| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08245963B2 |
Grain size selection and/or matter drying apparatus
A grain size and/or pulverulent-matter drying apparatus for the treatment of suspended mineral particles, at least 90% in weight of which have a size less than 60 mm, primarily includes a substantially vertical gas pipe with an ascending flow provided with a gas inlet, a lower opening and an upper opening between which a supply opening is also provided for insertion of matter. A portion of the matter, or so-called “fines”, can escape with the gas through the upper opening due to the bearing capacity of the ascending flow, while another coarser portion of the matter is not carried away by the gas and falls into the lower opening. The apparatus also has a device for creating turbulence, which favors the separation of the different grain sizes and the suspension of matter, provided at the internal wall of the pipe and located between the lower opening and the supply opening. |
| US08245962B2 |
Rotary tumbler and metal reclaimer
A rotary tumbler metal reclaimer includes an inner cylinder and a concentric outer cylinder that rotate simultaneously. The inner cylinder includes a first compartment that intakes material for breaking by teeth, a second compartment that receives broken material from the first compartment and crushes the material into smaller particles and a third compartment wherein particulate material enters the space between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder by attrition through perforated screens. The second compartment includes a crusher having various features for crushing lump material as it rotates. The third compartment provides further breakage and conveyance of particulate material. Particulate material then returns proximate the intake for screening into fine and coarse sizes and then collecting for reuse. Metallics and metallic oxides exit the tumbler through apertures in the rear of the third compartment for collection. The tumbler reclaims metals, metallic oxides, sands, and other materials for reuse. |
| US08245961B2 |
Material reducing apparatus having features for enhancing reduced material size uniformity
The present disclosure relates to a material reducing machine including a rotary reducing component positioned at least partially within a reducing chamber. A sizing screen defines a portion of the reducing chamber and extends at least partially around the rotary reducing component. Material catches are disclosed for preventing elongated strips of material from snaking longitudinally through the sizing screen without being adequately reduced in length. |
| US08245958B2 |
Powder sprayer
A powder sprayer includes a sprayer body having a nozzle head mounted on the top side of the bottle cap thereof, the nozzle head having a transverse mounting hole disposed in communication with a vertical through hole of the bottle cap and a guide notch located on the periphery at one end of the transverse mounting hole, and a spraying mechanism having a nozzle tube positioned in the transverse mounting hole, the nozzle tube having a guide block protruded from the periphery thereof and fitting the guide notch of the nozzle head, an axial air passage and a transverse suction hole disposed in communication between the air passage and the through hole of the bottle cap for sucking powder from the powder bottle through a dip tube into the air passage upon passing of a flow of forced air through the air passage. |
| US08245956B2 |
Electromagnetic fuel injector for gaseous fuels with anti-wear stop device
Electromagnetic fuel injector for gaseous fuels comprising: an injection nozzle controlled by an injection valve; a movable shutter to regulate the flow of fuel through the injection valve; an electromagnetic actuator, which is suitable to move the shutter between a closed position and an open position of the injection valve and comprises a fixed magnetic pole, a coil suitable to induce a magnetic flux in the magnetic pole, and a movable anchor suitable to be magnetically attracted by the magnetic pole; an absorption element, which is made of an amagnetic elastic material and is arranged between the magnetic pole and the anchor; and a protective element, which is made of a magnetic metal material having high surface hardness and is interposed between the absorption element and the anchor. |
| US08245955B2 |
Fuel injection device
The occurrence of leaks can be reduced by a fuel injection device (10) for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, wherein the fuel injection device (10) has an injection valve element (14) with a first section (26) on which a guide bearing element (20) is arranged, with provision being made for a first pressure chamber (22) in an area around the guide bearing element (20). |
| US08245954B2 |
Showerhead
The purpose of the present device is to provide a simply-configured showerhead at a low price wherein the shower water is stopped simultaneously with the operation of the stop cock of the shower. Thus, sparing the user an unnecessary action of reattempting to turn off the stop cock. The showerhead comprises at least a body having a large channel and small channel defining a step and being in communication with each other. Further, nozzle is provided at one end of the showerhead and a water supply connection is provided at the other end. A partition tube may be inserted in the large channel to form an air-inflow chamber between the partition tube and the body. Thus, air may be introduced from an outer air-suction port into the water-inflow chamber through an inner air-suction port. |
| US08245953B2 |
Adjustably mounted spray nozzle for windshield washer fluid of a motor vehicle
An adjustably mounted spray nozzle (4) for windshield washer fluid of a motor vehicle is designed to be easy to install and adjust. To this end, the spray nozzle (4) has the following features: it has a bearing axis (7) by means of which it can be attached to a vehicle in a manner that enables it to pivot about a y-axis of said vehicle; the spray nozzle (4) is provided with an adjusting-means element for pivoting about its bearing axis (7); the adjusting-means element is designed to cooperate with an adjusting-drive manipulator. |
| US08245943B2 |
Apparatuses for executing wireless transmission using a magnetic field, wireless transmission apparatuses, and wireless receiver apparatuses
An integrated circuit, a non-contact IC card, a reader/writer, a wireless communications method, and a computer program are provided to improve communication. The integrated circuit configured to execute wireless communication by means of magnetic field. The integrated circuit has a resonance circuit having resonance frequencies of a plurality of levels, a confirmation block configured to confirm whether a predetermined condition is satisfied, and a switching block configured to change the resonance frequencies if the predetermined condition is found satisfied as a result of the confirmation. |
| US08245942B2 |
Dual mode smart card and smart card controller
A dual mode smart card controller, a dual mode smart card, and a wireless communication device incorporating one or more of the same are provided. The dual mode smart card controller includes a first controller adapted for supporting communications with a first smart card protocol, and a second controller adapted for supporting communications with a second smart card protocol. The dual mode smart card controller further includes a multiplexer module having two sets of multiplexed ports that are selectively coupled to a common set of ports, and an interface module coupled to the common set of ports, and adapted to be coupled to signal terminals of a smart card. The multiplexer module selectively couples one or more signals received from the smart card via the signal terminals to one of the first controller and the second controller. The smart card uses at least one of a same connection associated with the common set of ports for use with both of the first controller and the second controller. |
| US08245941B2 |
Recording method, recorder and IC card
In an IC card provided with a recording unit having a plurality of recording areas designated by continuous addresses, a unit for executing a command based on information recorded in the recording unit, and a unit for communicating with an external apparatus, when the information received from the external apparatus is recorded in the recording unit, the information is divided and recorded in the plurality of recording areas designated by discontinuous addresses. |
| US08245939B2 |
Investing funds from pre-paid payment accounts
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for investing funds from pre-paid payment accounts. Funds from accounts within a payment system are invested on behalf of account holders of the accounts. Funds are invested in accordance with a risk strategy defined for the payment system (e.g. defining investment amounts and financial assets for investment). Payments and/or gains from invested funds are disbursed to the accounts of the account holders. Payments and/or gains are disbursed in accordance with disbursement rules for the payment system (e.g., based on percentages). |
| US08245938B2 |
Method for providing mobile service using code-pattern
A method and apparatus for providing a mobile service with the use of a code pattern is disclosed In one embodiment, the method comprising: taking a photograph of a code pattern image, decoding the photographed code pattern image so as to obtain code information, extracting uniform resource locator (URL) information corresponding to the code information, transmitting a content information request message to a service provider server corresponding to the URL information, and receiving content information corresponding to the URL information from the service provider server. According to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide various and convenient mobile services to mobile terminal users using a mobile terminal, having a camera, and a code pattern containing the URL information. |
| US08245932B2 |
Method of reading at least one bar code and system for reading a bar code
A method of reading at least one bar code carried by a substrate, the method including: a) generating, especially in an automatic manner, when presenting the bar code to a system for reading the bar code, at least one authentication cue related to an intrinsic physical characteristic of the substrate and independent of the data contained in the bar code, and b) allowing the reading of the bar code, only in the event of a positive authentication of the substrate or reading the bar code regardless of the result of the authentication of the substrate and in the event of negative authentication of the substrate, preventing access to just one part of the data contained in the bar code and/or to any data that may be associated with the bar code, and which is stored on a separate data medium from the substrate. |
| US08245931B2 |
Information display system and dot pattern printing sheet used for same
Provided are an information display system and a dot pattern printing sheet used for the same, which are capable of easily displaying information only by reading a dot pattern, easy for update of the information, and excellent in durability and abrasion resistance to prevent deterioration of the dot pattern formed on a print surface. The information display system includes: a dot pattern printing sheet including a dot pattern having coordinate position code information, which is printed on an outer sheet thereof so as to be low in visibility and optically readable; optical reading means for optically reading the coordinate position code information; information transfer means for transferring the coordinate position code information read by the optical reading means to a server device; the server device for outputting associated information that is accumulated in advance in association with the coordinate position code information; and information display means for displaying the associated information output from the server device. |
| US08245924B2 |
Techniques and systems for supporting podcasting
Improved podcasts and techniques that facilitate their use are disclosed. The improved techniques can pertain to creating, publishing, hosting, accessing, subscribing, managing, transferring, and/or playing podcasts. According to one aspect, a client application can subscribe to podcasts and then automatically monitor the podcasts for updates to be downloaded. In the event that user interest in a podcast becomes inadequate, downloading of further updates can be restricted. According to another aspect, a podcast can be subscribed to through use of a portable subscription file. According to still another aspect, podcast feeds can be enhanced to include segment elements and other metadata. |
| US08245919B1 |
Systems and methods for gesture-based interaction with computer systems
The present disclosure facilitates gesture-based interaction with a computer-system. The method may comprise pairing a transaction account with a likeness, receiving the likeness and a transaction request based upon the location of a marker in three dimensional space, retrieving the transaction account paired with the likeness, and approving the transaction request at least partially based upon the transaction account and the likeness. |
| US08245918B2 |
Method and system for random data access for security applications
A method for securely handling processing of information includes, in a chip, selecting one of a plurality of data processes based on a random index. After a randomly allocated time interval has elapsed, the selected one of the plurality of data processes may be initiated. The selected one of the plurality of data processes may include accessing data and/or acquiring the data. Burstiness of the data may be approximately equal to burstiness of data acquired by at least one of a plurality of clients on the chip. Data may be verified by the selected one of the plurality of data processes prior to the processing of the data. |
| US08245916B2 |
Card activated cash dispensing automated banking machine system and method
An automated banking machine system operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The system is operative to read a financial card bearing account indicia with a card reader. A user is enabled to perform at least one banking operation responsive to account indicia read from the card. Such banking operations may include dispensing cash and accessing financial accounts. The card reader may include a data store including a card reader device driver therein. The card reader may further communicate the device driver to a automated banking machine software application component, which is operative to use the device driver to operate the card reader. |
| US08245913B1 |
Automated banking machine with noncontact reading of card data
An automated banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records. The data corresponds to user card data received from a cell phone. The machine generates and displays a random number correlated with a time period. The machine user inputs the displayed random number into their phone. A software application in the phone encrypts the selected card data along with the inputted random number. The phone then displays a bar code image containing the encrypted data. The machine includes a bar code reader to read the displayed image. The machine can decrypt the random number and the card data from the read image. The random number is used to verify the current banking transaction session. The process replaces physical insertion of a card yet allows secure input of card data. |
| US08245912B2 |
Automated banking machine that operates responsive to data bearing records
An automated banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records to cause financial transfers. The machine includes a card reader that operates to read card data from user cards. The card data corresponds to financial accounts. The automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser and the machine carries out transaction functions for consumers including dispensing cash responsive to. The amount of cash dispensed is verified through communication with a security manager. |
| US08245911B2 |
M-commerce virtual cash system, method, and apparatus
A virtual cash system, method, and apparatus has an account record containing a record of money amounts associated with a wireless device and a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting to the wireless device predetermined information from the account record. Cash amounts can be spent from the account record directly from the wireless device via information derived from the wireless device via a bar code on the display, a short range radio signal, a light beam, or the like. A different security code is generated for each account transaction for verification. |
| US08245910B2 |
Stored-value card management method and system
A computerized system for activating, issuing and otherwise managing transactions and activities pertaining to stored-value cards over a communications network. A central information database is provided for storing stored-value cardholder and card purchaser information received directly from respective stored-value cardholders and card purchasers PCs through a universal central processor via respective communication gateways. The central processor is coupled for communication realtime to multiple unaffiliated stored-value card processing networks normally operated by respective hosts. Each network includes a stored-value card processor coupled to a stored-value card database and multiple respective merchant communication devices. The central processor is programmed for managing the activation and issuance of transactions and activities for the stored-value card through the respective unaffiliated networks. The universal central processor is programmed to issue the stored-value cards directly to the cardholder or card purchaser by download over respective communication gateways. The universal central processor is further programmed for reporting the card activations, issuances, transactions and activities to the cardholders and the merchants thereby providing a universal management system. |
| US08245904B2 |
Double parallel folded mailer having an integrated return postcard
Forms having return postcards are described herein. An example form to be folded as an outgoing mailer includes a quadrate sheet of paper having a first face opposite a second face, substantially parallel top and bottom edges, and substantially parallel first and second side edges, where the first and second side edges are substantially perpendicular to the top and bottom edges. The form includes at least first, second, and third fold lines parallel to the top and bottom edges to divide the sheet into at least first, second, third, and fourth panels. The second face of the second panel and the second face of the third panel fold onto each other to form a postcard when the sheet is double parallel folded about the fold lines. At least a first portion of the second face of the second panel and at least a second portion of the second face of the third panel include a first adhesive area to couple the second and third panels when the sheet is folded along the fold lines. |
| US08245903B2 |
Fusion welding method for connecting thin-walled casings
Two thin-walled jackets a joined by preparing end faces of the jackets by plastically deforming and upsetting microprojections thereon and thereby forming the metal of the upset microprojections into annular beads on inner surfaces of the respective jackets. Then the end faces are abutted while centering the jackets on each other relative to their external diameters. The end faces are then spot welded together in a plane where the end faces abut and then joined with a continuous main weld having a width equal to between four and six times the thickness of the wall of the jackets. Heat is then extracted from the welded jackets starting at a distance not exceeding times the wall thickness from a joint center line where the end faces abut. |
| US08245898B2 |
Surgical stapling and cutting device
A medical device includes a control handle, an end effector, and a passive articulating joint connecting the end effector to the handle. The handle has a stapling actuator, an articulation joint actuator different from the stapling actuator, and a body through which the stapling and articulation joint actuators traverse. The end effector has an anvil, a stapler cartridge with staples, and an anvil-cartridge control device connected thereto and to the stapling actuator and staples when the stapling actuator is actuated. The stapling actuator passes through the articulating joint and flexes correspondingly to articulation of the articulating joint. The articulation joint actuator, when unactuated, holds the articulation joint and, thereby, the end effector, in a substantially fixed articulation position, and, when actuated, releases the articulation joint into its freely articulating state to permit free articulation of the end effector dependent upon external forces acting upon the end effector. |
| US08245895B2 |
Leading edge retaining and cutting device and method of operating same
A retaining and cutting device for positioning a leading edge of material at one end of a roll and for puncturing and severing the material a pre-determined distance from the leading edge after removing from the roll, the retaining device comprising elongated jaw members pivotally connected together, a closure member normally urging the jaw members together, and a cutter along one edge of at least one of the jaw members. Extensions of the jaw members are manually grasped to urge the jaw members into an open position for insertion of the next leading edge of material therebetween. The device may also be utilized as a cutting tool for opening sealed boxes and the like. |
| US08245892B2 |
Belt buckle with retractable cup holder
An ornamental belt buckle/cup-holder combination having a front plate pivotably connected at its lower end to the lower end of a back plate. The back side of the buckle includes brackets and a hook for securing a belt. The front side of the buckle includes ornamentation. The front and back plates are held in parallel abutment with magnets. A loop is pivotably mounted to the top of the back plate and is captured between the front plate and the back plate when they in parallel abutment. The loop is urged into a upward perpendicular position relative to the back plate with a spring. When the front plate is folded downward perpendicular to the back plate, it forms a lower horizontal surface for supporting the weight of a beverage container. The loop is then urged by the spring into an upper horizontal position for receiving and laterally supporting the beverage container. |
| US08245886B2 |
Metered powder-dispensing container
A powder dispensing container is provided, the container divided into a powder storage chamber and a powder dispensing chamber with an opening between the two controlled by a valve mechanism. A cap or closure member is disposed over an upper open end of a powder dispensing chamber and when opened, causes a closure of the valve mechanism. When the cover is returned to its closed position, the valve will automatically open allowing for new charge of powder form the storage chamber to enter into the dispensing chamber. The closure member is provided with an actuator that extends through the powder dispensing chamber and engages and causes operation of the valve mechanism. |
| US08245880B1 |
Closure with rotational stop
A dispensing closure with a rotational stop that limits the rotation of the closure and generally prevents removal of the closure from the container. The dispensing closure may include a cap body operably engaging a fitment and a container finish. When the cap body is rotated about the container finish, the interior abutment surface of the recessed squeeze pad engages a lug stop located on the container finish so as to limit the rotation, thereby preventing removal of the cap body from the container finish. |
| US08245878B2 |
Smart self defense apparatus
The invention relates to a self-defense apparatus configured to release a substance when activated and further configured to transmit control signals to a remote device. Such remote device may be a cell phone configured to transmit emergency data to a remote location. Such emergency data may include GPS coordinates, image data, sound data, vehicle control signals, alarm system control signals, lighting control signals, and other signals. |
| US08245875B2 |
Container having a pre-curved lid
A plastic container having a container body and a permanently attached container lid is provided. The container lid is attached to the container body by a living hinge such that the entire plastic container is a one-piece construction. The container lid is pre-curved such that in an open state the container lid is curved. However, when the container lid mates with the container body in a closed state, at least a portion of the container lid that was previously curved becomes substantially planar such that portions of the lid remain biased into the container body. |
| US08245874B1 |
Slider-hinge door
A mechanism is provided for connecting a door to a container. The door provides and restricts access to a chamber of the container in respective open and closed positions. The mechanism includes, at each corresponding lateral side of the container and the door, a rail mounted to the container, an elbow, and first and second linkage arms. The rail aligns along a fore-and-aft direction so that the elbow slides along that direction. The elbow has vertical and axial members. The axial member connects to the rail. The first linkage arm includes first, second and third joints that pivotably connect respectively to the vertical member, to the container, and to the door. The second linkage arm includes fourth and fifth joints that pivotably connect respectively to the door and to the container. The linkage arms are disposed to avoid lateral obstruction beyond the door in the open position. |
| US08245873B2 |
Container with sealing lid releasibly fastened to container
A container (10) for solid or pasty products, as well as for those that are flowable or can be removed by dipping, in particular food products, includes a lower container part (11) for receiving the product, as well as an upper container part (12) embodied as a container lid, wherein the lower container part (11) has a continuous rim (15) extending around its container opening (12), wherein the upper container part (12) consists of a collar element (16), which extends around the container opening (14) and encloses it in a collar-like manner, and of a substantially flat lid element (17). The lid element (17) is fastened on the collar element (16) and is releasably fastened on the rim (15) of the lower container part (11). The collar element (16) has a circumferential wall (161), oriented with its free end toward the lid element (17), on which the lid element (17) is fastened. |
| US08245868B2 |
Case locking mechanism
Lock mechanisms are provide between a first case part and a second case part, which are openable and closable. Projections are formed on an outer side surface of the first case part. Each projection has a stopper hole that extends along a circumferential direction of the outer side surfaces of the case parts. U-shaped deformable pieces are formed with the outer side surface of the second case part and each deformable piece can be deformed in a direction perpendicular to the outer side surface of the second case part. A hook portion is formed with a distal portion of each deformable piece. Guide portions are formed at an edge of an entrance of the stopper hole and guide the hook portion toward the stopper hole. Holding portions are formed at an edge of an exit of the stopper hole and hold claw portions of the hook portion. |
| US08245863B2 |
Explosion resistant gas tank design
A gasoline storage system includes a storage area and a porous, non gasoline reactive, and non-particulate generating material disposed within the storage area. |
| US08245861B2 |
Container box, electric connection box provided with container box
A container box includes an outer box for receiving an inner box therein. Ribs are formed on an inner surface of the outer box, and extend in a fitting direction, and are gradually changing in height so that molds can be easily removed after the molding. The ribs includes the normally-inclined ribs gradually increasing in height in the fitting direction of the inner box, and the reversely-inclined ribs gradually decreasing in height in the fitting direction of the inner box. |
| US08245858B2 |
Sports equipment and accessory holding device
A sports equipment accessory holding device featuring a generally pentagonal-shaped base; an extension platform extending outwardly from the front surface of the base; hooks extending forwardly from each the first and second side edges of the base; a two-prong bracket extending outwardly from the bottom edge of the base, wherein the extension platform, the hooks, and the two-prong bracket each function to hold an object; a first mounting component extending outwardly from the back surface of the base; and a second mounting component disposed on the back surface of the base below the first mounting component, wherein the first mounting component and second mounting component together function to engage a fence for mounting the holding device. |
| US08245856B1 |
Remote control car support apparatus
The remote control car support apparatus supports a remote control (RC) car. The height of the apparatus can be adjusted for a total height of up to 16 inches. The length of the apparatus can be adjusted to accommodate various sizes of RC cars, from about 1/10th scale to about ⅕th scale, with an overall length adjustable up to about 27 inches. The apparatus features a total width of about 12 inches so that an RC car is not likely to tumble over when held. The apparatus provides for a full 360 degrees of rotation of a car, with the rotation locked in position as chosen. With these features, all facets of an RC car are accessible, allowing a hobbyist to work on the car as chosen. The plurality of mount holes in the adjustably positioned mounts allow for a car to be held to the apparatus as chosen. |
| US08245855B2 |
Thread system for installing in drinking water systems and other liquid-guiding systems
The invention relates to a thread system (1) for installing in drinking water systems and other liquid-guiding systems (T), said thread system having a multidimensional structure formed by at least one thread (200) which exhibits a germicidal activity in a damp environment due to oligodynamic metal parts in the thread. According to the invention, the thread system (1) is provided with a first surface structure (10), and a plurality of spacer thread elements (11) extends perpendicularly to the surface structure (10) in such a way that the thread system (1) forms an elastically deformable three-dimensional spacer structure, the thread (200) with the germicidal activity being arranged in the surface structure (10) and/or in the region of the spacer thread elements (11). The elastic properties enable the same thread system (11) to be used for a plurality of different drinking water systems. A volume unit of the thread system (1), which is larger than the spatial volume in the assembly region of the drinking water system, is introduced into the assembly region in a compressed manner. The thread system (1) is then left to expand, and sticks, with the surface structure (10) and the fibrous spacer sections (11), to the wall sections of the drinking water system (T) which define the spacial volume. |
| US08245853B2 |
Filter module
The present invention relates to a filter module comprising a body of wound layers of sheet material, with an inner and outer peripheral surface, a winding axis and a passage within the body, the sheet material having a plurality of openings forming at least two types of channels within the wound layers, the channels extending in a direction from the inner peripheral surface to the outer peripheral surface, a first type of channels in fluid communication with the outer periphery and closed at the end toward the inner periphery, a second type of channels in fluid communication with the inner periphery and closed at the end toward the outer periphery, the two types of channels separated by portions of sheet material, one of the types of channels being outlet channels and being covered by a filter material. |
| US08245852B2 |
Molded pump
Embodiments of the invention provide a pre-filter assembly for use with a pump. The assembly includes a housing having an intake channel and an outlet channel. The intake channel includes an intake flange around a first circumference and a ribbed surface to facilitate sealing. The outlet channel includes a bottom portion and an outlet flange around a second circumference. The intake flange and the outlet flange are on opposite sides of the housing. The assembly also includes a basket positioned in the housing. The basket has a bottom side and is positioned above the bottom portion of the outlet channel to form a chamber. The basket is positioned in closer proximity to the intake channel than to the outlet channel. In addition, the assembly includes a securing device with a lid having ridges and a clear top to permit the user to view the contents of the basket. The securing device also includes a locking ring with slots and openings to permit the user to view the contents of the basket. |
| US08245851B2 |
Noncircular replaceable fuel filter elements and systems including the same
One embodiment is a filter assembly wherein the shape of the filter is a non-circular geometry. Other embodiments include unique apparatus, devices, systems, and methods to remove contaminates from a flow of fuel while at the same time providing a unique filter and filter assembly geometry. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits of the present application shall become apparent from the detailed description and figures included herewith. |
| US08245845B1 |
Disposable holder and cleaner apparatus for surgical instruments, hoses, cables and the like
A disposable surgical instrument apparatus that has a generally rectangular shaped holder body with one or more elongated cylinders for retaining a plurality of surgical instruments, such as a suction device, a cautery and other instruments when not in use during surgery. One of the cylinders has a sealed chamber with a passageway that progressively decreases in diameter to accommodate a plurality of different size suction nozzle of the suction device within the chamber. One or more slotted channels are respectively associated with the cylinders for retaining hoses and electrical wires of the surgical instruments. The apparatus has a cleaning spike for de-clogging the suction nozzle of the suction device. The apparatus further has an abrasive pad for scraping char off the tip of the cautery. |
| US08245843B1 |
Cover for electronic device
The cover includes an interface, a bottom cover and a top cover. The interface is for connecting components embedded in the cover with the electronic device. The bottom cover and the top cover are connected by a hinge and the top cover is divided into at least three parts. Every adjacent two foldable parts can be folded relative to each other to a certain degree such that the top cover is folded to support the electronic device at a certain degree The at least three parts of the top cover includes at least one induction coil which is placed in one of the at least three parts. The top cover is folded to support the electronic device at a certain degree while the induction coil is used to charge for the electronic device. |
| US08245838B2 |
Apparatus and method for the recording of images of objects moved on a conveyor device
An apparatus, in particular a code reader, for the recording of images of objects (14) moved on a conveyor device (12), wherein the apparatus includes a line sensor (10), in particular a line camera, which can scan objects line wise for the generation of image data of the surfaces, as well as a speed determination device (26; 30), which can determine the speed of movement of the objects (14) with respect to the line sensor (10) or their conveyed distance. At the same time an evaluation unit (26) is provided, which is adapted to match the recording frequency of the line sensor (10) to the speed of movement. |
| US08245836B2 |
Conveyor belt scraper
A belt scraper (10) includes a blade mount (12) of a stiff resiliency flexible material to which a scraper blade (16) can be mounted or is mounted. The blade mount (12) has a front (18), a rear (20) and two sides (22) and defines at least one securing passage (24) extending transversely through the blade mount (12) through the sides (22) of the blade mount (12) for receiving a securing member to secure the blade mount (12) to a carrier of a belt cleaner. |
| US08245831B2 |
Device and method for checking banknotes
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for checking bank notes wherein measuring values of the bank note to be checked are obtained and a classification of the bank note is carried out by evaluation of the measuring values in a plurality of checking steps, whereby the classification distinguishes in particular at least the classification categories, counterfeit, suspect and genuine bank notes, or acceptable or redispensable, and a linkage of a plurality of measuring values is formed at least in one checking step for deciding whether the checked bank note corresponds to a given classification category and this linkage term is compared with a corresponding tolerance range during evaluation. |
| US08245830B2 |
Paper currency handling device
Provided is a bill processing apparatus capable of preventing a bill contained in a bill housing part from being drawn out. The bill processing apparatus comprises: an insertion slot (5), into which the bill is inserted; a bill housing part (100) capable of housing the bill inserted from the insertion slot (5); an opening (110A), through which the bill housing part (100) receives the bill; and a pressure plate (115) capable of passing through the opening (110A) to house the bill in the bill housing part (100). The bill processing apparatus further comprises a sensor to detect the bill inserted into the insertion slot (5), so that the pressure plate (115) is moved to regulate the passage of the bill from the opening (110A) till the insertion of the bill is detected by the sensor. |
| US08245828B2 |
Device of a rotationally fixedly connecting a shaft to a component which is rotatably mounted on the shaft
A device for rotationally fixing a shaft to a component that is rotatably arranged on the shaft. The actuating element positively engages the components to rotationally fix the components to the shaft. The difference in rotational speeds, between the component and the shaft, can be at least approximately compensated for by the actuating element. The actuating element, for rotationally fixing the component to the shaft by the actuator, is operatively connected to at least one support body, which is rotationally fixed with respect to the shaft in such a manner that the actuating element can act upon the component with an actuating force that depends on the torque to be transmitted from the shaft to the component and which is independent of the actuation of the actuator in the state in which the actuating element can be rotated relative to the shaft. |
| US08245827B2 |
Clutch brake assembly
A clutch-brake assembly transmits force to rotate a shaft and to retain the shaft against rotation. The assembly includes a plurality of force transmitting members which transmit force between a piston and a base member. A plurality of springs urge the piston to move relative to the base member. A plurality of spring retainers are disposed between the base member and the piston. Each of the spring retainers includes a plurality of projecting portions extending from the base portion. Each of the springs is telescopically disposed on one of the projecting portions. Each of the force transmitting members is disposed between adjacent spring retainers. |
| US08245824B2 |
Combination of structure and an active damping system, and a lithographic apparatus
An active damping system to dampen a vibration of at least a part of the structure, including a device to determine a position quantity of the structure and an actuator to exert a force on the structure in dependency of the determined position quantity, wherein the device is a calculation device configured to calculate the position quantity of the structure on the basis of actuator signals. |
| US08245820B2 |
Automatic brake adjuster for adjusting the slack between the brake lining and brake drum of a vehicular braking system
This invention relates to an improvement on Automatic Brake Adjuster with flexible reference point wherein one-way lock mechanism and clutch mechanism are integrated in one part and located on the worm shaft with the provision of isolating the one way lock mechanism and regulator worm gear wheel from heavy clutch spring load by a thrust sleeve arrangement for independent function. one-way lock mechanism is meant for sensing the excess lining clearance and adjusting the slack between the brake lining and brake drum whereas the clutch mechanism is to ignore the excess stroke of brake actuator due to elasticity in the foundation brake parts of a vehicular braking system. |
| US08245817B2 |
Self-rescue safety device
A self-rescue device includes a rope operatively connected to a lifeline connector. The lifeline connector is releasably operatively connected to a frame member of the self-rescue device, and should a fall occur, the user releases the lifeline connector from the frame member. A centrifugal braking mechanism controls the rate at which the rope is paid out, which controls the rate of the user's descent. |
| US08245816B2 |
Integral safety system which can be used for construction
This system includes support pieces (1, 1a) intended to be permanently fixed to the structure of the construction, interchangeable supports (30) fitted with a fixing device (4) for attachment to any of the support pieces (1, 1a) and with means of attachment for safety devices or load-bearing devices, intermediate supports (5, 14, 18) that can be coupled to the interchangeable supports and safety elements that can be coupled to the intermediate supports and/or the interchangeable supports. These protective elements include: head pieces (6) of lifelines, modular masts, angled brackets for attaching safety nets (9), protective canopies, safety guard masts (15), telescopic baseboards (16), extendible railings (17) and auxiliary railings (19). |
| US08245815B2 |
Cellular-core structure for an acoustic panel
The invention relates to a cellular-core structure (10) that can be used in an acoustic panel for a turbojet nacelle, comprising at least one cellular unit (12; 14), each cellular unit (12; 14) comprising two end sheets (18; 20), the end sheets (18; 20) being joined together by joining elements (24) that are placed so as to form cellular cells (32). The subject of the invention is also a method of producing such a structure, an acoustic panel comprising such a structure, and a nacelle comprising such an acoustic panel. |
| US08245814B2 |
Transmission ratio variable mechanism and vehicle steering apparatus
A transmission ratio variable mechanism includes an input member and an output member, which are rotatable around a first axis, an inner ring arranged to connect the input and output members to each other so as to be differentially rotatable, an outer ring, and a motor. A second axis serving as a center axis of the inner ring and the outer ring is inclined to the first axis. The transmission ratio variable mechanism includes uneven engagement sections including a projection provided on one of each of end surfaces of the inner ring and a power transmission surface corresponding to the end surface, and a recess. The inner ring includes a first member forming the first end surface and a second member forming the second end surface. The first and second members are formed separately from each other and coupled to each other so as to be movable together. |
| US08245808B2 |
Snowmobile exhaust system
A snowmobile has a four-stroke engine mounted in an engine cradle and an exhaust system connected to the engine. The exhaust system includes a generally U-shaped exhaust pipe extending forwardly from the engine to a first point disposed forwardly of the engine cradle, and of suspension assemblies of the skis, and extending rearwardly from the first point to a second point disposed rearwardly of a front of the engine cradle. |
| US08245802B2 |
Automotive hybrid engine assist system
An automotive hybrid engine assist system that simultaneously mounts both an idling reduction system and an electric motor turbocharging system, and that is small, light, inexpensive, and fuel-efficient. Three-phase power terminals of a generator-motor and a super-high-speed rotary machine are respectively connected to an inverter by a large-current wiring. An electric power direction change-over switch is disposed in a path of the large-current wiring, and switches connection of the inverter to the generator-motor or to the super-high-speed rotary machine. |
| US08245801B2 |
Expandable energy storage control system architecture
A hybrid electric vehicle drive system comprises a first power bus electrically coupled to a motive power subsystem and a drive wheel propulsion assembly; a second power bus electrically coupled to the first power bus and a plurality of energy storage subsystems, wherein the first power bus is configured to allow electrical power to be transmitted among the motive power subsystem, the drive wheel propulsion assembly, and the second power bus, and wherein the second power bus is configured to allow electrical power to be transmitted among the plurality of energy storage subsystems and the first power bus. |
| US08245797B2 |
Cutting structures for casing component drillout and earth-boring drill bits including same
An earth-boring tool includes a bit body having a face on which two different types of cutters are disposed, the first type being cutting elements suitable for drilling at least one subterranean formation and the second type suitable for drilling through at least one elastomeric component of a casing string, as well as a casing shoe and cement. Methods of drilling with an earth-boring tool include engaging and drilling an elastomeric component using at least one abrasive cutting structure. |
| US08245795B2 |
Phase wellbore steering
A method of steering a drilling operation of a well using acoustic measurements. The method includes obtaining, using a central processing unit (CPU), a clean-wet matrix line for the well, where the clean-wet matrix line includes a number of normal compressional values, obtaining, using the CPU, the acoustic measurements from at least one logging while drilling tool at a current depth of the drilling operation, where the acoustic measurements include a compressional to shear velocity ratio and a delta-T compressional measurement, and determining, using the CPU, a current phase of the drilling operation by comparing the acoustic measurements to the clean-wet matrix line. The method further includes, in response to determining that the current phase is not a target phase, generating an updated well trajectory for steering the drilling operation toward the target phase and adjusting the drilling operation using the updated well trajectory. |
| US08245791B2 |
Hand-held tool with a counter-vibration device
The invention relates to a hand-held tool, in particular a rotary hammer, a percussion hammer, or a sabre saw. The hand-held tool is equipped with a drive unit and a stroke-generating element; the drive unit is embodied to move the stroke-generating element in a reciprocating fashion along a translation axis. The hand-held tool has at least one counterweight; the counterweight is operatively connected to the drive unit in such a way that it is possible to at least partially compensate for forces at least indirectly caused by the reciprocating motion. According to the invention, the counterweight in the hand-held tool is supported so that it is able to move, in particular to reciprocate, coaxial or parallel to the translation axis. |
| US08245784B2 |
Stable organic-based fluid loss additive containing an organophilic clay-based suspending agent for use in a well
A well treatment composition comprises: a water-soluble, organic liquid, wherein the organic liquid comprises the continuous phase of the well treatment composition, and wherein the organic liquid comprises a polyglycol or a derivative of polyglycol; a fluid loss additive, wherein the fluid loss additive is insoluble in the organic liquid, and wherein the fluid loss additive comprises a high molecular weight, water-swellable polymer; and a suspending agent, wherein the suspending agent comprises an organophilic clay, wherein the well treatment composition has an activity of at least 15%. A method of cementing in a subterranean formation comprises: introducing a cement composition into the subterranean formation, the cement composition comprising: (i) cement; (ii) water; and (iii) the well treatment composition; and allowing the cement composition to set after introduction into the subterranean formation. |
| US08245782B2 |
Tool and method of performing rigless sand control in multiple zones
A rigless sand-control tool string is for use in a wellbore having plural zones. The tool string includes plural flow port assemblies, and plural screen assemblies connected to corresponding circulation port assemblies. Each set of one of the flow port assemblies and one of the screen assemblies is configured to perform sand control with respect to a corresponding zone of the wellbore. The flow port assemblies are selectively activatable to allow selective performance of sand control with respect to the corresponding zones. |
| US08245773B2 |
Centralizing device for an elongated body in a mouse hole machine
Disclosed is a device for centralizing an elongated body, such as a pipe, in the opening of a mousehole machine along the machine's center axis. The device includes two centralizing bows supported within the opening and adapted for rotation about a common, mainly horizontal axis of rotation that extends across the opening of the mousehole machine, the bows being located on radially-opposite sides of the axis of rotation. Upon rotation of the bows, the pipe is moved by contact with a first of the bows toward the center axis until the second of the bows contacts the pipe. |
| US08245769B2 |
Refrigerator-oven combination for an aircraft galley food service system
A refrigerator-oven combination for an aircraft galley food service system includes a housing with a thermally insulated compartment, a heating device for heating the compartment in a heating mode, and a refrigeration device for cooling the compartment in a refrigeration mode. |
| US08245768B2 |
Air-conditioning system for electric car and method of controlling the air-conditioning system
An air-conditioning system of an electric car has an air-conditioning unit which is configured to perform air-conditioning in a passenger compartment by heater/cooler operation, a setting panel configured to set a target temperature of the passenger compartment, and a control unit which is connected to the air-conditioning unit and setting panel, and has different control of heater operation of the air-conditioning unit, wherein the control unit is configured to select controls of heater operation based on a vehicle speed v. |
| US08245764B2 |
Cooling system for a computer system
The invention relates to a cooling system for a computer system, said computer system comprising at least one unit such as a central processing unit (CPU) generating thermal energy and said cooling system intended for cooling the at least one processing unit and comprising a reservoir having an amount of cooling liquid, said cooling liquid intended for accumulating and transferring of thermal energy dissipated from the processing unit to the cooling liquid. The cooling system has a heat exchanging interface for providing thermal contact between the processing unit and the cooling liquid for dissipating heat from the processing unit to the cooling liquid, Different embodiments of the heat exchanging system as well as means for establishing and controlling a flow of cooling liquid and a cooling strategy constitutes the invention of the cooling system. |
| US08245763B2 |
Heat dissipation device with guilding lines and soldered heat pipes and manufacturing method thereof
A heat dissipation device includes a heat pipe and a heat sink. The heat pipe includes a condenser section and an evaporator section. The condenser section has a planar outer surface. The heat sink includes a supporting surface for contacting the outer surface of the condenser section. A guiding line is defined in the supporting surface for spreading a solder therealong. The guiding line has a width smaller than a width of the outer surface of the condenser section. The condenser section of the heat pipe is mounted on the supporting surface of the heat sink along the guiding line and firmly connected to the heat sink by the solder. |
| US08245761B2 |
Heat sink
A heat sink includes a plurality of metal fins interconnected together. Each metal fin includes a main plate, a flange extending forwardly from the main plate and an interlocking unit formed on the flange. The interlocking unit includes an engaging ear and a hook. The ear extends rearwards from a rear edge of the flange and defines a locking hole therein. The flange defines a cutout adjacent to a front edge thereof. The cutout is aligned with the ear and recessed rearwards from the front edge of the flange. The hook extends forwardly from the flange and is located within the cutout. The ear of a fin is engaged in the cutout of an adjacent rear fin. The hook of the adjacent rear fin is engaged in the locking hole of the engaging ear of the fin. |
| US08245754B2 |
Peeling apparatus, peeling method, and method of manufacturing information recording medium
A peeling apparatus including a first holding section that holds a first object which is in the form of a flat plate, and a second holding section that holds a second object which is in the form of a flat plate and is affixed to the first object to be integral, the peeling apparatus being configured to be capable of peeling one of the first object and the second object off the other in a state in which the first holding section holds the first object and the second holding section holds the second object. The first holding section holds the first object by being brought into contact with a surface of the first object along a direction of a thickness thereof via at least two points. |
| US08245752B2 |
Apparatus and methods for dispensing adhesive to labels
In one aspect, a vacuum drum assembly for use with a labeling apparatus includes apertures for supporting labels on an outer surface using vacuum pressure. The vacuum drum assembly may include air distributors for providing vacuum pressure to selected apertures to accommodate various lengths or widths of labels. The vacuum drum assembly may also be adjustable to vary the spacing between apertures to accommodate various lengths of labels. |
| US08245751B2 |
Substrate bonding apparatus
A substrate bonding apparatus and method are provided. The substrate bonding apparatus may include a board having a receiving surface opposite to a substrate fixed at one side thereof, a plurality of chucking members located between the receiving surface of the board and the substrate, and a substrate separation device to separate the substrate from the chucking members. The substrate separation device includes a pusher for pushing the substrate to separate the substrate from the chucking members, and a base plate installed at the receiving surface of the board, the base plate having an installation space to install the pusher formed therein. The pusher protrudes out of the base plate through an inlet and outlet port located at one end of the installation space to pressurize the substrate. |
| US08245740B2 |
Fraction collector
A device for positioning a component thereof along x- and y-axes of the device is provided. The device includes first and second motors, a carriage containing the component to be positioned, a lead screw to position the carriage along a first axis of the device, and a keyed shaft to position component to be positioned along a second axis of the device. The first motor drives the lead screw and the second motor drives the flatted shaft. In some embodiments described herein, the flatted shaft turns a first pulley, which is connected to a second pulley by a belt. The component to be positioned is attached to the belt and moves along a second axis of the device as the belt moves. |
| US08245739B1 |
Beverage dispensing system
A beverage dispensing system comprising a dispensing port for dispensing a beverage, a drip tray located below the dispensing port for collecting the beverage dispensed and an antenna located between the dispensing port and the drip tray is provided. The beverage dispensing system is RFID-enabled by configuring the antenna to receive signals from radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. |
| US08245736B2 |
Powder packaging
A powder packaging includes space for containing powder, an outlet opening for the powder, and a dosing device positioned on the outlet opening, the powder dosing device including a dosing body having a first closing part, a second closing part and a dosing chamber between the closing parts. The dosing body is movable between a filling position in which the dosing chamber is accessible for powder in the powder containing space and the second closing part closes off the outlet opening, and a dosing position in which the first closing part closes off the outlet opening and the dosing chamber allows powder to leave the dosing chamber and thus to exit the powder containing space. |
| US08245735B2 |
Select fill sensor system for refrigerator dispensers
A refrigerator includes a dispenser having a dispenser well, a control for regulating a product dispensing operation, and a select fill sensor system for automatically initiating and terminating the dispensing operation. The sensor system includes a touch sensor mounted in the dispenser well and configured to sense the selection of a desired product level. A feedback array indicates the product level selected and tracks the product level within a container during the dispensing operation. The control automatically initiates a product dispensing operation based on the selection of a product level and the presence of the container in the dispenser well, and automatically terminates the dispensing operation when the product level in the container reaches the selected product level. In this manner, a hands-free dispenser is provided that can be utilized regardless of the shape or size of container utilized. |
| US08245732B2 |
Apparatus for pressure testing a plumbing installation
An apparatus for pressure testing a plumbing installation includes a flexible cylindrical body having a peripheral sidewall, a closed end and an open end. A positioning flange extends outwardly from the peripheral sidewall at the open end to facilitate positioning cylindrical body with an end of a pipe into which the cylindrical body has been inserted. An end wall is positioned at the closed end that is. The end wall is curved inwardly and has an inward cylindrical flow channel closed by a partially removable plug. A gripping strip is secured to the partially removable plug that closes an inward cylindrical plug and extends through and past the open end of the cylindrical body, such that upon a force being exerting upon the gripping strip the plug lifts to open the cylindrical flow channel and upon a force continuing to be exerted upon the gripping strip the cylindrical body rolls inside out thereby enabling the cylindrical body to be removed from the pipe. |
| US08245726B2 |
Citrus juice apparatus with undesired material release detector and related methods
A citrus juice apparatus may include at least one citrus juice processing device. The at least one juice processing device may include at least one juice output having a flow of juice therethrough. The at least one juice processing device upon a malfunction may cause an undesired material release along with the flow of juice into the at least one juice output. An undesired material release detector may be coupled to the at least one juice output for detecting the undesired material release. The detector may operate based upon magnetic proximity sensing of a moving filter plate within a housing of the detector. Alternatively, the detector may operate using a filter plate, and based upon pressure. |
| US08245725B2 |
Pressure relief device
A pressure relief device usable in a high-pressure fluid circuit for limiting the pressure in the case of a failure of a circuit component is provided, the device includes a body with a pusher sliding therein and axially movable by a spring. A ball seals an orifice connecting a chamber receiving a high-pressure fluid and another chamber. The other chamber includes at least one fluid discharge opening and the ball being held by the spring in a position closing the orifice below a predetermined pressure. The pusher devoid of axial through channels for the fluid, slides in the body and closes at least partially each discharge opening. At least one of discharge openings is connected to an opening also embodied in the body and open at least partially to the opposite side of the pusher. |
| US08245724B2 |
Pneumatic system for residential use
The present invention relates to a Pneumatic System that can be employed within the residential environment. The system includes both a section mode and a pressure mode. Both of these modes, in turn, have both a low and a high pressure range. A variety of applications are disclosed for use in conjunction with the various modes of the system. These various applications are described in greater detail hereinafter. |
| US08245722B2 |
Inflation nozzle capable of connecting with two types of tire valves
An inflation nozzle includes a first part having a first threaded passage defined centrally therethrough and a connection ring is threadedly connected to a first end of the first part. An insertion is formed on a second end of the first part and is engaged with a first chamber of a central member which is received in a second part. The central member is connected with a tire pump. The first passage is sized to be connected with a French valve and the connection ring is sized to be connected with an American valve. |
| US08245716B2 |
Flocked cosmetic applicators, methods of manufacture and dispensers including such applicators
A cosmetic applicator for transporting and applying cosmetic material, including flocked applicators, a method for making applicators, and cosmetic dispensers including such applicators. The fibers of the flocking can vary in length, density, distribution and/or color. |
| US08245712B2 |
Respirator mask for a compressed air breathing apparatus
The invention relates to a respiratory protection mask for a compressed air breathing apparatus comprising a pulmonary machine which is controlled by a control membrane when the wearer of the mask breathes in. According to the invention, the air outlet of the expiratory valve and the control membrane are covered by a common cover, forming a rinsing area on the outside of the control membrane through which homogeneously temperate, clean rinsing air flows from the air outlet to the air discharge openings in the cover, thereby ensuring high functionality and high service life of the membrane-controlled pulmonary machine despite extreme environmental conditions. |
| US08245710B2 |
Apparatus for delivering humidified gases
An apparatus (1) for use humidified gases delivery treatment comprising a housing, a humidifier, and a chamber heating base connected to said housing, said housing includes a pressurized gases supply, a humidifier engagement (17), a pressurized gases outlet (4), a humidified gases return (7), and a patient outlet (9), said humidifier includes a humidification chamber (2) having a base, a humidifier inlet (5), a humidifier outlet (6) and said chamber is engagable with said humidifier engagement (17) via a single motion, and said single motion of engagement urges the base of said humidification chamber adjacent and in contact with said chamber heating base and makes a first fluid connection between said pressurized gases outlet (4) and said humidifier inlet (5), and makes a second fluid connection between said humidified gases return (7) and said humidifier outlet (6), with said first and second fluid connections being made in the direction of said single motion. |
| US08245709B2 |
Respiration humidifier
A respiration humidifier with a base unit (2), at least one sensor (3), which is connected to the base unit (2), and a mixing chamber (4), which is designed as a mixing chamber detachable from the base unit (2), with a gas-carrying area (5), wherein the mixing chamber (4) has at least one opening (6), through which the at least one sensor (3) is in connection with the gas-carrying area (5). |
| US08245708B2 |
Methods, devices and formulations for targeted endobronchial therapy
The present invention provides an improved method and novel devices for treating tracheobronchitis, bronchiectasis and pneumonia in the intubated patient, preferably with aerosolized anti gram-positive and anti-gram negative antibiotics administered in combination or in seriatim in reliably sufficient amounts for therapeutic effect. In one aspect, the invention assures this result when aerosol is delivered into the ventilator circuit. In one embodiment the result is achieved mechanically. In another embodiment, the result is achieved by aerosol formulation. In another aspect, the invention assures the result when aerosol is delivered directly to the airways distal of the ventilator circuit. The devices eliminate the dosage variability that ventilator systems engender when aerosols are introduced via the ventilator circuit. The treatment also concentrates the therapeutic agent specifically at affected sites in the lung such that therapeutic levels of administrated drug are achieved without significant systemic exposure of the patient to the drug. The invention further provides a dose control device to govern this specialized regimen. |
| US08245706B2 |
Pressure activated remote microphone
A pressure activated remote microphone is provided within a communication system (100). A face mask (102) incorporates a remote microphone (118) and one or more pressure sensor(s) (122). When a user puts on the mask (102), the remote microphone (118) is enabled in response to the pressure sensed by the pressure sensors (122). When the mask (102) is removed, the remote microphone (118) is disabled in response to the change in pressure sensed by the pressure sensor(s) (122). |
| US08245703B2 |
Burner ring
A burner ring for a gas burner, the burner ring including an outer circumference and an inner circumference, a distribution chamber having gas outlets to the outer circumference of the burner ring, a transfer ignition groove that is outwardly open on one side and extends between the inner circumference of the burner ring and the outer circumference of the burner ring, a gas conducting channel into which the transfer ignition groove opens at least partially, and at least one gas supply opening between the distribution chamber and the gas conducting channel, wherein the gas conducting channel and the transfer ignition groove are arranged mutually symmetrically, and wherein the at least one gas supply opening is offset in a region of the gas conducting channel at an angle relative to the transfer ignition groove. |
| US08245702B2 |
Dog ball shooting device
This device is designed to shoot balls and can be used to play with dogs. It comprises a handle, an upper tube attached to the handle, a trigger mechanism, a lower tube slidably mounted against a mechanical energy storage device such as a metal spring, a rubber band or compressed air in the upper tube, and a gripping mechanism mounted in the lower end of the lower tube. The gripping mechanism is designed to grab the ball when the device handle is pushed down and to release the ball when the trigger is pulled and the lower tube is extended outward by the force of the spring causing the ball to fly away. |
| US08245700B2 |
Supercharger
A centrifugal supercharger is provided. One embodiment of the supercharger comprises a two-piece housing wherein a parting area is substantially aligned with a rotational axis of a drive or impeller shaft. Another embodiment comprises a sleeve, or intermediate member disposed substantially between the housing and a bearing assembly(s) located within the supercharger housing. Another embodiment comprises a disengagement device located between the supercharger impeller and the engine. The disengagement device allows selective disengagement of the impeller from the engine. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained therein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims. |
| US08245699B2 |
Vehicle fuel vapor management
A fuel vapor recovery system and method for an automotive vehicle are disclosed. The vehicle fuel tank is vented to atmosphere via a passageway having a carbon canister to remove fuel vapors, a bladder, and a normally-closed isolation valve. When fueling the vehicle, the gases in the fuel tank displaced by entering fuel are introduced into the carbon canister where the fuel vapors are stored. The isolation valve is commanded to open to allow such flow through the carbon canister. When the vehicle is parked for a period of a day, it undergoes a diurnal temperature change which causes fuel to vaporize into the fuel system. According to an aspect of the present development, the isolation valve remains closed and the gases are contained within the bladder as it expands or contracts as the volume of gases increases or decreases in response to temperature changes. |
| US08245695B2 |
Method of manufacturing and installation of high pressure liquid LPG fuel supply and dual or mixed fuel supply systems
A high vapor pressure liquid fuel (e.g. LPG) injection system is provided that keeps the fuel liquid at all expected operating temperatures by use of a high pressures pump capable of at least 2.5 MPa pressures. The fuel can be injected directly into the cylinder or into the inlet manifold of an engine via axial or bottom feed injectors and also could be mixed with a low vapor pressure fuel (e.g. diesel) to be injected similarly. The fuel, mixed or unmixed, can be stored in an accumulator under high pressure assisting in keeping the engine running during fuel changeovers and injection after a period of time as in re-starting the engine. The same injectors can be used to inject any of the fuels or mixtures of them. |
| US08245694B2 |
Fuel injection system with pressure boosting
The invention relates to a fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine having a high pressure pump, a high pressure reservoir, a plurality of fuel injectors, a hydraulic pressure booster, and a control valve for actuating the hydraulic pressure booster. The hydraulic pressure booster is provided centrally for all of the fuel injectors. The central hydraulic pressure booster is disposed between the high pressure pump and the high pressure reservoir. |
| US08245693B2 |
High pressure fuel pump control for idle tick reduction
A method for controlling a mechanical solenoid valve of a high-pressure fuel pump to supply fuel to an engine is provided. In one example, current supplied to the mechanical solenoid valve is adjusted according to a pressure downstream of the fuel pump. The method can reduce current used to operate the mechanical solenoid valve as well as pump noise, at least during some conditions. |
| US08245692B2 |
Method and system for pre-ignition control
Methods and systems are provided for identifying and differentiating knock and pre-ignition using a plurality of knock sensors distributed along an engine block. By dynamically adjusting cylinder-specific assignment of the knock sensors for knock detection and pre-ignition detection based on operating conditions of each cylinder, knock and pre-ignition is more reliably identified and distinguished. |
| US08245691B2 |
Engine and exhaust heating
A method for controlling a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders is provided. The method comprises: during engine idling, advancing spark timing of at least one cylinder to before a peak torque timing, and retarding spark timing from the advanced timing toward the peak torque timing in response to decreased engine speed to maintain idling speed. |
| US08245689B2 |
Method and device for monitoring control and regulating loops in an engine system
A method for monitoring a control loop or a regulating loop in a system, in particular in an engine system in a motor vehicle, is described. A characteristic value is ascertained from a preset value and a system variable of the regulating loop or the control loop during one or more state changes, and an error is detected as a function of the ascertained characteristic value. |
| US08245683B2 |
Engine for vehicle
A vehicle engine includes the crankcase for supporting thereon the crankshaft, the input shaft and the output shaft, with the crankcase being composed of a left case half and a right case half which are joined to each other at a plane orthogonal to the axis of the crankshaft. A starter motor together with a speed sensor, for detecting the vehicle speed from the rotation of a gear in a transmission, are mounted to an upper surface of the crankcase. The starter motor is arranged at a portion, just above the input shaft, of the upper surface of the crankcase, while the speed sensor for detecting the rotation of a gear on the output shaft is arranged at a portion, just above the output shaft, of the upper surface of the crankcase. The crankcase is formed with a raised wall for covering one side surface of the speed sensor. |
| US08245681B2 |
Starter for an internal combustion engine having an electrically insulating insulating part, internal combustion engine having a starter, retaining flange
A starter for an internal combustion engine, particularly for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, having a housing, on which a mounting flange is developed that can be associated with the internal combustion engine, at least one insulating part being associated with the mounting flange, such that no electrical connection exists between the starter and the internal combustion engine. An internal combustion engine, particularly for a motor vehicle, has a starter as described above. A retaining flange for an electric motor, particularly for a starter of a motor vehicle, the retaining flange being developed as an insulating part, and is made up at least partially of an electrically insulating material and/or has at least one electrically insulating insulating element situated on the retaining flange. |
| US08245675B2 |
Variable valve apparatus
A first overlap amount that is an overlap amount of overlap between an intake valve opening timing and an exhaust valve opening timing, is calculated based on rotation speed of an internal combustion engine, load on the engine, and temperature of a working fluid. A second overlap amount that is the overlap amount that is set so that the relative rotation phase of at least one of the intake-side camshaft and the exhaust-side camshaft relative to the rotation phase of the crankshaft is fixed when the engine stops, is calculated based on the temperature of the working fluid. The overlap amount is set to equal to the second overlap amount, if the first overlap amount is larger than the second overlap amount. The overlap amount is set to equal to the first overlap amount, if the first overlap amount is less than or equal to the second overlap amount. |
| US08245674B2 |
Power unit for vehicle
Provided is a power unit for a vehicle including an engine main body of an engine having: a valve system capable of changing operational modes of each engine valve; valve controlling apparatuses for controlling operations of the valve system; and a crankcase housing a transmission, the engine main body being mounted on a vehicle frame. The power unit for a vehicle achieves reduction in size of the engine main body in a direction along the axis of a cylinder, and increases the freedom of arranging parts designed to be placed on an upper end portion of the engine main body. The valve controlling apparatuses are attached to the top surface of the crankcase. |
| US08245669B2 |
Water heating systems and methods
A water heating system, comprise a tank, a heating element, and a controller that is coupled to the heating element. The controller comprises a base, a housing, a relay, logic and, a temperature sensor. The base is composed of thermally conductive material, and the housing is composed of electrically insulating material. The housing is coupled to the base, and the logic is configured to control the a state of the relay. Further, the temperature sensor contacts the base and is coupled to the logic. |
| US08245668B1 |
Furniture pet deterrent apparatus
An apparatus to deter pets from lying on a seat portion which extends between opposite arms each on an end of a piece of furniture comprising: i) a large spring having an extended length sufficient to extend across a width of the seat portion of the piece of furniture, the spring having a sufficient diameter to extend across a substantial depth of the seat portion; ii) a fabric sleeve loosely surrounding the large spring, the sleeve also having a length sufficient to extend across a width of the seat portion of the furniture; iii) two end panels, each attached to an opposite end portion of the large spring and an end portion of the fabric sleeve; and, iv) end panel attachment mechanism spaced around a periphery of the end panels to attach the end panels together in a storage position with the spring compressed therebetween. |
| US08245666B2 |
Bird feeder with retractable feeder body
A novel bird feeder is disclosed comprising a top portion with a hook, a cap and shield, and a bottom portion with a feeder body and a tray the top portion and the bottom portion being interconnected by a cable. One end of the cable is affixed to the bottom portion of the bird feeder and the other end of the cable is attached to a spring biased coil assembly located in the top portion. The bottom portion is then reversibly dislocatable from the top portion between an in-use condition and a re-supply condition. |
| US08245665B2 |
Combined pet food and water dispenser
An on demand food and water dispenser for pets comprises a base structure, having a base floor and a surrounding substantially vertical base wall structure, capable of holding water; a food bowl, having a bowl floor and a surrounding substantially vertical bowl wall structure attached to the base floor within the base structure but not contacting the base wall structure, the bowl capable of holding food; and a dual-chambered container attached within the base structure but not contacting the base wall structure, capable of receiving, storing and dispensing on demand from a first chamber dry pet food into the food bowl and on demand from a second chamber water into the base structure. The base structure receives dispensed water from the second chamber to create a water-filled moat that inhibits crawling insects from accessing the food bowl or food stored in the first chamber of the dual chambered container. |
| US08245664B2 |
Animal monitoring method and apparatus
A method and installation for automatically determining the readiness of an animal for being weaned off liquid feed and onto dry feed. The height of an animal in an animal installation is automatically measured using a height measurement system at a selected location within the installation. A suitable location within an installation for providing a height gauge may include a feeding station, a cleaning station or other treatment station of an animal. Additional parameters may be used for the determination of readiness to wean in combination with dry feed consumption rate, such as animal age, weight or other animal dimensions. In determining the height, the method may include making a determination of the overall physical condition of the animal and may include a determination of the height-to-weight-ratio of an animal. The installation may include an automatic animal weighing system. Measured values may be stored in a control system memory for monitoring the growth of individual animals. Animal identification means may be provided at the points of measurement of any parameter of an animal. |
| US08245663B2 |
Apparatus and methods for handling workpieces in a processing system
Apparatus and methods for handling workpieces in a processing system. The workpiece vertical lift mechanism (200), which is disposed inside a process chamber (40) of the processing system, is adapted to transfer a workpiece (55) to and from a pedestal portion (286) of an electrode (24). The pedestal portion (286) is configured to support the workpiece (55) during processing. The workpiece vertical lift mechanism (200) including a workpiece fixture (290) movable relative to the pedestal portion (286) between a first position in which the workpiece fixture (290) holds the workpiece (55) in a non-contacting relationship with the pedestal portion (286) and a second position in which the pedestal portion (286) projects above workpiece fixture (290) so as to transfer the workpiece (55) from the workpiece fixture (290) to the pedestal portion (286). |
| US08245660B2 |
Dip coating apparatus with height adjustable coating tubes and method of coating
A dip coating apparatus and method of dip coating. The apparatus includes a guide surface, a bendable tube, a carriage, and a support assembly. The bendable tube redirectionally engages the guide surface intermediate the first and second longitudinal ends of the tube. The carriage is vertically repositionable and cooperatively engages the tube proximate the first longitudinal end of the tube, whereby vertical repositioning of the carriage effects a change in the vertical distance between the first and second longitudinal ends of the tube. The support assembly releasably suspends an elongate workpiece for introduction of at least a portion of the workpiece into the tube through the first longitudinal end of the coating tube as the carriage is vertically repositioned upwards towards the support assembly. |
| US08245654B2 |
Embroidery hoop
An embroidery hoop (1) for a sewing machine or embroidery machine having two hoop parts, namely the lower hoop part (3) and the upper hoop part (5). The two hoop parts (3, 5) are connected to each other by a hinge that can be released without the use of tools. The embroidery material is clamped between the inner hinge element (9) on the lower hoop part (3) and the outer hinge element (15) on the upper hoop part (5). Through this measure, an embroidery material can be embroidered at any position. |
| US08245649B1 |
Specialized table apparatus
The specialized table apparatus provides for a child to be positioned in the center of the table top, with various toys and devices placed around them on the table top. The removably fitted table top corrals toys and other devices within the side rails that extend above the table top, thereby helping to prevent a child from inadvertently knocking devices off of the apparatus. The L-shaped legs provide for greater stability and for greater support of the table top and the house that is selectively fitted atop the table top. Various surfaces of the apparatus are provided in both erasable surfaces and magnetic surfaces. A storage area is provided adjacent to one side. |
| US08245647B2 |
Switching facility for crossed paths
A path switching facility for crossed paths comprises: at least one article transport vehicle configured to travel along a first path and a second path that crosses the first path; a guide rail for guiding a guided roller of the article transport vehicle; a travel rail for guiding and supporting travel wheels of the article transport vehicle; a rotatable guide rail and a rotatable travel rail both located in a crossing area; a push operating portion provided to the article transport vehicle to push one of the rotatable guide rail and the rotatable travel rail; and, an operatively connecting device for coupling a rotation of the rotatable guide rail with a rotation of the rotatable travel rail. |
| US08245645B1 |
Mine-defeating projectile
A mine defeating projectile includes a housing defining an inner cavity, a plurality of channels extending through a front surface of the housing and to the inner cavity, and a plurality of cutout sections extending through as side wall thereof. The projectile further includes a fragmentation sleeve disposed in the inner cavity of the housing and a slider sleeve disposed in the inner cavity of the housing abutting an aft end of the fragmentation sleeve. The slider sleeve includes an explosive train and the slider sleeve is frangibly attached to the housing. The projectile further includes a finned section attached to an aft end of the housing. The finned section defines a protrusion for initiating the explosive train. The protrusion is spaced apart from the explosive train. |
| US08245642B2 |
Projectile safety system
A small arms projectile for a small arms weapon is provided within a cartridge cover (1). A release element (15) is provided for preventing movement of the projectile's initiator (11) into an armed position. A channel (5) is formed between the initiator (11) and the projectile's explosive charge (8) and a slidable shield (6) is provided therein. An insert element (10) is also located in the channel for preventing movement of the shield (6) into its armed position. The insert element (10) is held in place by the cartridge cover (1). When the projectile exits the cartridge cover (1) following firing, the insert element (10) is configured to move out of the channel (5) to allow the shield (6) to move into its armed position. |
| US08245637B2 |
Method and device for separating printing plates
A device and a method for separating printing plates from a stack uses a lifting device for lifting the printing plates and at least one separating element to be moved under the lifted printing plates. The structurally simple device is able to react flexibly to different printing plate formats and, at the same time, avoids damage to a surface to be imaged of the individual printing plates. In order to avoid such problems, the device includes at least three separating elements which, as they move under a lifted printing plate at any time, are continuously disposed at distances from one another having a ratio that always remains constant. |
| US08245636B2 |
Interchangeable doctor blade assembly
Doctor blade assembly for rotogravure printing units, having a support structure for a doctor blade, a holding device of the support structure and a moving device for moving the holding device. The holding device includes a mounting suitable to fix either a chambered doctor blade or a non-chambered doctor blade to the moving device. |
| US08245635B2 |
Automatic alignment apparatus for rubber bands
Disclosed is an automatic alignment apparatus for rubber bands which automatically aligns a rubber band so as to automate a rubber banding process. The automatic alignment apparatus for rubber bands includes a pair of alignment rods installed in parallel on a plate, screw grooves respectively formed on outer circumferential surfaces of the alignment rods, alignment grooves formed on upper parts of the alignment rods, limit parts formed above the alignment grooves to prevent an aligned rubber band from being separated from the alignment rods, a driving unit and a power transmission unit to rotate the alignment rods, a first sensing unit to sense the rubber band aligned by rotation of the alignment rods, a second sensing unit to sense a consumption state of rubber bands temporarily banded onto the alignment rods, and a controller. |
| US08245634B1 |
Perforated sheet material and a set of sequin/confetti
Forming a perforated sheet which comprises a foil component and at least one flexible non-stick coating applied onto a surface of the foil component, wherein a plurality of apertures are then punched through the foil component and the at least one flexible non-stick coating to create a set of colored sequins and confetti with different colors on opposite surfaces. |
| US08245624B1 |
Decoupled multiple weapon platform
A Decoupled Elevation, Automatic Drift Correction (DEADCo) Multiple Weapon System is provided for concurrently engaging line-of-sight and indirect-fire weapons against a target. The DEADCo system includes a turret structure, a first cradle and a second cradle. The turret structure is mountable to a vehicle and rotatable in yaw on a turret training drive. The first cradle is mountable to the turret structure. The first cradle has a fire control system, and a first elevation drive rotatable in pitch on which to pivotably mount the line-of-sight weapon. The fire control system relays pointer commands to the first elevation drive. The second cradle is mountable to the turret structure. The second cradle includes a drift correction drive rotatable in yaw and a second elevation drive rotatable in pitch. The fire control system relays the pointer commands to the drift correction and second elevation drives that compensate for drift. The deflection weapon couples to the drift correction and second elevation drives for independent rotations in pitch and yaw. |
| US08245622B2 |
Vehicle and structure shield method
A vehicle and structure shield includes a flexible net subsystem including an array of rods or hard points supported by the net subsystem and configured to impact a projectile striking the net. A frame includes mounting brackets attached thereto positioning the frame in a spaced relationship with respect to the vehicle or structure. A first releasable fastener subsystem releasably secures the net subsystem to the frame and a second releasable fastener subsystem releasably secures the mounting brackets of the frame to a vehicle or structure. |
| US08245619B2 |
Shrapnel and projectile containment systems and equipment and methods for producing same
A blast-resistant panel may include a layer of a pre-cured elastomeric material having a predetermined thickness, a body portion, and a plurality of flanges, each of the plurality of flanges having a substantially equal width and depending away from a same side and at approximately equivalent right angles to the body portion. The blast-resistant panel may also include a plurality of fastener elements for securing the cured elastomeric material layer to a surface of a structure through the plurality of flanges of cured elastomeric material. |
| US08245617B2 |
Non-lethal restraint device with diverse deployability applications
An immobilization device and method of restraining vehicles, persons and animals uses tendrils attached to various devices to engage the target. The immobilization device, system and method includes a housing containing launchable tendrils that are launched from the housing by a propellant. The tendrils may be attached to straps or other elements carried by the immobilization device. The tendrils will engage the target and restrain it if it is a vehicle such as a car, truck, boat, submarine, or like vehicle. In stopping a person or animal the tendrils will deliver a marking package, a shocking package or a snare package to mark, shock or snare the target. Straps may be pulled off the housing leaving the housing near the point of deployment. |
| US08245614B2 |
Guard assembly for table saw
A table saw includes a base assembly, a table assembly supported by the base assembly, a saw assembly having a blade extending through the table assembly, and a riving knife assembly connected to the saw assembly. The riving knife assembly has a removable riving knife, and a riving knife locking mechanism for locking the riving knife in the riving knife assembly. A handle is mounted to the base assembly or the table assembly, and is connected to the riving knife locking mechanism for releasing the riving knife without using additional tools. |
| US08245613B2 |
Thin-section manufacturing apparatus
To provide a thin-section manufacturing apparatus capable of firmly receiving and transferring a thin-section made by sectioning an embedded block by bringing a transfer belt into a wet state, a thin-section manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a cutter 3 of sectioning an embedded block B, a cutter fixing portion 15 having a fixing base 16 of supporting the cutter 3 and an cutter holder 17 of squeezing the cutter 3 from an upper side, a sample base of fixing the embedded block B, feeding means 4 for moving the sample base 2 relative to the cutter 3 in a predetermined feeding direction X, a liquid bath 6 arranged on a rear side of a cut edge 3a of the cutter 3 for storing a liquid W, and a transfer belt 20 in an endless shape having a first turn back portion 20a provided on an upper side of the cutter 3 and a second turn back portion 20b provided at an inner portion of the liquid bath 6 for transferring a thin-section B1 to the liquid bath 6, an upper face of the cutter holder 17 is formed with a liquid storing portion 18 of storing the liquid W, and the first turn back portion 20a of the transfer belt 20 is arranged at an inner portion of the liquid storing portion 18. |
| US08245609B1 |
Reporting system for on-vehicle brake lathe
A reporting system, employing a microprocessor, tracks the operation of an on-vehicle brake lathe and provides records of the resurfacing operations performed by the lathe. Identification of the vehicle and wheel position of a brake disk to be resurfaced are inputted using an operator interface, and stored in a temporary memory. When tool bits of the lathe are positioned to set a depth of cut, a thickness monitor indicates the resulting thickness for the brake disk, which is compared to a minimum thickness specification for the inputted vehicle and wheel position to determine whether the disk can be resurfaced to meet the specification. If so, a cutting operation evaluator monitors a continuity checker that is responsive to contact of the tool bits and the disk to determine when the resurfacing operation is complete, at which time the collected data can be reported. |
| US08245607B2 |
Tool handle, sliding cover combination sliding cover for tool handle
A combination of an implement-storing tool-handle and a sliding cover for the tool handle where the implement-storing tool-handle heel comprises one or more first apertures in the cover allows extension of a telescopic implement such as a pick-up magnetic wand stored in the handle heel when the cover is in any of one or more first predetermined positions. The sliding cover for the implement-storing tool-handle heel may further comprise one or more second apertures in the cover conformed to allow retrieval of a bit stored in the handle only when the cover is in any of one or more second predetermined positions, where the second predetermined positions coincide with one or more of the first predetermined positions. |
| US08245606B2 |
Adjustable torque wrench having lock device
An adjustable torque wrench includes a driving shank pivotally coupled to a tubular lever and biased with a compression spring, an adjusting screw for adjusting a compression force of the compression spring, and a barrel attached to the adjusting screw and rotated in concert with the adjusting screw and having a graduation aligned with a window of the tubular lever for allowing the graduation of the barrel to be seen through the window of the tubular lever, a control ferrule is slidably engaged with the adjusting screw for rotating the adjusting screw to adjust the compression force of the compression spring, and a lock device attached to a handle for selectively anchoring the control ferrule to the handle. |
| US08245605B1 |
Wrench adapter
A device is provided for use with a wrench including an opening sized to receive a fastener assembly component therein. The device is coupleable to the wrench. The device includes a flange that extends outward from the device and remains spaced a distance from the wrench such that a slot is defined therebetween when the device is coupled to the wrench. The slot is sized and oriented to receive at least one of a washer and a bushing. |
| US08245604B2 |
Tool head positioning structure for flexible wrench
According to the present invention, the main purpose is to provide a tool head positioning structure for a flexible wrench, which includes a handle and a tool head pivotally connected to the handle. The handle includes a controller associated with a retaining member disposed between the controller and the tool head, and the retaining member can be controlled to approach or away from the tool head by rotating the controller. The controller has two continued surfaces, which are pushing portion and retracting portion respectively, and each surface has a depth different from each other. The handle further includes a resilient device engaged to the controller so as to keep in a required position. A user can rotate the controller to make the pushing portion or the retracting portion be aligned with the retaining member so as to fix or adjust an angle of the tool head. |
| US08245601B1 |
Screwdriver sleeve finder
A screwdriver sleeve finder comprises a sleeve, a fastener stop, purge channels, and ports. The sleeve is mountable on a screwdriver around a bit for driving a threaded fastener. The fastener stop is disposed within the sleeve between a forward bore and a rearward bore, and defines, between the rearward bore and the forward bore, an axial path for the bit to engage the threaded fastener and an evacuation path. The purge channels are defined within sidewalls of the sleeve, and the ports are disposed in the sidewalls of the sleeve to fluidly couple respective ones of the purge channels to the forward bore. The sleeve may be coupled to a compressed gas source for supplying compressed gas into the forward bore via the purge channels and ports, and to a vacuum source for evacuating particles within the forward bore via the evacuation path and the rearward bore. |
| US08245599B2 |
Transmission apparatus with multiple channels
A transmission apparatus that can transmit power via different inputs, and release power via specific outputs where the transmission apparatus is connected to a first input and a second input, both of which produce a forward rotation and a rearward rotation, and a first output. A first transmission device is connected to the first input and the first output and is driven to turn by the first input, wherein the first transmission device further has a one way transmission member to transmit the forward rotation of the first input to the first output, and a second transmission device connected to the second input and the first output and is driven to turn by the second input, wherein the second transmission device has a one way transmission member to transmit the forward rotation of the second input to the first output. |
| US08245597B2 |
Pedal structure of bicycle
A pedal structure of a bicycle includes a retaining assembly having an arcuate engaging tab, a limiting piece mounted, and a pushing block, the limiting piece including a groove attached thereon, the pedal including an arcuate hook disposed on a front side thereof, an aperture mounted on a middle section thereof, a chamber fixed on a rear side thereof, the chamber including two slots attached on top ends of two sides thereof respectively, a defining plane formed on an upper side thereof, and two peripheral plates arranged on the two sides thereof individually, the adjusting member including a rotating disc and a stem having a recess, and an eccentric opening communicating with the recess, the recess includes a tee locking member having a vent, two sliding projections, and a protrusion, and a shank being inserted to the eccentric opening and the vents to be retained in the recess. |
| US08245596B2 |
Parking brake
A park brake includes a brake lever that is movable about a pivot. A release mechanism is associated with the brake lever and includes a pawl adapted to contact and lock with a sector. A trigger is linked with the pawl and is moveable to change a moment of the pawl relative to the sector allowing selective movement of the brake lever. |
| US08245595B2 |
Two-axis non-singular robotic wrist
In a robotic system having a two-axis robotic wrist connected to a reference member, the wrist has a movable member movable relative to the reference member in pitch and yaw. A first serial chain linkage connects the movable member to the reference member and a second serial chain linkage connects the movable member to the reference member in parallel relationship with the first serial chain linkage. The linkages are configured to constrain the movable to spherical movement, and such that the robotic wrist is non-singular, non-overconstrained, and non-overactuated. Actuation of a pair of revolute joints connected to the reference member deflects the movable member in pitch and yaw. The roll angle resulting from deflection in pitch and yaw is that of an intersecting-shaft constant-velocity coupling connecting the reference member to the movable member. |
| US08245594B2 |
Roll joint and method for a surgical apparatus
A roll joint utilizes at least one tendon guide surface to guide actuator tendons for distal roll off and on their respective drums on a central shaft of the roll joint. The tendon guide surface turns the actuator tendon in an axial direction in a more compact space than might be required for a pair of pulleys, while using fewer parts with larger features more easily formed on a small scale. |
| US08245590B2 |
Device for transmitting a torque
A device (1) for transmitting torque from a first shaft (2) to a second shaft (3) of a transmission device, in particular a counter shaft transmission. The device (1) has a first gear (5) supported on the first shaft (2) by a bearing device (4) and which, in an assembled state, engages a second gear (6) arranged on the second shaft (3). The first gear (5) can be shifted into an activated state in which the first gear is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the first shaft (2). A supporting mechanism (18) is associated with the first gear (5), next to the bearing device (4), via which tilting moments present and acting on the first gear (5), at least in a connected state, are transmitted to and supported by the first shaft (2). |
| US08245587B2 |
System for deploying spatial appendices and spatial appendix comprising such a system
A deployment system for spatial appendages, such as, for example, solar generators, comprises at least one two-phase deployment articulation line, furnished with two rotation spindles. The deployment system comprises a synchronization mechanism for the two rotation spindles so that when the driving spindle rotates during a first deployment phase, the driven spindle does not rotate, and then, when the driving spindle rotates during the second deployment phase, the driven spindle rotates in a manner synchronized with the driving spindle. |
| US08245585B1 |
Modulated pressure wave vapor generator
The current invention provides a modulated pressure wave vapor generator suitable for use outside of the laboratory. The vapor generator of the current invention produces a controlled analyte vapor sample without using bulk movement of gas. Additionally, the current invention compensates for changes in the environment to ensure discharge of the preferred volume of analyte from the vapor generator. Finally, the current invention provides a method for generating a controlled volume of analyte vapor suitable for calibrating vapor sensors. |
| US08245583B2 |
Sensing module having a piezo-resistive sensor for orthopedic load sensing insert device
A sensing insert device (100) is disclosed for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The sensing insert device (100) can be temporary or permanent. Used intra-operatively, the sensing insert device (100) comprises an insert dock (202) and a sensing module (200). The sensing module (200) is a self-contained encapsulated measurement device having at least one contacting surface that couples to the muscular-skeletal system. The sensing module (200) comprises one or more sensing assemblages, electronic circuitry (307), an antenna (2302), and communication circuitry (320). The sensing assemblages are between a top plate (1502) and a bottom plate (1504) in a sensing platform (121). The sensing assemblages comprise a load disc (2004) and a piezo-resistive sensor (2002) to measure the parameter. An elastic support structure or springs (1108) is coupled between the top plate (1502) and the bottom plate (1504) to prevent cantilevering of a surface. |
| US08245582B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring a gas flow velocity
The invention relates to a method of measuring a gas flow velocity using an ultrasonic gas flow meter, wherein said ultrasonic gas flow meter includes a horizontal piping through which gas can flow in a flow direction and which has a central axis, at least one pair of measurement paths of equal length spaced apart, extending parallel to one another in separate horizontal planes and inclined to said flow direction, wherein each horizontal plane of a pair of measurement paths is vertically offset by an equal predefined distance from said central axis, wherein an ultrasonic transducer is arranged at each end of said measurement path and each ultrasonic transducer is adapted to selectively act as an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver, the method comprising the steps of measuring a flow velocity of said gas in a measurement path arranged in an upper region of said piping, measuring a flow velocity of said gas in a measurement path arranged in a lower region of said piping and using the results of these two measurements to predict if a liquid is present in said piping during said measurement. |
| US08245581B2 |
Flowmeter and method
A flowmeter for detecting fluid flow rates in a pipe includes a tube having a channel disposed in the pipe through which fluid in the pipe flows. The flowmeter includes an upstream transducer in contact with the pipe and positioned so plane waves generated by the upstream transducer propagates through the channel. The flowmeter includes a downstream transducer in contact with the pipe and positioned so plane waves generated by the downstream transducer propagate through the channel and are received by the upstream transducer which produces an upstream transducer signal. The downstream transducer receives the plane waves from the upstream transducer and provides a downstream transducer signal. The flowmeter includes a controller in communication with the upstream and downstream transducers which calculate fluid flow rate from the upstream transducer signal and the downstream transducer signal. A method for detecting fluid flow rates in a pipe. |
| US08245577B2 |
Pulse period jitter for artifact detection or reduction in ultrasound imaging
Depth ambiguity artifact is addressed. The pulse repetition interval is periodically varied. This jitter in the interval causes variance in the artifact while maintaining actual tissue or signal. The variation of the artifact may be visually detected or automatically detected and reduced, such as by removal. By removing the information associated with the variation of the artifact, the constant or maintained information may be presented with fewer artifacts. The variation may result in greater blurring of the artifact thereby reducing the artifact. |
| US08245575B2 |
Pressure sensor device with breakwater to reduce protective gel vibration
A piezoresistive pressure sensor that uses a protective gel to protect the piezoresistive device is susceptible to lead wire failure by vibration-induced waves in the protective gel. Such waves can be reduced and the device made more robust by the use of three-dimensional structures in the gel, which are configured to reduce and/or re-direct vibration-induced pressure waves in the gel. The structures are referred to as “breakwaters” in that they protect lead wires and lead wire connections from wave fronts and the damage that wave-induced pressure on the lead wires causes. |
| US08245574B2 |
Device and method for arranging a housing in a specified position relative to a reference object
A device and method for arranging a housing in a specified position relative to a reference object. For positioning and/or aligning a housing with respect to a reference object, a detachable positioning element is constructed on the housing. The positioning element comprises at least one stop element that is brought into contact with the reference object. The positioning element also comprises a carrier arm that connects the housing and the stop element, wherein the connection of the carrier arm to the housing is designed as a fracture point. After mounting the housing in the desired position, the positioning element is separated from the housing. |
| US08245572B2 |
System and method for analysis of well fluid samples
A system and method facilitates the analysis and sampling of well fluid. A sampling and data collection device is used to detect well fluid properties in situ at a flowline installation. In an exemplary embodiment, the sampling and data collection device comprises a sample collection system having a probe adapted to selectively insert into and selectively retract from the flowline to collect a fluid sample, and a sensor system to determine PVT data in situ at the location where the probe is inserted into the flowline. |
| US08245571B2 |
Component and production method for a component
A component having an acceleration sensor having at least one freely oscillatory mass, and a resonator having at least one resonating structure, in which the at least one freely oscillatory mass of the acceleration sensor and the at least one resonating structure of the resonator are disposed on and/or in one chip. A corresponding production method for a component is also described. |
| US08245564B1 |
Chemical sample collection and detection system
A system for remote detection of a chemical is disclosed. The system includes a sample collection module that collects a sample and produces a sample vapor at a first location; a sample delivery module that delivers the sample vapor from the first location to a second location; a sample storage and concentration module that collects the sample vapor at the second location; and a sample analysis module that analyzes the sample collected in the sample storage and concentration module. |
| US08245561B2 |
Hydraulically driven pressing device, and method of pressing a fitting
The invention relates to a hydraulically driven pressing device (1) comprising a piston (5) and a cylinder (4) for acting on pressing jaws (8, 8′, 8′), wherein the piston shaft (11) at any rate is connected to acting means (12). To further improve a pressing device of the type in question such that the same device can be used to carry out pressing operations requiring different levels of pressing power, it is proposed that an adjustable stop (33) be provided in the direction of displacement of the hydraulic piston (5) in order to achieve different end positions for the hydraulic piston (5) during the piston return stroke. A method of pressing a fitting with a tube is also described. |
| US08245554B2 |
Arrangement for processing sheet metal
A mechanical arrangement for processing sheet metal includes a sheet metal processing device, a transport device configured to position a sheet metal workpiece relative to the sheet metal processing device, the transport device including at least one workpiece carrier that is movable along a transport path that extends along a first transport line and a second transport line, and at least two X-guides and at least two Y-guides, the X-guides arranged parallel with the first transport line and the Y-guides arranged parallel with the second transport line. The at least two X-guides and the at least two Y-guides are configured to be coupled to each other by a transfer device to form a transport course, the workpiece carrier circulates along the X-guides and the Y-guides, and the transfer device is configured to move the workpiece carrier from one of the X-guides to one of the Y-guides. |
| US08245553B2 |
Method of producing ultrathin-wall seamless metal tube using floating plug
A method of producing an ultrathin-wall metal tube by a cold drawing method includes a diameter-expanding drawing method, in which an entry solid die, the diameter of which increases, remains constant or decreases from the engaging entry side toward the finishing exit side, and a delivery solid die, the diameter of which decreases at least in the vicinity of the engaging entry, are arranged in series and in an abutting relation on the same pass line. A tapered plug, the diameter of which increases from the engaging entry side toward the finishing exit side, floats along the pass line, whereby in the entry solid die region, the wall thickness is reduced while the mid-wall diameter of a hollow shell is being expanded between the solid die and the plug, and in the delivery solid die region, the tapered plug floats by performing reduction working of the outside diameter. |
| US08245552B2 |
Process for producing high-alloy seamless tube
A starting material to be extruded made of a high alloy comprising, in mass %, Cr: 20 to 30% and Ni: more than 22% and 60% or less is heated to a temperature predetermined according to the contents of Mo and W and is subjected to a hot-extrusion process, the heating temperature T (° C.) satisfying a relationship of Formula (1), (2), or (3), which is expressed in terms of the average cross-sectional area A (mm2) of the starting material to be extruded, the extrusion ratio EL (−), and the extrusion speed V (mm/s). As a result, a high-alloy seamless tube can be produced without generating cracking and/or seam flaws. When 0%≦Mo+0.5W<4%: T≦1343−0.001322×A−1.059×EL−0.129×V (1) When 4%≦Mo+0.5W<7%: T≦1316−0.001322×A−1.059×EL−0.129×V (2) When 7%≦Mo+0.5W: T≦1289−0.001322×A−1.059×EL−0.129×V (3) |
| US08245550B2 |
Apparatus for providing a rolling action of a curved tool along a flat stationary substrate
The apparatus comprises a crank arm in a crank-arm press with a curved tool at the end of the crank arm being constrained to move so the curved tool makes rolling contact across a flat, stationary substrate. The crankshaft rotates about an axis, the crank arm is rotatably mounted at one end to the crankshaft, a curved tool is mounted at the other end of the crank arm, a line on the surface of the curved tool and parallel to the crankshaft axis of rotation is constrained to move perpendicular to a plane while the curved tool is in rolling contact with the substrate, said plane being the plane of the flat stationary substrate, the radius of curvature of the curved tool being greater than the length of the crank arm; and with the radius of the curved tool, the length of the crank arm, and the eccentric radius of rotation of the crankshaft being selected to maintain the contact line of the curved tool in the substrate plane during the rolling contact. |
| US08245549B2 |
Tamperproof power tailgate lock
A tamperproof power lock is provided for use in a pickup truck tailgate latch handle. The lock includes a power actuator, a rotating crank, a connecting rod and a lock bolt that locks the tailgate handle. The linear output motion of the actuator is transferred into rotation of the crank that is limited to rotate between two stops. An over center spring or friction keeps the crank or the lock bolt in either of the two stop positions. The rotation of the crank is transferred into linear motion of the locking bolt by the connecting rod. In the locked position the crank is up against one of the stops and the connecting rod past dead center. As a result the locking bolt cannot be pushed back forcibly in an attempt to defeat the lock. |
| US08245548B2 |
Handle assembly
A handle assembly, includes, but is not limited to a handle on one side of a vehicle tailgate liftglass. The handle is connected to a shaft member that passes through a hole in the liftglass. A motor pivots the assembly into either a closed position, in which the handle lies adjacent to the liftglass, or an open position, FIG. 2, in which a gap is left between the handle and the liftglass into which the user may place his hand in order to pull the handle or push the liftglass. Preferably there is a resilient element between the motor and the handle. |
| US08245544B2 |
Circular knitting machine for men'S socks, of the type with needles on the dial
A circular knitting machine for men's socks comprises a cylinder, cylinder needles, movement devices of the cylinder needles, sinkers (12), movement devices of the sinkers, a dial (14), a dial shaft, dial needles (18) mechanisms for moving the dial needles, selector mechanism able to selectively move the dial needles, a yarn-finger, dial needle selector mechanisms. The dial needle selector mechanisms comprise selector rods (30) limited in both directions radially to the respective dial needles. |
| US08245543B2 |
Deposition burner and method for the manufacture thereof, use of the deposition burner and method for the production of a quartz glass body by using the deposition burner
To provide a method for the inexpensive manufacture of a deposition burner with small manufacturing tolerances for use in the synthesis of quartz glass, and wherein moreover, when the deposition burner is used as intended, the risk of contamination of the quartz glass to be produced is low, the invention suggests the following method steps: (a) providing a start cylinder of quartz glass (40) which is mechanically provided with longitudinal bores (46, 47); (b) elongating the start cylinder with formation of a burner strand (42), the longitudinal bores being shaped as elongated channels extending in parallel with one another; (c) cutting the burner strand into pieces in the form of cylindrical quartz glass blocks (43), each being provided with passage lines extending in parallel with a central axis of the quartz glass block; and (d) manufacturing the deposition burner by using a respective one of such quartz glass blocks as burner head which has a proximal end and a distal end, the passage lines serving the supply of process media from the distal to the proximal, burner head end. |
| US08245540B2 |
Method for scoring a sheet of brittle material
A method of cutting glass that prevents uncontrolled crack propagation when high background stress is present, either in the form of thermal residual stress, external mechanical stress or a combination thereof. The method includes masking an edge of the glass by blocking the beam using highly reflective or absorptive material located near the glass surface, or deposited on the surface in a form of a thin film (or highly reflective paint) to prevent uncontrolled crack initiation and propagation starting from the glass edge. The initiation of the laser scoring is located at a predetermined distance from the glass edge. Yet another aspect of the invention embodies stopping propagation of the vent at the exiting end of the score line. |
| US08245536B2 |
Laser assisted frit sealing of high CTE glasses and the resulting sealed glass package
A laser assisted frit sealing method is described herein that is used to manufacture a glass package having a first glass plate (with a relatively high CTE of about 80-90×10−7° C.−1), a second glass plate, and a frit (with a CTE that is at least about 35×10−7° C.−1), where the frit forms a seal (e.g., hermetic seal) which connects the first glass plate to the second glass plate. |
| US08245535B2 |
Method of strengthening glass plate
A method of strengthening glass plate is provided. A plasma treating process is performed on a glass plate so that a surface pore variation of the glass plate after the plasma treating process is reduced relative to the surface pore variation of the glass plate before the plasma treating process, wherein the surface pore variation is a variation degree of surface pores in different unit areas of the glass plate. In the mean time, a melted network crosslinking structure is formed on the surface of the glass plate. Based on the above-mentioned mechanisms, the glass plate is strengthened. The plasma treating process is conducive to strengthen the glass plate whether the plasma treating process is performed before or after the conventional chemical strengthening process. |
| US08245534B2 |
Application-centric user interface techniques
Various application-centric user interface techniques are described. A user can easily launch, add, or update applications. An application-centric activity center can be presented as part of a user interface for an operating system shell. A file defining metadata for an application can be defined. The techniques can be applied to game-related software. |
| US08245533B2 |
Ring and method for wearing
A jewelry ring and associated method includes a shank, and a cross member having ornamental elements which is received by the shank. The shank has two upwardly directed slots which accept the cross member and allow it to slide upward toward the ends of the shank. When the ring is worn the finger holds the cross member in the slots of the shank. The cross member includes ornamental elements which rotate around a rod. End members on the rod retain the ornamental elements, and prevent the rod from sliding transversely through the slots in the shank. |
| US08245531B2 |
Fluid machine and refrigeration cycle apparatus having the same
A fluid machine (10) includes: a closed casing (11) having an oil reservoir (16) in its bottom portion; a main compression mechanism (3) supplied with oil contained in an upper portion (16a) of the oil reservoir; a rotation motor (8); a main compression mechanism side shaft (38) for coupling the main compression mechanism (3) and the rotation motor (8); a mechanical power recovery mechanism (5) disposed below the upper portion (16a) and recovering mechanical power from a working fluid; a sub-compression mechanism (2) disposed below the upper portion (16a); a mechanical power recovery shaft (16) for coupling the mechanical power recovery mechanism (5) and the sub-compression mechanism (2); and a heat-insulating structure (80) located between the upper portion (16a) and the mechanical power recovery mechanism (5) and restricting flow of oil between the upper portion (16a) of the oil reservoir (16) and a lower portion (16b) of the oil reservoir in which the mechanical power recovery mechanism (5) is provided. |
| US08245530B2 |
Inlet guide vane, compressor and refrigerator
An inlet guide vane is turnably installed about an axis line at a suction port into which a fluid is drawn by rotation of an impeller in order to adjust a suction amount and flow direction of the fluid, the inlet guide vane, and includes: a shaft that is turnably supported by inserting a round bar-shaped shaft main body portion thereof in a bearing sleeve; and a plate-shaped vane main body that is joined with the shaft and projects from an inner periphery surface of the suction port to a central portion of the suction port, the shaft including a flange portion that is provided at a distal end side in a direction of the axis line to join with the vane main body and that extends to an outside in a direction perpendicular to the axis line so as to be extended outward in a radial direction of the bearing sleeve. |
| US08245528B2 |
Fluid machine
In a compression/expansion unit (30) serving as a fluid machine, both of a compression mechanism (50) and an expansion mechanism (60) are contained in a single casing (31). A shaft (40) coupling the compression mechanism (50) to the expansion mechanism (60) has an oil feeding channel (90) formed therein. Refrigerating machine oil accumulated at the bottom of the casing (31) is sucked up into the oil feeding channel (90) and fed to the compression mechanism (50) and the expansion mechanism (60). The refrigerating machine oil fed to the expansion mechanism (60) is discharged from the expansion mechanism (60) together with the refrigerant after expansion, flows through the refrigerant circuit and then flows back to the compression mechanism (50) in the compression/expansion unit (30). |
| US08245527B2 |
Ice making device
An ice making device may include an ice tray, a drive mechanism for moving the ice tray to a water-supply position and to an ice making position, a guide plate formed with a guide groove for guiding the ice tray to the water-supply position and to the ice making position, an engaging projection provided on the ice tray and engaged with the guide groove, a crank which is formed with a drive groove with which the engaging projection is engaged and which is connected with the drive mechanism for moving the ice tray, a heater which is mounted on the ice tray, and a connecting wire which is connected to the heater. The engaging projection is an engaging tube and is structured of two engaging tube pieces which are divided by a plane in an axial direction, and the connecting wire is drawn out by passing through an inner side of the engaging tube. |
| US08245525B2 |
Heat source apparatus, heat source system, and method for operating heat source apparatus
A heat source apparatus in which a control device of the heat source apparatus can ascertain a stoppage of an inverter device and in which a stable operating time of the heat source apparatus can be extended is provided. The heat source apparatus includes an electric compressor that is driven by an inverter device and that compresses a refrigerant, the inverter device having a protective function that performs stoppage for device protection on the basis of a predetermined calculation by an inverter control portion, and a control device that controls cold output and/or heat output. The control device includes an inverter-protective-function estimating unit that estimates a calculation result of the protective function of the inverter control portion. |
| US08245524B2 |
Thermal cascade system for distributed household refrigeration system
A distributed refrigeration appliance system in a residential kitchen and other locations in a dwelling including multiple separate refrigeration appliance modules, a central cooling system and a cooling circuit. The system can also include one or more satellite stations having a heat exchanger and arranged for supplying chilled air to one or more refrigeration appliance modules. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can include a thermal cascade cooling device to cool the module to lower temperatures than the cooling circuit can attain. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can be refrigeration/storage modules that can provide refrigerated, unconditioned or heated storage space. The central cooling system can be a vapor compression system having a refrigerant circuit connecting the modules. Alternately, the central cooling system can cool a secondary cooling medium circuit. The refrigeration system can also have more than one refrigeration machine providing cooling to the secondary refrigeration loop. |
| US08245521B2 |
Process and apparatus for concentrating dilute solution
The present invention provides a process and an apparatus for concentrating dilute solution. |
| US08245520B2 |
Method and apparatus for collecting a refrigerant
A method and a recovery container for collecting a hydrocarbon refrigerant are disclosed. The method includes releasing the hydrocarbon refrigerant from the refrigeration system, and collecting the released hydrocarbon refrigerant with a recovery container containing a hydrocarbon refrigerant adsorptive substance thereby binding the released hydrocarbon refrigerant to the hydrocarbon refrigerant adsorptive substance. |
| US08245517B2 |
Gas turbine starting with stepping speed control
The system and method of the present invention provides stepping speed control of a gas turbine engine to reliably light-off a gas turbine engine. During starting, the speed of the gas turbine engine is incremented by stepped amounts through the light-off window from a minimum speed value to a maximum speed value, with the speed of the gas turbine dwelling at each stepped value for a period of time before incrementing the speed of the engine to the next stepped level. If the gas turbine engine is stepped through the entire light-off window without success, the controller decreases the speed of the gas turbine engine to the minimum value and begins the process again. The process continues until successful light-off is initiated or until the light-off window is traversed a certain number of times, after which the start process is aborted. |
| US08245514B2 |
Combustion liner for a gas turbine engine including heat transfer columns to increase cooling of a hula seal at the transition duct region
A combustion duct assembly has a transition duct and a combustion liner having a hula seal at a downstream end that is forced within an inner wall of the transition duct. The combustion liner is held within the transition duct by the hula seal, but allowed to move relative to the transition duct. The combustion liner is formed with heat transfer columns adjacent the downstream end, and radially inwardly of the hula seal. |
| US08245511B2 |
Cylinder block mounted pedestal and turbocharger system for internal combustion engine
A turbocharger system for an internal combustion engine includes a turbocharger with a utility pedestal extending between the turbocharger and hard point associated with the cylinder block. The utility pedestal includes a mounting pad for attaching the combined turbocharger and pedestal assembly to an engine, as well as internal oil and coolant supply passages for supplying the turbocharger with coolant and lubricating oil under pressure. |
| US08245502B2 |
Emission control system with an optimized reductant injection model
According to at least one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an emission control system which includes a reductant injector injecting a pre-determined amount of a reductant into a vehicle exhaust passage, and sensors measuring an exhaust space velocity, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst temperature, and a before-SCR nitrogen oxide (NOx) concentration, wherein the predetermined amount of the reductant is a function of the exhaust space velocity, the before-SCR NOx concentration, and the SCR catalyst temperature. In at least one particular embodiment, the predetermined amount of the reductant is measured according to equation (I) y=axn; wherein y is the flow of the reductant; x is the product of the exhaust space velocity and the before-SCR NOx concentration; and “a” and “n” are each independently a function of the catalytic temperature (“T”) of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst. |
| US08245497B2 |
Exhaust emission control device for internal combustion engine and performance diagnosis method for NOx adsorbent
The present invention relates to an exhaust emission control device having an NOx adsorbent, and makes it possible to judge whether the performance of the NOx adsorbent is degraded temporarily or permanently. The amounts of NOx and water adsorbed by the NOx adsorbent are measured during an actual operation of an internal combustion engine. A reference line indicating the correlation between a preselected water adsorption amount and NOx adsorption amount is then referenced to determine a reference value y0 of the NOx adsorption amount that corresponds to a measured value x1 of the water adsorption amount. Next, a measured value y1 of the NOx adsorption amount is compared against the reference value y0 to output a signal in which the result of the comparison is reflected. |
| US08245493B2 |
Power plant and control method
Ambient air is compressed into a compressed ambient gas flow with a main air compressor. The compressed ambient gas flow having a compressed ambient gas flow rate is delivered to a turbine combustor and mixed with a fuel stream having a fuel stream flow rate and a portion of a recirculated gas flow to form a combustible mixture. The combustible mixture is burned and forms the recirculated gas flow that drives a turbine. The recirculated gas flow is recirculated from the turbine to the turbine compressor using a recirculation loop. At least one emission level is measured by at least a first emission sensor in the recirculated gas flow and at least a first control signal is generated. The fuel stream flow rate is adjusted based on the at least a first control signal to achieve substantially stoichiometric combustion. |
| US08245489B2 |
Combine header with gauge wheels to control cut height
A header assembly for a combine harvester includes a header carried by an adapter on the feeder house of the combine and on a pair of gauge wheels which can be adjusted from inside the cab to change a height of the cutter bar from the ground. This is used in combination with an Automatic Header Height Control so that the main suspension is adjusted to carry approximately 90% of the header weight, the header is dropped on the ground until the gauge wheels contact the ground, and causes the header to “float” with respect to the main carrier frame and the AHHC is set so that the combine feeder house stops lowering when a pre-set amount of header to adapter separation (float) is achieved with the AHHC operating to maintain this set amount by controlling the height of the feeder house. |
| US08245484B2 |
Bag opening method and apparatus for use in bag filling and packaging
A bag opening method and apparatus for use in bag filling and packaging in which a bag B is gripped at its laterally opposite side edges with a pair of gripping members and moved along a predetermined path. A pair of suction cups 23 disposed facing each other at respective mutually spaced standby positions are moved to respective closest positions at which a vacuum is applied to the suction cups to cause them to adhere to the outer surfaces of the opposite side walls of the bag. The suction cups are retracted away from each other to respective intermediate positions between the closest and standby positions. The suction cups having reached the intermediate positions are stopped there for a predetermined period of time. Thereafter, the suction cups are retracted from the intermediate positions to the standby positions, respectively. The vacuum acting upon the suction cups is measured at some point during a time period which starts immediately before the suction cups reach the intermediate positions and ends at the termination of the period of time during which the suction cups are stopped at the intermediate positions. The application of the vacuum to the suction cups is stopped at a time between a time after the measurement of the vacuum and a time immediately after the starting of movement of the suction cups to the standby positions. The measured vacuum is compared to a preset reference value to judge whether or not the bag has been opened satisfactorily. The positions of the intermediate positions are changed according to the width of the bag. |
| US08245481B1 |
Apparatus, kit and method for forming a deck
A method of forming a deck may comprise forming components for the deck at a first location, including forming components of a perimeter support frame for the deck to extend along a perimeter of the deck. The components of the perimeter support frame may include a plurality of perimeter frame assemblies, and forming components of an interstitial support frame for the deck to position in the perimeter support frame. The components may be transported to a location where the deck is to be used. The method may include assembling the components of the deck to form the deck at the location. The assembling step may include assembling the perimeter support frame from the perimeter frame assemblies, assembling the interstitial support frame in the perimeter support frame, and assembling decking elements on the support frames to form a floor of the deck. A kit for the deck is also disclosed. |
| US08245479B2 |
Hinge connector for connecting structural frame members
A hinged connector for use in pivotally connecting structural components has improved robustness to carry greater loads through a hinged joint formed using the hinged connector. In one aspect ribs are formed in the hinged connector adjacent the pivoting location. Parts are shaped and arranged to resist tearing in tension and buckling in compression. |
| US08245475B1 |
Environment friendly building system utilizing recycled/upcycled, collapsed, preformed and post consumer plastic material
An environmentally friendly building system for promoting long term carbon capture and sequestration of roofing and siding by utilizing recycled/upcycled, collapsed, preformed, and post consumer plastic material. The system includes a plurality of tiles. The plurality of tiles interlock with each other to form overlapping courses of laterally staggered roofing or siding. Each tile includes a bottle and a cap connector. The cap connector of each tile caps off the bottle of an associated tile, and hooks into the bottle laying on top thereof so as to hold the overlapping courses of the laterally staggered roofing or siding in place. The bottle of each tile is made from recycled/upcycled, collapsed, preformed, and post consumer plastic material for promoting the long term carbon capture and sequestration of the laterally staggered roofing or siding so as to be environmentally friendly. |
| US08245472B2 |
Building facade construction system and methods therefor
A building façade system adapted to be installed onto an exposed surface of a building and provide a substrate for installation of façade elements (e.g., stone, stucco and the like). The system preferably provides a corrosion-resistant structure adapted to withstand extended environmental exposure. In general, the system includes a highly porous three dimensional matrix filamentous polymeric mat and a fiberglass mesh layer associated therewith. Collectively, the polymeric mat and fiberglass mesh layer are adapted to be installed onto an exposed building wall and provide a substrate onto which desired façade elements may be installed. |
| US08245470B2 |
Wood-concrete-composite systems
A wood concrete composite system (100, 200) has a wood construction component (110, 111, 112, 210, 211), an intermediate layer (140, 141, 142, 143, 230, 231, 232) and a concrete construction unit (150, 151, 152, 240, 241). The concrete construction unit (150, 151, 152, 240, 241) has at least one side which faces the wood construction component (110, 111, 112, 210, 211). Thus at least single intermediate layer (140, 141, 142, 143, 230, 231, 232) creates at least a partial separation between the wood and concrete. |
| US08245468B2 |
Hollow wall base
A flexible, extruded plastic wall structure with a hollow core is presented along with a method of making the same. The wall structure has an overall flat back wall, an overall front wall and at least one support wall extending between and confined to the interior surfaces of the overall back wall and the overall front wall; the overall back wall, the overall front wall and the at least one support wall having a generally uniform thickness and defining at least two defined spaces. The wall structure includes sections, where the rear wall of each section is flat from the bottom of the wall structure to the top of the wall structure. The hollow wall structure has a front wall having vertically disposed sections with different contours. The method includes using extrusion die for heating and extruding plastics using a multi-functional insert within the die and air pressure to create a hollow core in the wall structure. The hollow core allows less material to flow though the die so that the die stays hotter and the flow of the extruded plastic is not impeded. The resulting extruded plastic wall structure is comprised of a generally thick portion, a generally thin portion and a profile on the face or front of the wall structure. |
| US08245465B2 |
Fastening device for curtain wall units
A fastening device for curtain wall units includes a first clamping plate, a second clamping plate fixed to the first clamping plate and spaced apart from the first clamping plate, a first support plate positioned between the first clamping plate and the second clamping plate, and a second support plate hinged to the first support plate and configured to support the curtain wall units. |
| US08245460B2 |
Supporting clasp
A supporting clasp which supports a securing member for securing a roof-installed object to be installed on a roof includes a bottom portion having a substantially rectangular shape which is secured onto a roof material through a base member, plate-form installing pieces which extend to the upper side from two sides of the bottom portion, which are opposed to each other, and which enable the securing member to be installed on upper edges of the installing pieces, and plate-form holding pieces which extend to the upper side from two sides of the bottom portion, which are substantially perpendicular to the two sides from which the installing pieces extend, so as to be higher than the installing pieces, are coupled to the installing pieces in a continuous manner at lower positions with respect to the upper edges of the installing pieces, and are capable of holding the securing member in a state where upper portions of the holding pieces with respect to the installing pieces nip the securing member. |
| US08245455B2 |
Convertible hard side shelter
A hard side shelter is convertible between transport and deployed modes. When in the transport mode, the shelter has an envelope identical to an ISO-cargo container. A side section floor and cover are each connected to the center section for rotating between being coplanar with the center section floor and roof when in the deployed mode, and being vertical and lying in a center section side planes when in a transport mode. Each side section has end and middle panels that are turnable relative to each other, and a door assembly that is turnable relative to the middle panels. Locking bars engaged the center section floor when the shelter is in a transport mode, and engage the side section floors when the shelter is in the deployed mode. The shelter is handleable by pallet handling systems and includes insulation panels to enhance the heat transfer characteristics of the shelter. |
| US08245454B2 |
Roofing grommet forming a seal between a roof-mounted structure and a roof
A roof mount assembly mounts a structure to a roof having a rafter and a substrate supported by the rafter. The roof mount assembly includes a piece of flashing positioned on the substrate. The flashing includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an aperture extending through the flashing. A fastener extends through the flashing aperture. A bracket is connected to the flashing via the fastener, and the bracket is sized to support at least one roof-mounted structure on the roof. A seal is positioned between the flashing aperture and the fastener. The seal is sized to form a water-tight seal with the aperture to inhibit flow of fluid through the aperture. The seal includes a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion is positioned to abut the flashing first surface and the second portion is positioned to extend through the aperture. |
| US08245452B2 |
Molded sectioned riser and locking cover
A riser formed from a plurality of curved cylindrical segments with vertical side edges having mating vertically tapered projections and slots brought into interlocking engagement to pull confronting surfaces together as the tapered elements become increasingly mechanically engaged. The segments are assembled by a sliding engagement of the protruding mating element of one segment into the vertically tapered slot of an adjacent segment. When sufficient segments are joined together horizontally to complete a ring except for a last adjacent pair of vertical side edges, the ring is warped to align the protruding mating element of the last adjacent pair of vertical side edges with an opposite end of the adjacent tapered slot. Thus aligned, the final protruding mating element and tapered slot are then slipped together while un-warping the joined segments forming the remainder of the ring until the top and bottom ends of all the segments are aligned. A cover has a flexible spider on a lower surface that can be locked into a groove or other feature on an inside surface of the curved riser segments. |
| US08245451B2 |
Under deck drainage system
An under deck drainage system for use with a deck. The system includes at least one starter strip mounted to one or more joists of the deck, a plurality of clips coupled with the starter strip, where the clips are slidable along the starter strip. The system further includes an elongate channel member coupled with at least one of the plurality of clips, and the elongate channel member has at least one channel therein. |
| US08245442B2 |
Preformed decorative wrapper and methods of use thereof
A preformed decorative wrapper for covering a flower pot has an open upper end, an open lower end, and a sidewall extending therebetween. At least a portion of the preformed decorative wrapper extends beyond an upper end of the pot and at least a portion of a lower end of the flower pot extends through the open lower end of the preformed decorative wrapper. |
| US08245441B1 |
Pull-down planter hanger
An apparatus and method for hanging a load from awnings, ceilings or wall brackets, for example a planter or other item to be suspended but selectively lowered. The load is suspended from a cord that is constantly urged to a wound up position on a spool held above the load. The load can be lowered by overcoming the winding force. Optionally, the load can be fixed over a range of lowered positions. In one example, a wedge clamps the cord in any of a range of extended lengths to set different heights of the load. Optionally, the spool can be enclosed. The planter easily and in a controlled manner can be lowered against the winding force with relatively little manual pulling force on the planter. But also, the planter can easily and in a controlled manner by assisted when raised by relatively little manual lifting force. |
| US08245439B2 |
Automated high-throughput seed sampler and methods of sampling, testing and bulking seeds
A seed sampling system includes a seed transport configured to hold multiple individual seeds together as a group and transport the multiple individual seeds together as the group, and to allow the multiple individual seeds to be oriented, substantially simultaneously, while the multiple individual seeds are being held in the seed transport. The seed sampling system also includes a seed sampling subsystem configured to remove tissue from the oriented multiple individual seeds. And, a method for removing tissue from the multiple individual seeds includes loading the multiple individual seeds in the seed transport, orienting the multiple individual seeds in the seed transport substantially simultaneously, and removing tissue from the oriented multiple individual seeds. |
| US08245437B1 |
Fishing lure
A fishing lure having a bent half-moon shape body. The top portion of the fishing lure has a plurality of attachments points for hooks and lines and circular stamp resembling an eye. The bottom portion of the fishing lure is angled relative to the top portion. |
| US08245430B1 |
Method and apparatus for disrupting components of explosive devices
A system, a firing apparatus and method for disrupting at least one electrical component of an explosive device are provided. The system has an electrical cartridge, the firing apparatus and an initiator. The electrical cartridge has a projectile at an end thereof deployable into the electrical component(s). The firing apparatus has a barrel, a breech and an electrical contact. The barrel has a firing end aimable toward the electrical component, and a passage therein for receiving the electrical cartridge. The breech is operatively connectable to the barrel. The electrical contact is positionable in the breech in operative contact with the electrical cartridge. The electrical contact is operatively connectable to the initiator. The initiator selectively provides an electrical signal to the electrical cartridge via the electrical contact whereby the electrical cartridge may be activated to deploy the projectile from the firing end of the barrel. |
| US08245424B2 |
Alternating sign
An alternating sign assembly includes a sheet of light permeable material comprising a front surface and a rear surface; a front design that includes a front design layer; a silhouette pattern including light-restricting imaging material, said front design being superimposed on or forming a part of the silhouette pattern, said silhouette pattern subdividing said sheet into a plurality of discrete areas of said imaging material and/or a plurality of discrete areas devoid of said imaging material; a switchable front source of artificial illumination of said front design; a rear design disposed rearwardly of the front design; and a switchable rear source of artificial illumination of said rear design. The sources of illumination may be alternately turned on to make the front and rear designs alternately visible to an observer in front of the assembly. |
| US08245423B2 |
Medical manager
A system for alerting medical emergency personnel to a medical history of a patient. The system has a primary identifier suitable for attachment near an entrance to a building. The primary identifier has an indicia noting that a tri-fold portfolio is present. A secondary identifier is provided suitable for placement in the building wherein the secondary identifier has the indicia and a location of the tri-fold portfolio. The tri-fold portfolio has an outer portion with a top front cover and a bottom front cover with a back hingedly attached there between. Cascading file folders are attached to an interior of the back wherein when the top front cover and the bottom front cover are folded the cascading file folders are covered. |
| US08245422B2 |
Athletic shoe cleat with dynamic traction and method of making and using same
A single component traction cleat of co-molded hub and dynamic traction portions includes dynamic traction elements flexible about proximal ends secured inboard of and below a hub periphery having cut-outs through which the elements move when flexed. The hub has a cross-like configuration with spoke-like legs from which static traction elements depend. Locking posts located on the hub spoke legs include a recess between two symmetrical interference sections for receiving a locking tooth on a mating receptacle. |
| US08245421B2 |
Closure systems for articles of footwear
An article of footwear including a forefoot portion and a heel portion movable relative to the forefoot portion from a first articulated configuration to a second articulated configuration is provided. An articulation assembly having a forefoot articulation member and a heel articulation member is also provided. The articulation assembly couples the forefoot portion to the heel portion and includes a hinge mechanism and a cam mechanism. The hinge mechanism may include a pin located within a socket. The cam mechanism may include a cam surface and a protrusion configured to ride on the cam surface. The article of footwear may include a locking mechanism having a first locking element that engages a second locking element in the first articulated configuration. The first locking element may be a first concavity formed in a surface and the second locking element may be a protrusion configured to extend into the first concavity in the first articulated configuration. The articulation assembly may be provided as part of a sole structure. |
| US08245418B2 |
Front-opening footwear systems
The present invention relates to articles with cavities capable of receiving objects as a result of extending an opening into a cavity capable of receiving the objects. For example, the opening in an article of footwear can be extended into the toe box to allow for the easier insertion and removal of a foot. The present invention also relates to systems that permit the article to be secured to the object after it has been inserted. |
| US08245417B2 |
Vapor-permeable waterproof sole for shoes, shoe which uses said sole, and method for manufacturing said sole and said shoe
A vapor-permeable and waterproof sole for shoes, including a tread including a plurality of through holes, a multilayer pack, arranged superimposed on the region where the through holes are provided and including a membrane, permeable to water vapor and impermeable to liquids, and a protective layer, arranged directly below the membrane. The tread is overmolded onto the pack and further surrounds the edges, the lower perimetric portion, and the upper perimetric portion of the pack to form a perimetric seal adapted to avoid rise of liquids. The pack includes a vapor-permeable or perforated layer element, arranged directly below the protective layer, superimposed on the through holes region. The layer-like element avoids contact of the molding polymeric material with the protective layer during tread molding, and is further associated with the protective layer. |
| US08245416B2 |
Waterproof vapor-permeable shoe
A waterproof and water vapor-permeable shoe, including a bottom shoe part with a sole perforated through from the tread toward a foot resting region, a top part surrounding the foot and including a vapor-permeable or perforated lining, a waterproof and vapor-permeable membrane surrounding the foot, and a vapor-permeable or perforated upper. The outer bottom portion of the top shoe part, which is superimposed on the perforated area of the sole, is constituted by a portion of the membrane. A vapor-permeable or perforated protective element for the portion of the membrane is provided below the portion of the membrane and above the tread of the sole. A water sealing region provided between the portion of the membrane and the sole, around the perforated area of the sole, separates flaps of the upper from the perforated area of the sole. |
| US08245412B2 |
Apparatus for determining tape and reel part quantities
An apparatus for counting parts in a tape and reel packaging system in which a plurality of parts are packaged on linear tape wound onto a reel. The apparatus includes a measuring device, and a meter body. The meter body includes electronic means for calculating and displaying a quantity of parts in the tape and reel packaging system. The calculation is based on inputs supplied by a user employing the measuring device. In an embodiment, the apparatus is portable and configured to be hand-held. |
| US08245409B2 |
Bow sight
A sight is provided and may include a housing having a first end, a second end, and an opening extending along a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end. The sight may also include an optical fiber supported by the housing and a sighting pin having an aiming point extending into the opening of the housing and receiving light from the optical fiber to illuminate the aiming point. The sighting pin may include a longitudinal axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the opening. |
| US08245406B2 |
Rolling utility knife
A rolling utility knife is disclosed. The rolling utility knife includes a pair of frame rails and at least one cross-member connecting the pair of frame rails. In addition, the rolling utility knife includes a front roller and a rear roller disposed between the frame rails. A circular blade is adapted to rotate along an outside edge of a first rail of the pair of frame rails. The rolling utility knife further includes a lever secured to an inside edge of the first rail by a fulcrum, where the circular blade secured to a first end of the lever and the blade is adjustable to move vertically relative to the first rail. A pin is disposed at a second end of the lever, where the pin is configured to cause the circular blade to move downward when the rolling utility knife is placed on a planar surface. |
| US08245401B2 |
Casted heat sink and tube cold plate with peritectically reacted metals
A cold plate apparatus is provided which includes a tube and a casted heat sink member. The tube includes a first metal and first and second ends, with a heat transfer region disposed between the ends. The heat sink includes a second metal that surrounds the heat transfer region of the tube, with the first and second ends of the tube residing outside of the heat sink. The second metal has a lower melting point than the first, and the metals reacted peritectically such that a metallurgical bond exists between the tube and the heat sink. The metallurgical bond includes an alloy layer that was formed during casting of the heat sink member. A thickness of the alloy layer was minimized during casting of the heat sink member to enhance the heat transfer characteristic of the metallurgical bond. |
| US08245398B2 |
Method of shape forming a seal-ring
A seal ring whose abutment joint portion is opened is fitted into an annular gap while the abutment joint portion is substantially closed. The annular gap is formed between an inner circumferential surface of a hole portion provided in an outer circumferential jig and an outer circumferential surface of an inner circumferential jig disposed in the hole portion, and has a heating region and a cooling region. The seal ring is passed through the heating region and then passed through the cooling region in the annular gap. The outer circumferential jig and the inner circumferential jig are maintained at a constant temperature higher than a glass transition temperature of a resin material for the seal ring in the heating region, and maintained at a constant temperature lower than the glass transition temperature of the resin material for the seal ring in the cooling region. |
| US08245397B2 |
Crush resistant conductor insulation
A process of twinning a pair of polymer-insulated conductors to form a twisted pair, where the polymer-insulated conductors are formed by extruding a uniformly thick coating of polymer onto the conductors. More than one twisted pair is encased in a polymer jacket forming a cable. The twisted pair obtains a desirable average impedance performance using a reduced amount by weight of polymer forming said polymer-insulated conductors by: (i) extruding to form longitudinally running peaks and valleys in the exterior surface of each of the polymer-insulated conductors of the pair of polymer-insulated conductors and (ii) twinning resultant polymer-insulated conductors to nest at least one of the peaks in the exterior surface of one of the polymer-insulated conductors in at least one of said valleys in the exterior surface of the other of the polymer-insulated conductors of the pair of polymer-insulated conductors. |
| US08245393B2 |
Method for fabricating a circuit board including aligned nanostructures
A method for fabricating a circuit board includes providing a first substrate, forming a circuit on the first substrate, the circuit having a first electrode, a second electrode and at least one nanostructure, and transferring the circuit from the first substrate to a surface of a second substrate made of a polymer. |
| US08245392B2 |
Method of making high density interposer and electronic package utilizing same
A method of making an electronic package designed for interconnecting high density patterns of conductors of an electronic device (e.g., semiconductor chip) and less dense patterns of conductors of hosting circuitized substrates (e.g., chip carriers, PCBs). In one embodiment, the method includes bonding a chip to a single dielectric layer, forming a high density pattern of conductors on one surface of the layer, forming openings in the layer and then depositing metallurgy to form a desired circuit pattern which is then adapted for engaging and being electrically coupled to a corresponding pattern on yet another hosting substrate. According to another embodiment of the invention, an electronic package using a dual layered interposer is provided. Also provided are methods of making circuitized substrate assemblies using the electronic packages made using the invention's teachings. |
| US08245391B2 |
Method of manufacturing a hysteretic MEMS two-dimensional thermal device
A MEMS hysteretic thermal device may be formed having two passive beam segments driven by a current-carrying loop coupled to the surface of a substrate. The first beam segment is configured to move in a direction having a component perpendicular to the substrate surface, whereas the second beam segment is configured to move in a direction having a component parallel to the substrate surface. By providing this two-dimensional motion, a single MEMS hysteretic thermal device may by used to close a switch having at least one stationary contact affixed to the substrate surface. |
| US08245382B2 |
Method of mounting on a motor vehicle an underbody structural element and a technical front end the method including pivoting the technical front end using a connecting mechanism that connects the technical front end to the under body element
A method for mounting on a motor vehicle at least one transverse understructure member and a technical front panel to be mounted at a longitudinal end of a frame structural member including two transversely opposite rails and two transversely opposite portions of the frame structural member, in particular hinging members for holding the vehicle headlights. The method includes placing the technical front panel in a vertical position on the transversely opposite portions of the frame structural member, and transversely positioning the technical front panel on the portions. |
| US08245381B2 |
Method of providing flexible duct having different insulative values
Methods of providing flexible duct are provided. The methods include the steps of providing an inner core, the inner core having a cylindrical shape and an outer surface, providing a layer of insulation having a constant uncompressed thickness, fiber diameter and density, wrapping the layer of insulation around the outer surface of the inner core thereby forming a layered assembly, selecting an outer jacket from a set of outer jackets of different diameters, the selected outer jacket configured to compress the layer of insulation to a desired thickness and inserting the layered assembly into the selected outer jacket thereby forming flexible duct. The thickness of the compressed layer of insulation provides a desired insulative value. The outer jackets included in the set of outer jackets are configured to compress the layer of insulation into a plurality of flexible duct having different insulative values from each other. |
| US08245380B2 |
Method for undermounting a sink
A method for undermounting a sink to a countertop includes preparing a countertop and a sink. Thereafter a primary channel is routed within the backside of the countertop, the primary channel including a base and being shaped and dimensioned for receipt of the sink flange, and a secondary channel is routed within the base of the primary channel along an interior circumference of the primary channel. Substrate material is then removed from the secondary channel to expose an underside of the decorative laminate and adhesive is applied within the secondary channel so that the underside of the decorative laminate is fully covered. A bead of adhesive is applied to the base of the primary channel and the sink flange is placed within the primary channel. A support plate is secured around the sink flange to provide support and a central portion of the countertop defined by the primary channel is cut out to expose the bowl of the sink. |
| US08245375B2 |
Apparatus for repairing turbine rotor
A method for repairing a rotor of a turbine includes providing a rotor having a groove portion defined by a circumferential portion of the rotor. The circumferential portion of the rotor is removed to create an opening to provide access to the groove such that the opening, immediately adjacent the groove, is narrower than the groove. A guide block may be extended into a receiving slot separating a first protruding surface from a second protruding surface of the rotor such that a weld area slot of the guide block extends over at least a portion of the opening. The opening may be welded adjacent the guide block to close at least a portion of the opening. |
| US08245374B2 |
Roller burnishing machine for crankshafts
A deep rolling machine has a power unit (13) attached in a gate (31) such that the power unit (13) can be moved in the direction of force exertion (30). The power unit (13) is connected, with articulation, at one end (32), via a joint (33), to the end (11) of a shearing arm (3) of the deep rolling unit (15). The free end (34) of the gate (31) is fit with a back up roller (35) that is routed along a curved web (36), defined in a gap in the second end (11) of the shearing arm (3). In the closed position of the power unit (13), three joints (28, 29, 33) form a triangle (37). One of the joints (28) points to the rotating joint (5). The two shearing arms (3 and 4) of the deep rolling unit (15) are articulately connected to one another at the rotating joint (5). Also in the closed position, a crank lever (27) reaches a limit stop (39) at the end (12) of the shearing arm (4). |
| US08245372B2 |
Needle for a textile machine
A needle (15) for a textile machine, in particular, to a felting needle or a fork needle. A working section (17) extends along a longitudinal axis (16) and has a needle point (18). Adjoining the working section (17) are a lower shank section (20) and an upper shank section (25), both being arranged so as to extend coaxially relative to each other along the longitudinal axis (16). Adjoining the upper shank section (25), a needle foot (30) is provided, said needle foot comprising a holding means (32). The holding means (32) extends in a transverse direction (31) and comprises two legs (38, 39), said legs extending from the longitudinal axis (16) and away from each other. |
| US08245368B2 |
Mat for vehicles
A fastener includes first and second fastener units that releasably attach to one another. The first fastener unit includes a ring defining an inclined inner surface that narrows downward. The second fastener unit includes an upper plate defining a notched cylinder configured to abut the inclined inner surface of the ring; a lower plate having a seesaw-type push rod; and a push plate, which is operable by a user to press the push rod such that the push rod presses the ring upward. The push plate has a protrusion configured to press the notched cylinder against the inner surface of the ring when the fastener units are attached to one another, and to release the notched cylinder when the push plate is operated by the user. The first fastener unit may be in a vehicle floor mat, and the second fastener unit may be attached to a vehicle floor carpet. |
| US08245366B2 |
Crib bumper attachment clip
A clip assembly is provided for securing a crib bumper to a crib. The clip assembly may include a clip adapted to be secured to the crib bumper. The clip may include a body member having a first arm and a second arm coupled to the first arm. The clip may also include a clasping member carried by the body member and adapted to clasp the first arm and the second arm. The clip assembly may also include a belt adapted to secure the clip to a portion of the crib. The belt may include a strap member having a fastener, adapted to secure the strap member to the crib portion. The belt may also include a protruding member carried by the strap member and adapted to be received by the linking member. |
| US08245361B2 |
Clamping device
A clamping device comprising: a collar (10) comprising: a belt (12) suitable for being disposed around one or more articles to be clamped, and at least two lugs (14, 16) that are upstanding relative to said belt towards the outside thereof; and a tightening system (18, 19) suitable for co-operating with the two lugs so as to move them closer together; in which device at least one of the two lugs has a connection portion via which it is connected to the belt (26), which connection portion is upstanding relative to said belt, and a tightening wall (30) folded back towards the belt, the tightening system coming into engagement with said tightening wall during tightening of the collar; wherein, on its outside face, the belt (12) has at least one projecting portion (40) situated between the connection portion and the tightening wall, the tightening wall (30) coming into abutment against said projecting portion (40) while the collar is being tightened. |
| US08245360B2 |
Rope grip slip-knot device
The present invention is a slip-knot grip device which attaches to a rope. The invention consists of a male end cap into which an insert is placed and a female end cap into which an insert is placed with the two end caps being connected by a retaining collar. The inserts have a semi-circle channel on their interior side placed so when the left and right inserts are connected together they form a circle opening through which a rope is placed. The female end cap and the male end cap are turned in opposite directions. This makes the end edges of the combined inserts clasp the rope holding the device in place. |
| US08245359B2 |
Clip
A spring part without increasing the total surface of the clip body. A part of the clip body is cut out as cutout part which is bent to form the spring part. The cutout part which is a part of the clip body is utilized as the spring part. |
| US08245357B2 |
Assist grip
An assist grip of the present invention includes a grip body provided at both side base portions thereof with hinge recess portions and a hinge portion rotatably and pivotally supported in each of the hinge recess portions of both sides, and is fixed via the hinge portion to a to-be-fixed portion in an automobile. In a pivot support portion of the hinge portion, an outer support piece and an inner support piece are provided at a distance from each other, and between the inner support piece and the outer support piece, a torsion coil spring stored in a spring case is inserted. One end portion of the torsion coil spring is locked to an inside of the spring case, and the other end portion of the torsion coil spring projects from the spring case and is locked to a part of the grip body. |
| US08245353B2 |
Hinge with tension-adjustable spiral torsion spring
A hinge has a pivoting leaf (2) and a fixed leaf (3), a hollow axle (7) fixedly connected to the pivoting leaf and rotatably connected to first and second journal bearings (5-1, 5-2) of the fixed hinge leaf, a spiral torsion spring (8) arranged in the hollow axle. One end of the spring is fixed to the hollow axle and the other end of the spring is fixed to a worm wheel (9) that is arranged in the first journal bearing. An endless screw (6) resides in the first journal bearing and engages with the worm wheel. Rotation of the endless screw drives the worm wheel and the spiral torsion spring to rotate, thereby adjusting the tension of the spring. |
| US08245352B2 |
Hinge assembly and refrigerator with hinge assembly
Provided are a hinge assembly that is pivotably supported to a hinge plate for pivotably supporting a door, and which is provided with an integrally coupled retaining lever that selectively fixes the hinge plate, and a refrigerator provided with the hinge assembly. The hinge assembly includes a fixing member, the hinge plate, and the retaining lever. The fixing member projects to an upper surface of a refrigerator main body. The hinge plate is pre-fixed to the refrigerator main body, with a portion of the fixing member inserted in one portion of the hinge plate and a refrigerator door pivotably mounted to another portion of the hinge plate. The retaining lever is pivotably coupled to the hinge plate, to selectively retain the hinge plate through rotating horizontally about the hinge plate. |
| US08245351B2 |
Fabric pad for a steam mop
A steam pad for use with a steam mop is provided. The fabric steam pad comprises at least one cleaning fabric layer, and a corresponding layer of fabric where the fabric layers are joined around the perimeter. The fabric steam pad has at least one fastener band secured to the mesh fabric in a position to correspond to at least one fastener anchored on the steam mop frame and increased structural stability of the pad to avoid buckling of the fabric at the edges. A warp knit mesh layer may be disposed on the fabric surface opposed to the cleaning surface. |
| US08245350B2 |
Wiper blade
The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) with a wiper strip (14) made of elastic material and having a wiper strip head (20) and a wiper lip (26) which can be placed on a window (22) to be wiped, wherein the wiper lip (26) is designed as a wedge-shaped extension (24) of the wiper strip head (20) and has a point angle (42) of between 60 degrees and 150 degrees, said point angle leading into a contact surface (44) having a radius (46) of smaller than 100 micrometers, and also to a method for the production of said wiper blade. |
| US08245349B2 |
Cleaning element and cleaning tool
It is an object of the present invention to provide effective technique for a higher cleaning effect and higher operability of a cleaning element. According to the representative cleaning element, a distance d1 between adjacent ones of the fusion bonded parts is longer than a length d2 or d3 formed on both of the pair adjacent fusion bonded parts and in the respective longitudinal end regions of the cleaning element. |
| US08245348B2 |
Manual toothbrush
A manual toothbrush with a handle and a toothbrush head mounted on the handle. A pivot bearing for pivoting the toothbrush head relative to the handle is arranged between the toothbrush head and the handle. |
| US08245345B2 |
Floor treatment apparatus
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for cleaning or otherwise treating a floored surface that includes a platform adapted to support the weight of an operator. In addition, one embodiment of the present invention is capable of generally performing 360° turns to facilitate the treatment of difficult to access portions of the floored surface. |
| US08245344B2 |
Cleaning apparatus
Cleaning apparatus has a matrix of brush assemblies (10) mounted on a support member (11) such that they are movable both in rotation (x) and in an axial direction (y). The brush assemblies comprise a cleaning brush (15) axially moveable within a gear wheel (22) and rotatable therewith during normal use. Each gear wheel meshes with an adjacent gear wheel to ensure that rotation of one brush causes rotation of the rest of the brushes in the matrix. When any given brush is retracted fully in an axial direction it is disconnected from its respective gear wheel such that it does not rotate therewith and is effectively removed from the drive chain. |
| US08245343B2 |
Method for controlling a washing machine
A method for controlling a washing machine is provided. The method for controlling a washing machine includes at least one rinsing course, wherein the rinsing course includes a foam removal rinsing step for removing foam from laundry by supplying washing water relevant to a quantity of the laundry held in a drum, or the method for controlling a washing machine includes at least one rinsing course, wherein the rinsing course includes a water supply/drain rinsing step for rinsing laundry while simultaneous washing water supply and drain is performed, whereby permitting to enhance a washing effect, significantly. |
| US08245342B2 |
Method for determining load size in a washing machine
A method for determining the laundry load size according to one embodiment of the invention in an automatic clothes washer comprising supplying water to a reference water level to define a first amount of water, supplying water from the reference water level to a second water level above the reference water level and sufficient to submerge the laundry load to define a second amount of water, and determining a load size for the laundry load based on the second amount of water such that errors associated with the first amount of water are not considered in the load size determination based on the second amount of water. |
| US08245338B1 |
Portable diaper changing pad device
The portable diaper changing pad device provides a fully pliable pad that may be used on virtually any surface. The pliability of the pad is also advantageous for compact portability. Straps extended from each pad end are used to wrap around a given surface, such as an existing changing table for example, to removably secure the pad thereto. The pillow is made into the pad. Two restraint loops are provided proximal to the pillow for looping around an infant' shoulders. The connecting strap with adjustable buckle removably secures the loops together so that a baby is restrained. The carry bag is especially useful for compact carry of the pad, and importantly features attachment means for removable attachment to the pad, when the pad is in use, so that the pad and carry bag are not inadvertently separated, with neither being easily accidentally forgotten. |
| US08245335B2 |
Support component for use in imaging by magnetic resonance and x-ray
A structural support component such as a head clamp for use in imaging of a part of a patient using Magnetic Resonance and X-ray imaging is formed of different materials each of which has an Aluminum equivalence factor of less than 10 mm and generally less than 6 mm and is arranged such that the presence of the structural support component in an imaging zone of a magnetic resonance imaging system when generating the image does not generate any visually determinable distortion in the image. The materials can be epoxy resin combined with a glass fiber substrate for easily machined parts, polyphenylene sulphide with random fiber reinforcement using glass fibers for high wear parts and polyurethane foam or Polymethacrylimide foam shaped to form a required member and covered on its outer surface with a layer formed from aramid fibers for elongate parts. |
| US08245327B2 |
Athletic undergarment and protective cup assembly
An athletic undergarment and a protective cup assembly is provided. The undergarment includes a cup pocket for holding the protective cup over the groin of the wearer. The cup includes an attachment location in a lower portion to secure a first end of a strap. The cup pocket defines a slit in a bottom portion of the cup pocket sized to allow the strap to pass therethrough. The coupling mechanism is provided having a first portion on the strap and a second portion disposed in a rear portion of the undergarment proximate to the waistband. In use, the strap extends between the legs portions so that the first portion and the second portion of the coupling mechanism can couple in a secure manner to inhibit displacement of the cup when exposed to upward forces. |
| US08245324B2 |
Bottom garment
Filler clothes 3, which intersect with each other at a section corresponding to the middle point between the interspinal point and patellar midpoint of a human body, are formed on a front section of a bottom garment 1. The filler clothes 3 which are formed in this manner stimulates the rectus femoris muscle 14 which is a part of the quadriceps of a wearer. When the quadriceps is stimulated while walking, the legs can be kicked backward significantly in a natural fashion, whereby the gluteus maximus muscles can be used efficiently. |
| US08245323B2 |
Head-worn liquid shield
A head-worn liquid shield has a substantially half-circled brim, a tautening edge portion, and a sealing tube that provides an effective sealing means for protecting a user's face, nose, ears and eyes from water, soap, shampoo and other hairdressing materials. The sealing tube is compressible to result in a diameter size automatically adjusted according to the pressure exerted on the sealing tube by the user's head. |
| US08245322B1 |
Weighted exercise garment with detachable sections
An exercise garment is formed of a pair of shorts and an accompanying vest which are worn by an exerciser to enhance strength, conditioning, power, endurance and agility. The shorts include a pelvic portion with a pair of leg sections depending therefrom. Each leg section terminates at a leg opening having a circumferential zipper strand adjacent thereto. Immediately above the zipper strand are a plurality of juxtaposed, segregated pockets for receiving a weighted bar. A leg extension having multiple weight pockets includes a peripheral zipper strand at an upper end for mating engagement with the zipper strand of either leg section allowing the effective length thereof to be increased. The accompanying vest is formed of a torso portion with a pair of separable sleeves extending therefrom. A plurality of weight pockets are positioned on the front and rear of the torso portion and each sleeve. A torso extension having multiple weight pockets is removably attachable to the lower edge of the torso portion. Comfort flaps are securable over all of the pockets to form a comfort-enhancing, weight-restraining barrier. |
| US08245319B2 |
Lightweight fabric based body armor
Stab resistant garment having layers of multi-ply stab resistant fabric connected together such that a layer is stitched together, but individual layers are attached by bar tacking. This provides a mixture of stiff resistance and free play in the structure of the garment that prevents penetration by sharp implements including bladed weapons. |
| US08250667B2 |
Iterative feedback tuning in a scanning probe microscope
A method, system, device, and software for automatically determining PI feedback parameters in a scanning probe microscopy application setup using an iterative feedback tuning process. |
| US08250664B2 |
Copyright protection data processing system and reproduction device
A content protection data processing system and a playback device determine whether to permit playback of a content recorded in a recording medium, based on a type of the recording medium and a signature type of a signature attached to a program. Additionally, the content protection data processing system and the playback device switch a procedure relating to a digital signature for each signature type of the digital signature, which enables both the protection of the copyright of the content and the efficient manufacturing of commercial ROM media. |
| US08250656B2 |
Processor with excludable instructions and registers and changeable instruction coding for antivirus protection
Digital processor architecture is characterized by processor's instruction set and registers. If architecture is fixed and known to software developers the viruses may be created to harm computers. Invented processor architecture protects against viruses by modifying of association between instruction set coding and processor's functions. Additionally, invented architecture allows to exclude processor's parts associated with unused by program instructions and exclude registers. Exclusion of processor's parts unused by program makes processor smaller and faster in comparison with processor containing all blocks. Developed architecture also allows to exclude unused portions of instructions from instruction's format resulting in smaller memory size required for the same program. |
| US08250653B2 |
Secure multi-principal web browser
A web browser operating system using a browser kernel places principals having different origins in separate principal instances, where each separate principal instance executes in a separate protection domain. Principal origin may be determined using the combination of protocol, domain name, and port. The browser kernel mediates communications between principal instances, and between the principal instances and the operating system. Within each principal instance, a browser runtime executes as a restricted operating system process (ROSP), while any plugins are executed as a separate ROSP. Renderings from each browser runtime are combined by the browser kernel for presentation to a user. |
| US08250651B2 |
Identifying attributes of aggregated data
A method for identifying a portion of aggregated software security data is described. The method includes accessing aggregated data associated with software vulnerabilities retrieved from a plurality of on-line sources. The method further includes searching a portion of the aggregated data for an exact match to a particular attribute of the data and searching the portion of the aggregated data for one or more partial matches associated with the particular attribute. The method also includes associating the portion of the data with the particular attribute based on the exact match of one or more of the partial matches. |
| US08250649B2 |
Securing system and method using a security device
System (1) for securing a data processing application, the said system comprising: first means (2) for interfacing with a security device (3); second means (4) for interfacing with the user; third means (6) for interfacing with the application and adapted for intercepting any request to use the said security device originating from the said application destined for the said security device; authentication means (8) connected to the first and second interfacing means, adapted for authenticating the user as legitimate user of the security device by requesting at least one secret; means (10) for storing the result of the authentication; validation means connected to the storage means and to the first and third interfacing means, adapted for authorizing any request originating from the application, destined for the said security device if and only if, the user is authenticated. |
| US08250648B2 |
Security system and method for computer operating systems
A security system for a computer operating system comprising a processor (37) that is independent of the host CPU (13) for controlling access between the host CPU (13) and a security partition formed in the storage device (21) for storing the operating system. A program memory (41) that is independent of the computer memory and the storage device (21) unalterably stores and provides computer programs for operating the processor (37) in a manner so as to control access to the security partition in the storage device (21). All data access by the host CPU (13) to the data storage device (21) is blocked before initialization of the security system and is intercepted immediately after the initialization under the control of the processor (37). The processor (37) effects independent control of the host CPU (13) and configuration of the computer (11) to prevent unauthorised access to the security partition on the storage device (21) during the interception phase. All users of the computer (11) are authenticated with a prescribed profile of access to the operating system files in the security partition on the storage device (21) and data access to the storage device remains blocked until a user of the computer (11) is correctly authenticated. |
| US08250642B2 |
System, method and program for managing firewalls
Computer system, method and program for managing a firewall. First program instructions identify a first rule of the firewall. The first rule specifies a permitted message flow through the firewall to or from an IP address of a computer. The computer resides on a network. Second program instructions identify a second rule of the firewall. The second rule specifies a permitted message flow through the firewall to or from an IP address corresponding to the network. Message flows through the firewall to all computers on the network are permitted pursuant to the second rule. Third program instructions delete the first rule from the firewall based on the identification of the second rule and the computer residing on the network. Other program instructions identify and delete stale rules which are not needed. Other program instructions automatically identify rules for a new server added to a cluster. |
| US08250639B2 |
Micro and macro trust in a decentralized environment
A method and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the method includes calculating a trust level of a first entity. The first entity has a plurality of components. Each component in the first entity has at least the trust level of the first entity. |
| US08250638B2 |
Maintaining the domain access of a virtual machine
A method for maintaining domain access of a virtual machine is described. According to one embodiment, a generation of a new computer account password by an operating system is identified. The new computer account password is copied to an auxiliary storage location. An existing computer account password is replaced with the new computer account password when it is determined that a file system of the computer has been restored to a previous state. The copying of the new computer account password may be performed in response to the generation of the new computer account password. The replacing of the existing computer account password may be performed in response to the restoring of file system to the previous state. |
| US08250636B2 |
Instrument access control system
A system for centrally managing a set of network-connected laboratory instruments is disclosed. For example, the system includes a centralized database that includes information about the instruments in the system and about the authorized users of the system. In particular, the centralized database indicates which users are authorized to use each of the instruments in the system. The database may also include information about the operations that each user is authorized to perform using the instruments and information indicating whether tests performed by each instrument must be signed using one or more electronic signatures. The system may recognize a number of “roles,” each of which is associated with a particular set of rights, and may assign one or more roles to each user. Instruments and other elements of the system may access the centralized database over a network to enforce the user rights represented by the information in the database. |
| US08250635B2 |
Enabling authentication of openID user when requested identity provider is unavailable
A method, system and computer program product for enabling authentication of an OpenID user when a requested identity provider is unavailable. A relying party receives a login request from the OpenID user, where the login request includes a username. The relying party reads a list of trusted identity providers that are associated with the received username and selects one of those identity providers. The relying party generating an OpenID identifier using an identification (e.g., Uniform Resource Locator) of the selected identity provider and the username. The relying party transmits an authentication request (request to authenticate the OpenID user) to the selected identity provider using the formed OpenID identifier. If the selected identity provider is unavailable, then the relying party selects another identity provider from the list of identity providers that are associated with the received username and repeats the above process. |
| US08250631B2 |
Protecting against denial of service attacks using trust, quality of service, personalization, and hide port messages
According to an embodiment of the invention, a system for processing a plurality of service requests in a client-server system includes a challenge server for: presenting a cryptographic challenge to the client; initializing a trust cookie that encodes a client's initial priority level after the client correctly solves the cryptographic challenge; computing a trust level score for the client based on a service request wherein said trust level score is associated with an amount of resources expended by the server in handling the service request such that a higher trust level score is computed for service requests consuming less system resources; assigning the trust level score to the client based on the computation; and embedding the assigned trust level score in the trust cookie included in all responses sent from the server to the client. The system further includes an application server coupled with a firewall. |
| US08250622B2 |
Method and apparatus for broadcasting to a portable terminal
Time slice transmission methods transmit data in bursts, thus creating a delay until playback of a service can begin when changing the service and therefore preventing smooth zapping. To solve this problem, a first stream used for burst transmission of packet sets and a second stream for continuously transmitting packets at a speed determined according to the transmission rate required for a particular service are multiplexed and transmitted. The content is reproduced using the continuously transmitted second stream during zapping, and the first stream transmitted in bursts is reproduced after zapping ends. |
| US08250620B1 |
System and method for sharing information between a concierge and guest
A novel mechanism is disclosed by which a sender can direct information such as an audiovisual signal to a particular recipient's audiovisual display device, such as a cable television set and, thereby, share information between the sender and the recipient. In one embodiment of the invention, a calling party originates a telephone call and associates that telephone call with audio-visual information that exists on the caller's personal computer or on an Internet server. The called party answers the call, and can tune an associated cable television to the appropriate channel in order to view the audio-visual information. In another embodiment, the caller is a hotel guest and the called party is a hotel concierge and vice versa. The concierge provides information to the hotel guest such that the hotel guest can tune in to a channel on their hotel television set and access the information. |
| US08250616B2 |
Distributed live multimedia capture, feedback mechanism, and network
Methods and systems for processing multimedia content captured from a plurality of locations via one or more capturing devices include obtaining multimedia content from one or more capturing devices. The capturing devices identify a type of content being captured and/or location of capture. An interest type for multimedia content is obtained from a consuming user. The multimedia content from the capturing devices are searched based on the interest type of the consuming user. A subset of the multimedia content conforming to the interest type is presented in substantial real-time at the receiving devices of the consuming users. Feedback regarding the presented multimedia content is obtained from consuming users and communicated to the capturing devices in substantial real-time so as to influence future capture of multimedia content. |
| US08250614B1 |
Systems and methods for providing an on-demand media portal and grid guide
A media-on-demand (MOD) portal application allows users to view and access from a single display interface MOD content provided by multiple media providers, such as vendors and service providers. The MOD portal application may provide grid display screens showing program listings of available media content. The grids may include rows and columns, where each row and each column includes program listings associated with a particular category. In one illustrative grid, each row includes programming from a single media vendor and each column includes programming of a particular genre. A media guidance application is also provided which automatically determines if a user does not watch an MOD program the user has ordered. The media guidance application may automatically make the unwatched program available to the user at a later time, for example by automatically recording the program or by allowing the user to access the program at the later time. |
| US08250608B2 |
System and method for adaptively controlling the recording of program material using a program guide
In response to the establishment of a communication connection between an appliance capable of effecting a recording of a program and a portable device capable of displaying to a user in a display of the portable device a program guide including a listing for the program the appliance capable of effecting the recording of the program receives data indicative of a request to record the program that is stored in a memory of the portable device via user interaction with the program guide prior to establishment of the communication connection and the appliance capable of effecting the recording of the program then functions to record the program in accordance with the received data indicative of the request to record the program. |
| US08250606B2 |
Digital television and channel editing method thereof
A method and display device for displaying images are discussed. According to an embodiment, there is a method for displaying images using a display device, the display device including a memory, a display screen, and a controller for controlling the memory and the display screen, the method comprising: storing, in the memory, channel information pertaining to a predetermined number of broadcast channels; and displaying, on the display screen, a multi-window including a plurality of sub-windows, each of the plurality of sub-windows configured to display images from a different one of the broadcast channels, wherein a number of the sub-windows displayed on the display screen is variable according to the channel information. |
| US08250605B2 |
Systems and methods for presentation of preferred program selections
Preferred systems and methods are disclosed for navigating among a group or lists of programs, such as in a network terminal (such as a set top box) in a video program distribution system which presents a viewer with an electronic program guide comprising a plurality of program titles wherein the order is determined by a program score used to predict a level of interest for the viewer based in part on extrinsic data provided to the network terminal regarding the viewer's characteristics and attributes. The extrinsic data could be obtained based on the individual viewer's specific attributes, or the demographic attributes of similarly situated viewers. The extrinsic data, as well as intrinsic data is processed to provide an ordered list of program which are more reflective of that viewer's interests that a linear listing of programs. The system and method can apply for other applications involving prioritizing selection information. |
| US08250604B2 |
Near real-time multiple thumbnail guide with single tuner
A method of presenting a video electronic program guide (EPG), consistent with certain embodiments involves establishing a sorting of television channels, with a selected channel having a highest sorting priority, and other channels being arranged in pairs in a hierarchy below the selected channel; displaying a plurality of windows representing a plurality of the channels in a cross media bar menu arrangement, with the principal focus channel being represented at a window appearing at an intersection of horizontal and vertical bars in the cross media bar menu arrangement and the pairs of channels arranged on either side of the selected channel in the cross media bar menu arrangement; and retrieving sample clips of the channels in focus section of the sort order, and presenting the clips as repeating clips in their respective windows. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US08250590B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for seamless multiple format metadata abstraction
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing seamless multiple format metadata abstraction. A metadata application programming interface (API) is provided to abstract metadata from an incoming business object and provide it to an adapter for processing. The metadata API is configured to operate on multiple metadata formats such as SDO and JavaBean such that the adapter receives the metadata from the metadata API in a common format that is compatible with the adapter. In this manner, the multiple metadata formats may be plugably used with the adapter. |
| US08250588B2 |
Persisting application state
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for persisting application state. Through decoupling an application host from an instance store, the application host can be used with many different persistence stores and persistence administration tools. Further, a given persistence store can be used with many different application hosts and application host extensions. Accordingly, applications can benefit from periodically persisting work to any of a variety of instance stores even if the applications are changed or are not natively configured for use with a particular instance store. Using persistence providers an application host can also more easily coordinate the persisted state with runtime state to ensure that a consistent checkpoint is created. Persistence providers can also be used to compensate for application host extensions and persistence administration tools that add coordination requirements that cannot be predicted at the time that the application is originally developed. |
| US08250574B2 |
Virtual machine management via use of table in which virtual machine information is registered on a time basis
An object of the present invention is to suppress a variation in virtual machine startup times when multiple virtual machines are started in a computer system having multiple virtual machine providing servers. Execution server distribution unit 13 references a virtual machine status management table 32, which stores the status of virtual machine providing servers 90 in which virtual machines 91 are operating and the status of the virtual machines 91, and determines the positions of virtual machines in such a way that virtual machines, which execute specific processing (virtual machine startup, and so on) registered in a distributed processing specification table 31, are distributed. Operation server consolidation unit 16 references the virtual machine status management table 32 and determines the arrangement of the virtual machines 91 in such a way that virtual machines, which have executed the specific processing and are performing usual operations, are consolidated (FIG. 1). |
| US08250571B2 |
Installing a computer program
An electronic mobile communication device is configured to install a computer program onto a computing device that is different than the mobile communication device. The installation process includes the electronic mobile computing device communicating with the computing device to obtain information for use in installing the computer program, and the electronic mobile computing device executing an installer for the computer program. The installer uses the information to install the computer program on the computing device. |
| US08250569B1 |
Systems and methods for selectively blocking application installation
Methods and system for preventing or allowing an installer application from installing applications based on a comparison of the installer application actions to profiles and rules. The profiles and rules are established (and periodically updated) to identify a particular software installation process as undesirable and stop it from occurring. An install blocker processes the profiles and rules and compares them against what the installer is trying to do as part of its installation process. If the installer is attempting to install an application deemed undesirable, the user could then be notified, provided all of the information about what the installer was trying to do, and provided choice to allow the installation to continue. |
| US08250567B2 |
Robust firmware upgrade in a network terminal
The present invention concerns a network terminal, and method in a broadband terminal for upgrading a firmware, said terminal comprising an interface to a network and a non volatile memory adapted to store only one version of the firmware, the firmware comprising a first firmware and a second firmware, the method comprising, at the terminal, the step of erasing the first firmware from the non volatile memory, downloading a rescue firmware to the non volatile memory from a server located on the network, the rescue firmware being adapted to allow the terminal to download the firmware from the server, rebooting the terminal with the second firmware and the rescue firmware, downloading a new version of the first and second firmware from the server to the non volatile memory, erasing the rescue firmware from the non volatile memory, and rebooting the terminal with the new version of the first and second firmware. |
| US08250566B2 |
Automated software upgrade and distribution
A method for an automated upgrade of hardware devices of a specialized network, such as wireless communication devices or automated teller machines, with new software programs is described. The upgrade is performed over the network and is controlled by a control center of the network. The control center has an access to a software program repository for storing new programs. The automated upgrade is performed by selecting suitable new software programs from the repository, each of the programs being associated with a validity time window and a threshold hardware profile, performing corresponding checks of upgrade time windows and hardware profiles of the hardware devices being upgraded, and downloading the new software programs to the memory medium of the hardware devices being upgraded. |
| US08250565B2 |
System and method for downloading update packages into a mobile handset in a carrier network
Aspects of the present invention may be seen in a system and method for downloading update packages into an electronic device communicatively coupled to a carrier network. The system may facilitate the update of firmware/software in the electronic device. Different protocols may be utilized for discovery and download of update packages. Also, different protocols may be utilized for provisioning and for subsequent downloading of update packages. |
| US08250564B2 |
Image forming apparatus, program updating system, program updating program
In order to shorten the unusable time, the multi-function peripheral (MFP) can communicate with a server storing a plurality of kinds of update programs together with update information for each of a plurality of kinds of functions, and includes a flash memory to store an execution program, a function execution portion to execute the stored execution program and execute at least one of the functions, a performance storage portion, when any of the functions is executed, to store performance information indicating execution of the function for each executed function in the flash memory, a determination portion to determine a target program from among the update programs stored in the server based on the performance information and the update information stored in the server, and an updating portion to acquire the determined target program and update the execution program stored in the flash memory with the acquired target program. |
| US08250560B2 |
Information processing apparatus
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes memory in which first firmware is stored; a controller to execute the firmware; a storage device in which update data corresponding to second firmware that can be used to update the first firmware stored in memory; and a processing unit configured to (a) transfer the update data, and (b) indicate which regions of the memory require updating; and an updating unit configured to rewrite a region in the memory using the update data in response to the indication of which regions of the memory require updating. |
| US08250554B2 |
Systems and methods for generating and distributing executable procedures for technical desk-side support
Systems and methods for dynamically generating computer executable technical support procedures, as well as updating/augmenting such executable procedures, by tracking and processing sequences of actions (execution traces) that are taken by experts (or users) when performing a procedure or when executing an executable procedure. |
| US08250546B2 |
Code assist for multiple statement patterns including automated translation of code examples to a user context
A process and system for assisting a user to write new lines of code of a computer program based on code examples. A first line in each code sample matching a specified anchor line. A loop having a custom line branch and a code assist branch is executed. The custom line branch generates a new line for the computer program via a custom line provided by the user. The code assist branch generates a new line for the computer program via code assist. The code assist determines a set of assist lines from the code samples, translates the assist lines to a user context in each code example, selects from the assist lines set of preferred lines sequenced in an order of preference, presents the set of preferred lines to the user, receives a preferred line selected by the user, and stores the preferred line as a new line. |
| US08250544B2 |
Annotating exception information in a computer program
Annotation of exception information in a computer program. This annotation is not present in the source code itself, but is annotated during the compilation process or perhaps for purpose of analyzing the code. To perform the annotation, environmental rules are accessed regarding the environment in which the program is to be executed. The program is then evaluated in the context of these environmental rules to detect portions that, in the context of the environmental rules, may cause exceptions to be thrown. Those portions may then be annotated with exception information that describes any exceptions that could be thrown at that detected portion. |
| US08250540B2 |
System and method for administration of mobile application
An administration system and methods for mobile security and other software applications operating on mobile devices in a corporate network. The administration system comprises an administration server, administration database and administration console. To facilitate integration of mobile applications into the administration system, each mobile application is provided with an associated administration console plug-in component. The administration plug-in component provides a set of user interfaces for configuring via the administration console application configuration settings specific to the one or more associated mobile applications. In addition, the plug-in component provides web interfaces, such as SOAP interfaces, for communicating application-specific configuration settings to the associated mobile applications. Accordingly, the administration system enables rapid and highly concurrent installation, configuration, updating, and patching of various mobile applications without modifying infrastructure of the administration system. |
| US08250539B2 |
Method of detecting memory leak causing portion and execution program thereof
With regard to a plurality of data stored in a memory, relationship of data is grasped twice after a time interval therebetween. Next, increased data C1, E2, E3 which are not present in data of a first time are extracted from data of a second time, and weights “1”, “2”, “2” in accordance with data sizes are attached to the increased data. Next, the weights are successively propagated from a lower order data of a destination of reference to a higher order data of a source of reference successively. When there are a plurality of lower order data E2, E3 for a higher order D0, a weight constituted by adding the weights “2”, “2” of the plurality of lower data E2, E3 is made to be a weight “4” of the higher order data D0, and the weights of the respective data represent leak scores which causes memory leak. |
| US08250538B2 |
Optimization of system performance through scenario evaluation
A system, method and computer program product for optimizing a software system through scenario evaluation. In accordance with the disclosed technique, a request is received for evaluation of an operational scenario that operates over an environment that is a superset of existing system capabilities encompassing system features or parameters that are not available in the currently running system. A knowledge base is consulted to derive recommendations with respect to operating parameters that may be collected to evaluate the scenario, mechanisms for gathering data relating to the parameters, and data evaluator operations for deriving a data evaluation result based on the data gathering. The knowledge base is further consulted to determine a reconfiguration recommendation based on the result. Scenario evaluation is performed based on simulation of the reconfiguration recommendation using the data evaluation result to determine efficacy of the scenario. |
| US08250536B2 |
Analysis of a legacy source code application
A method of analyzing a legacy source code application is described. The method comprises traversing a generated set of entries of a module hash array, a summary count catalog, and an occurrence location catalog to determine duplicate lines of code of the legacy source code application. The method also comprises determining a duplicate sequence of one or more lines of code with respect to at least one other sequence of one or more lines of code of the legacy source code application based on traversal of the generated set of entries of the module hash array, the summary count catalog, and the occurrence location catalog. The method also comprises storing a match result identifying the determined duplicate sequence and the at least one other sequence. |
| US08250535B2 |
Maintaining vitality of data in safety-critical systems
A mechanism for maintaining configuration or other vital data outside of source code is disclosed. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a data manager software component serves as an interface between an external configuration data store and one or more applications, processes, and threads. In contrast with techniques of the prior art, the illustrative embodiment does not suffer from the risk of undetected corruption of vital data, and therefore is especially advantageous in safety-critical systems. |
| US08250534B2 |
Method and system for constructing a software application from a complete and consistent specification in a software development process
A method and computer program product reads one or more specifications that define, at least in part, a software application. A data storage structure is generated for storing data of the software application. At least one unit of code is generated based, at least in part, upon one or more design elements within the one or more specifications. A first application is generated from the at least one unit of code and data storage structure. |
| US08250528B2 |
Static inheritance systems and methods
The subject invention pertains to a system and method of extending programming languages to enable static inheritance. In particular, static subclasses can be defined which extend class functionality and/or behaviors without extending base class state. The subclasses can be specified to include static fields as well as static or instance methods and/or properties that provide a more specific interpretation of an object without extending the state thereof. Furthermore, a static subclass can be specified to provide for type aliasing. Casting is also enabled in both directions between base class type and derived class type in a convenient manner without run-time performance penalties. According to one aspect of the invention, the disclosed systems and methods can be employed to create specific programmatic context, for instance for accessing, manipulating, and type checking external data (e.g., XML). |
| US08250525B2 |
Proactive performance management for multi-user enterprise software systems
The invention provides, in some aspects, systems for proactive management of development and performance of a software application based on monitoring it (and/or one or more of its components) during the course of development or execution. Those systems signal alerts upon determining that actual or expected usage of the application (or its components) by users of like classes (or roles) is anticipated to, or does, exceed quotas, when the application is placed in production mode. |
| US08250523B2 |
Source code wrapper generation
It may be advantageous to facilitate communication between two types of source code. For example, a wrapper may be generated to translate between managed source code and native source code. Current techniques may translate a single type of native source code into a managed binary wrapper. However, as provided herein, a managed source code wrapper may be generated based upon a variety of native source code formats. A native binary descriptor describing a set of native code may be received. A provider may be selected based upon the format of the set of native code. The provider may be executed upon the native binary descriptor to produce a common native binary description. A managed source code wrapper may be generated based upon the common native binary description. Because the managed source code wrapper may be in a textual source code format, a developer may easily maintain and/or customize the wrapper. |
| US08250520B2 |
Implementing custom activities in a workflow
A front-end computing system initializes an instance of a workflow. The workflow contains a plurality of activities. The plurality of activities includes a shim activity. When the front-end computing system executes the workflow instance, the front-end computing system performs the shim activity. When the front-end computing system performs the shim activity, the front-end computing system sends a custom activity assembly to a sandbox computing system. The custom activity assembly is not fully trusted. The sandbox computing system executes the custom activity assembly. The sandbox computing system is isolated from the front-end computing system such that unexpected behavior of the sandbox computing system does not cause the front-end computing system to perform unexpected behavior. |
| US08250519B2 |
Forcing registered code into an execution context of guest software
A method is provided for executing guest computations in a virtual machine of a virtualization system and forcing execution of registered code into an execution context of the guest. The forcing is performed from the virtualization system based on an execution trigger monitored without reliance on functionality of the guest software. |
| US08250518B2 |
Per user file associations
Systems and methods are provided for defining a default handler software application in response to an event at a computer. An event, for example, a user opening a file with a specific extension or accessing a uniform resource locator (URL) with a specific protocol, may trigger the operating system to instantiate a user-level default handler program associated with the event type and the specific user. Users may define user-level default handlers through a centralized user interface maintained by the operating system. During the application installation process, an application may register lists of supported events that the application is capable of handling. |
| US08250515B2 |
Clock alias for timing analysis of an integrated circuit design
A timing analysis mechanism allows defining a clock alias that correlates a clock that is not present in an integrated circuit design to a real clock in the integrated circuit design. In a first implementation, when an existing user assertion references a clock alias, the timing analysis mechanism generates a new user assertion that references the real clock specified in the clock alias. The new user assertion is then used in the timing analysis and the existing user assertion is not. In a second implementation, when an existing user assertion references a clock alias, the timing analysis mechanism generates a duplicate clock in the timing database, preserving all its attributes, and then passes the assertion using the alias name as well as any assertions using the corresponding real clock name to the timing engine to be used in the timing analysis. |
| US08250513B1 |
Parallel process optimized signal routing
In one embodiment, a method for routing of a circuit design netlist is provided. A processing cost is determined for each net in the netlist. A plurality of regions are defined for the target device such that the total processing costs of nets are balanced between the plurality of regions. Concurrent with routing one or more nets of a first one of the plurality of regions, one or more nets are routed in at least one other of the plurality of regions. Synchronization and subsequent routing are performed for unrouted nets of the netlist. |
| US08250511B2 |
Designing apparatus, designing method, and designing program for semiconductor integrated circuit
A designing apparatus includes an initial estimating portion, a general power supply noise analyzing portion, a layout designing portion, a detail estimating portion, a detail power supply noise analyzing portion, and a layout adjusting portion. The initial estimating portion estimates general values of an entire consumed current and an entire on-chip capacitance. Based on the estimated general values, the general power supply noise analyzing portion creates a lumped constant circuit model so as to conduct a power supply noise analysis, for computing a current-capacitance ratio. Based on the current-capacitance ratio, the layout designing portion performs placement of cells for each of predetermined regions obtained by dividing a placement region. The detail estimating portion creates a lumped constant circuit model for each of the predetermined regions so as to estimate detail values of the consumed current and the on-chip capacitance for each of the predetermined regions. Based on the detail values, the detail power supply noise analyzing portion conducts a detail power supply noise analysis. Based on a result of the detail power supply noise analysis, the layout adjusting portion performs adjustment of the placement of the cells. |
| US08250506B2 |
Bondwire design
A system and method of designing the physical shape of and determining the electromagnetic characteristics of a bondwire in an electrical circuit, comprising the steps of enabling a user to define the position of the bondwire in the electrical circuit layout, defining the position and loop shape of the bondwire in a 3D representation of the electrical circuit, segmenting the bondwire into discrete segments, determining the electromagnetic characteristics of each of the bondwire segments thereby to determine the overall electromagnetic characteristics of the bondwire. |
| US08250504B2 |
Designing method of semiconductor integrated circuit
A designing method of a semiconductor integrated circuit is provided, the method including a preparation step of preparing first design data having a power gating circuit for supplying a power supply voltage to a logic circuit according to a power gating control signal and a first clamp circuit for clamping an output signal from the logic circuit according to a clamp control signal; and a generation step of generating, in order to verify the first design data, second design data in which a first mask circuit for masking the output signal from the logic circuit according to the power gating control signal is added in place of the power gating circuit to the first design data. |
| US08250503B2 |
Hardware definition method including determining whether to implement a function as hardware or software
A hardware definition system and method includes a computer processor analyzing software function modules of a software program, and generating, for each of at least a subset of the software function modules, and on the basis of the analyzing step, a respective setting indicating whether the respective function module is to be implemented as a respective hardware module or as a software module executed on a hardware module defined in a hardware module library. |
| US08250500B1 |
Method and apparatus for deriving signal activities for power analysis and optimization
A method for managing simulation includes modifying a design for a system to allow for a path pulse filter to filter a pathpulse delay, on a signal transmitted to a component, that is greater than an IOpath delay. |
| US08250485B2 |
Web accessibility assistant
A method and article of manufacture in computer readable form for web page navigation without use of a computer mouse. A computer program is executed on a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer system that includes a keyboard and a display screen. A first web page, which includes at least one Universal Resource Locator (URL), is fetched. The fetched first web page is parsed. As each URL of the at least one URL on the first web page is encountered during the parsing of the first web page, computer code that associates a two-key code with each URL on the first web page is generated and executed. The first web page is displayed on the display screen, which includes depicting on the displayed first web page: each two-key code and an indication of which URL on the first web page each two-key code is associated with. |
| US08250481B2 |
Visualizing geographic-area change detected from high-resolution, remotely sensed imagery
A method, system, and medium are provided for presenting aspects of change associated with a geographic area that has been captured by high-resolution, remotely sensed imagery. One embodiment of the method includes receiving a query directed at the geographic area that includes one or more inputs, the query seeking an identification of regions associated with the geographic area that are characterized by aspects of change based on the one or more inputs; applying the query to a dataset of geospatial information that stores imagery associated with the geographic area, wherein the dataset includes information that is sufficient to identify the regions, and wherein the imagery is derived from the high-resolution, remotely sensed imagery, which is characterized by having a resolution of three meters or less per pixel; receiving a first results set that includes a first plurality of keys and corresponding change scores, wherein, (1) each key is useable to identify a certain region, and (2) each change score indicates an amount of change in the certain region from a first state to a second state; and presenting at least a portion of the results set in a viewing application. |
| US08250480B2 |
Interactive navigation of a dataflow process image
An interactive graphical environment that facilitates interactive navigation of a reconstructed dataflow process image is disclosed. The environment can create segmented image sections for at least one dataflow process image, which can be used to form the reconstructed dataflow process image. The environment can respond to inputs from a user to navigate the reconstructed dataflow process. |
| US08250475B2 |
Managing icon integrity
Icon integrity is managed. A notification for a selected icon is received and a determination is made whether a set of properties exists for the selected icon. Responsive to determining the existence and verification of the authenticity of the set of properties, the computer implemented method analyzes the set of properties to determine permission and authentication and responsive to determining the permission and authentication, allows execution of an executable function associated with the icon. |
| US08250468B2 |
System and method for managing dynamic document references
Document fragments are managed by the use of fragment objects. Fragment objects contain a reference to a portion of a source document. Referencing documents contain a reference to a fragment object which delivers the content of the fragment of the source document to the referencing document. The source document can be directly updated through updating the fragment of the source document contained in the referencing document via the use of the fragment object. Source document deletion is controlled by storing the references to the source document by fragment objects so that no fragment object has a reference to a nonexistent source document. A process for organizing document fragments within a document management system wherein source documents comprise duplicates of the document fragments includes replacing a duplicate fragment with a reference to a single fragment object the fragment object including a reference to a fragment of a source document and an object class method for deletion of the fragment object including instructions to remove the reference to the fragment object from the metadata of the source document to which the fragment object refers. |
| US08250467B2 |
Deriving menu-based voice markup from visual markup
A visual markup to voice markup transcoding system, method and machine readable storage. The basic method can include identifying at least one heading in visual markup; creating a corresponding menu item in voice markup; further creating a text block in the voice markup for text associated with the identified heading; and, linking the text block with the menu item in the voice markup. Additional headings can be identified in the visual markup; and, each of the creating, further creating and linking steps can be repeated for each identified additional heading. Notably, the visual markup can be formatted according to the hypertext markup language (HTML), and the voice markup is formatted according to the voice extensible markup language (VXML). |
| US08250466B2 |
Computer and method for converting a web page
A method for converting a web page sets local URLs to correspond to effective URLs of web pages, saves the local URLs and the effective URL of the web pages in the storage. The method further searches the storage for an effective URL corresponding to a local URL inputted by a user, accesses the web page in a web server according to the effective URL. The method also obtains byte streams of content in the web page, converts the image byte streams into images, converts the character byte streams into characters, and generates a local web page comprising the images and the characters. |
| US08250464B2 |
Parsing a markup language document
A method and system for parsing a markup language document are disclosed in the invention. The method comprises: pre-splitting a body of the markup language document into plurality parts; scanning each of the plurality parts, wherein while each of the parts is scanned, the scanning of the part is stopped only when a specific mark is found, and then a stop point at which the scanning is stopped is recorded; splitting the body of the markup language document into a plurality of fragments using the respective stop points; parsing the plurality of fragments in parallel and producing parsing results for the respective fragments; and combining the parsing results for the respective fragments to form a parsing result for the markup language document. A parsing method that supports namespace is also provided. |
| US08250463B2 |
Recognizing, anchoring and reflowing digital ink annotations
A digital ink annotation process and system for processing digital documents and digital ink annotations therein. An annotation's position is maintained within a document such that the original intent and meaning of the annotation is preserved. This is true even if the document is edited, resized, displayed on a different device or otherwise modified. The process includes automatic and manual grouping of digital ink strokes within a document to define digital ink annotations, classifying the annotations according to annotation type, and anchoring the annotations to appropriate regions or positions in a document. The process further includes reflowing the annotations in a new document layout such that the annotations conform and adapt to the new layout while preserving the original intents and meanings of the annotations. The system includes a classification module, an anchoring module, a reflow module and a clean-up module to implement the digital ink annotation process. |
| US08250456B2 |
Structured web advertising
A system for selecting a candidate information unit for linking to a given information unit based on the content of the given information unit. The content of the given information unit may be automatically determined and then compared to content of the candidate information unit to determine which unit of candidate information to select. When the unit of candidate information is selected, it bears a chosen given information unit and it is linked with the given information unit. The system can be used to implement a structured advertising system for the World Wide Web. Web pages (given information) are searched and indexed, producing indexed content data. This indexed content data is then ranked according to relevancy. The ranked content data are compared to content data of advertisements (candidate information) and an advertisement is selected. The advertisement is then copied onto (linked to) the Web page. |
| US08250455B2 |
Assisting document creation
Assistance for document creation in a computer system which allows at least one agent to be registered therein is provided. The computer system causes the at least one agent to monitor input by a user during the document creation, acquire information on the input obtained by the monitoring, retrieve at least one content from multiple contents accumulated in a storage unit based on the acquired information, and transmit the retrieved at least one content to a display unit to display the retrieved content on a screen. |
| US08250452B2 |
Method and apparatus for embedded memory security
A method and apparatus for embedded memory security is disclosed. One embodiment protects data in a memory block from unauthorized reading. When writing or reading data to or from the memory block an error correction code is used to calculate an ECC value, wherein the calculation of the ECC value is based on a combination of the data and a access identifier provided to the memory block prior to reading. The access identifier identifies the requesting program. A read error is signalled in case the calculated ECC value does not match a stored value thus indicating an access violation. |
| US08250447B2 |
Convolution encoder, encoding device, and convolution encoding method
A bit register is restored to the initial state thereof irrespective of the state of the bit register even when a convolution encoder includes a circular section.The convolution encoder comprises an input data acquiring section (F11) for acquiring input data; an encoding object data generating section (F10) for generating encoding object data on the basis of the input data; a storage section (M10) for storing data corresponding to the encoding object data; a mod2 adder (S10) for performing convolution processing of the encoding object data on the basis of the data stored in the storage section (M10); and a switching section (F12) for switching at a prescribed timing the encoding object data generated by the encoding object data generating section (F10) from data based on the input data to data based on the data stored in the storage section (M10); wherein the data stored in the storage section (M10) are data obtained as a result of the convolution processing. |
| US08250443B2 |
Method for effectively transmitting control signal in wireless communication system
A method of performing HARQ performed by a user equipment (UE) is provided. The method includes receiving a bundling indicator which indicates the number of bundled downlink subframes, determining whether at least one bundled downlink subframe is missed by comparing the bundling indicator with the number of detected bundled downlink subframes, generating a representative ACK/NACK signal when no bundled downlink subframe is missed, and transmitting the representative ACK/NACK signal on an uplink channel. Recovery capability is maximized and the packet loss is reduced in such a situation that less number of ACK/NACK signals are fed back than that of downlink packets. |
| US08250442B2 |
Recording method and reproduction method suitable for recording/reproduction of AV data, and recording drive and reproduction drive, information recording system and information reproduction system, and information recording medium for such methods
In an information recording medium for recording and reproducing data thereon on a sector-by-sector basis, the recorded data being managed as at least one file by using a file structure, the file structure includes unused space management information for identifying a used region and an unused region. At least one defective region is registered as an unused region in the unused space management information, the at least one defective region being a region on the information recording medium which is incapable of proper reproduction of the recorded data. |
| US08250441B2 |
Outer coding framework for application packet error rate minimization
The subject matter disclosed herein provides an outer coding framework for minimizing the error rate of packets, such as application data packets used to transmit digital video broadcast data as well as other forms of data. In one aspect, there is provided a method. The method may include inserting a received packet into one or more rows of a frame. The one or more rows including the received packets may be encoded using an outer code. A block of data from a column of the frame may be read. The frame may include the one or more rows encoded using the outer code. The block that is read may be provided to enable an inner code to encode the block before transmission through a wireless network. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described. |
| US08250440B2 |
Address generation checking
A method for address generation checking including receiving a starting memory address for a data, an ending memory address for the data, a length value of the data, and an address wrap indicator value that indicates if the data wraps from an end of a memory block to a start of the memory block, determining whether the ending memory address is equal to a sum of the starting memory address added to a difference of the length value to the address wrap indicator value, and transmitting an error signal that indicates an error occurred in a generation of the starting memory address or the ending memory address if the ending memory address is not equal to the sum. |
| US08250438B2 |
Method and apparatus for iterative error-erasure decoding
Methods and apparatus are provided for improved iterative error-erasure decoding. A signal is decoded by obtaining a plurality of symbols associated with the signal and one or more corresponding reliability values; generating at least one erasure list comprised of L symbols and at least one shortened erasure list comprised of L′ symbols, where L′ is less than L; and constructing an erasure set by taking erasures from at least one of the erasure list and the shortened erasure list. A signal is also processed by generating one or more reliability values using a soft-output detector; generating an erasure list of symbols by comparing the reliability values to at least one reliability threshold value (or by sorting); and performing error erasure decoding using the erasure list. The size of the erasure list can optionally be adjusted using feedback information. |
| US08250437B2 |
Memory system and control method for the same
A memory system in an embodiment having a host and a memory card, including: a plurality of semiconductor memory cells, each cell being configured to store N-bit coded data based on threshold voltage distributions; an LLR table storage section configured to store a first LLR table that consists of normal LLR data corresponding to predetermined threshold voltages and a second LLR table that consists of LLR data such that two LLRs at each location corresponding to each location in the first LLR table at which a sign is inverted between two adjacent LLRs are “0”; and a decoder configured to perform decoding processing through probability-based repeated calculations using an LLR. |
| US08250431B2 |
Systems and methods for phase dependent data detection in iterative decoding
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a data processing circuit is disclosed that includes a first data detection circuit that applies a phase dependent data detection algorithm to a data set such that a first output of the first data detection circuit varies depending upon a phase of the data set presented to the first data detection circuit. A first phase of the data set is presented to the first data detection circuit. The circuits further include a decoder circuit that applies a decoding algorithm to the first output to yield a decoded output, and a phase shift circuit that phase shifts the decoded output such that a second phase of the data set is provided as a phase shifted output. A second detection circuit applies a phase dependent data detection algorithm to the phase shifted output such that a second output of the second data detection circuit varies from the first output at least in part due to a different phase of the data set presented to the second data detection circuit. |
| US08250425B2 |
Management of ARQ detection threshold in communication networks
Embodiments of a system and methodology are disclosed for enabling a network to manage threshold values provided to UEs for use in decoding ACK-NAK signals. In various embodiments described herein, a base station signals an actual fixed threshold value in a semi-static manner for use by UEs to decode ACK/NAK signals. In these embodiments, the threshold value is part of a semi-static but UE-specific threshold value. This allows the base station to accommodate varying UE geometries, and optimize power savings for ACK-NAK transmissions. Embodiments of the invention also allow the base station to enforce a desired quality of service (QoS) without excessive power variations across ACK/NAK which are limited by the transmit power dynamic range. |
| US08250422B2 |
Receiving device, receiving method, program and wireless communication system
A receiving device is provided that includes a radio receiving unit to receive radio signals transmitted from multiple transmitting antennas by multiple receiving antennas and output received signals being digital signals, a frequency control unit to detect and correct a frequency error contained in the received signals, a channel estimation unit to estimate a channel matrix of which each element corresponds to respective pair of each transmitting antenna and each receiving antenna, an equalization unit to equalize the received signals by using the estimated channel matrix, a demodulation and decoding unit to demodulate and decode the equalized received signals, and an error estimation unit to estimate a channel variation component indicating temporal variation of characteristics of each channel and a phase error component remaining in the received signals based on the channel matrix, the received signals, and a decoding result or an equalization result. |
| US08250420B2 |
Testable integrated circuit and test data generation method
An integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed that comprises a circuit portion (100) having a plurality of inputs (102) and a plurality of outputs (106), the plurality of inputs being arranged to receive a test pattern in a test mode of the integrated circuit, the test pattern comprising a plurality of test vectors for feeding to the plurality of inputs in successive clock cycles. The IC also comprises a test arrangement for testing the circuit portion (100), comprising a test pattern generator (110) for generating the test pattern, masking logic (150) for masking selected outputs of the plurality of outputs (106) and a signal generator (130) coupled to the masking logic (150) for generating a masking signal triggering the masking of all of said circuit portion outputs during selected cycles of the successive clock cycles, the signal generator (130) being responsive to clock cycle selection data (s1-st). This way, selected clock cycles or individual flip-flops can be masked out without requiring external control signals. The IC may also comprise a mask storage arrangement (115) for storing masks to mask a plurality of scan chains for all cycles within a pattern. |
| US08250418B2 |
Test mode for parallel load of address dependent data to enable loading of desired data backgrounds
One or more embodiments of the invention enable a memory device to load its memory array with desired background data, such as to reduce total test time and costs associated with testing. A background data loading circuit according to one embodiment of the invention includes a buffer, a data loading circuit, and a pattern generating logic. The buffer is coupled to the array of memory cells. The data loading circuit is coupled to load data into the buffer to be transferred to a respective row of the memory cells. The pattern generating logic is coupled to the data loading circuit. The pattern generating logic applies a pattern generating algorithm corresponding to a test mode when the memory devices is in the test mode and generates patterns of data each for a respective row of the memory cells according to the pattern generating algorithm. The pattern generating logic further causes the data loading circuit to load each of the generated patterns of data into the buffer for transferring to a respective row of the memory cells. |
| US08250417B2 |
Method for detecting flash program failures
One or more techniques are provided for programming a flash memory device. In one embodiment, the memory device is programmed such that a data pattern written to a page in the memory device has encoded therein an expected count value corresponding to the number of times a first binary value occurs in the data pattern. The data pattern includes the program data and the expected count value, and is written to the page in a single operation. The expected count value may be stored in a count field in the management area of the page. During a page read operation, the expected count value is compared to the actual count of the number of bits having the first binary value in the data area of the page. If the expected count is equal to the actual count, then the program data is determined to be valid. |
| US08250414B2 |
Method for determining an asymmetrical signal lag of a signal path inside an integrated circuit
A device has at least one integrated signal path having a measurable asymmetrical signal lag and/or jitter, an output signal of the integrated signal path being able to be decoupled in a first measuring operating mode using a controllable integrated multiplexer to measure an asymmetrical signal lag of a measuring path, which includes the integrated signal path and the integrated multiplexer, and a measuring signal being able to be decoupled in a second measuring operating mode using the controllable integrated multiplexer to measure the asymmetrical signal lag of the integrated multiplexer. |
| US08250411B2 |
Diagnostic context construction and comparison
A data processing system 1 has a processor core 2 which is programmable to act as one of a plurality of virtual machines each identified by a virtual machine identifier, each virtual machine acting in one of a plurality of contexts each identified by a context identifier, each context executing a sequence of program instructions, each program instruction having one or more associated memory addresses. The data processing system has diagnostic circuitry 10 for performing diagnostic operations on the processor core. Diagnostic control circuitry 12 is provided which is responsive to current values of the virtual machine identifier, the context identifier and at least one of the one or more associated memory addresses to trigger the diagnostic circuitry 10 to perform diagnostic operations. |
| US08250410B2 |
Video recording and reproducing apparatus and method thereof
Achieving improvement in protection of recorded data and reproduction performance and editing performance of video data and audio data, in addition to minimizing the number of disk devices, an inexpensive and high-performance video recording and reproducing apparatus (100) and a method thereof include: a first disk device and a second disk device; a mirroring unit which mirrors video data and audio data to an identical logical address employed by the first disk device and the second disk device; a reading unit which reads (i) the video data out of one of the first disk device and the second disk device, and (ii) the audio data out of another one of the first disk device and the second disk device; and a reproducing unit which reproduces, via synchronization, the video data and the audio data read by the reading unit. |
| US08250408B1 |
System diagnosis
A method of automated diagnosis of a distributed system having a plurality of computing systems hosting replicated applications thereon is provided. The method includes deriving at least one diagnosis model correlating first metrics relating to a first application instance on a first one of the plurality of computing systems to a state of a system health indicator of the first application instance; determining whether the at least one diagnosis model is sufficiently accurate based on a probability of a predicted system health state of the first application instance given the first metrics and an actual system health state of the first application instance; and upon the determining that the at least one diagnosis model is sufficiently accurate, transferring the at least one diagnosis model to a second one of the plurality of computing systems for diagnosis of a second application instance on the second computing system that is a replicate of the first application instance. |
| US08250402B2 |
Method to precondition a storage controller for automated data collection based on host input
An FTDC interface with the host or user. The interface can include a command application programming interface (API) or a data storage Command-Line Interface (DS CLI)/Graphical User Interface (GUI). In certain embodiments, the FTDC interface allows a host or user to customize a desired FTDC on a two-tiered system. The first tier is one in which a host/user selects, from a list of conditions, which ones, upon occurrence of those conditions, they would like the controller to perform FTDC. In the second tier a second selection is made such that for each first tier item, the host/user will select the level of FTDC (collection and offloading of logs and/or the forcing and offloading of a statesave). |
| US08250392B2 |
Fast turn-on/off for energy efficient ethernet
In described embodiments, turn-on time for active portions of an Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) device is improved by storing energy in a corresponding capacitor bank through a bidirectional device from a certain node in the device during an active state, continuing to store the energy when the device enters a Low Power Idle (LPI) state, and then allowing the energy to return to the node through the bidirectional device when the device returns to an active state. During active mode, the bidirectional device controls the capacitor bank so as to charge relatively slowly to store energy, and when the device transitions to LPI, the charge is maintained in the capacitor bank. When the device returns to the active state, the bidirectional device allows the capacitor bank to discharge relatively rapidly to the node, thereby improving the turn-on time of the circuit elements coupled to the node. |
| US08250390B2 |
Power estimating method and computer system
In order to calculate the power of logically-partitioned areas without using a power meter in a storage system logically partitioning a storage area, there is provided a power estimating method in a computer system including a management computer and a storage system connected to the management computer and a host computer. The storage system prepares logical storage-volumes in a real area of plural disk drives. The power estimating method includes the steps of: allowing a third processor to calculate operation rates of the disk drives for access to the logical storage-volumes from operating times of the disk drives for access to the logical storage-volumes; and allowing the third processor to calculate power consumption increments of the disk drives for access to the logical storage-volumes by access types from incremental power consumption information and the calculated operation rates of the disk drives. |
| US08250389B2 |
Profiling an application for power consumption during execution on a plurality of compute nodes
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for profiling an application for power consumption during execution on a compute node that include: receiving an application for execution on a compute node; identifying a hardware power consumption profile for the compute node, the hardware power consumption profile specifying power consumption for compute node hardware during performance of various processing operations; determining a power consumption profile for the application in dependence upon the application and the hardware power consumption profile for the compute node; and reporting the power consumption profile for the application. |
| US08250388B2 |
Power supply circuit for CPU
A power supply circuit is configured for supplying power to a central processing unit (CPU). The power supply circuit includes a pulse-width modulation (PWM) controller, a driving integrated circuit (IC), a first transistor, a second transistor, and a voltage regulator. The PWM controller is capable of outputting a PWM signal to regulate a voltage supplied to the CPU. The driving IC is connected to the PWM controller and capable of outputting a first driving signal and a second driving signal according to the PWM signal. The first transistor is connected to the driving IC and controlled by the first driving signal. The second transistor is connected to the driving IC and controlled by the second driving signal. The voltage regulator is capable of regulating a voltage of a power source to an optimized voltage and supplies the driving IC with the optimized voltage. |
| US08250386B2 |
Turning off buffer when a digital back end operates at a same data rate as the analog front end
A processor circuit having reduced power consumption includes an analog front end operative to receive an analog signal supplied to the processor circuit and to generate a digital signal indicative of the analog signal. The processor further includes a digital back end operative to generate a digital output signal as a function of the digital signal generated by the analog front end. A buffer is coupled between the analog front end and the digital back end. In a first mode of operation, the digital back end operates at a substantially same data rate as the analog front end and the buffer is bypassed. In a second mode of operation, the digital back end operates at a higher data rate than the analog front end and the buffer is used to store outputs of the analog front end. |
| US08250378B1 |
System and method for enabling encryption
Embodiments provide systems and methods for the encryption of data to be stored on media in a library. A method of data encryption may comprise intercepting or monitoring commands sent to a library comprising one or more media stored at secure slots. If in response to a command or commands, media is moved from a secure slot to a drive, data stored on the media by the drive is encrypted, either by an encryption device, the drive or other encryption system, thus allowing encryption based on individual slots or media in a library. |
| US08250375B2 |
Generating unique data from electronic devices
Providing for analysis of artifacts of electronic devices to generate data that is substantially unique to a particular device or to a class of devices is described herein. In some aspects, analyzed artifacts are chosen based on reliable reproducibility of such data over many analyses. The substantially unique data can be associated with a particular electronic device(s) to distinguish such devices from other devices. In some aspects, the generated data is first transformed into an identifier, such as a number, word, string of data, etc., to distinguish the electronic device in remote communication, to provide a key in an encryption/decryption algorithm, and so on. The data can be reproduced by reanalyzing the artifacts, and thus need not be stored for future consumption, mitigating risks involved in storing sensitive data. |
| US08250369B2 |
Method and apparatus for secure measurement certification
The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for acquiring a physical measurement, and for creating a cryptographic certification of that measurement, such that its value and time can be verified by a party that was not necessarily present at the measurement.The certified measurement may also include corroborative information for associating the actual physical measurement process with the certified measurement. Such corroborative information may reflect the internal or external state of the measurement certification device, as well as witness identifiers of any persons that may have been present at the measurement acquisition and certification.The certification may include a signal receiver to receive timing signals from a satellite or other external source. The external timing signals may be used to generate the time included in the certified measurement, or could be used to determine the location of the measurement certification device for inclusion in the certified measurement. |
| US08250367B2 |
Cryptographic applications of efficiently evaluating large degree isogenies
Techniques are disclosed for representing and evaluating large prime degree isogenies for use in cryptographic signature and encryption schemes. An isogeny of prime degree 1 may be represented as an ideal in the form (1, A*alpha+B), where 1 comprises the degree of a prime number, the prime number is split into integers a and b, and alpha is a known endomorphism. For a given degree 1, integers a and b define a unique isogeny, allowing the isogeny to be stored with 3 log(1) bits of information. Techniques are also disclosed to evaluate the isogeny at a given point by decomposing the isogeny into an integer and a plurality of smaller degree isogenies, evaluating the smaller degree isogenies at the point with traditional means, and multiplying the results of the evaluations together and with the integer. |
| US08250363B2 |
Method of provisioning devices with one-time pad data, device for use in such method, and service usage tracking based on one-time pad data
Secret random data is distributed to a plurality of devices to provision them with new one-time pad data for use in interacting with apparatus holding the same one-time pad data. This distribution is effected by provisioning a first device with a block of secret random data that is, or will become, available to the apparatus. Part of the secret random data is then distributed from the first device to one or more other devices in a hierarchical distribution pattern headed by the first device. Each device, other than those at the bottom of the distribution hierarchy, retains part of the secret random data it receives and passes on the remainder. Each device uses that part of the secret random data it has retained to provide the device with new one-time pad data. A method is also provided for tracking service usage based on the distributed one-time pad data. |
| US08250357B2 |
Tunnel interface for securing traffic over a network
A flexible, scalable hardware and software platform that allows a service provider to easily provide internet services, virtual private network services, firewall services, etc., to a plurality of customers. One aspect provides a method and system for delivering security services. This includes connecting a plurality of processors in a ring configuration within a first processing system, establishing a secure connection between the processors in the ring configuration across an internet protocol (IP) connection to a second processing system to form a tunnel, and providing both router services and host services for a customer using the plurality of processors in the ring configuration and using the second processing system. A secure communications tunnel is formed by routing all packets for the tunnel through an encrypting router at the sending end to obtain encrypted packets, and routing the encrypted packets through a decrypting router at the receiving end of an IP connection. |
| US08250356B2 |
Method to construct a high-assurance IPSec gateway using an unmodified commercial implementation
A system and method of providing secure communications is provided. Messages are encrypted or decrypted in protected memory of a processor. Outbound messages from a secure network are prepared for encryption by adding a header outside of the protected memory and then encrypted in the protected memory. The encryption is performed by retrieving a key from a key cache as designated by rules in the header. The encrypted message is sent to the unsecure network. An inbound message from an unsecure network that is received in unprotected memory is sent to a decryption module in protected memory. The inbound message is decrypted using a key designated in its header and retrieved from the key cache. The decrypted message is returned to the unprotected memory, where it is stripped of the encryption header and then sent to its destination within the secure network. |
| US08250352B2 |
Isolating workload partition space
A method, system, and computer usable program product for isolating a workload partition space are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A boot process of a workload partition in a data processing system is started using a scratch file system, the scratch file system being in a global space. A portion of a storage device containing a file system for the workload partition is exported to the workload partition, the portion forming an exported disk. The partially booted up workload partition may discover the exported disk. The exporting causes an association between the global space and the exported disk to either not form, or sever. The exporting places the exported disk in a workload partition space associated with the workload partition. The boot process is transitioned to stop using the scratch file system and start using the data in the exported disk for continuing the boot process. |
| US08250351B2 |
Synchronization of two independent reset signals
Reset control circuitry is disclosed, for controlling a first reset signal for resetting at least a first portion of a circuit and a further reset signal for resetting at least a second portion of said circuit, said reset control circuitry comprising: an input for receiving an input first reset signal; an input for receiving an input further reset signal; an output for outputting an output first reset signal; and an output for outputting an output further reset signal; said reset control circuitry being responsive to detecting deassertion of said input first reset signal when said input further reset signal is asserted to delay deassertion of said output first reset signal so that said output first reset signal is deasserted at a same time or later than said input further reset signal. |
| US08250348B2 |
Methods and apparatus for dynamically switching processor mode
In a first aspect, a first processing method is provided. The first processing method includes the steps of (1) operating a processor in a first mode based on an operand size associated with a first instruction received by the processor; and (2) dynamically switching the processor operation mode from the first mode to a second mode based on a different operand size associated with a second instruction received by the processor. Numerous other aspects are provided. |
| US08250347B2 |
Digital data processing apparatus having hardware multithreading support including cache line limiting mechanism for special class threads
Asymmetric hardware support for a special class of threads is provided. Preferably, the special class threads are high-priority, I/O bound threads. Preferably, a multithreaded processor contains N sets of registers for supporting concurrent execution of N threads. At least one of the register sets is dedicated for use by a special class of threads, and can not be used by other threads even if idle. The special class of threads can fill only the a limited portion of the cache memory, in order to reduce flushing of the cache which might otherwise occur. |
| US08250344B2 |
Methods and apparatus for dynamic prediction by software
A method, storage medium, processor instruction and processor to for specifying a value in a first portion of a conditional pre-fetch instruction associated with a branch instruction used for effectuating a branch operation, specifying a target instruction address in a second portion of the instruction, evaluating the value to determine whether a condition is met, and pre-fetching one or more instructions starting at the target instruction address into an instruction buffer of the processor when the condition is met, is provided. |
| US08250339B2 |
Apparatus, method, system and executable module for configuration and operation of adaptive integrated circuitry having fixed, application specific computational elements
The present invention concerns configuration of a new category of integrated circuitry for adaptive computing. The various embodiments provide an executable information module for an adaptive computing engine (ACE) integrated circuit and may include configuration information, operand data, and may also include routing and power control information. The ACE IC comprises a plurality of heterogeneous computational elements coupled to an interconnection network. The plurality of heterogeneous computational elements include corresponding computational elements having fixed and differing architectures, such as fixed architectures for different functions such as memory, addition, multiplication, complex multiplication, subtraction, configuration, reconfiguration, control, input, output, and field programmability. In response to configuration information, the interconnection network is operative to configure the plurality of heterogeneous computational elements for a plurality of different functional modes. |
| US08250338B2 |
Broadcasting instructions/data to a plurality of processors in a multiprocessor device via aliasing
A mechanism for broadcasting instructions/data to a plurality of processors in a multiprocessor device via aliasing is provided. In order to broadcast data to a plurality of processors, a control processor writes to the registers that store the identifiers of the processors and sets two or more of these registers to a same value. The control processor may write the desired data/instructions to be broadcast to a portion of memory corresponding to the starting address associated with the processor identifier of the two or more processors. When the two or more processors look for a starting address of their local store from which to read, the two or more processors will identify the same starting address, essentially aliasing the memory region. The two or more processors will read the instructions/data from the same aliased memory region starting at the identified starting address and process the same instructions/data. |
| US08250329B2 |
Preemptive write-inhibition for thin provisioning storage subsystem
Write requests from host computers are processed in relation to a thin provisioning storage subsystem. A write request is received from a host computer. The write request identifies a first virtual disk that has been previously assigned to the host computer. It is determined whether the first virtual disk has to be allocated additional physical storage locations of the thin provisioning storage subsystem for storing data associated with the write request. In response to determining that the virtual disk has to be allocated additional physical storage locations, the following is performed. First, a quantity of free space remaining unallocated within physical storage locations of the thin provisioning storage subsystem is determined. Second, where the quantity of free space remaining unallocated within the physical storage locations satisfies a policy threshold associated with a second virtual disk, the second virtual disk is write-inhibited. The first and second virtual disks can be different. |
| US08250328B2 |
Apparatus and method for buffered write commands in a memory
Memories, buffered write command circuits, and methods for executing memory commands in a memory. In some embodiments, read commands that are received after write commands are executed internally prior to executing the earlier received write commands. Write commands are buffered so that the commands can be executed upon completion of the later received read command. One example of a buffered write command circuit includes a write command buffer to buffer write commands and propagate buffered write commands therethrough in response to a clock signal and further includes write command buffer logic. The write command buffer logic generates an active clock signal to propagate the buffered write commands through the write command buffer for execution, suspends the active clock signal in response to receiving a read command after the write command is received, and restarts the active clock upon completion of the later received read command. |
| US08250326B2 |
Data swapping in a storage system
Systems and methods for data swapping in a storage network are provided. The method comprises associating a flag with a first track on a first volume (TA1) and a first track on a second volume (TB1) to indicate that I/O access to TA1 is to be redirected to TB1, and that I/O access to TB1 is to be redirected to TA1; locking TA1 and TB1 to prohibit I/O access to TA1 and TB1; copying data stored on TA1 and TB1 to cache; swapping data between TA1 and TB1; unlocking TA1 and TB1 to allow I/O access to TA1 and TB1; redirecting I/O access to TB1, in response to receiving an I/O request to access TA1, when TA1 is flagged, and redirecting I/O access to TA1, in response to receiving an I/O request to access TB1, when TB1 is flagged. |
| US08250323B2 |
Determining whether to use a repository to store data updated during a resynchronization
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for determining whether to use a repository to store data updated during a resynchronization. Writes to a primary storage are transferred to a secondary storage. A logical copy of the secondary storage as of a point-in-time is established. Writes to the secondary storage in the logical copy received from the primary storage during a logical copy duration after the point-in-time are stored in a repository that comprises less storage space than the secondary storage in the logical copy. The transferring of writes to the secondary storage is suspended. During the suspension writes to the primary storage are indicated in an out-of-synch data structure. A determination is made as to as to whether available storage space in the repository is sufficient to store writes transferred from the secondary storage while transferring the writes from the out-of-synch data structure in response to ending the suspension of the transferring of writes from the primary to the secondary storages. The repository is used to store data in the secondary storage as of the point-in-time that is to be updated by writes transferred from the primary storage following the ending of the suspension in response to determining that the available storage space in the repository is sufficient to store writes transferred from the secondary storage while transferring the writes indicated in the out-of-synch data structure. |
| US08250314B2 |
Method and device for checking sector protection information of a non-volatile memory
A non-volatile memory device includes addressable sectors and an ancillary volatile memory array. The ancillary volatile memory array stores protection information in the addressable sectors that is not accessible to users of the memory. The protection information is downloaded in the memory array at every power-on of the memory device. The memory array includes at least two additional columns containing preset logic information physically adjacent to the columns containing the downloaded information. A logic circuit is input with the logic information read from the additional check columns for checking the integrity of the preset logic information content of the check columns. An integrity check signal is output by the logic circuit. |
| US08250313B1 |
Conflict avoidance in data store replication
A conflict avoidance system is provided. The conflict avoidance system comprises a first data store provided at a first geographic location and a second data store at a second geographic location, where the first and second data stores are replications of one another. The conflict avoidance system also comprises a conflict avoidance module operable to receive a data store request from applications, wherein the conflict avoidance module communicates update data store requests to the first data store and communicates create data store requests and delete data store requests to the second data store. |
| US08250312B2 |
Configurable multi-port memory devices and methods
Embodiments of a multi-port memory device may include a plurality of ports and a plurality of memory banks some of which are native to each port and some of which are non-native to each port. The memory device may include a configuration register that stores configuration data indicative of the mapping of the memory banks to the ports. In response to the configuration data, for example, a steering logic may couple each of the ports either to one or all of the native memory banks or to one or all of the non-native memory banks. |
| US08250310B2 |
Assigning data to NVRAM of shared access hybrid hard drives
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture are provided for managing a hybrid storage device based upon the properties associated therewith. The storage device includes flash memory and physical storage. Select data is written to the flash memory and is not subject to flushing to the physical storage, and select data is either written directly to the physical storage or written to the flash memory and is subject to flushing to the physical storage. |
| US08250309B2 |
Control of data accesses to a cache in data processing
A data processor comprising: a control register operable to store a cache control value; and data accessing logic responsive to a data access instruction and to said cache control value to look for data to be accessed in a cache if said cache control value has a predetermined value and not to look for said data to be accessed in said cache if said cache control value does not have said predetermined value. |
| US08250306B2 |
Method for improving frequency-based caching algorithms by maintaining a stable history of evicted items
The invention provides a method for improving frequency-based caching algorithms by maintaining a stable history of evicted items. One embodiment involves a process for caching data in a cache memory including logical pages including, upon detecting that a first page is being evicted from the cache memory, performing an addition process by adding metadata of the first page to a stable history list. Upon detecting a cache miss for a second page, if the stable history list contains metadata for the second page, then removing the second page metadata from the stable history list and applying a promotion determination for the second page to determine a priority value for the second page metadata and placing the second page in the cache memory based on the priority data. Upon detecting that metadata of a third page is to be evicted from the stable history list, applying an eviction determination to evict metadata of the third page from the stable history list based on a predetermined caching rule. |
| US08250304B2 |
Cache memory device and system with set and group limited priority and casting management of I/O type data injection
A memory device comprising a cache memory with a predetermined amount of cache sets, each cache set comprising a predetermined amount of cache lines. Each cache line is operable to indicate a cache data injection into the particular cache line triggered by a bus-actor. |
| US08250302B2 |
Cache management using sampled values assigned to a request
A system and method for data cache management are provided in which a request for access to data is, and a sample value is assigned to the request, the sample value being randomly selected according to a probability distribution. The sample value is compared to another value such as a previously stored sample value, and the data is selectively stored in the cache based on results of the comparison. If the requested data is not in the cache, the sample value may be compared with an extreme one of a plurality of sampled values such as the lowest sampled value. Each of the sampled values may be stored in a database, and the sampled values or the probability distribution may be changed over time to account for frequency of requests. |
| US08250300B2 |
Cache memory system and method with improved mapping flexibility
A cache memory system comprises a cache memory and a cache controller that receives a first address to access the cache memory. The cache controller includes a first address transformer receives the first address and to transform it into one first cache address; the first cache address is used for accessing the cache memory to retrieve a first part of a tag address portion. The cache controller includes a hit detector establishes an partial hit condition based on a comparison of the retrieved a first part of the tag address portion and a first predetermined part of the first address, and a second address transformer receives the first address and to transform it into one second cache address. The cache controller uses the one second cache address for accessing the cache memory to retrieve a data word in case the partial hit condition is established. |
| US08250298B2 |
Mechanisms for reducing DRAM power consumption
Mechanisms are provided for inhibiting precharging of memory cells of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) structure. The mechanisms receive a command for accessing memory cells of the DRAM structure. The mechanisms further determine, based on the command, if precharging the memory cells following accessing the memory cells is to be inhibited. Moreover, the mechanisms send, in response to the determination indicating that precharging the memory cells is to be inhibited, a command to blocking logic of the DRAM structure to block precharging of the memory cells following accessing the memory cells. |
| US08250296B2 |
System and method for information handling system memory page mapping optimization
Plural consecutive virtual memory pages associated with an application running on an information handling system are mapped to a physical memory page of the information handling system's physical memory, such as dual channel interleaved memory. Each physical memory page that stores plural consecutive virtual memory pages becomes an effective cache of those virtual memory pages with a RAS operation on the memory, thus providing more efficient memory access in streaming applications. A memory mapping engine associated with the operating system of the information handling system maps plural virtual memory pages to single physical memory pages according to a ratio of physical memory size to virtual memory size provided by a memory manager of the information handling system BIOS, such as with an ACPI message. |
| US08250292B2 |
Data writing method for a flash memory, and controller and storage system using the same
A data writing method for writing data from a host system into a flash memory chip is provided. The method includes configuring a plurality of logical page addresses, grouping the logical page addresses into a plurality of logical blocks, and recording the data dispersion degree of each of the logical blocks. The method also includes receiving write-in data from the host system, identifying a logical block that a logical page address to be written by the host system belongs to, and writing the write-in data into the flash memory chip according to the data dispersion degree of the logical block, wherein the data dispersion degree of each of the logical blocks is not larger than a logical block data dispersion degree threshold value. Accordingly, the method can effectively reduce the time for executing a host write command. |
| US08250291B2 |
Image processing apparatus, access control method, recording medium
An image processing apparatus includes a nonvolatile memory device including a first storage area configured to store one or more predetermined information items; a secondary storage device including a second storage area configured to store the predetermined information items; and an access control unit configured to control access to the first storage area and the second storage area in response to an access request to access the predetermined information items. |
| US08250289B2 |
Phase-change random access memory and method of setting boot block therein
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array and the memory cell array includes: a plurality of memory blocks and at least one setting unit. The at least one setting unit stores a location and a size of a boot data storage region within the plurality of memory blocks that stores boot data. The at least one setting units may include a register for setting usage of each memory block as a boot block. The semiconductor device may be a phase-change memory. |
| US08250283B1 |
Write-distribute command for RAID mirroring
According to one general aspect, a method may include receiving, from a processor at an I/O controller, a write-distribute command that includes an indication of data to be written to a group of storage mediums and instructions that the data should be written to multiple storage locations within the group of storage mediums. In various embodiments, the method may also include, based on the command's instructions, writing the data to at least a first storage location of the storage mediums. In one embodiment, the method may include returning a write completion message, from the I/O controller to the processor, after the data is written to a first storage location. |
| US08250281B2 |
Data communications through a host fibre channel adapter
Data communications through a host Fiber Channel adapter (‘HFCA’) implemented with a computer that includes two or more logical partitions, each logical partition including a separate instance of an operating system, each instance of an operating system including an instance of a low-level, switched fabric input/output (‘I/O’) library, including establishing, in the HFCA by instances of the I/O library in two or more logical partitions and by the hypervisor, separate logical Fiber Channel adapters (‘LFCAs’) for at least two of the logical partitions, each LFCA including an association of an LFCA identifier with at least one range of I/O memory addresses in the address space of a logical partition and transferring, at the behest of application programs in the two or more logical partitions, data between the RAM of the logical partitions and the data storage devices through the LFCAs, the HFCA, and the Fiber Channel fabric. |
| US08250280B1 |
Bus transaction maintenance protocol
A system-on-a-chip (SOC) bridge is described that applies an adapted delay, or latency, to data transfers across the bridge to avoid data corruption without reducing data transfer performance. The adapted delay assures that a source SOC service device transferring data to a destination SOC service device via the bridge and an SOC crossbar bus does not prematurely assume that the data transfer is complete upon transferring the data to the bridge. The bridge causes wait states to be inserted into the transfer between the source SOC service device and the SOC bridge until the SOC bridge receives confirmation that the data has arrived at the destination SOC service device. The adapted delay assures that subsequent operations are not prematurely initiated by the source SOC service device and/or the SOC CPU that may interfere with the data transfer from the SOC bridge to the destination SOC service device, resulting in corrupted data. |
| US08250271B2 |
Command and interrupt grouping for a data storage device
A data storage device may include multiple memory chips and a controller that is operably coupled to the memory chips and that is arranged and configured to receive a group of commands from a host, where each of the commands in the group includes a same group number to identify the commands as part of the group, process the group of the commands using the memory chips and generate and send a single interrupt to the host when the group of the commands completes processing. |
| US08250267B2 |
Control I/O offload in a split-path storage virtualization system
Various embodiments of systems, methods, computer systems and computer software are disclosed for implementing a control I/O offload feature in a split-path storage virtualization system. One embodiment is a method for providing split-path storage services to a plurality of hosts via a storage area network. |
| US08250260B2 |
Method, arrangement, data processing program and computer program product for exchanging message data in a distributed computer system
A method for exchanging message data in a distributed computer system between a sending and a receiving hardware system. The sending hardware system includes a first memory system and a receiving hardware system which includes a second memory system with a second data buffer and a second memory region. The sending hardware system and the receiving hardware system are coupled via a non-transparent bridge unit. The method includes allocating empty memory, writing information about the empty memory, copying payload data directly from the sending hardware system to the empty memory locations, and writing information about the copied payload data to the second data buffer of the second memory system inside the receiving hardware system. A system and computer program product for carrying out the method are also provided. |
| US08250257B1 |
Techniques for balancing system I/O load
Described are techniques for performing I/O operations. A graph is received including a plurality of nodes and edges. The graph includes a first level with a root node and one or more other levels of nodes. Each edge has a value indicating an I/O load metric. A thread associated with a first node determines whether to perform a background I/O operation directed to a first device and having a first priority. The first priority is compared to a first value of an I/O load metric. The first value is determined in accordance with criteria including a maximum usage of an I/O buffer of the first device and priorities of other I/O operations directed to the first device. If it is determined that the background I/O operation is to be performed, the background I/O operation is forwarded for processing on an I/O path having a corresponding path in the graph. |
| US08250256B2 |
Methods, systems and computer products for user-managed multi-path performance in balanced or unbalanced fabric configurations
Methods, system and computer products for user-managed multi-path performance in balanced or unbalanced fabric configurations. Exemplary embodiments include a path priority selection method, including selecting a first I/O data path to be a highest priority path in a storage area network system, selecting a second I/O data path to be a low priority path, selecting an I/O threshold value, the I/O threshold value indicating that I/O data load is excessive, directing the load balance of I/O traffic to the first I/O data path, thereby placing the second I/O data path in a standby state, monitoring the first I/O data path, determining if the first I/O data path has reached the threshold value and performing a controlled failover of the first I/O data path to the second I/O data path when an I/O data load on the first data path has reached the threshold value. |
| US08250255B2 |
Two-way connectivity USB control device and operation method thereof
A two-way connectivity USB control device and its operation method are disclosed. The present invention solves a problem of the prior art that requires users to manually switch a USB controller between an active mode and a passive mode and set a predetermined time interval as in prior art. The two-way connectivity USB control device detects whether or not there is a voltage input. If the detection result is yes, then the two-way connectivity USB control device is switched to a transmit mode, or else the two-way connectivity USB control device is switched to a transparent mode for accessing data stored in an external device by issuing a control command directly. |
| US08250244B2 |
Wireless modem device usable on computer device without driver installation wherein computer has a proxy server application and pre-installed generic drivers
Method for connecting a host computer device to a wireless communication network, the host computer device being provided with an operating system with at least one pre-installed generic driver providing a generic communication protocol (7) for communication between the host computer device and a standard class of computer peripheral devices other than wireless modem devices, the method comprising the steps of: (a) connecting a wireless modem device to the host computer device; (b) setting up, by means of a pre-installed generic driver of the operating system on the computer device, a modem/host communication interface (6) for communication between the wireless modem device and the computer device; (c) connecting the host computer device to a wireless communication network via the wireless modem device; (d) routing data traffic (8-9) between the host computer device and the wireless communication network over the modem/host communication interface (6). The generic communication protocol (7) is used in the modem/host communication interface (6) for transferring the data traffic (8-9) between the host computer device and the wireless modem device. |
| US08250243B2 |
Diagnostic data collection and storage put-away station in a multiprocessor system
A computer-implemented method for collecting diagnostic data within a multiprocessor system that includes capturing diagnostic data via a plurality of collection points disposed at a source location within the multiprocessor system, routing the captured diagnostic data to a data collection station at the source location, providing a plurality of buffers within the data collection station, and temporarily storing the captured diagnostic data on at least one of the plurality of buffers, and transferring the captured diagnostic data to a target storage location on a same chip as the source location or another storage location on a same node. |
| US08250241B1 |
Intelligent caching of media files
A method of receiving and forwarding a multimedia message is provided. The multimedia message is adapted with a first adaptation profile into a first adapted message to be received in a first device. The multimedia message and the first adapted message are stored in a media cache. The message may then be forwarded from the first device to a second device that has a second adaptation profile by retrieving the first adapted message from the media cache and sending it to the second device if the first and second adaptation profiles match, otherwise the multimedia message is retrieved from the media cache and adapted with the second adaptation profile into a second adapted message that is then sent to the second device. In addition, the second adapted message is stored in the media cache. A corresponding system for processing and forwarding the multimedia message is also provided. |
| US08250237B2 |
Communication with database client users
Embodiments may include a database messaging system having a database server in communication with one or more database clients. The database server may include a database messaging module, which may include a database administrator (DBA) interface module to receive a message request, where the message request includes message content and an indication of one or more database clients to which a message will be sent. The database messaging module may also include an address module to determine an IP address associated with each of the one or more database clients and a database messaging transmitter to transmit a message to each determined IP address, where the message may include the message content. The database clients may include a client listener for receiving the message from the database server and displaying it to a database client user's monitor. |
| US08250236B2 |
Method and apparatus for translating a web services address
A method for translating a web services address, includes receiving a first web services address, determining a format for the first web services address, transforming the first web services address to a second web services address based on the determined format and outputting the second web services address. |
| US08250234B2 |
Hierarchically disassembling messages
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for hierarchically disassembling messages. The functionality of disassemblers and framers is decoupled such that framers for different types of messages can be utilized at the same level in a hierarchy without having to also change disassemblers. Virtually any level of disassembly is possible to address any corresponding level of message nesting. Disassembly can be performed on a per message or per session basis. |
| US08250230B2 |
Optimizing communication using scalable peer groups
Implementations of the present invention relate in part to optimizations to peer-to-peer communication systems. For example, one implementation relates to use of a smart transceiver that creates, caches, and manages communication channels dynamically between peers. Another implementation relates to use of a central tracking object that can be used to efficiently register and distribute peer messages among the various peers. In one implementation, the central tracking object is shared amongst peers in the group. Still another implementation relates to associating peer groups with namespaces, and for including peer groups of one namespace within still other peer groups of different namespaces. These and other aspects of the invention can also be used to ensure delivery intent of a given peer message is preserved, and to ensure that optimal numbers of messages are communicated to any given peer at any given time. |
| US08250228B1 |
Pausing or terminating video portion while continuing to run audio portion of plug-in on browser
Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may include computer-executable instructions stored thereon. When executed by at least one processor, the instructions may be configured to cause a computing system to receive, by a web browser, a file from a web server, the file including an instruction to launch a plug-in of the browser, launch the plug-in in an active state based on the instruction, provide a message to the plug-in indicating that the plug-in is hidden and is not displayed as visible by the web browser, and modify running of the plug-in from the active state based on the message. |
| US08250225B1 |
Generation of suffixes for pseudo e-mail addresses
An electronic system provides a plurality of address components arranged in a plurality of mutually exclusive groups, and maintains for each of a plurality of electronic network users a respective group assignment specifying one of the groups that is determined by assignment criteria. Each such group assignment can change over time as a function of the assignment criteria, and the assignment criteria is configured so that every user is initially assigned to a predetermined one of the groups. The electronic system allocates to each user over time a sequence of address components from the group specified by the current group assignment of that user. |
| US08250223B2 |
Portable electronic device and method for downloading a firmware loader from a host computer
A method for downloading a firmware loader from a host computer to a portable electronic device establishes a communication connection between the host computer and the portable electronic device. Transmission parameters between the portable electronic device and the portable electronic device are configured. The firmware loader is transmitted from the host computer to the portable electronic device according to the transmission parameters. The firmware loader is verified, where the portable electronic device obtains a start address of the firmware loader. |
| US08250221B2 |
Aircraft data communications services for users
A method and system provide efficient, flexible, and convenient data communication services for users over public wireless systems. The system includes a data communication server, having a plurality of interface units, for facilitating data communication between a moving object and one or more ground terminals via a radio communication path. The data communication server establishes the radio communication path over one of a plurality of wireless data networks including packet data networks and satellite data networks and preferably includes a pre-determined software architecture. |
| US08250220B2 |
Generalized proximity service
A system and method for identifying network endpoints that provide a service of interest orders endpoints according to their network proximity to a requesting client. The requesting client may then contact the closest available providing endpoint, thus increasing the efficiency of usage of network resources while decreasing latency and enhancing reliability. In an embodiment of the invention, when a connection to the nearest providing endpoint cannot be established, a mechanism for locating a next-closest alternative endpoint is provided. |
| US08250215B2 |
Method and system for intelligently leveraging cloud computing resources
In one embodiment the present invention includes a multi-cloud management module having a plurality of cloud adapters. The multi-cloud management module provides a unified administrative interface for provisioning cloud-based resources on any one of several clouds for which a cloud adapter is configured for use with the multi-cloud management module. Each cloud adapter converts non-cloud-specific commands to cloud-specific provisioning commands for the cloud to which the cloud adapter is associated. |
| US08250214B2 |
System, method and computer program product for communicating with a private network
A system, method and computer program product for communicating with a private network are described. An application of a client is monitored for communications intended for a node coupled to a private network. A communication from the monitored application of the client that is intended for the node may then be intercepted before the communication can be received by the transport layer of the client, the intercepted communication may then be sent with a connection identifier to an interface unit coupled to the private network via an established network connection over a public network. The connection identifier also associated with a communication link that is established over the private network between the interface unit and the node. The interface unit uses the connection identifier that is received with the communication to identify the associated communication link over the private network. The interface unit may then send the communication (without the connection identifier) to the node via the identified associated communication link. |
| US08250213B2 |
Methods and apparatus to allocate resources associated with a distributive computing network
Methods and apparatus to allocate resources associated with a distributive computing network are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving resource allocation information associated with a service that is to be hosted by a distributive computing network, determining a first configuration type and a second configuration type specified within the received resource allocation information, determining at least one configuration group associated with the first configuration type and at least one configuration group associated with the second configuration type, determining physical resources included within the distributive computing network to host the service, electronically allocating the physical resources for the at least one configuration group associated with the first configuration type, electronically allocating the physical resources for the at least one configuration group associated with the second configuration type, and hosting the service within the physical resources in accordance with the allocations. |
| US08250212B2 |
Requester-side autonomic governor
A requester-side autonomic governor is provided for a requester configured to send service requests to a service provider. For example, the requester and service provider may be disposed in a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) architected system. A feedback loop, preferably a monitor portion of a Monitor, Analyze, Plan, and Execute (MAPE) loop, is configured to monitor responses to service requests. An autonomic governor mechanism limits the type and/or number of concurrent service requests according to a resource pool scheme, and dynamically adjusts a resource threshold of the resource pool scheme based on information provided by the feedback loop. In one embodiment, the resource threshold is reduced if more than a predetermined number of service requests generated time-outs, and is increased if more than a predetermined number of service requests are being held awaiting available pool resources and less than a predetermined number of service requests generated time-outs. |
| US08250208B2 |
Network device, method for specifying installation position of network device, and notification device
A network device, method for specifying installation position of network device, and notification device are provided. The network device includes: a loop detecting unit configured to detect a loop caused by the network device; and a location notifying unit configured to allow the network device itself to indicate a location of the network device in response to a detection of the loop. |
| US08250207B2 |
Network based ambient services
Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a network device implements a service profile for assisting control of a communications device use of a service on a network, in which the service profile includes service policy settings, and the service profile is associated with an ambient service plan for the communications device that provides for initial access to the service with limited service capabilities prior to activation of a new service plan for the communications device; and monitors use of the service by the communications device based on the service profile. |
| US08250202B2 |
Distributed notification and action mechanism for mirroring-related events
A method, system, and computer code for administrating a data mirroring relationship between a first node and a second node. The invention includes an event coordinator configured to receive a notification from the first node when an event that may potentially affect the mirroring relationship has occurred, and to perform a predetermined task in response to the notification. The predetermined task may include logging the event that occurred at the first node, notifying the second node that the event occurred at the first node, and notifying a system administrator that the event occurred at the first node. |
| US08250199B2 |
Method and system for handling a dynamic host configuration protocol internet protocol version 4 address release
A method and system for releasing an Internet Protocol (IP) version 4 address using a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) release in a Proxy Mobile IP version 6 (PMIPv6) of a third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Evolved Packet Core (EPC). The method includes transmitting a DHCP release request from a Serving GateWay (SGW) to a Packet Data Network (PDN) GW, transmitting a binding revocation from the PDN GW to the SGW, acknowledging the binding revocation from the SGW to the PDN GW, and deleting the IP version 4 connection for an active PDN connection. |
| US08250198B2 |
Capacity planning for data center services
Techniques and systems for providing capacity planning for data center services are disclosed herein. In some aspects, a multi-tier service is analyzed to determine a query response time (QRT) that can be used for resource planning or other service management reasons. The QRT may include a front end (FE) response time of FE servers and a back end (BE) response time of BE servers, where the BE servers are partitioned servers, and where the response times are based on various request rates from users. In various aspects, the QRT may include a network transmission time of data transmitted between an end user and each tier. In further aspects, the FE response time may be modeled using a single server queuing model while the BE response time may be modeled using a simulation or regression analysis. |
| US08250197B2 |
Quality of service management
A method for providing quality of service to a plurality of hosts accessing a common resource is described. The common resource may be a middle-tier or back-end server. A client IO request is received at one host of the plurality of hosts from one of a plurality clients executing as software entities on respective hosts. The host determines whether an issue queue is full. The IO request is issued to the common resource when the issue queue is not full. A current average latency observed at the host and an adjusted window size is calculated, based at least in part on the current average latency. The issue queue is resized to correspond with the adjusted window size. |
| US08250194B2 |
Powertag: manufacturing and support system method and apparatus for multi-computer solutions
A solutions-based computer system manufacturing process includes assembling computer and storage system components for creation of a given solution-based product as a function of a customer order or plan. The process further includes assigning a solution identifier to the solution-based product. The solution identifier includes a solution type and a unique identifier within the solution type. |
| US08250193B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing remote device with service of universal plug and play network
A universal plug and play remote access architecture is provided. A remote access server device can perform a service level access control with respect to a service request of a remote access client device by extending a device level filter used for a remote access discover agent Config service that is provided by the remote access server device to a service level. |
| US08250190B2 |
Systems and methods for retrieving customer premise equipment data
Methods, systems, and computer readable medium storing a computer executable program for retrieving customer premise equipment (CPE) data are disclosed. A first communication channel is established with a first CPE device via a first node element. The first node element is operable to route data to and from the first CPE device in an Internet network. A request for CPE data is issued to the first CPE device via the first communication channel. The requested CPE data is received from the first CPE device via the first communication channel. |
| US08250188B2 |
Method and device for restoring at least one setting
A method and devices for restoring at least one setting are provided, the client device receives a code generated by a management device based on a time value and a parameter value that uniquely identifies the client device; the client device determines whether the code is valid; and if the code is valid the client device restores the at least one setting of the client device. It provides a convenient way to restore at least one setting of a client device. |
| US08250186B2 |
Method and system of smart detection and recovery
A smart detection and recovery method is implemented in a terminal for detecting statuses of a host. The method comprises steps of: receiving a datagram; determining if the datagram complies with a predetermined format? If “YES” then proceed; determining if a MAC address contained in the datagram is the same with a currently used MAC address pre-stored in the terminal? If “YES” then proceed; determining if an IP address contained in the datagram is the same with a currently used IP address pre-stored in the terminal? If “NO” then re-connect or guide the terminal to the IP address contained in the datagram, if “YES” then handle the datagram by normal operations. Therefore, changes of the IP address of the host can be detected as early as possible, such that the terminal can be re-connected or guided to the host and services of the host can recovered as soon as possible. |
| US08250180B2 |
Content delivery apparatus and content delivery method using the same
A content delivery system includes a delivery server, a storage apparatus having a logical unit for storing data regarding content items, and a management apparatus having a content management unit for managing a delivery server. The delivery server includes a conversion unit and a delivery unit. The conversion units acquires original data regarding a content item from an external origin server in response to a content addition request from the content management unit, converts the original data to data for delivery, and stores the content data for delivery in the first logical unit. The delivery unit reads, in response to a content delivery request from the client, the data for delivery from the logical unit and transmits it to the client. |
| US08250179B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer products for providing podcasts via IPTV
Systems, methods, and computer products for providing podcasts via Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) are disclosed herein. Exemplary embodiments include a network-based method for providing digital media podcasts. The method includes receiving a request to render at least one podcast on a communications device authenticated on an IPTV network, retrieving the at least one podcast from the IPTV network, and providing the at least one podcast to the communications device. |
| US08250176B2 |
File sharing method and file sharing system
System and method to perform rapid I/O processing for a large file reducing load on a server computer and a network. The client computer accesses a disk device directly to perform input/output processing relating to a file operation through a channel switch based on real file information obtained by the client computer from a parent server computer upon a file-open operation. Further, a child server computer manages the disk device, which enables different real files in a same virtual file to be processed an I/O at the same time by a plurality of client computers. |
| US08250175B2 |
Techniques for remapping content requests
Techniques for routing content requests are provided. In one embodiment, a first device at a network device sends a request from a first device at a first site for content to a second device at a second site. The second device determines if the request should be redirected to a third device in a third site. For example, a content server in the second site may decide that a request is better serviced by a third site. This may be because the third site may be closer to the first site, the second site may be overloaded or down, etc. If the request should be redirected, the second device determines a rule for sending further requests for the content to the third site. Signaling is then sent to the network device such that the rule may be installed where further requests for the content are sent to the third site. The further requests are sent to the third site without going through the second site. Accordingly, the requests are more efficiently routed to the third site instead of having to go through the second site and being redirected to the third site. |
| US08250161B2 |
Automatic electronic publishing
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for publishing an electronic document. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. A distribution module retrieves a distribution list identifying at least one user that is to be notified about the publication of the electronic document. As such, when a transfer module sends the electronic document to a network location, a messaging module automatically notifies the at least user from the distribution list of the publication of the electronic document and provides instructions to the at least one user for retrieving the electronic document from the network location. Other systems and methods are also provided. |
| US08250153B2 |
Email system including email aggregation server providing staggering of overlapped polling
An electronic mail (email) system may include at least one email server having mailboxes for storing email messages, and a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices. The system may further include at least one email aggregation server for repetitively polling the mailboxes for email messages, and forwarding the email messages to respective mobile wireless communications devices. The at least one email aggregation server may determine time overlapped polling of corresponding mailboxes and time stagger a next polling thereof. |
| US08250151B2 |
System and method for providing secure data transmission
A system and method are provided, embodiments of which comprise encrypting input data based on authorization from an application program launched on a local computer device by a user. The encrypted input data that is generated by the user is sent to a network communication interface associated with the local computer device for transmission to a remote computer device. At the remote computer the received input data is decrypted, whereby based on the decrypted input data the remote computer generates encrypted response data that is associated with the decrypted first data. The encrypted response data is sent from the remote computer to the local computer, where the encrypted response data is received via the network communication interface associated with the local computer and decrypted. The local computer displays the decrypted response data on a display. |
| US08250150B2 |
Methods and apparatus for identifying and facilitating a social interaction structure over a data packet network
A software suite for managing the publishing and consumption of information and payload data across one or more transport protocols supported by a data-packet-network includes a posting application for publishing the information and payload data, and a consuming application for accessing and consuming the information and payload data. In a preferred embodiment the posting application enables posting of information that is consumable separately from the payload data wherein the information richly describes the payload data including provision of instructions for sampling the payload data before consuming the payload data. |
| US08250148B2 |
Reducing memory accesses in processing TCP/IP packets
A method, computer program product and system for processing TCP/IP packets. A TCP protocol stack may store a payload of a received TCP/IP packet in a data fragment list. The TCP protocol stack may further read the header of the received packet to extract a value used to index into a table storing a list of transport control blocks (TCBs). The TCP protocol stack may further perform a lock and a read operation on the TCB indexed in the table. The TCP protocol stack may further transmit the payload to the TCP application without requiring the application to perform a lock, read, write or unlock operation on the indexed TCB since the TCP protocol stack and the TCP application are operating on the same thread. By the TCP application foregoing the lock, read, write and unlock operations on the TCB, there is a reduction in the number of memory accesses. |
| US08250147B2 |
Remote call control and conferencing using paired devices
In one embodiment, a user paired controller communication device may pair with a user paired server communication device. The user paired controller communication device may direct the user paired server communication device to execute a first mode communication session of a multimodal conversation, such as a voice session. The user paired controller communication may execute a second mode communication session of the multimodal conversation, such as an instant messaging session. |
| US08250145B2 |
Personalizing a web page outside of a social networking system with content from the social networking system
A user device requests a web page from a web server of a third-party website, which is separate from a social networking system. The web server from the third-party website sends a markup language document for the requested web page to the user device which includes an instruction for a browser application running on the user device to incorporate information obtained from the social networking system within the web page. Based on the instruction in the received markup language document, the user device requests personalized content from the social networking system, which generates the requested personalized content based on social information about the user. The user device then renders the web page with the personalized content contained in a frame and displays the rendered web page and the frame to the user. |
| US08250134B2 |
Processing multiple requests by a statically identified user server prior to user server termination
The simultaneous processing of requests under multiple user identifiers is facilitated. The requests are processed by user servers, in which a user server has an association with a particular user. A user server has a static identity associated therewith and is capable of processing a plurality of requests prior to terminating. The requests are dispatched to the appropriate user servers via a dispatcher server coupled to the user servers. |
| US08250132B2 |
Managing messages related to workflows
A message and a tag are sent to a set of recipients, wherein the tag contains state information for the message. In response to receiving an event from a recipient within the set of recipients, the reply message tag is processed with a policy to identify an action. The action identified by processing the event with the policy is performed. |
| US08250127B2 |
Harvesting entropy from trusted cryptographic sources
Extending entropy in a random number generation utility. Where a device has access to trusted sources of encrypted data, such as encrypted network traffic, such encrypted network traffic may be sampled and the bits fed into the entropy seeding routines of the random number generation utility. |
| US08250126B2 |
Efficient leading zero anticipator
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that estimates the location of the leading zero or the leading one in the result of an addition of floating-point numbers A and B. The system includes a half-adder circuit associated with each separate bit position i in A and B. The half-adder circuits compute a sum (S) for the associated bit position of A and B and a carry (K) for a next bit position of A and B. The system also includes a set of estimation circuits coupled to the set of half-adder circuits. The set of estimation circuits computes an estimate for the location of the leading zero or the leading one in the result from the K and S computed by each half-adder circuit. |
| US08250115B2 |
Method, apparatus and software for processing data encoded as one or more data elements in a data format
A method, system and a program product for processing data is disclosed. The method, system and program product disclosed herein comprises processing data encoded as one or more data elements in a data format. The data format is further processed by a parser to extract the encoded data elements. The data is encoded as multiple data elements in accordance with the first data format and saved to a file in the memory. An unique index is created to each data element indicating the locations of data elements in the file. The index is associated with the file and index is arranged to enable the extraction of data elements directly from the file in memory. The index is embedded in a art of the file and is not used by the parser for extracting the data elements from the file. |
| US08250113B2 |
Web service discovery via data abstraction model
A method includes querying a discovery registry associated with a data abstraction model of a database to discover one or more web services that are resolvable based on a particular logical field selected via a database query interface. The data abstraction model includes a plurality of logical fields that each correspond to a particular data structure of the database. A web service input of a discovered web service is associated with a first logical field of the data abstraction model via the discovery registry, and a web service output of the discovered web service is associated with a second logical field of the data abstraction model via the discovery registry. A modified database query interface includes a text entry element to receive a text search term and a first selectable input associated with the first discovered web service. |
| US08250112B2 |
Constructing declarative componentized applications
Techniques for constructing a software application are provided. A data model of the application is represented as a relational model. Control logic of the application is defined to specify each of a plurality of operations of the application as a mapping from a current state of the application data model and one or more current application inputs to a new state of the application data model and one or more application outputs, described by one or more relational algebra operations selected from the group consisting of a relation-complement operation, a disjunction operation and a conjunction operation. |
| US08250110B2 |
Data transfer method and proxy server, and storage subsystem
A proxy server 10 transfers, when a protocol header and content specified in a distribution request from a client 18 are not stored in a storage device 28, the distribution request to an origin server 12; stores the protocol header and content, which have been transmitted from the origin server 12, in the storage device 28; transmits the protocol header and content to the client 18; creates another protocol header based on the protocol header transmitted from the origin server 12; and stores the created protocol header in the storage device 28. When the protocol header and content specified in the distribution request from the client 18 have been stored in the storage device 28, the proxy server 10 extracts the protocol header and content from the storage device 28 and distributes them to the client 18. |
| US08250109B2 |
Processing video files using metadata and time stamp
A method for processing video data involves receiving data from a series of images and analyzing the data to identify geometric forms. The forms are stored as metadata of a first data level and are linked by time stamps to the images in which the forms were identified. The metadata from an image and the previous image are compared, and delta metadata is generated from the difference. Delta metadata is also marked with time stamps. Metadata and delta metadata are analyzed, and objects are extracted from the geometric forms. The objects are stored as time-stamped metadata and delta metadata of a second data level. The process is repeated for higher data levels. A user inputs a database query to identify from among the stored input images that particular image sequence in which the extracted object is recorded. Queries started at higher data levels are quicker but less accurate. |
| US08250105B2 |
Input data structure for data mining
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for compressing data included in several transactions. Each transaction has at least one item. A unique identifier is assigned to each different item and, if taxonomy is defined, to each different taxonomy parent. Sets of transactions are formed from the several transactions. The sets of transactions are stored using a computer data structure including: a list of identifiers of different items in the set of transactions, information indicating number of identifiers in the list, and bit field information indicating presence of the different items in the set of transactions, said bit field information being organized in accordance with the list for facilitating evaluation of patterns with respect to the set of transactions. A data structure for compressing data included in a set of transactions is also provided. |
| US08250104B2 |
Life cycle based data coordination
A system may include a data store storing global data mapped from local data maintained by a plurality of heterogeneous data subsystems. The system may further include a life cycle coordinator including a global data life cycle model defining at least one life cycle for the global data, said life cycle coordinator being configured to receive a data update message defined in accordance with the global data life cycle model and representative of an update of the local data of one of the heterogeneous data subsystems, the data update message including a life cycle status identifier of a data record associated with the update, translate the data update message to at least one global data operation, the translation being based at least in part on the life cycle status identifier, and apply the update to the global data by performing the at least one global data operation. |
| US08250100B2 |
General purpose data container method and apparatus for implementing AV/C descriptors
Disclosed herein is a data management system for AV/C descriptor data. The system includes a data container hierarchical structure. The system also includes a methodology for compiling data from the containers into a read buffer upon receipt of a request from a requestor. The data presented to the requestor will preferably be in a format that may be understood by other device requestors that mayor may not be utilizing this same container system. |
| US08250094B2 |
Relational lockdown for an item store
Various mechanisms are provided for the lockdown of an item store. For example, a method is provided that comprises of disabling access to a relational engine for a set of users associated with a filing system utilizing the relational engine to manipulate data in an item store. Following such disabling of access, an exception is created by allowing access to the relational engine for users of the filing system based on a set of privileges the users have been assigned. The disabling of access can be accomplished by removing system users from ownership roles, and the allowing of access can be accomplished by providing certificates to users that have associated set of privileges granted to the users. |
| US08250086B2 |
Web services access with shared SQL
A method of providing enterprise applications with shared access to a data warehouse. A web service request is issued over a data network from a first client enterprise application to a second server enterprise application. A database query is then constructed at the second server enterprise application. It is then determined whether a response to the web service request will include the results of posing the database query against the data warehouse, or the SQL syntax necessary to pose the query. If the response is to include the results of posing then the second server enterprise application poses the query against the data warehouse and issues the results to the first client enterprise application. If the response to the request is to include the SQL syntax necessary to pose the query, then the second server enterprise application provides the database query syntax to the first client enterprise application. |
| US08250075B2 |
System and method for generation of computer index files
Methods and systems for the generation of computer readable indexes or other ordered lists are provided. A corpus of electronic documents or other electronic information is parsed into postings that include key and reference pairs. An inversion buffer in memory is explicitly or implicitly formatted to receive the postings in a predetermined order by key. Each key is assigned a space in the inversion buffer that is subsequently filled with references associated with the key during an inversion method. In an embodiment, an index file is generated directly from the inversion buffer, or in the case of large inversions, from a plurality of inversion buffer segments. |
| US08250072B2 |
Detecting real word typos
Systems and methods for detecting real word typos are provided. Received text is designated for evaluation. A plurality of words in the received text is parsed into word pairs. A word pair is two consecutive words found in the designated text. A database is identified for comparison to the text. The database includes word pairs previously identified in one or more source texts. The word pairs in the received text are analyzed based on a comparison to the word pairs in the identified database. Based on the analysis, an indication may be generated that a word pair from the designated text may include an error. |
| US08250066B2 |
Search results ranking method and system
A ranking method and system. The method includes receiving by a computing system, from a user, a keyword associated with a search for information. The computing system generates a results list comprising links to files comprising data associated with the keyword. The computing system generates and displays a first ranked results list comprising the links in a first ranked order. The computing system receives from the first user, a selection for a first link of the links. The computing system determines that the first link comprises relevant information associated with the keyword. The computing system generates a second ranked results list. The second ranked results list comprises the links in a second ranked order differing from the first ranked order. The first link is listed as a first selection on the second ranked results list. The computing system stores the second ranked results list. |
| US08250063B2 |
Restricting a fan-out search in a peer-to-peer network based on accessibility of nodes
A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for restricting a fan-out type search of a distributed database. A search request is received indicating that a requesting node originating the search request desires to avoid receiving search results including inaccessible nodes. Responsive to receiving the search results from other nodes, the search results are filtered to remove search results from inaccessible nodes to form filtered search results. The filtered search results are passed to the requesting node. |
| US08250061B2 |
Learning retrieval functions incorporating query differentiation for information retrieval
The system and method of the present invention allows for the determination of the relevance of a content item to a query through the use of a machine learned relevance function that incorporate query differentiation. A method for selecting a relevance function to determine a relevance of a query-content item pair comprises generating a training set comprising one or more content item-query pairs. Content item-query pairs in the training set are collectively used to determine the relevance function by minimizing a loss function according to a relevance score adjustment function that accounts for query differentiation. The monotocity of relevance score adjustment function allows the trained relevance function to be directly applied to new queries. |
| US08250060B2 |
File uploading method with function of abstracting index information in real time and web storage system using the same
A file uploading method with a function of abstracting index information in real time and a web storage system using the same are provided. The file uploading method includes: performing a data filtering on an upload target file transmitted from a user through an online network; abstracting text information as index information of the filtered upload target file; if the upload target file is not a text file, abstracting index information by abstracting text information from the filtered upload target file or converting the file into a text format by using specific information convertible into a text format; creating an inverted file by using the abstracted text information; establishing an index database by using the abstracted text information; and storing and managing the upload target file, when the transmission of the upload target file in which the index information is stored through the index database establishing operation is completed. |
| US08250052B2 |
Geospatial data interaction
A method, system and medium for accepting geospatial data queries through an interface allowing dynamic predicates are disclosed. The geospatial data queries are translated into one or more intermediate formats, and then the intermediate format is provided to one or more geospatial data servers. Each of the one or more geospatial data servers will receive the appropriate language and syntax for which it was designed. Each of the one or more geospatial data servers will simultaneously process the request and, when processing is complete, render an appropriate result from that geospatial data server and application to an end user. |
| US08250051B2 |
System, program product, and methods to enhance media content management
Embodiments of systems, program products, and methods to enhance and more effectively manage media content are provided. An embodiment of a method, for example, can include analyzing a user assigned role to allow access to specific data in a database in response to the user assigned role, capturing and storing metadata from multiple sources accessible by a plurality of different types of users, and tracking access to and changes in data in a database in response to user database access to thereby form transaction activity trails describing access and changed data to enhance digital file management and allow a plurality of media content management services to be performed. |
| US08250049B2 |
System for handling meta data for describing one or more resources and a method of handling meta data for describing one or more resources
A system for handling meta data for describing one or more resources, wherein the one or more resources are deliverable to a common group of users at one or more user terminals, the system including: a resource server for storing the one or more resources for delivery to at least one of the common group of users at one or more user terminals, an administration server arranged to serve the common group of users at the one or more user terminals, for storing a set of meta data for describing the learning resources, the meta data having a format including a non-semantic tag which is customizable in accordance with the common group of users' requirements. |
| US08250048B2 |
Access control for graph data
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with access control for graph data at the instance-level are described. One example method includes accepting data access constraints that are expressed as match and apply pattern pairs to enforce security policies. A user query on graph data with a security policy restricts the returned data to data that the user is authorized to access. For this purpose, a user query that includes query selection criteria corresponding to one or more match pattern criteria based on the resource referenced in the query is rewritten to include security conditions specified in the associated apply pattern to restrict access to the graph data. |
| US08250047B2 |
Hybrid multi-threaded access to data structures using hazard pointers for reads and locks for updates
Hybrid multi-threaded access to data structures is provided in which hazard pointers are used for reads and locks are used for updates. Where a reader is attempting to read a data structure, the reader maintains a hazard pointer to the data structure before reading it, without globally acquiring a lock on the data structure. Upon the reader being finished reading the data structure, it removes the hazard pointer from the data structure. Where an updater is attempting to update the data structure, the updater globally acquires a lock on the data structure before updating it. Upon the updater being finished updating the data structure, it releases the lock from the data structure. To delete the data structure, first it is determined whether any hazard pointers point to the data structure, and where no hazard pointers do, the data structure is deleted. |
| US08250038B2 |
System and method for data backup in communication devices
A system and method automatically backup unsaved data in a communication device if a back cover of the communication device is removed. An identifier of an application of the communication device is received. Based on the received identifier, an application corresponding to the received identifier is registered. If the back cover of the communication device is removed, a save signal is sent to the registered application and the unsaved data of the registered application is saved to a storage unit of the communication device. |
| US08250036B2 |
Methods of consistent data protection for multi-server applications
A system according to one embodiment includes at least one processor configured to: receive a request to perform a snapshot of data associated with an application running on multiple servers; instruct I/O Freezers on different servers to freeze data requests from instances of the application running on the servers; and instruct the I/O Freezers to initiate snapshot processing on the data associated with the application so that the I/O Freezers perform the snapshot processing within the same window of synchronization. |
| US08250032B2 |
Optimizing publish/subscribe matching for non-wildcarded topics
A method, a system and a computer program product for matching a publication to at least one subscriber are disclosed. After receiving a publication request, a matching engine accesses a hash table to determine whether there is a non-wildcarded match corresponding to the publication request. If the matching engine finds the non-wildcarded match in the hash table, the matching engine omits validating a topic of the publication and provides the non-wildcarded match to the broker device without waiting for a result of searching a wildcarded match. Otherwise, the matching engine validates the topic of the publication. The matching engine also starts to search a wildcarded match in a wildcarded subscription data store. Upon finding the wildcarded match, the matching engine provides the wildcarded match to the broker device. The matching engine provides each result of the findings asynchronously to the broker device. |
| US08250026B2 |
Combining medical information captured in structured and unstructured data formats for use or display in a user application, interface, or view
In one embodiment, a method receives a plurality of documents. The documents may be received from different medical providers. Also, the documents may be medical record documents generated or captured in a first format and a second format. The first format may be an unstructured data format and the second format may be a structured data format. The first and second documents are then converted to a common format. For example, a common format may emerge as the most restrictive or constrained denominator of the first format and the second format. A schema is determined that provides an organizational structure with categories that can be used to index the content of the first and second documents while they are being converted to the common format. The schema and indexing enable the different formats of documents to be combined and organized simultaneously into a single view for a comprehensive review. |
| US08250018B2 |
Engineering expert system
An expert system aids engineering personnel working in a manufacturing or other industrial environment by answering questions relating to machines, processes, systems or other elements of the environment. Users can interact with the system using kiosks in the relevant areas of the plant to enter queries and receive answers. A user can enter a query in a natural language format, which the system parses for keywords or keyterms. The system can use a backward chaining method to reach a solution, based upon the user's answer to further questions that the system asks the user. |
| US08250017B2 |
System and method for prediction of gas turbine trips due to gas control valve failures
Systems and methods for prediction of gas turbine trips due to component failures such as electro-hydraulic valve (gas control valve) system failures. Exemplary embodiments include prediction of gas turbine trips due to component failures, the method including collecting raw gas turbine operational data and using the raw gas turbine operational data to generate a prognostic indicator for the prediction of a turbine trip due to the failed gas control valves. |
| US08250013B2 |
System and method for privacy preserving predictive models for lung cancer survival analysis
A computer-implemented method for privacy-preserving data mining to determine cancer survival rates includes providing a random matrix B agreed to by a plurality of entities, wherein each entity i possesses a data matrix Ai of cancer survival data that is not publicly available, providing a class matrix Di for each of the data matrices Ai, providing a kernel K(Ai, B) by each of said plurality of entities to allow public computation of a full kernel, and computing a binary classifier that incorporates said public full kernel, wherein said classifier is adapted to classify a new data vector according to a sign of said classifier. |
| US08250010B2 |
Electronic learning synapse with spike-timing dependent plasticity using unipolar memory-switching elements
According to embodiments of the invention, a system, method and computer program product producing spike-dependent plasticity in an artificial synapse. In an embodiment, a method includes: receiving a pre-synaptic spike in an electronic component; receiving a post-synaptic spike in the electronic component; in response to the pre-synaptic spike, generating a pre-synaptic pulse that occurs a predetermined period of time after the received pre-synaptic spike; in response to the post-synaptic spike, generating a post-synaptic pulse that starts at a baseline value and reaches a first voltage value a first period of time after the post-synaptic spike, followed by a second voltage value a second period of time after the post synaptic spike, followed by a return to the baseline voltage a third period of time after the post-synaptic spike; applying the generated pre-synaptic pulse to a pre-synaptic node of a synaptic device that includes a uni-polar, two-terminal bi-stable device in series with a rectifying element; and applying the generated post-synaptic pulse to a post-synaptic node of the synaptic device, wherein the synaptic device changes from a first conductive state to a second conductive state based on the value of input voltage applied to its pre and post-synaptic nodes, wherein the resultant state of the conductance of the synaptic device after the pre- and post-synaptic pulses are applied thereto depends on the relative timing of the received pre-synaptic spike with respect to the post synaptic spike. |
| US08250009B1 |
Updateable predictive analytical modeling
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on one or more computer storage devices, for training and retraining predictive models. A series of training data sets for predictive modeling can be received, e.g., over a network from a client computing system. The training data included in the training data sets is different from initial training data that was used with multiple training functions to train multiple trained predictive models stored in a predictive model repository. The series of training data sets are used with multiple trained updateable predictive models obtained from the predictive model repository and multiple training functions to generate multiple retrained predictive models. An effectiveness score is generated for each of the retrained predictive models. A first trained predictive model is selected from among the trained predictive models included in the predictive model repository and the retrained predictive models based on their respective effectiveness scores. |
| US08250005B2 |
Change-point detecting method and apparatus
To detect a statistical change-point that appears in time-series data with a high accuracy. A first model learning section 102 learns the occurrence probability distribution of time-series data 111 as a first statistical model (for example, a latent Markov model) defined by a finite number of variables including a latent variable. In the subsequent processing, the degree of a temporal change in the probability distribution is computed for each of the probability distribution of the entire first statistical model, its partial probability distribution (the probability distribution of the latent variable and conditional probability distribution contingent on the value of the latent variable), and the probability distribution in which the above plural probability distributions are linearly-combined with a weight. The change-point of the time-series data 111 is detected on the basis of the computed degree of the change. |
| US08250003B2 |
Computationally efficient probabilistic linear regression
A computationally efficient method of performing probabilistic linear regression is described. In an embodiment, the method involves adding a white noise term to a weighted linear sum of basis functions and then normalizing the combination. This generates a linear model comprising a set of sparse, normalized basis functions and a modulated noise term. When using the linear model to perform linear regression, the modulated noise term increases the variance associated with output values which are distant from any data points. |
| US08250002B2 |
Method and system for positioning
A positioning method includes: first, receiving wireless signals respectively at the positions of a number of training positions so as to extract a number of signal characteristics; next, establishing a positioning database according to the relationship between the training positions and the corresponding positioning module; then, classifying the training positions and the corresponding signal characteristics into a plurality of clusters, wherein when conducting positioning on a positioning node, a characteristic matching is conducted to find out a major cluster most similar to the positioning node; after that, conducting the characteristic matching between the positioning node and the training positions in the major cluster to decide a most-likely position of the positioning node. In addition, the present invention also provides a positioning system using the above-mentioned method. |
| US08249999B2 |
Systems and method for costing of service proposals
Systems are provided for costing service proposals, each comprising a set of proposal elements (OEs) selected from a predetermined group of proposal elements. A proposal costing system has a proposal formulator for selecting a set of proposal elements (OEs) for a new service proposal from the predetermined group of proposal elements in response to user input. The system includes a cost controller for maintaining, for each OE, service data indicative of service tasks associated with that proposal element. The system is adapted for determining a total cost for a new service proposal in dependence on the service data for the selected proposal elements and cost data indicating a cost of service tasks indicated by the service data. In addition, the cost controller is adapted for automatically updating the service data for OEs in the group in dependence on maintenance data indicative of service tasks performed in operation of real services. |
| US08249995B2 |
Method using market-based social networking to create jobs and referral fees
This method uses a jobs-based social networking website and the monetary incentive of a “job reward” to get friends, relatives and other visitors to the website to offer a personal introduction to a company insider in exchange for the exclusive contractual right to receive a contingent referral fee if the introduced person starts a job with the named company within the time period set forth in the contract. Ideally, hundreds if not thousands of people will review a person's profile on the social networking website. If the job candidate is qualified, many offers of introduction will be made. The jobseeker can accept many offers but only one offer of introduction per company or non-profit entity in a given time period. Since the job candidate will only start one job within that relatively short period of time, only one referral fee will need to be paid. |
| US08249994B2 |
System for management of oil and gas mineral interests
A system for managing mineral interests includes at least one database for storing data records relating to oil and gas mineral interest. A server enables generation of a graphical user interface at a plurality of locations over an open network. The graphical user interface enables creation and editing of data records stored in the at least one database from the plurality of locations and the editing may occur over the open network. The graphical user interface further enables viewing of data records from the plurality of locations over the open network. |
| US08249992B2 |
Digital rights management and audience measurement systems and methods
Digital rights management and audience measurement systems and methods are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a request to upload media content to a content distributor, attempting to obtain a code associated with the media content, querying a program information database for program information associated with the media content using the code, and applying a business rule to the media content based on the program information. |
| US08249989B2 |
Check cashing at automated teller machine
A system and method of check cashing at an ATM are provided. In some examples, the system and method may include receiving a check at an ATM that does not include denominations of bills and/or coins to cash the check. The amount of the check may be rounded up to an amount for which appropriate denominations are available and the difference between the amount of the check and the rounded up amount may be charged to an account of a user, such as checking account, savings account, credit card, and the like. |
| US08249987B2 |
Methods and apparatus for funding transactions using debit cards issued by one institution and funds from accounts at other institutions
Methods and apparatus for funding transactions are presented herein. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an account information unit to store information about an account, the account being associated with a first financial institution. The apparatus can also include a transaction processor to receive a request for a debit amount, to determine that the account is associated with one or more funding sources, and to determine if the one or more funding sources authorize the request for the debit amount. The one or more funding sources are associated with one or more financial institutions other than the first financial institution. |
| US08249984B2 |
System and method for fair-sharing in bandwidth sharing ad-hoc networks
Systems and methods for fair-sharing in bandwidth sharing ad-hoc networks. A method includes maintaining a borrower account and lender account of a borrower and a lender of an ad hoc network. The method also includes adjusting at least one of the borrower account and the lender account based upon data transfer by the lender for the borrower. |
| US08249983B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing transactions
A system receives account access information from a user. The account is then accessed using the received access information. Data is harvested from a web page associated with the account or received from another financial data source. The user's ability to access the account is authenticated based on the obtained information. |
| US08249971B2 |
System and method for managing investments in infrastructure assets
A system comprises a memory operable to store financial data associated with a business entity having a plurality of shares. The business entity may receive, directly or indirectly, income associated with rent or lease of infrastructure assets, the rent or lease paid by a first company to a second company. The system further comprises a processor that is communicatively coupled to the memory and that is operable to determine a value of each share. The processor is further operable to calculate an increase in the value of each share in response to an increase of capital expenditures associated with the infrastructure assets. |
| US08249970B1 |
Sensitivity/elasticity-based asset evaluation and screening
Provided is a technique for evaluating an asset, such as a share of stock in a corporation, by processing historical data for value of an asset and historical data values for various exogenous variables to obtain a formula for calculating a measure of a tendency of the value of the asset to change as a result of changes in the data values for the exogenous variables, the formula being a function of the exogenous variables. Projected data values are then obtained for the exogenous variables, and a measure of the tendency of the value of the asset to change based on a change in at least one of the exogenous variables is estimated using the formula and the input projected data values. |
| US08249969B2 |
Time market grid interface
A system and method are provided for trading a tradeable object. One example apparatus includes a microprocessor, a graphical user comprising a first screen region having a plurality of locations in the first screen region, each location corresponding to a price level along a first axis and a time along a second axis. The apparatus also comprises a user input device for sending a command to initiate placement of a timed trade order, and an indicator being dynamically displayed in one of the plurality locations of the first screen region and corresponding to the timed order. In one example embodiment, the indicator dynamically moves over time relative to the second axis indicating a time until the order will be automatically sent to a computerized matching process. |
| US08249967B2 |
Image-based payment medium
Disclosed is a method and system for use of an image-based payment medium through images stored on the consumer's mobile phone in place of traditional plastic gift, credit or debit cards. Upon authentication, an image is sent to the consumer's mobile phone. The consumer displays the image at the retailer's point of sale when completing a transaction. The image is scanned with a barcode reader, a webcam or other scanning device and the consumer's account in a database is debited or credited based on the amount and type of transaction. An image-base payment medium provides for the ability to target specific ads to the consumer, directed to the registered mobile phone number and also to attach loyalty and coupon programs to the account, which the recipient may redeem upon scanning of the encoded image on the mobile phone at the point of sale. The system and method is suitable for “virtual” gift cards, credit and debit cards, loyalty payment programs and other methods of value exchange. |
| US08249966B2 |
System and method for spectrum management
Transferring spectrum use rights may include ascertaining information regarding available spectrum for use in wireless communications. A request for spectrum use from a spectrum user system may be matched with available spectrum. A spectrum certificate may be issued to the spectrum user system, where the spectrum certificate contains at least one spectrum-related variable under which the spectrum user system is to engage in wireless communications. |
| US08249964B2 |
Methods for facilitating charitable donations through links to independent financial transactions
A method for facilitating donations to a charitable organization in which a first financial transaction involving property is linked to a second financial transaction involving a charitable donation. A fundraising program facilitates the transactions which directly contribute to affiliated charitable organizations. A property seller aligns with the fundraising program to list their property and selects a charitable organization to receive the donation. The fundraising program affiliates agent/brokers to sell the listed property. All fees and transactions are regulated through a title company at closing. The title company funds a commission to the agent/broker, a referral fee to the fundraising program, a nominal administrative fee to the fundraising program, and a percentage of the property's sale price to the charitable organization. |
| US08249960B2 |
System and method to provide real time transaction validation and billing via a communications network
A system and method for providing real-time validation to a content provider of a customer's request transmitted via a communications system for delivery of content by the content provider to the customer via a communications system. A request for validation of the customer from the content provider, the request including data identifying the customer, is dealt with by determining from the identifying data whether the customer is a subscriber and then immediately requesting acknowledgement by the customer of the customer's request for the delivery of the content. Upon receipt of an acknowledgement from the customer a validation of the customer's request is sent to the content provider. |
| US08249959B2 |
Communications techniques for an intelligent digital audiovisual reproduction system
Method for communication between a central server and a computerized juke-box which operates in a conference mode, including: sending a header before any transaction, which includes the identity of the destination together, the identity of the emitter, and the size of the packets; responding from the server in the form of a data packet, each packet sent by the server being encoded using the identification code of the juke-box software; and receiving a data packet by the juke-box, which decodes the packet, simultaneously performs a check on the data received by the CRC method and sends an acknowledgement of receipt to the server indicating the accuracy of the information received, to allow it to prepare and send another packet to the juke-box. |
| US08249954B2 |
Third-party certification using enhanced claim validation
Third party certification using enhanced claim validation, in which identification information uniquely identifying an item that has moved through a node in a supply chain is received and event data associated with the uniquely identified item is received from the node based on receiving the identification information. The process also includes performing a third party validation of an associated characteristic of the uniquely identified item based on the received event data, and providing a third party certification of the associated characteristic based on performing the third party validation. |
| US08249952B2 |
Incorporating a repair vendor into repair planning for a supply chain
One embodiment includes a computer-implemented system for incorporating a repair vendor into repair planning for a supply chain. The system accesses a logical representation of the supply chain and identify one or more controlling locations and one or more staging locations in the supply chain. The system accesses information indicating a replenishment requirement at a particular identified controlling location resulting from safety stock at the particular identified controlling location dropping below a predetermined threshold. In response to the information indicating the replenishment requirement at the particular identified controlling location, the system identifies every primary network in the supply chain connecting the particular identified controlling location to one or more identified staging locations. The system selects one or more of the particular identified controlling location and one or more identified staging locations each connected to the particular identified controlling location by a primary network and generates one or more repair orders. |
| US08249949B2 |
System to generate an aggregate interest indication with respect to an information item
A system is provided to establish a ranking for published data. The system may include ranking and monitoring components. A number of registrations of user interest in an instance of published data may be determined. A ranking for the instance of published data may be generated based on the number of registrations of user interest in the instance of published data. A user of the system may be enabled to activate a monitoring process to monitor activity pertaining to the instance of published data. |
| US08249946B2 |
Customized food selection, ordering and distribution system and method
A system and method for selecting, ordering and distributing customized food products is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method is a computer-implemented method comprising viewing a list of additives for creating a customized food product, selecting one or more additives from the list of additives to create the customized food product, and transmitting a request to purchase the customized food product, which is then distributed to the consumer. By communicating with the manufacturer as to personal needs and desires pertaining to health, activity level, organoleptic preferences and so forth, the consumer can now develop and order a customized food product to suit his or her particular tastes, using a real-time interactive communication link. |
| US08249945B2 |
Method and system of enabling electronic communication without knowledge of receiving party's electronic contact information
By providing identification information for a second party, a first party may access address profiles to send an electronic communication to the second party without knowing the electronic contact information for the second party. The address profiles are created by collecting electronic contact information from a plurality of public and private sources. A code may then be assigned to the information from each source for each party identified. Codes from respective sources may then be analyzed for similarities in order to identify codes that may correspond to the same party above a similarity threshold. When codes correspond above the similarity threshold for the same party, an address profile may be associated with the codes and may be associated with the same party. An internal identifier may then be assigned to the address profile to, for example, identify the address profile and/or the matched codes associated with the address profile so that the address profile may be accessed without knowledge of whose address profile is be accessed. |
| US08249942B2 |
Methods for discounting goods and services
The subject invention relates to electronic buying and selling systems and methods. In particular, the invention concerns relations among distinct price curves, price curve attributes (i.e., factors of the offer that can affect the price curves) and buyers or potential buyers. For instance, a price offered to a system user can vary based on total volume of all people aggregating in private environments, cumulative total order by user, ship date, optimal time, as well as terms and conditions associated with the offer (e.g., no cancellation of order, cancellation possible, payment method . . . ). |
| US08249941B2 |
Fashion matching algorithm solution
In one example embodiment, a system and method is illustrated that includes receiving an item choice including a fashion item. The system and method also includes matching the fashion item with an additional fashion item selected from a style matrix, the matching based upon an attribute. Further, the system and method includes transmitting the additional fashion item as part of an outfit match set. Moreover, the system and method includes selecting the fashion item from a digital closet. The system and method includes processing the fashion item to build an attribute association matrix. In addition, the system and method includes comparing the attribute association matrix and the style matrix to determine a match of the fashion item and the additional item. |
| US08249940B2 |
Capability based distributed processing
Various embodiments enable a server system to identify a workload capability factor for a distributed device and use the workload capability factor to determine an incentive for the distributed device. In one embodiment, a distributed processing system includes a server configured to be coupled to one or more distributed devices. The server may include a workload database configured to store at least one workload project, a capability database configured to store one or more workload capability factors associated with one or more distributed devices, and a control system configured to use the one or more workload capability factors from the capability database to perform at least one workload project from the workload database. The least one workload capability factor may also be used to determine an incentive for the one or more distributed devices. |
| US08249935B1 |
Method and system for blocking confidential information at a point-of-sale reader from eavesdropping
A method for point-of-sale transactions is disclosed. The method comprises a point-of-sale terminal receiving a confidential information from a portable electronic device over a contactless communication link, the confidential information being used by the point-of-sale terminal to complete the transaction. The method also includes substantially blocking access to the contactless communication link beyond the area adjacent to the point-of-sale terminal to reduce eavesdropping on the confidential information. |
| US08249929B2 |
Method and system for generating and distributing electronic communications for maximum revenue
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing content in accordance with informational campaigns or advertisements administered by one or more distribution partners. the distribution partners typically revenue share with the system administrator (system owner), who coordinates the informational campaigns and sends electronic mails (e-mails) associated therewith. By applying a distribution optimization formula to various informational or advertising campaigns of the distribution partners, e-mails with links to these distribution partners will be sent to users, and each user who opens the e-mail and clicks on a portion of the e-mail over an underlying link, will be directed to the requisite distribution partner, typically the server associated therewith. |
| US08249924B1 |
Method and system for compiling a consumer-based electronic database, searchable according to individual internet user-defined micro-demographics
A system and method for providing an individual with advertisement information. At least one database including electronic trait information, electronic preference information and electronic advertiser information is stored on at least one database. One or more communication devices receive a first electronic request for first information from a first computing device, and determine first electronic responsive information that comprises information that is at least responsive to the first electronic request. Further, a user relevance factor is determined that represents a relevance of the advertiser information to the first user. First advertisement information is determined for at least one of branded products and services. The first advertisement information and the first electronic responsive information are transmitted to the first user computing device. |
| US08249921B2 |
Method for facilitating a transaction between buyers and sellers
This invention is a method and apparatus for facilitating dual, bilateral buyer-driven and bilateral seller-driven commerce through the communication of binding conditional early payment incentive offers, acceptances, and payments. In a preferred embodiment, this invention allows buyers and sellers to communicate conditional early payment incentive offers to each other, and upon acceptance, to bind the other party to a contract. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a controller which transmits and receives conditional early payment incentive offers. Potential parties have the option to accept a conditional early payment incentive offer and thus bind the other party to a contract. The controller then facilitates payments between a buyer and a seller. The method and apparatus of the present invention have applications on the Internet as well as conventional communication systems such as voice telephony and has applications for suppliers, providers, landlords, contractors, retailers, bankers, insurance plans, governments, et al. |
| US08249920B2 |
Interactive marketing system using short text messages
An interactive direct response system combines the use of short text message systems (SMS) via cell phones (100) with a database (102) and website to enable advertisers to view in real time customer responses to a direct response campaign. Customers are invited to respond to a defined advertisement on for example a billboard by responding to a single telephone number associated with the website by sending a text message linked to that particular advertisement, i.e. a single word (104,106). A computer receives and analyses the responses and sends an acknowledgement message to the customer. |
| US08249918B1 |
Context based content adjacency filtering
A method of delivering advertisements with media content using context based filtering is provided. The method comprises copying a unit of media content and then accessing a first advertisement wherein the first advertisement comprises a first advertisement content and a context based filtering criteria. The method also comprises examining the copied unit of media content using the context based filtering criteria and when the copied unit of media content conflicts with the context based filtering criteria, the copied unit of media content is delivered without the first advertisement content. When the copied unit of media content does not conflict with the context based filtering criteria, the copied unit of media content is delivered with the first advertisement content. |
| US08249917B1 |
Load balancing for a fulfillment network
A load balancing system for a merchandise fulfillment network is described. The load balancing system employs PID (Proportional, Integral, Derivative) load balancing functionality or other kind of closed loop control functionality to select, on an order-by-order basis, which fulfillment resources (such as fulfillment centers) are to handle customer orders. |
| US08249916B2 |
Computer method and apparatus for outcome-based pricing of goods and services
The present invention provides a system and method that allow sellers to offer goods and services at prices that vary depending on what transpires during the event or service. The final price is determined after the event or service based on the occurrence of certain pre-selected attributes. Candidate attributes are potentially associated with the event or service but the outcome or occurrence of the attribute is not knowable by the buyer and seller with certainty at the time of the original purchase. Using the outcome-based pricing (OBP) and settlement system the seller is able to set prices so as to minimize significant deviation from a pre-determined revenue plan, or alternatively build-in an increase or even decrease in gross revenues. The present invention allows for the order, payment and final settlement of the purchase transaction, automatically. The preferred embodiment for the OBP pricing and settlement system is via a computer network that includes the Internet. |
| US08249915B2 |
Computer-implemented method and system for collaborative product evaluation
Computer-implemented methods and systems provide for user collaboration in evaluating complex products over a public network. Product capabilities are preferably represented as a hierarchical taxonomy of features. Users can assign ratings and comments to the features of a product. User-submitted ratings can be qualified (or moderated) by other users. Such moderation is accomplished on a per-rating basis by user selection of one label from a set of labels that represent different levels of perceived credibility of the user that submitted the rating. A moderation score for a rating/comment is derived from the user-selected moderation labels pertaining to the rating/comment. Registered users preferably can assign weights to features, the weights representing the importance of that feature to the particular user. The user-supplied ratings as well as the moderation scores and/or weights corresponding thereto are used to compute composite ratings for user-selected product features that are communicated to the users for evaluation of the user-selected product features. Preferably, a distributed moderation process is executed that automatically grants a select subset of the user community the opportunity to moderate the ratings of other users. |
| US08249914B2 |
Service supporting system, service supporting server and service supporting method
A service supporting server that supports a service operation for a customer, and a terminal which can communicate with the service supporting server comprising a display part displaying a questionnaire; an inputting part for causing a customer to input for filling in the questionnaire; and a questionnaire transmission part transmitting the thus filled-in questionnaire to the service supporting server. The service supporting server comprises a filled-in questionnaire analysis part analyzing the received filled-in questionnaire. |
| US08249913B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting suspect meter reads in a print environment
A system for detecting suspect meter reads in a print environment may include a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for receiving historical meter read values associated with a print-related service, selecting a model set including one or more of the historical meter read values, using a predictive model to determine an anticipated meter read value and a corresponding forecast error value from the model set, determining an updated forecast error value, determining a threshold value, identifying an actual meter read value, determining an average rate associated with the actual meter read value, and flagging the actual meter read value as suspect based on a comparison of the average rate and the threshold value. |
| US08249912B2 |
Method for determining, correlating and examining the causal relationships between media program and commercial content with response rates to advertising and product placement
A method of determining correlations and causality between media program content and consumer responsiveness involves identifying and storing media and commercial program time occurrence and content information and consumer media reviewing actions which occur in connection with the media and commercial program time occurrence and content information. The information is correlated to obtain and assign responsiveness probability values corresponding to type and intensity of consumer response for each of the media and commercial program time occurrence and content information. These responsiveness probability values are then applied to a second media program to place product advertising at a specific time within specific content therein as determined by the responsiveness probability values thus facilitating creation of new ads and modification of existing ones and further, directing placement of those advertisements within any and all broadcast and Internet media programming. |
| US08249907B2 |
System and method for the automated dispatch of fueling operations
An intelligent solution for monitoring, assigning, and accounting fueling operations. An automated dispatch fueling system comprises a fuel management server populated with airport profile and dispatcher configurations. Utilizing information stored in the database and received from external systems, the automated dispatch fueling system can automatically assign and monitor fueling operations. |
| US08249905B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing future job information
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for providing future job information. According to embodiments, a method for providing future job information is provided. According to the method, a number of non-dispatched jobs within a future time frame for a plurality of buckets and a plurality of turfs is determined. A numeric indicator indicating the number of non-dispatched jobs associated with at least one turf and at least one bucket is displayed. |
| US08249903B2 |
Method and system of determining and evaluating a business relationship network for forming business relationships
A collective knowledge set of business relationship information from a plurality of sources is generated. The collective knowledge set is mapped as a plurality of navigable paths forming a business relationship network between a source and a target. One or more of the paths are identified as candidate paths most likely to lead to a business relationship between the source and the target based on evaluation criteria. |
| US08249892B2 |
Method of data mining in medical applications
The present invention relates to a method of creating databases for data mining in medical applications. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to providing a data-driven objective reimbursement model incorporating performance and quality measures, tied to patient, exam, context, and provider-specific variables. In another embodiment, the present invention creates standardized databases where context, patient, provider, and technology specific variables are used to create an objective quantitative measure of exam complexity, which can be correlated with performance times and outcomes measures for iterative refinement. In another embodiment, through the combined analysis of examination complexity, interpretation accuracy, and interpretation times, specific to each individual radiologist, external pacers are created which can be customized to a radiologist's individual needs and preferences. The derived data is used to identify best practice patterns and end-user performance, which can be used by radiologists for individualized education and training. |
| US08249891B2 |
Management of information flow and workflow in medical procedures
Managing information flow and workflow in medical imaging services includes mapping activities in medical imaging services to a set of discrete steps in a model medical imaging process. Data concerning the medical imaging services is collected and tracked using an electronic data store and a communications network. Collected data is correlated to at least one of the discrete steps in the model medical imaging process, and process metrics for performance are calculated based upon the correlated data. |
| US08249890B1 |
Method and system for delivering to a customer a plurality of prescriptions having aligned refill dates
The method, system and user-interface allows alignment of refill dates associated with a plurality of prescriptions, such that the plurality of prescriptions all require refills on the same date, thus limiting the number of occasions on which a customer must visit the pharmacy to retrieve refills of the aligned prescriptions, and increasing the likelihood that the customer will comply with the recommended medication regimen. Further, the method, system and user interface provides various methods of delivery to the customer of the plurality of aligned prescriptions on the refill dates. |
| US08249886B2 |
Global asset risk management systems and methods
Systems and methods for risk assessment are disclosed. In various embodiments, the systems and methods may include at least one risk information source receiving risk information, and generating a risk assessment report based on the risk information. In various embodiments, the systems and methods may include a risk information source, an asset information source, and an analysis system that correlates one or more risks with one or more assets. In various embodiments, the systems and methods may generate a risk assessment report from the correlated risk information and asset information. In various embodiments, the systems and methods may be applied globally assessing risks that occur in any region or country throughout the world, for any type of risk(s) or any type of asset(s). In various embodiments, the systems and methods may be beneficial to business organizations for identifying, quantifying and/or managing potential and/or actual operating risks. |
| US08249884B2 |
Methods and systems for implementing a loyalty program utilizing customizable rules
A method and system for making a donation to a third party includes storing, via a storage device, a user preference in a user account; receiving, via a receiver, information regarding a purchase transaction at a merchant; accessing, via a processor, the user preference from the user account; dynamically selecting, via the processor, a percentage discount to be allocated to the purchase transaction; donating, via the processor, a monetary value of the percentage discount to the third-party according to the user preference, where the user account is associated with a user, and includes rules for allocating the percentage discount to the third-party. |
| US08249883B2 |
Channel extension coding for multi-channel source
A multi-channel audio decoder reconstructs multi-channel audio of more than two physical channels from a reduced set of coded channels based on correlation parameters that specify a full power cross-correlation matrix of the physical channels, or merely preserve a partial correlation matrix (such as power of the physical channels, and some subset of cross-correlations between the physical channels, or cross-correlations of the physical channels with coded or virtual channels). |
| US08249881B2 |
Multi-phoneme streamer and knowledge representation speech recognition system and method
A new approach to speech recognition that reacts to concepts conveyed through speech, which shifts the balance of power in speech recognition from straight sound recognition and statistical models to a more powerful and complete approach determining and addressing conveyed concepts. A probabilistically unbiased multi-phoneme recognition process is employed, followed by a phoneme stream analysis process that builds the list of candidate words derived from recognized phonemes, followed by a permutation analysis process that produces sequences of candidate words with high potential of being syntactically valid, and finally, by processing targeted syntactic sequences in a conceptual analysis process to generate the utterance's conceptual representation that can be used to produce an adequate response. Applications include improving accuracy or automatically generating punctuation for transcription and dictation, word or concept spotting in audio streams, concept spotting in electronic text, customer support, call routing and other command/response scenarios. |
| US08249880B2 |
Real-time display of system instructions
A system and method for reviewing inputted voice instructions in a vehicle-based telematics control unit. The system includes a microphone, a speech recognition processor, and an output device. The microphone receives voice instructions from a user. Coupled to the microphone is the speech recognition processor that generates a voice signal by performing speech recognition processing of the received voice instructions. The output device outputs the generated voice signal to the user. The system also includes a user interface for allowing the user to approve the outputted voice signal, and a communication component for wirelessly sending the generated voice signal to a server over a wireless network upon approval by the user. |
| US08249877B2 |
Hybrid speech recognition
A hybrid speech recognition system uses a client-side speech recognition engine and a server-side speech recognition engine to produce speech recognition results for the same speech. An arbitration engine produces speech recognition output based on one or both of the client-side and server-side speech recognition results. |
| US08249874B2 |
Synthesizing speech from text
Speech is synthesized for a given text by determining a sequence of phonetic components based on the text, determining a sequence of target phonetic elements associated phonetic components, determining a sequence of target event types associated with the phonetic components and determining a sequence of speech units from a plurality of stored speech unit candidates by use of a cost function. The cost function comprises a unit cost, a concatenation cost, and an event type cost for each speech unit in the sequence of speech units. The unit cost of a speech unit is determined with respect to the corresponding target phonetic element, while the concatenation cost of a speech unit is determined with respect to adjacent speech units and the event type cost of each speech unit is determined with respect to the corresponding target event type. |
| US08249871B2 |
Word clustering for input data
A clustering tool to generate word clusters. In embodiments described, the clustering tool includes a clustering component that generates word clusters for words or word combinations in input data. In illustrated embodiments, the word clusters are used to modify or update a grammar for a closed vocabulary speech recognition application. |
| US08249863B2 |
Method and apparatus for estimating spectral information of audio signal
An apparatus and method for estimating audio signal spectrum information. The method including the steps of performing a morphological operation on a received audio signal, extracting peaks by using various peak extraction methods and extracting a remainder signal region from the extracted peaks, selecting a high-order peaks spectrum from the extracted remainder signal region. In addition, spectral envelopes are detected by performing an interpolation operation on the high-order peaks spectrum. |
| US08249855B2 |
Identifying parallel bilingual data over a network
A set of candidate documents, each of which may be part of a bilingual, parallel set of documents, are identified. The set of documents illustratively includes textual material in a source language. It is then determined whether parallel text can be identified. For each document in the set of documents, it is first determined whether the parallel text resides within the document itself. If not, the document is examined for links to other documents, and those linked documents are examined for bilingual parallelism with the selected documents. If not, named entities are extracted from the document and translated into the target language. The translations are used to query search engines to retrieve the parallel correspondent for the selected documents. |
| US08249851B2 |
Monitoring system using real-time simulator
A monitoring system using a real-time simulator, providing a simulation environment of a real electric power system that enables testing of a new electric power system control facility. The operation of the new electric power system control facility and effects thereof on a real electric power system can be evaluated before actual installation. The monitoring system includes a test piece installed in an electric power system; a simulator connected to the test piece, and deriving electric power system simulation data by simulating the electric power system with respect to the test piece; a multimedia interface (MMI) platform interworking with the simulator, providing the simulator with electric power system status data for simulating the electric power system, and receiving the electric power system simulation data from the simulator; and an MMI client interworking with the MMI platform to display the electric power system simulation data from the MMI platform. |
| US08249850B2 |
Method and an apparatus for executing simulation for system performance evaluation
The present invention relates to a technique for executing performance evaluation simulation of a system to be implemented by software or hardware. A simulation apparatus includes a first acquisition section for executing existing tentative software to acquire a first execution log, a division section for dividing the first execution log into a plurality of basic processing units, a basic processing execution log production section for modifying some of the plural basic processing units to produce a basic processing execution log to be used for simulation, and a simulation execution section for inputting the basic processing execution log to a hardware model to execute the simulation to acquire information required for the performance evaluation. |
| US08249842B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for numerical black oil delumping
A method for black oil delumping is disclosed which comprises: converting a black oil wellstream into a compositional wellstream thereby enabling the composition and component molar rates of a production well in a black oil reservoir simulation to be reconstituted. |
| US08249834B2 |
Device, system, and method of computer aided design (CAD)
Device, system, and method of Computer-Aided-Design (CAD). A system of CAD may include a server to provide data of a CAD model to at least one client, wherein the server is capable of providing to the client section information defining a plurality of geometric sections of the CAD model, wherein the section information includes boundary information representing a plurality of boundaries defining the plurality of geometric sections, respectively, and a plurality of identifiers to identify the plurality of geometric sections, respectively; receiving from the client a request for one or more files corresponding to at least one requested section of the geometric sections, wherein the one or more files include information of one or more geometric elements of the CAD model, which are included within the boundary of the requested section; and providing to the client the one or more requested files. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |