterion, the search listing is modified by causing the link to the site associated with the entity to appear in a first position in the search listing. The modified search listing is displayed on a user terminal. |
| US08234271B2 |
Integrated media content server system and method for the customization of metadata that is associated therewith
A system and method for the customization of media content metadata that is transmitted to any one of a plurality of end user devices of differing types. The system is adapted to modify individual records or even individual fields from the entire gamut of available metadata into a metadata feed which is optimally suited for display upon the type of end user device. Additionally, the system is also able to modify the records or individual fields from a list of all metadata instances according to pre-recorded user preferences. The result is a system that optimally utilizes the current connection path in order to reduce congestion thereon, or to alleviate any user potential frustration caused by sporadic performance of the overloaded interconnection path. |
| US08234270B2 |
System for enhancing decoding performance of text indexes
The present invention is a system for enhancing the decoding performance of text indexes of an indexed collection of text documents. The posting list includes a plurality of list entries being of variable size depending on the value stored in each posting list entry. The inventive system is based on a statistical analysis of the posting list entries of the plurality of list entries. Prior to decoding, the system can select a decoding routine being appropriate to decode the most frequent type of posting list entries or of a plurality of various posting list entries. After selecting a particular decoding routine and executing the decoding routine for decoding of the entire posting list, a failure check is performed. In the exceptional case that a failure has occurred, a second alternative decoding routine is selected and executed. |
| US08234269B2 |
Searching a database including prioritizing results based on historical data
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided that include techniques for searching a database. One method includes receiving one or more input search terms and providing a database. The database maps at least one search term to at least one coupon. The method further includes identifying one or more coupons in the database based on the received input search terms. The method further includes selecting one or more coupons from the identified coupons. A given coupon can be selected based on a number of times the given coupon has been previously printed. A given coupon can also be selected based on a number of times the given coupon has been previously redeemed. The method further includes presenting one or more coupons to the user where the presented one or more coupons include the selected one or more coupons. |
| US08234268B2 |
System, method, and computer-readable medium for optimizing processing of distinct and aggregation queries on skewed data in a database system
A system, method, and computer-readable medium for optimization of query processing in a parallel processing system are provided. Skewed values and non-skewed values are treated differently to improve upon conventional DISTINCT and aggregation query processing. Skewed attribute values on which a DISTINCT selection or group by aggregation is applied are allocated entries in a hash table. In this manner, a processing module may consult the hash table to determine if a skewed attribute value has been encountered during the query processing in a manner that precludes repetitive redistribution of rows with highly skewed attribute values on which a DISTINCT selection or group by aggregation is applied. |
| US08234267B2 |
Hardware accelerated reconfigurable processor for accelerating database operations and queries
Embodiments of the present invention provide a hardware accelerator that assists a host database system in processing its queries. The hardware accelerator comprises special purpose processing elements that are capable of receiving database query/operation tasks in the form of machine code database instructions, execute them in hardware without software, and return the query/operation result back to the host system. For example, table and column descriptors are embedded in the machine code database instructions. For ease of installation, the hardware accelerators employ a standard interconnect, such as a PCle or HT interconnect. The processing elements implement a novel dataflow design and Inter Macro-Op Communication (IMC) data structures to execute the machine code database instructions. The hardware accelerator may also comprise a relatively large memory to enhance the hardware execution of the query/operation tasks requested. The hardware accelerator utilizes hardware-friendly memory addressing, which allows for arithmetic derivation of a physical address from a global database virtual address simply based on a row identifier. The hardware accelerator minimizes memory reads/writes by keeping most intermediate results flowing through IMCs in pipelined and parallel fashion. Furthermore, the hardware accelerator may employ task pipelining and pre-fetch pipelining to enhance its performance. |
| US08234266B2 |
Mobile SiteMaps
A method of analyzing documents or relationships between documents includes receiving a notification of an available metadata document containing information about one or more network-accessible documents, obtaining a document format indicator associated with the metadata document, selecting a document crawler using the document format indicator, and crawling at least some of the network-accessible documents using the selected document crawler. |
| US08234265B1 |
Content selection data expansion
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating and applying query rules. Search queries that are received during user sessions are analyzed to generate query rules that specify a high-performing query that can be used to identify content in response to receipt of a low-performing query. The query rules can be generated by identifying queries that are received in a same user sub-session and defining initial query pairs that each have a high-performing query and a low-performing query from the same user sub-session. The initial query pairs that are identified in a threshold number of user sub-sessions are classified as reference query pairs with which query rules are defined. Query rules are made available to a search system, advertisement management system, or another query processing system for identifying content responsive to search queries. |
| US08234262B2 |
Method of selecting a second content based on a user's reaction to a first content of at least two instances of displayed content
Embodiments provide a device, a system, a computer program product, and a method. A provided method embodiment may be implemented in an environment that includes a person viewing at least two instances of content having a common contextual attribute and displayed by an electronic device. The method includes detecting a reaction by a person to a displayed first content of the at least two instances of displayed content having a common contextual attribute. The method also includes determining a content attribute of the displayed first content. The method further includes initiating a search for a second content using a search parameter corresponding to the detected reaction and to the determined content attribute. |
| US08234259B2 |
Method and system for adjudicating text against a defined policy
A computerized method of adjudicating text against a policy includes receiving one or more system policies, creating a system datastructure for each received system policy, receiving an input message comprising a text to be adjudicated, selecting a system policy from the one or more received system policies based on the input message, and processing the text to be adjudicated and the system datastructure corresponding to the selected system policy to determine if a prohibited word is present in the text to be adjudicated. The one or more system policies include one or more prohibited words and a first hit value corresponding to each prohibited word. The system datastructure includes a plurality of linked lists corresponding the letters of the alphabet and a head linked list operable to store one or more found prohibited words. |
| US08234255B1 |
Reducing data transfer for matching patterns
A device may receive a packet, obtain data from the packet, store the data in a memory, and send a request to match a portion of the data to a set of patterns, the request identifying the portion in the memory. In addition, the device may access the portion in the memory based on the request, compare the accessed portion to the set of patterns, generate a result by comparing the accessed portion to the set of patterns, and output the result. |
| US08234253B1 |
Systems and methods for performing recovery of directory data
Systems and methods are disclosed for recovering data following a directory service malfunction, such as a forest-wide disaster in Microsoft® Active Directory. In certain examples, a single management console can be used for remotely recovering selected domain controllers in the forest without necessitating direct operator intervention. Multiple domain controllers can be concurrently restored from one or more backup files. Configurations of the system can advantageously eliminate manual intervention with each domain controller, thereby saving significant amounts of recovery time and effort. Also, certain systems and methods can be used to automatically and remotely quarantine corrupt domain controllers so that those individual domain controllers do not replicate with the newly restored environment, while allowing the domain controllers to remain online and in communication with the attached network. Certain disclosed methods further modify recovery procedures based at least in part on the type, and availability of, one or more DNS servers. |
| US08234251B2 |
System and method for archiving records
A method of archiving recordations includes providing a storage device in communication with a network. A plurality of recordations are received from a first user, and relate to a specific person. The plurality of recordations include medical records, and are transmitted from the first user via the network from a first remote computer. The recordations are stored on the storage device. A second user is given access to at least a portion of the stored recordations through a second remote computer via the network. A method may also include receiving hard copies of medical records from a customer. The hard copies may be digitized, which may include scanning the hard copies or copying information from the medical records onto a computer in communication with the storage device. The hard copies may be returned to the customer, along with the digitized medical records in a computer readable form. |
| US08234249B2 |
Method and system for searching stored data
A complete document management system is disclosed. Accordingly, systems and methods for managing data associated with a data storage component coupled to multiple computers over a network are disclosed. Systems and methods for managing data associated with a data storage component coupled to multiple computers over a network are further disclosed. Additionally, systems and methods for accessing documents available through a network, wherein the documents are stored on one or more data storage devices coupled to the network, are disclosed. |
| US08234245B2 |
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. |
| US08234244B2 |
Method of distributing contact and calendar records
A method of distributing contact and calendar information in a multi-component environment includes maintaining a plurality of contact or calendar records and the records contain a plurality of fields and directives. The records are designated to one of the components and distributed to at least one component based on the directives. |
| US08234243B2 |
Third tier transactional commit for asynchronous replication
In embodiments consistent with the subject matter of this disclosure, an application program interface (API) for asynchronously replicating changes made to active data to one or more replicas of the active data may be provided. A calling application may call the API to asynchronously replicate changes made to the active data. Via an interface, the application may indicate whether the changes made to the active data may be asynchronously replicated to a geo-diverse replica of the data, a type of third tier commit for acknowledging replication of the changes to the active data, and/or a number or percentage of acknowledgments to receive with respect to the replication of the changes to the one or more replicas of the active data. Via the API, the calling application may further indicate an amount of time to wait for an acknowledgment of the asynchronous replicating of the changes before continuing. |
| US08234242B2 |
Maintaining a data structure with data set names and pointers to a plurality of catalogs
A plurality of catalogs are maintained, and wherein each catalog of the plurality of catalogs includes data sets and attributes of the data sets. An indication that a new data set is to be defined is received. A selected catalog is determined from the plurality of catalogs, wherein the selected catalog is suitable for including the new data set and attributes of the new data set. An entry that indicates a data set name corresponding to the new data set and an index to the selected catalog is inserted in a group table. |
| US08234240B2 |
Framework for providing metrics from any datasource
A metrics generation system provides IT and other computing system metrics from different data sources in a single display. Configuration files containing parameters and instructions are loaded by the system to access different data sources. The metrics generation system retrieves IT system health data, processes and aggregates metrics from the retrieved data and displays the metrics based on user defined parameters and instructions in the configuration files. The metrics generation system is flexible in that it can be changed to extract data from different IT data sources, calculate different metric information having a hierarchy of attribute types and values, and display a variety of metric data in different formats. |
| US08234239B2 |
System and method for providing vector terms related to instant messaging conversations
The method according to one embodiment of the present invention includes retrieving one or more terms or phrases including an instant messaging conversation in which one or more users are participating. One or more term vectors including one or more vector terms associated with the one or more retrieved terms or phrases including the instant messaging conversation are generated and one or more vector terms are selected from said term vectors. The one or more selected vector terms are displayed to the one or more users participating in the instant messaging conversation. An indication of a user selection of a given displayed vector term is received and one or more content items responsive to the selected vector term are identified. |
| US08234234B2 |
Utilizing ray tracing for enhanced artificial intelligence path-finding
Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatus to use ray-tracing to perform artificial intelligence path-finding. Embodiments of the invention may cast a ray into a three-dimensional scene to determine a path from a starting point to an ending point. The ray may have a trajectory which originates at the starting point and proceeds towards the ending point. The artificial intelligence system may perform ray-tracing using a spatial index to determine if the ray intersects any objects within the three-dimensional scene. If the ray reaches the ending point without intersecting any objects, the path of the ray from the starting point to the ending point is the determined path. However, if the ray intersects an object, the artificial intelligence system may cast additional rays into the three-dimensional scene and perform ray tracing with the additional rays to determine a path from the start point to the end point. |
| US08234233B2 |
System and method for combining breadth-first and depth-first search strategies with applications to graph-search problems with large encoding sizes
A system and method to integrate breadth-first and depth-first strategies in a single search technique or routine is provided. It combines the complementary strengths of both strategies to achieve significantly improved speed over either strategy used alone. The new algorithm can be used to efficiently find solutions to the treewidth problem that has applications in areas such as diagnosis using probabilistic inferences. |
| US08234232B2 |
Word-spacing correction system and method
A word-spacing correction system and method are provided to automatically recognize and correct errors in the spacing of word inputs in an electronic device with relatively low computing power. In a learning process, probability information about each feature is created from a corpus of correct words, and then error correction rules are created by applying the probability information to a corpus of incorrect words from which all spaces between words of the corpus of correct words are removed. In an applying process, word-spacing in a user's input sentence is corrected by applying the probability information and the error correction rules to the user's input sentence. |
| US08234231B2 |
Automated decision-making based on collaborative user input
A system and method solicit decision-making input from a large number of users in a structured manner that facilitates generation of useful recommendations. The individual seeking advice posts a request for advice in the form of a decision question, or identifies a previously posted decision question. Visitors to the website can post secondary questions that are intended to assist the advice-seeker in making the decision. For each secondary question, the user posting the question can specify which choice for the decision question is recommended by each answer to the secondary question. The user can also specify a strength for the recommendation. The advice-seeker then inputs answers to the secondary questions. The advice-seeker can indicate a relative significance value for some or all of the answers. For each secondary answer, a score is generated. Scores are totaled and the results are provided to the advice-seeker to assist in decision-making. |
| US08234225B2 |
Price optimization system and process for recommending product price changes to a user based on analytic modules calculating price recommendations independently
Disclosed is a market-based software system that will help user-retailers manage price and inventories more effectively. The system will take advantage of available price and sales data to provide pricing recommendations that will achieve a retail user's objectives. The system will offer a solution that will allow for pricing improvement shortly after installation by utilizing data that is readily available. The system will recommend price changes that help a user achieve specified objectives such as contribution, sales volume, desired margins, and the like.The system can also collect and process price and sales data on an ongoing basis, which can enable improved estimates of customer price sensitivity and performance on a category-by-category basis. This data can be used to improve further pricing decisions. |
| US08234224B2 |
System, method and medium for providing mixed color cullet brokering services
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for brokering the purchase and/or sale of mixed-color glass and/or cullet, optionally over a computer network. In one embodiment, the broker facilitates the purchase and/or sale of three color mixed cullet between beneficiators, MRFs and/or glass plants, in order to supply, for example, glass plants with and/or allow glass plants to purchase desired quantity and/or quality (e.g., cleanliness) of cullet. |
| US08234223B1 |
Method and system for calculating cost of an asset using a data model
Systems and methods for calculating dependencies and costs of assets which take into account the costs of the infrastructure and resources needed to support that asset are disclosed. A data model of an arbitrary system may be used to create a dependency map for one or more of the components within the data model, taking into account the dependency chain of the component. Utilizing the costs of various components in this dependency chain, the cost of the original component may then be calculated. |
| US08234220B2 |
Universal secure registry
In one embodiment, a user device is configured to allow a user to select any one of a plurality of accounts associated with the user to employ in a financial transaction. In one embodiment, the user device includes a biometric sensor configured to receive a biometric input provided by the user, a user interface configured to receive a user input including secret information known to the user and identifying information concerning an account selected by the user from the plurality of accounts. In a further embodiment, the user device includes a communication link configured to communicate with a secure registry, and a processor coupled to the biometric sensor to receive information concerning the biometric input, the user interface, and the communication link. According to one embodiment, the processor is configured to generate a non-predictable value and to generate encrypted authentication information from the non-predictable value, the identifying information, and at least one of the information concerning the biometric input and the secret information, and to communicate the encrypted authentication information via the communication link to the secure registry. |
| US08234218B2 |
Method of inserting/overlaying markers, data packets and objects relative to viewable content and enabling live social networking, N-dimensional virtual environments and/or other value derivable from the content
A method by which a User can associate selectable Markers, Data Packets and/or Objects with Content. The Content may generally be distributed electronically, and the Markers allow for insertion and/or overlay of Objects when the Content is selected for viewing by a Viewer. Objects and Data Packets are generally provided by a User, Promoter, Host, Service, or other entity to convey information to a Viewer. A Service provides tools and capabilities to both the User and the Promoter to facilitate their respective actions according to embodiments of the invention, including enabling the creation of live social networks (such as those linked to a specific Service provider, a specific User group, activities by a specific Promoter, and/or to specific Data Packets) and the creation of n-dimensional Virtual Environments. |
| US08234213B2 |
System and method for processing retrieval requests
A system for processing transaction data is provided. The system includes a substitute draft system that receives a retrieval request and generates a substitute draft in response to the retrieval request. The system also includes a merchant interface that is connected to the retrieval system. The merchant interface generates a merchant request in response to the retrieval request. The system thus allows a substitute draft to be generated in response to the retrieval request that may eliminate the need for a merchant response with a sales draft to the request. The system provides for higher and more efficient completion of retrieval requests by ensuring that such retrieval requests receive at least a substitute draft response. By providing at least a substitute draft response to the card user, a chargeback for no response is avoided. |
| US08234211B2 |
Digital lien service
A process of digital electronic lien management is provided. Form data is stored in a first electronic database. A user adds lien input data in a second electronic database related to a specific construction lien project. A user then generates at least one lien form through insertion of the lien input data into the form data. The resultant form is transmitted to a recipient, who digitally modifies the form to create a modified version and electronically reconveys the modified version to the user. |
| US08234208B2 |
System and method for spectrum management
Transferring spectrum use rights may include ascertaining information regarding available spectrum for use in wireless communications. A request for spectrum use from a spectrum user system may be matched with available spectrum. A spectrum certificate may be issued to the spectrum user system, where the spectrum certificate contains at least one spectrum-related variable under which the spectrum user system is to engage in wireless communications. |
| US08234206B1 |
Method and system for pooling, securitizing, and trading global dividend and interest tax reclaim assets
Method and system for administering the pooling, securitizing, and trading of global dividend and interest tax reclaim assets during the reclamation process from concerned foreign government tax authorities, who are parties to a double taxation treaty. |
| US08234205B1 |
Method and system for establishing rights associated with property transactions
A system and method for generating and securing in a broker an interest in future real estate transactions by a client, while reducing a broker's costly and constant pursuit to satisfy current business generation needs. The broker may be a real estate broker, mortgage broker, or some other form of broker offering services related to real estate. A broker network may be provided comprised of a some combination of different types of brokers or several brokers from the same broker firm. The right is a future right associated with an opportunity for the broker to later provide services related to the property, or another property. |
| US08234202B2 |
System and method for improved order entry using market depth
Market depth information pertaining to the hedging side is utilized to intelligently break a non-hedging order into multiple orders, such that the orders rest at cascading price levels. This way, the trader can benefit from sweeps in the book and still properly account for the market depth on the hedging side. Further, there is a greater probability of receiving “partials” on the spread order. In addition, hedge orders may be sent at multiple price levels, or sent to the market in pieces over time. By applying a more intelligent process to hedge orders (as opposed to “fire and forget”) an alternative beyond limit orders that can be leged or market orders is provided. |
| US08234201B1 |
System and method for determining a liquidity-adjusted value at risk (LA-VaR)
Computer-based systems and methods for calculating a liquidity-adjusted VaR for a portfolio. The liquidity-adjusted VaR accounts for the different liquidities of the risks. The process for calculating the liquidity-adjusted VaR may include adding to the standard 1-day VaR only the losses produced by illiquid risks that are orthogonal to the space of liquid risks. |
| US08234192B2 |
Fully automated, computer-aided intervention apparatus with operational stabilization apparatus for malfunctions, and appropriate method
The invention proposes a fully automated, computer-aided intervention apparatus (80) with an operational stabilization apparatus (10) and an appropriate method for operational apparatuses (41), where appropriate intervention means (40) are activated by means of an activation apparatus (203) if an intervention event detected by means of at least one pickup apparatus (401) is picked up. The intervention means (40) may comprise, in particular, automated alarm, monitoring and/or control apparatuses. |
| US08234188B1 |
Method, system and computer program product for managing funds in custodial deposit accounts
A method, system and computer program product for managing aggregate funds held in custodial deposit accounts by a custodial agent on behalf of a plurality of individuals. According to the present invention, the custodial deposit accounts comprise an omnibus transaction account (“Omnibus TA”) and a Omnibus money market deposit account (“Omnibus MMDA”). A corresponding individual transaction account (“Individual TA”) and individual money market deposit account (“Individual MMDA”) are kept on the books and records of the custodial agent for each individual, representing the amount of the individual's funds deposited in the Omnibus TA and Omnibus MMDA, respectively. According to the present invention, limitations on transfers from the Omnibus MMDA to the Omnibus TA and limitations on transfers from the corresponding Individual MMDAs to the Individual TAs are managed by daily allocation of the funds in the Individual TAs and Individual MMDAs. |
| US08234185B2 |
System and method for tracking authenticated items
A system for tracking an authenticated item is provided. The system includes an authentication device, such as an RFID tag, affixed to the item. An item registration system receives authentication device data from the authentication device (such as an external and internal RFID tag number) and associated item data (such as a description of the item, the name of an athlete that used the item, and a sporting event that the item was used at) and stores the authentication device data and the associated item data. An owner registration system receives owner registration data (such as owner identification data and an external tag number) after a buyer has acquired the item. A buyer verification system receives the authentication device data, the associated item data and the owner registration data and stores buyer verified data if the associated item data correlates to the owner registration data, such as if the external tag number or event data entered by the owner matches external tag number or event data for the item. |
| US08234183B2 |
Behavioral data mining processes for generating pairwise item comparisons
Data mining systems and methods are disclosed for generating data that is helpful to users in selecting between items represented in an electronic data repository, such as an electronic catalog. One disclosed data mining method generates pairwise comparison data for particular pairs of items. The pairwise comparison data for a given item pair reveals a tendency of users who consider both items in the pair to select one item over the other. The pairwise comparison data may be appropriately exposed to users of the electronic repository. For instance, an item detail page for item A may be supplemented with an indication that users who view both item A and item B select item B a specified percentage of the time. Another data mining method uses item viewing histories and item purchase histories of users in combination to identify pairs of items that are good candidates for being recommended in combination. |
| US08234182B2 |
Systems for providing customized or personalized memorabilia in association with vendor bidding
A system and method for providing customized or personalized memorabilia to end users, wherein the system allows the price for the customized or personalized memorabilia to be established by obtaining the lowest production costs from approved vendors, and further allowing such costs to be offset by any sponsorship underwriting of the memorabilia. The system further allows establishment of advertising to target demographic audiences by underwriting customized or personalized memorabilia orders and placing advertising indicia for the sponsor on or with the ordered customized or personalized memorabilia. |
| US08234174B1 |
Method and apparatus for creating custom advertisements
A method and system for managing inventory information by a host company forming an inventory based information network having multiple tiers of access with at least one host server and at least one remote company user. The host server has an interactive inventory listing, manages remote company user access to the inventory listings, and enables remote access to the host server for the remote company user to create and manage inventory listings. The interactive inventory listing builder creates a new inventory listing, generates an associated unique listing code, and adds a photo file and text data. The method generates interactive advertisements and websites. The interactive advertisement builder creates a new advertisement, chooses a target media outlet, inserts the inventory listing, and generates and saves advertisement. The interactive website builder allows a user to select a template, add object files, choose domain names, and save the website. |
| US08234173B1 |
Product life cycle maintenance
A method for product life cycle maintenance involves receiving warranty information associated with a first product from a first vendor of a multitude of vendors and receiving warranty information associated with a second product purchased by the customer from a second vendor of the multitude of vendors. The method also involves storing, by a computer processor, the warranty information associated with the first product to a customer account associated with the customer and a first vendor account associated with the first vendor, storing, by a computer processor, the warranty information associated with the second product to the customer account and a second vendor account associated with the second vendor, receiving a request to access warranty information, and providing warranty information pursuant to the request. |
| US08234171B2 |
Point of sale computer system delivering composited two- and three-dimensional images
A point of sale computer system that allows a customer to select and consummate a sale himself. The system may include graphics storage media configured to store two- and three-dimensional graphics data relating to the sale, as well as business rules storage media, configured to store business rules that specify the graphics that should be displayed during the selection and consummation process based on input received from the customer. The technology allows a presentation to be made to the customer that is entertaining and that maintains the attention of the customer throughout the sale selection and consummation process. |
| US08234169B2 |
Dynamic method and apparatus for direct marketing
Method and apparatus for direct marketing comprising establishing a first communications link between a prospective customer using a device having a unique identification number and a communications device, automatically transmitting the unique identification number associated with the prospective customer's device to the communications device, establishing a second communications link between the communication device and a computer operably connected to a tangible memory apparatus having a prospective customer database comprising prospective customer information associated with the unique identification number of the prospective customer's device. |
| US08234167B2 |
Video advertiser-broker subsidizing VoIP calls
A system and method for an on-line web-based advertiser-broker to subsidize calls of a plurality of VOIP operators' subscribers by showing them video advertisements from a catalogue of advertisements provided by a plurality of advertisers. The advertisement is shown by the advertiser-broker and then the call is transferred to the VoIP operator for call completion.The advertiser-broker provides the clearing-house services between many advertisers and many VoIP operators, subsidizing wholly or partially phone calls of users of VoIP operators by showing them streaming video advertisements of advertisers who pay for the calls. With this new business, phone calls get monetized through advertisers while users pay nothing for phone calls, and VoIP operators do not need to incorporate advertisers to their business. |
| US08234165B2 |
Digital tuner regulator platform (DTR)
The current invention allows the distribution of content material to and from digital tuner. The advertising medium also provides royalty to the content material owners for the users “use” of content. |
| US08234164B2 |
Method and apparatus for facilitating electronic commerce through providing cross-benefits during a transaction
Accordingly some embodiments, a merchant server receives an indication of acceptance by a customer of an offer for a subsidy from a second merchant of a purchase of at least one item from a first merchant. The customer agrees to participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant in exchange for having the subsidy applied against the purchase from the first merchant. In one embodiment, after selling the at least one item to the customer, the merchant server determines that the customer did not participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant as the customer agreed to, and assesses a penalty against the customer. |
| US08234163B2 |
System and method for providing a discount
Inventive systems and methods offer a high-perceived savings value to an end-user while maintaining the perception of product value. Further, systems and methods for providing a discount are described which impose little or no cost on the service or product provider. An embodiment of an inventive method includes presenting a display of a price paid by a consumer without access to the virtual currency along with a display of an amount payable by the end-user in actual currency in combination with virtual currency. The end-user perceives a benefit to using the virtual currency since the price paid in actual currency is less than the displayed price to be paid by a consumer without access to the virtual currency. |
| US08234161B1 |
System and method for internet community building, website popularization and distribution of E-commerce products
A method, system and computer program product for increasing popularity of a website including making agreements with vendors of product for distribution through the website; periodically making available the products on the website to all visitors of the website; and delivering the products to all visitors of the website. Visitors to the website can vote on selection of the product. The products can be made available as a daily reward. The products can be available for installation only for a limited period of time, and can include an installation wrapper with an unlocker that permits installation only for the limited period of time. The unlocker verifies with the server whether the product can be installed and activated, and can be a DLL, an executable file, an ACTIVE-X component, a registry settings file, and a cryptographic key. |
| US08234160B2 |
Providing consumers with incentives for healthy eating habits
A particular consumable item, purchased by an individual for potential consumption, is detected. Separate health index values each associated with a separate one of multiple health index components are determined for consumption of the particular consumable item. At least one electronic incentive for the individual is selected based on the separate health index values matching at least one health index value requirement specified in a database of electronic incentives. |
| US08234157B2 |
Method for internet based advertising and referral using a fixed fee methodology
A method of advertising a first web site on a second web site comprising with a fixed compensation based methodology. The method includes providing an upper level category and a lower level category, assigning at least one keyword to each of the categories, respectively assigning fixed amounts of compensation to the keywords that the first web sites will pay, assigning the second web site to any one of the categories, thereby defining a second web site category, associating the first web site with any of the keywords and with the amount of compensation assigned to such keywords, thereby defining at least one first web site category, in response to receiving a request from the second web site, determining the second web site category, and providing to the second web site a hyperlink to the first web site. In response to an Internet user selecting any one of the hyperlinks, awarding the second web site at least a portion of the fixed amount of compensation assigned to the keyword that substantially matches the queried keyword and with which the first web site corresponding to the selected hyperlink is associated. |
| US08234155B2 |
Method and system incorporating business rules and price optimization for financial system
A computer system for modeling a portfolio of products in a financial system to determine the rate of a target product. The products are defined by attribute values, an attribute being any criteria that impacts product rates. Linear associated product rules are used by the computer system to create an optimized scenario of total profit and overall volume of sales for the portfolio. From the optimized scenario a rate for the target product can be determined which maintains a financial institution's strategic and business objectives. The optimizing process includes applying the associated product rules to products actively contributing to key performance indicators. Densification is then used to infer the rate for all other products in the portfolio. Finally, if the starting rate of a product violates an associated product rule, the starting rate is relaxed to avoid the violation. |
| US08234153B2 |
Automated performance appraisal system with a compensation simulator
A performance appraisal system is provided for reviewing employees' performance of a company. The performance appraisal system may be integrated with a compensation simulator such that compensation for each employee may be associated with his/her respective performance. On a computer graphical user interface, employees in an organizational unit of the company may be shown in a grid pane displaying a variety of performance tiers. The employees may be distributed among the performance tiers based on performance appraisals. In response to an employee change performance tier, for example, an employee may be dragged from one performance tier and dropped in a different performance tier, the system automatically makes corresponding changes to respective performance appraisals. The integrated compensation simulator simulates adjustments to compensations for affected employees based on changes to performance appraisals. Alternatively, the system may list employees in a table and the table may contain a number of sections corresponding to a number of performance tiers. In response to an employee change from one section to an adjacent section, for example, caused by an adjustment of a section, the employee may be changed from one performance tier to another performance tier. |
| US08234152B2 |
Online survey spawning, administration and management
A method and apparatus for spawning and management of online surveys is provided. An administration and redirector subsystem (ARS) is used manage ongoing surveys for a plurality of sites. Surveys can be added to or removed from individual sites using the ARS. The ARS also tracks statistics for individual surveys. Redirector tags invite users to participate in surveys and track user survey participation through cookies. The system can be used to conduct advertisement effectiveness studies. Tracker tags and corresponding cookies are used to track users who have viewed content containing the tag. Each study is issued a unique content tag, but uses the same redirector tag. |
| US08234148B2 |
Method and apparatus for real-time reporting of electronic commerce activity
A method and apparatus is disclosed for tracking and reporting electronic commerce activity over a web site that is stored on a first server coupled to a wide area network. The web page is programmed to include data fields reflecting commerce transaction activity and data mining code. The web page is uploaded to a visitor computer responsive to a request over the wide area network from the visitor computer. Commerce information is accepted within the data fields of the web page at the visitor computer to form a completed web page. The data mining code is operated on the visitor computer to obtain technical and commercial data and sent to a second server on the wide area network for logging and analysis. |
| US08234139B2 |
Process manufacturing with least cost formulation
A system for manufacturing a product receives a formulation specification that includes a plurality of ingredients for the product. The system further receives cost information for the ingredients and inventory information. The system then generates a least cost formulation for the product based on the formulation specification, cost information and inventory information. |
| US08234137B2 |
One view integrated project management system
Projects of any type require sophisticated management software programs. In reality, these management software programs are provided by various vendors and for different professional fields. For example, scheduling programs for construction professionals, blue print programs for drafting professionals, accounting programs for cost-control professionals. In addition, there are numerous other unofficial and official documents generated by managers of different levels for reporting or track-record-keeping purposes using popular word processing programs and spread-sheet programs. Documents generated by different software programs can only be viewed under the programs they are generated under or compatible programs. This poses a problem in that there is a lack of organized control resulting in difficulty in locating and viewing documents in a timely manner. The present invention provides an one view software program that would be able to provide an organized control and viewing of all documents regardless which software programs they are generated under. |
| US08234134B2 |
Method and apparatus for customer direct on-line reservation of rental vehicles including deep-linking
A method of processing a reservation transaction between a customer and reservation-booking entity via a computer network inter-connecting a customer computer with an automated reservation transaction processor, the reservation transaction requiring submission of at least three different types of reservation data from the customer for successful completion thereof, each reservation data type having one of a plurality of different values, wherein each reservation data type value is dependent upon other reservation data type values, the method including presenting an initial page for data value entry for a plurality of reservation data types, accepting for partial data entry data values for less than all of said reservation data types, and determining, on the basis of the interdependence of the different data values for the different reservation data types, a list of acceptable data values for any un-entered reservation data types. Also, the processor provides the customer with a less than full page summary section on many of the reservation booking pages, the summary section including a list of submitted data values for the reservation transaction and an edit link associated with each listed data value that is selectable to initiate a revision of its associated data value. Further, the present invention supports promotional deep-linking, promotion reservation with notification upon customer violation of the promotion rules, corporate account deep-linking, URL-based deep-linking, travel agent commission tracking, and various other features. |
| US08234132B2 |
Methods and systems for providing longevity insurance with or without an asset based premium
The present invention provides methods and systems for providing longevity insurance by obtaining information useful for issuing a longevity insurance contract for an individual, and determining a premium or an income payment for the individual that are computed based at least in part on an individual's age at a predetermined date that income payments are deferred to. The longevity insurance contract generally provides deferred income payments for a period of time, such as for the life of the individual, beginning at a predetermined date that is after an individual's anticipated retirement, or at a predetermined date that is after the individual's life expectancy, or on or after a specified birthday of the individual. |
| US08234128B2 |
System and method for verifying medical device operational parameters
A system and method is disclosed for executing a comparison of a medical device operational parameter to an order. |
| US08234126B1 |
Distribution of infusion pumps
Some embodiments described herein provide for a number of portable infusion pumps to be distributed to a pump user via a pharmacy system or like. |
| US08234124B2 |
Allergy prevention
An allergy prevention method and system. The method includes retrieving, by a computing system from a fidelity card, a user profile comprising information specifying first elements known to cause a user to have an allergic reaction. The computing system retrieves data associated with an item for purchase. The data comprises information specifying second elements comprised by the item. The computing system compares the first elements to the second elements to determine that a first element of the first elements matches a second element of the second elements. The computing system generates and presents to the user, a warning indicating that the first item may cause the user to have an allergic reaction. |
| US08234122B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding object-based audio signals
An audio decoding method and apparatus and an audio encoding method and apparatus which can efficiently process object-based audio signals are provided. The audio decoding method includes receiving a downmix signal, which is obtained by downmixing a plurality of object signals, and object side information, extracting metadata from the object-side information and displaying an information regarding the object signals based on the metadata. |
| US08234120B2 |
Performing a safety analysis for user-defined voice commands to ensure that the voice commands do not cause speech recognition ambiguities
The present invention discloses a solution for assuring user-defined voice commands are unambiguous. The solution can include a step of identifying a user attempt to enter a user-defined voice command into a voice-enabled system. A safety analysis can be performed on the user-defined voice command to determine a likelihood that the user-defined voice command will be confused with preexisting voice commands recognized by the voice-enabled system. When a high likelihood of confusion is determined by the safety analysis, a notification can be presented that the user-defined voice command is subject to confusion. A user can then define a different voice command or can choose to continue to use the potentially confusing command, possibly subject to a system imposed confusion mitigating condition or action. |
| US08234118B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating dialog prosody structure, and speech synthesis method and system employing the same
A dialog prosody structure generating method and apparatus, and a speech synthesis method and system employing the dialog prosody structure generation method and apparatus, are provided. The speech synthesis method using the dialog prosody structure generation method includes: determining a system speaking style based on a user utterance; if the system speaking style is dialog speech, generating dialog prosody information by reflecting discourse information between a user and a system; and synthesizing a system utterance based on the generated dialog prosody information. |
| US08234115B2 |
Systems and methods for determining the N-best strings
Systems and methods for identifying the N-best strings of a weighted automaton. A potential for each state of an input automaton to a set of destination states of the input automaton is first determined. Then, the N-best paths are found in the result of an on-the-fly determinization of the input automaton. Only the portion of the input automaton needed to identify the N-best paths is determinized. As the input automaton is determinized, a potential for each new state of the partially determinized automaton is determined and is used in identifying the N-best paths of the determinized automaton, which correspond exactly to the N-best strings of the input automaton. |
| US08234107B2 |
Supplier deduplication engine
Disclosed herein is a method of grouping similar supplier names together in a database. The syntactical errors in the supplier names are corrected. The supplier names are grouped after correcting the syntactical errors. The abbreviations in the supplier names are captured. The ordering, pronunciation and stemming errors in the supplier names are corrected. A matching algorithm that matches and compares two supplier names is applied that comprises the steps of grouping supplier names based on first set of characters in the supplier names and calculating a matching score between the two supplier using Levenshtein distance between the two supplier names, along with the supplier names' sound codes obtained from a modified metaphone algorithm, length of each word, position of matching and mismatching characters, and stem of words in the supplier names. The matching scores are compared with set thresholds in order to further group the supplier names into clusters. |
| US08234102B2 |
Development of assertions for integrated circuit design simulation
One embodiment of the present application includes the preparation of an assertion for inclusion in an integrated circuit simulation performed with a processing device (21). In response to an input to this processing device (21), a set of integrated circuit waveforms are defined to test the assertion. The processing device (21) tests the assertion with these waveforms; and after successful testing, the integrated circuit simulation is performed with the assertion. |
| US08234095B2 |
Remote maintenance system, monitoring center computer used for the same, monitoring system and method of communication for maintenance
A remote maintenance system has a monitoring computer for monitoring a facility and a monitoring center computer for maintenance management. The monitoring computer has a database for storing image data of the monitored facility. The monitoring center computer a database for storing CAD data for the monitored facility. The monitoring center computer provides coordinates to the image data sent from the monitoring computer, and superposes the image coordinate data and CAD coordinate data for the CAD. The center computer locates a needed maintenance location on the basis of the result of the superposition processing. |
| US08234094B2 |
System and method for testing liquid crystal display device
A system for testing a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a testing device photographing and capturing an image of a defect generated on a substrate having a thin film array formed thereon, the testing device providing testing information on the defect, a ARPC automatically determining defectiveness of the substrate by an automatic determination method using a defect determining automation program designed based on a testing worker's determination method and behavior aspect, the captured image and the testing information on the defect, a PRPC determining defectiveness of the substrate based on the captured image and the testing information on the defect, if the defectiveness of the substrate is undeterminable by the ARPC, and a main server connecting the ARPC with the PRPC and storing the captured image and the testing information on the defect. The ARPC extracts characteristics of the defect by using the testing information on the defect and the ARPC analyzes the extracted characteristics of the defect to classify and calculate the degree of the defect. |
| US08234091B2 |
Angular velocity sensor correcting apparatus for deriving value for correcting output signal from angular velocity sensor, angular velocity calculating apparatus, angular velocity sensor correcting method, and angular velocity calculating method
A measuring unit obtains measurement data of an object measured on the basis of a signal from a GPS satellite and angular velocity of an object output from an angular velocity sensor. An offset value computing unit estimates a running condition of the object on the basis of the measurement data and the angular velocity. The offset value computing unit sequentially derives temporary offset values while changing combination of the measurement data and the angular velocity in accordance with the estimated running condition of the object and, after that, executes statistical process on the temporary offset values, thereby deriving an offset value. An angular velocity conversion coefficient computing unit sequentially derives temporary angular velocity conversion coefficients on the basis of the measurement data and the angular velocity and, after that, executes statistical process on the temporary angular velocity conversion coefficients, thereby deriving an angular velocity conversion coefficient. An angular velocity converting unit derives final angular velocity on the basis of the angular velocity conversion coefficient, the offset value, and the angular velocity. |
| US08234083B2 |
Wind turbine rotor blade comprising an edge-wise bending insensitive strain sensor system
A wind turbine rotor blade having a strain sensor system is described. The strain sensor is insensitive to the effect of twisting motions or edge-wise bending on the measurement of the strain. The sensor comprises one or more strain sensing devices arranged in a circular or regular polygon shaped path enclosing a region of the component. In the sensor system, a plurality of strain sensors are spaced longitudinally along a flap-wise axis of the wind turbine rotor blade. |
| US08234082B1 |
Methods and systems for data smoothing stress data
Methods and systems for data smoothing raw data such as stress data. The present invention may utilize various techniques to smooth data such as dropping data using a stress threshold, dropping data by resample (or decimation), and smoothing by dynamic binning. Additionally, the present invention may utilize a transform function to estimate stress from a stress sensor to areas of peak stress. In an exemplary application, the present invention can be utilized to reduce stress data collected by a plurality of embedded stress sensors in a rocket motor for purposes of computing service life of the motor. |
| US08234077B2 |
Method of selecting genes from gene expression data based on synergistic interactions among the genes
A method is provided for selecting two or more genes from gene expression data. In the method, gene expression data for a plurality of genes is provided, where the gene expression data include expression levels for each of the plurality of genes. The gene expression data is discretized. Based on the discretized gene expression data, the synergy among the plurality of genes with respect to a phenotype, for example, presence or absence of a disease in a tissue, is evaluated. Two or more genes whose synergy exceeds a predetermined threshold are selected. A system implementing the method is also provided. |
| US08234075B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing information concerning biological condition, system, program and recording medium for managing information concerning biological condition
A system provided in accordance with the present invention comprises a sever unit (100), which serves as an apparatus for processing information concerning a biological condition information, and a client unit (200), which serves as an information terminal of a provider of the information on the biological condition communicably connected to the server unit (100) via a network (300). The server unit (100) determines a composite index reflecting a plurality of metabolites indicative of the biological condition based on the information on the biological condition acquired from the client unit (200). |
| US08234069B2 |
Industrial vehicle fleet management system
Embodiments consistent with the invention are an apparatus for and method of generating data on current utilization of powered industrial vehicles, generating preferred routing assignments for powered industrial drivers, and presenting preferred routing assignments for powered industrial vehicle drivers. |
| US08234068B1 |
System, module, and method of constructing a flight path used by an avionics system
A present novel and non-trivial system, module, and method for constructing a flight path used by an avionics system are disclosed. A processor receives flight plan data and object data associated with terrain and obstacles. Free cells are extracted above the objects using a recursive space decomposition technique, and a reference path is formed through traversable free space determined from the availability of free cells. In an additional embodiment, threat data associated with hostile military weaponry and significant meteorological conditions could affect the availability of free cells. A genetic algorithm applying genetic operators which include mutators is employed with aircraft kinematic constraints to refine the reference path used to form a population of best path candidates. When a best path is reached after cycling through a re-generation process of path candidates, flight path data representative of the best path is generated and provided to at least one avionics system. |
| US08234063B2 |
Navigation system with location profiling and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a navigation system with location profiling includes: calculating a routing region based on a current location for locating a device; calculating a familiarity level in the routing region; generating a routing overlay based on the familiarity level below a familiarity threshold with the routing overlay to compensate for a driver unfamiliarity in the routing region; and generating a compensation route based on the routing overlay for displaying on the device. |
| US08234062B2 |
Method for adjusting displayed navigation direction using sensors and navigation device using the same
A method for adjusting displayed map using sensors is disclosed, applied in a navigation device. The method includes steps of: calculating a GPS-based rotating angle of the navigation device based on location information detected by a GPS module of the navigation device when a coordinate error value of the navigation device is less than a predetermined value; using a sensor of the navigation device to detect the sensor-based rotating angle of the navigation device when the coordinate error value of the navigation device is greater than the predetermined value; rotating a map on the screen according to one of the GPS-based rotating angle and the sensor-based rotating angle depending on the coordinate error value. |
| US08234058B1 |
System, module, and method for generating procedure data used in an avionics system
A present novel and non-trivial system, module, and method for generating final approach, missed approach, and departure data for use in an avionics system. A processor receives navigation data and object data, where object data includes terrain data and/or obstacle data. A flight path is defined, an obstacle clearance surface is constructed and examined for object penetration, and procedure data is generated and provided to at least one avionics system. For approach procedures, a decision altitude data is determined from which the procedure data is generated. A penetrated obstacle clearance surface is allowable if a remedy exists to address the penetration. Remedies may include the use of minimum obstacle clearance criteria, an iterative process, a path construction function, an existing departure procedure, and the use of input factors to determine a real-time estimated climb performance which could affect the climb gradient of a missed approach path. |
| US08234055B2 |
Engine movement detection systems and methods
A control system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The control system includes an engine movement module that selects from N engine rotation modes based on camshaft movement and crankshaft movement, where N is an integer greater than two, and where at least one of the N rotation modes is an assisted spinning mode. A diagnostic module enables one or more engine diagnostic modes based on the selected engine rotation mode. |
| US08234048B2 |
Method and system for inhibiting operation in a commanded operating range state for a transmission of a powertrain system
A hybrid powertrain system includes torque generative devices to transfer power to an output member. An operator torque request, a rotational direction and speed of the output member, and a signal output from a transmission range selector are monitored. When a change in a direction of intended motion is determined, the powertrain system can change rotational direction of the output member when the speed of the output member is less than a threshold. The powertrain can inhibit a change in the rotational direction of the output member. |
| US08234045B2 |
Failure mode effects mitigation in drive-by-wire systems
Systems and methods for mitigating failure mode effects in a steer-by-wire system. The system includes a controller configured to alter a direction of the vehicle when the controller is in a failure mode. A steering device is coupled to a detector. The detector is configured to detect a steering input from a driver and output a signal representative of the steering input. A first actuator is coupled to a first control device. The first control device is configured to generate a first control signal representative of the steering input when the controller is in the failure mode. The first actuator alters the direction of the vehicle by removing energy from the vehicle. A second actuator is coupled to a second control device. The second control device is configured to generate a second control signal representative of the steering input when the controller is in the failure mode. The second actuator alters the direction of the vehicle by adding energy to the vehicle. |
| US08234042B2 |
Authority limits for a vehicle steering system
A method for controlling a limited by-wire active front steering system includes measuring an input steering angle, determining a tire saturation limit, and comparing the saturation limit to the input angle. A target actuator angle from a steering actuator is limited when the input angle is greater than the saturation limit. A constant value provides a fixed steering gear ratio when the input angle is less than the saturation limit. A limited by-wire steering system for a vehicle includes a steering device, a sensor for measuring an input steering angle, a controller for calculating a first target actuator angle when the input angle is less than a threshold, and a second target actuator angle when the input angle is greater than the threshold. The threshold is a calibrated saturation limit of a road wheel of the vehicle. |
| US08234041B2 |
Electric power steering controller
A correction value calculating section 70 is provided with a pinion shaft torsion angle correction value calculating section 74 and a pinion shaft torsion angular velocity correction value calculating section 75 for calculating a correction value in consideration with the transmission characteristic of the steering assist torque from the electric motor 6 to the steerable vehicle wheel 9. Therefore, the electric motor 6 can generate the steering assist torque compensating for the influence by the transmission characteristic of the steering assist torque from the electric motor 6 to the steerable vehicle wheel 9 by correcting a target value defined by a detection value of the torque sensor 3 with the correction value. |
| US08234032B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating safe path of mobile robot
A method for generating a safe path of a mobile robot includes searching for a whole path from a starting point to a destination point within a map information entered in the robot; extracting information about an expected distance between the robot and a peripheral obstacle when the robot moves along the searched whole path; and correcting the whole path locally using the information about the expected distance from the peripheral obstacle. |
| US08234031B2 |
Hybrid vehicle energy management methods and apparatus
A parallel hybrid vehicle launches from rest or near rest with its electric motor and blends in its internal combustion engine at a vehicle speed such that the electrical energy provided to the motor from an energy storage device is only as much energy as can be recovered during deceleration of the vehicle to rest or near rest. |
| US08234028B2 |
Hybrid vehicle, control method of hybrid vehicle, and computer-readable recording medium recording program for allowing computer to execute control method
A hybrid vehicle has as a travel mode an EV mode for traveling while stopping the engine, and an HV mode for operating the engine. An ECU includes first and second traveling distance operating units, and a determination unit. The first traveling distance operating unit calculates an EV traveling distance indicative of a total traveling distance in the EV mode. The second traveling distance operating unit calculates the engine use traveling distance indicative of a total traveling distance when the engine is operated. The determination unit determines the necessity of maintenance of predetermined elements included in the vehicle based on the EV traveling distance and the engine use traveling distance. |
| US08234015B2 |
Method for controlling a grid voltage
The present invention relates to a method for controlling a voltage level of a power supply grid operationally connected to a source of electrical power, the method comprising the steps of determining a short circuit impedance of the power supply grid at a point of common coupling, calculating, using the determined short circuit impedance, a gain value of the power supply grid, and controlling the grid voltage level in accordance with the calculated gain value by applying said gain value as a gain parameter in a voltage controller. The method according to the present invention may be implemented as a method for configuring a voltage controller once and for all, or it may be implemented as a method for adaptively adjusting a gain of a voltage controller. |
| US08234012B1 |
Preparing a chemical delivery line of a chemical dispense system for delivery
Method for preparing a chemical delivery line for delivery. In one implementation, the method may include starting a flow of a semiconductor solution from a vessel into the chemical delivery line coupled to the vessel, measuring a volume of the semiconductor solution flowing through the chemical delivery line, and performing a subsequent process when the volume of the semiconductor solution is equal to or greater than the volume of the chemical delivery line. |
| US08234008B2 |
Lidded drawer for single line item dispensing
A medication cabinet that includes at least one drawer, a drive mechanism, and a drawer latching mechanism, is disclosed. The drawer includes a slider, and a container that includes a receptacle and a lid that moves between an open position and a closed position. The container also includes a fastener to fasten the lid to the receptacle. The slider maintains the lid in the closed position when at least a portion of the wall is coupled with the fastener, and actuates the lid from the closed position to the open position when the fastener passes through an opening in the wall. The drive mechanism controls longitudinal movement of the slider, and is mounted to the chassis, allowing the drawer to be free of electrical connections with the chassis. When the drive mechanism is not used to move the lid into the open position, longitudinal movement of the slider is inhibited. |
| US08234007B2 |
Method and apparatus for use in a vending machine
During operation of a vending machine, an image is obtained of an area of interest in the vending machine. As a product selected by a customer moves toward a product retrieval location, images of the area of interest are obtained and transmitted to the data base. Images in the data base are compared to determine whether or not the selected product has moved to the area of interest. |
| US08234006B1 |
Sort bin assignment
Disclosed are various embodiments involving assignment and use of sort bins in a materials handling facility. A manifest is generated in at least one computer system that directs a picking of items from inventory locations in a materials handling facility. Each of the items is associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of groups of items. Sort bin assignments are generated for each of the items. Each sort bin assignment specifies a corresponding one of a selected subset of a plurality of sort bins located in a sorting station of the materials handling facility. The selected subset of the sort bins is designated to coalesce together the group of items that includes the respective item for further processing. Each sort bin assignment is based at least in part on a dimension associated with the respective sort bin and at least one attribute associated with the respective item. |
| US08234001B2 |
Tool commonality and stratification analysis to enhance a production process
A method of analyzing production steps includes inputting application data associated with a production process having a plurality of process steps into a memory with each of the plurality of process steps including a plurality of tools. The method also includes loading process data associated with one of the plurality of process steps into the memory, performing a tool commonality analysis on each of the tools associated with the at least one of the plurality of process steps, identifying all tool-to-tool differences for the at least one of the plurality of process steps, performing a tool stratification analysis to identify one of the plurality of tools that provides the largest variance contribution to the at least one of the plurality of process steps, and stopping the one of the plurality of tools that provides the largest variance contribution to the at least one of the plurality of process steps. |
| US08233999B2 |
System and method for interactive visualization of music properties
There is provided a visual music classification and management system. Each music item in a user's collection will be analyzed to identify its musical characteristics along with some estimate of the degree of confidence associated with that characteristic. By using characteristics, so-called music aspects, it will be possible to efficiently categorize the contents of a music database. Each music item will be stored in a database with the calculated values as will the characterizing aspect. The database contents will be displayed by drawing icons representing the music items on a user's screen, with the size (or other visual aspect) of the icon reflecting the degree of confidence with that categorization. Searches of the database will be performed by on-screen manipulations of the aspect cluster-positioned music items. |
| US08233995B2 |
System and method of aligning an implantable antenna
An implantable restriction system having an antenna capable of being readily and predictably movable to achieve a desired orientation that is effective to communicate with an external device is provided. The antenna can be movably coupled to a housing such that the antenna can float and/or move freely with respect to the housing. The housing can be part of a gimbal element or another component of the system. The antenna can include a weight or a magnetic element to help it achieve the desired orientation. Methods for transcutaneously communicating with an implantable restriction device are also provided. |
| US08233994B2 |
Active fixation medical lead
An implantable medical device that includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, a helical fixation member extending from the distal end of the elongated body, the helical fixation member including a distal tip for affixing the distal end of the elongated body at an implant site, and a tracking member extending from the distal end of the elongated body, through the helical fixation member and outward from the distal tip of the helical fixation member for tracking along an implant pathway during implantation of the implantable medical device. |
| US08233992B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining relative positioning between neurostimulation leads
A method and neurostimulation control system for operating two leads disposed adjacent tissue of a patient are provided. A plurality of cross-lead electrical parameters are measured to generate a measured electrical profile of the electrode leads. A plurality of cross-lead electrical parameters are estimated to generate a first reference electrical profile for the electrode leads in a first known staggered configuration. The first reference electrical profile is spatially shifted to generate a second reference electrical profile for the electrode leads in a second known staggered configuration. The measured electrical profile is compared to the first and second reference electrical profiles, and a longitudinal stagger between the electrode leads is quantified based on the comparison. |
| US08233990B2 |
Selection of neurostimulator parameter configurations using decision trees
A selection of parameter configurations for a neurostimulator using decision trees may be employed by a programming device to allow a clinician or other user to select parameter configurations, and then program an implantable neurostimulator to deliver therapy using the selected parameter configurations. The programming device executes a parameter configuration search algorithm to guide the clinician in selection of parameter configurations. The search algorithm relies on a decision tree to identify optimum parameter configurations. A decision tree is useful in classifying observations in a data set based upon one or more attributes or fields within the data. The data set includes parameter configurations matched with observed ratings of efficacy on patients of a similar indication. The learned attribute, on which classification occurs, will be the optimum parameter configuration for a set of rated configurations used to produce the classification. The decision trees may be especially useful in identifying electrode configurations. |
| US08233989B1 |
System and method for fitting a hearing prosthesis sound processor using alternative signals
Alternative stimuli, i.e., stimuli other than the constant amplitude stimuli used in prior fitting schemes, are used to set the parameters of a hearing prosthesis, such as a cochlear implant system. The use of such alternative stimuli allows the entire fitting process to be completed in a very short time period, and generally eliminates the need for secondary adjustments. In one preferred embodiment, the alternative stimuli comprise white noise that is internally generated within the speech processor. |
| US08233986B2 |
Connector header for implantable medical device
A connector header includes a housing formed from a plastic material having a modulus of rigidity of 100 ksi or greater. The housing defines an opening for insertion of a lead. The connector header further includes a lead receptacle having an electrically conductive element. The electrically conductive element is operably couplable to a feedthrough of the implantable medical device. The lead receptacle is in communication with the opening and is disposed within the housing such that an electrical contact of the lead is electrically couplable to the conductive element of the receptacle when the lead is inserted into the receptacle. |
| US08233982B2 |
Systems and methods for treating supraventricular arrhythmias
In various method embodiments, a supraventricular arrhythmia event is detected, and a supraventricular arrhythmia treatment, including neural stimulation to elicit a sympathetic response, is delivered in response to a detected supraventricular arrhythmia event. Some embodiments detect a precursor for a supraventricular arrhythmia episode, and deliver prophylactic neural stimulation to avoid the supraventricular arrhythmia event. Some embodiments detect a supraventricular arrhythmia episode, and deliver therapeutic neural stimulation for the supraventricular arrhythmia event. |
| US08233980B2 |
System and method for detecting hidden atrial events for use with automatic mode switching within an implantable medical device
Techniques are provided for detecting atrial events that might be hidden due to the operation of a post-ventricular atrial blanking (PVAB) interval or other atrial channel blanking interval. In one example, candidate atrial events are identified within signals occurring during the PVAB interval. Then, a determination is made as to whether the candidate atrial event is a true atrial event based on a comparison of characteristics of the candidate atrial event with characteristics of prior known atrial events within the patient. By comparing the characteristics of the “hidden” event with the characteristics of prior known atrial events within the patient, a quick and accurate determination can be made whether the event should be counted as a P-wave. In this manner, hidden atrial arrhythmias can be detected and mode switch oscillations can be reduced or eliminated. |
| US08233978B1 |
Method and device for switching between arrhythmia prevention modes
A device, such as an implantable cardiac device, and method for switching between arrhythmia prevention modes is disclosed. The method includes monitoring an electrocardiogram (EGM) of the heart, determining whether the heart is in a normal sinus rhythm or in an abnormal rhythm, delivering pacing pulses at a first rate to either an atrium or a ventricle when the heart is in a normal sinus rhythm, and delivering pacing pulses to a ventricle at a second rate when the heart is in an abnormal rhythm, such as an atrial arrhythmia. The first rate is selected to minimize the occurrence of premature ventricular contractions, and the second rate is selected to both minimize the occurrence of premature ventricular contractions and minimize the occurrence of premature conducted beats. |
| US08233972B2 |
System for cardiac arrhythmia detection and characterization
A system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection includes an interface that receives a signal representing electrical activity of a patient heart occurring during individual heart cycles of multiple sequential heart cycles. A signal processor decomposes the received signal into multiple signals comprising a heart cycle signal primary wave and one or more heart cycle signal wavelets occurring at corresponding successively higher frequencies. The signal processor determines multiple amplitude representative values of the heart cycle signal primary wave and the one or more heart cycle signal wavelets. A comparator compares the multiple amplitude representative values with corresponding multiple predetermined threshold values to provide comparison indicators. A patient monitor in response to the comparison indicators indicating at least one of the amplitude representative values exceeds a respective predetermined threshold value, generates an alert message associated with the respective predetermined threshold. |
| US08233967B2 |
Method for marking and visualizing an implant by way of an x-ray phase-contrast tomography examination and an implant
A method is disclosed for marking and visualizing an implant by use of an x-ray phase-contrast tomography examination. Further, an implant is also disclosed. In at least one embodiment, implants are used with specific characteristics which are as unambiguous as possible with regard to the phase shift generated by the implants in a phase-contrast tomography examination. In at least one embodiment, these specific characteristics can include the typical self-generated specific phase shift, typical differences in the specific phase-shift values, or typical spatial structures of materials with well-defined phase-shift values. |
| US08233966B2 |
Method and X-ray diagnostic device for generation of an image of a moving body region of a living subject
In a method and an x-ray diagnostic device for generation of an image of a body region of a living subject that executes a movement due to respiration, respiration signals of the subject are acquired and x-ray projections of the subject are acquired from different projection directions. The intensity of the x-ray radiation emanating from an x-ray source in the acquisition of the x-ray projections is modulated such that the intensity assumes a desired value, or a value decreased relative to the value, dependent on the value of the amplitude of the respiration signal and/or the respiration position of the subject. |
| US08233961B2 |
Magnetic resonance device and method for perfusion determination
In a method and a device for automatic determination of perfusion by using a magnetic resonance system, multiple first MR data sets are thereby acquired from a volume element over time with a perfusion-sensitive imaging sequence, and multiple second MR data sets of the same volume element are acquired over time with a control imaging sequence, in particular a perfusion-insensitive imaging sequence. These first MR data sets and the second MR data sets are subjected to a statistical time series analysis in order to determine the perfusion in the volume element. |
| US08233956B2 |
Medical device
A medical device includes a connector which contacts a sensor to electrically connect the sensor with a measurement circuit in a medical device, a contact terminal which constitutes the connector, and a slide pin which ejects the sensor out of the medical device. The slide pin performs the operation of pushing up the contact terminal contacting the sensor as well as the operation of pushing the sensor out of the medical device. Since the contact terminal is completely lifted up by the inclined surface of the upper end part of the slide pin before the sensor is discarded, there occurs no reaction due to rebound of the contact terminal which might occur at the moment when the contact terminal of the connector is separated from the sensor, and thereby the sensor can be discarded so as to fall freely. |
| US08233953B2 |
Optical-based sensing devices
An optical-based sensor for detecting the presence or amount of an analyte using both indicator and reference channels. The sensor has a sensor body with a source of radiation embedded therein. Radiation emitted by the source interacts with indicator membrane indicator molecules proximate the surface of the body. At least one optical characteristic of these indicator molecules varies with analyte concentration. For example, the level of fluorescence of fluorescent indicator molecules or the amount of light absorbed by light-absorbing indicator molecules can vary as a function of analyte concentration. In addition, radiation emitted by the source also interacts with reference membrane indicator molecules proximate the surface of the body. Radiation (e.g., light) emitted or reflected by these indicator molecules enters and is internally reflected in the sensor body. Photosensitive elements within the sensor body generate both indicator channel and reference channel signals to provide an accurate indication of the concentration of the analyte. Preferred embodiments are totally self-contained and are sized and shaped for use in vivo in a human being. Such embodiments preferably include a power source, e.g. an inductor, which powers the source of radiation using external means, as well as a transmitter, e.g. an inductor, to transmit to external pickup means the signal representing the level of analyte. |
| US08233952B2 |
Superconducting magnet
There is provided a superconducting magnet including a superconducting coil, in which the superconducting coil includes: a bobbin; one or more superconducting wires wound around the bobbin in a plurality of turns, each superconducting wire being one or more superconducting filaments embedded in a matrix; and one or more metallic members, each metallic member being in electrical and thermal contact with a plurality of portions of the one or more superconducting wires. |
| US08233951B2 |
Error correction for DTMF corruption on uplink
Aspects relate to provision of enterprise call capabilities to mobile devices. For example, a mobile device can indicate, over a data channel, that a PBX is to make a call on its behalf to a called party. The PBX can call back the mobile device, call the called party, and bridge those call legs to establish the call. The mobile device can employ mechanisms that a particular incoming call is made by the PBX. These mechanisms can include using ANI information, sending, and receiving audible verification codes over the voice channel established after answering the incoming call. The verification codes can be selected based different behaviors of the mobile devices. |
| US08233947B2 |
Neckpad communications system for a helmet
A neckpad communications system for a helmet includes a neckpad body that includes coupling members for detachably coupling the neckpad body to a surface of the helmet. The system includes a communications unit having a first part that is disposed within and covered by the neckpad body and is configured to permit audio communication with another remote device and a second part including audio transducers located at least partially outside the neckpad body. The audio transducers are operatively connected to the communications unit and can include at least one speaker and a microphone. The neckpad body includes cushioning to allow it to be worn against a user's body and includes controls associated with the communications unit that are accessible exteriorly. |
| US08233943B1 |
Selective activation of alerts for receipt and availability of data in a communication device
A recipient activates or deactivates user alerts associated with the receipt and/or availability of communications using rules in an alert profile stored on a device, a server, or a location accessible to the server. In one embodiment, the device can implement the rules when a communication is received and/or available. If an alert is activated, the device renders the alert. If the alert is deactivated, the device does not render the alert unless and until the alert is activated. In another embodiment, the server can implement the rules. If the alert is activated when the communication is transmitted to the device, the server also transmits alert-rendering instructions, whereupon the device can render the alert as specified in the instructions. If the alert is deactivated when the communication is transmitted to the device, the server does not transmit the instructions unless and until the alert is activated. |
| US08233941B2 |
Multi-transceiver system with MIMO and beam-forming capability
A system and method for communicating with a second communication system utilizing a plurality of antennas. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise determining whether communicating with the second communication system utilizing a plurality of antennas in a first configuration, which comprises a beam-forming configuration, is preferable to utilizing a plurality of antennas in a second configuration, which comprises a MIMO or MISO configuration. If it is determined that the first configuration is preferable to the second configuration, the communication system may be configured to communicate with the second communication system by utilizing at least a portion of the plurality of antennas in the first configuration. If it is determined that the second configuration is preferable to the first configuration, then the communication system may be configured to communicate with the second communication system by utilizing at least a portion of the plurality of antennas in the second configuration. |
| US08233936B2 |
Radio communication system
A system and method of operating a radio communication system uses a random access channel to enable a secondary station to transmit a message to a primary station. The secondary station transmits a preamble to the primary station. After successful receipt of the preamble the primary station transmits a control channel including power control information to instruct the secondary station to adjust the output power of its transmitter. This ensures that the secondary station transmits at a sufficient power for the message to be received successfully by the primary station, while minimizing interference generated by the transmission. |
| US08233932B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving signaling reliability in wireless communications
Techniques for sending signaling at different power levels in different operating modes are described. In one design, a UE may send signaling at a first power level in a first operating mode and may send the signaling at a second power level in a second operating mode. The UE may send the signaling with a ternary indication in the first operating mode and with an on/off keying (OOK) indication in the second operating mode. The signaling may be for acknowledgement (ACK). The UE may send ACK, negative acknowledgement (NACK), and discontinuous transmission (DTX) with ternary indications in the first operating mode. The UE may send ACK and DTX with OOK indications in the second operating mode. The UE may receive at least one power offset from a network entity and may determine the first and second power levels based on the received power offsets(s). |
| US08233931B2 |
Initiating a selective dynamic group call from a wireless mobile application
A method and a wireless mobile device for initiating selective dynamic group (SDG) calls in an application on a push-to-talk (PTT) capable wireless network using a concatenated sequence of PTT mobile numbers. The PTT mobile numbers are separated by PTT call identifiers in a concatenated sequence. The PTT mobile numbers are validated and a PTT SDG call sequence is generated using the plurality of validated PTT mobile numbers when a call initiator input is received. The PTT SDG call is then initiated on the wireless network to the PTT mobile numbers in the sequence. |
| US08233926B2 |
Spatial mode adaptation at the cell edge using interferer spatial correlation
A system and method is proposed for adapting the spatial transmission strategy in a cellular MIMO (multiple input multiple output) communication system for the downlink. Spatial mode adaptation, the choice of multiplexing, transmit diversity, number of streams, space-time code family, and the like are performed slowly based on side information from other base stations. Base stations exchange their transmission plans with neighboring base stations and broadcast this information to active users. Each user measures its susceptibility to spatial interference and returns this information to the base station. The base station then schedules active users according to the decisions made in interfering base stations and the preferred transmission strategies of its own users. |
| US08233922B2 |
Efficient paging mechanism with scalable bandwidth allocation
A paging method in a mobile communication system, in which a preconfigured frequency range, split into a plurality of frequency subbands, is utilized for communicating within the mobile communication system, includes the steps of selecting at least one frequency subband for transmitting paging information, and transmitting paging information from a network entity, for initiating paging, utilizing the selected at least one frequency subband. |
| US08233920B2 |
Angle of arrival downlink signaling
A wireless communication network determines positioning data for a given mobile terminal, in response to receiving a positioning event trigger for that mobile terminal. The network sends the positioning data to the mobile terminal via control-plane signaling, for transfer by the mobile terminal to the user plane. Correspondingly, the mobile terminal receives the positioning data over the control plane, transfers it to the user plane, and transmits the positioning data or location information derived from the positioning data, via user-plane signaling. As such, network-performed positioning measurements and/or geographic coordinate data derived therefrom are transferred from the control plane, to the user plane, for flexible and transparent transmission from the mobile terminal to a given node having a user-plane connection with the mobile terminal. Such a node may be essentially any type of communication device, system, or server, internal or external to the network. |
| US08233918B2 |
Digital content distribution system for delivering location specific content to an ad hoc group of mobile subscribers
A digital content distribution system and method are disclosed for delivering location specific content to an ad hoc group of mobile subscribers. The system consists of a downloadable application that runs on the subscribers mobile communication device and communicates with a server-based content composer system. The content composer system manages outgoing content based upon the geographic location reported by a mobile communication device application and the demographic and preference data stored in a subscriber database. Emergency alerts are sent only to subscribers in a area covered by the alert. The emergency alerts are executed on the mobile communication device even though the mobile communication device is in a low power sleep or hibernate mode. Moreover, the emergency alerts take over the mobile communications device no matter what other tasks are being executed when the emergency alert is received. |
| US08233912B2 |
Mobile station localization apparatus, systems, and methods
Embodiments herein may use first and second path loss values L1 and L2 to calculate first and second distances R1 and R2 between the MS and first and second base stations BS1 and BS2, respectively, in a wireless packet-carrying network. L1 and L2 may comprise values of a reduction in signal strength of signals as transmitted by the BS1 and the BS2 and as received by the MS. The MS may triangulate its position relative to a grid using R1 and R2. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08233909B2 |
Reception cycle control method, radio base station, and mobile station
A radio base station (eNB) is configured to start the transmitting-side timer and a Polling timer which is set to expire earlier than the transmitting-side, upon transmission of a last piece of downlink data accumulated in a transmission buffer to the mobile station. When the Polling timer expires, the radio base station (eNB) notifies the mobile station (UE) of the expiration, and restarts the transmitting-side timer, and the mobile station (UE) restarts a receiving-side timer in response to the notification. |
| US08233905B2 |
Load management in wireless mesh communications networks
Methods and systems for providing a network and routing protocol for utility services are disclosed. A method includes discovering a utility network. Neighboring nodes are discovered and the node listens for advertised routes for networks from the neighbors. The node is then registered with one or more utility networks, receiving a unique address for each network registration. Each upstream node can independently make forwarding decisions on both upstream and downstream packets, i.e., choose the next hop according to the best information available to it. The node can sense transient link problems, outage problems and traffic characteristics. Information is used to find the best route out of and within each network. Each network node maintains multi-egress, multi-ingress network routing options both for itself and the node(s) associated with it. The node is capable of several route maintenance functions utilizing the basic routing protocol and algorithms. |
| US08233904B2 |
Pilot-measurement control method and dual-mode terminal
A pilot-measurement control method and a dual-mode terminal are provided. After entering a tunnel state, an idle state protocol submodule does not wait for a measurement start command to trigger pilot measurement. Instead, the idle state protocol submodule directly triggers pilot measurement by actively querying for high rate packet data (HRPD) measurement permission variable information. Alternatively, measurement indication information sent by an initialization protocol submodule is buffered in advance, so that after entering the tunnel state, the idle state protocol submodule can trigger pilot measurement by querying for the buffered information. Alternatively, the idle state protocol submodule performs pilot measurement according to received measurement indication information sent by an air interface connection management protocol submodule when the idle state protocol submodule is activated. |
| US08233901B2 |
Method and system of providing personal information control service for mobile communication terminal
A method and system for providing a personal information control service for a mobile communication terminal are disclosed. The method for providing personal information control service for a mobile communication terminal includes: transmitting, by a service client, a loss registration control command to a service operating system; notifying, by the service operating system, that a mobile communication terminal of a user has been lost by using one of a method of transmitting a particular form of loss control message to the user mobile communication terminal and a method of originating a call using a particular origination number to the user mobile communication terminal in response to the loss registration control command; and activating, by a control agent provided in the user mobile communication terminal, a service function of the control agent to protect personal information of the mobile communication terminal based on the notification about the loss. When the mobile communication terminal is lost, it can be controlled by transmitting a particular form of message or originating a call using a particular origination number. |
| US08233900B2 |
Method and apparatus of informing a network of change of user equipment capability
An embodiment method of informing a network of a change of user equipment capability includes receiving, by a network, a register request message carrying information of new user equipment capability to from a user equipment, analyzing, by the network, the register request message, and storing the information of new user equipment capability for reference by subsequent establishment of a session, stopping a current registration timer on the server side set for the user equipment, initiating a new registration timer on the server side for the user equipment, and sending a response message carrying information of the new registration timer on the server side to the user equipment so as to reset a registration timer on the user side based on information of the new registration timer on the server side in the response message. The capability change is informed to the network in time. |
| US08233899B1 |
Method and apparatus for managing air interface noise in a wireless communication system
Disclosed is a method and system to help reduce the extent of roaming or use of lower priority coverage areas in a wireless communication system, by selectively managing the level of noise in a preferred coverage area. A network entity will detect that a particular coverage area has a high rate or roaming or that another coverage area (e.g., a collocated or adjacent coverage area) has a high rate of use, and the network entity will responsively reduce a noise threshold in the particular coverage area so as to then tolerate less noise in the coverage area before taking affirmative action to reduce the level of noise, and thus optimally to reduce the extent of roaming or use of less preferred coverage. |
| US08233897B2 |
Assessment of idle portions of multidimensional radio spectrum access
Embodiments herein provide methods and systems for quantifying idle radio spectrum access across a geographic region. In an embodiment, a method for quantifying idle radio spectrum access across a geographic region includes selecting geo-referenced locations from within the geographic region to form a geo-referenced set of observation locations, independently integrating go-referenced coverage areas for one or more wireless devices within the geographic region to form an assessment of multidimensional radio spectrum conditions across the geographic region, and computing geo-referenced portions of idle multidimensional radio spectrum access across the geographic region. The method may additionally include expressing the geo-referenced portions of idle multidimensional radio spectrum access in terms of spatial statistics, aggregate statistics, and a combination of spatial statistics and aggregate statistics. |
| US08233896B2 |
Mobile communication units that display connectivity loss boundaries
A mobile communication unit is provided that employs a propagation algorithm to determine connectivity loss boundaries that define connectivity loss regions based on one or more forward projected position vector paths of the mobile communication unit and connectivity data. The mobile communication unit further comprises a map renderer configured to provide map display data that includes the map area data, situational awareness location data and the determined connectivity loss boundaries, and a display configured to display the map display data as a geographical map area with an icon of the mobile communication unit located in a geographic location of the geographical map area and drawn connectivity loss boundaries that define connectivity loss regions in a geographic location of the geographical map area. |
| US08233895B2 |
Methods and apparatus for use in transferring user data between two different mobile communication devices using a removable memory card
A source device is initially enabled to maintain data synchronization with a host server over a wireless communication network via a first wireless transceiver for user data of an application program associated with a user account. To enable a target device, the source device is operative to establish a programming session with the target device via a second wireless transceiver. During the programming session, the source device causes user account data (e.g. an encryption/decryption key for the data-synchronized communications) for the user account to be transmitted to the target device via the second wireless transceiver. The user data associated with the application program may be transferred from the source device to the target device via a removable memory card such as a secure digital (SD) card. |
| US08233893B2 |
Mobile handset update package generator that employs nodes technique
A mobile handset in a mobile services network, with access to a plurality of services including a firmware/software update service, is also capable of updating its update agent using an appropriate update package that is retrieved from an update package repository via a management server. A generator with nodes preprocessor is used to create an update package and associated information, such as nodes information and filter information, by comparing two different versions of the firmware/software of the mobile handset. |
| US08233890B2 |
Environment independent user preference communication
Included are embodiments of a method for communicating user preferences to at least one environment. At least one embodiment includes receiving a request from an environment for preference information related to a user and receiving a user identifier from the environment, the user identifier obtained via a portable user device. Other embodiments include determining at least one user preference related to the user, determining capabilities related to the environment, and communicating at least one user preference to the environment. |
| US08233888B1 |
Leveraging mobile-device analytics for informing and call handling
Computer-readable media and methods are provided for utilizing analytics collected by a mobile device to inform a user and to implement rules that instruct the mobile device on handling of calls. Analytics that include data about calls made and received by the mobile device are collected by the mobile device. An application on the mobile device uses the analytics to rank callers and provides the rankings to the user. A rule is received by the mobile device that indicates how to handle inbound and outbound calls based at least on the rankings. The analytics and rules are also useable for promotional purposes and can be shared with other services. |
| US08233879B1 |
Mobile device personalization based on previous mobile device usage
A system for personalizing new mobile devices based on previous mobile device usage is provided. The system includes a storage device, a processor, and a personalizing engine. The personalizing engine, when executed by the processor, stores user input for a first mobile device to the storage device, and builds a profile based on the user input. The personalizing engine also configures a user interface on a second mobile device to provide a user interface link based on the profile to enable a user to access the user interface link via the second mobile device. |
| US08233873B2 |
Device and methods for enhanced matched filtering based on correntropy
A signal processing device is provided, the device having a signal input for receiving a signal conveyed over a channel and defining a received signal. The device further includes one or more filters for generating a signal response based upon the received signal. The signal response includes an estimated value of a correntropy statistic. Additionally, the device includes a decision module connected to at least one of the filters for probabilistically deciding whether the received signal contains an information signal component based upon the estimated value of the correntropy statistic. The device further includes a signal output to convey a signal output indicating the received signal corresponds to a known signal template if the decision module decides that the received signal contains the information signal component. |
| US08233870B2 |
Multiple frequency band multiple standard transceiver
A transceiver includes a receiver section and a transmitter section. The receiver section converts an inbound Multiple Frequency Bands Multiple Standards (MFBMS) signal into a down converted signal, wherein the inbound MFBMS signal includes a desired signal component and an undesired signal component. In addition, the receiver section determines spectral positioning of the undesired signal component with respect to the desired signal component and adjusts at least one of the MFBMS signal and the down converted signal based on the spectral positioning to substantially reduce adverse affects of the undesired signal component on the desired signal component to produce an adjusted signal. The transmitter section converts an outbound symbol stream into an outbound MFBMS signal. |
| US08233869B2 |
Automatic gain control with improved cross-modulation
An apparatus such as a television signal receiver provides an AGC function which reduces cross-modulation distortion. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes first and second amplifiers coupled in series and a gain control circuit. The gain control circuit controls the gains of the first and second amplifiers in response to the magnitude of the input signal. The gain of the first amplifier remains substantially unchaged at a first level while the magnitude of the input signal is within a first range. The gain of the second amplifier is gradually reduced in the first range. The gain of the first amplifier remains substantially unchaged at a second level, which is lower than the first level, while the magnitude of the input signal is within a second range. The gain of the second amplifier gradually reduced in the second range. The gain of first amplifier is gradually reduced at least in part of a third range while the magnitude of the input signal is within the third range. The gain of the second amplifer remains substantially unchaged in the third range. |
| US08233865B2 |
Reception device and reception method
The noise amount information storage unit 161 stores noise amount information which indicates relationships between gain value of the variable gain amplification units 121 and 125 and the amount of noise included in BB signals output from the down converters 131 and 135. The AGC unit 140 controls the gain value of the variable gain amplification units 121 and 125 so that the power of BB signals output from the down converters 131 and 135 becomes constant. The noise amount estimation unit 162 estimates noise amount of noise corresponding to the controlled gain value of the variable gain amplification units 121 and 125 by referring to the noise amount information stored in the noise amount information storage unit 161. The weight generation unit 170 generates weight matrix based on results of estimations performed by the channel characteristic estimation unit 150 and the noise estimation unit 162. |
| US08233862B2 |
Radio sensor for detecting wireless microphone signals and a method thereof
Wireless microphone signals are detected by processing an input signal to determine a number of frequency bins within a channel frequency band having an energy level above a first predefined threshold (S510); identifying locations of the frequency bins having an energy level above the first predefined threshold, when the number of bins is greater than zero (S520, S530); for each frequency bin having an energy level above the first predefined threshold, processing signals within a narrow frequency band of the frequency bin (S570); determining a number of signal peaks within the narrow frequency band that are above a second predefined threshold (S575); and generating a message indicating a presence or an absence of a microphone signal based on the number of signal peaks (S590, S595). |
| US08233860B2 |
Power amplification apparatus for envelope modulation of high frequency signal and method for controlling the same
A power amplification apparatus and method provide for controlling envelope modulation of a Radio Frequency (RF) signal. The power amplification apparatus includes a linear amplifier configured to receive an input signal to be amplified, and generate a linear output signal for compensating for a current ripple of an amplified signal and a switch control signal having a current obtained by dividing the linear output signal by a predetermined ratio. The power amplification apparatus also includes a switching amplifier configured to receive the switch control signal through a multi-mode resistor having a variable resistance, and generate the amplified signal. The variable resistance of the multi-mode resistor determines a switching frequency representing an operating speed of the switching amplifier, and is adjusted according to a communication mode of the input signal. |
| US08233855B2 |
Up-conversion based on gated information signal
A method and system is described wherein an information signals is gated at a frequency that is a sub-harmonic of the frequency of the desired output signal. In the modulation embodiments, the information signal is modulated as part of the up-conversion process. In a first modulation embodiment, one information signal is phase modulated onto the carrier signal as part of the up-conversion process. In a second modulation embodiment, two information signals are multiplied, and, as part of the up-conversion process, one signal is phase modulated onto the carrier and the other signal is amplitude modulated onto the carrier. In a third modulation embodiment, one information signal is phase modulated onto the “I” phase of the carrier signal as part of the up-conversion process and a second information signal is phase modulated onto the “Q” phase of the carrier as part of the up-conversion process. In a fourth modulation embodiment, four information signals are phase and amplitude modulated onto the “I” and “Q” phases of the carrier as part of the up-conversion process. There are at least two implementations of each of the aforementioned embodiments. |
| US08233854B2 |
Polar modulator and method for generating a polar-modulated signal
A polar modulator for generating a polar-modulated signal based on amplitude information and phase information includes a phase-locked loop which is implemented to enable a setting of a frequency depending on a control value to obtain a phase-locked loop output signal. The polar modulator further includes a modulation means which is implemented to combine an amplitude modulation signal derived from the amplitude information with the phase-locked loop output signal to generate the polar-modulated signal. The polar modulator further includes a control value generator which is implemented to high-pass filter an amplitude signal derived from the amplitude information, to obtain a high-pass filtered amplitude signal, wherein the control value generator is implemented to combine the high-pass filtered amplitude signal with a phase signal based on the phase information to generate the control value signal representing the control value. |
| US08233853B2 |
Transmission circuit for radio frequency signals and method for transmitting radio frequency signals
A transmission circuit for radio frequency signals has a power mixer and includes a radio frequency input port, a first radio frequency output port, a second radio frequency output port, and a dummy load port. The transmission circuit also has a first switch unit and a second switch unit. The first switch unit is connected to the first radio frequency output port and outputs the radio frequency signals which are emitted from the first radio frequency output port or reflects the radio frequency signals which are emitted from the first radio frequency output port back to the first radio frequency output port. The second switch unit is connected to the second radio frequency output port and outputs the radio frequency signals which are emitted from the second radio frequency output port, or reflects the radio frequency signals which are emitted from the second radio frequency output port back to the second radio frequency output port. The radio frequency signals reflected to the radio frequency input port by the first switch unit and the radio frequency signals reflected to said radio frequency input port by the second switch unit cancel each other. The transmission circuit has reduced complexity and cost. |
| US08233846B2 |
Configurable transceiver and methods for use therewith
A configurable radio frequency (RF) transceiver includes a configuration controller that generates at least one mode control signal that indicates an isolation mode, a frequency mode and an antenna mode. An antenna section includes a plurality of antennas and that selects an antenna configuration based on the at least one mode control signal. An isolation section includes a plurality of isolation circuits and that selects an isolation circuit based on the at least one mode control signal. An RF section selects an RF configuration based on the at least one mode control signal. A baseband section selects a baseband configuration based on the at least one mode control signal. |
| US08233841B2 |
Near field communication initialization
A method of application initialization of a near field communication (NFC) enabled device comprising loading a first NFC enabled device with an application for conducting a financial transaction over a network; and transferring the application to a second NFC enabled device via a NFC link, is described herein. |
| US08233840B2 |
Ephemeris-based synchronization for mesh satellite communications
Methods, systems, and devices are described for synchronization in mesh satellite communications. The arrival time of the gateway signal may be used to set a start of receive frame time for a terminal. A received control signal from the gateway may then be used to set a start of transmit frame time for the user terminal. The distance between the satellite and the gateway may change. Ephemeris data, various collections of terminal measurements, or terminal sync bursts may be used to modify start of transmit frame or start of receive frame settings for the terminal or gateway. |
| US08233832B2 |
Fixing unit and image forming apparatus with the same
A fixing unit for fixing a toner image onto a sheet passing between a first element and a second element pressed against the first element includes a looped coil surface formed with a coil so that the coil surface generates a magnetic field for induction-heating the first element, the coil surface including an inner edge defining an opening region; an upright wall disposed inside the opening region, an opening being formed in the upright wall; a center core disposed along the opening region, the center core including a conductive shaft and a magnetic tube configured to at least partially cover the conductive shaft; and a nonconductive cap inserted into the opening, the nonconductive cap partially covering the conductive shaft to electrically insulate the coil from the conductive shaft. |
| US08233826B2 |
Developing apparatus and image forming apparatus provided with the same
A housing of a developing apparatus is provided with a conveying member in a developer supplying and recovering portion, and two agitating members rotating in the same direction respectively as viewing rotating shafts from a near side in an axial direction, in a developer agitating portion. A guide is provided in an inner bottom surface of the housing between two agitating members. A braking portion suppressing a discharge of a developer is provided in a downstream side of the developer agitating portion in a developer conveying direction of the first agitating member, and a discharge portion is provided in a downstream side of a disc of the braking portion. |
| US08233824B2 |
Gear mechanism and image forming apparatus
A gear mechanism is provided and includes a first sun gear; a first planetary gear configured to mesh with the first sun gear; a first arm configured to keep a distance between the first sun gear and the first planetary gear and configured to swing around a rotation axis of the first sun gear; a second sun gear; a second planetary gear configured to mesh with the second sun gear; a second arm configured to keep a distance between the second sun gear and the second planetary gear and configured to swing around a rotation axis of the second sun gear; and an interlocking unit configured to connect the first arm and the second arm with each other for interlocking the swinging of the first arm and the second arm, the interlocking unit configured to move independently of rotations of the first sun gear and the second sun gear. |
| US08233819B2 |
Image-forming device having detachable process cartridge
An image forming device capable of attaching and detaching a process cartridge to and from a frame without mechanical interference of the process cartridge with sheet feed unit and an LED array and without any movement of the LED array. 1. The image forming device includes the process cartridge detachably assembled in a frame and accessible through a front opening upon opening a door. The cartridge includes a casing movably supported by the frame, a photosensitive drum, a charger, and a developing roller. A sheet cassette is detachably installed to the frame at a position below the process cartridge for accommodating a stack of sheets. A sheet feed unit is supported to the process cartridge. The LED array is supported to the frame and is provided independent of the casing. A guide structure is provided at tire frame to guide movement of the process cartridge along with the sheet feed unit from an image forming operating position toward the door and away from the LED array. |
| US08233818B2 |
Inner cap for toner container and toner container
A toner container that can pass not only air but a toner, has toner sealing ability, and does not allow toner leakage even during transportation and an inner pressure change of the container, by placing an air permeable member at the fitting part in the casing part. An inner cap including at least the air permeable member is placed in the casing part of the inner cap, wherein the inner cap is used for a toner container that is detachably mounted to a developing unit in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographical method, and the toner container includes at least a container main body, the inner cap, and an outer cap. |
| US08233816B2 |
Developer cartridge with memory and terminal
A developer cartridge according to one aspect of the invention is attachable to a photoconductor unit that comprises a photoconductive drum. The developer cartridge comprises: a developing frame; a developing roller rotatably supported by the developing frame, and pressed to the photoconductive drum in a pressing direction when the developer cartridge is attached to the photoconductor cartridge; a memory unit attached to the developing frame; and a terminal electrically connected to the memory unit and disposed at an outer portion of the developing frame at a position substantially opposite to the developing roller with respect to the pressing direction. |
| US08233812B2 |
Customer replaceable unit monitor (CRUM) unit, replaceable unit and image forming apparatus comprising the CRUM unit, and unit driving method thereof
A replaceable unit to participate in an image forming job of an image forming apparatus includes a storage unit to store therein a driving condition corresponding to an operation environment, a detecting unit to monitor the operation environment, a controlling unit to detect a corresponding driving condition from the storage unit if the detecting unit detects the driving environment, and an interface unit to provide a main body of the image forming apparatus with the detected corresponding driving condition. Accordingly, the replaceable unit can be driven under optimum driving conditions. |
| US08233809B2 |
Polarization independent frequency domain equalization (FDE) for chromatic dispersion (CD) compensation in PolMux coherent systems
A method for the polarization independent frequency domain equalization (FDE) chromatic dispersion compensation on polarization multiplexing (POLMUX) coherent systems. Operationally, time domain signals are converted to frequency domain signals such that time domain convolution can be done as simple multiplications in the frequency domain. These frequency domain signals then converted back to time domain for subsequent use. The input signal size and FFT size are advantageously designed so that the output signals can be continuous with some overlap between two successive frames. |
| US08233807B2 |
Optical pulse amplication apparatus and method
A method and apparatus for producing a series of amplified optical pulses from a series of input optical pulses. The method includes creating a set of local optical pulses from a series of input optical pulses, the set of local optical pulses being applied to the input of an optical amplifier and having different amplitudes arranged in a graded order. The set of local optical pulses are amplified by an optical amplifier to have a significantly amplified first local optical pulse that is removed from the set of local optical pulses and output as a part of the series of amplified optical pulses. After removing the significantly amplified first local optical pulse, the set of local optical pulses is recreated by adding a new optical pulse from the series of input optical pulses to the end of the set of local optical pulses; and the recreated set of local optical pulses is routed back to be applied to the input of the optical amplifier to continue producing the series of amplified optical pulses. The formed set of local optical pulses having different (graded) amplitudes arranged in a descending order is configured such that the first local optical pulse has a much higher peak power before the optical amplifier gets saturated. |
| US08233806B2 |
Transmitter apparatus and communication system
A transmitter apparatus to transmit information to a receiver apparatus by using visible light emitted from a plurality of light sources includes at least a first light source to transmit user data; at least a second light source to transmit a pilot signal; and at least a third light source to transmit notice information that is necessary for receiving the user data in the receiver apparatus, the third light source being placed at a position determined by the position of the second light source. |
| US08233804B2 |
Fiber optic cable diagnostics using digital modulation
Embodiments are directed to fiber optic cable diagnostics using digital modulation. A contact of a RFID (radio frequency identification) device located in a cable is connected with a contact of an optical transceiver. Data through the cable is using digital modulation and monitored to determine if the fiber optic cable and the optical transceiver are properly functioning. |
| US08233798B2 |
Parallel transmission of data streams in a star-configured network
A data communications network includes N nodes, where N is an integer greater than one, and a star coupler coupled to each of the N nodes. Each node includes a transmitter and a receiver. The star coupler is configured to receive, in parallel, data streams transmitted from a plurality of the N nodes, and to passively retransmit, in parallel, each of the received data streams to each node of the N nodes. Each receiver is configured to receive multiple data streams in parallel. |
| US08233789B2 |
Dynamic exposure metering based on face detection
A system, computer readable medium, and method for dynamically setting a camera's exposure parameters based on face detection are disclosed. When taking a picture or video of a person in front of a bright background, standard exposure algorithms tend to overexpose the background. In one embodiment disclosed herein, a face detection algorithm is run on the current picture or video frame, and the exposure metering region is inset over the detected face. Exposure time, gain, or other exposure parameters may be set based on the pixels within the exposure metering region. In another embodiment, the exposure metering region tracks a moving face according to lag parameters so that the exposure metering region remains substantially over the face. In yet another embodiment, a plurality of faces may be tracked, with the exposure parameters set based on a weighted average of the pixels within the plurality of face-containing exposure metering regions. |
| US08233787B2 |
Focus method and photographic device using the method
A photographic device using a focus method includes a zoom lens, an image analyzing module, a focus distance providing module and a processing module. The zoom lens is used for capturing image information of a plurality of positions. The image analyzing module is used for analyzing contrast values of the image information of the plurality of positions. The focus distance providing module is used for providing a non-equivalent and a constant focus distance interval for capturing the image information of the plurality of positions. The processing module is electrically connected with the zoom lens, the image analyzing module, and the focus distance providing module. Whereby, the photographic device acquires the image information of the plurality of positions by the non-equivalent focus distance interval, acquires a coarse focus position, and acquires an accurate focus position by the constant focus distance according to the coarse focus position. |
| US08233786B2 |
Image shake correction apparatus and image pickup apparatus
Provided is an image shake correction apparatus including: an image taking optical system for taking an image of a subject; an angular velocity detection unit for detecting an angular velocity applied to the apparatus and outputting a first signal; an acceleration detection unit for detecting an acceleration applied to the apparatus and outputting a second signal; an axial rotation angular velocity calculation unit for calculating an axial rotation angular velocity component about a principal point of the image taking optical system based on the first signal; a revolution angular velocity calculation unit for calculating a revolution angular velocity component about the subject based on the second signal and a result of the calculating by the axial rotation angular velocity calculation unit; and a control unit for performing image shake correction control based on a difference between the axial rotation angular velocity component and the revolution angular velocity component. |
| US08233783B2 |
Apparatus for utilizing water
An apparatus for utilizing water such as, for example, an atomizer or vaporizer, having at least one container for water. Here, two ceramic electrodes that can be used to treat the water are arranged for the purpose of improving the water quality in the container. |
| US08233781B2 |
Image reproduction method and image reproduction apparatus
There is provided an image reproduction apparatus for seamlessly reproducing a connected stream which is obtained by connecting plural streams that are respectively coded by different codec methods. An image reproduction apparatus (100) for reproducing a connected stream which is obtained by connecting plural streams of different codec methods such as an MPEG-2 method and an MPEG-4 AVC method is provided with a stream buffer (102) in which the connected stream Bst is stored, and plural decoders Dd1˜Ddn corresponding to the various kinds of codec methods, and a decoder for decoding each stream in the connected stream Bst that is outputted from the stream buffer (102) is selected from among the plural decoders according to the codec method of each stream. |
| US08233778B2 |
Method of reproducing a still picture from a recording medium, method of decoding the still picture and the recording medium
In the method, video data is reproduced from the recording medium, and an I-picture and a number of P-pictures are output as a still picture based on the reproduced video data. The output data may then be received and decoded for display. |
| US08233777B2 |
Data transmitting method, recording medium, apparatus for reproducing data from recording medium using local storage and method thereof
A method of transmitting encrypted data, recording medium including the encrypted data, apparatus for reproducing the same using a local storage and method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes downloading a data associated with the recording medium to the local storage, constructing a virtual package by binding the downloaded data to a disc package within the recording medium, decrypting an indexing item of an index table within the virtual package using a key within a key file associated with the recording medium, and reproducing the decrypted indexing item, wherein information for solving a mismatch that occurs between the indexing item of the index table and an indexing item of the key file is included in the virtual package. By the present invention, the data associated with the recording medium is downloaded from outside to the local storage while contents provided by a content provider are protected. And, both of the data within the recording medium and the data within the local storage can be efficiently reproduced using a virtual package. Therefore, the present invention can provide more convenient functions to a user. |
| US08233772B1 |
Generating transitions for remapping video playback time
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to generating transitions for remapping video playback time. The subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a method that includes providing a digital video editing user interface that includes a variable rate speed control configured to define associated keyframe elements including a begin element, an end element and an intermediate time element; receiving input defining at least one of the keyframe elements in relation to a sequence of digital video; and generating a time transition function for remapping playback time of the video based on the input, wherein the time transition function maintains predefined speed for video frames leading into the begin element, maintains predefined speed for video frames leading away from the end element, and changes video speed from a begin speed value to an end speed value in accordance with one or more intermediate time element values. |
| US08233767B2 |
Information recording apparatus
One object of example embodiment is to provide arrangements for enabling a user to willfully record a highlight position and highlight importance without having to perform any burdensome procedure during highlight scene shooting. When a highlight button acquisition information and weight information input from a user interface 103 are acquired in a situation where a system control section 101 retains a predetermined time-shift time, the system control section 101 calculates marker information that includes the weight information and the information about a position earlier by the time-shift time, and records the marker information on a recording medium 105 via a drive control section 104. |
| US08233754B2 |
Optical high voltage sensor
An electro-optical high-voltage sensor includes a waveguiding sensing fiber of an electro-optical material. The electrical field of the voltage to be measured is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sensing fiber. The sensing fiber carries two orthogonally polarized light waves, with the applied field affecting the birefringence between the waves. Using an electro-optical waveguiding fiber in this configuration allows the voltage between two widely spaced points to be accurately measured. |
| US08233753B2 |
Electric field sensor, magnetic field sensor, electromagnetic field sensor and electromagnetic field measuring system using these sensors
An electric field sensor or a magnetic field sensor includes an optical fiber and an electro-optic layer or a magneto-optic layer. The electro-optic layer or a magneto-optic layer is provided on an end surface of an end portion of the optical fiber. The end surface of the optical fiber is a convex shape. The optical fiber may have the end portion with a shape of a substantial cone formed by extending the end portion, and the electro-optic layer or the magneto-optic layer may be formed on a side surface of a front end of the substantial cone. A dielectric layer may be further included between the optic layer and the end surface. |
| US08233749B2 |
Image processing system, projector, method and computer program product
The disclosure refers to an image processing system, projector, method and computer program product. In one example, an image processing system includes an interpolation unit that performs interpolation using an input image and a reference pixel in an input background part outside of the input image and interpolation pixels including neighboring pixels around the reference pixel, and a target pixel location determination unit that determines a location of a target pixel with respect to an image after distortion correction in a display area of an optical modulator. |
| US08233741B1 |
Reducing building lean in stitched images
A method for reducing building lean in stitched images includes accessing overlapping images of a geographic area, and calculating a pixel preference cost for each pixel region of a plurality of pixel regions in each image based on a location of the respective pixel region in a three-dimensional projection of each image. The method also includes selecting a pixel region from the images for each of a plurality of pixel region positions in the geographic area by reducing a cost function that includes the pixel preference cost, and assigning the respective selected pixel region to each of the pixel region positions to create the stitched image containing the building with reduced lean. In another embodiment, the pixel preference cost includes a distance from center cost that is based on a distance to the respective pixel region from the center of the image. Corresponding systems and computer readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08233740B2 |
System and method for constructing photorealistic mosaics
Systems and methods for constructing photorealistic mosaics are described. One embodiment of the invention includes capturing an image of a sheet that includes a plurality of pieces of material, determining the location of each piece of material on the sheet from the captured image, extracting images of each piece of material on the sheet from the captured image, storing an image of each piece of material and information concerning the location of the piece of material in a database and using the images in the database and the target image to identify pieces of material to be used in the construction of the photorealistic mosaic. |
| US08233738B2 |
Enhancing dynamic ranges of images
Methods and apparatus according to various aspects take as input image data in a lower-dynamic-range (LDR) format and produce as output enhanced image data having a dynamic range greater than that of the input image data (i.e. higher-dynamic range (HDR) image data). In some embodiments, the methods are applied to video data and are performed in real-time (i.e. processing of video frames to enhance the dynamic range of the video frames is completed at least on average at the frame rate of the video signal). |
| US08233736B2 |
Digital photographing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and recording medium having recorded thereon program for executing the method
A digital photographing apparatus, a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus, and a recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method are provided. The digital photographing apparatus includes: a data obtainer that obtains long exposure first data about a first image of a subject and short exposure second data about a second image of the subject; a third data generator that generates third data about a third image by warping the first data so that the subject of the first image and the subject of the second image match each other; and a second data amender which, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, amends the second data so that the second data value S(x, y) at the pixel (x, y) of the second image has the third data value W(x, y) at the pixel (x, y) of the third image. |
| US08233734B2 |
Image upsampling with training images
Images are upsampled using a knowledge base derived from a plurality of high-quality training images. The knowledge base is used to refine a high-frequency component including high-frequency aspects of a high-resolution, low-frequency image, interpolated from a low-resolution full-frequency image, into a high-frequency component. An enhancement step is performed without using a knowledge base to construct a high-compatibility component from the low-resolution, full-frequency image. The low-resolution, full-frequency image is combined with the coarse high-frequency component to yield an enhanced high-frequency component. A second knowledge base step is performed to construct an improved high-frequency component from the enhanced high-frequency component. The improved high-frequency component is blended with a high-resolution, low-frequency image to yield a high-resolution image. |
| US08233733B2 |
Image processing device
An image processing device includes: a first smoothing unit calculating, regarding multiple positions along a first direction in a neighbor region of a predetermined pixel of interest in an input image, a first-stage smoothing value wherein pixel values have been smoothed along a second direction differing from the first, for a first channel; a second smoothing unit calculating, regarding multiple positions along the first direction in the neighbor region, a first-stage smoothing value wherein pixel values have been smoothed along the second direction, for a second channel; an intensity estimating unit estimating the intensity of the first-stage smoothing value of the second channel, based on the first-stage smoothing values of the first and second channels; and a third smoothing unit calculating a second-stage smoothing value for the second channel, the first-stage smoothing value of the second channel intensity-estimated by the intensity estimating unit having been smoothed along the first direction. |
| US08233732B2 |
Method and device for selecting optimal transform matrices for down-sampling DCT image
Down-sampling of an image may be performed in the DCT domain. Transform matrices are obtained for down-sampling a DCT image of size M×N to a down-sampled DCT image of size I×J. The transform matrices may be used to down-sample the DCT image directly in the DCT domain. A spatial domain down-sampling method is selected and applied to the DCT image to produce a down-sampled DCT reference image. The transform matrices are selected by solving an optimization problem, leading to transform matrices which achieve a desired trade-off between the visual quality of images obtained using the transform matrices and the computational complexity associated with using the transform matrices. The visual quality is a measure of the difference between the down-sampled DCT image obtained using the transform matrices and the visual quality of the DCT reference image obtained using a spatial domain down-sampling method. |
| US08233727B2 |
Arbitrary ratio image resizing in the DCT domain
A method and system for arbitrary resizing of a compressed image in the discrete cosine transform (DCT) domain. First and second scaling parameters P and Q are determined in accordance with the block numbers L and M and the scaling ratio L/M or M/L. A non-uniform, or uneven, sampling in the DCT domain is then applied to coefficients of successive blocks in the compressed image in accordance with the scaling parameters. In an embodiment, P blocks are sampled and transformed from a given block length to |P| according to a |P|-point IDCT, while Q blocks are sampled and transformed from a given block length to |Q| according to a |Q|-point IDCT. The non-uniformly sampled and transformed pixel domain samples are then regrouped into a predetermined block size and transformed back to generate the DCT coefficient of the compressed image. The proposed method significantly reduces the computational complexity compared with other DCT domain arbitrary ratio image resizing approach. It also facilitates the practical implementations since only the fast implementations of IDCT with length N (1 |
| US08233723B2 |
Image categorization based on comparisons between images
In an example embodiment, a method is provided for image categorization. Here, images are displayed. In turn, a user input that describes a characteristic shared between the images from a comparison between the images is received. The user input may then be classified into categorization data. |
| US08233718B2 |
System and method for identifying a vascular border
A system and method is provided for using a first vascular image, or more particularly a plurality of control points located thereon, to identify a border on a second vascular image. Embodiments of the present invention operate in accordance with an intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS) device and a computing device electrically connected thereto. Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, an IVUS console is electrically connected to a computing device and adapted to acquire IVUS data. The IVUS data (or multiple sets thereof) is then provided to (or acquired by) the computing device. In one embodiment of the present invention, the computing device includes a plurality of applications operating thereon—i.e., a border-detection application, an extrapolation application, and an active-contour application. These applications are used to (i) identify a border and control points on a first IVUS image (i.e., any IVUS image), (ii) extrapolate the control points to a second IVUS image (i.e., another IVUS image), (iii) identify a border on the second IVUS image, and (iv) adjust the border on the second IVUS image in accordance with at least one factor. In one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one factor is selected from a group consisting of gradient factor, continuity factor, and curvature factor. |
| US08233715B2 |
Probabilistic intensity similarity measure based on noise distributions
Technologies for comparing observed intensities using a probabilistic similarity measure. In the probabilistic similarity measure example, there is no attempt to estimate a true intensity. Rather, the similarity of two observed intensities is defined as the likelihood that they each resulted from the same but unknown true identity while taking into account the noise characteristics of the camera observing the intensities. Since the true intensity is unknown, all possible true intensities are taken into account, rather than using a specific true intensity estimate. The probabilistic similarity measure indicates the degree to which two intensities correspond to the same intensity without estimating a true scene intensity value. |
| US08233714B2 |
Method and system for creating flexible structure descriptions
A method related to data capture from forms involving optical character recognition comprises detecting data fields on a scanned image; generating a flexible document description based on the detected data fields, including creating a set of search elements for each data field, each search element having associated search criteria; and training the flexible document description using a search algorithm to detect the data fields on additional training images based on the set of search elements. |
| US08233713B2 |
Image processing method and image processing apparatus
An image processing method, for receiving an input image and separating pixels having text characteristics and pixels having figure characteristics, includes: applying a first filtering processing for the input image to derive a first image processing result; applying a second filtering processing for the first image processing result to derive a second image processing result, wherein a distribution of filtering parameters of the first filtering processing is different from a distribution of filtering parameters of the second filtering processing; deriving a set of first reference values according to the first image processing result and the second image processing result; and determining whether each pixel within the input image is a text pixel or a figure pixel according to at least the set of the first reference values and a predetermined threshold. |
| US08233709B2 |
Color effects for compressed digital video
Implementing color effects in compressed digital video is improved upon by re-using the original video's compression parameters during the re-encoding stage, such that the parameters do not need to be re-estimated by the encoder. This improved method reduces complexity and also improves quality. Quality is improved due to re-use of the compression parameters since accumulated error which is common when re-encoding compressed video is prevented. For digital negatives, the effect is able to be implemented even more efficiently. |
| US08233702B2 |
Computer implemented technique for analyzing images
An input image is received, represented by a matrix D having a first number of dimensions. Each of the first number of dimensions may represent or correspond to a portion of the image. A metric objective may be identified. A dimensional reduction on the matrix D may then be performed that optimize the metric objective, so that a matrix d of a second number of dimensions is identified to represent the input image, where the second number of dimensions is less than the first number of dimensions. |
| US08233695B2 |
Generating image inspection data from subtracted corner-processed design data
A method of generating an inspection data used for inspecting an inspection-object pattern on a substrate, the inspection-object pattern formed by transferring a first mask pattern formed on a first mask and a second mask pattern formed on a second mask onto one layer on the substrate, a part of a first transferred pattern of the first mask pattern and a part of a second transferred pattern of the second mask pattern being overlapped on the layer. The method performs a corner process on each corner of a first design data of the first mask pattern and each corner of a second design data of the second mask pattern and generates an inspection data by performing a logical operation using the corner-processed first design data and the corner processed second design data. |
| US08233693B1 |
Automatic print and negative verification methods and apparatus
A method for inspecting a reel of motion picture film including a first plurality of frames of film, the method includes receiving the first plurality of frames of motion picture film to determine a first plurality of digital data, receiving a second plurality of digital data associated with source data, comparing digital data from the first plurality of digital data to respective digital data of the second plurality of digital data to determine plurality of anomalies associated with the first plurality of frames of motion picture film, and recording the plurality of anomalies associated with the first plurality of frames of motion picture film in a log. |
| US08233691B2 |
Reduction of heart motion artifacts in thoracic CT imaging
The invention relates to a system for adapting a plurality of model meshes to a plurality of image data. The system has a registration unit for registering the plurality of model meshes with the plurality of image data on the basis of a computation of a registration transformation for transforming the plurality of model meshes, and an adaptation unit for adapting the plurality of registered model meshes to the plurality of image data on the basis of a computation of locations of mesh vertices of the plurality of model meshes. The described system is capable of reducing motion artifacts in tomographic images computed from data acquired at a plurality of different cardiac cycle phases. |
| US08233688B2 |
Method of detection and compensation for respiratory motion in radiography cardiac images synchronized with an electrocardiogram signal
A method of detection and compensation for respiratory motion improves the registration between a 3D pre-operation image and X-ray images acquired during a cardiac intervention. By synchronizing the X-ray images with the electrocardiogram, the disclosed method thus eliminates the motion related to the heart cycle from these images, thus isolating the contribution of the respiratory motion. From this point, an algorithm is proposed capable of attributing the motion remaining in the radiography images to respiration. The algorithm also enables this motion to be detected and compensated for in order to obtain a registration between 3D cardiac images and radiography images. |
| US08233681B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for hierarchical registration between a blood vessel and tissue surface model for a subject and a blood vessel and tissue surface image for the subject
Methods, systems, and computer program products for hierarchical registration (102) between a blood vessel and tissue surface model (100) for a subject and a blood vessel and tissue surface image for the subject are disclosed. According to one method, hierarchical registration of a vascular model to a vascular image is provided. According to the method, a vascular model is mapped to a target image using a global rigid transformation to produce a global-rigid-transformed model. Piecewise rigid transformations are applied in a hierarchical manner to each vessel tree in the global-rigid-transformed model to perform a piecewise-rigid-transformed model. Piecewise deformable transformations are applied to branches in the vascular tree in the piecewise-transformed-model to produce a piecewise-deformable-transformed model. |
| US08233678B2 |
Imaging apparatus, imaging method and computer program for detecting a facial expression from a normalized face image
An image processing apparatus for processing an image, includes a face detector for detecting an image of a face of a subject contained in a captured image, based on image information of the captured image supplied from an imaging unit, a face feature detector for detecting a face feature contained in the face image, based on image information of the face image detected by the face detector, a normalizer for normalizing the face image detected by the face detector, based on a detected position of the face feature detected by the face feature detector and generating a normalized face image, and a face expression detector for detecting a face expression contained in the face image, based on image information of the normalized face image generated by the normalized. |
| US08233676B2 |
Real-time body segmentation system
In a human feature recognition system that is intended to provide substantially real-time recognition of body segments, various methods and structures are provided to facilitate real-time recognition with reduced computation requirements, including a face detection module employing an active boosting procedure and a lazy boosting procedure on a hybrid cascade structure, a human body segmentation module and a boundary matting module. The hybrid cascade structure is in the form of a tree where one type of node represents a strong classifier learned from active boosting, another type of classifier is obtained by low-computation-load lazy boosting, and weak classifiers are obtained from the previous layers. |
| US08233670B2 |
System and method for traffic sign recognition
This invention provides a vehicle-borne system and method for traffic sign recognition that provides greater accuracy and efficiency in the location and classification of various types of traffic signs by employing rotation and scale-invariant (RSI)-based geometric pattern-matching on candidate traffic signs acquired by a vehicle-mounted forward-looking camera and applying one or more discrimination processes to the recognized sign candidates from the pattern-matching process to increase or decrease the confidence of the recognition. These discrimination processes include discrimination based upon sign color versus model sign color arrangements, discrimination based upon the pose of the sign candidate versus vehicle location and/or changes in the pose between image frames, and/or discrimination of the sign candidate versus stored models of fascia characteristics. The sign candidates that pass with high confidence are classified based upon the associated model data and the drive/vehicle is informed of their presence. In an illustrative embodiment, a preprocess step converts a color image of the sign candidates into a grayscale image in which the contrast between sign colors is appropriate enhanced to assist the pattern-matching process. |
| US08233667B2 |
Apparatus and method for analysis of size, form and angularity and for compositional analysis of mineral and rock particles
Equipment and process for three-dimensional measurement of size and shape and for compositional analysis of mineral and rock particles and the like objects. A mixture of particles or objects of same or different sizes of minerals or rocks or the like are fed individually and automatically onto a conveyor belt for three-dimensional machine vision measurements using laser and two cameras and subsequently for spectroscopic measurements using visible and infrared light and are then collected at the end of the conveyor. Computer software is used to perform the measurement automatically and to calculate size, form, roundness, and preferably petrographic composition and other characteristics or properties of each individual object and the statistical distribution of relevant properties, either according to built-in measurement processes or user specific methods. |
| US08233666B2 |
Method and apparatus for capturing, geolocating and measuring oblique images
A computerized system for displaying and making measurements based upon captured oblique images. The system includes a computer system executing image display and analysis software. The software reads a plurality of captured oblique images having corresponding geo-location data and a data table storing ground plane data that approximates at least a portion of the terrain depicted within the captured oblique images. The executed software causes the computer system to receive a starting point selected by a user, receive an end point selected by the user and calculate a desired measurement between the starting and end points dependent upon the geo-location data and ground plane data. The desired measurement is selected from a group consisting of a distance measuring mode, a height measuring mode, and a relative elevation measuring mode. |
| US08233664B2 |
Determining relative depth of points in multiple videos
A relative depth of points captured by at least two recording sources are determined. A first sequence of image frames acquired from a first source and a second sequence of image frames acquired from a second source are received by a data processing system. The data processing system identifies a plurality of points-of-interest, each point-of-interest being present in both the first sequence and the second sequence. The points-of-interest are clustered into common depth planes at least by comparing motion across the sequences of different points-of-interest. Results of the clustering are stored in a processor-accessible memory system. |
| US08233659B2 |
Radiographic apparatus
A radiographic apparatus includes a radiation source for emitting radiation, a radiation detection device having radiation detecting elements arranged longitudinally and transversely for detecting the radiation, a radiation grid, and an object image correcting device. The object image correcting device generates a corrected image by deriving components of direct radiation in pixel values of an object image from a dark equation specifying that an average of radiation intensity in a dark pixel group formed of a dark pixel showing a shadow of one of absorbing foil strips and adjacent pixels transversely adjoining the dark pixel of each image is a sum of the components of direct radiation and components of indirect radiation, and light equations specifying that an average of radiation intensity in light pixels free of the shadows of the absorbing foil strips is a sum of the components of direct radiation and the components of indirect radiation. |
| US08233658B2 |
Security system using encoded image with puzzled image
Disclosed is a system for encoding an original image 10 using an image puzzle-type encoded image 20, and more particularly to a system for encoding an original image 10 using an image puzzle-type encoded image 20, in which an original image 10 including a photograph, a picture, a document, a character, a number, a fingerprint, or an iris image is divided into image pieces having a predetermined size and the divided image pieces are arranged according to a designated pattern so as to generate the image puzzle-type encoded image 20, so that it is possible to minimize the disclosure of information of the original image 10 using the image puzzle-type encoded image 20. The system includes an image encoding terminal 100 for converting the original image 10 into the encoded image 20 according to a image puzzling pattern so as to express the converted encoded image 20 on an encoded image expressing part 500, an image decoding terminal 200 for obtaining the encoded image 20 expressed on the encoded image expressing part 500 so as to restore the original image 10 according to the image puzzling pattern, and an image encoding server 300 for communicating with the image encoding terminal 100 and the image decoding terminal 200 so as to provide the image puzzling pattern. |
| US08233653B2 |
Receiver facility with a moveable receiver
The wearing comfort and acoustics in an external receiver, in particular in a cymba hearing device, are to be improved. A receiver facility with a receiver, which is embodied to convert the electrical signals into acoustic signals, and an earpiece, which adjusts to an auditory canal when the hearing apparatus is being worn, are thus proposed. A base part is also provided, to which the earpiece is fastened and to which the receiver is moveably fastened at least in respect of a section of the base part. The mobility of the receiver relative to the earpiece decouples the wearing function of the earpiece relative to a centering function in respect of the receiver, as a result of which the wearing comfort and acoustics are improved. |
| US08233650B2 |
Multi-stage estimation method for noise reduction and hearing apparatus
The noise reduction for signals which can contain speech at least part of the time is to be improved. To this end a hearing apparatus and especially a hearing device with a first estimation device for estimating a first value of an input signal with a first estimation algorithm and a noise reduction device for reducing noise in the input signal are provided. A second estimation device, which is parameterized with the estimated first value, is used for estimating a second value of the input signal with a second estimation algorithm. The noise reduction device receives the estimated second value from the second estimation device for reducing the noise. The two-stage estimation method enables an adaptive estimation to be carried out which is always currently adapted to an input signal. |
| US08233640B2 |
Sound output device
A sound output device of the present invention for outputting sound according to audio data fed thereto includes: a volume adjuster that is operated by a user in a predetermined manner, and that determines a ratio of volume of the sound to predetermined reference volume according to how it is operated by the user; a time detector detecting that a predetermined time has come; and a reference volume adjuster adjusting the reference volume according to a detection result of the time detector. Thus, the maximum level of the volume (which is dependent on the reference volume) can be automatically adjusted according to the current time. The volume adjuster determines the ratio of volume to reference volume according to the operation by the user. Thus, for example, the same operation performed by the user even under different levels of reference volume produces almost the same ratio of volume to reference volume. As a result, ease with which the user adjusts the volume can be prevented as much as possible from being impaired. |
| US08233639B2 |
Audio codec producing a tone controlled output
An audio codec includes an input for receiving audio information. Audio processing circuitry produces a first stereo audio signal, a second stereo audio signal, and a monotone audio signal based on the audio information. A low pass filter filters the monotone audio output, wherein the low pass filter passes a bass component of the monotone audio signal substantially unattenuated and attenuates higher frequency components of the monotone audio signal. A high pass filter filters the first stereo audio output, wherein the high passes filter passes a treble component of the first stereo audio signal substantially unattenuated and attenuates lower frequency components of the first stereo audio signal. A band pass filter filters the second stereo audio output, wherein the band pass filter passes a mid band component of the second audio signal substantially unattenuated and attenuates low frequency components and high frequency components of the second stereo audio signal. A summing module produces a tone controlled audio output. |
| US08233636B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program for suppressing noise
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program, which can suppress a low frequency range component with a small amount of calculation, and can achieve a noise suppression of high quality, are provided. The noise superposed in a desired signal of an input signal is suppressed by converting the input signal to a frequency domain signal; correcting an amplitude of the frequency domain signal to obtain an amplitude corrected signal; obtaining an estimated noise by using the amplitude corrected signal; determining a suppression coefficient by using the estimated noise and the amplitude corrected signal; and weighting the amplitude corrected signal with the suppression coefficient. |
| US08233634B2 |
Video/sound output device and external speaker control device
A television set includes: an internal speaker which outputs sound; a memory which holds information; a remote controller receiver which receives an instruction from the outside of the television set; a microcomputer which causes, based on a mode specifying instruction for specifying a sound output mode received by the remote controller receiver, the memory to hold any one of (a) information that indicates a first sound output mode in which sound is outputted from the internal speaker and (b) information that indicates a second sound output mode in which sound is outputted from an external speaker that is a speaker outside the television set; and an HDMI/CEC communication unit which outputs the information that indicates the sound output mode and that is held by the memory, to an amplifier which controls to operate or not operate the speaker outside the television set. |
| US08233629B2 |
Interaural time delay restoration system and method
An apparatus for processing audio data comprising an interaural time delay correction factor unit for receiving a plurality of channels of audio data and generating an interaural time delay correction factor. An interaural time delay correction factor insertion unit for modifying the plurality of channels of audio data as a function of the interaural time delay correction factor. |
| US08233627B2 |
Method and system for managing a key for encryption or decryption of data
A user private key is stored in a database of the user terminal. A user public key and user information are stored in the user management DB. The encryption/decryption unit encrypts an authority private key specific to a first authority given to a user, by using a user public key associated with user information to indicate a user. The secret sharing unit shares in secret an authority private key into two or more shared authority private keys. The encryption/decryption unit encrypts the shared authority private keys, by using an authority public key specific to each of second authorities to manage the first authority in a shared manner. The authority management DB stores the encrypted authority private key and authority public key in association with the first authority, and stores the encrypted shared authority private keys in association with the second authorities. |
| US08233626B2 |
Storage system and storage system management method
An object of the present invention is to prevent data from being tampered with, and to prevent operation mistakes, when sending and receiving data between a management software managing storage devices.Encrypting predetermined information by using a first key managed by a first manager when temporarily keeping the predetermined information in a data holding unit; decrypting the predetermined information encrypted with a second key kept in a storage device managed by a second storage manager when moving the encrypted predetermined information to the second storage manager; and arranging the predetermined information in the second manager based on the decryption result. |
| US08233620B2 |
Key recovery mechanism for cryptographic systems
A cryptographic system can include a register containing a key and a processor coupled to the register. The processor can be operable for performing a first encrypting operation, where the encrypting operation includes computing a key schedule using the register as a workspace. At the end of the first encrypting operation, the key is recovered from the register for use in a second encrypting operation. |
| US08233618B2 |
Method and system for generating a pair of public key and secret key
A method of generating a pair of public key and secret key, includes the steps of selecting a public key; selecting a secret key; computing a heavy prime number in responsive to the public key and the secret key; factoring the heavy prime number by selecting first and second prime numbers in condition that a sum of said first and second prime numbers equals to the heavy prime number; and pairing the secret key with the public key in term of the heavy prime number as a bridge to generate a unique combination between the secret key with the public key. Therefore, the secret key is definitively undetermined by conjecturing the public key even though the public key is known. |
| US08233615B2 |
Modular reduction using a special form of the modulus
A special form of a modulus and a modified Barrett reduction method are used to perform modular arithmetic in a cryptographic system. The modified Barrett reduction is a method of reducing a number modulo another number without the use of any division. By pre-computing static values used in the Barrett reduction method and by using a special form of the modulus, the calculation of reducing a number modulo another number can be reduced. This can result in a decrease in computation time, speeding up the overall cryptographic process. |
| US08233614B2 |
Integer division method secure against covert channel attacks
The invention relates to a cryptographic method involving an integer division of type q=a div b and r=a mod b, wherein a is a number of m bits, b is a number of n bits, with n being less than or equal to m, and bn−1 being non-null and the most significant bit of b. In addition, each iteration of a loop subscripted by i, which varies between 1 and m−n+1, involves a partial division of a word A of n bits of number a by number b in order to obtain one bit of quotient q. According to the invention, the same operations are performed with each iteration, regardless of the value of the quotient bit obtained. In different embodiments of the invention, one of the following is also performed with each iteration: the addition and subtraction of number b to/from word A; the addition of number b or a complementary number /b of b to word A; or a complement operation at 2n of an updated datum (b or /b) or a dummy datum (c or /c) followed by the addition of the datum updated with word A. |
| US08233612B2 |
Network apparatus capable of canceling far-end-crosstalk and network signal processing method thereof
The present invention provides a network apparatus capable of canceling far-end crosstalk (FEXT). When the network apparatus is under a training mode, hard data is provided to a FEXT canceller for performing FEXT cancellation. When the network apparatus is under a data mode, soft data is provided to the FEXT canceller for performing FEXT cancellation as well. Therefore, FEXT is effectively canceled, and consumption power of the network apparatus is saved. |
| US08233610B2 |
Assisting contact center agents and customers
A method of receiving a call from a first caller that is requesting for assistance with a product. Once the call center receives the call, a call-processing switch routes the first caller to a first agent. Once the caller is routed to the first agent, a first message is transmitted to both the first caller's terminal and the first agent's terminal. After the first message is presented to the first caller and the first agent, the call-processing switch will monitor the communications stream for distress. During monitoring of the communications stream, the call-processing switch will estimate whether a level of distress is present in the communications stream. If it is estimated by the call-processing switch that there is distress present in the communications stream, the call-processing switch will transmit a second message to the first caller's terminal and the first agent's terminal. |
| US08233607B1 |
Easy call abandon
A technique for managing simultaneous incoming and outgoing calls between the same far-end called terminal and far-end calling terminal and/or same user associated with a far-end called terminal and user associated with the far-end calling terminal includes an easy call abandon facility on a near-end terminal configured to compare information associated with an outgoing call to information associated with an incoming call. The easy call abandon facility is configured to initiate an audible or visible indicator when the terminal and/or user of the far-end called party is the same as that of the far-end calling party. In response to an easy call abandon indication received from a near-end terminal user, the easy call abandon facility disconnects the call from the near-end and connects the call received from the far-end terminal. |
| US08233606B2 |
Conference call hold with record and time compression
The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for allowing a conference call participant to place a conference call on hold. Additionally, a participant is provided with a number of rejoin and/or hold options that can be executed when the participant puts the conference call on hold and takes the conference call off of hold. The rejoin and/or hold options available to the participant may vary depending upon participant preference or the nature in which the participant is rejoining the conference call. |
| US08233605B2 |
Methods, systems, and products for monitoring conferences
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for monitoring a conference. A first bridging function is established that bridges together signals received from all conference participants. A second bridging function is established that bridges together signals received from i) a subset of the conference participants, ii) an output of the first bridging function, and iii) a monitor of the conference. The second bridging function isolates the monitor's signals from the conference such that only the subset of the conference participants may communicate with the monitor during the conference. |
| US08233599B2 |
Communication apparatus
A communication apparatus includes a main unit connectable to the Internet and at least one secondary unit that is connectable to the Internet via the main unit. The main unit includes, a communication control unit that controls telephone communication with an external apparatus via the Internet, a storing unit that stores at least one user ID assigned individually to at least one user authorized to use the communication control unit in association with the main unit and the at least one secondary unit and an activating unit that is capable of activating the communication control unit for each user ID. |
| US08233595B2 |
System and method for forwarding a session based on a recording capacity
A system and method for forwarding a session based on a recording capacity. A recording sub-system may inform a session forwarding component of a recording capacity associated with agents. A forwarding component may select an agent to handle a session based on a recording capacity associated with the agent. A session may be interrupted if the recording capacity associated with the session is reduced below a predefined level. |
| US08233590B2 |
Method for automatically controling volume level for calculating MOS
The present invention relates to a method of automatically controlling the volume level of communication speech for Mean Opinion Score (MOS) measurement, which, before evaluating the quality of communication speech using a MOS measurement method, automatically controls the volume level of actual communication speech to a predetermined optimal level, thus improving the reliability of MOS values.The present invention provides a method of automatically controlling a volume level of communication speech for MOS measurement using MOS measurement equipment, the MOS measurement equipment calculating an MOS value based on results obtained by comparing a speech signal, which is received via a voice communication network, with a reference speech signal, the method comprising the steps of (a) when an audio signal, including a speech signal, is received from counterpart MOS measurement equipment in a predetermined format, measuring the volume level of the speech signal and comparing the volume level of the measured speech signal with a reference volume level; (b) transmitting a predetermined intrinsic audible frequency signal, which corresponds to ‘proper,’ ‘excess’ or ‘insufficiency’ information resulting from the comparison, to the counterpart MOS measurement equipment; and (c) the counterpart MOS measurement equipment interpreting the predetermined intrinsic audible frequency signal, which corresponds to the ‘proper,’ ‘excess’ or ‘insufficiency’ information, and controlling the volume level of the communication speech. |
| US08233589B2 |
Scattered electron collector
Scattered electron collector comprising a heat absorbing member having a first end, a second end, an outer periphery and a central bore (14, 16), wherein the central bore is formed in longitudinal direction through the heat absorbing member from the first end to the second end, and a cooling element (50) having an outer periphery and an inner periphery (52). The outer periphery (12) of the heat absorbing member is adapted to be in contact with the inner periphery of the cooling element. Further, at least one slot (20) is formed from the central bore in the direction to the outer periphery of the heat absorbing member to reduce compression stress within the heat absorbing member. |
| US08233585B2 |
X-ray diagnostic device
In a precessional operation where an X-ray irradiation means and a two-dimensional radiation detector are moving on a circular or elliptic orbit respectively by rotating either one of holding means, that is a C arm or a holding means at angular rate of a·sin(t) under a steady state condition and by rotating the other holding means at angular rate of b·cos(t), the operation is carried out at angular rate (f(t), g(t)) to ensure that the maximum acceleration is smaller than the steady state acceleration during a running-up period until steady is reached. |
| US08233582B2 |
High dynamic range coulomb counter which simultaneously monitors multiple sense resistors
A circuit may include a source of electrical energy and a plurality of current loads. Each load may be of a different amount. For each current load, a resistance may be in series between the source and the current load. The resistance may be weighted inversely proportional to the amount of the current load with respect to the other resistances. For each resistance, an integrator may generate an integrated output representative of an integration of the current traveling through the resistance. A summer may generate a summed output which is representative of the sum of each of the integrated outputs, weighted inversely proportional to the resistance that is associated with the integrated output. |
| US08233580B2 |
Method and system for producing radioisotopes
A system for automatic production of radioisotopes includes an irradiation unit connectable to a cyclotron and having an electrolytic cell; a purification unit for purifying the radioisotope formed in the irradiation unit; two conduits for transferring an irradiated and electrodissolved target from the irradiation unit to the purification unit; and a central control unit for controlling both the operating units and the transfer means. The method for producing radioisotopes is such that the target carrier is not dissolved together with the irradiated target. |
| US08233579B2 |
Devices comprising delay line for applying variable delay to clock signal
The disclosure relates to a device comprising at least one delay line for applying a variable delay to a clock signal and a controller for controlling the variable delay of the delay line. Each delay line comprises a plurality of concatenated delay banks which provide different delay values with respect to each other, a bypass parallel over each of said the delay banks, and switching elements associated with each of the delay banks for selecting either the respective delay bank or the respective bypass. Each of the delay banks is provided with a delay bank status indicator for indicating propagation of the clock signal through the delay bank towards the controller. The controller is provided for taking the indicated propagation of the clock signal into account upon setting said switching elements. Devices according to this disclosure are, amongst other uses, suited for use in Ultra Wide Band (UWB) receiving or transmitting devices, in particular those devices, designed for low power consumption, by enabling power on and off switching of parts of such devices as analog to digital converters and integrators, during timing windows. |
| US08233578B2 |
Phase-interpolator based PLL frequency synthesizer
A phase lock loop frequency synthesizer includes a phase rotator in the feedback path of the PLL. The PLL includes a phase detector, a low pass filter, a charge pump, a voltage controlled oscillator (“VCO”), and a feedback path connecting output of the VCO to the phase detector. The feedback path includes a phase rotator connected to the output of the VCO and to an input of a frequency divider. Coarse frequency control is implemented by adjusting the input reference frequency to the phase detector or by adjusting the divider ratio of the frequency divider. Fine frequency control is achieved by increasing or decreasing the rotation speed of the phase rotator. The phase rotator constantly rotates phase of the VCO output, thereby causing a frequency shift at the output of the phase rotator. |
| US08233573B2 |
Dynamic optimization of overlap-and-add length
A method of performing overlap-and-add length for zero-padded suffixes. The method includes derotating received information symbol samples. The derotated received information symbol samples include a first set of derotated received information symbol samples and a second set of derotated received information symbol samples. The first set of derotated received information symbol samples are stored in a buffer. The second set of derotated received information symbol samples are provided to a received sample processing unit. The received zero-padded suffix samples are deroted. Based upon an overlap-and-add length, at least a fraction of the derotated received zero-padded suffix samples is added with at least a fraction of the first set of derotated received information symbol samples to produce multiple summed samples. The multiple summed samples is provided to the received sample processing unit. |
| US08233572B2 |
Interference mitigation for impulse-based communication
In a pulse-based communication system a transmitting device may generate a series of pulses to convey information via a communication medium to a receiving device. In some situations, interference from one or more interfering devices may alter the pulse energy as it is transmitted through the communication medium. To mitigate the effect of such interference, a receiving device may mark certain received pulses as erasures. In this way, such pulses may be ignored during the decoding operation of the receiver. |
| US08233570B2 |
Adaptive channel prediction system and method
A method and system for predicting channel fading, particularly in a mobile wireless environment, that is accurate for long-range predictions. The method comprises estimating a model parameters based on a current channel estimate, and recursively adapting the model parameters to predict future channel fading coefficients until a predetermined re-acquisition condition is satisfied. Once the re-acquisition condition has been satisfied, the model parameters are again estimated based on a current channel estimate. The acquired model parameters are adaptively updated and used in a Kalman filter. |
| US08233563B2 |
Outphasing amplification of digital modulated signals in a radiofrequency transmission system
Radiofrequency transmission system including a digital module producing a first complex digital signal quantised on N bits, a module transforming the first complex digital signal into two second complex digital signals with an identical and constant envelope that are phase-shifted with respect to one another, sigma-delta filters quantising the two second signals into third M bits signals, M being less than N, a digital-to-analogue converter converting the third signals into analogue signals, band-pass filters selectively filtering the analogue signals in a predetermined transmission frequency band, amplifiers amplifying the filtered analogue signals, and filters recombining the amplified analogue signals for transmission. |
| US08233562B2 |
System and method for closed-loop signal distortion
The system and method disclosed herein provide for closed-loop compensation of significant amplitude versus frequency group delay distortion that may be introduced into a satellite communication system signal by the uplink equipment and a satellite repeater equipment. One or more equalizers can be configured to automatically assess distortion at the downlink receiver, automatically calculate the necessary pre-distortion coefficients and provide them to a modulator that pre-distorts the uplink signal to thereby cancel the distortion. |
| US08233558B2 |
Methods and systems for space-time coding for distributed cooperative communicaton
Methods and systems for space-time coding for distributed cooperative communication. |
| US08233557B2 |
Method and system for subspace beamforming for near capacity multiple input multiple output (MIMO) performance
Aspects of a system for subspace beamforming for near capacity MIMO performance may include a MIMO transmitter that computes one or more rotation angle values (θf) based on a channel estimate matrix (H). In instances when each rotation angle is computed based on a Euclidean distance criterion, each value θf may also be computed based on a computed Euclidean distance. Alternatively, in instances when each rotation angle is computed based on a bit error rate (BER) criterion, each value θf may also be computed based on a signal noise power level (N0). A plurality of spatial stream signals (xi) may be generated utilizing one or more constellation types. The constellation map for each constellation type may be rotated based on a corresponding value θf. A plurality of transmit chain signals (txi) may be generated based on the signals xi and transmitted via a communication medium characterized by matrix H. |
| US08233550B2 |
Method of removing blocking artifact by filtering pixels in a horizontal and then vertical direction
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining quantization information of a first block, and determining a filtering coefficient based on values obtained from a table using the quantization. Four successive filtered pixel values in horizontal direction are obtained based on the filtering coefficient, and four successive filtered pixel values in the vertical direction are obtained based on the filtering coefficient after obtaining the four successive filtered pixel values in the horizontal direction. |
| US08233549B2 |
Video receiving apparatus and video receiving method to address error in received video
A video receiving apparatus includes a receiving unit, a detecting unit, a determining unit, and a control unit. The receiving unit receives a video stream transmitted from a video distribution apparatus and to be reproduced by a video reproducing unit. The detecting unit detects an error occurrence position on the video stream in response to an error occurring during receiving of the video stream. The determining unit determines a reproduction start time based on the error occurrence position detected by the detecting unit and a position of a predetermined synchronization code in the video stream so that reproduction of the video stream is started before the error occurrence position. The control unit transmits a reproduction request including the determined reproduction start time to the video distribution apparatus. |
| US08233548B2 |
Noise reduction device and noise reduction method of compression coded image
A noise reduction device includes a two-dimensional noise reducing unit for reducing noise by arithmetic processing within an image, a three-dimensional noise reducing unit for receiving the video signal from the two-dimensional noise reducing unit and reducing noise by arithmetic processing between images, a first noise reduction intensity setting unit for setting noise reduction intensity of the two-dimensional noise reducing unit, and a second noise reduction intensity setting unit for setting noise reduction intensity of the three-dimensional noise reducing unit. The second noise reduction intensity setting unit sets the noise reduction intensity of the three-dimensional noise reducing unit, so that the noise reduction intensity of the three-dimensional noise reducing unit becomes lower as the noise reduction intensity of the two-dimensional noise reducing unit becomes higher. |
| US08233545B2 |
Run length encoding in VLIW architecture
A computer implemented method of video data encoding generates a mask having one bit corresponding each spatial frequency coefficient of a block during quantization. The bit state of the mask depends upon whether the corresponding quantized spatial frequency coefficient is zero or non-zero. The runs of zero quantized spatial frequency coefficients determined by a left most bit detect instruction are determined from the mask and run length encoded. The mask is generated using a look up table to map the scan order of quantization to the zig-zag order of run length encoding. Variable length coding and inverse quantization optionally take place within the run length encoding loop. |
| US08233544B2 |
Video coding with fine granularity scalability using cycle-aligned fragments
The disclosure describes FGS video coding techniques that use cycle-aligned fragments (CAFs). The techniques may perform cycle-based coding of FGS video data block coefficients and syntax elements, and encapsulate cycles in fragments for transmission. The fragments may be cycle-aligned such that a start of a payload of each of the fragments substantially coincides with a start of one of the cycles. In this manner, cycles can be readily accessed via individual fragments. Some cycles may be controlled with a vector mode to scan to a predefined position within a block before moving to another block. In this manner, the number of cycles can be reduced, reducing the number of fragments and associated overhead. The CAFs may be entropy coded independently of one another so that each fragment may be readily accessed and decoded without waiting for decoding of other fragments. Independent entropy coding may permit parallel decoding and simultaneous processing of fragments. |
| US08233539B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting packet-based image frame
A method and apparatus for transmitting a packet-based image frame, the method including: dividing an input image into intra and inter prediction frames and encoding the intra and inter prediction frames; applying different error resilience algorithms to the intra and inter prediction frames; and performing forward error correction (FEC) on the intra and inter prediction frames according to the corresponding error resilience algorithms. According to aspects of the present invention, optimal error correction may be performed in accordance with characteristics of frames when image data is transmitted. Thus, a strong image streaming service for preventing errors of a mobile environment may be implemented simply and efficiently. |
| US08233538B2 |
Methods and systems for image intra-prediction mode management
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for ordering, communicating and applying pixel intra-prediction modes. |
| US08233536B2 |
Methods and systems for multiplication-free inter-layer image prediction
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for predicting image elements, comprising scaling a received low dynamic range (LDR) image element value for an image element via a binary shift operation, where the binary shift operation is based on a received prediction shift value, and combining, via a received additive operation, the scaled LDR image element value with the received LDR image element value. |
| US08233535B2 |
Region-based processing of predicted pixels
A method for decoding a compressed video data sequence containing one or more coded pixel blocks The compressed video sequence is buffered. Prediction information for each of the coded pixel blocks is reviewed. One or more groups of coded pixel blocks are formed based on the reviewed prediction information such that the coded pixel blocks within a given group have similar prediction dependencies and/or at least do not depend on a reconstructed pixel within a group of received pixel blocks to enable parallel decoding. The formed groups are scheduled for processing and subsequently decoded to produce a decoded video data sequence. |
| US08233534B2 |
Frame buffer compression and memory allocation in a video decoder
Frame buffer video compression on an input video stream to efficiently allocate and utilize memory used for storing reference frames in a video decoder includes parsing a video header to obtain a maximum number of reference frames (N), dividing an available frame buffer memory to hold [N+1] compressed frames, controlling a compression process to limit a size of each frame such that said size is not less than a frame buffer memory size divided by [N+1], parsing messages that contain reference frames by looking ahead in an input video stream buffer of the input video stream, and allocating memory for compressing a given reference frame based on a number of needed frames at a frame buffer. A quantization of the compression process may be adjusted to improve a picture quality of the input video stream. |
| US08233533B2 |
Apparatus for obtaining a filtered value by application of a shift operation
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder configured to determine a reference pixel group including a pixel to be filtered. The reference pixel group includes at least three successive pixels. The decoder is configured to applying weight factors to at least each of the three successive reference pixels. The weight factors are different according to pixel position. A filtered value is obtained by the decoder by summing at least the three weighted successive pixels and applying a shift operation to the sum for dividing the sum. |
| US08233531B2 |
Processing apparatus and processing method for a digital television
A processing method and a processing apparatus for a digital television are provided. A processing apparatus for a digital television (DTV) to process a DTV stream, comprising: a demultiplexing unit for retrieving a service information from the DTV stream; a memory coupled to the demultiplexing unit for storing the service information; a first processor coupled to the memory for assigning a task by sending a command according to the service information; a second processor coupled to the memory for processing the task according the command; a communication unit coupled to the first processor and the second processor, for receiving the command from the first processor and sending the command to the second processor; and at least one function module coupled to the first processor and the second processor, respectively, controlled by the first processor or the second processor, to process the service information. |
| US08233527B2 |
Software video transcoder with GPU acceleration
Embodiments of the invention as described herein provide a solution to the problems of conventional methods as stated above. In the following description, various examples are given for illustration, but none are intended to be limiting. Embodiments are directed to a transcoding system that shares the workload of video transcoding through the use of multiple central processing unit (CPU) cores and/or one or more graphical processing units (GPU), including the use of two components within the GPU: a dedicated hardcoded or programmable video decoder for the decode step and compute shaders for scaling and encoding. The system combines usage of an industry standard Microsoft DXVA method for using the GPU to accelerate video decode with a GPU encoding scheme, along with an intermediate step of scaling the video. |
| US08233526B2 |
Scalable video coding method
A method of scalable video coding in which the video signal is processed and coded at various layers of spatial resolution where between each pair of spatial layers a prediction mechanism is enabled which allows a comparison at homologous layers of spatial resolution with the aim to obtain a good efficiency. |
| US08233523B2 |
Multidimensional asymmetric bang-bang control
In one embodiment, a system includes one or more digital feedback equalizers (DFEs) that include one or more residual intersymbol interference (ISI) detectors, one or more column balancers, and one or more weight selectors. The residual ISI detectors produce a first output signal indicating whether the residual ISI of a received input signal has a positive sign or a negative sign. The column balancers select one of the first output signals to produce a second output signal. The weight selectors access one of the weight values. The weight value corresponds to the column balancer, the residual ISI detector, and the sign of the residual ISI, and has a magnitude that is dependent on the sign of the residual ISI. The weight selectors produce a third output signal based on the weight value and the sign of the residual ISI. |
| US08233521B1 |
Flexible upstream resource sharing in cable modem systems
A cable modem termination system may include a number of receivers and a number of input ports configured to receive bursts of data from a number of cable modems on a number of channels. At least one receiver of the number of receivers may be configured to receive and decode bursts of data on at least one channel according to a first control signal. An input selector may be connected between the number of input ports and the number of receivers. The input selector may be configured to route bursts of data from the number of input ports to the number of receivers according to a second control signal. |
| US08233517B2 |
Pilot-based SINR estimation for MIMO systems
A combination of parametric and non-parametric approaches are disclosed for enabling pilot-based SINR estimation for MIMO systems. The pilot-based SINR estimation embodiments account for precoding applied during either single-stream or multi-stream data transmission. The pilot-based SINR estimation embodiments also account for code reuse interference which arises during multi-stream data transmission when spreading codes are reused on the data channel. Accordingly, mismatches that exist between the data channel and the pilot channel because of precoding and/or code reuse are inherently accounted for by the pilot-based SINR estimation embodiments disclosed herein. |
| US08233516B2 |
Wideband correlation mode switching methods and apparatuses
Methods and apparatus are provided for use in devices operatively enabled to perform waveform correlation result processing. |
| US08233512B2 |
Laser light source module
A heat sink is made of a material excellent in thermal conductivity and is mounted on a stem; a sub-mount substrate is made of a material excellent in insulation property and is mounted on the heat sink; a first lead frame made of a material excellent in electric conductivity and thermal conductivity and having a linear expansion coefficient similar to that of a semiconductor laser array, is mounted on the sub-mount substrate, having the semiconductor laser array mounted thereon, and composing a power feeding path of the semiconductor laser array; a second lead frame made of a material excellent in electric conductivity and thermal conductivity, is arranged on the sub-mount substrate side by side with the first lead frame, and composing the power feeding path of the semiconductor laser array; and a wire electrically bonds the semiconductor laser array and the second lead frame. |
| US08233511B2 |
Method and system for modulation of gain suppression in high average power laser systems
A high average power laser system with modulated gain suppression includes an input aperture associated with a first laser beam extraction path and an output aperture associated with the first laser beam extraction path. The system also includes a pinhole creation laser having an optical output directed along a pinhole creation path and an absorbing material positioned along both the first laser beam extraction path and the pinhole creation path. The system further includes a mechanism operable to translate the absorbing material in a direction crossing the first laser beam extraction laser path and a controller operable to modulate the second laser beam. |
| US08233510B2 |
Dual output laser source
A dual output laser source provided on a substrate outputs light from a first and second output. A portion of the light generated by the laser is supplied to a first modulator via the first output. A second portion of the light generated by the laser is supplied to a second modulator via the second output. The first modulator is provided on the substrate and generates a first modulated signal. The second modulator is also provided on the substrate and generates a second modulated signal. Each output of the laser is used to provide continuous wave light sources to components on photonic integrated circuit. |
| US08233509B2 |
Laser system with picosecond pulse emission
The invention relates to a device (1) for generating short pulses, said device being characterized in that it comprises: a polarized pulse laser (10, 2, 3) having a polarization direction; a bi-refringent optical fiber (6) having bi-refringence axes, wherein said polarization direction is not co-linear with said bi-refringence axes; an output polarizer (9) provided at the output of said fiber, said polarizer being capable of selecting a polarization at the output of said fiber; wherein said pulse laser in a longitudinally quasi-single mode laser. |
| US08233507B1 |
8/10 and 64/66 aggregation
A transmitter including a plurality of input lanes, a substitutor module, and an interleaver module. The plurality of input lanes is configured to receive input symbols including data symbols and idle symbols, wherein the input symbols are arranged into columns of concurrently received input symbols, and wherein each of the columns includes one input symbol from each of the plurality of input lanes. The substitutor module is configured to, at intervals, replace one of the columns with a column of alignment symbols. The substitutor module is further configured to replace an immediately subsequent one of the columns with a column of disposable symbols; and replace one or more immediately subsequent ones of the columns with columns of boundary symbols uninterrupted by disposable symbols. The interleaver module is configured to interleave symbols from the substitutor module between a first transmit lane and a second transmit lane. |
| US08233500B2 |
Context-dependent scheduling through the use of anticipated grants for broadband communication systems
A method of scheduling upstream bandwidth. This method comprises: 1) anticipating the need for the upstream bandwidth in advance of any specific request for said upstream bandwidth; and 2) scheduling the upstream bandwidth in accordance with such need. |
| US08233497B2 |
Communication control apparatus
A communication control apparatus controls radio communications with other communication device through a relay device. The communication control apparatus includes a transmission control unit that notifies a data transmission to the relay device, and performs the data transmission to the relay device when the transmission control unit receives a response to the notification from the relay device indicating that the data transmission is possible, and stops a data transmission when the transmission control unit receives a response to a notification made by another communication device from the relay device, a collision conjecture unit that conjectures a collision of frames at the data transmission in accordance with a predetermined condition, and a threshold value control unit that sets a threshold value to determine an assertion or a negation of the transmission control unit in accordance with a result of the conjecture of the collision. |
| US08233494B2 |
Hierarchical and incremental multivariate analysis for process control
A technique for analyzing two or more data streams respectively generated from two or more components of a controllable process includes the following steps. In a first step, a statistical analysis is performed on each of the two or more data streams to generate first analysis results in the form of respective statistical results for the two or more data streams. In a second step, at least a portion of the statistical results from at least one of the two or more data streams is combined with at least a portion of the statistical results from at least another one of the two or more data streams to yield second analysis results. The controllable process is adjustable based on at least one of the first analysis results and the second analysis results. |
| US08233491B2 |
Embedded media terminal adapter (EMTA) endpoint redirect mode
Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling an embedded media terminal adapter (EMTA) with included MIB objects to redirect a received telephone call. Based on the MIB objects, the EMTA communicates with a cable modem termination system (CMTS) to set up two service flows where one flow is set up between two EMTAs and one flow is set up between the endpoint EMTA and the NOC. |
| US08233489B2 |
System, method, and router for routing data packets in an overlay network
A system, method, and router for routing data packets in an overlay network built over heterogeneous layer-3 domains. A link state overlay routing protocol enables an overlay router to route data packets based on flat identifiers and decides the best path to a destination taking into account a number of parameters such as round trip time. Scalability is provided by making routing decisions based on a network identifier rather than a single end-node identifier. |
| US08233487B2 |
Communication network system that establishes communication path by transferring control signal
In an MPLS/GMPLS network, a link used by a communication path for each hop and adaptations used at the boundary between management domains or layers are appropriately and automatically selected according to a service type and a required maintenance condition, without making a control sequence complicated. First, a unit for requesting path establishment by including an identifier of a service to be provided and a service attribute in a communication path establishment control message is provided for a source node. Second, a unit for determining a required maintenance condition for a communication path and adaptations according to the service identifier and/or the service attribute is provided for each node. Third, links and nodes through which the communication path passes are determined by comparing each of achievable maintenance conditions for network resources with the required maintenance condition. The determined links, nodes, adaptations are specified as operation parameters in switches and/or interfaces. |
| US08233481B2 |
Access class based picocell policy enforcement
Methods and systems for providing access class based picocell policy enforcement includes determining whether user equipment registered with a radio access point is known to an enterprise other than a macro telecommunications service provider and eligible for differentiated services, recovering an internet protocol (IP) address associated with communication traffic from the user equipment, confirming that the IP address associated with communication traffic from the user equipment is within a predetermined range, determining whether the IP address associated with communication traffic from the user equipment uniquely identifies an enterprise context, as opposed to a macro telecommunications service context, and when the IP address associated with communication traffic from the user equipment uniquely identifies an enterprise context, causing IP packets received from the Internet to be routed to an enterprise controller that services the user equipment via the radio access point. |
| US08233477B1 |
Dynamic crosstalk reduction for backplane serial channels
Methods of operating a packet network device having multiple serial channels crossing a backplane are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a management function performs dynamic modifications to the packet network device configuration in response to detected backplane errors. These modifications can directly alter a characteristic of a channel that is generating errors, or can indirectly affect such a channel by directly altering a characteristic of an “aggressor” channel that is indicated as producing crosstalk on that channel. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08233473B2 |
IP telephone system and computer readable storage medium
An IP telephone terminal includes an identification data receiving unit that receives, over an Internet, identification data identifying another IP telephone terminal. A communicating unit establishes IP telephone communications with the other IP telephone terminal identified by the identification data via the Internet. An IP telephone function controlling unit controls execution of an IP telephone function used to implement a telephone call with the other IP telephone terminal via a communicating unit that establishes IP telephone communications with the other IP telephone terminal. A terminal data acquiring unit acquires terminal data included in the identification data when acquisition data is determined to be included in the identification data. A process data transmission controlling unit controls transmission of a process data to the other IP telephone terminal, the process data being data used in the function identified by the terminal data acquired by the terminal data acquiring unit. |
| US08233466B1 |
Dual WiMAX radio modem
A system and method are provided for more effectively utilizing modems in a WiMAX environment, so as to improve network connectivity while providing access for both fixed as well as portable computing devices. The apparatus connects one or more computing devices to a network-based information system through at least a first WiMAX modem that is located within the apparatus. A second WiMAX modem can be removably coupled to the apparatus so as to improve network connectivity and operability. In the event, the second WiMAX modem is removed and coupled to a portable computing device, network connectivity provided by the first WiMAX modem is maintained. |
| US08233463B2 |
Method for constructing virtual backbone in wireless sensor network
Disclosed is a method for constructing a virtual backbone in a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN). The method including the steps of setting a ‘Dominator’ status for a gateway or a sink node within the WSN, setting a ‘CoveredByDominator’ status for each neighbor node positioned in the transmission range of a node for which the ‘Dominator’ status is set, and setting a ‘NULL’ status for each of the other nodes, transmitting a beacon frame by periods from each node to neighbor nodes thereof within the WSN, receiving, by each node in the ‘CoveredByDominator’ status, the beacon frame from neighbor nodes thereof in the ‘NULL’ status, computing a time duration of a defer timer, and enabling the defer timer to operate by the computed time duration; and changing, to the ‘Dominator’ status, a status of a node whose defer timer expires earliest among the nodes all having the ‘CoveredByDominator’ status. |
| US08233462B2 |
High speed media access control and direct link protocol
Techniques for MAC processing for efficient use of high throughput systems that may be backward compatible with various types of legacy systems are disclosed. In one aspect, a data frame is formed comprising a common portion for transmission in a format receivable by various stations, such as access points and remote stations. The data frame also comprises a dedicated portion, formatted for transmission to a specified remote station. In another aspect, the common portion is unsteered, and the dedicated portion is steered. In another aspect, an access point schedules an allocation in response to a data indication included in a common portion of a data frame transmitted from one remote station to another. In another aspect, a first station transmits a reference to a second station, which measures the reference and generates feedback therefrom. |
| US08233457B1 |
Synchronization-free station locator in wireless network
A method of providing synchronization-free station locating in a wireless network is provided. In this method, an AP having a known location sends a unicast packet to the station and notes its time of departure TOD(D). The station receives the unicast packet, notes its time of arrival TOA(D), sends an acknowledgement packet to the AP, and notes its time of departure TOD(D_ACK). The AP receives the acknowledgment packet and notes its time of arrival TOA(D_ACK). Notably, a distance between the AP and the station can be accurately determined using a first difference between the TOA(D_ACK) and the TOD(D) and a second difference between the TOD(D_ACK) and the TOA(D). A plurality of such computed distances between a plurality of APs and the station can be used to determine an accurate location of the station. |
| US08233454B2 |
Communication system and method for switching between wireless connections
A management apparatus instructs a wireless terminal wirelessly connecting to a first base station to switch wireless connection to a second base station. After the wireless terminal switches the wireless connection to the second base station as instructed, the wireless terminal transmits a message for updating information used for determining a forwarding destination of the message received by the relay apparatus. The relay apparatus updates the information used for determining the forwarding destination of the received message based on the message transmitted from the wireless terminal. |
| US08233451B2 |
Method and apparatus for accommodating higher order modulation in wireless communication
A method and apparatus for reconfiguring a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) are directed to receiving an active set update message indicating that a mode of operation allowing a certain modulation scheme is enabled or disabled and performing at least one of: performing a MAC reset procedure, updating a set of reference enhanced transport format combination indicators (E-TFCIs) and associated power offsets, determining actions related to E-DPCCH boosting, modifying information related to an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH), and modifying an index that indicates an E-DCH transport block size table. The update message includes at least one modified information element (IE). |
| US08233444B2 |
Spectrum management in dynamic spectrum access wireless systems
A wireless system and method including a medium access control (MAC) layer adapted to transmit and receive spectrum management commands for wireless devices operating in restricted channels. |
| US08233443B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method
A wireless communication apparatus is provided. The wireless communication apparatus includes: detection means that detects that there is another wireless communication apparatus around the wireless communication apparatus; comparison means that compares a first reference value managed in the wireless communication apparatus with a second reference value managed in the another wireless communication apparatus; means that corrects the first reference value based on the comparison result; and means that announces the first reference value to the another wireless communication apparatus. Frequencies are set such that a frequency of the wireless communication apparatus becomes same as a frequency of still another wireless communication apparatus to which a radio wave of the wireless communication apparatus does not reach but a radio wave of the another wireless communication apparatus reaches. |
| US08233439B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining transmit power
A method and an apparatus for determining transmit power are disclosed. The method includes: determining an E-DPDCH gain factor in compressed mode according to the number of E-DPDCH required for initial transmission of data; and determining transmit power of E-DPDCH according to the E-DPDCH gain factor in compressed mode. The E-DPDCH gain factor in compressed mode is determined according to the number of E-DPDCH required for initial transmission of data, and therefore, the E-DPDCH gain factor in compressed mode is determined accurately, the transmit power of E-DPDCH is determined accurately according to the E-DPDCH gain factor, the waste of transmit power of E-DPDCH is reduced, and therefore the system capacity is improved. |
| US08233435B2 |
Inter-channel communication methods in multi-channel wireless networks
A network information apparatus (400), system (100) (200) and method for distributing network information in a multi-channel (MC) wireless network (100) (200), comprising a network information module (400) that implements inter-channel communication of network information in an MC network according to a pre-determined network information sharing procedure and keeping an own cache (401) of each node refreshed and free of out-of-date information, and, for an active proxy-based sharing procedure thereof only, adapting to changes in node/channel associations, suppressing duplicate inter-channel information, and synchronizing own clocks (404) of each node. |
| US08233434B2 |
System and method for adaptive control of an averaging parameter for PCINR and RSSI
A system and method for adaptive control of an averaging parameter in a communications network may include an averaging parameter adaptive control module (APAC) that is associated with a base station and that includes one or more processors configured to generate a first averaging parameter that is transmitted by the base station to a mobile station communicating with the base station. The mobile station may use the first averaging parameter to generate first channel condition information that indicates a condition of a communication channel. First feedback information including the first channel condition information may be received at the base station. The APAC may generate a second averaging parameter using the first averaging parameter and the first feedback information and may transmit the second averaging parameter from the base station to the mobile station, thereby adaptively controlling the second averaging parameter based on the first feedback information. |
| US08233433B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for initiating WLAN service using beacon signals
An access point transmits a beacon signal when a multimode communication device is within a maximum proximity of the access point. A wireless wide area network (WWAN) receiver in the access point monitors a WWAN uplink channel used by the multimode wireless communication device to communicate with a WWAN base station. The access point determines, or at least estimates, a proximity of the multimode communication device to the access point based on a received WWAN uplink signal transmitted by the multimode wireless communication device. If the proximity is less than a proximity threshold, the access point transmits the beacon signal. The beacon signal at least indicates the presence of the access point and, in some circumstances, includes instructions or information to assist in a handoff from the WWAN to the WLAN. |
| US08233432B2 |
Ensuring physical locality of entities sharing data
A method and system for ensuring that data is only distributed within a certain physical area are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method provides that data is distributed only if the distance between a source and a sink is within a distance threshold. Under this system, the distance between the source and the sink may be estimated directly or indirectly. In some embodiments, the distance may be estimated by estimating the propagation delay for a signal traversing between the devices. The physical distance between the devices may be determined from the propagation delay. If the physical distance is outside a threshold value, the source may be prohibited from transmitting the data or the sink may refuse to display the data. |
| US08233430B2 |
Communication method, terminal, and base station
A terminal transmits a request for a resource assignment to a base station, and acquires a value of a resource for data transmission. The terminal does not transmit the new data to the base station when the resource for data transmission does not exist, and transmits the new data to the base station otherwise, after acquiring the value. The terminal autonomously transmits, when the new data is transmitted to the base station and a NAK signal is received from the base station, the retransmission data to the base station without sending a transmission request to the base station for resources to transmit the retransmission data. |
| US08233425B2 |
Aircraft communications system selectively allocating data communications channel capacity and associated methods
A communications system for an aircraft carrying personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft includes a ground-based communications network, and an access point in the aircraft for providing a WLAN for data communications with the PEDs. An air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperates with the access point for data communications with the ground-based communications network. At least one data traffic controller selectively allocates data communications channel capacity between the PEDs and the ground-based communications network. |
| US08233417B1 |
Femtocell architecture using internet protocol multimedia subsystem centralized services
A femtocell includes a transceiver that receives a first request signal from a first service request device (SRD) that operates in at least one of a circuit switched (CS) domain and a packet switched (PS) domain. A control module generates a second request signal based on the first request signal. The transceiver transmits the second request signal in at least one of the CS domain and the PS domain from the femtocell to a mobile switch center (MSC) server. The transceiver provides Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) centralized services (ICS) to the first SRD based on the second request signal. |
| US08233415B2 |
Preamble structure for enabling multi-mode wireless communications
A method for generating preamble structures to be used in multi-mode wireless communication systems. The method includes generating a basic element sequence in a predefined length, wherein the basic element sequence has a circularly orthogonal property; generating a type-A preamble by repeating the basic element sequence a number of predefined times; and generating a type-B preamble by adding respective values of real parts to values of imaginary parts of elements in the type-A preamble. The type-A preamble and type-B preamble are cross-correlated. |
| US08233414B2 |
Systems and methods for indicating buffered data at an access point using an embedded traffic indication map
Stations in standby mode periodically wake up to check for buffered data at the access points. Traditionally, the information is available by checking the periodic beacon frame for a traffic indication map (TIM). Unfortunately, the length of beacons has steadily increased with the progression of the various wireless standards requiring stations to wake up for longer periods to merely check for buffered data. Several approaches are disclosed which address this shortcoming, including the broadcast of TIM frames, the partial reception of beacon frames and the use of an embedded TIM frame within a beacon frame. |
| US08233412B1 |
Multi-signal, software-defined and staring cognitive communications system
The integrated, multiple independent, simultaneous signal software defined radio system architecture of this invention is suitable for many new very-low latency, software defined radio applications, both cognitive and conventional, including: communications networks, electronic warfare, surveillance and radar. The system supports multiple operations, locally controlled or remotely controlled, with simultaneous signals prosecutions and anti-jam system-to-system networking. New cognitive waveforms are defined that simultaneously seek to maximize data throughput in arbitrary spectral environments, while normally avoiding interference with current and new arbitrary signal occurrences. The cognitive radio system has the capability to continuously receive and process all the ongoing signals present in a wideband frequency block, including the recognition/characterization of all signals and the recovery of multiple desired signals, and then rapidly respond by transmitting as appropriate, multi-carrier, modulated signals. The present invention uses massively-parallel fixed tuned receive channelization, along with massively parallel digital signal processing and software generated, multi-modulated RF signals, to provide a system that is fast enough to cognitively manage the ongoing operation of multiple signals, multiple frequencies, and multiple operations, all simultaneously. |
| US08233404B2 |
Uplink transmit power control
Control of uplink transmit power for a first mobile station operating with scheduled uplink data transmissions. A change in uplink scheduled status for the first mobile station is detected (301). Filtering of uplink interference measurements for the first mobile station is adapted (302) to account for the detected change in uplink scheduled status for the first mobile station. Alternatively a change in uplink scheduled status for a second mobile station is detected and a current filtering state for filtering of uplink interference measurements for the first mobile station is adjusted by applying an estimated expected change in interference associated with the detected change. A signal quality for uplink transmissions from the first mobile station is determined (303) based on measurements of received signal strength from the mobile station and the filtered uplink interference measurements. An uplink transmit power command is generated (304) for the first mobile station based on a comparison of the estimated signal quality to a signal quality target. |
| US08233401B2 |
Using an IP registration to automate SIP registration
In one embodiment, a network device receives an Internet protocol (IP) registration request, such as a mobile IP registration request, from an access terminal. The network device may be a home agent that is configured to register the access terminal for IP services at the network layer. In addition to registering the access terminal at the network layer, the network device may facilitate registration at another layer, such as the application layer. In one example, registration information for the access terminal for an application layer registration, such as information needed to register for a session initiation protocol (SIP) services, is determined. The network device then facilitates registration at the application layer automatically using the registration information. |
| US08233394B2 |
Method for preventing overload in mobile telephone networks by using ‘always-on’ in the case of incoming calls
A method for preventing overload in telecommunications networks with IMS by always-on for a call received by a user. The user sends a request message in order to activate a new PDP Context to his SGSN, which sends it to a GGSN. The GGSN sends an Accounting Request message to an AAA server. If the GGSN is going to deactivate the user PDP Context for having been inactive, the association is not eliminated from an AAA server in which this association has been saved and, when an incoming call is received: the status of the user PDP Context is verified by an indicator, and if it is not active, the PDP Context is reactivated, and if the IP address has not been assigned to another user, an attempt is made to reactivate the PDP Context; and if said IP address has already been assigned, a restart is carried out after the failure of the call. |
| US08233387B2 |
Disjoint path computation algorithm
A network element implementing Multiprotocol Label Switching to automatically create an optimal deterministic back-up Label Switch Path (LSP) that is maximally disjointed from a primary LSP to provide a reliable back up to the primary LSP. The network element receives a request for a generation of an LSP, determines that the request for the generation of the LSP is for the back-up LSP, locates each link of the primary LSP in a traffic engineering database, modifies each link of the primary LSP to have a link cost significantly greater than an actual link cost to discourage use of each link of the primary LSP in the back-up LSP, executes a Constrained Shortest Path First algorithm to obtain the back-up LSP, wherein the back-up LSP has a maximum disjointedness from the primary LSP due to a modified cost of each link of the primary LSP, and returns the back-up LSP. |
| US08233385B1 |
Preventing upper layer renegotiations by making PPP aware of layer one switchovers
A method may include establishing a first Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session on an interface, receiving an indication of a layer one failure, omitting for a period of time, an indication that the first PPP session on the interface is down, based on the indication of the layer one failure, establishing a layer one switchover to another interface based on the indication of the layer one failure, and attempting during the period of time, to establish a second PPP session on the other interface. |
| US08233382B2 |
Ordered switchover of cable modems
A cable modem termination system (CMTS) provides for ordered switchover of the cable modems it serves when a primary module of the CMTS fails. When the primary module in the CMTS fails, a backup module takes over service of the cable modems. The backup module restores the service flows of the cable modems based on a restoration order determined by session recovery priorities that are related to quality of service levels required by the service flows. In particular, service flows that are engaged in VoIP “911” calls are restored first. Service flows engaged in other VoIP calls are next restored. Lastly, service flows engaged in regular data sessions are restored. |
| US08233379B2 |
Method, network element device and network system for establishing connection between maintenance node and base station
A method for establishing a connection between a maintenance node and a base station includes the following steps: the base station switches over to a preset standby Operation & Maintenance (OM) channel when an main OM channel fails and sends to the maintenance node via the standby OM channel a notification that the base station has switched over to the standby OM channel; and the maintenance node establishes a connection with the base station over the standby OM channel by using a standby Internet Protocol (IP) address of the base station after receiving the notification. A base station is also provided. |
| US08233377B2 |
Assignment method and base station apparatus using the assignment method
A base station apparatus assigns a time slot, where multiple sub-channels have been frequency multiplexed, to a terminal apparatus. The correspondence between the range of signal strength and time slots is defined such that the time slot differs whenever the range of signal strength differs; a control unit assigns any one of a plurality of sub-channels in the time slot corresponding to the range of low signal strengths, to the terminal apparatus as a ranging channel. An RF unit, a modem unit and so forth perform a ranging operation on the terminal apparatus over the ranging channel assigned. The control unit assigns a sub-channel to the terminal apparatus that has performed the ranging operation, as a communication channel. |
| US08233374B2 |
Multilayer optical disc
In a multi-layer optical disc, having three (3) or more recording layers thereof, for enabling an easy focus lead-in operation onto a desired recording layer, reflectivity of respective recording layers are so determined that a ratio between the reflectivity of the desired recording layer and the reflectivity of other recording layers is equal or greater than a predetermined value, upon basis of the reflectivity of the other recording layers. |
| US08233369B2 |
Method of reading optical information and method of recording optical information
Exemplary embodiments are provided for recording and reading optical information using holography in which a first recording operation is performed in a first recording region in an overlapping manner by allowing a reference beam and a signal beam with data loaded to interfere with each other in the first recording region, the reference beam being angularly multiplexed at predetermined intervals. And a second recording operation is performed in a second recording region located adjacent to the first recording region or overlapped with the first recording region by allowing the reference beam and the signal beam to interfere with each other in the second recording region, the reference beam being angularly multiplexed between the predetermined intervals. |
| US08233368B2 |
Method and system for bit prediction using a multi-pixel detector
The present techniques provide methods and systems for more reliable reading of optical data disks. In embodiments, a multi-pixel detector that is segmented into multiple areas, or detector segments, may be used to detect a pattern in the light reflected from an optical data disk. The pattern may include light scattered from a single bit that may be under a center detector, as well as light scattered from proximate bits. The detector system may then combine the quantized values from each of the detector segments mathematically to determine the presence or absence of a bit or bits of data. The mathematical combination may also use data that is known about the status of adjacent data bits (such as previously read bits, or bit patterns which are allowed or not allowed by specific data encoding schemes) to improve the accuracy of the bit prediction. |
| US08233367B2 |
Method and device for optical recording onto optical disc medium
There is provided an optical recording method for directing a recording pulse train to an optical disc medium to form marks thereon and for recording information as information about the edge positions of said marks and the spaces between marks, the recording pulse train having been created by modulating laser light into plural power levels. The method includes: coding to-be-recorded data into coded data consisting of the combination of marks and spaces; classifying said marks within said coded data on the basis of the mark length and the preceding or succeeding space lengths of the marks; shifting the position of the second pulse edge counted from the end portion of the recording pulse train for forming said marks, depending on the result of said classification, to adjust said recording pulse train; and directing said recording pulse train to the optical disc medium to form said marks thereon. |
| US08233366B2 |
Context-based error indication methods and apparatus
A media player may occasionally be unable to play or continue to play a particular item of media. When that occurs, the media player outputs an error indication that is related to the type of media that the problem media item is representative of. For example, if the problem item is a movie, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of broken movie film. If the problem media item is music, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of a broken compact disc (“CD”). Thus whatever the type of media that is not playing, the media player outputs an error indication that is appropriate for that type of media. The error indications output by the player are therefore context-based or media-appropriate. |
| US08233365B1 |
Methods and apparatuses for detecting a modulation transition in an optical storage medium
Circuits, architectures, systems, methods, software, and algorithms for detecting a modulation transition (e.g., a change from a written portion containing RF-modulated data to an unwritten portion containing only a wobble signal modulation) on an optical storage medium. The method generally includes steps of focusing a first spot of light onto an optical storage medium, wherein the first spot is substantially centered on a first track of the optical storage medium, focusing a satellite spot of light onto an optical storage medium, wherein the satellite spot at least partially overlaps a track adjacent to the first track, generating a satellite signal from light reflected from the optical storage medium from the satellite spot, and detecting the modulation transition by detecting a change in a level of the satellite signal. The present invention advantageously provides for detecting a modulation transition between a main (current) track and an adjacent (next) track, so that demodulation of a signal from an optical storage medium can be smoothly switched from one mode to another. |
| US08233364B2 |
Method and device for identifying optical disc
An optical disc identifying device includes an optical pickup head, a digital signal processor and a radio frequency amplifier. The optical pickup head has a plurality of laser diodes and a lens. During a start-up procedure, a non-blue laser diode of the optical pickup head is turned on to irradiate a loaded optical disc, thereby generating an electronic signal. The digital signal processor outputs a driving signal, thereby controlling a motor driver to move the lens in a focusing direction. The radio frequency amplifier receives the electronic signal during the movement of the lens, thereby generating a first signal. The digital signal processor includes a detecting unit for comparing the first signal with a slicing signal to generate a pulse signal, and determining whether the optical disc is a blue-ray disc or a non-blue-ray disc according to a pulse number of the pulse signal. |
| US08233359B2 |
Magnetic recording medium, magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, and magnetic recording/reproducing method
A magnetic recording medium (1a) includes: a plurality of magnetic dots (13), provided on a substrate (11), in each of which information is stored by heating of the magnetic body; and separator layers (50). Each of the separator layers (50) is structured such that a metallic body layer (52) and two dielectric body layers (51) are alternately stacked in an in-plane direction of the substrate (11). Each of the separator layers (50) separates two magnetic dots from each other in the in-plane direction. Both sides of each of the magnetic dots (13) in the in-plane direction of the substrate (11) have contact with two dielectric body layers (52), respectively. This provides a magnetic recording medium (1a) whose magnetic dots (13) can be entirely heated with a reduction in the amount of power that is consumed by a recording head. |
| US08233355B2 |
Alarm device
An alarm device includes a first portion housing an alarm component for producing an audible sound upon actuation in response to an alarm event and a second portion housing a vibration-inducing component for producing shaking movement in the device upon actuation in response to an alarm event. The first and second portions are pivotably engaged with one another to permit swiveling movement of one of either the first or second portion relative to the other portion. The first and second portions are pivotable between a first position, wherein opposing surfaces of each of the first and second portions are substantially fully aligned with one another, and a second position, wherein opposing surfaces of each of the first and second portions are substantially exposed. |
| US08233352B2 |
Audio source localization system and method
A system and method for performing audio source localization that uses minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) beams or other super-directive beams that are more suitable for reducing noise, interference and/or acoustic coupling than the delay-and-sum beams conventionally used in performing audio source localization based on a Steered Response Power (SRP) approach. Since super-directive beams such as MVDR beams do not provide good properties for performing conventional SRP-based audio source localization, an embodiment of the present invention utilizes a different metric than maximum response power in order to determine which of a plurality of beams provides the best response for audio source localization. This metric involves identifying which beam provides the smallest measure of distortion with respect to a reference power or reference response. |
| US08233343B2 |
Sense amplifier and semiconductor integrated circuit using the same
A sense amplifier resistant to malfunctions associated with offsets in inverter pairs is presented. The sense amplifier includes inverter pairs and a controller. Any one input terminal of the inverter pairs is electrically connected to a bit line and the other one input terminal is electrically connected to a /bit line. The controller is configured to precharge the bit line and the /bit line to a level corresponding to an offset of the inverter pairs in response to a first control signal. The controller senses a voltage difference of the bit line and the /bit line using the inverter pairs by connecting output terminals of the inverter pairs to the bit line pairs in response to a second control signal. |
| US08233342B2 |
Apparatus and method for implementing write assist for static random access memory arrays
An apparatus for implementing a write assist for a memory array includes a common discharge node configured to provide a discharge path for precharged write data lines and bit lines selected during a write operation of the memory array; negative boost circuitry configured to introduce a voltage lower than a nominal logic low supply voltage onto the common discharge node following the discharge of the common discharge node, write data lines and bit lines; and a clamping device coupled to the common discharge node, the clamping device configured to limit the magnitude of negative voltage applied to common discharge node by the negative boost circuitry so as to prevent activation of non-selected bit switches. |
| US08233341B2 |
Method and structure for SRAM cell trip voltage measurement
A parametric test circuit is disclosed (FIG. 6). The test circuit includes a latch circuit having true and complementary terminals. A first access transistor (206) has a current path connected between the true terminal and a first access terminal (214) and has a first control terminal. A second access transistor (208) has a current path connected between the complementary terminal and a second access terminal (216) and has a second control terminal connected to the first control terminal. A first pass gate (604) has a current path connected between the first access terminal (214) and a third access terminal (XBLT) and has a third control terminal. A second pass gate (606) has a current path connected between the second access terminal (216) and a fourth access terminal (XBLB) and has a fourth control terminal connected to the third control terminal. |
| US08233340B1 |
Programmable control block for dual port SRAM application
A dual-port static random access memory (SRAM) includes a multitude of programmable delay elements disposed along the paths of a number signals used to carry out read, write or read-then-write operations. At least one of the programmable delay elements controls the timing margin between a pair of clock signals that trigger a read/write enable signal. A second programmable delay element coarsely adjusts the delay of a first signal associated with a dummy bitline. A third programmable delay element finely adjusts the delay of a second signal associated with the dummy bitline. A fourth programmable delay element controls the delay of a signal used to reset the read/write enable signal. During a read operation, the voltage level of the second signal is used as an indicator to activate the sense amplifiers. During a write operation, the voltage level of the second signal is used to control the write cycle. |
| US08233337B2 |
SRAM delay circuit that tracks bitcell characteristics
An SRAM delay circuit that tracks bitcell characteristics. A circuit is disclosed that includes an input node for receiving an input signal; a reference node for capturing a reference current from a plurality of reference cells; a capacitance network having a discharge that is controlled by the reference current; and an output circuit that outputs the input signal with a delay, wherein the delay is controlled by the discharge of the capacitance network. |
| US08233333B2 |
On die thermal sensor suitable for auto self refresh, integrated circuit with the same and method for on die thermal sensor suitable for auto self refresh
A semiconductor memory device includes a reference voltage generator for generating a plurality of reference voltages each having different voltage levels in response to a self refresh enable control signal, and a voltage comparator for generating a result signal that controls a self refresh operation cycle by comparing each of the plurality of reference voltages with a temperature information voltage that represents an internal temperature of an integrated circuit. |
| US08233332B2 |
Methods and apparatus for strobe signaling and edge detection thereof
A data system component having a state machine circuit and receivers that utilize high and low threshold signals permits accurate detection of strobe signal pattern edges such as those for preamble, burst and post-amble conditions in the strobe signal. The state machine circuit may then be configured to set conditions associated with further circuit elements such as for power saving, data reception, on-die termination, etc. based on the conditions detected in the strobe signal to improve data or memory system performance. The components may be implemented as part of memory controllers and/or memory such as a dynamic random access memory and used in memory read and write operations. |
| US08233328B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory comprises a memory cell array in which a plurality of memory cell transistors capable of storing data according to a threshold voltage; a row decoder having a plurality of transfer MOS transistors connected at first ends to a plurality of word lines which are respectively connected to control gate electrodes of the plurality of memory cell transistors; and a word line driver which selects supplied voltages and supplies the selected voltages to second ends of the plurality of transfer MOS transistors. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory further comprises a voltage generation circuit which supplies voltages to the word line driver; and a control circuit which controls operation of the row decoder, the word line driver and the voltage generation circuit. |
| US08233327B2 |
Method of programming nonvolatile memory device
A method of programming a nonvolatile memory device comprises a bit line voltage set-up step of receiving a program command and data to be programmed and setting up a voltage of a selected bit line according to a state of program data; a program step of supplying a program voltage to a word line selected for a program in response to a control signal for setting up the program voltage, supplying a first pass voltage to unselected word lines, and then performing the program; and a program verification step of, in response to a control signal which is subsequent to the control signal for setting up the program voltage and is used to set a verification voltage, performing a program verification operation by supplying the verification voltage to the selected word line. |
| US08233323B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor storage device
A non-volatile semiconductor storage device includes a control circuit performing an erase operation to erase data from a selected one of memory transistors. The control circuit applies a first voltage to the other end of selected one of selection transistors, causes the selected one of the selection transistors to turn on, and causes any one of the memory transistors to turn on that is closer to the selection transistor than the selected one of the memory transistors. The control circuit also applies a second voltage lower than the first voltage to a gate of the selected one of the memory transistors. Such a potential difference between the first voltage and the second voltage causing a change in electric charges in the electric charge storage layer. |
| US08233321B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method for driving semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cell transistors arranged in a matrix; a plurality of word lines commonly coupling the control gates of the plural memory cell transistors present in a identical first direction; a plurality of source lines commonly coupling the sources of the plural memory cell transistors present in the identical first direction; a plurality of bit lines commonly coupling the drains of the plural memory cell transistors present in a identical second direction intersecting the first direction; a first transistor having a drain coupled to the source line; a second transistor having a drain coupled to a source of the first transistor, a gate coupled to the word line and a source grounded; and a control line commonly coupling the gates of the plural first transistors. |
| US08233319B2 |
Unipolar spin-transfer switching memory unit
A memory unit includes a magnetic tunnel junction data cell electrically coupled to a bit line and a word line. The magnetic tunnel junction data cell is configured to switch between a high resistance state and a low resistance state by passing a unipolar voltage across the magnetic tunnel junction data cell. A diode is electrically coupled between the magnetic tunnel junction data cell and the word line or bit line. A voltage source provides the unipolar voltage across the magnetic tunnel junction data cell that writes the high resistance state and the low resistance state. |
| US08233315B2 |
Spin injection device having semiconductor-ferromagnetic-semiconductor structure and spin transistor
A spin injection device and spin transistor including a spin injection device. A spin injection device includes different semiconductor materials and a spin-polarizing ferromagnetic material there between. The semiconductor materials may have different crystalline structures, e.g., a first material can be polycrystalline or amorphous silicon, and a second material can be single crystalline silicon. Charge carriers are spin-polarized when the traverse the spin-polarizing ferromagnetic material and injected into the second semiconductor material. A Schottky barrier height between the first semiconductor and ferromagnetic materials is larger than a second Schottky barrier height between the ferromagnetic and second semiconductor materials. A spin injection device may be a source of a spin field effect transistor. |
| US08233309B2 |
Non-volatile memory array architecture incorporating 1T-1R near 4F2 memory cell
A nonvolatile memory array architecture includes a resistive element between each common source/drain (intermediate) node and data line (or bit line), in an otherwise virtual ground-like memory array having serially-connected transistors coupled to the same word line. However, every N+1 transistors the corresponding resistive element is omitted (or generally kept in a low resistance state) to form transistor strings. This achieves an array density of 4F2*(N+1)/N, which approaches 4F2 array density for reasonable values of N. Such memory arrays are well suited for use in a three-dimensional memory array having distinct memory planes stacked above each other on multiple levels above a substrate. |
| US08233305B2 |
Magnetic structures, information storage devices including magnetic structures, methods of manufacturing and methods of operating the same
A magnetic structure includes a first portion and a plurality of second portions. The first portion extends in a first direction. The plurality of second portions extend from ends of the first portion in a second direction. The first and second directions are perpendicular to one another. Two magnetic domains magnetized in directions opposite to each other and a magnetic domain wall between the magnetic domains are formed in the magnetic structure. |
| US08233298B2 |
Power factor correction rectifier that operates efficiently over a range of input voltage conditions
A PFC rectifier comprises a first converter having a first output capacitor and a second converter having a second output capacitor. The first and second capacitors are coupled to each other to increase the output voltage of the PFC rectifier. For example the first or second output capacitors can be serially coupled to each other. At least one or both of the first or second converters comprise buck or buck-boost converters, including inverting or non-inverter buck converters. The first and second converters can also form a bi-directional ac-ac inverter. |
| US08233297B2 |
Multi-stage power supply
There is provided a multi-stage power supply. A multi-stage power supply according to an aspect of the invention may include: a voltage converter circuit section including a plurality of first to n-th DC/DC converters connected in series between an input terminal and an output terminal, in order to supply a DC driving voltage to an LED array having a plurality of LEDs therein; a voltage detection section detecting an output voltage from the voltage converter circuit section; and a PWM control section generating a PWM control signal on the basis of a first detection voltage from the voltage detection section, a second detection voltage obtained by detecting current flowing through the LED array, and a third detection voltage obtained by detecting a current waveform flowing through an internal switch of the n-th DC/DC converter, and supplying the PWM control signal to each of the first through n-th DC/DC converters. |
| US08233296B2 |
Front-end circuit of power converter
A front-end circuit of a power converter has a power connection wiring detecting circuit, a power switch and a control unit. The power connection wiring detecting circuit is connected to an AC power. The control unit is connected to the power connection wiring detecting circuit. The power switch is connected to the power loop. The control unit turns on or off the AC power loop through the power switch. When the power connection wiring is correctly connected with the AC power, the control unit turns on the power switch and the front-end circuit outputs the AC power to the back-end circuit. When the power connection wiring is incorrectly connected with the AC power, the control unit turns off the power switch and the AC power is not outputted to the back-end circuit. |
| US08233292B2 |
Controllers, systems and methods for controlling power of light sources
A controller for controlling power to an LED light source includes a control terminal and control circuitry coupled to the control terminal. The control terminal provides a control signal to control a transformer. A cycle of the control signal includes a charging period, a discharging period, and an adjusting period. The control circuitry controls a primary winding of the transformer to receive power during the charging period and controls a secondary winding of the transformer to discharge power to the LED light source during the discharging period. The control circuitry further varies a frequency of the control signal periodically by controlling the adjusting period. |
| US08233291B2 |
Single stage AC to DC conversion device with compact configuration
A single-stage AC to DC conversion device includes an energy storage unit, a magnetic unit, and a switch unit. The magnetic unit electrically connects the energy storage unit with the switch unit, and has a core, a first winding, a second winding, a third winding, and at least one output winding. The first winding couples with the core and transfers a first electric energy to the core. The second winding couples with the core and stores a second electric energy in the energy storage unit. The third winding couples with the core and transfers the second electric energy to the core. The output winding couples with the core that transfers the first electric energy and the second electric energy, and outputs a third electric energy through the output winding. |
| US08233282B2 |
Frame for a device mounted above a printed circuit board in an electronic device
The disclosure describes a frame for mounting a device above a printed circuit board (PCB) in an electronic device. The frame comprises: a frame section formed to be located on the PCB about a surface device on a section of the PCB; and a cover for placement on top of the frame section and for providing a support substrate for the device. In the frame, the frame section is securable to the PCB above at least a part of the surface device; the cover is locatable on the frame section with the device mounted to the cover; and the cover is shaped to allow a feature on the bottom of the device to extend downward towards an interior cavity of the frame. |
| US08233281B2 |
Device for reducing thermal stress on connection points
The present invention relates to a device adapted in order to decrease stress on connection points between a heat generating source and a substrate. The device 13 comprises a larger heat-dissipating part 7, and at least one smaller heat-dissipating part 6. The larger part 7 is arranged with at least one cavity 8 for housing the at least one smaller part 6. The at least one smaller part 6 is adapted to be attached to at least one heat-generating source 2, and at the same time more mobile in the cavity 8 and/or less affected by changes in temperature than the larger part. |
| US08233280B2 |
Electronic module with center mounting fasteners
An electronic module is employed with at least one interiorly positioned fastener that at least partially secures a central region of the electronic module to an object to prevent bowing or warping. The module contains a base, at least two peripheral fasteners at opposed ends of the module, and the at least one interiorly positioned fastener, wherein the base is capable of accepting electronic components and further includes at least one layer, and wherein the at least one interiorly positioned fastener is interposed between the at least two peripheral fasteners. |
| US08233278B2 |
Solar inverter cabinet architecture
A cabinet for a solar power inverter is described. A solar power inverter receives DC current from a solar panel and transforms the DC current into AC current. To cool the inverter equipment, an air inlet receives ambient air drawn into the cabinet by an air pressurizer. The ambient air is urged into a pressurized air plenum, from which two ports channel the air into at least two air paths to flow over the equipment in the cabinet. The equipment in the cabinet is arranged such that the air passes over more heat-sensitive equipment before reaching less heat-sensitive equipment. The equipment in the cabinet can be separated by grounded, metal walls to contain and diminish electromagnetic interference. The equipment may be accessed from a single, front side of the cabinet. |
| US08233277B2 |
Heat dissipation device with self-locking base
A heat dissipation device for dissipation of heat from an electronic component includes a base for contacting the electronic component, a shroud connected to the base and multiple fins arranged on the bottom section of the shroud. The shroud comprises a bottom section defining an opening therein and a plate within the opening and connected to the bottom section by multiple beams. Multiple fins in the form of a fin assembly are mounted on the bottom section. The base includes a plate and multiple latch hooks extending upwardly from the plate. The latch hooks are extended into the bottom section to lock with the bottom section, thereby securing the base onto the shroud. |
| US08233276B2 |
Tilt mechanism for electronic device
An electronic device includes a first section, a second section attached to the first section, and a tilt mechanism. The tilt mechanism connects the first section to the second section. The tilt mechanism includes a plate and two hinge assemblies. The plate hinges the first section. Each of the hinge assemblies includes a sleeve and a main shaft rotatably assembled in the sleeve. The sleeve is secured on the second section; the main shaft non-rotatably fixed to the plate. The second section slides relative to the first section, the plate and the main shaft rotate relative to the second section, the plate further supports the second section to a tilted orientation. |
| US08233271B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes a body housing having a battery housing portion configured to accommodate a battery therein, a display housing in which a display device is accommodated, and a hinge portion connected to an end portion of the display housing. The hinge portion connects the display housing and the body housing such that the display housing and the body housing are relatively rotatable between a first position in which a display screen of the display device is covered with the body housing and a second position in which the display screen is uncovered. The battery housing portion has a bulged portion which is bulged outward from a portion of the body housing that faces the end portion of the display housing in the first position, and the bulged portion has a flat wall portion which extends toward the display housing. |
| US08233269B2 |
Display apparatus for housing at least one electronic device in a vehicle
An apparatus is provided with an enclosure defining an inner volume and including a first aperture, and a housing containing the enclosure and including a second aperture. The enclosure may be rotatable such that the first and second apertures may be in registration to permit insertion of the electronic device, and the first and second apertures may not be in registration to prevent insertion and/or removal of the electronic device. An actuating element may rotate the enclosure into a desired orientation within a vehicle. The apparatus may improve the viewing quality of information displayed on the electronic device. The electronic device may be secured within the vehicle without having to supervise the device when the vehicle is parked, turned off, etc. The apparatus may employ environmental controls to control/condition temperature, humidity, and/or vibration within a desired range to protect the electronic device from becoming temporarily or permanently non-functional. |
| US08233265B2 |
Ceramic capacitor and electronic component including the same
In a ceramic capacitor, first and second electrode terminals each include a bonded-to-substrate portion, a first bonded-to-electrode portion bonded to a first edge of one of first and second external electrodes, a second bonded-to-electrode portion bonded to a second edge of the one of first and second external electrodes and disposed at a distance from the first bonded-to-electrode portion in the first directions, and a connecting portion connecting the first and second bonded-to-electrode portions and the bonded-to-substrate portion. W1/W0 is about 0.3 or more, and h/L is about 0.1 or more. |
| US08233263B2 |
Multilayer chip capacitor for improving ESR and ESL
A multilayer chip capacitor includes a capacitor body including a stack of a plurality of dielectric layers and having first and second side faces and first and second end faces, a plurality of external electrodes of opposite polarity alternated on each of the first and second side faces, and a plurality of internal electrodes each including one or two leads extending to an outer face of the capacitor body and respectively connected to the external electrodes. A horizontal distance between leads of the internal electrodes of opposite polarity adjacent to each other in a stack direction is longer than a pitch between the external electrodes of opposite polarity adjacent to each other on the same side face of the capacitor body. |
| US08233262B2 |
Multilayer capacitor array mounting structure
A multilayer capacitor array 1 comprises a capacitor element body 2 having first, second, third, and fourth inner electrodes 13 to 16, and first to fourth terminal electrodes 3 to 6 disposed on the outer surface of the capacitor element body 2 and respectively connected to the inner electrodes 13 to 16. The first and second inner electrodes 13, 14 form a first capacitor section C1, while the third and fourth inner electrodes 15, 16 form a second capacitor section C2. The multilayer capacitor array 1 is mounted to a circuit board such that the first and third terminal electrodes 3, 5 are connected to first leads 22, 23, while the second and fourth terminal electrodes 4, 6 are connected to a second lead 24. |
| US08233261B2 |
Composite organic encapsulants
This invention relates to compositions, and the use of such compositions for protective coatings, particularly of electronic devices. The invention concerns a fired-on-foil ceramic capacitors coated with a composite encapsulant and embedded in a printed wiring board. |
| US08233260B2 |
Compact gas lighting device for an electric household appliance
A gas lighting device including: a body formed by an electrically insulating material and carrying a plurality of high-voltage outputs for the connection to spark generating means; a transformer accommodated in the body and including a primary winding wound about and carried by a ferromagnetic material core, a carrying element formed by an electrically insulating material and designed to contain within a tubular drum thereof the primary winding, and a secondary winding consisting of a plurality of coils externally carried by the drum of the carrying element, electrically insulated from the primary winding and essentially coaxial with the latter; the core is bar-shaped and accommodated inside the carrying element and the drum directly supports also the high-voltage outputs, which are integrally obtained on the drum so as to form therewith the carrying element and laterally overhangingly protrude from the drum. |
| US08233258B2 |
DC bus clamp circuit to prevent over voltage failure of adjustable speed drives
The present invention relates to a protective circuit to provide over voltage protection for an ASD. The protective circuit provides the benefits of fewer components with lower power ratings than existing protective circuits. The protective circuit may be incorporated directly in the ASD for continuous protection or mounted externally and connected to the ASD under operating conditions that require the circuit. This flexibility for mounting the protective circuit allows the capacitor of the protective circuit to be sized either in relation to capacitive elements on the DC bus within the ASD or according to external capacitance observed at the output of the ASD. In addition, the circuit is only operative during an overvoltage condition allowing for power ratings lower than would be required for continuous operation. |
| US08233256B2 |
System and method for programming and controlling over current trip point limits in voltage regulators
A system and method for controlling an over current protection trip point for a voltage regulator includes an input for receiving a monitored operating parameter of the voltage regulator. Control logic responsive to this input generates a digital current control signal. A digital to analog controller converts the digital current control signal to an analog current control signal and this analog current control signal is used for controlling a current source for generating a current that establishes the over current protection trip point of the voltage regulator. |
| US08233255B1 |
Systems and methods of power conversion for electrostatic precipitators
The present invention describes methods and apparatus to convert and control power provided to a precipitator. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a precipitator power frequency converter system, which includes an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (“IGBT”) system and a converter control system comprising a microprocessor in communication with the IGBT system. In addition, the power frequency converter system provides a rectifier set in communication with the IGBT system. Furthermore, the input power received by the precipitator power frequency converter system is in a first frequency range of approximately 50 Hz to 60 Hz and the precipitator power frequency converter system can be enabled to provide an output power in a second frequency range between 400 Hz and 1000 Hz. |
| US08233254B2 |
Method of ensuring the coordinated arc fault protection in a heirarchial power distribution system
A coordinated arc fault protection scheme in a hierarchical power distribution system is disclosed. The methods according to embodiments of the present invention may be considered an “event and time graded” analysis. In event and time based analysis, the number of confirmed arc signature may be monitored with respect to time in the main feeder line as well as the branched feeders. The confirmed arc signature in the branched feeder, as well as in the main feeder, may be captured and time stamped. A trip command may be issued first in the intended branched feeder if the branched feeder experiences a minimum number of events within a given time. During the same time period, the main feeder also monitors similar arcing events. If the tripping of the branched feeder occurs and the main feeder still detects arcing events, the main feeder may be tripped after a certain period of time or a certain number of confirmed arc signature. If there is no arc in the branched feeder and the main feeder itself experiences the arc, then the main feeder may be tripped after a predetermined period of time so that the current to all the branched feeders may be cut and the main feeder may be protected. |
| US08233246B2 |
Multi-channel tape head having asymmetric channel arrays
A magnetic head comprises identical, opposing modules each comprising an array of paired data transducers, the transducers including data readers, data writers, or combinations thereof. For each array, the transducers in each subset may have about the same center to center spacing. A first subset of the transducers is operable for reading or writing data in a first tape format. A second subset of the transducers is operable for reading or writing data in a second tape format, with at least some of the transducers being present in both subsets. Also, each module includes a lone writer at one end of one of the subsets, a lone reader at an opposite end of the one of the subsets, and servo readers positioned outside the array. |
| US08233240B2 |
Magnetic recording disk drive with integrated lead suspension having multiple segments for optimal characteristic impedance
An integrated lead suspension (ILS) in a magnetic recording disk drive has the transmission line portion of the ILS between the flex cable and the gimbal formed of multiple interconnected segments, each with its own characteristic impedance. At the interface between any two segments there is a change in the widths of the electrically conductive traces of the transmission line. The change in impedance of a fixed-length segment is a function of the change in its trace width. The number of segments and their characteristic impedance values are selected to produce the largest frequency bandwidth with a substantially flat group delay from the write driver to the write head. |
| US08233239B1 |
Disk drive head stack assembly having first and second swage bosses with different inner lip profiles
A disk drive head stack assembly includes an actuator arm tip that includes a swaging hole centered about a swaging axis. A first suspension assembly has a first swage boss that protrudes into the swaging hole. A second suspension assembly has a second swage boss that protrudes into the swaging hole and does not contact the first swage boss. Each of the first and second swage bosses includes an inner lip that extends radially closer to the swaging axis than any other part of that swage boss. The inner lip thickness of the first swage boss, measured parallel to the swaging axis, increases more greatly with increasing radial distance from the swaging axis than does the inner lip thickness of the second swage boss. |
| US08233230B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling head with spin-torque oscillator in a disk drive
According to one embodiment, a disk drive has a magnetic disk and a magnetic head having a spin-torque oscillator. The disk drive further has a head amplifier IC configured to supply a write signal and a drive signal to the magnetic head. The write signal corresponds to write data. The drive signal is supplied to generate a high-frequency magnetic field. The head amplifier IC continuously supplies a drive signal of normal level to the spin-torque oscillator, and supplies a drive signal of high level higher than the normal level, only for a prescribed time after the polarity inversion of the write signal. |
| US08233229B2 |
Systems and methods for reduction of cross coupling in proximate signal lines
Various systems and methods for reducing cross coupling in proximate signals are disclosed. As one example, a system for reducing cross-coupling in adjacent signals that includes an active slew rate limiter circuit is disclosed. The active slew rate limiter circuit is operable to receive an input signal, and to provide an output signal based on the input signal with a controlled slew rate. In some cases, such systems may be included within a storage device that includes a read head. In such cases, the systems may operate to assure a substantially constant power dissipation within the read head. |
| US08233226B2 |
Construction of objective
A construction of an objective is configured which includes a plurality of lens groups including at least one cemented lens group; a plurality of inner frames to hold the lens groups, each including a contact projection; and a tube to hold the plurality of inner frames stacked inside. At least one cemented lens group is secured to the inner frames by causing the periphery of a cemented surface between cemented lenses to come into contact with the contact projection. |
| US08233225B2 |
Optical lens
An optical lens is obtained by injection-molding a polyester resin containing a diol unit containing from 40 to 99% by mol of a unit derived from ethylene glycol and from 1 to 60% by mol of a unit derived from a diol having from 3 to 16 carbon atoms, and a dicarboxylic acid unit containing 50% by mol or more of a unit derived from a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid. |
| US08233224B2 |
Imaging lens system
This invention provides an imaging lens system including, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface; a second lens with negative refractive power; a third lens having a concave image-side surface; a fourth lens with positive refractive power; a fifth lens with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface, at least one surface thereof having at least one inflection point; and an aperture stop disposed between an imaged object and the third lens. The on-axis spacing between the first lens and second lens is T12, the focal length of the imaging lens system is f, and they satisfy the relation: 0.5<(T12/f)×100<15. |
| US08233217B2 |
Multilayered fluorescent screens for scanning beam display systems
Fluorescent screens and display systems and devices based on such screens using at least one excitation optical beam to excite one or more fluorescent materials on a screen which emit light to form images. The fluorescent materials may include phosphor materials and non-phosphor materials such as quantum dots. |
| US08233215B2 |
Optical module manufacturing and testing systems and methods
The present disclosure relates to streamlining optical module and/or subassembly development, manufacturing, and testing through introducing a memory component within a module and/or subassembly that is utilized with a host module for system calibration and/or configuration. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention can streamline optical amplifier (EDFA) module and/or subassembly development, manufacturing, and testing. The present invention includes an optical module/sub-assembly without control circuitry, i.e. a “dumb module”, but with a memory that is used to load relevant data from a supplier. This data is utilized to calibrate, test, and configure the optical module/sub-assembly in a host module. The host module includes control circuitry to access this memory in the optical module/sub-assembly and to calibrate, test, configure, and control the optical module/sub-assembly. Advantageously, this additional memory reduces manufacturing time without the disadvantage of adding complexity in the optical module/sub-assembly. |
| US08233212B2 |
Electro-optic display
An electro-optic display includes a “matrix” for confining moving elements of the display (e.g., rotating or twisting elements). The matrix (or at least the viewable portions thereof) may have a high reflectivity, comparable to that of white paper. This results in an overall “whiter” or brighter display. The matrix may include channels to facilitate inter-cell fluid transport and high-density element packing. In some cases, the matrix elements provide a hexagonal arrangement of cells for holding the rotating elements. The rotating elements of the display may be electrically and optically anisotropic hemispherically coated spheres. The hemispherical coating typically provides the necessary charge to create electrical anisotropy. |
| US08233208B2 |
Optical device, optical scanner, and image forming apparatus
An optical device includes: a movable plate disposed in a distribution range of light input from outside, and having alight reflecting surface adapted to reflect the light; a shaft member adapted to support the movable plate so that the movable plate can swing around a predetermined axis; a ferromagnetic member provided to the movable plate; and a drive section configured to generate electromagnetic force between the drive section and the ferromagnetic member to thereby swing the movable plate, wherein a portion of the drive section, included in the distribution range of the light, is formed of a surface having a normal vector with which the light is reflected to outside of a predetermined range. |
| US08233205B2 |
Method for holographic data retrieval by quadrature homodyne detection
A holographic device is provided for recovering data in a holographic memory system. The device use homodyne detection to introduce a local oscillator beam into a reconstructed data beam of the recovered hologram. An image of the combined beam comprising the reconstructed data beam and local oscillator beam may be processed to obtain contrast level information for the pixels of the detected image. This contrast level information may then be used to obtain an increased contrast image of the recovered hologram, which may increase the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the recovered data. |
| US08233203B2 |
Exposure method and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
The exposure method includes the steps of: illuminating a hologram recording medium, in which a hologram with a first pattern has been recorded by illumination with a laser beam emitted from a first laser oscillator, with a laser beam emitted from a second laser oscillator; and delivering the laser beam emitted from the second laser oscillator, which has passed through the hologram recording medium, onto a resist, thereby forming a second pattern in the resist. The wavelength of the laser beam used for illuminating the resist through the hologram recording medium in which the hologram is recorded is shorter than the wavelength of the laser beam used for recording the hologram in the hologram recording medium. Further, the wavelength of the laser beam used for illuminating the resist is 1/(0.5×n) (where n is an integer not less than 3) that of the laser beam used for recording the hologram. |
| US08233201B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image reading apparatus, image forming apparatus, and recording medium
A copying machine includes a document skew detection section. The document skew detection section includes an angle calculation section and a judgment section. The angle calculation section specifies an angle θ1 formed between a reference direction and an edge of a document placed on a platen glass, in accordance with first input image data obtained by scanning the document the document being started to be scanned when an angle formed between the platen glass and a platen cover is γ°. Further, the angle calculation section specifies an angle θ2 formed between the reference direction and the edge of the document, in accordance with second input image data obtained by scanning the document, the document being started to be scanned when the angle formed between the platen glass and the platen cover is 0° Also, the judgment section generates an angular difference α obtained by carrying out an operation of θ1−θ2. This makes it possible that the document which is unintentionally skewed be identified. |
| US08233196B1 |
Halftoner block employing average values and shifts
Halftoning apparatus and method that may generate and employ average values and shifts are described herein. The apparatus may include an unpacker to determine shifts and average values for a plurality of input pixel values, each pair of average value and shift being associated with a corresponding pair of the input pixel values. The apparatus may further include a halftone core coupled to the unpacker to receive the shifts and the average values from the unpacker and to generate pairs of output pixel values based at least in part on the received shifts and average values, wherein the output pixel values are for generating pixels of an image. |
| US08233194B2 |
Ising-model image rendition, and consolidated masking and/or filtering, in incremental printing
One aspect of the method/apparatus finds, for each input-image pixel, an “offset weighted average” of neighboring-pixel interactions—and uses the averages to make a final image. Another aspect assumes a value for each pixel, to use in a final rendered image form—and, at each in a series of approximations, determines whether to change the value, and finds a probabilistic weight to help determine. Yet another finds, for each pixel, a numerical representation of neighboring-pixel interactions—and establishes a distance cutoff for use in defining “neighbor”, and uses the representation to decide whether to change color values. Still another finds a desired or ideal number of print passes, and adapts the number of passes actually used to the found number. Another combines halftoning and printmasking into one procedure and prints images prepared thereby. Another integrates halftoning and image filtering, to obtain esthetic visual effects, into one procedure—and prints images thus prepared. |
| US08233193B2 |
Document editing to prevent leaking secret information by masking an area including hierarchically arranged objects
A computer-readable recording medium that stores a program for causing a computer to edit an electronic document including a plurality of hierarchically arranged objects. The program makes a computer execute extracting an object from the electronic document including the hierarchically arranged objects representing one of a text, an image, a drawing and a table; determining whether the extracted object is superimposed by a user specified area serving as a masking area of a target document input by a user; and converting, into different information, information included in an area of the object determined to be superimposed by the user specified area. |
| US08233191B2 |
Color production with high chroma using complementary color material with different hue at low lightness portion
Color production with high chroma in a low lightness portion is realized by using an appropriate complementary color ink to a particular color ink reproducing the low lightness portion. More specially the device secondary color G-K is reproduced with ink of the pure color component composed of the color mixture of the particular color G ink and the basic color Y ink to tone the particular color G ink. In addition, as complementary color components, the particular color R ink and K ink are used. Thereby, the reproduction line is substantially linear from the device secondary color G point to the device K point. In color reproduction at the dark portion of the color on the G-K line, sufficient chroma can be obtained. |
| US08233190B2 |
User defined associations of colors to cartridges for color printers
A printer status interface controller displays an interface at a client system with a first color from among a plurality of colors associated with a first print cartridge position associated, from among a plurality of print cartridge positions of a printer. The printer status interface controller receives a user selection within the interface to specify an association of a second color from among the plurality of colors with the first print cartridge position. Responsive to the user selection to associate the second color with the first print cartridge position, a printer color association controller adjusts a reference to the first color in a print document to print in the second color through a second print cartridge in a second print cartridge position from among the plurality of print cartridge positions. |
| US08233188B2 |
Apparatus and method that reduces streaking by using a deformed data portion to not array dots continuously in the main scan direction of the print head in the end portions of the sub-scan direction
The present invention is intended to prevent appearance of streaks in head scanning direction at the joint of print data of the image to be printed. Print data composed of a multiplicity of dot information is supplied to a printing head having a plurality of dot forming elements arrayed along a sub-scanning direction. The printing head and the printing medium relatively move in main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction each other, and an image is printed on the surface of the printing medium. In the print data supplied by every main scanning action of the printing head, a deformed data portion of concave and convex shapes of waveform are formed, for example, so that dots may not be arrayed in parallel continuously in the main scanning direction of the printing head, at the joint of the ends of the sub-scanning direction. The undulation profile of this waveform is set in an ambiguous state, and the ambiguous state of the profile is not a state of a continuous profile line when the printed profile is observed visually. |
| US08233186B2 |
Print data processing apparatus, printer, photograph vending machine, and print data processing method and program
A print data processing apparatus includes a reception processing unit receiving an instruction for execution of a multi-size printing function to output a piece of print data in a plurality of print sizes. |
| US08233183B2 |
Printing apparatus, print system, and program product therefor
A printing apparatus includes: a detecting portion that detects a connection with an external storage device that stores print data and print completed page information of the print data; a reading portion that reads the print data and the print completed page information from the external storage device; and a printing portion that prints the print data from a next page of a print completed page with reference to the print completed page information. |
| US08233179B2 |
Print management system including management of storage status of print data
In a print processing system, a storage server temporarily stores print data generated on a user client PC; a multifunction apparatus then obtains the print data from the storage server and prints the data, according to user's operation on the multifunction apparatus; and a management server manages a storage status of the print data on the storage server. The user client PC transmits to the storage server, bibliographic information associated with the print data concurrently when transmitting the data. The storage server stores thereon the print data obtained from the user client PC and transfers to the management server, the bibliographic information obtained from the user client PC. The management server manages the storage status of the print data on the storage server, based on the bibliographic information obtained from the storage server. |
| US08233178B2 |
Print device selection in a networked print job environment
What is disclosed is a novel system and method for selecting a printer in a document reproduction environment comprising a plurality of networked printing devices. In one embodiment, a document is received which is to be printed and a set of image quality requirements specific for the document are determined based on the document's image content. A threshold quality expectation level is set for the document based on the set of image quality requirements. Device specific image quality metrics are obtained for each of the networked printing devices and then compared with the threshold quality expectation level. A printing device which best exceeds the threshold quality expectation level is selected as a result of the comparison. The document is sent to the selected networked printing device. If none of the networked printing devices is found to meet the threshold then an operator is signaled that the document cannot be printed. |
| US08233176B2 |
Print device with layout replacement unit
A printing device capable of laying out print image data according to layout definition data that defines print layout and print an image based on the print image data, is configured to include a layout acquisition unit which obtains second layout definition data if first layout definition data is included in a print job provided to the printing device, a layout replacement unit which replaces the first layout definition data included in the print job with the second layout definition data obtained by the layout acquisition unit, an image generation unit which lays out and generates print image data according to the second layout definition data replaced by the layout replacement unit, and a print execution unit which executes printing based on the print image data generated by the image generation unit. |
| US08233172B2 |
System and method for notification of multi-function peripheral receive job
Methods, systems, and software for notification of multi-function peripheral (MFP) receive jobs are disclosed. A system provides a MFP configured to store at least one remote communication identifier, to process a MFP job associated with the at least one remote communication identifier, and to transmit, in response to an event associated with the MFP job, notification directed to the remote communication identifier. The MFP may receive the remote communication identifiers from embedded MFP jobs or may receive them from previously stored user profiles that specify notification preferences for different job types. The remote identification identifier may be, for example, an email address or a telephone number. |
| US08233168B2 |
Image forming apparatus for converting lights to generate and store electrical power
In an image forming apparatus, an energy converting unit receives light from an optical source and converts the light into electric power, and an electrical storage unit stores therein the electric power. The energy converting unit is arranged in such a manner that a relative position of the energy converting unit to the optical source is always constant when a reading unit is reading an image. |
| US08233166B2 |
Image forming apparatus, method for forming image, and program
An image forming apparatus that picks only necessary pages up from a plurality of originals and copies after aligning in an order of pages so as to reduce a work burden on a user is provided. The image forming apparatus having a copy function includes an identification information extracting portion for extracting identification information (page number and heading information) which identifies originals from image data of read originals, a selecting portion for displaying the extracted identification information and accepting the identification information selected by the user as a target for image formation, and an output portion for printing image data excluding the identification information from the image data of the target for image formation accepted by the selecting portion. Here, the identification information is preferably formed with code information. |
| US08233161B2 |
Image reading and recording apparatus
An image reading and recording apparatus which can prevent a reading unit from unexpectedly being opened even when an operation of a reducing unit such as a damper for reducing an opening/closing force of the reading unit is added to an interlocking motion caused by a force adapted to open a pressure plate portion is provided. The apparatus has: a recording unit which records images onto a recording medium; and a reading unit which is openably and closably arranged for the recording unit and has an original plate on which an original document is put and a pressure plate portion which presses the original onto the original plate. A restricting unit which can restrict the reading unit to the closed state is provided. In the closed state of the pressure plate portion, the restricting unit is made inoperative. In the open state of the pressure plate portion, the restricting unit is made operative. |
| US08233159B2 |
Image forming device, and method and computer readable medium therefor
An image forming device includes a sheet carrying body carrying a sheet thereon in a predetermined direction, a pattern selecting unit selecting one of a plurality of patterns that includes a first pattern and a second pattern, the first pattern including a plurality of marks aligned at intervals of a predetermined distance within a first range, the second pattern including a plurality of marks aligned at intervals of a predetermined distance within a second range shorter than the first range, a forming unit configured to form the selected pattern on the sheet carrying body and form an image on the sheet being carried on the sheet carrying body, a deviation determining unit determining a positional deviation of the image based upon the pattern formed, and a correcting unit performing positional deviation correction for the image to be formed on the sheet based upon the positional deviation determined. |
| US08233158B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining the layer thickness and the refractive index of a sample
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining the layer thickness and the refractive index of a sample.It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for determining the layer thickness of a sample (layer) having high light scattering characteristics that allows a fast (real-time process) and cost-effective measurement having a high accuracy.The method according to the present invention comprises: irradiating a first optical radiation onto the sample (4), wherein the first radiation is substantially perpendicularly irradiated onto the surface of the sample (4), and determining a first reflection spectrum (10) resulting from reflection of the first radiation on the sample (4); irradiating a second optical radiation onto the sample (4), wherein the second radiation is irradiated onto the surface of the sample (4) under an oblique angle, and determining a second reflection spectrum (12) resulting from reflection of the second radiation on the sample (4); determining a minimum of the first reflection spectrum (10), determining a minimum of the second reflection spectrum (12), and determining the layer thickness and the refractive index of the sample (4) using the minimum of the first reflection spectrum (10) and the minimum of the second reflection spectrum (12). |
| US08233157B2 |
Method and apparatus of a portable imaging-based measurement with self calibration
A portable imaging-based measurement device is developed to perform 2D projection based measurements on an object that is difficult or dangerous to access. This device is equipped with self calibration capability and built-in operating procedures to ensure proper imaging based measurement. |
| US08233154B2 |
High precision code plates and geophones
An apparatus and method are disclosed for imaging a diffraction grating with a very high depth of focus, using a highly accurate code plate position measurement system. Positions may be measured to an accuracy of 1 nm or even smaller. The system may be used in fields such as manufacturing integrated circuits, and low- and very-low-frequency geophones, and other low- and very-low-frequency acoustic detectors. |
| US08233152B2 |
Optical coherence tomographic imaging method and optical coherence tomographic imaging apparatus
An optical tomographic diagnostic apparatus is characterized by executing a first step (S1) to acquire a wavelength spectrum, a second step (S2) to increase the number of elements of the wavelength spectrum, a third step (S3 and S4) to convert the wavelength spectrum into a wavenumber spectrum and to decrease the number of elements to provide a wavenumber spectrum of equal intervals, and a fourth step (S5) to acquire tomographic information of the object to be inspected from the wavenumber spectrum. As a result, a wavenumber spectrum of equal intervals can be obtained which is faithful to a physical phenomenon, and more accurate tomographic information can be obtained. |
| US08233150B2 |
Sample concentration detector with temperature compensation
A sample sensor (200) for detecting a concentration of a sample in a sample mixture, the sample sensor (200) comprising a light source (101), a detector element, a processing section (106) and parameter measuring means. The light source (101) produces a light beam (113) for exciting molecules of the sample. The detector element detects an 5 amount of excited molecules of the sample and provides a detector current indicating the amount. The processing section (106) is coupled to the detector element (103) for processing the detector current to generate an output signal (109) representing the concentration. The processing section (106) comprises a temperature compensation module (112) being arranged for compensating for a temperature dependent wavelength shift of the light source (101) 10 based on at least one measured value of a temperature dependent parameter of the light source (101), other than an output wavelength. The parameter measuring means obtain the at least one measured value. |
| US08233148B2 |
Hyperspectral imaging systems
Hyperspectral imaging systems that may be used for imaging objects in three-dimensions with no moving parts are disclosed. A lenslet array and/or a pinhole array may be used to reimage and divide the field of view into multiple channels. The multiple channels are dispersed into multiple spectral signatures and observed on a two-dimensional focal plane array in real time. The entire hyperspectral datacube is collected simultaneously. |
| US08233147B2 |
Spectrometer and a method for controlling the spectrometer
The invention relates to a spectrometer for material analysis and to a control method for a spectrometer. The spectrometer includes a radiant source (140) formed by multiple single radiation sources (141) having different central wavelengths, for generating a measuring signal, a measurement object (100) containing a material to be analyzed, at least one electrically tunable Fabry-Perot filter (120, 220) for the band pass filtering the measuring signal by at least two pass bands, and a detector (300, 400) for detecting said filtered measuring signals received from the measurement object (100). The spectrometer has: means (312) for modulating each of the single radiation sources (141) and correspondingly means (307, 309) for demodulating the detected signals such that the signal from each single radiation source can be distinguished from each other in the detector (300, 400); and means for detecting (300, 400) and demodulating (306, 307) multiple pass hands simultaneously. |
| US08233145B2 |
Pattern defect inspection apparatus and method
A pattern defect inspection apparatus capable of detecting minute defects on a sample with high sensitivity without generating speckle noise in signals is realized. Substantially the same region on a surface of a wafer is detected by using two detectors at mutually different timings. Output signals from the two detectors are summed and averaged to eliminate noise. Since a large number of rays of illumination light are not simultaneously irradiated to the same region on the wafer, a pattern defect inspection apparatus capable of suppressing noise resulting from interference of a large number of rays, eliminating noise owing to other causes and detecting with high sensitivity minute defects on the sample without the occurrence of speckle noise in the signal can be accomplished. |
| US08233144B2 |
Identification apparatus of optical cable and identification method
An optical cable identification apparatus for identifying an optical cable by disturbing an optical fiber, existing inside an optical cable desired to be identified, from outside the optical cable. An optical unit transmits two optical signals to a single strand of optical fiber inside the optical cable, and detects a phase difference, a time difference, and light intensity between two optical signals which are reflected due to the disturbance from the outside. A single-fiber ending unit generates the time difference. A signal processing unit removes noise from the two reflected optical signals and demodulates the optical signals. A sound output unit outputs the optical signals from the signal processing unit as sounds. |