Document Document Title
US08240025B2 Method for manufacturing head including light source unit for thermal assist
Provided is a method and apparatus to manufacture a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head in which a light source unit including a light source and a slider including an optical system are joined. The method comprises steps of: adhering by suction the light source unit with a back holding jig; bringing the light into contact with a slider back surface; applying a load to a load application surface of the light source unit by a loading means to bring a joining surface of the light source unit into conformity with the slider back surface; positioning the light source unit apart from the slider, and then aligning the light source with the optical system; bringing again the light source unit into contact with the slider; and applying a load again to the load application surface.
US08240024B2 Methods for fabricating magnetic transducers using post-deposition tilting
In one general embodiment, a method for fabricating magnetic structures using post-deposition tilting includes forming a thin film magnetic transducer structure on a substantially planar portion of a substrate such that a plane of deposition of the thin film transducer structure is substantially parallel to a plane of the substrate. Additionally, the thin film transducer structure is caused to tilt at an angle relative to the plane of the substrate. The thin film transducer is fixed at the angle after being tilted.
US08240021B2 Golf club groove configuration
The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances using a profiled cutter.
US08240014B2 Method of manufacturing a fuel injector having an encased piezo electric actuator
A method of fabricating a piezo actuator is disclosed. The method includes forcing a blank against a mold to form a cylindrical casing having an open end and a closed end and rotating the cylindrical casing. The method also includes urging a die having a plurality of equally spaced protrusions into a surface of the cylindrical casing to form bellows in the cylindrical casing. The method further includes positioning a piezo element within the cylindrical casing.
US08240013B2 Multi-function casket system
A casket and burial system for human remains includes a casket fabricated from plastics and polymer composites, such as glass-fiber reinforced plastic. The casket includes a base member, a cover member fitting atop the base, and top and bottom closure panels having one or more ports for use in replacing the ambient atmosphere within the sealed casket with a selected gas or fluid such as nitrogen, or to inject a plastic foam into the free space remaining in the casket. The casket is preferably interred in a vertical attitude as that arrangement allows up to four caskets to fit within a standard grave plot.
US08240012B2 Remotely actuated seat belt buckle
A buckle assembly for a vehicle includes a seat belt tongue, a seat belt buckle with a blocking mechanism and a manual release button, and a remote buckle release mechanism. The blocking mechanism is configured to latch the tongue in the buckle. The remote buckle release mechanism includes a buckle release cable and a motor module configured to pull the cable to release the blocking mechanism to thereby release the seat belt tongue from the buckle. The buckle assembly is also configured to be actuated by an occupant via the manual release button on the buckle. The remote buckle release mechanism does not interfere with the operation of the manual release button. The remote buckle release mechanism may also be configured to automatically release the buckle a predetermined time after an airbag deployment.
US08240010B2 Money clip having interchangable covers with logo surfaces
An improved money clip for holding and securing a stack of money, credit cards, and business documents. The money clip includes a gripping member 12 having a U shape which includes gripping sections 14, 16, and 18, and a first set of pivot sections formed on the lower edge of gripping section 14, and a second set of pivot sections formed on the lower edge of gripping section 18. The first and second gripping legs 20 and 22 each having pivots members at their upper ends which are pivotally and removably connected to the first and second set of pivot sections formed on the gripping sections 14 and 18. A third gripping leg 24 is provided having pivot members at its upper ends which is interchangeable with the first or second gripping legs 20 or 22. In addition, logo support members are formed on the first, second, or third gripping legs for receiving logos or pictures thereon which have magnetic surfaces for receiving logos thereon. The gripping sections 14, 16, or 18 may be coated with a metallic surface to provide a coated surface for receiving engravings thereon.
US08240005B2 Regulating valve of a hydraulic door closer
The invention relates to a regulating valve, which is attachable in particular in a bore, executed with a female thread, of a hydraulic door closer. The regulating valve has a body adjoined by a regulating area. The regulating valve also has a thread provided with an anti-rotation element. The thread, including the anti-rotation element, being screwed into the female thread of the bore. In order to provide a regulating valve of a simple design, in which any unwanted adjustment of the regulating valve during operation is excluded, the anti-rotation element of the regulating valve has a plastic material layer at the thread flanks of the thread. The plastic material layer cooperates with the female thread of the door closer.
US08240002B2 Base assembly for vacuum cleaner
Disclosed is a base assembly for a vacuum cleaner, which directly injects exhaust wind to the turbine wing one end of which is rotatably supported on the exhaust port of an intake motor in order to rotate the rotating brush to avoid the loss in the exhaust wind and to therefore obtain a high level of suction force with a small-size motor.
US08240000B2 Bypass type cleaning apparatus
A bypass type cleaning apparatus includes a suction nozzle; an air suction unit being in fluid communication with the suction nozzle via an entering passage; and at least two contaminant collecting receptacles being in fluid communication with at least two exits formed at the air suction unit, respectively.
US08239999B2 Mop assembly with steam generation device
A mop assembly includes a handle having a control member connected to a lower end thereof and the control member is located within a connection unit which is connected to the handle. A locking unit is connected to outside of the connection unit and is hooked to a main body. The main body includes a case in which a tank, a steam generation device and a pivotal member are located therein. An operation bar is pivotably connected to the case. The pivotal member is able to activate the steam generation device by pushing the handle downward. The main body can be disengaged from the locking unit and used individually. The steam generation device can be activated by operation of an operation bar on the main body.
US08239998B2 Sootblower with modular canopy
A modular canopy having standardized side panels, trusses and tracks. The modular canopy includes parallel opposing sidewalls formed from multiple standardized side panels. Each sidewall extends from a front mounting structure to a rear mounting structure and carries a track that typically extends the almost entire length of the sidewall for supporting the carriage of the sootblower within the canopy. Trusses connect adjacent side panels together and extend from one sidewall to the other over the top of the sidewalls. The modular canopy may also include standardized removable or permanently attached covers. The canopy is typically assembled with permanent fasteners, such as lockbolts, that cannot be removed without destroying the fasteners. A sootblower canopy of any desired length can therefore be manufactured or repaired from a common set of component parts with one of the sections, typically an end section, cut to the desired length as needed.
US08239996B2 Toothbrush comprising inclined and tapered bristles
A brush head and a toothbrush having a brush head with inclined and tapered bristles. In one aspect, the toothbrush includes a grip part, a head part, and a bristle area with tufts of bristles that are inserted therein. At least one of said tufts of bristles is inclined. The brush head is characterized in that the bristles in the at least one inclined tufts of bristles is tapered.
US08239995B2 Toothbrush with multiple bristles states
An oral hygiene device includes a head, a first bristle field, and a second bristle field. The head includes a first head portion and a second head portion. The first bristle field extends from the first head portion. The second bristle field extends from the second head portion. The first bristle field and second bristle field are controllably movable between a first configuration for providing a first cleaning operation and a second configuration for providing a second cleaning operation.
US08239992B2 Compact autonomous coverage robot
An autonomous coverage robot includes a chassis having forward and rearward portions and a drive system carried by the chassis. The forward portion of the chassis defines a substantially rectangular shape. The robot includes a cleaning assembly mounted on the forward portion of the chassis and a bin disposed adjacent the cleaning assembly and configured to receive debris agitated by the cleaning assembly. A bin cover is pivotally attached to a lower portion of the chassis and configured to rotate between a first, closed position providing closure of an opening defined by the bin and a second, open position providing access to the bin opening. The robot includes a body attached to the chassis and a handle disposed on an upper portion of the body. A bin cover release is actuatable from substantially near the handle.
US08239987B2 Headrest pillow and eye mask attachment for neck pillow
An improved neck cushion device with associated eye mask and headrest cushion for improved comfort while sleeping in an upright position. The device comprises a standard neck pillow having a general C-shape and internal cushioning, attached to an upstanding headrest and deployable eye mask. The headrest secures to the neck pillow via a closed loop, wherein the neck pillow is inserted therethrough. The neck pillow is secured around the neck of a user, while the headrest is positioned between the back of a user's head and a seat to provide upright support. The eye mask is deployable from a pouch along the back of the headrest, and is attached via a band of fabric to prevent its misplacement. The user is provided comfort by properly supporting their head along the neck and behind the head, while the eye mask provides a blind for darkened sleeping.
US08239986B2 Siderail assembly for a patient-support apparatus
A siderail assembly includes a frame, a link mechanism coupled to the frame and movable between first and second positions, and a panel coupled to the linkage and movable therewith between a first position and a second position. The link mechanism is configured to provide compound motion such that the siderail panel follows specific path. The siderail may include electronic controls to limit the movement of the linkage based on the position of the siderail assembly and various portions of a patient-support apparatus on which the siderail may be positioned.
US08239984B2 Variable motion infant seat utilizing constant motor speed
A variable motion infant seat includes: a vertical reciprocating assembly comprising a first motor for providing vertical motion; a horizontal reciprocating assembly coupled to the vertical reciprocating assembly and comprising a second motor for providing horizontal motion; and a support device coupled to at least one of the vertical reciprocating assembly and the horizontal reciprocating assembly. The first motor and second motor are run at a substantially constant speed, thereby causing the vertical reciprocating assembly and horizontal reciprocating assembly to move the support device in at least one motion profile.
US08239983B2 Cot height indicator
Embodiments of a patient transport cot comprise a height adjustment component coupled to the patient transport cot and configured to raise or lower the cot to a plurality of heights. The patient transport cot further comprises an electronic height indicator coupled to the patient transport cot and comprising at least one height sensor, wherein each height sensor represents a target cot height. The electronic height indicator further comprises at least one visual display component coupled to the sensor, wherein the height sensor is triggered when the cot is adjusted to the target cot height setting represented by the height sensor. The triggering of the height sensor actuates the visual display component.
US08239981B2 Glass or glass-ceramic washbasin
The invention relates to a glass or glass-ceramic washbasin. The inventive washbasin is characterized in that it essentially comprises at least one part (1) which forms a water receptacle and which is made from glass or glass-ceramic and at least one part (2) which prevents the water from flowing from the first part (1). In addition, the assembly is provided with a water drain hole (3). The aforementioned first part (1) is equipped with a groove (2′) for receiving the lower edge of the second part (2) and said two parts (1 and 2) are assembled by means of a glue that is injected into the base of the groove (2′) prior to assembly. The invention is particularly suitable for household equipment, such as washbasins that are made from glass or glass-ceramic.
US08239979B2 Modular easy access bathing enclosure
A modular easy access bathing enclosure includes a shell having a seating area and a standing area with a contiguous sidewall. The sidewall around the standing area includes an access opening extending from a shell top to an opening bottom proximate the standing area. A pocket door is provided for enclosing the access opening and is movable into the sidewall surrounding the standing area. Inflatable gaskets are provided for sealing and locking the door in the access opening.
US08239976B2 Dual flow toilet adjustment system
In one embodiment of the present system invention, there is provided a dividing module positioned in the holding tank of a toilet to separate the holding tank into a main portion and a reserve portion. The dividing module has a height lower than the full water level in the holding tank. The dividing module includes the ability to selectively connect the main portion and the reserve portion in fluid communication of each other. The embodiment allows an operator to press the handle arm an initial time to maintain the main portion and the reserve portion in substantially fluid separation of each other, such that water in the main portion is utilized to flush the toilet and wherein when the operator presses the handle a second time in the same manner as the initial time, the dividing module connects the main portion and the reserve portion in substantially fluid communication with each other, such that water in the reserve portion and the main portion is utilized to flush the toilet.
US08239974B2 Elongated shower drain
Elongated drain assemblies suitable for use in tiled shower stalls are described. Because the elongated drain is typically located at one edge of the shower stall proximate a stall wall and extends substantially the entire length of the wall, the installation of the associated shower pan is made much simpler. Specifically, the pan need only be sloped substantially in a single direction instead of four towards a prior art circular drain located at the center of a stall. The time and cost of creating a pan having a single slope is reduced over a more complex multi-sloped pan. Several different means for adjusting the height of the drain assemblies' top surfaces relative to the height of the tile floor are provided to adjust for tile floors of differing thicknesses.
US08239973B1 Toilet ventilation apparatus
The toilet ventilation apparatus effectively vents unwanted gasses from a toilet room without risk of return. The apparatus provides for installation to an existing toilet bowl with retention of the existing lid. The seat with bottom orifices is provided in a plurality of thicknesses, shapes, and sizes to correctly fit existing toilets. The discharge hose connects to the collar fitting of the drain collar, which is easily connected to a drain such as a sink drain so that in-floor and wall plumbing invasion is not required. The quick connect fitting is disposed between the escape tube exiting the rear of the seat and the suction hose. The quick connect provides that the vacuum pump and related hose are quickly selectively connected and disconnected to any seat of the apparatus installed on an existing toilet bowl, thereby allowing addition and removal of the pump and hoses at a few seconds notice.
US08239972B2 System and method for improving jet aircraft operating efficiency
A disposal system is provided. In an embodiment, by way of example, the disposal system can include a first tank adapted to be at least partially filled with waste fluid. The disposal system can also include a waste processing device adapted to receive waste fluid and adjust one or more properties of the waste fluid. Additionally, the waste disposal system can include a jet engine comprising a first chamber adapted to contain a fluid undergoing compression. The jet engine can be in fluid communication with the waste processing device to receive the waste fluid from the waste processing device.
US08239971B2 Carriage and socket assembly for a night vision goggle mount
A carriage for a headgear mount including a base having a top surface and a bottom surface, the carriage attachable to the headgear mount. At least one rail extends from the bottom surface, the rail adapted to receive night vision goggles and the rail being integral with the base.
US08245317B2 Atomic force microscope
A surface shape of a member to be measured is measured by reflecting measuring light at a reflection surface of a probe and utilizing an atomic force exerting between the probe and utilizing an atomic force exerting between the probe and the member to be measured. In addition to a first scanner for driving the probe, a second scanner for moving a focus position of an optical system is provided. Position conversion data representing a correlation between amounts of control of the first scanner and the second scanner are obtained in advance. By synchronously driving the first scanner and the second scanner, the focus position of the optical system is caused to follow the probe to improve measurement accuracy.
US08245316B2 Scanning probe microscope with periodically phase-shifted AC excitation
The scanning probe microscope applies a sum of an AC voltage (Uac) and a DC voltage (Udc) to its probe. The frequency of the AC voltage (Uac) substantially corresponds to the mechanical oscillation frequency of the probe, but its phase in respect to the mechanical oscillation varies periodically. The phase modulation has a frequency fmod. The microscope measures the frequency (f) or the amplitude (K) of a master signal (S) applied to the probe's actuator, or it measures the phase of the mechanical oscillation of the cantilever in respect to the master signal (S). The spectral component at frequency fmod of the measured signal is fed to a feedback loop controller, which strives to keep it zero by adjusting the DC voltage (Udc), thereby keeping the DC voltage at the contact voltage potential.
US08245315B2 Remote diagnosis of unauthorized hardware change
Aspects describe remotely diagnosing unauthorized hardware changes on a mobile device. The changes can be identified based on hardware component identification and/or based on behavior characteristics of the device. If an unauthorized change is detected, information relating to that change can be reported to a service provider. Further, actions associated with the authorized change can be automatically implemented or implemented after confirmation to proceed with the recommended action.
US08245309B2 Content viewing system, content viewing apparatus, and viewing approval apparatus
Disclosed herein is a content viewing system including a content viewing apparatus, and a viewing approval apparatus used by a viewing approval party to perform an approval process. The content viewing apparatus includes: a viewing approval requesting section that transmits a viewing approval request to the viewing approval apparatus when it has been determined that approval for viewing of a content is necessary; and a content viewing control section that receives, from the viewing approval apparatus, an approval/disapproval response, and, if the approval/disapproval response indicates that the viewing of the content has been approved, enables the viewing of the content. The viewing approval apparatus includes: an output section that outputs information concerning the viewing approval request; an input section that accepts input of the approval/disapproval response; and an approval/disapproval response notification section that notifies the content viewing apparatus of the approval/disapproval response.
US08245307B1 Providing secure access to a secret
Methods, devices, and systems of protecting a secret are provided. Access to the secret is designed to be restricted to a code with a specific signature, or fingerprint. The signature of that code is used in the encryption of the secret, and other codes are prevented from using this signature to decrypt the secret. This restricted access to the secret prevents the secret from being easily compromised, for example, by preventing a change in the code.
US08245302B2 Network attack visualization and response through intelligent icons
A network activity visualization system can include an MDL grammar database adapted to store a plurality of MDL grammars, and a pattern matching module adapted to match a received network activity data set against the MDL grammars by calculating a distance of the network activity data set from each MDL grammar. The system can also include an intelligent icon module adapted to receive the MDL grammars and distances of a network data set from each respective MDL grammar, and adapted to generate intelligent icons based on the MDL grammars and distances. The system can further include a display system adapted to display the intelligent icons so as to provide a visual indication of network security.
US08245300B2 System and method for ARP anti-spoofing security
A system and method that provides for copying ARP replies, and generating data packets which include the ARP reply, and other information such as an identification of the port on the ARP reply was received. These data packets are then transmitted to an ARP collector which stores the ARP reply and port information. The ARP collector then uses this stored information, and analyzes future data packets relative to the stored information to detect occurrences of ARP spoofing. The ARP collector further provides for generating alerts and taking security actions when ARP reply spoofing is detected.
US08245298B2 Port scanning method and device, port scanning detection method and device, port scanning system, computer program and computer program product
For port scanning an authentication bit sequence is created as an output of an authentication transformation, the authentication transformation having as input at least a given destination address and a given secret key. The authentication bit sequence is embedded in at least one authentication port scan event packet comprising the given destination address. At least one authentication port scan event packet is broadcast. Then, further port scan event packets are broadcast with given port identifiers and the given destination address. For port scanning detection, a received authentication bit sequence is derived from a least one authentication port scan event packet with identical source and destination addresses. Further port scan event packets are accepted with given port identifiers and the given destination address if authentication is given.
US08245292B2 Multi-factor authentication using a smartcard
Methods and systems are provided for non-cryptographic capabilities of a token such as a smartcard to be used as an additional authentication factor when multi-factor authentication is required. Smartcards are configured to generate a transaction code each time a transaction is attempted by the smartcard. The transaction code is dynamic, changing with each transaction, and therefore is used as a one-time password. When a user attempts to access a service or application requiring at least two authentication factors, a secure processor is used to read transaction code from the smartcard. The secure processor establishes a secure communication with the remote computer hosting the service or application. The transaction code can then be encrypted prior to transmission over the public Internet, providing an additional layer of security.
US08245291B2 Techniques for enforcing access rights during directory access
Techniques for enforcing access rights during directory access are presented. Access rights are maintained at the container level of a directory tree for container objects within a cache. When security is set for a requester of a target, the container object cache is directly accessed along with rights assigned to the target and the security is calculated and then set against the requester.
US08245290B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program, and storage medium for performing access control of document including two-dimensional code
An object of the present invention is to improve usability of a copying machine. In order to achieve the object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention has: accepting unit that accepts setting of a function from a user; first obtaining unit that obtains information of a function usable by the user; second obtaining unit that obtains information of a usable function by using a two-dimensional code of a document as an object of the function; and first executing unit that, even when the function that the accepting unit accepts setting thereof from the user is not included in the information of the usable function obtained by the first obtaining unit, executes on the document the function that the accepting unit accepts setting thereof when the function is included in the information of the usable function by the second obtaining unit.
US08245286B2 Information processing device, electronic certificate issuing method, and computer-readable storage medium
An information processing device acquires first identification information of a computer to which the device is coupled, and records correspondence information indicating a correspondence between a product key of a predetermined program and the first identification information, and second identification information with respect to the correspondence information, in the device, if a license authentication with respect to the product key based on the first identification information is successful. The device generates an individual certificate package including a unique secret key and public key for each second identification information, and records the individual certificate package in the device in correspondence with each second identification information.
US08245285B1 Transport-level web application security on a resource-constrained device
A system and method is provided to facilitate secure communications for a server-application executing on a resource-constrained device. A request, from a client application executing on a client device to access a server application executing on the resource-constrained device is received on an application-specific secure port of a resource-constrained device. The request is authenticated using a security token stored in an application context of the server application. The authentication is performed by a transport security layer protocol executing within the application context of the server application. The security token is specific for the server application. A secure connection is established directly between the secure port and the client application upon the authentication being successful.
US08245279B2 Method and apparatus for synchronizing an adaptable security level in an electronic communication
A method of communicating in a secure communication system, comprises the steps of assembling as message at a sender, then determining a security level, and including an indication of the security level in a header of the message. The message is then sent to a recipient.
US08245272B2 System and method for monitoring computer system resource performance
According to the present invention, policies are prepared for a plurality of resources residing in a computer system comprising a storage system for copying data from a copy source volume to a copy target volume, and an evaluation is carried out for an evaluation-target resource of the plurality of resources for determining whether or not to execute a predefined action based on the policy of this evaluation-target resource. A policy corresponding to a resource related to copying of the plurality of resources is determined based on a time period related to the copying.
US08245268B2 Method and system for facilitating interactive multimedia experiences
A method configured for facilitating an interactive multimedia experiences comprising accessing a system-readable specification defining a multimedia experience configured for audience interaction and performing the multimedia experience in accordance with information comprised by the system-readable specification. The information comprised by the system-readable specification includes information for enabling facilitation to of audience response tracking, experience navigation and feedback of audience responses. Performing the multimedia experience includes gathering audience responses, analyzing the audience responses, outputting information resulting from the analyzing audience responses and outputting experience content.
US08245264B2 Methods and systems to reduce channel selection transition delay in a digital network
A method of reducing the channel selection transition delay from a first media data channel to a second media data channel includes the operations of accumulating an independent media data frame and any related dependent media data frames based on a first decoder decoding at least a first portion of a second channel to form a second channel current media state, receiving a channel change request from a second decoder to change decoding to the second media channel, identifying an insertion position for a current independent frame relative to a current second channel frame set, and generating the current independent frame based on the second channel current media state corresponding to the insertion position. The dependent media data frames are used to modify the second channel current media state based on the independent media data frame.
US08245253B2 Displaying music information associated with a television program
Displaying music information associated with a television program is described. In one aspect, a television program is received that contains at least one music track. Information associated with the music track is identified and a request is received from a user to display music information associated with the television program. In response to the user request, a list is generated that identifies the music track in the television program.
US08245251B2 Method and apparatus for predictive tuning in digital content receivers
Primary presentation stream is received and presented to user. Alternate presentation stream received according to channel prediction stands ready for presentation if user selects channel processed as alternate stream. Prediction is made according to pre-indication of channel selection or time-selected usage history.
US08245250B2 Television schedule system with access control
The present invention is directed to a television schedule system with a user interface which allows a user to control access to television programs by time, rating, content, and/or channel. Furthermore, the user may set a limit on pay-per-view (PPV) spending to limit the purchase of PPV programs.
US08245248B2 Optical disk apparatus having guide shaft adjusting mechanism
There are provided a disk motor arranged on a chassis, an optical pickup that performs recording and reproducing of a signal from an information recorded surface of an optical disk, a pair of guide shafts arranged on the optical pickup to guide the optical pickup radially of the optical disk, adjustment screw that move at least one ends of the guide shafts in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of the chassis, a leaf spring arranged on a frame body to bias the one end of the guide shaft toward the surface of the chassis, and the leaf spring includes a support surface that supports the one end of the guide shaft, and a stopper portion projecting from the support surface to define a clearance between the support surface and the surface of the chassis.
US08245246B2 Method, system, and computer program product for implementing a web service interface
A method for using WebServices as a basis for implementing an application programming interface (API) of a high-level programming language between a service application and a client application is disclosed. Function parameters of an API function call represent a complex object structure (COS). The method includes serializing the COS into serialized payload data, encoding the serialized payload data to form a payload string that does not contain any XML-specific characters, and specifying the parameters of the API call in parts of an input message of a corresponding operation in a WSDL document. The method also includes transporting the payload string within the input message to the service application, decoding the payload string to yield the serialized payload data, and deserializing the serialized payload data to restore the COS representing the parameters of the API call. A system and computer program product for implementing the API on the basis of Web Services are also disclosed.
US08245241B2 Arrangements for interactivity between a virtual universe and the world wide web
In one embodiment, a method for interaction between a web browser and virtual environment applications is disclosed. The method can include creating an attribute file or a cookie file in a virtual universe application and in browser applications, then sharing such files between these applications to enhance a user experience. Both the browser applications and the virtual universe applications can search for the attribute files in numerous locations including local memory, web based memory and even a third party service provider via the Internet.
US08245239B2 Deterministic runtime execution environment and method
A method includes executing one or more applications in a deterministic execution environment and executing a plurality of background tasks in the deterministic execution environment. The one or more applications and the background tasks are executed in different time slots. At least one of the background tasks cannot be completed within a single time slot. The at least one of the background task is executed incrementally in multiple non-adjacent time slots so as to prevent the at least one background task from interfering with the execution of the one or more applications.
US08245236B2 Lock based moving of threads in a shared processor partitioning environment
The present invention provides a computer implemented method and apparatus to assign software threads to a common virtual processor of a data processing system having multiple virtual processors. A data processing system detects cooperation between a first thread and a second thread with respect to a lock associated with a resource of the data processing system. Responsive to detecting cooperation, the data processing system assigns the first thread to the common virtual processor. The data processing system moves the second thread to the common virtual processor, whereby a sleep time associated with the lock experienced by the first thread and the second thread is reduced below a sleep time experienced prior to the detecting cooperation step.
US08245234B2 Credit scheduler for ordering the execution of tasks
A method for scheduling the execution of tasks on a processor is disclosed. The purpose of the method is in part to serve the special needs of soft real-time tasks, which are time-sensitive. A parameter Δ is an estimate of the amount of time required to execute the task. Another parameter Γ is the maximum amount of time that the task is to spend in a queue before being executed. In the illustrative embodiment, the preferred wait time Γi for a newly-arrived task Ti is expected to be met though the insertion of the newly-arrived task Ti into a position k in a queue such that position k respects the task's preferred wait time Γi in light of the expected execution times of the other tasks already in the queue.
US08245230B2 Adaptive partitioning scheduler for multiprocessing system
A symmetric multiprocessing system includes multiple processing units and corresponding instances of an adaptive partition processing scheduler. Each instance of the adaptive partition processing scheduler selectively allocates the respective processing unit to run process threads of one or more adaptive partitions based on a comparison between merit function values of the one or more adaptive partitions. The merit function for a particular partition of the one or more adaptive partitions may be based on whether the adaptive partition has available budget on the respective central processing unit. The merit function for a particular partition associated with an instance of the adaptive partition scheduler also, or in the alternative, may be based on whether the adaptive partition has available global budget on the symmetric multiprocessing system.
US08245228B2 System and method for dynamically generating on-demand digital images
A system and method is provided that dynamically creates, manipulates and transfers digital images over a communication network on a per request basis in an efficient manner, wherein the composition, format, presentation, and content of the digital images are determined by directives presented at the time of the request. The system includes a parser that takes a request and interprets it into a set of individualized operation commands that will, in sequence, be performed to create or alter an image. The commands derived from the parser are defined as a “job. One or more image processing engines may be called upon as the job is processed to perform requested image transformations. An output formatter takes the resulting processed image and converts it to the desired format stated in the request.
US08245223B2 Networked deployment of multi-application customizations
A user node receives a multi-project solution which includes customizations that collectively extend installed applications. The customizations are installed on the user node as a single solution from an end-user perspective, e.g., by displaying a single progress update bar, displaying a single entry for the multi-project solution in an add/remove programs control, and making a single trust decision for the multi-project solution, as opposed to individual displays and individual trust decisions for each customization. Deployment may invoke an enhanced application manifest, an enhanced deployment manifest, or both.
US08245222B2 Image installer
A method, apparatus, and software are provided for deploying at least one virtual appliance to a deployment site of a multi-tier computer system. The method includes reading a deployment configuration file to identify at least one virtual appliance to deploy, transferring the identified at least one virtual appliance to the computer system, registering the at least one virtual appliance with a virtualization software of the computer system, changing the network settings of the virtualization software to match the deployment configuration file, placing a copy of the deployment configuration file on the virtualization software, and the virtualization software installing the identified at least one virtual appliance on the computer system.
US08245218B2 Application programming interface for administering the distribution of software updates in an update distribution system
An application programming interface (API) for administering the distribution of software updates on an update service node is presented. The API provides a plurality of interface calls through which an administrator can establish rules by which software updates available to the update service node are distributed.
US08245212B2 Building call tree branches and utilizing break points
The claimed subject matter provides systems and mechanisms that create frame accurate call trees for threads. The system can include devices that determine the thread on which a break point or event halted execution, identifies a location of the event that halted execution, sets break points at multiple locations during a stopping event where stopping events do not typically involve setting or unsetting set break points, and constructs the frame accurate call tree subset for the thread based at least in part on the break point or event that halted execution and information gleaned from an inspection of a call stack associated with the event that halted execution or the break point.
US08245211B2 Method and system for finding problems caused by access to partially uninitialized data storage which is accessed using index expressions
The present invention provides a system and method for detecting problems caused by access to incompletely initialized data storage in assembler and high-level language programs. An internal representation of the control flow of the source code of the assembler program is generated and a data-flow analysis method is applied to the internal representation.
US08245209B2 Detecting dangling pointers and memory leaks within software
Dangling pointers and memory leak locations within software are detected. As the software allocates and deallocates memory, lists of pointers referencing the memory, and pointer status, are maintained. As the software writes new addresses within pointers and reads addresses referenced by the pointers, the pointer lists are maintained to determine whether the pointers are dangling and to detect memory leak locations. A balanced binary tree having a number of nodes can be maintained. The nodes represent heap or stack records. Each heap record corresponds to heap memory that has been allocated and has a list of pointers referencing the heap memory. Each stack record corresponds to a stack within which a stack frame is allocated each time a function is entered. The stack record has frame records corresponding to the stack frames. Each frame record has a list of pointers referencing the corresponding stack frame.
US08245206B2 System and method for efficient string concatenation in a virtual machine environment
A system and method for efficient string concatenation in a virtual machine (VM), or other runtime environment, and particularly for use in a system that includes a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). An embodiment improves the performance of string concatenation significantly by analysing the string concatenation chains during bytecode compilation and replacing the dynamic string concatenation code with fixed size structures without bounds checks or locks. The resulting code is also more suitable for inlining.
US08245201B2 Method and system for recording and replaying service interactions
Recording and replaying service interactions permits developers to evaluate, iteratively build and test middle-tier and other software components using realistic interaction data and quality of service (QoS) characteristics without requiring constant access to a resource operating in a production environment. Typical service execution sequences can be recorded once by the system administrator/deployer, then replayed as many times as necessary by developers iteratively building and testing middle-tier components.
US08245198B2 Mapping breakpoints between web based documents
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for mapping breakpoints between Web based documents. Embodiments of the invention facilitate extracting corresponding client script blocks from different Web based documents to disassociate the client script blocks with their relative locations within the Web based documents. From the extracted client side script blocks, a position for mapping a breakpoint from one client side script block another client side script block can be determined. The breakpoint is then copied from the one client script block and inserted into the determined position in the other client script block. The client script blocks can then be re-associated with their relative locations in the Web based documents from which they were extracted.
US08245196B2 Method for visualizing the execution of a software program
A method for visualizing the execution of a software program especially in an embedded system. A plurality of interconnected program modules are displayed on a display device wherein at least one of the modules has at least two mutually exclusive different modes of functionality. A unique color is assigned to each mode of functionality. During the execution of the software program, the mode of functionality for each program module during execution of that module is selected as a function of software parameters of the software program. The color of the software module on the display device is then changed to correspond to the color assigned to the selected mode of functionality for the program modules during the execution of the program.
US08245188B2 Flash presentation markup language (FLML) for textually expressing flash presentations
A document written in a specialized FLASH presentation markup language (FLML) stored in a storage medium. Such a document can textually represent a FLASH presentation. The text can correspond to a FLAPRE markup language (FLML) that can be interpreted at run-time. The structure and syntax of the FLML can conform to a standardized markup language. The FLML document can include FLML tags having FLML attributes and FLML attribute values.
US08245187B2 Disk array apparatus
To update a firmware without stopping an operation of a disk array apparatus. The disk array apparatus includes a plurality of disk devices providing redundancy, a disk array control device, and a disk controller for controlling the disk devices individually in response to a command issued from the disk array control device. The disk array control device designates a disk device to be updated based on contents of the firmware update command for the disk device, controls firmware update for the designated disk device, disconnects the designated disk device from the host computer temporarily, sets the disk device as being in a temporary degenerate state, and, when a data write or read command is issued from a host computer for the disk device being in the temporary degenerate state, designating a different disk device to execute the command issued from the host computer by using redundancy of the disk devices.
US08245186B2 Techniques for offering and applying code modifications
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for offering and applying source code modifications based upon a context of a user in a development environment. For example, code snippets can be offered to the user and customized programmatically. A code editor accepts user input comprising source code. Code snippets of sample source code are stored in a data store. A code completion tool monitors user actions and detects a triggering action in the monitored user actions. A code snippet associated with the triggering action is identified. An option is offered representing the code snippet. In response to user selection of the option, the associated code snippet is inserted into the code editor and is automatically customized based upon the user context. As another example, aspect-oriented source code transformations are offered based upon the user context. As yet another example, solutions to commonly problematic tasks are offered based upon the user context.
US08245185B2 System and method for software delivery
A computer system and method for software delivery that include articles of manufacture having two or more installed, functional software applications organized in a protoset, the protoset configured to enable creation of one or more subsets (also called reduced metasets) from the two or more installed, functional software applications, each of the one or more subsets configured to be operable with a predefined computer system independent of the protoset; and a protoset module configured to operate on the protoset to enable creation of the one or more subsets of the two or more installed, functional software applications, the module responsive to one or more requests for the creation of the one or more reduced metasets.
US08245183B2 Automatic software production system
An automated software production system is provided, in which system requirements are captured, converted into a formal specification, and validated for correctness and completeness. In addition, a translator is provided to automatically generate a complete, robust software application based on the validated formal specification, including user-interface code and error handling code.
US08245178B2 Method for multi-cycle clock gating
An apparatus includes a multi-cycle clock gater and a circuit design updater. The multi-cycle clock gater generates multi-cycle gating groups of data latching devices of a circuit design. The circuit design updater updates the circuit design with selected multi-cycle gating groups. Each gating group is associated with a single gating function. For each gating group, data latching devices of 0th level of the gating group are gated with the gating function and ith level data latching devices of the gating function are gated with ith latched versions of the gating function.
US08245176B2 Integrated circuit apparatus, systems, and methods
High density circuit modules are formed by stacking integrated circuit (IC) chips one above another. Unused input/output (I/O) locations on some of the chips can be used to connect other I/O locations, resulting in decreased impedance between the chips. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08245174B2 Double patterning friendly lithography method and system
A method includes receiving an identification of a plurality of cells to be included in an integrated circuit (IC) layout, including a list of pairs of cells within the plurality of cells to be connected to each other. First routing paths are identified, to connect a maximum number of the pairs of cells using one-dimensional (1-D) routing between cells within those pairs of cells. Second routing paths are selected from a predetermined set of two-dimensional (2-D) routing patterns to connect any of the pairs of cells which cannot be connected by 1-D routing. The first and second routing paths are output to a machine readable storage medium to be read by a control system for controlling a semiconductor fabrication process to fabricate the IC.
US08245166B2 Optimal correlated array abstraction
Mechanisms are provided for refining an abstraction of a netlist for verification or synthesis of an integrated circuit design. The mechanisms receive an abstracted netlist corresponding to an original netlist of the integrated circuit design. The mechanisms determine elements already present in the abstracted netlist and refine the abstracted netlist by expanding the abstracted netlist to include additional elements that are correlated with the elements already present in the abstracted netlist to thereby generate a refined abstracted netlist. In addition, the mechanisms utilize the refined abstracted netlist to perform at least one of verification or synthesis of the integrated circuit design.
US08245164B2 Method of verification of address translation mechanisms
Device, system and method of verification of address translation mechanisms. For example, an apparatus for testing an address translation mechanism of a design-under-test, the apparatus including: a test generator to receive a specification of at least one address translation table, and to generate one or more constraint-satisfaction-problem projectors over a plurality of attributes of said address translation table.
US08245159B2 Gradient based search mechanism for optimizing photolithograph masks
A mechanism is provided for optimizing a photolithograph mask. A given target pattern is received. An initial fictitious mask is generated from the given target pattern and an initial value of α2 is selected where the initial value of α2 is used to determine a light intensity and a wafer image. The light intensity for each pixel in the initial fictitious mask and the wafer image for each pixel in the initial fictitious mask are then determined. A determination is then made as to whether a convergence has been achieved by comparing the wafer image generated from the fictitious mask to the given target pattern. Responsive to a convergence of the wafer image generated from the fictitious mask to the given target pattern, a final mask is generated to use to transfer an image to a wafer.
US08245158B1 System and method for providing a keyboard type interface for a computing device
A system and method for providing an interface for an electronic or computing device. In one embodiment, the invention includes a keyboard positioned adjacent to the posterior side of the computing device in such a way that the user can operate the device in an easy and convenient manner, while at the same time maximizing the amount of available display space to the user viewing the anterior side of the device. In this embodiment the user operates the keyboard while it is hidden from view behind the display. The invention also provides several mechanisms that allow the user to become familiar with this approach to operating the device, some of which are applicable to the improvement of standard keyboards for many common purposes and uses. These mechanisms include, but are not limited to, appropriately spaced keys, chorded keyboards, tactile feedback mechanisms, and key indication, selection and verification methods.
US08245157B2 Decision making and planning system, method, and software utilizing a taxonomic table of irreducible strategies or plays
A decision-making and planning system and method, which may be implemented as a website, enables a decision maker to formulate strategies and tactics divides potential courses of action into discrete units called “plays” and “surrogates,” and presents the plays and surrogates as symbols or icons organized into a taxonomic table, with definitions and information useful in selecting the plays associated with and accessible through the symbols or icons. The decision-maker selects plays from the table and places symbols or icons representing the plays on a template or whiteboard. The result is an analysis or map of strategies, including a sequence of plays and/or surrogates and corresponding information, that can be saved, edited, or published.
US08245156B2 Radial menu selection
A method comprising of displaying a GUI object is disclosed. The method displays a first graphical user interface (GUI) object with multiple selectable GUI items. The method detects a movement of a cursor in a direction of a particular selectable GUI item. The method determines an expected location for the stopping of the cursor. The method displays, at the expected location, a second GUI object corresponding to the particular GUI item.
US08245150B2 Parts catalog system
A parts catalog system is provided. The system may include a processor and a computer-readable medium operatively coupled to the processor and including a memory in which is stored a database configured to catalog collections of data associated with and identifying hardware items. The system may also include a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to display at least some of the data associated with and identifying a hardware item including. The displayed data may include a graphical representation of the hardware item. The displayed data may also include a data field integrated with the graphical representation illustrating the physical significance of the data within the data field with regard to the hardware item illustrated by the graphical representation. The data field may also be configured to accept input to designate a desired value for the data within the data field.
US08245145B1 Tool and method for developing a web page
A tool and method for developing a web page includes a sheet which is the same shape as the screen upon which the web page will be displayed. The sheet has a usable area which has a grid. Web page elements are hand drawn on the usable area. The sheet also has an unusable area which represents the area taken up by elements of the web browser. The hand drawn elements provide immediate layout feedback based on the size of the grid. The hand drawn sheet is then imported into web development software to effect the web page development process. In an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of sheets are contained in a tear-off pad.
US08245140B2 Visualization and consolidation of virtual machines in a virtualized data center
A method for visualizing and simulating server consolidation of different virtual machines in a virtualized data center can include identifying different server computers in a virtualized data center, computing load metrics for each of the server computers, and rendering a graph of the computed load metrics for the server computers in a graphical user interface (GUI) in a host computer. The method further can include selecting a source one of the server computers and also a target one of the server computers and further selecting a virtual machine for prospective migration from the source one of the server computers to the target one of the server computers. Yet further, the method can include further computing prospective load metrics for the source and the target resulting from the prospective migration of the virtual machine to the target. Finally, the method can include displaying in the GUI respective graphs of the prospective load metrics for each of the source and the target.
US08245139B2 Modelling relationships within an on-line connectivity universe
Enhanced presentation techniques for modeling a connectivity universe associated with a particular user or device are provided. Example embodiments provide a WorldView Display System (a “WVDS”), which automatically organizes a user's online relationships with entities, such as devices, data collections, services, and people, and provides a user interface for accessing and interacting with these entities. The WVDS automatically determines the universe of objects that the user has relationships with, automatically groups objects having similar measures of access proximity, displays a multi-dimensional representation of these groups of objects on a display device, and provides a uniform user interface for initiating an interaction with any represented object. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US08245133B2 Automatic authoring and publishing
The invention relates to a system and method for automatically producing documents that incorporate one or more data elements. A guided/structured software environment is provided that assists users in creating manuals by defining the appropriate content for each manual section, content rules and relationships, and tasks to be performed for each type of manual entry. Manual content is stored as structured data elements, rather than pages of sentences, to more efficiently generate, revise, and store the content of a manual. A storage database is provided for retrieving and storing predefined templates, documents and individual data elements to produce a final manual. Manuals are created by combining various data elements. An instant preview interface permits a user to quickly view what revisions will look like in a final document prior to actually publishing the manual. A published manual is compiled by assembling the stored data elements and into a document.
US08245130B1 Performing an estimation on content to be presented
A computer-implemented method for performing an estimation on content to be presented includes parsing content that is to be presented in a graphical user interface. The method includes estimating, based on the parsing, a size aspect that the content will have when presented in the graphical user interface. The method includes recording the estimated size aspect. A system includes a parser parsing content that is to be presented in a graphical user interface. The system includes an estimation module estimating, based on the parsing, a size aspect that the content will have when presented in the graphical user interface. The system records the estimated size aspect.
US08245126B2 Scenario-dependent evaluation formula
A method and apparatus create a way of controlling alternative values of cell contents of a data flow network. Alternative values are computed from alternative formulas, which may be turned on and off in separate layers. Typically, one formula is provided for each layer for each cell of the data flow network. Layers can be grouped together to model different scenarios and can be added or removed.
US08245123B2 Effects applied to images in a browser
Methods, apparatus, computer program products and systems are provided for editing an image in a browser. One method includes receiving crop data at a server including information defining a crop size and location associated with a cropping operation to be applied to an image in accordance with user instructions received at a client device and transmitting from the server to the client device a modified image, the modified image having a uniform resource locator (URL) and being cropped in accordance with the crop data.
US08245122B2 Method and system for modeling user requests, applications and components used in dynamic application assembly
A method for determining if a first component can be connected to a second component for inclusion in a processing graph, includes: accessing a first component description, the first component description describing an output object of the first component with a set of tags; accessing a second component description, the second component description describing an input condition of the second component with a set of tags; determining that the first component can be connected to the second component if the set of tags describing the output object includes all tags describing the input condition; and including the first and second connected components in a processing graph if they are connected to each other.
US08245120B2 Power reduced queue based data detection and decoding systems and methods for using such
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a variable iteration data processing system is disclosed that includes a first detector, a second detector, a decoder and a unified memory buffer. An input data set is received by the first detector that performs a data detection and provides a first detected data set. The decoder receives a derivative of the first detected data set and performs a decoding operation that yields a decoded data set. In some cases, the derivative of the first detected data set is an interleaved version of the first detected data set. The decoded data set is written to a unified memory buffer. The first decoded data set is retrievable from the unified memory buffer and a derivative thereof is provided to the second detector. In some cases, the derivative of the decoded is a de-interleaved version of the decoded data set. The second detector is operable to perform a data detection on the derivative of the decoded data set and to provide a second detected data set that is written to the unified memory buffer.
US08245116B2 Method for performing soft decision decoding of Euclidean space Reed-Muller codes
Soft decision decoding of a codeword of a Reed-Muller (RM) code by selecting an optimal decomposition variable i using a likelihood calculation. A code RM(r, m) is expressed as {(u, uv)|uεRM(r, m−1) and vεRM(r−1, m−1)}, where uv denotes a component-wise multiplication of u and v, and (u, uv)=(r1, r2). A receive codeword is separated into r1=u and r2=uv based on the optimal decomposition variable, and r2 is decoded according to the optimal decomposition variable, using a RM(r−1, m−1) decoder to obtain a decoded v and a first set of decoded bits. The decoded v is combined with r1 using (r1+r2v)/2, and (r1+r2v)/2 is decoded using a RM(r, m−1) decoder to obtain a decoded u and a second set of decoded bits.
US08245109B2 Error checking and correction (ECC) system and method
A method stores data and check bits for that data within a memory chip. The memory chip stores the data and check bits in a plurality of pages contained in the memory chip, each page including a plurality of storage locations with each storage location having an associated address. The method includes receiving data to be stored in the memory, calculating check bits for the received data, mapping the data to addresses associated with the storage locations in a given page in the memory chip, mapping the check bits to addresses associated with the storage locations contained in the same page as the data, and storing the data and check bits in the page. The method may be applied to a single memory chip or to multiple memory chips.
US08245104B2 Systems and methods for queue based data detection and decoding
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a variable iteration data processing system is disclosed that includes at least a first detector, a second detector, a decoder, and a queuing buffer. The first detector is operable to perform a data detection on an input data set at a first time. The decoder receives a derivation of an output from the first detector and performs a decoding process. Where the decoding process fails to converge, the decoder output is passed to the second detector for a subsequent detection and decoding process at a second time.
US08245103B2 Arithmetic circuit for concatenated codes and address control method
Concatenated codes are improved, and a memory capacity and a memory diagnosis circuit are reduced. Address control used in an interleaver of related art is applied to a register included in a syndrome arithmetic circuit or a check code calculation circuit of related art, and an arithmetic operation result equivalent to that obtained by interleaving is derived.
US08245102B1 Error checking parity and syndrome of a block of data with relocated parity bits
Method and apparatus for error checking information is described. Configuration data includes data bits and parity bits. Notably, parity bits may be relocated for determining a syndrome value. Syndrome bits are determined by computing a partial syndrome value for each word serially transmitted of the configuration data, where the configuration data includes one or more data vectors. Location of each word of the configuration data is identified. It is determined whether a partial syndrome value is an initial partial syndrome value or other partial syndrome value responsive to word location. An initial partial syndrome value is stored, and subsequent partial syndrome values are cumulatively added for each word of a data vector to arrive at a syndrome value for the data vector.
US08245098B2 Selectively strengthening and weakening check-node messages in error-correction decoders
In one embodiment, an LDPC decoder has a plurality of check-node units (CNUs) and a controller. Initially, the CNUs generate check-node messages based on an initial offset value selected by the controller. If the decoder converges on a trapping set, then the controller selects new offset values for missatisfied check nodes (MSCs), the locations of which are approximated, and/or unsatisfied check nodes (USCs). In particular, offset values are selected such that (i) the messages corresponding to the MSCs are decreased relative to the messages that would be generated using the initial offset value and/or (ii) the messages corresponding to the USCs are increased relative to the messages that would be generated using the initial offset value. Decoding is then continued for a specified number of iterations to break the trapping set. In other embodiments, the controller selects scaling factors rather than, or in addition to, offset values.
US08245097B2 Iterative decoding of punctured low-density parity check codes by selection of decoding matrices
Methods and apparatus for enabling effective decoding of rate-compatible punctured codes are presented herein. A puncturing component can derive one or more partial puncturing patterns and corresponding decoding matrices/graphs that represent punctured code from a parity check matrix/graph of a mother code and a puncturing pattern specified for the mother code. Further, a rowcombining component can combine rows of the parity check matrix/graph based on the derived one or more partial puncture patterns. Further, the rowcombining component can create at least one decoding matrix/graph to represent the punctured code based on the combined rows. In addition, a selection component can select a decoding matrix/graph from the created at least one decoding matrix/graph that does not contain a girth-4 cycle.
US08245096B2 System, method and apparatus for FEC encoding and decoding
A system, method and apparatus are provided for encoding and decoding a source file. The source file is encoded by dividing it into a plurality of shares comprised of a plurality of packets. A bit vector is generated. For at least one share, an FEC packet is generated by XOR'ing a subset of packets from the plurality of packets in the share in accordance with the bit vector. The process of encoding continues until terminated. Once the FEC encoded packets are received, each of the plurality of packets which is not a linear combination of previously received packets is stored into a file. A sequence of XOR operations to perform in-place on the file to reconstruct the source file are generated and performed on the file.
US08245095B2 Upgraded codeword lock state machine
An apparatus comprising a Forward Error Correction (FEC) processor coupled to an optical receiver, wherein the FEC processor is configured to compare a plurality of received blocks to a plurality of FEC codeword blocks comprising a plurality of parity blocks, and upon detecting a misaligned block in the received blocks, compare at least some of the remaining received blocks to the parity blocks. Also included is an apparatus comprising at least one component configured to implement a method comprising receiving a plurality of blocks, wherein the quantity of received blocks is equal to a quantity of blocks in a FEC codeword, selecting one of the received blocks, determining whether the selected block is aligned with the FEC codeword, and determining whether the remaining blocks correspond to the FEC codeword when the selected block is not aligned with the FEC codeword.
US08245085B2 Dump output control apparatus and dump output control method
A dump output control apparatus includes a storage unit that stores output device information indicating an output device that is an output destination of dump information, a dump output device control unit that obtains the output device information stored in the storage unit and, determines a device as an output device for outputting the dump information thereto based on the obtained output device information, and a dump output unit that outputs the dump information to the determined output device.
US08245077B2 Failover method and computer system
A failover method in a computer system having a first computer which performs an operation, a plurality of standby computers including a first standby computer and a second standby computer, a second computer which has a management module which manages the first computer and the standby computer, and a third computer which manages starting and stopping of the standby computer. The third computer acquires configuration information of the first computer, the second computer and the plurality of standby computers from the management module of the second computer. The third computer determines whether a failure has occurred in the second computer. The third computer sets up the management module on the second standby computer based on the acquired configuration information when the failure in the second computer is detected.
US08245074B2 Clock integrated circuit
The clock circuit of an integrated circuit operates with variations such as temperature, ground noise, and power noise. Various aspects of an improved clock integrated circuit address one or more of the variations in temperature, ground noise, and power noise.
US08245073B2 Method and apparatus synchronizing integrated circuit clocks
Embodiments described herein include a method and system for synchronizing clocks between coupled integrated circuits (ICs) in a computer system. According to an embodiment, a dedicated timing pin is provided on a first IC. The first IC configures a second IC to change a pin assignment, so that the second IC interprets a signal sent on the timing pin by the first IC and received on the reassigned pin as a request to transmit a return signal. The return signal is received on the timing pin. The return signal is used to determine whether timing should be adjusted by the first IC. In an embodiment a clock and data recover (CDR) circuit compares the signal sent to the signal received in order to make the determination. In an embodiment the first IC is a processor-based device, and the second IC is a memory device controlled by the first device.
US08245072B2 Signal transmission system and control method therefore
A signal transmission system includes a transmitting device and a receiving device. The transmitting device includes a superimposition portion that superimposes at least one synchronizing signal on at least one video signal among a plurality of video signals, and outputs the synchronizing signal and the video signal as a superimposition signal to a receiving device. The receiving device includes a separation portion that separates the superimposition signal into the synchronizing signal and the video signal, a first adjustment portion that adjusts an amount of delay of the separated video signal to another video signal, and a second adjustment portion that adjusts an amount of delay of the separated synchronizing signal.
US08245071B2 Method and apparatus of processing data independently and synchronizing and outputting processed data
Provided are a method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of data processing modules that process data independently and output the processed data. A method of controlling a first data processing module and a second data processing module that process data independently and synchronize and output the processed data, the method including acquiring first data output rate information representing a current data output rate of the first data processing module, acquiring second data output rate information representing a current data output rate of the second data processing module, and adjusting a data output rate of at least one of the first data processing module and the second data processing module, on the basis of the first data output rate information and the second data output rate information.
US08245068B2 Power supply monitoring method and system
A device having a power supply monitoring capabilities, the device includes: a power supply unit; at least one real time clock generator counter adapted to receive a supply voltage from the power supply unit; a fixed value storage circuit that is un-accessible to software executed by a processor; wherein the fixed value storage circuit stores a fixed value; wherein the fixed value includes multiple bits; a volatile storage unit, being accessible to the processor; wherein the volatile storage unit is adapted to: (i) store a reset value after being reset; (ii) receive the fixed value during an initialization state; and (iii) store the fixed value until being reset; wherein the volatile storage unit is designed such that there is a low probability that the reset value equals the fixed value; and a comparator adapted to provide a tamper indication if the fixed value stored at the fixed value storage circuit differs from a value stored at the volatile storage unit.
US08245066B1 Smart limited functionality mode manager
In general, a method includes receiving, at a portable electronic device, a first signal that instructs the portable electronic device to enter a limited functionality mode, wherein, in the limited functionality mode, one or more transmission functionalities associated with the portable electronic device are disabled, determining whether the portable electronic device has received a second signal that instructs the portable electronic device to immediately enter the limited functionality mode, in response to receiving the first signal, waiting until one or more tasks that use the one or more transmission functionalities are completed or until the second signal is determined to have been received, and entering the limited functionality mode after waiting until the one or more tasks that user the one or more transmission functionalities are completed or until the second signal is determined to have been received.
US08245059B2 System and method for managing energy consumption in a compute environment
A system, method and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for managing workload in data centers. The method includes receiving information associated with at least one of energy consumption and a temperature of nodes each data center of a group of distributed data centers to yield received information. The method further includes analyzing workload associated with at least one second data center of the group of distributed data centers to yield an analysis of the workload, and modifying use of resources of the group of distributed data centers based on the received information and the analysis of the workload. One application can include migration of workload from one data center to another data center based on a variety of factors.
US08245056B2 Unified bus architecture for PoE communication and control
Embodiments of a unified communication and control bus architecture for Ethernet and/or PoE systems are provided. Embodiments enable a unified communication and control bus architecture that significantly simplifies communication and control in Ethernet and/or PoE systems. Embodiments enable significant savings both in terms of cost and complexity as the number of communication and control buses is reduced down to one. Embodiments can be used in various Ethernet and/or PoE implementations, including, for example, single PCB-single PoE, single PCB-multiple PoE, chassis-based switch, and stackable-based switch configurations. Further, embodiments can be implemented using standard Ethernet as well as proprietary implementations.
US08245055B2 Method for firmware control invocation from power management
A method for usurping control of a computer system from an operating system using a mechanism otherwise used to enable the entry of the computer system into a lower power state.
US08245054B2 Secure and convenient access control for storage devices supporting passwords for individual partitions
An information processing apparatus includes a storage device having an access-restricted area accessible if the password is properly authenticated and an access-unrestricted area accessible regardless of whether or not the password is authenticated. The information processing apparatus allows a password to be registered in a registration server beforehand, prompts a user to enter the password when accessing the access-restricted area and, if the password is not entered, reads from the access-unrestricted area a password retrieval program for retrieving the password from the registration server, activates and executes the password retrieval program to retrieve the password from the registration server, and causes the storage device to authenticate the retrieved password to place the access-restricted area in an accessible state.
US08245052B2 Method and apparatus for a token
A method and apparatus of using a token comprises receiving an indication of a presence of a nearby short-range terminal and waking up the token in response to receiving the indication. The method further comprises performing authentication between the token and the terminal, without requiring a user to directly interact with the token.
US08245049B2 Method and system for validating access to a group of related elements
A method and system for validating access to a group of related elements are described. The elements within the group access a security context associated with a markup domain when a call is made to an element. An authorized call to an element is enabled such that the markup domain is navigated to a new web page. However, an unauthorized call is prevented so that the navigation to the new web page is not permitted. After the markup domain has been navigated, the security context associated with the markup domain is invalidated. A new security context is generated and associated with the markup domain. The elements associated with the web page navigated from are inaccessible after navigation of the markup domain to the new page. The association of the new security context with the markup domain prevents an unauthorized user from accessing any element that references the previous security context.
US08245043B2 Audio start service for Ad-hoc meetings
An audio start service method for enabling and scheduling ad hoc distributed meetings. Only a short (in some embodiments less than or equal to about 32 bits) unique device identification is needed to enable distributed meeting devices participating in the meeting to rendezvous at a common rendezvous network address. Once the participants know the unique meeting network address they can take part in the meeting, while others can join or leave the meeting. The data string is each device's unique identification that is encoded into an inaudible watermark and continuously exchanged between devices over the telephone network. A first distributed meeting device requests a network address from a distributed meeting server. This unique meeting network address then is sent to an audio start service that identifies “buddies” of the first device and sends out meeting invitations and the network address to other devices so they can join the meeting.
US08245042B2 Shielding a sensitive file
Embodiments of the invention provide for shielding a sensitive file on a computer that can connect to a server computer via a network. The computer may determine whether it complies with security compliance requirements sent from another computer or not in response to a read instruction or a write instruction of the sensitive file by application software, and encrypt the sensitive file with an encryption key.
US08245039B2 Extensible authentication protocol authentication and key agreement (EAP-AKA) optimization
Systems and methods are described for improved authentication of subscribers wishing to connect to a wireless network using the EAP-AKA protocol. Embodiments exploit the requirement that the client store and transmit the Pseudonym and Fast Re-authentication Identities upon request. By using the Fast Re-authentication Identity to store session state key information, the need for the AAA server to store and replicate the EAP-AKA key information for every session is eliminated.
US08245036B2 Method and system for establishing a trusted and decentralized peer-to-peer network
The present invention offers a new and improved method and system to establish a trusted and decentralized peer-to-peer network for: the sharing of computer files between and among computing devices; trusted chat sessions; and for other applications of trusted peer-to-peer networks.
US08245035B2 Merging registry keys
Two or more separate physical Registry directories are presented as a single (virtual) Registry directory to an application running in a controlled execution environment called a silo. All of the operations normally available to be performed on the Registry directory can be performed on the merge directory, however, the operating system controls the level of access to the keys in the merge directory. The operating system provides the merged view of the Registry directories by a Registry filter driver. The Registry filter model provides a single callback with a notification code indicating the reason the callback was called. The types of notifications which trigger the special processing include: enumeration of a key, enumeration of the value of a key, query a key, close a key, delete a key, create or open a key or rename a key.
US08245034B2 Personal information distribution management system, personal information distribution management method, personal information service program, and personal information utilization program
The present invention is intended to allow distribution of personal information to be managed on the basis of not only a personal information management policy defined by a personal information producer but also management policies of all apparatuses which handle personal information when the distribution of personal information is managed between apparatuses. In its configuration, personal information generation apparatus 1 encapsulates personal information together with a transmission policy to generate a personal information capsule which is transmitted to personal information utilization apparatus 2. Personal information utilization apparatus 2 receives and holds the personal information capsule for utilization. In this event, personal information generation apparatus 1 transmits a transmission policy defined by the personal information producer. Personal information utilization apparatus 2 in turn transmits a reception policy defined by a personal information user. Then, personal information generation apparatus 1 and personal information utilization apparatus 2 determine a contractual coverage in regard to personal information to be distributed, and generate contract information. Eventually, the personal information is distributed from personal information generation apparatus 1 to personal information utilization apparatus 2 based on the generated contract information.
US08245032B2 Method to authenticate packet payloads
An architecture for authenticating packets is provided that includes: an input 322 operable to receive a packet, the packet comprising at least one of a transport, session and presentation header portion and a transport agent 312 operable to compute a first message authentication code based on at least some of the contents of the packet and compare the first message authentication code with a second message authentication code in the at least one of a transport, session, and presentation header portion to authenticate the packet.
US08245031B2 Content control method using certificate revocation lists
Host devices present both the host certificate and the pertinent certificate revocation lists to the memory device for authentication so that the memory device need not obtain the list on its own. Processing of the certificate revocation list and searching for the certificate identification may be performed concurrently by the memory device. The certificate revocation lists for authenticating host devices to memory devices may be stored in an unsecured area of the memory device for convenience of users.
US08245029B2 System and method for enhanced network entrance into a wireless network
In one embodiment, a method for wireless communication includes providing, at a base station, access to a network to a preferred endpoint. The method includes sending, at the base station, at least one cryptographic parameter to the preferred endpoint. In addition, the method includes receiving, at the base station, a plurality of ranging codes from the preferred endpoint. The plurality of ranging codes are received after the base station has ceased providing the preferred endpoint access to the network. Also, the method includes determining, at the base station, that the plurality of received ranging codes correspond to a plurality of ranging codes of a predetermined set of ranging codes. The predetermined set of ranging codes is determined utilizing the at least one cryptographic parameter. Further, the method includes providing, at the base station, an entrance to the network to the preferred endpoint in response to determining that the plurality of received ranging codes correspond to the plurality of ranging codes of the predetermined set of ranging codes.
US08245025B2 Computer motherboard with basic input output system capable of built-in configuration display
The present invention is a computer motherboard with a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) capable of built-in configuration display, characterized in that the BIOS includes a first means and a second means. The first and second means are code internally provided in the BIOS and executable by a CPU of the computer motherboard in an execution environment preset by the BIOS. The first means enables acquisition of CPU configuration data stored on the CPU and configuration data for displaying the CPU. The second means enables acquisition of memory module configuration data stored on at least a memory module and configuration data for displaying the memory module. After the computer motherboard enters a BIOS setup utility, a user selects an option of execution of the first or second means to execute CPU and memory configuration display without using an operating system.
US08245023B2 Method and related computer system capable of executing programs for a computer system
A method capable of executing programs for a computer system operating in a shut down state includes generating a control instruction while a key of the computer system is pressed down; storing the control instruction; and performing actions according to the control instruction when the computer system is booted up.
US08245021B2 System and method for re-imaging computers
According to an embodiment, a system comprises a client, a BIOS on the client, and an image support application in the BIOS operable to re-image the client.
US08245016B2 Multi-threaded processing
A system includes a multi-threaded processor that executes an instruction of a process of an executing program. The multi-threaded processor includes at least a first and a second thread. First and second sets of source registers are respectively allocated to the first and second threads, and first and second sets of destination registers are respectively allocated to the first and second threads. A resource prefix configuration register includes mappings between each of the source and destination registers and the threads. The multi-threaded processor, during execution of the instruction by one of the first or the second threads of execution, accesses the source and destination registers based on the mapping, wherein at least one of the accessed registers is allocated to the other of the first or the second thread of execution.
US08245015B2 Processor monitoring execution of a synchronization instruction issued to execution sections to detect completion of execution of preceding instructions in an identified thread
A processor includes a plurality of executing sections configured to simultaneously execute instructions for a plurality of threads, an instruction issuing section configured to issue instructions to the plurality of executing sections, and an instruction sync monitoring section configured to, when an instruction-synchronizing instruction is issued to one or more of the plurality of executing sections from the instruction issuing section, monitor completion of execution of the instruction-synchronizing instruction for each of the executing sections, to which the instruction-synchronizing instruction has been issued, thus detecting completion of execution of preceding instructions for the thread to which the instruction-synchronizing instruction belongs. After issuing the instruction-synchronizing instruction, the instruction issuing section stops issuance of succeeding instructions for the thread to which the instruction-synchronizing instruction belongs, until the completion of execution of the preceding instructions for the thread to which the instruction-synchronizing instruction belongs is detected by the instruction sync monitoring section.
US08245011B2 Method and system for geometry-based virtual memory management in a tiled virtual memory
Methods and systems are provided for geometry-based virtual memory management. The methods and systems use Boolean space algebra operations to manage allocation and deallocation of tiled virtual memory pages in a tiled virtual memory provided by a tiled virtual memory subsystem. A region quadtree may be maintained representing a current allocation state of tiled virtual memory pages within a container. The region quadtree may be used to locate a rectangle or two dimensional (2D) array of unallocated tiled virtual memory pages, and physical memory pages may be mapped to tiled virtual memory pages in the rectangle by updating a lookup table used to translate tiled virtual memory page addresses to physical memory page addresses. A union or intersection of region quadtrees may be performed to generate a new region quadtree representing a new current allocation state of the tiled virtual memory pages.
US08245008B2 System and method for NUMA-aware heap memory management
A system and method for allocating memory to multi-threaded programs on a Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA) computer system using a NUMA-aware memory heap manager is disclosed. In embodiments, a NUMA-aware memory heap manager may attempt to maximize the locality of memory allocations in a NUMA system by allocating memory blocks that are near, or on the same node, as the thread that requested the memory allocation. A heap manager may keep track of each memory block's location and satisfy allocation requests by determining an allocation node dependent, at least in part, on its locality to that of the requesting thread. When possible, a heap manger may attempt to allocate memory on the same node as the requesting thread. The heap manager may be non-application-specific, may employ multiple levels of free block caching, and/or may employ various listings that associate given memory blocks with each NUMA node.
US08245005B2 Probabilistic object relocation
Object relocation often involves a multi-word copy of the object from a source memory to a destination memory, followed by updating the references (e.g., pointers) to the object. However, during the relocation, other threads may write to portions of the object that have already been relocated, and the updates may be lost when the references are updated to point to the destination memory. The object relocation may therefore mark the words of the object during relocation with a relocation value to indicate transfer to the destination memory without locking the threads. The threads may be configured to check the value the source memory during object access, and to access the corresponding word of the destination memory if the source memory word comprises the relocation value. While the probability of a large (e.g., 64-bit) relocation value appearing in the object is small, safety measures are provided to detect and mitigate conflicts.
US08245004B2 Mechanisms for communicating with an asynchronous memory mover to perform AMM operations
A data processing system includes a set of architected registers within which the processor places state and other information to communicate with the asynchronous memory mover in order to initiate and control an AMM operation. The asynchronous memory mover performs an asynchronous memory move (AMM) operation in response to receiving a set of parameters within the architected registers, which parameters are associated with an AMM store instruction executed by the processor to initiates a move of data in virtual space before placing the information in the architected registers. The architected registers are processor architected registers, defined on a per thread basis by a compiler, or memory mapped architected registers allocated for communicating with the asynchronous memory mover during a bind and subsequent execution of an application. The architected registers are also utilized to store state information to enable a restore to a point before execution of the AMM operation.
US08245003B2 Composite memory device, data processing method and data processing program
A composite memory device, a data processing method and a data processing program can efficiently and selectively use a nonvolatile solid-state memory and a recording medium. The composite medium device includes a nonvolatile solid-state memory and a recording medium and is adapted to combine the data area of the recording medium and the data area of the nonvolatile solid-state memory and manage them as totally or partly integrated data area by means of a predetermined file system. The composite memory device is connected to a host appliance by way of an interface section.
US08244997B2 Storage controller, storage system, and storage controller control method
A storage controller of the present invention can specify an updated file based on an updated block detected when a differential backup is carried out for a plurality of generations, and can carry out a virus scan for the updated file only. Difference data generated between a primary volume and a backup volume is managed in difference volumes of different generations. A file updated by the host is specified based on an updated block in which the difference data is stored. A virus scan, which makes use of the latest virus pattern file, is executed for this updated file. Furthermore, search information related to the updated file can be created, and this search information can also be saved.
US08244995B2 System and method for hierarchical wear leveling in storage devices
Systems and methods for reducing problems and disadvantages associated with wear leveling in storage devices are disclosed. A method may include maintaining module usage data associated with each of a plurality of storage device modules communicatively coupled to a channel. The method may also include maintaining device usage data associated with each of the plurality of storage devices associated with the storage device module for each of the plurality of storage device modules. The method may additionally include determining a particular storage device module of the plurality of storage device modules to which to store data associated with a write request based at least on the module usage data. The method may further include determining a particular storage device of the particular storage device module to which to store data associated with a write request based at least on the device usage data associated with the particular storage device module.
US08244992B2 Policy based data retrieval performance for deduplicated data
A method that includes, by one or more computer systems, determining a data retrieval rate policy based on at least one data retrieval rate parameter. The method also includes determining at least one storage subsystem performance parameter. The method further includes determining a fragmentation value based on the data retrieval rate policy and the at least one storage subsystem performance parameter. The method additionally includes determining a storage subsystem fragmentation of a first data object. The storage subsystem fragmentation includes fragmenting the first data object into a plurality of first data object fragments. The method also includes deduplicating the first data object based on the fragmentation value and the storage subsystem fragmentation.
US08244987B2 Memory access device including multiple processors
Provided is a memory access device including multiple processors accessing a specific memory. The memory access device includes first and second processors, first and second transaction controllers, a memory access switch, and a memory controller. The first and second transaction controllers are connected respectively to the first and second processors. The memory access switch is connected to the first and second transaction controllers. The memory controller is connected to the memory access switch to control a memory device. Herein, if the first and second processors simultaneously access the memory device, the second processor stores an address or data in the second transaction controller while the first processor is accessing the memory device.
US08244981B2 Combined transparent/non-transparent cache
In one embodiment, a memory that is delineated into transparent and non-transparent portions. The transparent portion may be controlled by a control unit coupled to the memory, along with a corresponding tag memory. The non-transparent portion may be software controlled by directly accessing the non-transparent portion via an input address. In an embodiment, the memory may include a decoder configured to decode the address and select a location in either the transparent or non-transparent portion. Each request may include a non-transparent attribute identifying the request as either transparent or non-transparent. In an embodiment, the size of the transparent portion may be programmable. Based on the non-transparent attribute indicating transparent, the decoder may selectively mask bits of the address based on the size to ensure that the decoder only selects a location in the transparent portion.
US08244977B2 Displaying memory statistics for a keydrive
Methods, systems, and products are provided that display memory statistics for a keydrive that do not require the keydrive to be plugged into another device. Displaying memory statistics according to embodiments of the present invention include receiving a command resulting in a change to the memory usage of the keydrive, calculating memory statistics describing the current state of memory usage of the keydrive, storing the memory statistics in memory on the keydrive, and displaying the memory statistics on a display on the keydrive. Calculating memory statistics describing the current state of memory usage of the keydrive may be carried out by calculating a total memory usage of the keydrive. Calculating memory statistics describing the current state of memory usage of the keydrive may also be carried out by calculating a percent of total memory used.
US08244970B2 Cache write integrity logging
An apparatus, as well as systems, methods, and articles can operate to record the address of write operations to a memory cached by a non-volatile cache prior to executing an operating system cache driver. In an embodiment, a non-volatile cache may be implemented by creating a device option read only memory (ROM), or modifying the associated computer basic input-output system (BIOS) to trap software interrupts associated with disk and other media access requests. Associated addresses, such as logical block addresses, can be stored in a log for data that is modified. The resulting log can be stored in a non-volatile medium, including the cache itself. If the available log space is not large enough to record all write activity prior to loading operating system drivers, a flag may be set to indicate the overrun condition.
US08244968B2 Flash memory device capable of improving read performance
A flash memory device, related system ad method are disclosed. The memory device includes a memory cell array a page buffer receiving read data, wherein the page buffer includes a main register transferring read data to a cache register during an read operation, and a control logic block controlling operation of the page buffer during the read operation, such that initialization of the main register continuously extends beyond a time period during which read data is transferred from the main register to the cache register.
US08244965B2 Control method for logical strips based on multi-channel solid-state non-volatile storage device
A control method for logical strips based on a multi-channel solid-state non-volatile storage device is provided. The method includes the following processing steps. In Step 1, a storage space of every channel is partitioned into a plurality of storage units of equal size. In Step 2, at least one logical strip is set by which the storage units with discrete physical addresses across a plurality of channels are organized into a continuous logical space. In Step 3, during data reading/writing operation, the data is divided according to a size of each local strip, the divided data is mapped to the storage units of every channel, and a parallel reading/writing operation is performed across the channels. This method may increase the efficiency of reading and writing operations of the storage device and prolong the operating life span of the device.
US08244962B2 Command processor for a data storage device
An apparatus for queuing and ordering commands for a data storage device may include a slot tracker module that is arranged and configured to track available slots for commands from a host, a command transfer module that is operably coupled to the slot tracker module and that is arranged and configured to retrieve commands from the host based on a number of the available slots, a pending command module that is operably coupled to the command transfer module and that is arranged and configured to queue and order the commands from the host for processing using an ordered list that is based on an age of the commands and a task dispatch module that is operably coupled to the pending command module and that is arranged and configured to dispatch the commands for processing using the ordered list from the pending command module and an availability of storage locations.
US08244960B2 Non-volatile memory and method with write cache partition management methods
A portion of a nonvolatile memory is partitioned from a main multi-level memory array to operate as a cache. The cache memory is configured to store at less capacity per memory cell and finer granularity of write units compared to the main memory. In a block-oriented memory architecture, the cache has multiple functions, not merely to improve access speed, but is an integral part of a sequential update block system. The cache memory has a capacity dynamically increased by allocation of blocks from the main memory in response to a demand to increase the capacity. Preferably, a block with an endurance count higher than average is allocated. The logical addresses of data are partitioned into zones to limit the size of the indices for the cache.
US08244958B2 Method and system for facilitating fast wake-up of a flash memory system
Methods, systems and computer-readable code for maintaining flash data structures in accordance with events of a flash memory system are disclosed. Both an events log as well as at least one flash management table are maintained in flash memory. For at least one point in time, a most recently stored flash memory table is indicative of an earlier state of the flash memory system, while at least one event that is more recent than the earlier state is stored in the events log. During power-up, the flash management table is retrieved from flash memory. If the most recent event of the flash memory table is earlier than the most recent event of the events log, events are retrieved from the events log in order to update the flash memory table. Optionally, the updated flash memory table is saved to flash memory.
US08244957B2 Mechanism for dynamic placement of virtual machines during live migration based on memory
A mechanism for dynamic placement of virtual machines (VMs) during live migration based on memory is disclosed. A method of embodiments of the invention includes determining candidate target host machines capable of receiving a VM to be migrated, obtaining a hash value for memory pages of the VM to be migrated, obtaining for each candidate target host machine hash values for shared memory pages utilized by one or more VMs hosted by the candidate target host machine, comparing for each candidate target host machine the hash values for the memory pages of the VM to be migrated with the hash values for the shared memory pages, and adjusting a score in a general selection algorithm for the candidate target host machine with the most identical matches of the hash values for the shared memory pages with the hash values for the memory pages of the VM to be migrated.
US08244954B2 On-demand paging-in of pages with read-only file system
Disclosed is a computer implemented method and computer program product to resume a process at an arrival machine that is in an identical state to a frozen process on a departure machine. The arrival machine receives checkpoint data for the process from the departure machine. The arrival machine creates the process. The arrival machine updates a page table, wherein the page table comprises a segment, page number, and offset corresponding to a page of the process available from a remote paging device, wherein the remote paging device is remote from the arrival machine. The arrival machine resumes the process. The arrival machine generates a page fault for the page, responsive to resuming the process. The arrival machine looks up the page in the page table, responsive to the page fault. The arrival machine determines whether the page is absent in the arrival machine. The arrival machine transmits a page-in request to the departure machine, responsive to a determination that the page is absent. The arrival machine receives the page from the departure machine.
US08244942B2 Computer storage device adapter for installing a storage device in a computer drive bay
An adapter for mounting a device in a computer enclosure is disclosed herein. A computer storage device adapter includes an adapter chassis configured to be installed in at least one drive bay of a computer, and to house a storage device. The adapter further includes a bezel attached to the chassis. The bezel has a color, texture, and relief pattern matching a color, texture, and relief pattern of a portion of a front panel of the computer directly adjacent to the at least one drive bay in which the adapter is to be installed.
US08244941B2 Real time data interface
The present invention relates to a device, system and method for controlling a data acquisition device and inserting the acquired data into the memory of an electronic device with minimal buffering of the data. An interface device, separate from the electronic device and capable of highly accurate timing, controls a data acquisition device. This interface device provides an interface between real time data and non real time operating system running on the electronic device. By sending data to a non-real time system in a near real-time manner, the non-real time system can continue the processing of the data either in near real time, or it can store the data for later processing.
US08244933B1 Method and apparatus for inter-IC communication
Method and apparatus for inter-IC communication are described. In some examples, an integrated circuit (IC) includes core circuitry configured to process input data and provide output data; input/output (IO) circuitry configured to receive the input data, and transmit the output data; a control circuit configured to provide a selection signal; and an inter-IC communication port coupled between the core circuitry and the IO circuitry and configured to pass the input data and the output data, the inter-IC communication port having a memory interface and a memory controller, the inter-IC communication port configured to selectively couple either the memory interface or the memory controller between the core circuitry and the IO circuitry responsive to the selection signal.
US08244931B2 Methods and apparatus for providing bit-reversal and multicast functions utilizing DMA controller
Techniques for providing improved data distribution to and collection from multiple memories are described. Such memories are often associated with and local to processing elements (PEs) within an array processor. Improved data transfer control within a data processing system provides support for radix 2, 4 and 8 fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithms through data reordering or bit-reversed addressing across multiple PEs, carried out concurrently with FFT computation on a digital signal processor (DSP) array by a DMA unit. Parallel data distribution and collection through forms of multicast and packet-gather operations are also supported.
US08244929B2 Data processing apparatus
A data processing apparatus reduces the number of the buffer SRAMs to decrease chip area. The data processing apparatus includes an SDRAM address allocation register that holds information indicating which region of the SDRAM will be allocated to each of the IPs, and a buffer SRAM address allocation register that holds information indicating which region of the first and second buffer SRAMs will be allocated to each of the IPs. The bus I/F stores the data read from the SDRAM into the second buffer SRAM with reference to the SDRAM address allocation register and the buffer SRAM address allocation register. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide each of the IPs with a buffer SRAM, which allows integration into a small number of buffer SRAMs.
US08244928B2 Wireless human interface device (HID) coordination
A method relating to wireless human interface device (HID) coordination is disclosed. A first human interface device (HID) is wirelessly coupled to two or more computing devices, wherein the first HID is configured to toggle between interactions with each of the two or more computing devices. An inquiry or paging message is broadcast to one or more HIDs, including a second HID wirelessly coupled to the two or more computing devices, wherein the second HID is configured to receive and provide a response to the inquiry or paging message. The second HID is located based on the response to the inquiry or paging message. A wireless link is established between the first HID and the second HID based on the identifying, wherein the first HID is configured to coordinate, via the wireless link, interactions with the two or more computing devices by both the first HID and the second HID based on the toggle.
US08244924B2 Discovery and configuration of device configurations
A computer program product for processing communications between a host processor and a plurality of devices includes a tangible storage medium for performing a method comprising: receiving, by the host processor, physical configuration information including identification of a location of each physical endpoint connected to the host processor and a plurality of communication paths associated with each physical endpoint; sending at least one message to each physical endpoint on each of the plurality of communication paths, the at least one message requesting identification of a logical entity at the endpoint, and receiving logical configuration information identifying the logical entity; and generating a data collection accessible by the host processor, the data collection including the physical configuration information and the logical configuration information for each logical entity, and identification of a location of each physical endpoint connected to the host processor and a plurality of communication paths to each logical entity.
US08244922B2 Method and apparatus for dynamically configuring hardware resources by a generic CPU management interface
A programmable network component for use in a plurality of network devices with a shared architecture, where the programmable network component includes an interface with an external processing unit to provide management interface control between the external processing unit and a network device. The programmable network component also includes a plurality of internal busses each of which is coupled to the programmable network component and to at least one network component. The programmable network component further includes a plurality of external buses each of which is coupled to the programmable network component and to at least one physical interface. The programmable network component is configured to support a plurality of protocols for communication with a plurality of physical interface components and comprises a plurality of programmable registers for determining the status of the plurality of physical interfaces.
US08244919B2 Data transfer apparatus, system and method using the same
A data transfer apparatus, system and method using the same are provided. A data transfer system according to an exemplary embodiment includes a user process space, a kernel space and a hardware space. A plurality of user processes are executed in the user process space. The kernel space includes a kernel thread. The hardware space performs an input/output according to the input/output request of the each user process. When input data based on the input request are received to the hardware space, the data transfer system checks whether the user process requesting the input is in an execution state, and allows the kernel thread to copy the input data from the kernel space to the user process space when the user process is in the execution state.
US08244909B1 Method, apparatus and networking equipment for performing flow hashing using quasi cryptographic hash functions
A method, apparatus and networking equipment for performing flow hashing is provided. The method may include obtaining, at a network node, a key for a packet; forming, at the network node, a first pseudorandom number as a function of a first polynomial generator and the key; forming, at the network node, a second pseudorandom number as a function of a second polynomial generator and the key; combining, at the network node, the first and second pseudorandom numbers to form a third pseudorandom number; and selecting, at the network node, as a function of the third pseudorandom number, a path to which to forward the packet.
US08244907B2 Browser-based logoff from distributed and federated environments
A web browser is provided with a logout enablement function that traps a browser or page shutdown request and prevents that request from completing until the browser (or page) has logged out from one or more current server-side application sessions. The logout enablement function ensures that server-side resources that have been invoked for a given session are released before the web browser can be shutdown. The function is implemented as native browser code, a web page applet, a Java server page, a script, a control associated with the browser, and a browser plug-in.
US08244906B2 Method and system for transparent TCP offload (TTO) with a user space library
Certain aspects of a method and system for transparent TCP offload with a user space library are disclosed. Aspects of a method may include collecting TCP segments in a network interface card (NIC) without transferring state information to a host system. When an event occurs that terminates the collection of TCP segments, a single aggregated TCP segment based on the collected TCP segments may be generated. The aggregated TCP segment may be posted directly to a user space library, bypassing kernel processing of the aggregated TCP segment.
US08244903B2 Data streaming and backup systems having multiple concurrent read threads for improved small file performance
Permitting multiple concurrent read operations upon a file system enhances small file performance. A respective instance of a thread routine stores the data from each file into a series of buffers for the file. Each instance is identified by a Process Identifier (PID) used for streaming the data from the buffers in the order in which the files are opened instead of the order in which the file data are returned by the read operations. In order to conserve buffer memory, read operations upon a file are suspended once a certain amount of data have been read from the file unless data from the file are being streamed from the buffers.
US08244896B2 Method, apparatus and program product for media identification and tracking associated user preferences
Collecting user preference information related to a playing media recording is accomplished by gathering descriptive information related to the playing media recording from a media player program presenting the playing media recording and determining if tags are embedded in the media recording and gathering descriptive information related to the playing media recording from the tags embedded in the playing media recording, if the tags exist. Further, determining if a table of contents exists on the media recording and gathering a table of contents for a collection containing the playing media recording by identifying the collection using a concatenation of track lengths identifier generation technique, the table of contents exists. Then assembling the descriptive information into a media recording information packet and sending the media recording information packet to a server computer, resulting in a collection of user preference information related to the playing media recording.
US08244893B2 Computer program product for dynamically optimized handling of messages received from a message transmission backbone by a data processing system node
A method, system, and computer program product for handling messages on a message transmission backbone within a distributed data processing system is disclosed. A filter module generates an allowable message types data structure, and stores the allowable message types data structure in a memory. Each entry of the allowable message types data structure includes information for identifying an allowable message type on the basis of one or more message characteristics. A change in a status of a module within a group of loaded programs, which includes multiple data processing software modules, is detected. In response to detecting the change in the status of a module within the group of loaded programs, a corresponding entry within the allowable message types data structure is modified. Then, when messages arrive from the message transmission backbone, a filtering module communicates a message to the group of loaded programs if an item of identifying information within the message meets a criterion of the entries within the allowable message types data structure.
US08244891B2 Simulating a large number of users
Simulating a large number of users is described. A method may include receiving a test script including a plurality of commands and invoking a script interpreter. An application thread may be launched to execute the test script. A protocol engine may be invoked for each of the commands in the test script such that each protocol engine has an associated command. Each protocol engine may execute its associated command. A system on which the method may be executed may include one or more chassis or computing devices having one or more network cards. The chassis and/or computing devices may be connected to one or more networks.
US08244890B2 System and method for handling transport protocol segments
Systems and methods that handle transport protocol segments (TPSes) are provided. In one embodiment, a system may include, for example, a receiver that may receive an incoming TPS. The incoming TPS may include, for example, an aligned upper layer protocol (ULP) header and a complete ULP data unit (ULPDU). The receiver may directly place the complete ULPDU into a host memory.
US08244889B1 Providing a presentation on a network having a plurality of synchronized media types
A presentation system and method is disclosed for presenting a presentation via a communications network. The presentation system includes one or more client nodes structured to receive presentation data. One or more leader stations of the presentation is structured to control content of the presentation data at the one or more client nodes, and one or more content server sites is structured to provide the presentation data to the one or more client nodes. The presentation system further includes one or more content managers structured to manage the delivery of the presentation data to the one or more content server sites and verify that the presentation data is operable to being presented at the one or more client nodes.
US08244887B2 HTTP push to simulate server-initiated sessions
A mobile device apparatus uses an HyperText Transfer protocol (HTTP) push operation to simulate server-initiated sessions. The illustrative mobile device apparatus comprises a push server logic operable in a push server that sends a message to a mobile device over a network. The push server logic is configured to receive a GET command from a mobile device. The GET command includes a mobile device identifier parameter and a timeout parameter designating a maximum time interval for the push server to reply with a message. The push server logic holds a GET command session until expiration of a timeout designated by the timeout parameter in a condition that no message is targeted to the mobile device. The push server logic terminates the GET command session by sending a message immediately in a condition that the message is targeted to the mobile device.
US08244885B2 Using domain name service for identifying a home domain of a roaming device
A method, information processing system, and wireless communication network determine a domain name associated with at least one device for providing services to the at least one device in a network. A service request (604) that includes a unique identifier associated with at least one device (102) is received. A query of a remote information processing system (218) is issued for retrieving a plurality of identifier ranges (610). Each of the identifier ranges is associated with one of a plurality of domain names. An identifier range comprising at least the unique identifier associated with the at least one device (102) is identified in the plurality of identifier ranges (614). A domain name associated with the identified identifier range is determined (616). The domain name that has been determined is associated with the at least one device (102).
US08244876B2 Providing telephony services to terminals behind a firewall and/or a network address translator
A method and apparatus is provided to allow telephony or other types of media communications and services to be provided for a device (24) having a private network address that resides behind a firewall and network address and port translation (NAPT) module (which is not aware of the underlying protocol for the communications and services). Examples of the underlying protocol includes the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Real-Time Protocol (RTP). A path through the firewall and NAPT module is defined by use of keep-alive messages communicated through the firewall and NAPT module. Addresses that are allocated by the firewall and NAPT module are associated with the device (24) for both signaling and media communications. A feature of the firewall that enables the provision of telephony and media communications through the firewall that is protocol-unaware is that the firewall allows responses to messages initiated by the device back through the firewall.
US08244875B2 Secure network computing
In one embodiment, a network element comprises one or more input/output ports, one or more processors, and a memory module communicatively coupled to the processor. The memory module comprises logic instructions which, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to receive a service request from a client computing device, wherein the service request identifies one or more resources available via a computing network, establish a first communication link between the network element and the one or more resources available via a computing network identified in the service request, establish a first, secure communication link between the network element and the client computing device, connect a network interface module on the client computing device to the secure communication link, and manage communication activity between the client computing device and the one or more resources available via a computing network at the network element.
US08244871B2 Mobile communications device capable of replying to advertising message and method thereof
A mobile communications device and a method for replying advertising message (ad) are provided. The method includes steps of: receiving an ad transmitted by the server; identifying whether the received ad is messages with a predetermined format; invoking a decoding program from a storage unit for decoding the received ad if the received ad is messages with the predetermined format; identifying the special identifiers to retrieve each part of the ad; displaying a basic content part and a reply content part of the ad after the ad has decoded; identifying the reply code the user inputs in code input area via the input unit; receiving a user's reply, generating a reply message includes a reply code corresponding to the user's reply, and sending the reply message.
US08244866B2 Matching an autonomic manager with a manageable resource
A method to match an autonomic manager with a manageable resource may include using a management style profile to match the autonomic manager with the manageable resource. The method may also include validating that the autonomic manager can manage the manageable resource using a defined management style of the autonomic manager.
US08244865B2 Method and apparatus for autonomic management of connection pools
A method and apparatus for autonomic management of a connection pool. One embodiment comprises initializing a connection pool with a set of initial settings, wherein the set of initial settings include a collection interval and a collection duration; collecting autonomic configuration data for the collection duration, the autonomic configuration data including a maximum number of connections observed during the collection interval; determining an set of optimal settings using the autonomic configuration data; and modifying the connection pool according to the set of optimal settings.
US08244862B2 Monitoring network performance to identify sources of network performance degradation
A method of measuring, for communication paths between a networked computer and at least one other networked computer connected via a network performance, network information to detect network performance degradation and diagnose source(s) of the performance degradation. The diagnosis may be performed by a progressive elimination of possible sources. Network performance degradation may be attributed to problems at a local network or the Internet. The problem sources on the Internet may comprise, for example, an internet server provider (ISP) or a single remote server in communication with the networked computer. A network performance baseline established and maintained for each path may be employed in diagnosing the network performance degradation.
US08244860B2 System, method, and computer-readable medium for managing communications among service modules
A communication method between service modules in a system in which service modules operating on a plurality of information processing apparatuses connected with a network operate in collaboration with each other, the system includes a monitoring apparatus that is provided with a monitor module monitoring a connection between service modules in the system and that has connection management information including identifier information for uniquely identifying an information processing apparatus in which a service module is operating in the system, and connection information including external connection information for the service module to perform communication using an external network between the information processing apparatuses and internal connection information for the service module to perform communication using an internal network of the information processing apparatus.
US08244859B2 Method for implementing an internet protocol (IP) charging and rating middleware platform and gateway system
A method for Internet Protocol (IP) charging and rating gateway within a system having: (i) a proxy server for connection to an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) server; (ii) an access gateway, (iii) an IP classification engine for connection between a data network and the access gateway; and (iv) a gateway controller connected to the proxy server and the IP classification engine, including the steps of: (a) receiving IP packets at the IP classification engine, the IP packets originating from the data network and destined for a subscriber device via the access gateway; (b) classifying the IP packets according to the protocol of each of the packets at the IP classification engine; and (c) selectively instructing the IP classification engine to permit or deny the flow of IP packets between the data network and the access gateway at the gateway controller. Preferably, the proxy server is configured to emulate the access gateway and the AAA server.
US08244858B2 Action execution based on user modified hypothesis
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: presenting to a user a hypothesis identifying at least a relationship between a first event type and a second event type; receiving from the user one or more modifications to modify the hypothesis; and executing one or more actions based, at least in part, on a modified hypothesis resulting, at least in part, from the reception of the one or more modifications. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US08244857B2 Computer network
A peer-to-peer network operating in accordance with a service-oriented architecture is disclosed. The peers in the network request services from one another and each keep a record of the quality of service they receive from the other peers. The peers can operate in two modes of service provider selection. In a first mode, the selection is so as to favor service providers which have provided the peer with good service in the past. In a second mode, the selection is probabilistic and can therefore select service providers other than those that have provided good service in the past. Each device keeps track of the relative success of adopting the second mode of selection. By occasionally using the second mode of selection and adopting the second mode of selection more frequently should the relative success of adopting the second mode of selection rise, a more rapid adjustment by the network to changing network conditions is enabled. This leads to a better utilization of the resources of the computers of the network than has hitherto been achieved. The invention finds particular application in distributed applications which dynamically select a Web Service to perform a function at run-time.
US08244855B1 Application state aware mediating server
An application state aware mediating server or proxy. In general, the mediating server includes a packet inspection engine, a state inspector, and optionally a state classifier. The packet inspection engine examines packets passing through the mediating server to identify packets satisfying packet identification criteria of the state inspector. The identified packets are provided to the state inspector. Based on one or more of the identified packets, the state inspector determines an application state, or partial application state, for the application. Optionally, the state classifier may map the application state into one of a number of predefined state classifications.
US08244853B1 Method and system for non intrusive application interaction and dependency mapping
The present invention facilitates mapping dependencies between software applications, components, and business processes on a computer network. Packets communicated between software applications are sampled to identify characteristics of the packet. The characteristics are used to identify communicating applications and to generate dependency maps of software applications on a computer network.
US08244852B2 Systems and methods for identifying long matches of data in a compression history
Systems and methods of storing previously transmitted data and using it to reduce bandwidth usage and accelerate future communications are described. By using algorithms to identify long compression history matches, a network device may improve compression efficiently and speed. A network device may also use application specific parsing to improve the length and number of compression history matches. Further, by sharing compression histories, compression history indexes and caches across multiple devices, devices can utilize data previously transmitted to other devices to compress network traffic. Any combination of the systems and methods may be used to efficiently find long matches to stored data, synchronize the storage of previously sent data, and share previously sent data among one or more other devices.
US08244849B2 Parameter setting/storing method
Parameters necessary for browsing of content are stored in storage means while associating the parameters with location information of the content. When location information identical with location information of requested content has been stored in the storage means, parameters that have been stored in the storage means while being associated with the location information identical with the location information of the requested content are acquired from the storage means. When no location information identical with the location information of the requested content has been stored in the storage means, parameters that have been stored in the storage means while being associated with location information satisfying a prescribed rule are acquired from the storage means if such location information satisfying the prescribed rule has been stored in the storage means. The acquired parameters are applied to a process for the browsing of the requested content.
US08244845B2 IP based notification of device management operations in a network
A method and system for interfacing to an electronic device is disclosed. The interfacing may comprise one or more servers in a wireless network communicating internet protocol (IP) based messages to one or more electronic devices, where the wireless network may also communicate with the electronic devices using a network protocol that is not internet protocol. The IP based messages may be used to conduct device management of the electronic devices. The IP based messages may be digitally signed for security purposes. For mobile devices that do not have an IP address, a server may assign and IP address when the electronic device first enters the wireless network. Accordingly, the assigning of the IP address may be via a non-IP network protocol.
US08244839B2 Network problem determination
Techniques for problem determination are provided. The techniques include identifying one or more configuration items in two or more systems connected to one or more networks, performing a comparison of one or more common configuration items from the one or more configuration items in the two or more systems connected to one or more networks, and using the comparison to detect deviation between one or more configuration items of one of the two or more systems and one or more respective configuration items in the other one or more systems.
US08244838B2 Industrial controller employing the network ring topology
A network for an industrial control system employs a ring topology that is normally opened by a ring supervisor at the ring supervisor. Upon failure of the network, the ring supervisor reconnects the ring to provide an alternative transmission path around the failure point. High speed operation is reconciled with the ability to use commercial switching integrated circuits through a dual communication channel of communicating a network state as either closed or open using both high-speed hardware handled beacon frames and low-speed software processed announce frames.
US08244833B2 Real-time web transaction systems to access on-line services over the web from web applications
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing real-time, two-way transactional capabilities on the Web. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for enabling object routing, the method comprising the steps of creating a virtual information store containing information entries and attributes associating each of the information entries and the attributes with an object identity, and assigning a unique network address to each of the object identities. A method is also disclosed for enabling service management of the value-added network service, to perform OAM&P functions on the services network.
US08244825B2 Remote direct memory access (RDMA) completion
An apparatus in an example comprises an RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) network adapter located at an interface of a requester node coherency domain that sends an RDMA read request to a responder node coherency domain to flush into the responder node coherency domain data previously sent by the RDMA network adapter.
US08244816B2 System and method for controlling regularity of presence status transmission based on resource usage of a user transmitting node
A method, program and user node for use in a communication system implemented over a network comprising a plurality of user nodes, each being associated with a respective presence status indicating an availability of the user node for communication within the communication system. The method comprises, at each of a first one or more of the user nodes: transmitting repeated presence messages to each of a plurality of others of the user nodes, each of the presence messages comprising at least one of: a request for the presence status of the other user node, and a notification of the presence status of the first user node; determining a measure of resource usage in relation to at least one of the first user node and the other user nodes; and controlling a regularity of the repeated transmission of presence messages in dependence on the determined measure of resource usage measure.
US08244813B2 Output terminal apparatus for printing data by email
An apparatus includes a communication unit which receives email through a communication line, the email having been sent by a user and including a first identifier and data. The apparatus further includes an accumulation unit which stores therein the data, a printout unit, an input unit which receives a second identifier entered by the user through direct operation thereof, and a control unit which controls the printout unit to print the data corresponding to the first identifier by reading the data from the accumulation unit if the second identifier matches the first identifier.
US08244808B2 Integrated network and application session establishment
A session manager recognizes the creation of a new collaboration session and creates a new network connection to host the collaboration session using information about the new collaboration session. More specifically, an identifier for the new host network connection is based on the name given to the collaboration session. In this way, other computing devices can discover existing collaboration sessions by scanning the identifiers of existing network connections without actually having to connect to the available networks first.
US08244805B2 Communication integration between a virtual universe and an external device
An approach that provides real-time communication integration between a virtual universe and an external source is described. In one embodiment, there is a real-time communication integration interface tool that provides real-time communication integration between a virtual universe and a communication device external to the virtual universe. In this embodiment, there is a communication request component configured to receive a request to initiate a communication between a first resident that is on-line in the virtual universe and a second resident that is logged out of the virtual universe via the communication device. A communication link component is configured to establish a communication link between the virtual universe and the communication device in response to receiving the request.
US08244798B2 Techniques for sharing content between portals
Techniques for sharing content between portals. A producer portal may identify content to be shared with one or more consumer portals. One or more of the shared content objects may then be copied to a consumer portal as remote delta link objects. Changes or modifications to the source object at the producer portal are automatically reflected in the corresponding target remote delta link object on the consumer portal. Any modifications or customizations made to the remote delta link object at the consumer portal override those of the producer's source object. In this manner, changes made to the second object are reflected in the first object while preserving the changes/modifications made to the first object on the first portal.
US08244793B2 Resetting a HyperTransport link in a blade server
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products are described for resetting a HyperTransport link in a blade server, including reassigning, by a blade management module, a gate signal from enabling a transceiver to signaling a HyperTransport link reset; sending, by the blade management module to a reset sync module on an out-of-band bus, the gate signal; and in response to the gate signal, sending, by the reset sync module to the blade processor, HyperTransport reset signals. The HyperTransport link includes a bidirectional, serial/parallel, high-bandwidth, low-latency, point to point data communications link. The blade server includes the blade processor, the reset sync module, and the baseboard management controller. The blade server is installed in the blade center. The blade center includes the blade management module. The blade management module is coupled to the baseboard management controller by the blade communication bus.
US08244791B1 Fast carry lookahead circuits
A fast lookahead carry adder includes adder logic and lookahead carry-path logic coupled to the adder logic. The carry path logic has a main carry path, a carry entrance path and a carry exit path, the carry entrance path separate from the carry exit path.
US08244789B1 Normalization of floating point operations in a programmable integrated circuit device
A programmable integrated circuit device is programmed to normalize multiplication operations by examining the input or output values to determined the likelihood of overflow or underflow and then to adjust the input or output values accordingly. The examination of the inputs can include an examination of the number of adder stages feeding into the inputs, as well as a count of leading bits ahead of the first significant bit. Adjustment of an input can include shifting the mantissa by the leading bit count and adjusting the exponent accordingly, while adjustment of the output can include shifting the mantissa by the sum of the leading bit counts of the inputs and adjusting the exponent accordingly. Or the output can be examined to find its leading bit count and the output then can be adjusted by shifting the mantissa by the leading bit count and adjusting the exponent accordingly.
US08244787B2 Optimum nonlinear correntropy filter
A signal processing method is provided. The method includes receiving a signal input, and filtering the signal input using a nonlinear correntropy filter. The method additionally includes generating an output based upon the filtering of the signal input. The nonlinear correntropy filter can be configured as a nonlinear Wiener filter. Alternatively, the nonlinear correntropy filter can be configured as a correntropy least mean square (LMS) filter, or a correntropy Newton/LMS filter.
US08244782B2 Role-based operational communications directory
A role-based operational directory facilitates identification of and communication with key contact personnel during an operation. Role-specific directory instances are created in the directory. The role-specific instances are created by a system operator and list the roles involved in an operation and the associations between the roles. The role-specific directory instance is advertised to a selected user, and the selected user associates with the role-specific directory instance. If the user is a key contact for the operation or is otherwise required or allowed to be associated with a role in the operation, the user also associates with a role from the list of roles in the role-specific directory instance. The directory instance is dynamically updated, modified, and tailored as necessary, and transmitted to the communication devices of the selected users of the role-specific directory instance.
US08244775B1 Using map objects to access object properties in a dynamic object-oriented programming language
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that uses map objects to access object properties for a program written in a dynamic object-oriented programming language, thereby facilitating property access for languages that allow additional properties to be defined for objects at runtime. During operation, the system receives an object of an object type. This object is associated with a memory region and a given map object (from a set of map objects associated with the given object type) that describes how properties of the object are mapped to fields in the memory region. When receiving a request to access a property of the object, the system determines whether the given map object includes a field mapping for the property. If so, the system accesses a field in the memory region associated with the property using the field mapping.
US08244774B2 Automated creation of web GUI for XML servers
A method for automatically generating a GUI program for displaying XML data, includes parsing the XML data to identify one or more data elements within the XML data, generating a GUI element for each data element having a primitive data type by applying a pre-programmed GUI element, generating a GUI element for each data element having a custom data type by combining two or more pre-programmed GUI elements, and combining the generated GUI elements to form the GUI program.
US08244769B2 System and method for judging properties of an ontology and updating same
To provide a technique for structuralizing ontology in a prescribed form to a structure to which features of data are reflected. An ontology processing device has a structuralizing device for structuralizing properties of the ontology in the prescribed form generated from a set of instance data containing a combination of a subject, a property, and an object expressed with a character string according to the features of the object, and has a ontology storage device which stores the ontology structuralized by the structuralizing device. With this structure, the properties of the ontology in the prescribed form are corrected or expressed as an ontology structure by reflecting the characteristics of a set of the objects obtained from the data.
US08244768B2 Implementing service oriented architecture industry model repository using semantic web technologies
A method for implementing topic map meta models of a service oriented architecture (SOA) industry model repository (IMR) comprising a meta model service associated with a physical asset repository. The meta model service includes at least one topic map meta model with data specific to a particular topic or industry vertical included within an information model repository common meta-meta model, and the information model repository common meta-meta model included within a meta-meta-meta model with a topic map based index. The method comprises assigning topics, occurrences and attributes to the at least one topic map meta model with data specific to a particular topic or industry vertical; converting topics of the at least one topic map meta model with data specific to a particular topic or industry vertical into resource description framework triples; and persisting the resource description framework triples into a resource description framework repository.
US08244767B2 Composite locality sensitive hash based processing of documents
Reliable identification of highly similar documents allows such documents to be treated as identical for purposes of document analysis. Identification of highly similar documents can be based on a composite hash value or other value for which the likelihood of two documents having the same value is high if and only if the documents have a high degree of similarity. Prior to performing content based analysis, the composite hash value for the current document is determined and compared to composite hash values of previously analyzed documents. If a match is found, the results of the analysis of the previous document can be applied to the current document. If no match is found, the current document is analyzed.
US08244762B2 Method for configuring an IC card in order to receive personalization commands
An IC card is configured to receive personalization commands which are used to transmit data to the IC card. An access control list is associated with the data. The data is stored in the IC card in a record structure that includes a plurality of entries. The access control list is stored in the IC card in the record structure. The personalization commands include a card personalization specification (CPS).
US08244761B1 Systems and methods for restricting access to internal data of an organization by external entity
A user interface receives a request from an external entity to display a particular subset of internal data of an organization relating to a particular member thereof, determines from a located file corresponding to the external entity that a member ID of the particular member is listed therein, and thereafter retrieves the internal data of the member from a database. The user interface then culls the particular subset of the internal data to be displayed from the retrieved internal data, applies located rules corresponding to the external entity to the display of such particular subset of the internal data to result in any modifications necessary in view of such located rules, and displays such particular subset of the internal data as modified to the external entity.
US08244760B2 Segmentation and profiling of users
The formulation of a profile group of users by defining segments using a function as applied to a single attribute, and combining them with set operations. The segments may be populated by applying the selected function against the selected attribute against multiple users. Then, the profile groups build upon the segments and are populated by applying the selected operations against the selected combination of segments. This represents an efficient mechanism for formulating profile groups based on user attributes.
US08244759B2 Systems and methods for exporting, publishing, browsing and installing on-demand applications in a multi-tenant database environment
A computer implemented method of developing computer applications, the method comprising providing to multiple users access, over a network, to information on a data center, with a subgroup of the users having access to a sub-portion of the information that is different from the sub-portion accessible by the remaining tenants of the subgroup; and communicating with the data center over the network employing a computer system associated with a user of the sub-group to establish application functionality with the sub-portion that may be accessed, over the network, by additional parties authorized by the user. Also disclosed is a machine-readable medium and a data center, both of which facilitate carrying-out the steps of the method.
US08244758B1 State management for user interfaces
State information for a page can be stored and restored using a component state manager to extract and set state information for various components on a page. Each appropriate component can register with the state manager, such that when a user requests to store state information, the state manager can extract state information for each registered component and store the state information accordingly. The user can be provided with a tag or other identifier that allows the user to subsequently request recreation of that state. In response to receiving the identifier, the state manager retrieves the stored state information and sets the state of each respective registered component on the page. The identifiers can be shared with other users to allow those users to also quickly access the same state.
US08244752B2 Classifying search query traffic
A method for classifying search query traffic can involve receiving a plurality of labeled sample search query traffic and generating a feature set partitioned into human physical limit features and query stream behavioral features. A model can be generated using the plurality of labeled sample search query traffic and the feature set. Search query traffic can be received and the model can be utilized to classify the received search query traffic as generated by a human or automatically generated.
US08244751B2 Information processing apparatus and presenting method of related items
The present invention provides an information processing apparatus including: a first similarity degree calculating section for calculating the degree of similarity between a predetermined item and a calculation target item; and a related item determining section for determining a predetermined quantity of the calculation target items as the related items of the predetermined items in the descending order of the degree of similarity, wherein meta information related to the calculation target item based on the behavior history of user is added to the predetermined items and the degree of similarity between the predetermined item and the calculation target item is calculated.
US08244750B2 Related search queries for a webpage and their applications
An inversion of the basic format of searching is provided herein. Instead of receiving a search query and providing web page results, a search engine receives a web page identifier as search input from an end user, determines related search queries for the associated web page, and provides the related search queries to the end user issuing the search. Related search queries for web pages may also be used to refine search engines performing the basic form of searching by facilitating the determination of web pages to index and the ranking of web pages as search results to user queries. Additionally, related search queries may be used in advertising revenue generation and sharing.
US08244747B2 Middleware for query processing across a network of RFID databases
An implementation wherein RFID data is shared across independent organizations has been addressed. RFID data is usually spread across different parties, e.g. enterprises in a supply chain and thus, efficient query processing across all parties is required. Traceability is emerging as one of the key applications of RFID technology. A generic data model is introduced for querying RFID data across a network of independently operated data sources. The model can be used to facilitate traceability query processing and give a set of representative traceability queries. A newly designed process-and-forward approach is implemented for executing traceability queries.
US08244742B2 Method, apparatus, and system for data transmission based on DLNA network
The present invention relates to a method, apparatus, and system for data transmission based on a DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) network that classifies contents files which are stored in a DMS according to a support of the DLNA network to make a contents list. Support is provided to convert a file attribute of a selected file into a file attribute which can be applied to the DLNA network to generate, in case a user selects a non-supported file which is not applied to the DLNA network. The invention outputs the selected file to a display unit, captures the outputted image to convert into a file which can be applied to the DLNA network.
US08244739B2 Data retrieval device using a skip table
The data retrieval device includes a first skip correspondence table which corresponds to each piece of data in a retrieval target data series, and, for each possible similarity range which is taken by a similarity between corresponding data and retrieval data, records skip destination data information for specifying the data which appears first after the corresponding data among pieces of data in which similarities with the retrieval data have the possibility to have a predetermined relationship in comparison with a predetermined threshold. The data retrieval device also includes a control unit which, when retrieving data in which a similarity with the retrieval data is smaller than or equal to the threshold from among the retrieval target data series, selects data in the retrieval target data series for which calculation of a similarity with the retrieval data is necessary, using the first skip correspondence table.
US08244734B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting file and apparatus and method for receiving file
Apparatus and method for transmitting file and apparatus and method for receiving file. The apparatus for receiving a file includes: a receiving device configured for receiving a file and at least one tag path associated with the file; a path selection device configured for selecting from candidate paths at least one path where a similarity between the tag vector of the lowest node and the tag vector of the highest node in each of the tag path exceeds a predetermined threshold, as a storage path; and a storage device configured for storing the file under the storage path.
US08244733B2 Adaptive hybrid reasoning decision support system
A method for indexing a plurality of nodes using a computer system is provided. The computer system includes data storage and a processor coupled to the data storage. The method includes acts of storing the plurality of nodes in the data storage, each of the plurality of nodes having a hit count, a link count and an outcome, creating a qualitative index ordering a plurality of nodes according to the hit count, the link count and the outcome of each node and storing the qualitative index in the data storage. The hit count of each node indicates a number of times a case attribute associated with the node is presented to a user. The link count of each node indicates a number of times the case attribute associated with the node is affirmed as useful. The outcome of each node indicates a desirability of the outcome.
US08244731B2 Method and system for displaying and processing electronic file list
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method and system for displaying and processing an electronic file list. The method includes: determining a keyword used for sorting in the electronic file list, retrieving keyword information of each electronic file in the electronic file list; and displaying the electronic file list in which electronic files are sorted.
US08244726B1 Computer-aided extraction of semantics from keywords to confirm match of buyer offers to seller bids
One embodiment involves a method and apparatus for mapping lexical keywords into entity description semantics in order to create unambiguous buyer-confirmed descriptions of entities. The method described herein relies on a computer program and some mechanism for computer data storage.
US08244725B2 Method and apparatus for improved relevance of search results
A method and system for information retrieval are provided whereby at least one search criterion is received from a user; a query is created based on the at least one search criterion; the query is executed to generate results, each of the results corresponding to a respective data entity which satisfies the at least one search criterion; the results are arranged into an order, the order being determined at least in part by a characteristic of the data entity corresponding to each result and a previous act by a user with respect to the data entity corresponding to each result; and the results are displayed to the user.
US08244723B2 Document scoring based on query analysis
A system may determine an extent to which a document is selected when the document is included in a set of search results, generate a score for the document based, at least in part, on the extent to which the document is selected when the document is included in a set of search results; and rank the document with regard to at least one other document based, at least in part, on the score.
US08244722B1 Ranking documents
A system determines a first rank associated with a document and determines a second rank associated with the document, where the second rank is different from the first rank. The system also changes, during a transition period that occurs during a transition from the first rank to the second rank, a transition rank associated with the document based on a rank transition function that varies the transition rank over time without any change in ranking factors associated with the document.
US08244721B2 Using related users data to enhance web search
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates generating a personalized query result for a specific user. An interface can receive at least one of a portion of a text query to be searched or a portion of personalized content related to a user that submits the portion of the text query. A personalization component can combine the portion of personalized content related to the user with a portion of personalized content related to one or more disparate users to create group personalized content, wherein the group personalized content is compared with the portion of the text query to identify a relationship there between to generate a personalized query result in accordance with the relationship.
US08244719B2 Computer method and apparatus providing social preview in tag selection
A computer method and apparatus of social tagging computer resources is disclosed. In the invention method and apparatus, a data store holds social tagging data of previously followed tags throughout a system. In response to end-user indication of a tag candidate, the invention system retrieves from the data store social tagging data about the tag candidate. A tag previewer forms and renders a display of the retrieved social tagging data. The display indicates number of users having interest in (i.e., having followed, searched with, browsed and/or subscribed to) the candidate tag and its variants, and the type of interest. The display may further indicate identities (e.g., email addresses) of these users having such interest. The display may serve as a precommit preview to the end-user during selection of a tag (the candidate) for a given resource. Alternatively, the tag previewer may provide the invention display of social tagging data during end-user browsing as well.
US08244716B2 Data pattern for storing information, including associated version and audit information for use in data management
Information is stored in a data pattern. The data pattern includes an identity table, a version table that includes at least one reference to the identity table, and an audit table that includes at least one reference to the version table. The identity table stores information identifying the information. The version table stores version information identifying one or more versions of the information identified in the identity table. The audit table stores audit information identifying when each of the one or more versions of the information was modified. The audit table may also store effectiveness information identifying when each of the one or more versions of the information is in effect.
US08244715B2 System and method for processing database queries
A system and/or method are implemented to process queries to a database. In particular, the processing of queries to the database is enhanced by enhancing the determination of join orders of tables implicated in queries. Join orders between relatively large numbers of tables are determined by dividing the set of tables to be ordered into a plurality of subsets of tables, and ordering the individual subsets of tables.
US08244704B2 Recording medium recording object contents search support program, object contents search support method, and object contents search support apparatus
An object contents search support apparatus supporting a user to search for desired object contents information, the object contents search support apparatus including an operating part, an information collecting part collecting composite operation information including all of contents information, an overall operation history database recording the collected composite operation information, a matching part matching historical records and extracting at least one item of contents information, a display part generating display information and displaying the generated display information, a feedback part accepting the operation input, holding the object contents information, comparing the composite operation information included in the operation input after displaying the generated object contents information, and generating effective contents information from a comparison result, and a verifying part accepting the effective contents information and the composite operation information, extracting effective operation information, and updating the certainty determination parameter.
US08244693B2 Method and device for compressing table based on finite automata, method and device for matching table
A method for compressing a table based on finite automata (FA) includes analyzing transferring characteristics of all states in an original two-dimensional structure table and combining continual states with unified transferring characteristics in the original two-dimensional structure table. A method for matching a table based on FA, a device for compressing a table, and a device for matching a table are also provided.
US08244691B1 Dictionary architecture and methodology for revision-tolerant data de-duplication
Redundant data is removed from a volume of data by partitioning the volume of data into fixed-length input segments and, for each of the input segments, traversing nodes of a search tree in accordance with the value of a fixed-size portion of the input segment to determine if the search tree contains a pointer to a matching fixed-sized portion of a segment within a dictionary. If the search tree contains the pointer, the input segment is compared with the segment within the dictionary pointed to by the pointer, and a token representative of the segment within the dictionary is substituted for at least part of the input segment determined to match the segment within the dictionary.
US08244689B2 Attribute entropy as a signal in object normalization
A system and method determines whether two objects are duplicate objects. The system and method matches common facts of the two objects based on a match measure, combines the entropies of the matching common facts, and determines whether the two objects are duplicate objects based on the sum of entropies.
US08244688B2 Managing apparatus, recording medium in which managing program is recorded, and expiration date determining method
An apparatus includes: a storage unit storing page information located at a root, a node, and a leaf in a tree structure, and storing the plurality of page information including an expiration date of a record that is included in any page information; a search unit searching a record that has passed its expiration date; a determination unit determining whether or not the expiration date included in the page information has come; a first control unit configured to make the determination unit determine whether the expiration date included in predetermined page information stored as the tree structure has come; and a second control unit configured to make the search unit end the search of the record that has passed its expiration date, and configured to make the determination unit determine whether the expiration date included in page information located at a child of the predetermined page information has come.
US08244687B2 Persistent state database for operating system services
A database is used to store user interface state information. The database is accessed by a key having a service ID field, a caller ID field, and a caller context ID field. The caller context ID is used to identify the context in the application program from which the user interface is called. In this manner, the system can differentiate between calls from different portions of the application program which can have different user expectations of the desirable user interface state.
US08244686B2 High throughput, reliable replication of transformed data in information systems
Provided are techniques for, in response to a source object being changed by a local transaction, generating log records, wherein each of the log records includes a sequence identifier, a source system entity modification timestamp, a target key, a target partition identifier, and values of source properties, wherein the source properties are identified using a target key indicator. The log records to process are selected based on a phase value of each log record, wherein the phase value is one of submitted, in-flight, and source system entity state change complete. One or more disjoint partitions are assigned to each of multiple processing instances. Under control of each of the multiple processing instances, it is determined whether to transmit a log record in the one or more disjoint partitions assigned to said processing instance and, in response to determining that the log record is to be transmitted, the log record is transmitted.
US08244683B2 System and method for manipulating a registry
A system, method and facility for manipulating registries on a computer system. The system includes a generic registry facility, which features functions classified according to the breadth of their applicability to varying types of registries. The registries may be classified as file-based and proprietary. The file-based registries may be binary or text-based. The generic registry facility provides a library of generic registry facility functions that may be included in a specific registry manipulation module through which a computer program can manipulate a specific registry. The generic registry facility functions may be customized by the developer of the registry manipulation module for a specific registry. The functions may include an action verification function that includes a commit sequence for ensuring that requested changes to a registry are made successfully. The functions may also include a trigger function for triggering events upon the occurrence of a change to a registry.
US08244681B2 Creating synthetic backup images on a remote computer system
A local host computer system creates a full backup image and one or more incremental backup images. The local host computer system transmits data from the full backup image and the one or more incremental backup images to a remote host computer system. The remote host computer system receives the data from the full backup image and the one or more incremental backup images from the local host computer system, and creates a synthetic backup image using the data from the full backup image and the one or more incremental backup images. In some embodiments, complete copies of the full backup image and the one or more incremental backup images may be transmitted to the remote host computer system. In other embodiments only the portions of the incremental backup images that are actually needed to create the synthetic backup image may be transmitted to the remote host computer system, and unneeded portions may not be transmitted.
US08244679B1 Systems and methods for using single-instance-storage information to reclaim storage space occupied by archived data elements
A computer-implemented method for using single-instance-storage information to reclaim storage space occupied by archived data elements may include: 1) receiving a request to archive a data element on a computing device, 2) determining that a prior instance of the data element has been archived by an archiving system, 3) determining that the archived instance of the data element has been backed up by a backup system, and then, upon determining that the archived instance of the data element has been backed up, 4) reclaiming storage space on the computing device by removing the data element from the computing device. Corresponding systems and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08244678B1 Method and apparatus for managing backup data
A method of easily-accessible, versioned, secure, redundant backup of digital information involves establishing a back-end data store connected to a world-wide telecommunications network. Users communicate with the data store using a variety of user a computing devices, each of which has installed thereon client software capable various operations, including communicating with the data store, monitoring a second data store, detecting and replicating changes in the second data store, and selecting data to be transmitted over the telecommunications network to and from the back-end data store. Users may establish policies for data backup and transmission, may monitor the status of data backup, may browsing the back-end data store, may review prior versions of data stored on the back-end data store. The data store is configured for remote management by a user, including deletion of data in the second data store if the computing device is lost or stolen.
US08244675B2 Method and apparatus for updating a database using table staging and queued relocation and deletion
Methods and systems for updating a database with one or more update records are provided in the present application. A staged table corresponding to a primary table of the database is generated. The update record is processed to validate the update record to determine whether there is an error in the update record and to add the update record to the staged table. The update record is copied from the staged table to the primary table when there is no error in the update record. The update record is deleted from the staged table after the update record is processed.
US08244674B2 Interactive peer directory
A system is provided for locating peers having a desired expertise. User profile information is stored in a profiles database. A search engine indexes the profiles database and appends appropriate profile tags to this information. A peer relevancy algorithm searches for candidate peers among the indexed user profile information. Weights are assigned to candidate peers based on different categories of the indexed user profile information, and peer matches are selected based on the assigned weights. In order to provide matches that are most likely to accept a connection request, data is maintained as to which potential peers have a history of accepting requests to connect and which have a history of refusing to connect. Potential matches are biased to favor those that have a tendency to accept connection requests. Contact information of requester and recipients are not disclosed until the recipient accepts the requester's connection request.
US08244664B2 Estimating influence of subjects based on a subject graph
Estimating influence includes receiving a subject graph, in which the subject graph includes two or more subject nodes, in which each subject node corresponds to a subject; and determining an objective influence measure for each first subject node of the subject graph, in which the determination is based at least on part on a function of inward scores and outward scores, in which inward scores are computed from one or more paths leading to the first subject of a length of at least one, and outward scores are computed from one or more paths leading from the first subject of a length of at least one.
US08244660B2 Open-world modeling
The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate generating an inference about events that may not have yet been observed. Open-world modeling can be used to take a history of observation so as to understand trends over time in the revelation of previously unseen events, and to make inferences with subsets of data that new unseen events will be seen. Thus, inaccuracies associated with predictions generated from incomplete data sets can be mitigated. To yield such predictions, open-world submodels and closed-world submodels that do not allow for previously unseen events can be combined via a model mixture methodology, which fuses inferences from the open- and close-world models.
US08244659B2 Immigration application management apparatus, systems, and methods
Application management apparatus, systems, and methods to process government agency forms and applications such as, for example, immigration forms, petitions and applications to increase the likelihood of acceptance.
US08244658B2 System, method and computer program product for generating a set of instructions to an on-demand database service
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for generating a set of instructions to an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for generating a set of instructions to an on-demand database service can enable embodiments to generate instructions capable of operating on objects, without having any knowledge of the objects on which the instructions are going to operate, until runtime. The ability of embodiments to provide this instruction generation may allow generic instructions to be generated, independent of the objects on which they will operate.
US08244655B2 Force-sensing orthotic electric device controller
Control devices and kits of components of control devices are provided. The subject invention also provides systems for designing control devices and/or kits of components of control devices. A system user can provide data about an end user to an expert system via a user interface, and the expert system can use the data and a method for selecting appropriate components to design a control device and/or kit. The control device can be a self-referenced control device and can include a controller and a wearable interface.
US08244651B1 Suggesting training examples
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for suggesting training examples. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a plurality of training examples. A plurality of different types of predictive models are trained using the received training examples, wherein each of the predictive models implements a different machine learning technique. The performance of each trained model is measured. A suggestion score is computed for each training example according to each respective trained model, including weighting each suggestion score by the measured performance of the respective trained model. The computed suggestion scores for each training example are combined to compute an overall suggestion score for each training example, and the training examples are ranked by suggestion scores.
US08244650B2 Systems, methods, and apparatus for recursive quantum computing algorithms
A recursive approach to quantum computing employs an initial solution, determines intermediate solutions, evaluates the intermediate solutions and repeats using the intermediate solution, if the intermediate solution does not satisfy solution criteria. A best one of the intermediate solutions may be employed in the recursion.
US08244649B2 Structured differential learning
A method and information processing system train a control system using structured differential learning. A set of features extracted from a set of input data is analyzed by a plurality of analyzing components. An output response is generated by each analyzing component in the plurality of analyzing components for each feature regarding whether the each feature has an acceptable value associated therewith relative to a value of the parameter associated with the each analyzing component. A confidence score is associated with the each output response. Each output response and each confidence score is combined into a single final output response and single final confidence score. An analyzing component is identified from the plurality of analyzing components that is a strongest candidate for generating an incorrect final output response based at least on the confidence score.
US08244647B2 Methods and systems for configuring mailing equipment
A computer receives two input documents, including a carrier product description file and a document that describes attributes of a type of mailing equipment. The computer extracts information from the documents and generates a provisioning document based at least in part on the extracted information. The provisioning document is suitable for controlling a piece of mailing equipment which belongs to the particular type of mailing equipment, in such a manner that the piece of mailing equipment generates mail pieces in compliance with the carrier product description file. The provisioning document includes a script for controlling operation of the piece of mailing equipment and data to be read by the piece of mailing equipment.
US08244646B2 Systems and methods for determining estimated lead times
Embodiments of the invention may provide systems and methods for determining estimated lead times based on delivery history information to a same or similar geographical area. According to one example embodiment, a method is provided. The method can include identifying a payee and determining that the payee is associated with a geographical area for mailpiece delivery. The method can further include identifying multiple delivery methods for mailpiece delivery to the geographical area, wherein each of delivery methods is associated with (a) a distribution center, (b) a delivery agent, and (c) an estimated lead time determined at least in part by analyzing the delivery history information associated with multiple mailpieces mailed from the respective distribution center to the geographical area via the respective delivery agent. The method can further include selecting one of the delivery methods for mailpiece delivery to the payee and associating the selected delivery method with the payee.
US08244643B2 System and method for processing financial transaction data using an intermediary service
An acquirer communicates with an intermediary transaction processing service to handle financial transaction requests received from multiple points of purchase. The acquirer receives an initial authorization request generated based on a transaction initiated by a customer at a point of purchase. The initial authorization request includes unique identifying information associated with the customer. The acquirer determines that the unique identifying information is associated with the intermediary service and provides at least part of the initial authorization request to the intermediary service. In response, the intermediary service provides account information to the acquirer. The acquirer then generates a modified authorization request based on the initial authorization request and the received account information and transmits the modified authorization to an issuing institution to request approval of the transaction.
US08244642B2 System and method for storing metering data while increasing memory endurance
Methodology and corresponding apparatus ensure the integrity of utility metering data during power outages while providing improved memory integrity. An initial step includes determining and storing an energy top value that is representative of metered energy, and also includes establishing an update pattern. Accumulated energy is then monitored until a predetermined energy threshold is crossed, at which point a selected state in the update pattern is stored into one of a plurality of energy increment cells. Such stored value can be validated at some point after the data read. The steps of monitoring accumulated energy and storing a selected value/state of the update pattern into additional energy increment cells continue until each of the plurality of energy increment cells is updated with a new value. Upon completion, the energy top value is updated with a new energy total and the process of cycling through each energy increment cell is repeated.
US08244641B2 Method and apparatus for data recipient storage and retrieval of data using a network communication device
A system and method for data recipient invoked electronic commerce allowing data subjects to provide information over a network and data recipients to receive such information relating to the needs of s data subject such as purchases, distribution of application information and the like. The system includes a server having software which gathers the information from a data subject to complete a transaction over a network. The system has a data subject data structure that stores information for registered data subjects. The software is able to access the data subject data structure and enter the data subject's information during subsequent transactions. Having the software obtain and enter the data subject's purchasing information, the data subject does not have to enter the same information every time the data subject desires to effect a transaction over the network. In alternate embodiments, the same technology can be applied to other arenas where a user may have to enter the same repetitive information.
US08244639B2 Content identification, personal domain, copyright notification, metadata and e-Commerce
Piracy of digital content is currently a large problem. Copyright notification and sales of metadata can help counteract the problem. The novel solution shows different methods to provide copyright notification and sell metadata, such as including identification of the content (via digital watermarks, fingerprints, or header data) and a personal domain. Metadata is ideal to sell since it is dynamic, and, thus, is accessed from a master server.
US08244637B2 Pre-paid card transaction computer to load a loan on a pre-paid card
A loan transaction for a pre-paid card is approved for a borrower so that release of the loan proceeds is pending an activation of a pre-paid card. A financial institution computer converts loan data to be compatible with a prepaid card processor. The prepaid card processor activates a pre-paid card account responsive to an activation request on behalf of the borrower. The financial institution computer releases the pending loan proceeds to the pre-paid card processor so that the loan proceeds are released to the borrower and are immediately available to thereby convert the pre-paid card into a loan delivery apparatus.
US08244635B2 System and method for syndicated collection, aggregation and delivery of personal data
A personal information collection and delivery system has a collection component executed by a first enterprise, for collecting information for specific individuals from a plurality of information provider's sites, an aggregation component executed by the first enterprise, for aggregating and storing the collected information identified for individual ones of the specific individuals; and a plurality of delivery components executed by a like plurality of second enterprises, for delivering said aggregated information to the specific individuals. This system is characterized in that delivery is distinguished to individual ones of the second enterprises. In some cases the information providers are the second enterprises that manage delivery, in which case they may limit access according to a variety of variables. Also in some cases the providers also provide transactions services, and the specific individuals connecting through the system may accomplish transactions, which may include drag-and-drop implementation.
US08244634B2 Interchange categories
This document describes tools capable of altering to which interchange categories credit-card transactions are assigned. In some embodiments, the tools receive parameters for interchange categories and transaction information for a client (e.g., one or more merchants) that has been charged interchange fees based on some of these categories. The parameters are utilized (e.g., by a credit card issuer) to determine to which interchange category a particular transaction will be assigned. The tools may determine, based on these parameters and the transaction information, how transactions may be changed to enable similar credit-card transactions to be assigned to a lower-cost interchange category.
US08244633B1 System, method, and business method for settling micropayment transactions to a pre-paid instrument
The invention provides a method, business method, and system for conducting micropayment transactions between consumers and merchants. A merchant offers micropayment transactions to a consumer. The micropayment transaction is authorized, and the micropayment transaction is executed between the merchant and the consumer. A value parameter associated with a prepaid instrument, such as a prepaid calling card, is decremented by an amount corresponding to the value provided by the merchant. A payment is transferred to the merchant to settle the micropayment transaction. The invention also provides a system for conducting micropayment transactions between consumers and merchants. At least one prepaid calling card is issued to a consumer in exchange for a payment from the consumer. A merchant site conducts micropayment transactions and accepts the prepaid calling card as payment. A clearinghouse receives data associated with the prepaid calling card from the merchant site and processes the data to settle the micropayment transaction. The invention also provides a business method for conducting micropayment transactions between consumers and merchants.
US08244618B1 Loan information analysis system and method
Computer-implemented methods and systems for evaluating residential mortgage loan backed security products in which electronic loan data for the same individual loans is received from two or more different loan information providers, and the electronic loan data for respective individual loans received from the loan information providers is integrated. Thereafter, each individual loan in the integrated loan data is scored with a risk score based on a plurality of risk attributes of each individual loan; pre-defined forecast vectors are applied to the bucketed loans; cash flow forecasts are generated for the bucketed loans; and a price and/or yield for each bucketed loan is derived based on the cash flow forecasts.
US08244613B1 System, method, and business method for settling micropayment transactions to a pre-paid instrument
The invention provides a method for conducting a transaction between a first and second consumer, and a merchant using one or more electronic communication devices. The method includes issuing a first prepaid calling card to a first consumer and issuing a second dependent prepaid calling card dependent on the first prepaid calling card, to a second consumer dependent on the first consumer, based on a second specified criteria. In the invention, the second specified criteria is specified by the first consumer, wherein both the first and second specified criteria are stored as imbedded data in the respective prepaid calling cards. The invention further involves conducting, at a merchant network node a micropayment transaction and receiving into the merchant network node from the at least one consumer electronic communications device first prepaid-calling card data or second dependent prepaid-calling card data as payment for the item of value.
US08244611B2 Private label promotion card system, program product, and associated computer-implemented methods
Embodiments of the present invention provide a private label promotion card as a bank product, being issued and managed by the bank and using an open payment network for purchase authorization and payments. A bank computer processes activation information for a promotion card. The bank computer then authorizes purchase requests to use one or more activated promotion cards as payment for a consumer purchase from the retailer via an open payment network and transfers funds to the open payment network to satisfy the authorized consumer purchase. Next, the bank computer receives funds on behalf of the retailer for payment responsive to consumer purchases using the one or more promotion cards as payment and payment for a value remaining on the one or more promotion cards responsive to an expiration of the one or more promotion cards, perhaps at a discount to a customer value of the promotion card.
US08244610B2 Legal billing enhancement method and apparatus
A method of creating a finalized invoice, having steps of creating a preliminary invoice, the invoice including individual tasks for activities accomplished, submitting the preliminary invoice to an automated rules engine, searching the preliminary invoice for keywords that define possible violations of a company's litigation billing guidelines, highlighting any invoice task that contains identified keywords that would define a possible violation of a company's litigation billing guidelines, querying a user to accept changes to an invoice task based upon the identified keywords, and modifying the preliminary invoice into the finalized invoice after the accepted changes have been conducted after the querying of the user. Using the searchable database to create reports that provide average rates charged by law firms on specific types of legal matters in all geographic areas, reports to evaluate which tasks are not being fully compensated by a specific company or legal auditing system, reports to evaluate the average cost to defend specific types of cases in specific jurisdictions.
US08244609B2 Payment management on mobile devices
Embodiments of techniques and systems for asynchronous offline bill review and payment are described. A bill payment management module, operated on a manageability engine on a mobile device, communicates with an online bill payment service. The bill payment management module may receive information about bill payments, including bills which are due, and presents selective information to a bill payment client application. A bill payer can then access the information on the mobile device through the bill payment client application and review or change the payment amounts. The review and the modifications may be performed when the mobile device is offline and the modifications may be stored until a later time when the mobile device can connect to a network. Once a network is available, the bill payment management module may send payment instructions to the online bill payment service. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08244601B2 Generating an order plan for a supply chain network
Generating an order plan is disclosed. Data describing priority levels including at least one item request is accessed. Data describing a supply chain network (10) including network components (11) that supply one or more items to satisfy an item request is accessed. For each priority level, and for each item request of a priority level, an order for an item request of a current priority level is planned according to recorded unplannable network components (11) that are unable to satisfy an item request, and the unplannable network components (11) for the current priority level are determined. For each priority level, the unplannable network components (11) are validated for the current priority level, and the validated unplannable network components (11) for the current priority level are recorded. An order plan including the orders planned for the item requests at each priority level is provided.
US08244596B2 Method and system for monetizing third-party content
An e-commerce system, comprising an endorsement engine and interface software coupled to the endorsement engine and adapted to interact with one or more content sources connected over a network. In an embodiment, the interface software enables an endorsing user to browse the content sources and select a content item, to enter code associated with the selected content element, to view product information, to select a product for endorsement, and to enter code associated with the selected product. Upon activation of the content-specific code by a viewing user, the viewing user is connected to the selected content and is able to view the selected content, and upon activation of the product-specific code by a viewing user, the viewing user is connected to a network-connected shopping cart, and is thereby enabled to buy the product.
US08244595B2 Method and system for protecting game related content in a centralized marketplace
A processor implemented method, system and computer readable medium for performing transactions of user generated content in a centralized marketplace is provided. User generated content files usable in a game during gameplay are received from users to the centralized marketplace. A restriction on use of the user generated content files is applied. The user generated content files are presented within the centralized marketplace. A request to purchase a user generated content file in the centralized marketplace is received from a first user and a purchase transaction between the first user and a content owner of the user generated content file is completed.
US08244591B2 Accounting for spatial and environmental factors in equipment order configurations
A method for processing an incoming order for equipment can be provided. A plurality of objects representing environmental factors is read, each object comprising at least one of a required parts list and an excluded parts list. Next, a customer places an order for computer equipment, wherein the order comprises a list of parts. A list of environmental factors is entered by the customer and the list of environmental factors is matched to at least one of the objects. The method can further include comparing the list of parts of the order to the required parts list and/or the excluded parts list of the at least one object. Finally, a record that the order is validated is stored if the list of parts of the order is consistent with the required parts list and/or the excluded parts list of the at least one object.
US08244587B2 Prescription verification system
An apparatus and method for permitting a pharmacist to verify a refill of a filled prescription stored on a host system. A prescription refill screen is provided by the host system to a pharmacy system associated with the pharmacist. The prescription refill screen is associated with the filled prescription. Refill request information is received from the pharmacy system. The refill request information identifying a requested refill of the filled prescription. The refill request information is transmitted through the host system to a health care provider system associated with a health care provider identified by the filled prescription stored on the host system. The host system receives an authorization from the health care provider system authorizing the requested refill of the filled prescription. The host system transmits the authorization to the pharmacy system whereby the pharmacist associated with the pharmacy system is authorized to provide the refill of the filled prescription to the patient.
US08244577B2 Using web-mining to enrich directory service databases and soliciting service subscriptions
A system and method are provided for augmenting information on business directory databases and communicating with businesses is disclosed. Using the enriched business directory database and Web mining technology, customized email message are sent inviting businesses to enter their enriched business information into the directory or even subscribe to other paid services provided by the directory service.
US08244574B2 Method, computer system, and stored program for causing delivery of electronic advertisements based on provided profiles
To improve monetization of electronic advertisement placement, a profile owner company operates an automatic system for identifying media properties that have interests in specific profiles or profiles of a specified category or kind. The profile owner recognizes a collected visitor profile as one that a media property has previously requested or one that is within a category that a media property has previously requested and arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the media property that requested such a profile. The media property can use the tag in displaying customized advertising to the visitor. Using information received from the media property, the profile owner company then records usage of the profile by the media property.
US08244572B1 Systems and methods for managing security interest enforcement actions
A legal process management system facilitates simultaneous dynamic dialogs between legal process managers and networked attorneys and contractors providing services in connection with security interest enforcement actions (SIEAs). The legal process managers submit queries and deadlines selected to timely guide the attorneys and contractors through the requirements of the SIEAs. The attorneys and contractors submit responsive answers revealing the status of their SIEAs. In some embodiments, an events based management system uses a stochastic model to calculate completion times for the milestones of the SIEA, including the “events” that make up subparts of the milestones. This provides a flexible and powerful system for managing prosecution of the SIEA and for predicting likely durations. The stochastic model incorporates the concept of both fixed-frequency events and random-frequency events, and also allows for both controlled events and managed events. A reporting system is also provided for keeping track of event and milestone completion.
US08244571B2 Automated specification, estimation, discovery of causal drivers and market response elasticities or lift factors
In some embodiments, a software facility performs a method of automated specification of models, estimation of elasticities, and discovery of drivers using the framework(s) discussed elsewhere herein is provided. The facility first obtains the client, business, and/or brand goals in terms of profit optimization, volume or revenue goals, acquisition of new customers, retention of customers, share of wallet and upsell. In conjunction with these goals, the facility obtains cross-section meta-data related to the planning time horizon, markets, geographies, channels of trade and customer segments. In combination, the goals and meta-data define the structure of the data stack and the number of demand generation equations that are needed.
US08244569B2 Non-destructive element splitting using location-based construction planning models
A system for location-based management of construction is provided. A plurality of location systems generate one or more locations where construction activities associated with one or more elements in each location can be performed. A construction activity location system associates each of a plurality of construction tasks with one of the locations. An element splitting system receives an element selection and associates one or more construction tasks of the element with two or more locations. A construction activity association system associates one or more of the plurality of construction tasks with one or more of the other construction tasks. A construction sequence system generates a sequence of construction tasks based on the layer associated with each construction task and based on the other construction tasks associated with each construction task.
US08244558B2 Determining recommended settlement amounts by adjusting values derived from matching similar claims
Precedent claims that match a pending claim are identified. A general damages amount is determined based on the likelihood value for at least one of the matching precedent claims. A general damages amount is derived from the likelihood value for at least one of the matching precedent claims. Pending claim adjustments are calculated based on amounts associated with the pending claim. Pending claim adjustments are applied to the general damages amount to determine a recommended settlement amount.
US08244555B2 Rule model for healthcare information
Healthcare information data is managed by, on a computer, maintaining a model of a state of a system based on the healthcare information, receiving a transaction representing a change to the system, determining that the change complies with a rule, and changing the model according to the transaction.
US08244552B2 Template development based on sensor originated reported aspects
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: providing one or more reported aspects associated with one or more source users that were originally reported by one or more sensors; and developing one or more templates designed to facilitate one or more end users to achieve one or more target outcomes when one or more emulatable aspects indicated by the one or more templates are emulated, the development of the one or more templates being based at least on a portion of the one or more reported aspects In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US08244551B1 Apparatuses, methods and systems for advancement path candidate cloning
The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ADVANCEMENT PATH CANDIDATE CLONING (“CLONER”) provides mechanisms allowing advancement seekers to identify, map out, structure and interact with various advancement paths to the seeker's goals. In one embodiment, the seekers are career advancement seekers, and the CLONER provides mechanisms allowing the seeker to explore various career paths and opportunities. In one embodiment, the CLONER interacts with a statistical engine, which allows seekers to map their experiences to various advancement states in the statistical engines state structure. By so doing, it allows seeker to explore multiple paths based on various criteria, and allows seekers to plan their career goals. In the process, the CLONER allows interested parties (e.g., an employer) to supply a good known seeker (e.g., a great current employee) and identify other candidates that have similar and/or identical experience in an attempt to “clone” the known seeker's abilities. In other embodiments, the seekers may be students wishing to advance their academic advancements. In yet other embodiments, the seekers are financial seekers who wish to achieve their financial goals.
US08244549B1 Method and system for providing and managing a fractional aircraft ownership program
A method and system for providing fractional ownership of an aircraft. The method includes operating the aircraft under an FAA certification that permits the sale of aircraft capacity. Fractional owners of the aircraft, at least one of the fractional owners may be a syndicate having multiple members. The syndicate members may be managed on behalf of the syndicate. One FAA certification that permits the sale of aircraft capacity includes FAR Part 135. Additionally, the syndicate members may be billed usage fees on behalf of the syndicate, where the usage fees are billed proportional to use of the aircraft. Available capacity of the aircraft may be resold to other fractional owners and syndicate members.
US08244548B2 Augmenting service oriented architecture governance maturity
Augmenting service oriented architecture (‘SOA’) governance maturity including receiving an evaluation of the maturity of the governance of the SOA; identifying, for each governance capability in dependence upon the evaluation of the maturity of the governance capability, one or more predefined risks to the SOA; establishing, for each governance capability in dependence upon the predefined risks to the SOA, a risk value representing the severity of the predefined risks; selecting, for each governance capability in dependence upon the evaluation of the maturity of the governance of the SOA and the predefined risk value, one or more governance work products; and communicating to predetermined stakeholders in the SOA the one or more predefined risks to the SOA identified for each governance capability, the risk value established for each governance capability, and the governance work products selected for each governance capability.
US08244543B2 System and method for performing speech recognition to control devices on a network
A system, method and computer-readable medium for using speech recognition to control devices connected to a network. The system converts an utterance from a user for controlling a remote device in a network to a device specific control language associated with the remote device, to yield a remote device communication. Next, the system synthesizes a response from the remote device that is based at least in part on the remote device communication, to yield an audible response. The system then communicates the audible response to the user.
US08244539B2 Audio comparison using phoneme matching
Audio comparison using phoneme matching is described, including evaluating audio data associated with a file, identifying a sequence of phonemes in the audio data, associating the file with a product category based on a match indicating the sequence of phonemes is substantially similar to another sequence of phonemes, the file being stored, and accessing the file when a request associated with the product category is detected.
US08244534B2 HMM-based bilingual (Mandarin-English) TTS techniques
An exemplary method for generating speech based on text in one or more languages includes providing a phone set for two or more languages, training multilingual HMMs where the HMMs include state level sharing across languages, receiving text in one or more of the languages of the multilingual HMMs and generating speech, for the received text, based at least in part on the multilingual HMMs. Other exemplary techniques include mapping between a decision tree for a first language and a decision tree for a second language, and optionally vice versa, and Kullback-Leibler divergence analysis for a multilingual text-to-speech system.
US08244532B1 Systems, methods, and programs for detecting unauthorized use of text based communications services
Systems, methods, and programs for generating an authorized profile for a text communication device or account, may sample a text communication generated by the text communication device or account during communication and may store the text sample. The systems, methods, and programs may extract a language pattern from the stored text sample and may create an authorized profile based on the language pattern. Systems, methods, and programs for detecting unauthorized use of a text communication device or account may sample a text communication generated by the device or account during communication, may extract a language pattern from the audio sample, and may compare extracted language pattern of the sample with an authorized user profile.
US08244531B2 Method of retaining a media stream without its private audio content
A method is disclosed that enables the handling of audio streams for segments in the audio that might contain private information, in a way that is more straightforward than in some techniques in the prior art. The data-processing system of the illustrative embodiment receives a media stream that comprises an audio stream, possibly in addition to other types of media such as video. The audio stream comprises audio content, some of which can be private in nature. Once it receives the data, the data-processing system then analyzes the audio stream for private audio content by using one or more techniques that involve looking for private information as well as non-private information. As a result of the analysis, the data-processing system omits the private audio content from the resulting stream that contains the processed audio.
US08244529B2 Multi-pass echo residue detection with speech application intelligence
A method is provided for multi-pass echo residue detection. The method includes detecting audio data, and determining whether the audio data is recognized as speech. Additionally, the method categorizes the audio data recognized as speech as including an acceptable level of residual echo, and categorizes categorizing unrecognizable audio data as including an unacceptable level of residual echo. Furthermore, the method determines whether the unrecognizable audio data contains a user input, and also determines whether a duration of the user input is at least a predetermined duration, and when the user input is at least the predetermined duration, the method extracts the predetermined duration of the user input from a total duration of the user input.
US08244528B2 Method and apparatus for voice activity determination
In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for detecting voice activity in an audio signal. The apparatus comprises a first voice activity detector for making a first voice activity detection decision based at least in part on the voice activity of a first audio signal received from a first microphone. The apparatus also comprises a second voice activity detector for making a second voice activity detection decision based at least in part on an estimate of a direction of the first audio signal and an estimate of a direction of a second audio signal received from a second microphone. The apparatus further comprises a classifier for making a third voice activity detection decision based at least in part on the first and second voice activity detection decisions.
US08244525B2 Signal encoding a frame in a communication system
Embodiments of the invention provide a method and encoder for encoding a frame in of a communication system. The method includes calculating a first set of parameters associated with the frame, wherein said first set of parameters comprises filter bank parameters. The method further includes selecting, in a first stage, one of a plurality of encoding methods based on the first set of parameters one of modes for encoding, calculating a second set of parameters associated with the frame, selecting, in a second stage, one of the plurality of encoding methods based on the result of the first stage selection and the second set of parameters one of modes for encoding, and encoding the frame using the selected encoding excitation method from the second stage.
US08244516B2 Formal verification of models using concurrent model-reduction and model-checking
Formal verification of models using concurrent model-reduction and model-checking. For example, a system for formal verification of models includes: one or more model reducers to reduce a model; one or more model checkers to check the model, wherein at least one of the model reducers is to run concurrently with at least one of the model checkers; and a model synchronizer to synchronize information between at least one of the model reducers and at least one of the model checkers.
US08244511B2 Radio wave propagation characteristic estimation apparatus and computer program
A radio wave propagation characteristic estimation apparatus includes at least a ray launching method calculation unit, an imaging method calculation unit, and a synthesis unit. The ray launching method calculation unit calculates a first piece of radio wave propagation characteristic estimation data in which a radio wave propagation characteristic from a radio wave transmission point to a building with a radio wave reception point is estimated, using a plan view data. The imaging method calculation unit calculates a second piece of radio wave propagation characteristic estimation data in which a radio wave propagation characteristic from the radio wave transmission point to the building with the radio wave reception point is estimated, using the vertical cross-sectional view data. The synthesis unit calculates pieces of indoor penetration data to the radio wave reception point within the building respectively for the first piece and the second piece, and synthesizes the pieces of indoor penetration data.
US08244510B2 State space model of a heart
A state space model (SSM), being a computer-calculated model, adapted to represent the pumping and controlling functions of a heart that have been determined by a heart cluster state machine simulating the heart, and optionally the circulatory system, of an individual. The state space model includes two groups of separate interacting state machines, the heart muscle cell state machines and the displacement pump state machines.
US08244509B2 Method for managing production from a hydrocarbon producing reservoir in real-time
The invention relates to a method of performing an oilfield operation of an oilfield having at least one wellsite, each wellsite having a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation for extracting fluid from an underground reservoir therein. The method steps include obtaining a plurality of real-time parameters from a plurality of sensors disposed about the oilfield, wherein the plurality of real-time parameters comprise at least one selected from a group consisting of real-time flow rate data and real-time pressure data of the wellbore, configuring a gridless analytical simulator for simulating the underground reservoir based on the plurality of real-time parameters, generating real-time simulation results of the underground reservoir and the at least one wellsite in real-time using the gridless analytical simulator, and performing the oilfield operation based on the real-time simulation results.
US08244507B2 Method and apparatus for deriving associations between parts and fasteners
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for identifying associations in a model of a structure. A number of fastener locations is identified in the model of the structure. A line segment extends through each of the number of fastener locations to form a number of line segments. The line segment extends a selected distance away from an associated fastener location in the number of fastener locations. A number of parts is identified through which the line segment extends to form a number of identified parts for a fastener for each of the number of line segments.
US08244504B1 Computer implemented system for quantifying stability and flexibility relationships in macromolecules
A computer-implemented system and method analyzes the thermodynamic and mechanical properties of a molecule or collection of molecules within a chemical environment under given thermodynamic conditions. The system is based on user-defined rules for a free energy decomposition and its reconstitution, explicit solute and implicit solvent specifications, and a selection of thermodynamic conditions. One template structure or multiple template structures define an explicit solute specification. Each template structure consists of a list of atoms and their coordinates. Input data is processed to produce a flexibility and stability test and return global thermodynamic properties, such as free energy, enthalpy, entropy and heat capacity as a function of temperature. Implemented via pebble game theory, global mechanical properties are determined based on the statistics of rigid and flexible regions that thermally fluctuate over ensembles of accessible states consistent with selected order parameters.
US08244502B2 Knowledge-based models for data centers
Techniques for data center analysis are provided. In one aspect, a method for modeling thermal distributions in a data center is provided. The method includes the following steps. Vertical temperature distribution data is obtained for a plurality of locations throughout the data center. The vertical temperature distribution data for each of the locations is plotted as an s-curve, wherein the vertical temperature distribution data reflects physical conditions at each of the locations which is reflected in a shape of the s-curve. Each of the s-curves is represented with a set of parameters that characterize the shape of the s-curve, wherein the s-curve representations make up a knowledge base model of predefined s-curve types from which thermal distributions and associated physical conditions at the plurality of locations throughout the data center can be analyzed.
US08244501B2 Method and device for diagnosing a pop-off valve of a turbocharger
A method for diagnosing an electrically controllable pop-off valve of a turbo-charging device of an internal combustion engine, which pop-off valve is situated in a pop-off pipe bypassing the compressor, includes: providing a reading regarding an air mass flow supplied by an air supply channel to the internal combustion engine; after the activation of the pop-off valve in order to switch over the pop-off valve, analyzing the time curve of the air mass flow reading in order to determine, within a specified time after the beginning of the activation of the pop-off valve, a local maximum of the air mass flow indicated by the air mass flow reading; and detecting a fault of the electrically controllable pop-off valve if the local maximum of the air mass flow is not able to be determined within the specified time.
US08244500B2 Method of adjusting wafer processing sequence
A method of adjusting wafer process sequence includes steps of collecting production parameters for a plurality of lots; selecting a plurality of key parameters from the production parameters, wherein the key parameters at least includes a processing sequence; defining a formula to obtain an epsilon value; categorizing the lots into groups according to the epsilon value and the minimum point number by using density-based spatial clustering of application with noise (DBSCAN); and adjusting the processing sequences of the lots in the groups. Thereby, the lots with the same process recipe can be continuously or simultaneously sent into a machine, thereby reducing replacement of process recipes or shortening machine idle time.
US08244499B2 Methods and systems for managing aquifer operation
Systems and methods for managing aquifer operation are included. An exemplary method includes receiving at an analysis computing device, one or more water measurements from a plurality of sites in an aquifer, wherein water measurements are received at a plurality of time points. A site may include one or more groundwater extraction wells. The method may further include calculating well operational data for at least one groundwater extraction well based on the water measurements, wherein the well operational data includes a well efficiency over a time period. Further, the method may include receiving an aquifer objective input via a graphical user interface presented on the analysis computing device. The method may further include generating a pump operation signal based on the well operational data and the aquifer objective input.
US08244498B2 Hierarchically organizing data using a partial least squares analysis (PLS-trees)
A method and system for partitioning (clustering) large amounts of data in a relatively short processing time. The method involves providing a first data matrix and a second data matrix where each of the first and second data matrices includes one or more variables, and a plurality of data points. The method also involves determining a first score from the first data matrix using a partial least squares (PLS) analysis or orthogonal PLS (OPLS) analysis and partitioning the first and second data matrices (e.g., row-wise) into a first group and a second group based on the sorted first score, the variance of the first data matrix, and a variance of the first and second groups relative to the variances of the first and second data matrices.
US08244493B2 Noise reduction technique for monitoring electromagnetic signals
One embodiment provides a system that analyzes a target electromagnetic signal radiating from a monitored system. During operation, the system monitors the target electromagnetic signal using a set of antennas to obtain a set of received target electromagnetic signals from the monitored system. Next, the system calculates a weighted mean of the received target electromagnetic signals using a first pattern-recognition model. The system then subtracts the received target electromagnetic signals from the weighted mean of the received target electromagnetic signals to obtain a set of noise-reduced signals for the monitored system. Finally, the system assesses the integrity of the monitored system by analyzing the noise-reduced signals using a second pattern-recognition model.
US08244491B1 Statistical static timing analysis of signal with crosstalk induced delay change in integrated circuit
A method is provided to evaluate crosstalk effect of aggressor switching upon victim net signal transition time within an integrated circuit comprising: combining a first probability density function (PDF) of first aggressor switching time in response to a first input signal to an aggressor net driver and a second aggressor switching time in response to a second input signal to the aggressor net driver; determining a delay change curve that represents a relationship between delay change of arrival time of a victim net signal transition and relative alignment of the aggressor net driver switching time and a victim net driver switching time; and determining a third PDF of delay change of a transition of the victim net signal based upon the combination and the delay change curve.
US08244490B2 Power trigger with time qualified and sequential event capability
A power trigger is provided having time qualified and sequential event capability. Digital data representing an input signal is converted into a power signal. The power signal is compared to a trigger level. A trigger signal is generated when the power signal violates the trigger level for either at least or less than a specified time duration. Alternatively, the trigger signal may be generated on the occurrence of a sequence of such violations.
US08244489B2 Parametric multi-cycle averaging in an intelligent electronic device
A method and apparatus measures electrical power usage and quality, while mitigating the effects of noise on measured signals or parameters. Specifically, a digital electrical power and energy meter employs a method in which a processor averages a parameter, such as voltage or current, over a plurality of cycles of a time-varying signal, such as an AC electrical signal. The method employed by the meter samples a parameter over the plurality of cycles and computes the average of the samples corresponding to the same phase angle of the signal to produce an average signal.
US08244488B2 Thermal inspection systems
A thermal inspection system includes a fluid source configured to supply a warm flow and a cool flow, indirectly or directly, to internal passage(s) of a component. The system includes an imager configured to capture a time series of images corresponding to a transient thermal response of the component to the warm and cool flows. The system further includes at least one flow meter configured to measure the warm and cool flows supplied to the component and a processor operably connected to the imager. The processor determines the transient thermal response of the component around a transition time. The flow supplied to the component switches from the warm flow to the cool flow at the transition time. The processor compares the transient thermal response around the transition time with one or more baseline values or with an acceptable range of values to determine if the component meets a desired specification.
US08244487B2 Measuring system
A measuring system for tensile or compressive tests is provided. A set of mirrors includes a first plane mirror and a second plane mirror. The angles between the first plane mirror and the first axis and between the second plane mirror and the first axis are both a specific included angle, such that the first and second plane mirrors are symmetrical to the first axis. An object to be tested is disposed between the set of mirrors and an image capturing apparatus. Two extremities of the object have the first and second labels, respectively. The first and second mirror images of the first and second labels are generated through the first and second plane mirrors, respectively. After the object is tensed or compressed, the image capturing apparatus obtains the displacement of the first and second labels according to the shifting of the first and second mirror images.
US08244479B2 Nucleic acid sequencing system and method using a subset of sites of a substrate
A technique for sequencing nucleic acids in an automated or semi-automated manner is disclosed. Sample arrays of a multitude of nucleic acid sites are processed in multiple cycles to add nucleotides to the material to be sequenced, detect the nucleotides added to sites, and to de-block the added nucleotides of blocking agents and tags used to identify the last added nucleotide. Multiple parameters of the system are monitored to enable diagnosis and correction of problems as they occur during sequencing of the samples. Quality control routines are run during sequencing to determine quality of samples, and quality of the data collected.
US08244477B1 Estimation of alga growth stage and lipid content growth rate
Method and system for estimating a growth stage of an alga in an ambient fluid. Measured light beam absorption or reflection values through or from the alga and through an ambient fluid, in each of two or more wavelength sub-ranges, are compared with reference light beam absorption values for corresponding wavelength sub-ranges for in each alga growth stage to determine (1) which alga growth stage, if any, is more likely and (2) whether estimated lipid content of the alga is increasing or has peaked. Alga growth is preferably terminated when lipid content has approximately reached a maximum value.
US08244472B2 Enabling well-logging instrument development on a common, realistic earth model
A system and method enable testing of a plurality of well-logging tools on a common, realistic earth model. To enable this testing, a model of a synthetic virtual geologic volume of interest is generated. From the synthetic virtual geologic volume of interest, a plurality of test properties are determined as a function of position within the virtual geologic volume of interest, wherein the test properties are measurable in actual geologic volumes of interest by a well-logging instruments. The individual test properties are then distributed to well-logging instrument developers with the model of the synthetic virtual geologic volume of interest to enable modeling and/or benchmarking of different well-logging instruments on the synthetic virtual geologic volume of interest and the ability to derive the original formation properties regardless of the method used (inversion, analytical solution, etc.).
US08244468B2 System and method for creating and managing a personalized web interface for monitoring location information on individuals and objects using tracking devices
A personalized format webpage is generated to monitor location information. A management dashboard module is disclosed to provide a user access to location information of a tracking device associated with an object or an individual. An account services module provides menu options to the user. A wizard menu enables the user to enter billing information, identification settings of the tracking device, and coverage zones. Alert messages associated with the tracking device are generated in accordance with selected coverage zones and provided to the user.
US08244466B2 Method and systems for required time of arrival performance display
A method and system for a required time of arrival (RTA) performance graphic display is provided. The system includes a processor programmed to receive a required time of arrival and a first visual display communicatively coupled to the processor. The first visual display includes an RTA graphic having a dial substantially symmetric about an axis, a first marker indicative of a current estimated time of arrival (ETA) at a predetermined waypoint, a second marker indicative of a value of the RTA relative to the current ETA value and a selected RTA time tolerance value, a first indication representing a first time the vehicle can attain the predetermined waypoint, a second indication representing a last time the vehicle can attain the predetermined waypoint, a third indication representing the uncertainty of the ETA in an early arrival direction, and a fourth indication representing the uncertainty of the ETA in a late arrival direction.
US08244462B1 System and method of determining distances between geographic positions
A system and method is provided of determining geographic positions. In one aspect, a user points the device at first and second positions on the surface of a geographic object. Based on the position of the device, the orientation of the device, and information identifying the geographic position of the surface of the object, a processor determines and displays the distance between the first and second positions.
US08244460B2 Navigation system
A navigation system presents and updates information that allows the driver to determine an appropriate vehicle speed and a steering angle depending on a condition or a feature of a road. The navigation system includes storage means for storing map data, a display for displaying information, a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, and a controller for determining the shape of a road section being approached by a vehicle, based on the map data and the vehicle speed, and controlling the display to display the shape of the road.
US08244455B2 Apparatus and method for determining the position of a vehicle with respect to a terrain
Methods and apparatus are provided for determining a position of a vehicle with respect to a terrain. The method comprises accumulating data received from at least one sensor device regarding the occupancy of a spatial region between the vehicle and a first geographic region of the terrain, generating an evidence grid that describes the occupancy of the spatial region, identifying the position of the first geographic region of the terrain based on the evidence grid and previously compiled reference data, and determining the position of the vehicle based on the position of the first geographic region of the terrain with respect to the previously compiled reference data.
US08244453B2 Method and device for adjusting the trajectory of an aircraft in a climb circuit
A method of adjusting the trajectory of an aircraft flying a climb circuit, of substantially helical form corresponding to a succession of racetracks, denoted HOLD, the last HOLD, called the exit HOLD, having predefined geometric characteristics and comprising a lock-on point, allowing the aircraft to enter and to exit in the HOLD, the aircraft attaining the setpoint altitude of the climb circuit during the flight of the exit HOLD, comprises at least three steps, including: a step of computing the prediction of the position of the aircraft when the setpoint altitude will be attained; a step of computing the remaining distance to be traveled, between the position of the aircraft when the setpoint altitude will be attained and the lock-on point; and a step making it possible to carry out an adaptation of the form of the exit HOLD so as to minimize the remaining distance to be traveled DELTA.
US08244446B2 Hydraulic energy recovery system
A hydraulic valve having firstly a feed port, a low-pressure link port, and a high-pressure link port, which ports are respectively connected to the feed and discharge ducts of a hydraulic motor, to a low-pressure fluid source, and to a high-pressure accumulator, and secondly an auxiliary port. The valve has a slide that can take up a neutral position for connecting together the feed, discharge, and auxiliary ports, an energy recovery position for connecting together respectively the feed and low-pressure ports, and the discharge and high pressure ports, and an energy delivery position for connecting together respectively the feed and high-pressure ports, and the discharge and low-pressure ports. The slide is caused to move from its neutral position to its other positions by control signals and the auxiliary port can be connected to a reservoir or to a clutch fluid source for clutching or declutching the motor.
US08244438B2 Tool control system
A tool control system is disclosed. The control system may have a first actuator configured to control a first linkage. The control system may further have a second actuator configured to control a second linkage. The control system may also have a third actuator configured to control a work tool, wherein the second linkage is connected to the work tool and movably connected to the first linkage. The control system may still further have a plurality of operator input devices configured to provide operator control of the first, second, and third actuators. The control system may also have a controller in communication with the first, second, and third actuators and the plurality of operator input devices. The controller may be configured to receive a desired tool path for the work tool. The controller may also be configured to control movement of the first, second, and third actuators based on operator input received from fewer than all of the plurality of operator input devices to move the work tool along the desired tool path.
US08244437B2 Method and system for restraint deployment using lateral kinetic energy
A safety system for a motor vehicle has a yaw rate sensor for detecting a yaw rate of the vehicle and impact sensors for detecting a side impact. A control module calculates a lateral kinetic energy of the vehicle if the yaw rate exceeds a threshold value, and an occupant restraint is activated based upon the lateral kinetic energy and signals from the side impact sensors. The disclosed system and method provide for improved restraint deployment decisions when a vehicle has a lateral velocity associated with a high yaw rate, as may be the case during a spin or a skid.
US08244436B2 Occupant detection apparatus
An occupant detection apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The occupant detection apparatus includes a buckle switch, a seat position sensor and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit includes a first active element and a second active element that respectively control energization of the buckle switch and the seat position sensor. The electric control unit performs on-off control on the first active element in such manner that: the first active element is held on for a predetermined period; and at a time of an end of the predetermined period, the first active element is switched off and the second active element is switched on. The occupant detection apparatus can reduce radio noise generated due to the energization of the buckle switch and the seat position sensor, and can minimize an influence of the radio noise on another electronic apparatus mounted in the vehicle.
US08244435B2 Method and system for determining an optimal steering angle in understeer situations in a vehicle
A method for determining an optimal steering angle in understeer situations of a vehicle is described. To assist a driver in reliably stabilizing the vehicle during an understeer situation while driving, a model-based driving traction coefficient factor, a model-based kinematic factor, and a float angle are taken into account in the determination of a steering angle. A limited steering angle δv,lim at which a maximum lateral force is set, is determined by addition of the driving traction coefficient factor, the kinematic factor, and the float angle. A system suitable for implementation of the method is also described.
US08244434B2 Methods and system for automatic user-configurable steering parameter control
A vehicle guidance system and method for automatically adjusting an amount of a user-configurable steering parameter applied to at least one steerable wheel of a vehicle. The vehicle guidance system may comprise a computing device for receiving a desired angle of the steerable wheel, measuring the actual angle of the steerable wheel, and comparing the actual angle with the desired angle. The computing device may then decrease the user-configurable steering parameter automatically if over-steering has occurred, meaning the actual angle of the wheel is determined to be greater than the desired angle of the wheel and angled in the same direction as the desired angle, or the computing device may increase the user-configurable steering parameter automatically if under-steering has occurred, meaning the actual angle of the wheel is determined to be less than the desired angle of the wheel or is angled in the opposite direction as the desired angle.
US08244433B2 Steering angle detection device and method therefor
A steering angle detection device includes: a shaft angle detector that detects a rotation angle of a shaft that transmits a rotation operation of a steering member to a steering mechanism; a motor angle detector that detects a rotation angle of a motor that applies a steering assist force to the steering mechanism; a steering angle calculation unit that calculates a steering angle on the basis of a combination of the rotation angle detected by the motor angle detector and the rotation angle detected by the shaft angle detector, and a temperature detector that detects an ambient temperature of the steering mechanism, wherein the steering angle calculation unit corrects the rotation angle detected by the motor angle detector or the shaft angle detector on the basis of the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detector and uses the corrected rotation angle to calculate the steering angle.
US08244432B2 Road-surface friction-coefficient estimating device
A road-surface friction-coefficient estimating device compares a rack-thrust-force deviation value with a preliminarily set maximum-value-determination threshold value. If the rack-thrust-force deviation value is above the maximum-value-determination threshold value, the device determines that tires are slipping, and sets a front-wheel friction-circle utilization rate in that state as a road-surface friction coefficient. If the rack-thrust-force deviation value is below the maximum-value-determination threshold value, the device refers to a preliminarily set map to determine a restoring speed at which the road-surface friction coefficient is to be restored to 1.0 based on a vehicle speed and a front-wheel slip angle. While restoring the road-surface friction coefficient at the restoring speed, the device calculates and outputs the road-surface friction coefficient.
US08244429B2 Brake-switch failure diagnosis method and brake-switch failure diagnosis system
Secure failure of a brake switch is enabled with a simple configuration.When brake switches 6a and 6b are determined to be not ON together and not OFF together (S110 and S112), first and second determination counters perform count respectively (S114 and S120), and on the other hand, when the two brake switches 6a and 6b are determined to be ON together, a count value of the first determination counter is set to zero (S132), and when the brake switches are determined to be OFF together, a count value of the second determination counter is set to zero (S136), those operation being periodically repeated, and when one of the count values of the first and second determination counters exceeds one of respective predetermined values α and β (S118 and S214), one of the two brake switches 6a and 6b is determined to be failed, which enables detection of a failure state that one of the brake switches is normally ON or normally OFF.
US08244426B2 Method and apparatus for monitoring processor integrity in a distributed control module system for a powertrain system
A method for monitoring a main control module operative to command first and second motor control processors of a hybrid powertrain system includes signally connecting a programmable logic device to the main control module and the first and second motor control processors, communicating a first seed signal from the programmable logic device to the main control module, and determining an invalid key signal in the main control module in response to the first seed signal. The invalid key signal is communicated to the programmable logic device.
US08244424B2 Database comprising topographical information on obstacles and method for generating one such database
The invention relates to a database and a method of generating a database containing topographical information on obstacles distributed over a geographic area subdivided into cells. The method includes reading topographical data obtained from heterogeneous sources. Topographical data are generated which relate to pointlike obstacles from the information collected from the topographical data. Topographical data are generated which relate to linear obstacles from the information collected from the topographical data. The obstacle database is created. Each cell contains a link to the obstacles whose coordinates in the geographic area covered by the cell are recorded with an uncertainty value. In particular, the invention applies to the generation of a database on board an aircraft.
US08244423B2 Vehicle electronic control system, vehicle electronic control unit, and vehicle control synchronization method
A vehicle electronic control system includes a first electronic control unit that completes execution of a first control process in a predetermined time, and a second electronic control unit connected to the first electronic control unit that executes a second control process inseparable from the first control process. The first electronic control unit transmits a synchronization signal at periods sufficiently less than the predetermined time. The second electronic control unit starts execution of the second control process with reference to the synchronization signal received.
US08244415B1 Object representation of sensor data
Aircraft operating environment information is sensed. The aircraft operating environment information is encapsulated in at least one sensor object. The at least one sensor object is transferred to a sensor object processing system. The at least one sensor object is processed.
US08244413B2 Secure command method and device for remote maintenance terminal
A method executes at least one instruction in an on-board maintenance device from a remote system connected to the maintenance device via a communication network. The method includes receiving at least one datum representative of at least one command having a correspondence with the at least one instruction. The method also includes filtering the at least one received datum. In response to the filtering, if the at least one received datum represents a valid command, the method includes converting the at least one received datum to identify the at least one instruction.
US08244407B2 Method for actuating a hydraulic servo system
A method for actuating a hydraulic servo system with a proportional valve that converts an electrical control signal into a hydraulic pilot pressure with which the hydraulic servo system is actuated. An additional impulse is fed to the proportional valve at the beginning of a desired change of the electrical control signal.
US08244406B2 System and method of monitoring and optimizing power quality in a network
The operation of a power distribution network is modeled. At least one quality of the operation of the power distribution network is measured. The future operational performance of the power distribution network is predicted based at least in part upon the modeling. When the at least one measure of the quality of the operation of the power distribution network or the predicted future operational performance do not meet the predetermined performance criteria, corrective action is taken with respect to the power distribution network.
US08244405B2 Electrical monitoring and control system
A system for monitoring and controlling the electrical infrastructure of a building includes at least one sensor for sensing an operating characteristic in the building, and a processor for receiving information from the at least one sensor and predicting a future operating characteristic.
US08244402B2 Visual perception system and method for a humanoid robot
A robotic system includes a humanoid robot with robotic joints each moveable using an actuator(s), and a distributed controller for controlling the movement of each of the robotic joints. The controller includes a visual perception module (VPM) for visually identifying and tracking an object in the field of view of the robot under threshold lighting conditions. The VPM includes optical devices for collecting an image of the object, a positional extraction device, and a host machine having an algorithm for processing the image and positional information. The algorithm visually identifies and tracks the object, and automatically adapts an exposure time of the optical devices to prevent feature data loss of the image under the threshold lighting conditions. A method of identifying and tracking the object includes collecting the image, extracting positional information of the object, and automatically adapting the exposure time to thereby prevent feature data loss of the image.
US08244401B2 Methods and apparatus for dispensing solid articles
According to embodiments of the present invention, a method for detecting solid articles using an apparatus including a sensor system is provided. The sensor system includes a radiation detector and a radiation emitter configured to direct radiation onto the radiation detector. The radiation detector is operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby. The method includes moving the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector relative to the other. According to some embodiments, the solid articles are solid pharmaceutical articles.
US08244398B2 Device for selectively presenting objects
An assembly for selectively presenting objects includes: a frame; a carousel rotatably mounted to the frame for rotation about a generally vertical axis of rotation, the carousel including a plurality of object compartments arranged about the axis of rotation; a servomotor operably connected with the carousel, the servomotor being configured to rotate the carousel about the axis of rotation; and a controller. The controller is configured to actuate the servomotor to rotate the carousel when torque applied to the servomotor exceeds a predetermined magnitude. Such an assembly can serve as a presentation device that enables an operator to remove objects therefrom at his/her convenience.
US08244397B2 Method for controlling mold clamping device
A predetermined speed control pattern B is sct. In a mold clamping process, in a mold closing section Zm, mold closing control is performed at a mold closing speed Vm, and based on a current mold closing speed Vd and a current mold closing position Xd, which are both detected, a deceleration starting position Xmc of the deceleration section Zmd, where the current mold closing speed Vd becomes a zero (O) at a virtual stop position Xc, is sequentially forecasted at each predetermined time interval by calculation. Upon reaching the deceleration starting position Xmc the deceleration section Zmd is started, and in the deceleration section Zmd, based on the detected current mold closing position Xd, a speed command value Dm corresponding to the speed control pattern B is obtained sequentially by calculation, and according to the speed command value Dm deceleration control is performed. Upon reaching a mold clamping-transition speed Vc, a predetermined mold clamping processing is performed via a low-pressure low-speed section Zc.
US08244392B2 Automated truss assembly jig setting system
A method of automatically placing pucks on a truss assembly table includes the steps of receiving input regarding the truss assembly table and a truss to be assembled on the truss assembly table, and processing the input. Locations on the truss assembly table for each puck are selected based on the processed input that optimizes the overall support given to the truss. The pucks are automatically moved to their selected locations.
US08244387B2 Operation control method, operating device, and circuit-board working apparatus
A method of controlling an operation of an operating member from a first position to a second position, wherein an operating speed of the operating member is initially increased from zero while an acceleration value of the operating member is first increased from zero and then decreased to zero, and the operating speed is subsequently decreased while the acceleration value is first decreased from zero and then increased to zero, and wherein a derivative of the acceleration value of the operating member is controlled such that the derivative during an acceleration increasing time and the derivative during an acceleration decreasing time are asymmetric with respect to each other. Also disclosed in an operating device including the operating member and a control device having an asymmetric control portion configured to practice the control method.
US08244383B2 Controller interface with multiple day programming
A controller equipped with a user interface having multiple-day programming capabilities, including methods of programming such devices, are disclosed. The user interface may include one or more menus or screens that can be used to program a schedule for one or more selected days during the week. An illustrative method of programming the controller may include the steps of entering a scheduling routine, selecting multiple days for schedule modification, changing the schedule parameters for one or more periods during the selected days, and then exiting the scheduling routine.
US08244380B2 System and method for storing data from an industrial controller
A system for storing data from an industrial control system having an industrial controller including a communication module and first memory containing data for controlling an industrial process is provided. The system comprises a computer separate from the industrial controller and having a second memory and an application for automatically accessing the data from the first memory of the industrial controller via the communication module and storing the data on the second memory.
US08244378B2 Spiral configurations for intravascular lead stability
A medical electrical lead for transvascularly stimulating a nerve, muscle or other tissue from an adjacent vessel is described. The lead includes an expandable distal portion having one or more spirals for securing and stabilizing the lead within the vessel.
US08244376B2 Coronary sinus lead for pacing the left atrium
A method of inserting a pacing lead having a preformed shape into a coronary sinus to pace the left atrium includes providing a lead having an elongated body and proximal and tip sections. The sections are configured such that a first angle less than 90 degrees is defined between the lead body and proximal section and a second angle is defined between the tip and proximal sections. The method further comprises advancing the pacing wire towards the opening of the coronary sinus and advancing the wire into the coronary sinus, such that the first angle is compressed by the coronary sinus opening and a tip electrode included on the tip section contacts the wall of the coronary sinus near the left atrium operably extending the second angle to assure constant contact between the wall of the coronary sinus and the tip electrode.
US08244374B1 Implantable paddle lead comprising stretching electrical traces and method of fabrication
In one embodiment, a paddle-style lead for implantation in the epidural space through an insertion tool, the paddle-style lead comprises: a paddle structure that comprises: (i) a frame of rigid material, the frame comprising a spring member adapted to bias the frame to assume a first width and a first length, the frame being adapted to elongate to assume a second width and a second length under application of a compressive force; and (ii) elastic material disposed across an interior surface area defined the frame, wherein a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of electrical traces are provided on the elastic material, wherein the plurality of electrical traces are electrically coupled to a plurality of lead conductors and the plurality of electrodes; wherein the plurality of electrical traces comprises a plurality of alternating curves that elongate when the elastic material is stretched.
US08244372B1 Electrical stimulation lead with stiffeners having varying stiffness zones
In one embodiment, a neurostimulation lead comprises an elongated body of insulative material, comprising a first end portion and a second end portion; a plurality of terminals longitudinally positioned along the first end portion; a plurality of electrodes longitudinally positioned along the second end portion; a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals; a flexible metal longitudinal stiffener positioned within the elongated body wherein the stiffener has a plurality of longitudinal zones and each zone has a different column strength, the column strength of one or more zones of the plurality of longitudinal zones being defined by cuts or gaps in the stiffener, the stiffener causing the neurostimulation lead to exhibit a greatest amount of column strength adjacent to one end portion of the elongated body and to transition to a lower column strength toward a medial portion of the elongated body.
US08244370B2 Band stop filter employing a capacitor and an inductor tank circuit to enhance MRI compatibility of active medical devices
A band stop filter is provided for a lead wire of an active medical device (AMD). The band stop filter includes a capacitor in parallel with an inductor. The parallel capacitor and inductor are placed in series with the lead wire of the AMD, wherein values of capacitance and inductance are selected such that the band stop filter is resonant at a selected frequency. The Q of the inductor may be relatively maximized and the Q of the capacitor may be relatively minimized to reduce the overall Q of the band stop filter to attenuate current flow through the lead wire along a range of selected frequencies. In a preferred form, the band stop filter is integrated into a TIP and/or RING electrode for an active implantable medical device.
US08244368B2 Apparatus, system, and method for transcutaneously transferring energy
An apparatus for transcutaneously transferring an amount of energy to an implantable orthopaedic device includes a primary coil. The primary coil has a resonant frequency matched to a resonant frequency of a secondary coil, which may form part of the implantable orthopaedic device. The primary coil may have an aperture configured to receive a portion of a patient's body or may include a substantially “C”-shaped core. A power circuit may be coupled with the primary coil to provide power to the coil. The apparatus may also include a wireless receiver, a measuring device, and/or a display.
US08244367B2 Closed loop long range recharging
A charging system for an implantable medical device having a secondary coil. The charging system includes an external power source having at least one primary coil, a modulation, circuit operatively coupled to the primary coil and capable of driving it in a manner characterized by a charging parameter, and a sensor in communication with the modulation circuit and capable of sensing a condition indicating a need to adjust the charging parameter during a charging process. The parameter may be varied so that data sensed by the sensor meets a threshold requirement, which may be based on a patient preference, a government regulation, a recommendation promulgated by a health authority and/or a requirement associated with another device carried by the patient. In one embodiment, the regulation dictates maximum magnetic field exposure, and a field limiting circuit is employed to adjust the charging process.
US08244365B2 Simultaneous delivery of electrical and acoustical stimulation in a hearing prosthesis
A bimodal hearing prosthesis configured to deliver electrical and acoustic stimulation to a recipient such that a frequency range of a received sound that is represented by the electrical stimulation is perceived simultaneously with the frequency range of the received sound that is represented by the acoustic stimulation.
US08244363B2 Visual prosthesis
A retinal stimulation system. The retinal stimulation system comprises an electronics package; and at least a first and a second electrode, each associated with the electronics package and configured to apply current to a subject's retina; wherein current to be applied by the first electrode and the second electrode is configured to be higher for the first electrode when the first electrode has an impedance lower than a second electrode's impedance.
US08244361B1 Stimulation system and method for treating fragile bone disorders
According to one aspect, a stimulation system is provided for electrically stimulating a predetermined site to treat a fragile bone disorder or condition. The system includes an electrical stimulation lead adapted for implantation into a subcutaneous area in communication with a predetermined site, wherein the site is neuronal tissue that is associated with C2/C3 dermatome area. The stimulation lead includes one or more stimulation electrodes adapted to be positioned in the predetermined site. The system also includes a stimulation source that generates the stimulation pulses for transmission to the one or more stimulation electrodes of the stimulation lead to deliver the stimulation pulses to the predetermined site to treat a fragile bone disorder or condition.
US08244360B2 Regional therapies for treatment of pain
Systems and methods for coordinated delivery of a therapeutic agent and low (less than about 20 Hz) and high (greater than about 50 Hz) frequency stimulation therapy are described. The systems include a control unit for coordinating therapy delivery between an infusion device and a pulse generator, such that a therapeutic agent is administered at a predetermined time relative to application of either low frequency or high frequency stimulation. For example, the control unit may instruct the infusion device to deliver therapeutic agent at a predetermined time prior to delivery of low frequency stimulation. Systems that include more than one infusion device or an infusion pump capable of delivering more than one therapeutic agent are also described.
US08244359B2 System and method to modulate phrenic nerve to prevent sleep apnea
An implantable medical device for treating breathing disorders such as central sleep apnea wherein stimulation is provided to the phrenic never through a transvenous lead system with the stimulation beginning after inspiration to extend the duration of a breath and to hold the diaphragm in a contracted condition.
US08244358B2 Device and method for treating obstructive sleep apnea
A device and method are provided for treating obstructive respiratory events by electrically stimulating tissue associated with the phrenic nerve or diaphragm to elicit a respiratory response.
US08244356B2 Electromagnetic interference shielding in an implantable medical device
EMI shields for use in implantable medical devices that include inner and outer metal layers separated by a dielectric layer. When assembled as medical devices, the outer metal layer of an illustrative EMI shield is placed into electrical contact with a conductive inner surface of an associated canister for an implantable medical device.
US08244355B2 Method and apparatus to provide diagnostic index and therapy regulated by subject's autonomic nervous system
A system and method are provided for determining an index of autonomic nervous system (ANS) or sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity for use in patient monitoring or therapy delivery control. An ANS or SNS index is calculated as a function of multiple monitored physiological variables that strongly correlate to changes in autonomic or sympathetic tone. These ANS-influenced variables are derived from selected hemodynamic and/or electrical signals and may include variables relating to any of: the maximum rate of pressure rise (dP/dtmax), the maximum rate of pressure decline (dP/dtmin), pulse pressure (PP), pre-ejection time interval (PEI) and/or systolic time interval (STI), heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and baro-reflex gain. Changes in the ANS or SNS index may be used to automatically adjust a device delivered therapy.
US08244352B2 Pacing catheter releasing conductive liquid
Cardioprotective pacing is applied to prevent and/or reduce cardiac injury associated with myocardial infarction (MI) and revascularization procedure. Pacing pulses are generated from a pacemaker and delivered through one or more pacing electrodes incorporated onto one or more percutaneous transluminal vascular intervention (PTVI) devices during the revascularization procedure. In one embodiment, a PTVI device releases a conductive liquid to provide a conductive medium between a pacing electrode and tissue of pacing site.
US08244346B2 Lead with MRI compatible design features
Implantable medical leads with magnetic shielding and methods of shielding implantable leads from magnetic fields during medical procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are disclosed. An exemplary implantable medical lead includes a helically coiled inner electrode conductor wire, a helically coiled outer electrode conductor wire disposed radially about the inner electrode conductor wire, and at least one layer of insulation that electrically isolates the inner and outer electrode conductor wires. The inner electrode conductor wire can have a hollowed, multifilar configuration including six or more co-radially wound wire filars. The outer electrode conductor wire is electrically isolated from the inner electrode conductor wire, and may have either a single or double filar configuration.
US08244345B2 Treating a tumor or the like with electric fields at different frequencies
Cells that are in the late anaphase or telophase stages of cell division are vulnerable to damage by AC electric fields that have specific frequency and field strength characteristics. The selective destruction of rapidly dividing cells can therefore be accomplished by imposing an AC electric field in a target region for extended periods of time. Some of the cells that divide while the field is applied will be damaged, but the cells that do not divide will not be harmed. This selectively damages rapidly dividing cells like tumor cells, but does not harm normal cells that are not dividing. Improved results may be achieved by using a field with two or more frequencies.
US08244341B2 Method and device for determining depressive disorders by measuring bioelectromagnetic signals of the brain
The present invention provides a method and device for determining depressive disorders or other mental disorders related to similar brain imbalances when the combination of powers of specific frequency bands in quantitative EEG has a certain positive or negative value. The present invention performs a signal-processing task to resting EEG recording, calculates the power of two specific frequency bands, finds the combination of the powers and evaluates the result. The method can be used as quick and easy noninvasive tool for diagnosing depression related problems in different patients as separate algorithm, as a part of an EEG recording and analysis device and as a separate device.
US08244340B2 Method, system and device for sleep stage determination using frontal electrodes
The described embodiments relate generally to methods, systems and devices for sleep stage determination using frontal electrodes. Certain embodiments relate to a system for sleep stage determination comprising a sensing unit and a processing unit. The sensing unit is positioned over a forehead area of a patient and has first, second and third electrodes for positioning at locations on or adjacent the forehead area for detecting electrical potentials of a human head. The processing unit is coupled to the sensing unit for receiving biological signals corresponding to the detected electrical potentials and processing the biological signals to determine a sleep stage of the patient. The processing of the biological signals is based on a plurality of rules.
US08244336B2 Portable electrocardiograph
A portable electrocardiograph, in which an exposed electrode is arranged on the end face of one end of a housing, characterized in that: the other end of the housing is of a comfortable structure for holding; the comfortable structure for holding is provided with the other exposed electrode; and the geometric center of the comfortable structure for holding is of an offset toward the other end of the housing and one of the two transverse sides, and a measuring key is arranged in the geometric center of the comfortable structure for holding. The present invention is of a humanized and unique holding structure shape, which ensures the wrist, the arm, and the trunk of the user are closed to form a relative space, thus allowing the user to measure in natural and correct posture so as to make sure the monitored data to be accurate and reliable.
US08244326B2 Probe device
A probe device for optically measuring a condition of an object includes a light emitter for emitting a light to proceed into the object through a surface of the object, a light sensor for measuring an optical condition of the light proceeding from the surface through the object and subsequently emitted from the surface to reach the light sensor, and a body holding thereon at least one of the light emitter and the light sensor. The body includes at least one main protrusion protruding so as to face to the surface, and at least two sub-protrusions arranged around the at least one main protrusion and protruding so as to face to the surface.
US08244325B2 Noninvasive oximetry optical sensor including disposable and reusable elements
A pulse oximetry sensor includes reusable and disposable elements. To assemble the sensor, members of the reusable element are mated with assembly mechanisms of the disposable element. The assembled sensor provides independent movement between the reusable and disposable elements.
US08244324B2 Optical measurement instrument for living body
An optical measurement instrument for a living body having an optical fiber removed, which is composed so as to transmit a driving signal for the light source to a plurality of an irradiation parts, as well as to convert a transmitted and received signal, between a processing and control unit and the probe unit, to a row of serial digital signals, by having one driving device for light source and one multiplexer, inside the probe unit.
US08244321B2 Casing for a portable terminal
A mobile communication terminal comprises a case having internal and external surfaces. The mobile communication device further comprises a first layer formed over the external surface of the case, the first layer comprising conductors for allowing plating on the outer surface of the case; a second layer formed over the first layer, the second layer comprising an antenna pattern for transmitting and receiving radio signals corresponding to one or more frequency bands; a third layer formed over the second layer to protect the case; a circuit board configured to process signals conformable to the radio signals, wherein the circuit board is disposed within an inner surface of the case; and a connection unit formed through the case and configured to electrically connect the second layer to the circuit board.
US08244317B2 Indicator shelf for portable electronic device
There is disclosed a portable electronic device comprising a front surface, a side surface, and an indicator. The front surface is substantially parallel to a horizontal axis, and the side surface is connected to the front surface. The side surface includes an angled surface and forward side portion between the angled surface and the front surface, in which the angled surface is angled relative to the horizontal axis. The indicator is located at the angled surface of the side surface. For one embodiment, the side surface includes a groove having two angled surfaces and a meeting point where the surfaces meet. The one angled surface angles downward from the meeting point relative to the horizontal axis, and the other angled surface angles upward from the meeting point relative to the horizontal axis. For another embodiment, the device may have a slider form factor.
US08244316B2 Electronic device
An electronic device includes a main body, a keyboard, a first magnet, and a second magnet. The first magnet is positioned on the main body. The second magnet is positioned on the keyboard. The main body defines a receiving cavity configured for receiving the keyboard. A sidewall of the receiving cavity defines a cut-out adjacent to the board. The keyboard is capable of being taken out of the receiving cavity by an external force exerting on a portion of the keyboard adjacent to the cut-out.
US08244315B2 Method and apparatus for mobile personal video recorder
Methods and apparatuses for remotely recording video content on a personal video recording server, at the request of a user of a mobile device, and obtaining that recorded content on the mobile device, in some embodiments, at a later time.
US08244314B2 Reducing power consumption in mobile networks
Method and system for reducing the power consumption in mobile networks, wherein the communication between a mobile terminal and a base station is QAM modulated. The method comprises: making the base station a dynamic real time analysis of the QAM symbols used in the communication between said mobile terminal and the base station, detecting the most frequently used QAM symbols; obtaining the base station a new assignation of the QAM symbols for the downlink communication; sending the base station the new assignation of the QAM symbols to the mobile terminal; using the mobile terminal and the base station said new assignation of the QAM symbols for the demodulation process and modulation process, respectively, in their subsequent communication.
US08244313B2 Method and electronic device capable of saving power
A method and an electronic device capable of saving power are disclosed. The electronic device includes a power save system, a media player application and an audio interface. The audio interface includes an audio driver module, and an audio processor. The power save system includes a monitor unit, and a control unit. The monitor unit monitors the current mode of the media player application. If the media player application is in the mute mode, the control unit transmits a power-save signal to switch off the audio processor to save power of the electronic device.
US08244311B2 Time-related power systems
A method, programmed medium and system are disclosed which provide for user-controlled management of power requirements for mobile devices. The system dynamically adjusts power settings according to goals set by the end user. The end user specifies a time-to-live goal in hours, minutes or a predetermined date/time and the power management function continuously monitors and adjusts power components to meet that goal.
US08244306B2 Mobile wireless communications device with reduced interfering energy from the display and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing and circuit board carried by the housing and includes radio frequency (RF) circuitry and a processor carried by the circuit board and operative with each other. A display connector for an LCD connector is mounted on the circuit board and adapted to be connected to a display. Display connection lines are carried by the circuit board and interconnect the display connector and processor for carrying signals from the processor to the display connector and a connected display. Filters are carried by the circuit board and connected to the display connection lines and reduce any interfering energy from the processor and display.
US08244302B2 Radio base station device
A radio base station device 1 includes a card insertion portion 3 into which a USIM card 2 is inserted, and a cover 4 slidably disposed for covering the card insertion portion 3. In a power on state in which a power supply adapter 6 is connected to an adapter connecting unit 5, the power supply adapter 6 restricts the sliding movement of the cover 4, and therefore the card insertion portion 3 cannot be exposed and the USIM card 2 cannot be extracted and inserted from and into the radio base station device. In a power off state in which the power supply adapter 6 is detached, the card insertion portion 3 can be exposed by sliding the cover 4, and therefore the USIM card 2 can be extracted and inserted from and into the radio base station device.
US08244300B1 Communication device
The communication device comprising the voice communicating implementer, the sound caller ID implementer, the auto time adjusting implementer, the calculation implementer, the word processing implementer, the stereo audio data output implementer, the digital camera implementer, the multiple language displaying implementer, the caller's information displaying implementer, the icon software implementer, the voice recognition implementer, the email implementer, the video phone implementer, the navigation implementer, the audiovisual playback implementer, and the simultaneous implementer.
US08244296B2 Dynamic thermal control for wireless transceivers
Methods and apparatus for dynamic thermal management and control within, e.g., small form-factor wireless devices such as laptop computers or cellular “smartphones”. In one embodiment, a thermal management system monitors the temperature (or other relevant criteria) for one or more components, and implements different operating states within the wireless transceiver (e.g., Wi-Fi™ or WiMAX transceiver) so as to both reduce thermal output and minimize disruption to the wireless link and/or user experience. In another embodiment, a wireless client may communicate with other clients, and/or access points, so as to cooperatively provide more options for thermal management. In addition, methods and apparatus employing “high performance” (e.g., high power output or high data rate) radios within aggressively small industrial designs are also disclosed.
US08244293B2 Dual mode mobile communication terminal and method of selecting mode therein
A dual mode mobile communication terminal and a method of selecting a mode therein that can minimize a call cost are provided. The method of selecting a mode in a dual mode mobile communication terminal into which at least two cards are inserted includes: requesting mode selection; selecting a card and a mode that can minimize a call cost according to a provider network to connect to based on previously stored call cost information for each provider and the at least two cards; and connecting to a corresponding provider network using the selected mode.
US08244292B2 Apparatus and method for power distribution by frequency allocation in multi-frequency allocation broadband wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for power distribution by Frequency Allocation (FA) in a multi-band broadband wireless communication system are provided. The method includes detecting at least one of a loading value and a performance efficiency value by band, calculating a power distribution value by band using the detected value and calculating a power value by band using the calculated band power distribution value. The method and apparatus provide a scheme that can vary a power distribution of each band according to need and cope with subscriber capacity more flexibly when a plurality of diverse systems coexist.
US08244290B1 Method and computer-readable medium for data object attachment and chained serial discussions with push-to-talk
Methods and computer-readable mediums for processing push-to-talk voice messages are provided. According to one method, a first mobile station receives a push-to-talk voice message from a second mobile station, determines that a data object is attached to the push-to-talk voice message, determines a type of the data object, and stores the data object in a PTT attachment queue of the first mobile station, based upon the determined type of the data object, which may be a picture, video data, audio data, e-mail, document, contact, or the like.
US08244289B2 Communication apparatus, communication control method, and information display method
In a case where a PTT start notification is received at a communication part 102, a PTT application for executing processing concerning PTT communication is started up, and an instruction for starting the PTT communication is not input to a key input part 103 for a predetermined time, the PTT application automatically ends and predetermined flag data fg is stored in an external data storage region AR1. After that, when the PTT application is not started up, a notification of reception of an absent signal indicating no reply to the PTT start notification is reported based on the flag data fg stored in the external data storage region AR1. Further, in an automatic reply mode, when PTT communication which automatically started in response to the PTT start notification ends, the reception of a PTT communication start notification of no reply, that is, reception of an absent signal, is suitably reported to a user based on presence/absence of transmission of information from the communication part 102 in the communication apparatus itself at a and input of an instruction at the key input part 103.
US08244280B2 Apparatus, and associated method, for configuring a page message used to page an access terminal in a radio communication system pursuant to a partial identity comparison scheme
Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating paging of access terminals by way of a quick page message. A partial identity comparison scheme is utilized. Identifiers of access terminals that are to be paged in the quick page message are determined and compared. In the event that the identifiers are of redundant values, the redundant values are removed, thereby to provide additional locations in the quick page message that are not redundant for use better to page the access terminals that are to be paged.
US08244278B2 Portable fitness systems, and applications thereof
In at least one embodiment, a method includes receiving a description of a route of interest to a user, in response to receiving the description, generating a prospective route based on the description, providing a graphical element corresponding to the prospective route to the user, and scheduling a traversal of the prospective route in a user training database.
US08244266B2 Scheduling method in a cellular system using wired relay station
A method, apparatus and computer product for scheduling in a cellular system using a wired RS is disclosed. In one aspect, a BS collects CQIs of all MSs within a cell, calculates a transmittable data amount for each of the MSs according to the CQI, selects an MS having a highest PF metric, and allocates resources to the selected MS.
US08244264B2 Radio base station receiver and program
A resource allocation control unit is provided between the despreading process unit and the channel decoding process unit of a radio base station receiver, and a resource for a channel decoding process is allocated only when there is actually user communication data in a communication service that is not of a continuous data communication under control of the resource allocation control unit. Thereby, the number of resources of the channel decoding process unit is smaller than the number of resources for despreading processes corresponding to the number of users that can receive the services simultaneously.
US08244263B2 Primary serving gateway resolution
Various embodiments relate to a system and related method for handling requests from a user device in a wireless communications network. Various embodiments relate to a Policy and Charging Rules Node (PCRN) attempting to bind an IP-CAN session established in a Packet Data Network gateway (PGW) with a gateway control session established in a serving gateway (SGW). In instances when the IP-CAN session and gateway control session no longer match, the PCRN may wait to receive a subsequent message from the PGW and/or SGW. When the PCRN does not receive the subsequent message containing a matching session, the PCRN may kill the sessions in all the relevant gateways. This may cause the system to reestablish a new, matching connection instead of remaining in a hanging state.
US08244256B2 Method and apparatus in a CDMA communication system
A novel and improved method and apparatus, in a WCDMA communication system (100), for informing a mobile station (101) of a downlink data frame time offset by determining the downlink data frame time offset, and transmitting the downlink data frame time offset via an Active Set Update message transmitted from a cell (102 or 103) to mobile station (101). Once an Active Set Update message is received, the data frame time offset information is provided to a timing block (201) which may determine data frame boundary of each downlink signal. Timing block (201) may then adjust the PN sequence timing corresponding to the downlink signal associated with the data frame time offset such that corresponding data symbols in each data frame are correctly soft combined in a combiner(210).
US08244251B1 Concurrent call handover
Methods, systems, and apparatus can be used to provide concurrent call handover in converged networks. In various examples, a concurrent call handover can operate to transfer multiple calls between domains when a mobile device has two open call instances. In some implementations, multiple public service identifiers can be assigned for the call instances.
US08244250B2 Method for allocating a temporary resource request identifier for accessing a target base station
The present invention provides for a method for allocating by a plurality of source base stations of a cellular wireless communication support infrastructure a temporary resource request identifier to a wireless communication device for accessing a target base station. The method includes identifying a list of temporary resource request identifiers associated with the target base station for use by one or more wireless communication devices, wherein the list includes a subset of one or more part time temporary resource request identifiers whose respective assignment to a corresponding grouping of one or more source base stations at a particular time is rotated between more than one of the plurality of corresponding groupings of one or more source base stations. The present invention further provides for allocating a temporary resource request identifier to a wireless communication device for accessing a target base station, where a corresponding one of the temporary resource request identifiers is allocated to a particular wireless communication devices, where the temporary resource request identifier includes a limitation of usage corresponding to particular communication time intervals during which the temporary resource request identifier can be used with the target base station.
US08244248B2 Vertical handover
A vertical handover decision to perform a seamless vertical handover of a wireless apparatus from a current access network to a target access network is established. When deciding to perform the vertical handover from the current access network to the target access network it can be considered whether an intermediate access network could be used. It can be decided that first a seamless vertical handover is performed from the current access network to an intermediate access network, and subsequently a seamless vertical handover from the intermediate access network to the target access network is performed.
US08244244B1 Method for triggering a user equipment
The invention discloses an arrangement for triggering a user equipment, wherein the user equipment is not connected to the network. In the machine type communications there is a need for reducing network activity, however, at the same time there is a need for being able to wake up a device. In the arrangement the network detaches the user equipment locally and is then triggered when needed.
US08244239B2 Communication apparatus, communication method, program, and communication system
A communication apparatus is provided including a display unit, a storage unit capable of storing therein display condition information in which a display instruction for causing the display unit to perform display processing or a non-display instruction for not allowing the display unit to perform the display processing is set, and a short distance wireless communication control unit for controlling a connection establishment communication with a communication party by a communication system based on electric field coupling or magnetic field coupling and data communication with the communication party by the communication system. The short distance wireless communication control unit judges whether the non-display instruction is set in the display condition information stored in the storage unit, and does not make the data communication with the communication party when judging that the non-display instruction is set, the communication control unit.
US08244236B2 System and method for aggregating and disseminating mobile device tag data
A computer-implemented method for aggregating and disseminating tag data is provided. The method includes receiving a tag generated at a particular time from a particular mobile device. Data indicative of a particular location of the particular mobile device is received corresponding to the particular time. The tag is associated with the location indicative data of the particular mobile device. Data indicative of a location of one or more other mobile devices is received, and data indicative of the tag is transmitted to the one or more other mobile devices in response to the location indicative data of the one or more other mobile devices corresponding to the location indicative data of the particular mobile device.
US08244231B2 Method and apparatus for disambiguating an emergency call attempt during password entry for unlocking a mobile communication device
A method and apparatus for unlocking a mobile communication device are provided, the mobile communication device comprising an input device, and a display device, the mobile communication device enabled to initiate emergency calls in a locked state. Password input data is received via the input device, when the mobile communication device is in the locked state, the password input data for unlocking the mobile communication device, the password input data comprising at least a sequence of characters for initiating an emergency call. In response to receiving the sequence of characters for initiating the emergency call, the display device is controlling to provide a representation of instructions to initiate the emergency call upon receipt of emergency call initiate data from the input device.
US08244230B2 Terminal function completion method and system, and communication terminal, peripheral terminal and communication terminal management server constituting the system
It is an object of the present invention to realize a system which enables use a new application with a terminal which has been used heretofore, and the system comprises a function which is installed on a network and manages application information compatible with the communication terminal, and a function which is installed on the communication terminal and which is connected with a peripheral terminal through a short distance connection to transfer data.
US08244222B2 Professional translation and interpretation facilitator system and method
A system and method for providing real-time interpretation, translation, and cross-culture communication expertise for delivery over the global communication and wireless networks, mobile communication devices and kiosks. The system provides an end-to-end global communication and interpretation service for users including registration, listing, profiling, matchmaking, authentication, scheduling, reservation, delivery, billing, feedback, archiving and rating components. Consumers engage the translation/interpretation services of certified language and knowledge experts after communicating their needs in their native language(s) or by selecting translators/interpreters based on profiling and availability. Thereinafter, the real-time event and/or knowledge transfer is delivered over the global communications networks, mobile phones, or kiosks. A method for providing a means for receiving and converting speech into text, then translating the “source” text into a plurality of “target” languages for delivery of translated text and/or speech. A system for implementing a fully-integrated customized global communication platform for enterprises and organizations.
US08244221B2 Visual voicemail messages and unique directory number assigned to each for accessing corresponding audio voicemail message
An improved visual voicemail system is provided. When a call is made to a wireless telephone device and a voicemail message is deposited for the called party, the voicemail message is transcribed to generate a text version of the deposited voicemail message. The transcribed voicemail message is sent to the called mobile telephone device to allow the user to read the text version of the voicemail message. Embedded with transcribed text voicemail message is a link that maps to a unique telephone number that is assigned to the original audio voicemail message from the text voicemail message was transcribed. If the called party selects the link, the called party's mobile telephone device or other receiving computing device places a call to the storage location of the original audio version of the voicemail message to listen to the audio version of the voicemail message.
US08244220B2 Wireless chat automatic status tracking
A technique and apparatus to provide status tracking of presence and/or location of a mobile, wireless device to a requesting entity even outside of a particular wireless system. This allows wireless service providers the ability to monitor and log changes in the status of mobile stations within and/or outside their networks. Embodiments are disclosed wherein presence and/or location information is provided to entities outside of a particular servicing wireless network using the mechanisms of call processing components of a mobile network (e.g., call setup procedures), and using standard mechanisms currently available to any appropriately conforming Mobile Switching Center (MSC) element. In one disclosed embodiment, a wireless chat tracking system is implemented which utilizes a change in mobile registration status to automatically notify a chat group system outside the wireless network of current status information activity regarding a relevant device, e.g., registration activity or inactivity timeout. In the wireless chat automatic status tracking system, a registration notification (REGNOT) message is either explicitly forwarded or copied to an external IP based application (e.g., to a mobile chat group system). The change in mobile registration is communicated via a suitable signaling link (e.g., SS7, TCP/IP, etc.) between a Home Location Register (HLR) and the chat group system. Therefore, instead of a conventionally closed system using SS7 messages, REGNOT messages are pushed out over TCP/IP connections to external applications (e.g., chat servers) to automatically notify the external system of the location of a particular user.
US08244219B2 System and method for controlling mobile device profile tones
A system and method are provided that utilize a set of heuristics to more intelligently determine when to utilize an audible tone associated with a notification profile or other mechanism used to alert a user of events such as an incoming instant message. The heuristics employed consider the layering of the message screens for the corresponding conversations, in combination with one or more device usage indicators such as the status of the backlight, the idle timer, and the orientation of the mobile device 10A itself as indicated by the orientation sensor.
US08244218B2 Intelligent queue for information teleservice messages with superceding updates
A message exchange network storing messages in memories of message storage entities, e.g., a mobile handset, based on the type and content of information within the message. An information service message containing supercedingly updateable information, e.g., a traffic update, is stored using a replacement method by which a previously stored message is replaced by a newly received message. All other types of messages are stored using a conventional append method. A message identifier within the message itself provides information necessary to distinguish between the aforementioned types of messages. In another embodiment, a block of message identifiers is reserved for storage of information service messages. The architectures and methods for receipt, delivery, and storage of messages enables replaceable and/or on demand update of information service messages, provides efficient use of storage memory, avoids numerous stale/obsolete messages, avoids manual selection and deletion of stale/obsolete messages, and avoids unnecessary delivery of stale/obsolete messages.
US08244216B1 Geo-bio-metric PIN
A method and system for authenticating an account holder is disclosed herein. The method and system allows for real-time authentication with multiple procedures to prevent fraud and spoofing of the authentication process. The method and system involves the user photographing himself or herself for facial recognition verification, determination of location by cell phone tower verification, and a PIN preferably sent by SMS text message directly the account holder's mobile phone. The method and system may be used for verifying that a gambler is within a gambling jurisdiction.
US08244215B1 Method and apparatus for communicating using a plurality of identities
A method and apparatus for communicating using a plurality of identities is disclosed. The method includes communicating on a mobile communications device using a first identity having an associated first content and communicating using a second identity having an associated second content. The apparatus includes a processor for communicating with a communications network using the first identity having the associated first content and using the second identity having the associated second content.
US08244212B2 Communication method, communication apparatus, cell phone terminal, and communication system for performing connection via a network
A home gateway apparatus is connected to a storage apparatus. A cell phone terminal is connected to the home gateway apparatus via an IP network. Upon acknowledging a telephone number from the cell phone terminal, the home gateway apparatus communicates an IP address of the home gateway apparatus to the cell phone terminal. Subsequently, upon acknowledging a connection request to the IP address thus communicated, the home gateway apparatus performs a process of authenticating the connection request, based on the telephone number of the cell phone terminal and the telephone number already acknowledged. Further, the home gateway apparatus makes the storage apparatus available for use by the cell phone terminal thus authenticated via the IP network.
US08244210B2 Method for destructive readout of data in case of mobile theft
A method for destructively reading out data from a stolen or lost mobile phone. A special switch off feature disables all the services associated with the mobile phone, except for a messaging service and the ability to destructively read out data. A user can retrieve the data stored in the mobile phone from a remote location. Once the data is retrieved, all the data in the mobile phone is erased.
US08244209B2 Airborne pico cell security system
Security is provided in a wireless communication system in a moving vehicle, e.g. an aircraft, by requiring user input of one or more security codes for validation before the system permits communication. One code, a security access code (SAC), corresponds to the vehicle travel segment (e.g. flight) and is given to the passenger(s) in transit, e.g. after the aircraft reaches a particular altitude. The second type of possible code, a personal identification number (PIN), is given to the passenger after baggage check-in. The PIN code would be correlated to the passenger and/or seat assignment. The use of either or both codes helps prohibit connectivity for mobile phone handsets or other wireless devices stored in the cargo bay or in other baggage. PIN use enables associated data systems to report the seat number or location of all parties engaging in wireless communications within the vehicle.
US08244208B2 Network-based system and method for global roaming
A system and method of mobile communication roaming where a subscriber's home network and a roaming network used by the subscriber do not have a roaming agreement. The roaming network sends a “Send Authentication/Parameters” request to the home network via an intelligent roaming system on or attached to the backbone. The home network sends an authentication response to the “Send Authentication/Parameters” request from the home network to the roaming network via the backbone and intelligent roaming system. The roaming network sends a “Update Location” request from the roaming network to the intelligent roaming system. The visitor locator register (VLR) address in the “Update Location” request is replaced with the VLR address of the intelligent roaming system to create a modified update request. The modified update request is sent from the intelligent roaming system to the home network. The home network sends an update response to the modified update request to the roaming network via the backbone and intelligent roaming system.
US08244204B1 Timed override of incoming call restrictions to facilitate callback after an emergency call
A mechanism is provided to suspend or modify incoming call restrictions for a subscriber station for some time period when it is detected that an emergency call was made by that subscriber station, so as to disable the restriction that would otherwise block completion of an incoming call to that station. This allows a call placed by emergency personnel in response to the emergency call from the subscriber station (i.e. when the emergency personnel calls back the user that is involved in the emergency) to bypass any restrictions setup by the subscriber or by the network that would otherwise block the callback and allows the emergency callback to potentially reach the caller. This approach results in a systematic solution to blocking of emergency callbacks that applies to various kinds of restriction services yet is relatively simple to administer.
US08244199B2 Semiconductor device
In view of achieving a cost reduction of an antenna switch, a technique is provided which can reduce harmonic distortion generated in the antenna switch as much as possible in particular even when the antenna switch is comprised of a field effect transistor formed over a silicon substrate.Each of a TX series transistor, an RX series transistor, and an RX shunt transistor is comprised of a low voltage MISFET, while a TX shunt transistor is comprised of a high voltage MISFET. Thus, by reducing the number of serial connections of the high voltage MISFETs constituting the TX shunt transistor, the nonuniformity of the voltage amplitudes applied to the respective serially-coupled high voltage MISFETs is suppressed. As a result, the generation of high-order harmonics can be suppressed.
US08244198B1 Wireless device local oscillator generation apparatus and methods
Apparatus and methods disclosed herein operate to determine a base oscillator frequency and a frequency conversion factor associated with a radio receiver local oscillator (LO). Base oscillator frequency and frequency conversion parameters are selected such that spurious harmonics created within the LO lie outside of communication bands associated with other active radio receivers substantially collocated with the LO. An LO chain including the appropriate base oscillator and frequency conversion components is selected from a switched set of base oscillator/frequency converter pairs.
US08244196B2 Apparatus and method for estimating noise and interference power in a communication system
A method is provided for estimating a Noise and Interference (NI) power in a ranging code reception apparatus in a communication system. The method includes generating S correlation values by calculating correlations between L ranging subcarriers received at a ranging code reception apparatus and L elements included in each of S ranging codes available in the ranging code reception apparatus, detecting N reception-desired ranging codes that the ranging code reception apparatus desires to receive, among the S ranging codes, using the S correlation values, and selecting M remaining ranging codes among (S-N) ranging codes obtained by removing the N reception-desired ranging codes from the S ranging codes, and estimating a first NI power using correlation values for the M remaining ranging codes.
US08244191B2 Emergency button assembly for a handheld radio
A push-button assembly for a handheld radio (100) is provided which permits off-axis actuation by a gloved user amongst a crowded radio control environment. The push-button (108) includes first and second guide posts (202, 204) of different length, one guide post also serving as a switch actuator. An alignment guide (206) receives the two guide posts (202, 204). The alignment guide (206) with the first and second guide posts (202, 204) are coupled within a recessed portion (216) of a housing (102) to provide tactile feedback, even during gloved usage. The alignment guide (206) may further provide a light guide (110) which can operate as a third guide post for the radio (100).
US08244188B2 Transmitting and receiving circuit
A transmitting and receiving circuit includes a transmitting side amplifier circuit amplifying a transmission signal transmitted from an antenna, a receiving side amplifier circuit amplifying a reception signal received by the antenna and being electrically connected to the a transmitting side amplifier circuit, a first matching circuit matching the antenna and the transmitting side amplifier circuit, a second matching circuit matching the antenna and the receiving side amplifier circuit, a first current source circuit capable of controlling an operating state and setting a first connection point between the first matching circuit and an output terminal of the transmitting side amplifier circuit to a given voltage, and a second current source circuit capable of controlling an operating state and setting a second connection point between the second matching circuit and an input terminal of the receiving side amplifier circuit to a given voltage.
US08244187B2 Apparatus and method for compensating inductance in inductive coupling communications
There is provided an inductive coupling transmitting and receiving apparatus. An inductive coupling transmitting and receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an inductive coupling transceiver transmitting and/or receiving data; an inductor connected to the inductive coupling transceiver; and a resonance compensator connected to the inductive coupling transceiver and the inductor to compensate for a change in inductance of the inductor.
US08244181B2 Portable personal SIM card
Devices and methods store provisioning data for use in one or mobile devices within a SIM card enclosed within a personal article, such as a wrist watch or item of jewelry. A close range communication link, such as a near field communication (NFC) protocol link, is used to transmit the provisioning data from the personal article to one or more mobile devices. The close range communication link may also be used to transmit updated provisioning data received by a mobile device in an over the air updating procedure via a cellular communications network link to the personal item for storage in the SIM card housed within a personal article. The mobile device may authenticate itself to the personal article prior to the transmission of provisioning data between the devices.
US08244177B2 Wireless interface
In one embodiment of the present invention, a wireless interface is provided for supplying all signals and power exclusively wirelessly from a transmitting section to a receiving section. The transmitting section includes a transmitter arranged to modulate a carrier with signals, such as data, control and timing signals. The transmitter is connected to a transmit antenna which comprises a parallel resonant circuit in series with a series resonant circuit. The parallel and series resonant circuits include inductors which are inductively coupled to an inductor of a receive antenna in the receiving section.
US08244176B2 Signal processing unit
Since signal transmittance adjustment devices that can suppress transmittance of a receiving signal to a DSP as a receiving processing device from an antenna for reception and a signal transmittance control device configured to control the signal transmittance adjustment devices so that the transmittance of the receiving signal to the DSP from the antenna for reception is suppressed at least when a transmission signal including a modulation signal is transmitted from an antenna for transmission are provided, occurrence of a trouble in which a head portion of a reply signal is crushed by a wrap around signal from a transmission side can be suitably prevented, and particularly, favorable communication can be realized at start of a response from a RFID tag. That is, an apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag that can suitably suppress an influence of a transient response can be provided.
US08244173B2 RF repeater
A radio frequency repeater is provided. A donor antenna transmits a signal to and receives a signal from a base station. A service antenna transmits a signal to and receives a signal from a mobile station. A repeater filters and amplifies a signal between the two antennas. A polarization variation unit variably selects a polarization direction of at least one of the donor antenna and the service antenna in response to a detection signal of an isolation detector for detecting isolation between the two antennas. The isolation between the donor antenna and the service antenna can be sufficiently ensured.
US08244169B1 System and method for active jamming of confidential information transmitted at a point-of-sale reader
A system for impeding reception of confidential information is disclosed. The system comprises a point-of-sale transceiver configured to receive confidential information transmitted by a mobile device incorporating an electronic wallet and a signal generator in communication with the point-of-sale transceiver and configured to broadcast a jamming signal substantially concurrently with the point-of-sale transceiver receiving the confidential information.
US08244167B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus that includes an image reading part, an image forming part, a sheet discharge part, and a sheet stack part. The image reading part has a front surface located on a downstream side in a discharge direction of a sheet relative to a front of the sheet stack part. The sheet stack part includes a first stacker surface provided on an upstream side in the discharge direction and including a surface having a slope extending upward in the discharge direction and a second stacker surface formed adjacent to the first stacker surface and sloping less steeply upward in the discharge direction than the slope of the first stacker surface with a boundary between the first stacker surface and the second stacker surface located at a rear of the front surface of the image reading part.
US08244164B2 Image forming apparatus with two developing rollers, and an electrode therebetween
An image forming apparatus includes: a supplying section for supplying developer; a first developing roller including plural magnetic poles and a first sleeve arranged rotatable to the first developing roller; a second developing roller including plural magnetic poles and a second sleeve arranged rotatable to the second developing roller, the second developing roller arranged adjacent to the first developing roller and parallel to the same; an electrode arranged between the first and second developing rollers; and a voltage applying unit for applying bias voltages each having different electric potential corresponding to the first developing roller, the second developing roller and the electrode, wherein an absolute value of the bias voltage to be applied to the electrode is larger than that of the bias voltage to be applied to the first developing roller and smaller than that of the bias voltage to be applied to the second developing roller.
US08244163B2 Toner container and image forming apparatus
A toner container includes a container body that contains toner therein, and a cap portion that is held by a toner-container holding unit and includes a toner discharge opening to discharge the toner contained in the container body. A gear portion is detachably attached to the container body so that a rotational force is transmitted to the container body.
US08244162B2 Image forming apparatus and detachable body
An image forming apparatus includes a detachable-body mounted member, a detachable body and a sealing portion. The detachable-body mounted member includes a first opening and a first opening-and-closing member that opens and closes the first opening. The detachable body includes a second opening and a second opening-and-closing member. When the detachable body is attached, the second opening allows developer to flow into the first opening. The second opening-and-closing member opens and closes the second opening. When the detachable body is being attached or detached, the sealing portion seals a gap between (i) a front end face of the second opening forming member and (ii) a rear end face of the first opening-and-closing member.
US08244160B2 Developing device and image forming apparatus
A developing device includes: plural developing units; a rotary body, where the plural developing units are attached, that rotates so as to place one of the plural developing units in a developing position to develop a subject of development; a first driving unit that drives the rotary body; a second driving unit that drives at least one of the plural developing units; and a regulatory mechanism that regulates a position of the rotary body using a rotational force caused in the rotary body in accordance with driving by the second driving unit.
US08244157B2 Image-forming apparatus
An image-forming apparatus includes an image-bearing member configured to bear an image, a transfer belt to which the image on the image-bearing member is transferred and configured to transfer the image onto a sheet, a first drive unit configured to drive the image-bearing member to rotate, a second drive unit configured to drive the transfer belt to rotate via a speed reduction member interposed therebetween, a detection unit configured to detect a circumferential speed of the transfer belt, and a control unit configured to control the first drive unit in accordance with the circumferential speed of the transfer belt detected by the detection unit.
US08244156B2 Method for producing cleaning device and cleaning device
A method for manufacturing a cleaning device of the image forming apparatus, the method includes: applying a liquid material to an area outside of an edge located at an end portion of a toner accommodating portion in the longitudinal direction of a toner removing member, wherein the liquid material is applied so as to seal the toner accommodating portion.
US08244152B2 Developing device and image forming apparatus
A developing device includes: an image carrier, a developer carrier configured to carry developer and develop a latent image formed on the image carrier to form a developer image on the image carrier, a developer supplying member being in contact with the developer carrier and configured to supply the developer to the developer carrier, and developer sealing members provided at the ends of the developer carrier and the developer supplying member and configured to seal the developer there-between. One of the developer carrier and the developer supplying member is a belt member stretched between a drive roller and a driven roller. The developer sealing members are in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the belt member.
US08244151B2 Belt cleaning apparatus and image forming apparatus
A belt cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning blade and a waste toner case. The cleaning blade is a plate-like elastic member that extends in parallel with a width direction of an intermediate transfer belt and is provided so that one end of a lateral direction thereof abuts on an outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt. The waste toner case supports the other end in the lateral direction of the cleaning blade. The cleaning blade is formed such that a width W1 of the one end in the lateral direction thereof is longer than a width W2 of an elastic layer in the width direction of the intermediate transfer belt.
US08244149B2 Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and computer readable medium for reducing gloss difference between a first image and a region of a second image
An image forming apparatus includes: a gloss difference reducing unit that reduces a difference between gloss of first image that is formed without using transparent toner in a first mode and gloss of a region, which does not use transparent toner, of a second image that is formed using transparent toner on part of an image in a second mode, the first mode being set for forming the first image onto a medium in one fixing operation, and a second mode being set for forming the second image by implementing a second fixing step that fixes transparent toner to part of an intermediate image, after a first fixing step that fixes the intermediate image that has been formed by toner other than transparent toner on the medium.
US08244146B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming method with error corrected potential measurements
There is provided an image forming apparatus and method capable of reducing a measurement error in a measurement result of the surface potential of an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of an image bearing member. The measurement error occurs under the influence of an electric field generated from a pre-exposed area. Consequently, miniaturization of an image forming apparatus and consistent print quality can be achieved. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming control section for determining an error correction value corresponding to the charge state of a latent image on the basis of relationships between charge states of the latent image and error correction values which have been prepared in advance, computing an error corrected potential measurement value using the error correction value and a potential measurement value, and controlling the image forming apparatus on the basis of the error corrected potential measurement value.
US08244145B2 Image forming apparatus including image processing member determined by method of evaluating distribution of adhesion forces of toner thereto
An image processing member that is included in an image forming apparatus employing method of evaluating and determining adhesion forces thereof, includes an optical writing unit configured to optically write an image, and an image processing member configured to process the image formed by the optical writing unit. The image processing member has good cleaning performance, which is determined by a method of determining a distribution of adhesion forces generated between a surface of the image processing member and a particle of a powder used to reproduce the image in the image forming apparatus in which the adhesion forces are measured at multiple points on the surface of the image processing member.
US08244141B2 Method and apparatus for generating a dispersion compensation signal
An apparatus for generating a dispersion compensation signal includes a splitting module for splitting a data signal to be transmitted into N channels of data signals; N pre-processing modules for adjusting in frequency domain the phases and amplitudes of the N channels of data signals and outputting N channels of pre-warped electrical signals; an optical carrier generating module for generating N channels of coherent optical carriers; N electro-optic modulators for modulating the N channels of coherent optical carriers based on the N channels of pre-warped electrical signals and generating N channels of pre-warped optical signals; an optical coupling module for coupling the N channels of pre-warped optical signals into a dispersion compensation optical signal. By pre-processing the data signals, the present disclosure may allow the use of existing devices to generate a dispersion compensation signal so that the bandwidth requirement set by prior art on the electrical device is reduced.
US08244140B2 Communicating with components in optical communication systems using voltage signal detection and signature analysis
Communication from a component in an optical communication system may be effected by modulating a system power voltage across the component to generate voltage signals representing the information to be communicated. The voltage signals generated by the component are detectable in the power feed equipment (PFE) in the optical communication system. Signature analysis may be performed on the system voltage data to identify the voltage signals and determine the information being communicated.
US08244139B1 System and method for providing cascaded optical line terminals (OLTs) in passive optical networks (PONs)
The present invention is a fiber optic data network, such as a passive optical network (PON), which includes a primary sub-network and a secondary sub-network. The primary sub-network may include a primary optical line terminal communicatively coupled to a plurality of primary optical network units. The secondary sub-network may include a secondary optical line terminal communicatively coupled to a plurality of secondary optical network units and to an intermediate optical network unit. The secondary sub-network may be communicatively coupled to the primary sub-network via the intermediate optical network unit, thereby allowing the PON to be configured so that the primary optical line terminal and the secondary optical line terminal are cascaded.
US08244132B2 Pre-compensation method for delays caused by optical fiber chromatic dispersion, multi-sub-carrier signal generator applying the method, and transmitter of optical-OFDM system applying the signal generator
A pre-compensation method for delays caused by optical fiber chromatic dispersion, a multi-sub-carrier signal generator applying the method, and a transmitter applying the signal generator are applicable to an optical orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) system. The pre-compensation method includes receiving a plurality of pre-compensation values, in which the pre-compensation values correspond to sub-carriers; and transmitting the sub-carriers after delaying the sub-carriers by time of the corresponding pre-compensation values. The delay time between the sub-carriers is estimated at a receiver end and a pre-compensation value of the transmitter is set according to the delay time. The transmitter delays the pre-compensation values respectively when transmitting the respective sub-carriers. Therefore, the respective sub-carriers are able to reach a receiver at nearly the same time, thereby achieving a purpose of pre-compensating for the delays caused by optical fiber chromatic dispersion.
US08244129B2 Monitoring apparatus and method for polarization scrambler and optical transmission apparatus
There are provided a polarized light passing device to pass therethrough specific polarized light, of output light of a polarization scrambler; and a detecting unit to detect a modulation component according to a frequency of a polarization control signal from the light which passes through the polarized light passing device.
US08244128B2 Optical waveguide multiplexer
Triplexer formed by disposing upon a substrate a highly confined silicon waveguide including one or more polarization-diverse lattice filters that are monolithically integrated with photodetectors, such as PIN or APD.
US08244127B2 Quality of service in an optical network
A method and apparatus for implementing optical network quality using bit error rate and chromatic dispersion. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method includes the provision of quality of service in a wavelength division multiplexing optical network that supports a plurality of bit rates. As part of this method, the cumulative noise and cumulative chromatic dispersion for each available path as a whole is determined, where an available path is a series of two or more nodes each connected by an optical link on which a set of wavelengths is available for establishing a lightpath. In addition, different grades of path quality are distinguished based on bit error rate (BER), where BER is based on cumulative noise and bit rate. Furthermore, a minimum path quality is required based on chromatic dispersion decibel penalty, where chromatic dispersion decibel penalty is based on cumulative chromatic dispersion and bit rate.
US08244121B2 Collapsible softbox for photography lighting
A collapsible softbox for use with a photographic flash. The softbox includes a collapsible body made of connected, moveable first and second side panels. The body includes a distal opening and a proximal opening. The softbox also includes a front panel which is detachably engageable to the distal end of the body.
US08244120B2 Image stabilizer and anti-vibration camera module using same
An image stabilizer includes a stationary member defining a first receiving space and a first central axis, a moveable member received in the first receiving space and spaced from the stationary member, a driving assembly including a first magnetic member fixed to the stationary member and a second magnetic member fixed to the moveable member, a resilient assembly interconnecting the stationary member and the moveable member, and a gyro. The moveable member defines a second central axis coinciding with the first central axis. The first magnetic member faces the second magnetic member. The driving assembly drives the moveable member to rotate about a first axis and a second axis relative to the stationary member through magnetic interaction between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member. The second axis is perpendicular to the first axis; the first axis and the second axis are perpendicular to the first central axis.
US08244117B2 Photo motion machine and system
A photo motion system utilizes a camera mounted photo motion machine in conjunction with a rotating turntable. The photo motion machine uses a vertically moveable carriage which supports a tilt table platform on which a digital camera is mounted. The carriage itself is mounted on columns which extend upward from a moveable, wheeled base member. Once the object to be photographed is properly positioned on the turntable, a computer software program is initiated which simultaneously coordinates the rotation of the turntable, the tilting movement of the camera, the vertical up and down movement of the carriage, the fore and aft movement of the base member, and the photographic image taking timing of the camera to take a series of images at predetermined positions during the movement of the camera on a specific arcuate route of travel around and over the object. The images are ultimately downloaded from the camera and arranged in sequential order to create an animated video.
US08244116B2 System for heating pressurized liquefied gas stores
The invention relates to a device for storing and distributing a high-purity pressurized liquefied gas at a rate which is higher than or equal to 1 kg/h, said device having: a container comprising a liquefied phase of said gas in its lower part, and a gaseous phase of said gas in its upper part, a system for bleeding the gaseous phase of said gas, and a heating system used to maintain a constant pressure of the gas at the moment of use. The invention is characterized in that the heating system involves the circulation of a hot fluid in a circuit built into the surface of the container.
US08244114B2 Recording apparatus and recording method, playback apparatus and playback method, recording/playback apparatus and recording/playback method, and program
The present invention relates to a recoding apparatus and a recording method, a playback apparatus and a playback method, a recording/playback apparatus and a recording/playback method, and a program, whereby processing relating to a file can be readily performed. With a video camera wherein with regard to H.264/AVC for example, which is a coding method arranged to encode or decode data, a codec class arranged to classify the performance of a codec configured to encode or decode data, and a codec level serving as a group of said one or more codec classes whose upper compatibility is ensured, are based on stipulated specifications, data is encoded into, for example, coded data of a codec class #2, for example, within a codec level AVC_A by H.264/AVC. The coded data is recorded in a recording medium, for example, as a file “AVCA0001.MP4” whose file name represents the codec level AVC_A of the coded data. The present invention can be applied to, for example, a video camera from which a recording medium can be detachable.
US08244112B2 Video processing apparatus and controlling method for same
A video processing apparatus that can be connected to a video playback apparatus includes an input unit configured to input video data from the video playback apparatus, an interpolation unit configured to generate interpolated frame image data of input video data, and an output unit configured to output the interpolated frame image data as interpolated video data, wherein the interpolation unit generates different interpolated frame image data according to a playback mode of the video playback apparatus.
US08244111B2 Optical disk device
An optical disk device includes a reproduction component, an output component and a control component. The reproduction component directs a laser beam at an optical disk that is loaded in the optical disk device with the optical disk storing a plurality of audio data streams in a plurality of different acoustic qualities. The reproduction component reproduces one of the audio data streams. The output component outputs the one of the audio data streams to an amplifier. The control component acquires from the amplifier first audio format information indicating audio formats to which the amplifier corresponds, and acquires from the reproduction component second audio format information indicating audio formats of the audio data streams stored in the optical disk. The control component determines the one of the audio data streams with an audio format that belongs to both the first audio format information and the second audio format information.
US08244110B2 Upgrading media content quality for media content based on detecting upgraded media presentation device
In one embodiment, a method comprises detecting a user selection of media content having a prescribed quality and that is authorized for presentation to the user at the prescribed quality; detecting a media presentation device to be used in presenting the media content to the user; determining, relative to the prescribed quality of the media content, whether a higher-quality version of the media content is available for presentation to the user by the media presentation device; and selectively obtaining, for presentation to the user on the media presentation device, the higher-quality version of the media content based on detecting an authorized purchase of the higher-quality version of the media content to be presented to the user.
US08244107B2 Data processing apparatus
A data processing apparatus includes: a receiving section for receiving a signal concerning program data; a determination section for determining a type of a storage medium having been loaded; a recording processing section for recording program data obtained from the signal onto the storage medium, via one of a stream recording process and an encode recording process a selection section for selecting one of the recording processes in accordance with a type of the storage medium; and a calculation section for, in accordance with the selected recording process, selecting one of: a first remaining amount calculation process based on a remaining capacity of the storage medium and on a transmission rate of the program data; and a second remaining amount calculation process based on an encoding rate, and for calculating a remaining duration for which it is possible to perform recording on the storage medium.
US08244104B2 System for creating content using content project data
A system for creating content using content project data selects a template containing a setting of a scene arrangement of a plurality of scenes of content and creates content project data for a scene included in the selected template by setting details of the scene using existing material data or newly created data. On an imaging apparatus, a scene is selected while checking the details of the content project data on a display, and an image is captured to generate a video image signal, and the video image signal is recorded. The recorded video image signal is managed by management information for the content project data so that the video image signal is allocated to the scene arrangement of the content project data. At the time necessary scenes are shot, the content project data becomes completed content.
US08244103B1 User interface for method for creating a custom track
A method for creating a custom track includes providing a plurality of video clips from a memory and providing, on a display, a plurality of video source windows. Each of the plurality of video source windows corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of video clips. The method further includes providing an audio track from the memory. The audio track has a timeline. The method further includes allowing a user to create the custom track while the audio track is playing by correlating portions of the plurality of video clips with the audio track by selecting respective ones of the plurality of video source windows at desired times in the timeline of the audio track.
US08244102B2 Detecting and processing corrupted video recordings
Embodiments of the invention include a method that comprises receiving a request to record television content on a specified channel for a specified period of time. The method can also include tuning to the specified channel at the specified time, and recording the specified content. The method can also include determining that one or more segments of the television content is corrupted. The method can also include presenting a notification indicating that some of the television content is corrupted, retuning to the specified channel made by the request, and acquiring uncorrupted television content for use in replacing the one or more segments of corrupted television content.
US08244100B2 Information apparatus for reproducing commercial broadcast information and method of same
An information reproducing apparatus for making sure a viewer watches commercial broadcast information contained in broadcast information. Concretely, a sequentially supplied series of broadcast data is stored in a storage unit linked with a supplied sequence. Also, based on predetermined identification information contained in this broadcast data, the commercial portions of the broadcast data are detected at a commercial detector. At the time of reproduction of the broadcast data, the detected commercial portions are first sequentially read from the storage unit and reproduced as images, audio, etc. at a reproduction unit. Then, after all detected commercial portions are reproduced, another series of broadcast data other than the commercial portions is read from the storage unit in sequence in accordance with the supplied sequence and reproduced at the reproduction unit.
US08244092B2 System and method of testing humidity in a sealed MEMS device
One embodiment provides a method of testing humidity, comprising: i) determining a property of a device which encloses a plurality of interferometric modulators and ii) determining a relative humidity value or a degree of the relative humidity inside the device based at least in part upon the determined property, wherein the determined property comprises at least one of i) the thickness and width of a seal of the device and ii) adhesive permeability of a component of the device. In one embodiment, the determined property further comprises at least one of the following: i) temperature-humidity combination inside the device, ii) a desiccant capacity inside the device and iii) a device size.
US08244091B2 Fiber fuse terminator
A fiber fuse terminator which is used to terminate a fiber fuse, comprising: an optical fiber which includes a core and a cladding having holes extending in a longitudinal direction thereof, in which: a refractive index of the core of the optical fiber is higher than a refractive index of a portion of the cladding excepting portions of the holes; when it is assumed that a mode field diameter at a used wavelength of the optical fiber is MFD, and a distance in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber between a center of the core and a position, closest to the center of the core, of the hole that is closest to the core is Rmin, a value expressed by 2×Rmin/MFD is no less than 1.2 and no more than 2.1; when it is assumed that a width, in a diameter direction, of a region where the holes present in the cladding is W, a value expressed by W/MFD is no less than 0.3; and when it is assumed that a diameter of the cladding of the optical fiber is Dfiber, W≦0.45×Dfiber is satisfied.
US08244090B2 Connector unit and base station
A connector unit and a base station that, even when an optical cable is connected, can secure excellent maintainability permitting easy inserting/removing operation for each cable and receive extra length of the optical cable in saved space through efficient arrangement with other parts to thereby attain space saving.A unit body 21 attached in a housing 11 of a base station 10 is integrally equipped with a first connector 31 for connecting an optical cable 51 and second connectors 32 to 36 for connecting other cables at angles of inclination appropriate for each cable connection, and further the unit body 21 is integrally equipped with a first extra length handling means 41 for receiving extra length of the optical cable 51 so as to attain extra length reception with high space efficiency.
US08244089B2 Dust caps for fiber optic connectors
A dust cap for a fiber optic connector is disclosed. The fiber optic connector includes a connector body having a first end and second end opposite the first end, and a ferrule positioned at the first end of the connector body. The ferrule holds an optical fiber having an end face. The dust cap includes a housing defining a cavity for receiving the ferrule of the fiber optic connector and a retaining member coupled to the housing. The retaining member is structured to be disposed adjacent to the second end of the connector body when the ferrule is disposed within the cavity to inhibit removal of the fiber optic connector from the dust cap. Additionally, or alternatively, the dust cap may include a mounting member for releasably engaging a support structure.
US08244087B2 Hybrid cable
A hybrid cable includes a plurality of conductor wires, at least one optical fiber unit and an insulation jacket surrounding the electrical conductors and the optical fiber unit. The at least one optical fiber unit is dispersed in a number of the electrical conductors which is at least 12 times the number of the optical fiber units, the diameter of the optical fiber unit being substantially equal to or greater than the diameter of the electrical conductors.
US08244086B2 Apparatus and methods using hollow-core fiber tapers
An optical device and methods of using an optical device are provided. The optical device includes a hollow-core fiber including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a hollow core having a first diameter. The second portion includes a hollow core having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. The difference between the first diameter and the second diameter is less than 10% of the first diameter.
US08244076B2 Tuneable electro-optic modulator
A tuneable electro-optic modulator (1) comprising first and second spaced apart output optical waveguides (2, 3), each output optical waveguide comprising a coupled portion (12) optically coupled to a corresponding coupled portion (13) of the other output optical waveguide, the coupled portions defining a coupling region (14) therebetween; an optical source adapted to symmetrically provide an optical signal to the first and second output optical waveguides; a portion of each of the output optical waveguides having a signal electrode (6, 7) thereon; the modulator further comprising a central optical waveguide (15), at least a portion of which is arranged in the coupling region, the central optical waveguide having a tuning electrode (16) thereon.
US08244075B2 Optical device
There is provided an optical device including a substrate having an electro-optical effect, a plurality of optical modulators including bias electrodes to which a bias voltage is applied so as to generate an electric field from one of the bias electrodes to another of the bias electrodes, and the bias electrodes of the optical modulators being disposed above the substrate, and a partition conductor to reduce influence of the electric field from the bias electrode of a first optical modulator to an optical waveguide of a second optical modulator, the partition conductor being disposed above the substrate.
US08244070B2 Real-time image personalization
Systems and methods are described that facilitate real-time personalization of an electronic image by overlaying a text string on a planar surface of an object in the electronic image. A linear or affine transform is executed on a selected text string to position the text string in a reference rectangle or text box. A non-linear or projective transform is applied to the rectangular text box to project the box into a user-defined quadrilateral on the planar surface in the image. A page description language (PDL) file is generated and includes the transformed quadrilateral text box overlaid on the electronic image. At print-time, a database (e.g., a spreadsheet or the like) containing multiple text strings is read, once for each text string, and multiple images are printed. Each printed image has one of the text strings overlaid thereon, on the planar surface defined by the quadrilateral.
US08244069B1 Facilitating computer-assisted tagging of object instances in digital images
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates computer-assisted tagging of objects in a digital image. During operation, the system receives locations for one or more objects-of-interest in the digital image. Next, the system determines likelihoods of specific tags being assigned to the objects-of-interest. The system then automatically assigns tentative tags to the objects-of-interest based on the determined likelihoods. Next, the system displays the assignments of tentative tags to a user, and receives corrections to the assignments, if any, from the user.
US08244065B2 Information processing apparatus including print job retrieval function, information processing method, program, and recording medium
An information processing apparatus includes a designation input unit configured to designate a storage area of a print job to be retrieved from among a plurality of types of storage areas that store print jobs, a retrieval condition input unit configured to input a retrieval condition, a retrieval unit configured to extract, from print jobs that are stored in the storage area designated by the designation input unit, a print job based on the retrieval condition input by the retrieval condition input unit, and a display control unit configured to cause a display unit to display the print job extracted by the retrieval unit as a retrieval result.
US08244062B2 Correction of distortion in captured images
An image processing method comprises analyzing an image of a portion of text, and detecting the inter-line spacing and the inter-word spacing across the area of the image. Based on the inter-line and inter-word spacings, a quadrilateral shape is derived which represents the deformation of the text image from an undistorted image. The image is modified to perform perspective correction based on the derived quadrilateral.
US08244060B2 Noise suppression method for digital image
A noise suppression method for a digital image is described, which utilizes an adjacent area of a target pixel in the digital image to conduct a denoising process on the target pixel. The noise suppression method includes the following steps. A feature-weighted processing procedure is performed on each original pixel in the digital image to convert the original pixel into a feature-weighted pixel. According to a position of the target pixel in the digital image, a reference pixel is selected from a corresponding position in the feature-weighted image. Similarities of the reference pixel relative to the other feature-weighted pixels are respectively computed. Through the computed similarities, a feature-weighted pixel for compensation is selected from the feature-weighted pixels other than the reference pixel. Finally, noise suppression is performed on the reference pixel by using the feature-weighted pixel for compensation.
US08244059B2 Image processing method, apparatus, recording medium, and image pickup apparatus
The noise reduction process is appropriately changed according to a proportion of the facial region in an angle of view, thereby minimizing deterioration of background resolution as well as removing wrinkles and blemishes in the facial region.
US08244055B2 Image processing apparatus and method, and program
An image processing apparatus includes: a difference-value calculation mechanism calculating a difference value between the first accumulated value produced by accumulating luminance values of a plurality of pixels in a first image and the second accumulated value produced by accumulating luminance values of a plurality of pixels in a second image having a difference in time with the first image; a threshold-value creation mechanism for creating a plurality of threshold values on the difference value in accordance with the first accumulated value, corresponding to the luminance change levels in order to grade a luminance change between the first image and the second image by a luminance change level indicating a degree of the luminance change; and a luminance-change-level determination mechanism for determining the luminance change level corresponding to the difference value on the basis of the plurality of threshold values.
US08244054B2 Method, apparatus and integrated circuit capable of reducing image ringing noise
Image ringing noise is reduced by calculating a line spread function value of each pixel's luminance in an input image, dividing the input image into a plurality of blocks, and calculating an average value and a maximum value of the line spread function values for all pixels in each block. Based on the average value and the maximum value of the line spread function values of each block, whether a block is an interfered flat block or a non-interfered block is determined and the pixels in the interfered flat block are set as noisy pixels. Whether each pixel in the non-interfered block is an edge pixel or a non-edge pixel is determined and the non-edge pixels in the non-interfered block are set as noisy pixels. The noisy pixels thus set are smoothed, and the smoothed pixels are combined with the edge pixels for output as an output image.
US08244053B2 Method and apparatus for initiating subsequent exposures based on determination of motion blurring artifacts
A digital image acquisition system includes a portable apparatus for capturing digital images and a digital processing component for detecting, analyzing, invoking subsequent image captures and informing the photographer regarding motion blur, and for reducing camera motion blur in an image captured by the apparatus. The digital processing component operates by comparing the image with at least one other image, for example a preview image, of nominally the same scene taken outside the exposure period of the main image. In one embodiment the digital processing component identifies at least one feature in a single preview image which is relatively less blurred than the corresponding feature in the main image, calculates a point spread function (PSF) in respect of such feature, and initiates a subsequent capture if determined that the motion blur exceeds a certain threshold. In another embodiment the digital processing determines the degree of blur by analyzing the motion blur in the captured image itself, and initiates a subsequent capture if determined that the motion blur exceeds a certain threshold. Such real time analysis may use the auto focusing mechanism to qualitatively determine the PSF.
US08244052B2 Video coding method using image data skipping
The present invention discloses the video coding method using image data skipping. Said method detects whether the encoded macro-block has to be skipped and terminated by a likelihood ratio test prior to mode decision. Therefore, the computation burden such as motion estimating and compensating can be properly eliminated. In one embodiment, the skipping likelihood ratio is composed of the encoded block and its predictions associated with the skipping displacement. While the decision threshold adapts according to the mode decision and detection statistics, the false detection and rate-distortion are substantially preserved.
US08244051B2 Efficient encoding of alternative graphic sets
Embodiments provide for efficient encoding and rendering of remote graphic displays by applying one or more of the following: (1) field encoding for identifying fields of a graphics set such that commonalities of various fields across different graphics languages are identified; (2) resource caching, which treats heterogeneous resources in a homogeneous way when it comes to storing them; (3) determining the type of encoding for remoting items within a graphics set based upon the types of compression mechanisms supported by a remote device; (4) improving responsiveness by rendering with partially sent resources; (5) a mechanism for determining what portions (if any) of a graphics set should be sent to a remote device and in what order; and (6) use of dedicated resources already on a remote device in order to eliminate the transfer of a resource between a local device and the remote device when rendering such resource.
US08244048B2 Method and apparatus for image encoding and image decoding
Provided are a method and apparatus for image encoding which improves encoding efficiency in accordance with image characteristics by performing prediction in lines and performing a one-dimensional transformation in lines on an input image, and a method and apparatus for image decoding. Encoding efficiency of an image may be improved by generating a prediction sub residual block using neighboring residues and performing a one-dimensional discrete cosine transformation (DCT) on a difference residual block which is a difference between an original sub residual block and the prediction sub residual block.
US08244047B2 Image compression unit, image decompression unit and image processing system
An image compression unit of the invention includes a preprocessing unit that performs preprocessing for converting a first bit string representing intensity of pixels of which image data is composed into a second bit string, a number of digits of which is smaller than a number of digits of the first bit string, based on a predetermined region included in the image data and a first attribute information for identifying an attribute of the predetermined region, with the preprocessing being associated with the predetermined region of the image data and a bit string conversion unit which converts the second bit string into a third bit string based on distribution of frequency of appearance of the intensity in the second bit string and the first attribute information such that, for the pixel having higher frequency of appearance, the number of bit planes on which data of the pixel appear is less.
US08244045B2 Method and system for classifying image elements
A method, system, and machine-readable medium for classifying an image element as one of a plurality of categories, including assigning the image element based on a ratio between an unoccluded perimeter of the image element and an occluded perimeter of the image element and coding the image element according to a coding scheme associated with the category to which the image element is classified. Exemplary applications include image compression, where categories include image foreground and background layers.
US08244042B2 Pattern matching method and computer program for executing pattern matching
A pattern matching method which is capable of selecting a suitable measurement object pattern, even on a sample containing a periodic structure, and a computer program for making a computer execute the pattern matching. In a pattern matching method which executes matching between the design data-based first image of an object sample, and a second image, whether or not a periodic structure is included in a region to execute the matching is determined, so as to select a pattern, based on distance between an original point which is set in said image, and the pattern configuring said periodic structure, in the case where the periodic structure is included in said region, and to select a pattern based on coincidence of the pattern in said image, in the case where the periodic structure is not included in said region, and a computer program product.
US08244041B1 Method for fast, robust, multi-dimensional pattern recognition
Disclosed is a method for determining the absence or presence of one or more instances of a predetermined pattern in an image, and for determining the location of each found instance within a multidimensional space. A model represents the pattern to be found, the model including a plurality of probes. Each probe represents a relative position at which a test is performed in an image at a given pose, each such test contributing evidence that the pattern exists at the pose. The method further includes a comparison of the model with a run-time image at each of a plurality of poses. A match score is computed at each pose to provide a match score surface. Then, the match score is compared with an accept threshold, and used to provide the location any instances of the pattern in the image.
US08244032B2 Digital method for matching stains
An apparatus and method for preparing a stain to match a target color of a selected substrate (e.g., wood species). The apparatus and method may include a computer system and hardware or software to display to a user of such system an image array depicting a target image of a stained building material and a plurality of images of colored stains as applied to the same or other building materials.
US08244028B2 Virtual cephalometric imaging
Virtual cephalometric imaging includes creating a first 3D virtual model and a second 3D virtual model of a patient's dentition. The first 3D virtual model is based on a first impression taken of the patient's dentition at a first time. The second 3D virtual model is based on a second impression taken of the patient's dentition at a second time. The first and the second 3D virtual models are correlated. A 2D image is generated including a first outline representing a position of at least one tooth of the patient's dentition according to the first 3D virtual model and a second outline representing a position of the at least one tooth according to the second 3D virtual model. Generating the 2D image includes positioning the first outline relative to the second outline according to the correlation of the first and the second 3D virtual models.
US08244022B2 Method for measuring deformability properties of a fibre
A method for measuring a property of a fiber, such as flexibility, collapsibility and moment of inertia. A fiber is wetted and deformed in its wet state, and an optical section image of the deformed fiber is taken. A measurement is made on the image and the desired property is calculated using the measurement.
US08244020B2 Method and system for intelligent digital subtraction
A method and system for intelligent digital subtraction is disclosed. The method and system for intelligent digital subtraction can be used in a roadmap application for a coronary intervention. A mask image is obtained with vessels highlighted by contrast media. A guide wire is inserted into the vessels, and a guide wire image is obtained. A direct subtraction image is generated from the guide wire image and the mask image. A reduced noise subtraction image is generated based on mutual image information between the subtraction image and the guide wire image and mutual image information between the subtraction image and the mask image.
US08244019B2 Method and device for improving perceptibility different structures on radiographs
The invention relates to a method for improving the perceptibility of different structures on radiographs by means of an image processing device consisting a) in storing a radiograph in electronic form as a local space-intensity distribution, b) in carrying out a Fourier transformation for determining a frequency-intensity distribution, c) in filtering said frequency-intensity distribution by modifying weighting between the high-frequency and low-frequency image signal components, wherein the fixing of the image signal components to be more intensively weighted is carried out taking into account the mean structure size of said structures whose perceptibility is to be improved, d) in carrying out an inverse Fourier transformation of the filtered frequency-intensity distribution in order to obtain a modified space-intensity distribution in which said structures are more easily perceptible. The image contrast for the hardly perceptible structures may be selectively improved by means of a changed weighting for the high-frequency, relative to the low-frequency, image signal components in the Fourier spectrum because the structures hardly perceptible on the radiographs, for example soft tissue parts having a size quantity and structuring different from easily perceptible structures as bones and implantants.
US08244014B2 Systems and methods for viewing medical images
For certain medical images, it is important and/or required that a user view all of a medical image at full resolution so that minute, but important, indicia in the medical image are not missed. A computing systems monitor the portions of the medical image that are displayed on the display device, notates those portions that have been displayed at full resolution (or other user-defined display parameters), and provides the user with information indicating portions that have not been viewed at full resolution and/or provides information indicating for which images of a multiple image examination full pixel display has been accomplished. The process reduces the possibility of missing an abnormality in a medical image due to the viewer not viewing a portion of the image at full resolution or using other user-defined display parameters.
US08244013B2 Medical image data processing and interventional instrument identification system
A system processes pixel representative image data of medical images of patient anatomy to automatically identify an interventional instrument. The system includes an acquisition processor that receives pixel luminance data comprising multiple sequential medical images of a patient anatomical portion and luminance data of an individual image comprises multiple pixel luminance representative values of multiple individual pixels of the individual image. An image data processor detects and subtracts background image data from the pixel luminance data comprising the multiple sequential medical images to provide processed pixel luminance data comprising multiple processed sequential medical images. The image data processor computes gradient components of individual pixels of the processed pixel luminance data. The image data processor modifies the computed gradient component data by suppressing computed gradient components lacking symmetry about an interventional instrument width dimension and filters the modified computed gradient component data for use in providing image representative data showing the interventional instrument.
US08244012B2 Computer aided detection of pulmonary embolism with local characteristic features in CT angiography
A method for computer aided detection of pulmonary emboli includes acquiring medical image data. A pulmonary embolism candidate comprising a cluster of voxels is identified. It is determined whether the candidate is a true pulmonary embolism or a false positive based on a spatial distribution of intensity values for the voxels of the cluster of voxels. The pulmonary embolism candidate is presented to a user when the candidate is determined to be a true pulmonary embolism.
US08244011B2 Artifact suppression in multi-coil MRI
A magnetic resonance imaging system (1), comprising a plurality of receiving units (4.1-4.4) for receiving magnetic resonance signals from an object (2), and an image reconstruction device (8), said image reconstruction device being adapted to receive magnetic resonance signals of said object (2) from said plurality of receiving units (4.1-4.4) and to perform image reconstruction by combining magnetic resonance signals received by said plurality of receiving units using an image reconstruction algorithm (11), characterized in that said image reconstruction device (8) comprises means (12a) for combining magnetic resonance signal contributions from respective receiving units (4.1-4.4) in such a way that a combined sensitivity of the plurality of receiving units (4.1-4.4) to a predetermined spatial region of the object (2) is reduced.
US08244002B2 System and method for performing rapid facial recognition
A system and a method for performing rapid facial recognition are provided. The rapid facial recognition system includes an image capture device, a broadcasting feature computing unit and several response recognition computing units scattered on the network. Each of the broadcasting feature computing unit and the response recognition computing units includes a feature recognition module, wherein the broadcasting feature computing unit further includes a feature extraction module and an identification module. The image capture device captures a facial image, and the feature extraction module extracts features of the facial image to generate a set of feature data that is broadcasted to the response recognition computing units. The feature recognition modules, in accordance with the set of the feature data and their classes allocated, perform distributed facial recognition for generating recognition results as a response. The identification module identifies the recognition results to accomplish the recognition of an individual's identity.
US08244000B2 Personal identification device and method
A personal identification device including: an image pickup unit; a guide unit to set a finger to be imaged; a light source which emits light adapted to be transmitted through the set finger and incident on said image pickup unit; and an image operating unit which is adapted to generate a vein pattern for use in personal identification from an image picked up by said image pickup unit, wherein the image operating unit is adapted to detect a center of the veins from the image to generate the vein pattern.
US08243994B2 Vehicle circumferential image providing device and vehicle circumferential image providing method
In a vehicle circumferential image providing device 1, an image converting unit 53 generates an overhead image 205 from images picked up with plural camera modules 10. An image detecting unit 54 performs edge detection in an overhead image 205. Further, the image detecting unit 54 determines continuity of edge lines connecting between connected parts in the overhead image 205, among the detected edge lines. When the edge lines striding over the connected parts in the overhead image 205 are discontinuous, the image detecting unit 54 sets edge lines at the far side of the own vehicle to match edge lines at the near side of the own vehicle, thereby setting the edge lines continuous at the connected parts.
US08243985B2 Bit pattern design for visible watermarking
A watermarking system uses distinct bit patterns to identify a logic 0, a logic 1, and a marker bit, which demarcates segments of logic bit information. Marker bits, which are printed on both foreground and background areas of an image, outline message blocks. In message extraction, a preprocessing step removes any white boarders, identifies the best defined corner of a message block, crops the image, and rotates the image to place the identified corner at the top-left corner. Message extraction scans the rotated image in window segments of increasing size during multiple cycles. During each cycle, if a bit pattern cannot be identified as a data bit, then the size of the examined bit area is increased and rechecked to see it specifically is a marker bit. If no bit information can be definitively identified, then it is assigned a logic bit value based on a 50% random assignment.
US08243981B2 Identifying embedded data in an image
Disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods for embedding and/or extracting data from images. In embodiments, an image may be segmented into regions, and characters or other image groups within a segmented region may be determined to be embedding sites. A data vector may be embedded into a set of corresponding ordered embedding sites by representing each data element as different intensity values assigned to the pixels within one portion of an embedding site relative to the pixels in another portion of the embedding site. In embodiments, embedded data may be extracted from an image by extracting and decoding a set of bit values from a set of identified and ordered embedding sites.
US08243980B2 Image processing using embedded registration data to determine and compensate for geometric transformation
Registration data embedded in an image is used to determine and compensate for geometric transformation of the image. The registration data may include frequency domain features of the image that are used to compute the rotation and/or scaling of the image. The registration method may be used in conjunction with digital watermarking and other signal processing applications.
US08243979B2 Full-gamut single-body sound membrane that conforms to a physical property of sounding
A sound device includes a full-gamut single-body sound membrane, a voice coil, a dust cover, and an assembly structure. Materials of different kinds of beating degrees are applied at different positions of the sound membrane. A structural intensity of materials is changed radiantly, radially and gradually, from an innermost rim of the sound membrane toward an outermost rim of the sound membrane, such that the structural intensity gradually decreases from the innermost rim toward the outermost rim, to satisfy requirements of sounding for the full-gamut of audible frequency.
US08243978B2 Transducer with variable compliance
A transducer utilizes a sound-producing member positioned in the area of magnetic flux concentration between magnetic poles of opposite polarity. The sound-producing member is variably vibratable in a magnetic structure between the poles to generate acoustic waves, and an acoustic conduit carries the acoustic waves through the magnetic poles e to a location outside the magnetic structure.
US08243969B2 Method of and device for generating and processing parameters representing HRTFs
A method of generating parameters representing Head-Related Transfer Functions, the method comprising the steps of a) sampling with a sample length (n) a first time-domain HRTF impulse response signal using a sampling rate (fs) yielding a first time-discrete signal, b) transforming the first time-discrete signal to the frequency domain yielding a first frequency-domain signal, c) splitting the first frequency-domain signal into sub-bands, and d) generating a first parameter of the sub-bands based on a statistical measure of values of the sub-bands.
US08243966B2 Assembly structure of a flat speaker
An assembly structure of flat speaker including at least two speaker units and one connecting structure is provided. Each speaker unit includes a first electrode, a vibrating film, and a second electrode. The connecting structure includes two conductive layers, and a first insulating layer. A first conductive layer is connected the first electrode through a contact area, and each has a first length and a third length parallel to the contact area. A second conductive layer is connected the second electrode through a contact area, and each has a second length and a fourth, a fifth length parallel to the contact area. The third length is less than or equal to a sum of the first lengths of the speaker units. A sum of the third, the fourth, and the fifth length is less than or equal to a sum of the first and second lengths.
US08243961B1 Controlling microphones and speakers of a computing device
Various aspects of this disclosure are directed to determining an orientation of a mobile computing device. The mobile computing device may include a first microphone-speaker system and a second microphone-speaker system that can each provide microphone and speaker capabilities. The first microphone-speaker system may be enabled to operate as a speaker device. The enabling of the first microphone-speaker system may include allowing the first microphone-speaker system to provide audio output and disallowing the mobile computing device to process audio input received from the first microphone-speaker system. The second microphone-speaker system may be enabled to operate as a microphone. Enabling the second microphone-speaker system may include allowing the mobile computing device to process audio input received from the second microphone-speaker system and disallowing the second microphone-speaker system to provide audio output. Enabling of the first and second microphone-speaker systems may be responsive to and based on the determined orientation.
US08243957B2 Audio control apparatus
An audio control apparatus. The audio control apparatus comprises a processing module, an amplification module, and a control module. The processing module receives and processes an audio signal according to a control signal, and generates a processed signal. The amplification module coupled to the processing module, amplifies the processed signal to generate an output signal. The control module coupled to the processing module and the amplification module, receives the output signal to generate the control signal.
US08243953B2 Method and apparatus for identifying a feedback frequency in a signal
A system and method for analyzing a signal to identify one or more candidate frequencies that may have a potential feedback problem. An electronic circuit for identifying feedback in an audio signal, formed in accordance with embodiments of the invention, may comprise a feedback control block operable to: 1) determine a magnitude of a first dominant spectral component in a wide-band span of frequencies of a signal, 2) determine a magnitude of a second dominant spectral component in a mid-band span of frequencies of the signal, and 3) determine a magnitude of a third dominant spectral component in a narrow-band span of frequencies of the signal. The feedback control block may then further analyze the magnitude and frequency of the first, second, and third dominant spectral components to determine the presence of feedback characteristics in the signal.
US08243952B2 Microphone array calibration method and apparatus
An apparatus for providing real-time calibration for two or more microphones. A calibrator for receiving a left microphone signal and a right microphone signal and generating phase difference data. A phase and amplitude correction system for receiving one of the left microphone signal or the right microphone signal the phase difference data and generating calibration data for a beamformer. The beamformer receiving the calibration data, the left microphone signal and the right microphone signal and generating a monaural beamformed signal.
US08243951B2 Sound emission and collection device
It is possible to provide a sound emission and collection device having a compact configuration and being capable of suppressing a wraparound sound from a speaker to a microphone and improving the S/N ratio. In the sound emission and collection device, a plurality of speakers (11) have a sound emission surface arranged on the side surface of a case (1) so that a sound can be emitted in all circumferential directions of the sound emission and collection device. Each of the microphones (12) is arranged with the sound collection direction set in the center direction of the case (1). The microphone (12) and the speaker (11) have directivities opposing to each other. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize a wraparound sound from the speaker (11) to the microphone (12). Moreover, since the speaker (11) and the microphone (12) are arranged on circumferences of concentric circles, it is possible to obtain a compact configuration.
US08243950B2 Teleconferencing apparatus with virtual point source production
A teleconferencing apparatus includes the functions of a transmitting unit and a receiving unit and the transmitting unit transmits a sound signal formed from sound pick-up signals of a microphone array made up of microphones Mi (i=1 to N) and position information. The position information is provided by forming a plurality of sound pick-up beams directed in a specific direction and selecting the sound pick-up beam with the largest volume. In the receiving unit, a parameter calculation section sets a virtual sound source based on data of a reception signal and sets a delay parameter. A virtual sound source generation signal processing section forms a sound emission beam based on the parameters and outputs the beam to a loudspeaker SPi.
US08243947B2 Image apparatus and method for transmitting audio data
An image apparatus and method for transmitting audio data are provided. Audio data of diverse formats are combined to form a single set of transmission data and transmitted in serial transmission over a single physical transmission line, so that convenient connection between A/V apparatuses can be provided.
US08243944B2 Foldable wireless voice muffling device for mobile communications
A handheld foldable voice-muffling device using passive noise silencing materials to dampen noise and a microphonic transceiver to transmit a user's speech and receive incoming signals allowing him to wirelessly communicate with another person or other communication devices without causing a disturbance to others in his surrounding area.
US08243943B2 Hearing protector with removable microphone, amplifier, and loudspeaker unit
A hearing protector comprises a hearing hood (2), a microphone (7), a loudspeaker and an amplifier. The hearing hood (2) has passive noise damping. The microphone (7) is disposed exteriorly on the hearing protector, while the loudspeaker is disposed inside the hood. The amplifier amplifies and transmits the signals from the microphone (7) to the loudspeaker. The noise damping of the hearing hood (2) is broad band. The frequency range of the amplifier corresponds to the frequency range of human speech. The amplification of the amplifier is variable and the greatest amplification is such that the sum total of the sound levels that are caused, on the one hand, by ambient sound passing through the hood (2) and, on the other hand, by sound from the loudspeaker amounts to a maximum, predetermined value.
US08243941B2 Active noise reduction system and active noise reduction method
As optimal candidate as a control signal (y*) for generating a control sound suppressing noise from a speaker is selected from among a plurality of control signal candidates (y1 to yn) by a selection function unit. For this selection, a residual noise estimation function unit receiving as input a residual noise signal (e) from an error microphone is introduced. The function unit first obtains an estimated value of a noise component using a first transfer characteristic simulating filter. Further, this noise component estimated value and filtered outputs from second transfer characteristic simulating filters are used to obtain residual noise estimated values for the control signal candidates (y1 to yn). Further, the single control signal candidate corresponding to the smallest of these residual noise estimated values is selected and used as the above control signal (y*).
US08243938B2 Method for manufacturing a hearing device based on personality profiles
In a method for manufacturing a hearing device, by registering characteristics of an individual (I) a personality vector (K(CI)) is established in a fitting machine. The personality vector (K(CI)) of the individual (I) momentarily involved is compared with stored personality vectors (K1(C) to Kn(C)). That stored personality vector which is most similar to that of the individual (I) is selected and therefrom a personality profile (PP) which is assigned to such personality vector. There is assigned to the personality profile which accords to the most similar personality vector, a respective fitting vector which controls subsequent manufacturing of the hearing device.
US08243934B2 Electronic device and encryption method thereof
An electronic device and an encryption method thereof are provided. The electronic device includes a control unit which encrypts an encryption key using an inherent key, and transmits the encrypted encryption key and a key index corresponding to the inherent key to a recording medium. Accordingly, encrypted content stored in a recording medium can be decrypted when an electronic device is malfunctioning or replaced with a new one.
US08243933B2 Method for sharing secret information among cooperating parties
A method and system for distributing a secret to a plurality of computing systems. In one embodiment, the method determines the number (n) of shares to generate and a threshold number (k) of the shares from which the secret can be reconstructed. The method further chooses n coprime random bit strings in any one of general rings as moduli, the general rings including one or more non-integer rings. The secret is then embedded in a bit string which is at least one bit longer than the product of any k−1 moduli and at least one bit shorter than the product of any k moduli. The method further computes shares of the bit string for distribution to n computing systems, each share including one of the moduli and a corresponding remainder.
US08243928B2 Authentication method in communication system
An authentication method is provided in which a first portable device generates and transmits a first random number and a first timestamp to a first USIM in the first portable device; the first USIM calculates a first sign for the first portable device; the first portable device requests authentication for authenticated communication from a second portable device through transmission of the first random number, the first timestamp, and the first sign to the second portable device; the second portable device generates a second random number and a second timestamp and transmits the information to a second USIM in the second portable device; the second USIM generates a second sign for the second portable device and a second personal key which the second portable device transmits to the first portable device; the first portable device then transmits the information to the first USIM which generates a first personal key for authenticated communication.
US08243923B2 Method and system for providing a predeactivation warning in a system having a conditional access authorization expiration in a mobile receiving device
A system and method for providing conditional access authorizations in a satellite-receiving system includes generating a conditional access authorization signal and an expiration signal at a head-end 20, receiving the conditional access authorization signal at a fixed satellite receiver 54 or at a mobile satellite receiver 28. When the mobile satellite receiver operates in a predetermined time window before the expiration time, which is determined from the expiration signal, a warning 434 on a screen display 432 is generated.
US08243922B1 Digital content modification for content protection
An end user system comprises a communication interface configured to receive content in a protected state and transfer the content in the protected state, a processing system coupled to the communication interface and configured to receive the content in the protected state, process the content with a key hard coded internally to the processing system to modify the content to an unprotected state, and transfer the content in the unprotected state, and a user interface coupled to the processing system and configured to receive the content in the unprotected state and output the content.
US08243921B1 Decryption system
A method of generating a set of clear packets, involves receiving a selectively encrypted stream of data, detecting encrypted packets within the selectively encrypted stream of data, creating the set of clear packets by decrypting the encrypted packets detected within the selectively encrypted stream of data, and storing the set of clear packets as a computer file separate from the selectively encrypted stream of data. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract without departing from the invention.
US08243918B2 Outlet add-on module
A method and an apparatus for upgrading an existing service outlet (e.g. LAN, telephone, power or CATV outlet) in a house by adding functionality thereto. The functionality is added by an add-on module, connected electrically and secured mechanically to the existing outlet. Several attachment devices are exampled, including surface attachment, side clamping, snap locking, strap securing and fastening screws. The add-on module may include a service connector for retaining the basic existing outlet function. The module may be attached in a permanent way or by using a detachable solution.