| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08255409B2 |
Systems and methods for generating a change log for files in a managed network
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating a change log for files in managed network. A set of managed machines, such as personal computers or servers, can be managed by a network management platform communicating with the machines via a secure channel. The network management platform can employ a package management tool to manage files stored or hosted in the managed network. The network management platform can further employ a change monitor or other logic to locate additional files located in the managed network but that may not be under the control of or registered to the package management tool. A systems administrator or other user can invoke both the package management tool and the change monitor logic to initiate a discovery process and locate all available files associated with the network, and generate a unified change log recording all available files and/or their changes. |
| US08255405B2 |
Term extraction from service description documents
Terms are extracted from service description documents describing desired services, and the terms are used to search for candidate service providers operable to provide the desired services. A matrix of terms and documents are determined from the service description documents. Singular value decomposition (SVD) is used to decompose the matrix. Eigen vectors from the SVD decomposition are weighted by top k singular values in a diagonal matrix S of singular values also generated from the decomposition. The weighted eigen vectors are used to rank terms from the matrix X based on relevance of the terms to the requirements for desired services described in the service description documents. |
| US08255402B2 |
Method and system of classifying online data
A method of automatically analyzing online posts, such that they may then be responded appropriately. The method may comprise: extracting a list of keywords from each of the plurality of posts; generating one or more keyword clusters based on the keywords extracted from each of the plurality of posts and classifying new posts in accordance with the one or more keyword clusters. |
| US08255394B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for efficient content indexing of streaming XML document content
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for efficient content indexing of streaming XML document content. A forest generator generates an XML pattern forest from a set of structured index path expressions, the XML pattern forest includes trees and twigs generated from structured index path expressions uniquely associated with a namespace indicator for an XML node. The XML node is identified in a stream of at least one XML document. A comparison module compares the XML node to nodes of trees and twigs of the XML pattern forest. A determination module determines a match between the XML node and an index node in one of a tree and a twig of the XML pattern forest. The index node has a path from an ancestor node to the index node that matches the axis steps of at least one of the structured index path expressions. A storage module stores an index entry for the XML node in response to the determined match, the index entry includes a XML document identifier, an XML node name, a namespace indicator for the XML node, and XML node content. |
| US08255390B2 |
Session based click features for recency ranking
In one embodiment, access one or more query-resource pairs, wherein for each one of the query-resource pairs comprising one of one or more search queries and one of one or more network resources, the one search query is recency-sensitive with respect to a particular time period, and the one network resource is identified for the one search query, and a resource-view count and a resource-click count associated with each one of the query-resource pairs; and construct one or more first click features using the resource-view counts and the resource-click counts associated with the query-resource pairs. To construct one of the first click features in connection with one of the query-resource pairs comprises determine a only-resource-click count associated with the one query-resource pair; and calculate a ratio between the only-resource-click count and the resource-view count associated with the one query-resource pair as the one first click feature. |
| US08255389B2 |
Automatic relevance filtering
A computer-implemented method and an apparatus for use in a computing apparatus are disclosed. The method includes determining a context and a data requirement for a candidate action to be selected, the selection specifying an action in a workflow; and filtering the candidate actions for relevance in light of the context and the data requirement. The apparatus, in a first aspect, includes a program storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device, performs the method. In a second aspect, the apparatus includes a computing apparatus programmed to perform the method. |
| US08255386B1 |
Selection of documents to place in search index
A system may identify a collection of documents, predict a utility score for each document in the collection of documents, and create a ranked list of the documents based on the predicted utility scores for the documents. The system may also select a number of the documents in the ranked list of documents, index the selected documents, and store the index. |
| US08255385B1 |
Adaptive crawl rates based on publication frequency
Methods and systems for determining an adaptive crawl rate for a Web crawler based on historical publication data from a Web source are provided. A frequency of publication of the Web source is determined over a specified period of time, and an adaptive crawl rate is calculated using the frequency of publication. The Web crawler is then deployed at the calculated adaptive crawl rate. |
| US08255380B2 |
System and method for ontology-based location of expertise
An expertise locator enables user defined correspondences between experts and respective certain objects. Each object inherits from classes in a hierarchy. Using the correspondences, a locator processor routine finds a candidate expert about a particular subject area. The candidate expert may be in a correspondence with a certain object whose class is a subclass of the particular subject area. Output may display an indication of the candidate expert, relevant expertise per candidate and/or a list of experts per certain object. In the case of the certain objects being topics, the hierarchy is an ontology of the topics. |
| US08255375B2 |
Content service bus framework
Electronic content is routed and stored within an enterprise, in which a distributed service-oriented architecture platform is provided to seamlessly route and store content to heterogeneous enterprise content repositories. Dynamic content may be stored, retrieved and queried in real-time through a content service bus (CSB), thus eliminating the need to have point-to-point connectivity between client applications and the destination repositories, while supporting the flexibility to consolidate multiple platforms with minimal impacts to clients. The CSB framework may incorporate underlying technologies, including Web services, intelligent routing based on content, message transformation, and federation of content. A request may be routed to the appropriate content repository based on attached content or metadata in the request and transformed by the CSB to a format required by the determined content repository. The requestor is subsequently provided a response from the content repository in a consistent manner for all of the content repositories. |
| US08255372B2 |
Efficient validation of binary XML data
Data used and generated by the process of validating XML documents is divided into two categories: compile-time static data and runtime data. Runtime data may be specific to a particular XML document and changes when validating the XML document, while compile-time data does not change in this way. For example, compile-time data may be data that defines, according to a schema, the descendant elements and ordering between them. Runtime data is information generated to track which descendants occurred in a particular XML document being validated. Compile-time static data, once generated to validate a particular XML document, is cached within a shared volatile memory. Once the compile-time data is cached, the compile-time static data may be used to validate other XML documents without the need to regenerate the compile-time static data. |
| US08255368B2 |
Apparatus and method for positioning user-created data in OLAP data sources
A computer readable storage medium comprises executable instructions to receive user-created data for user-specified positions in an OLAP hierarchy. The OLAP hierarchy is reorganized according to the user-created data. Data manipulation statements are generated to evaluate a set of members of the OLAP hierarchy according to the user-specified positions. |
| US08255364B2 |
System for emulating a virtual boundary of a file system for data management at a fileset granularity
A file system boundary emulation system emulates a virtual boundary of a filesystem within an existing file system for data management at a fileset granularity, within the framework of a wide area filesystem federation. The system dynamically assigns a fileset ID to the file that belongs to that fileset. The system comprises a fileset defined by the virtual boundary of the file. The virtual boundary is less than and contained within the file system. The fileset identifies the file via the file ID and the fileset ID. The system maps the file ID to the fileset ID. The filesets are dynamically created and removed based on administrative instructions. Filesets are used for fine grained data management and namespace control in a filesystem federation. |
| US08255363B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for provisioning software using dynamic tags to identify and process files
Software is provisioned by providing a repository that contains software files available for provisioning. At least one tag is associated with respective ones of at least a subset of the software files, the tags describing the at least a subset of the software files. A tag handler is used to process at least one detected change affecting at least one of the software files having a tag associated therewith. |
| US08255361B2 |
Method and system for validating differential computer system update
A method and system of validating a differential update to a computer system. One method includes comparing a list of files in a new computer system image with a list of files in a former computer system image to construct a manifest list of files comprising a subset of the new computer system images and the former computer system images. The method further includes associating information with the manifest list to facilitate determining whether a differential update comprising differences between the new computer system image and the former computer system image is valid. The method also includes comparing a list of files in a computer system to receive the differential update against the manifest list of files and using the associated information to determine if the differential update is valid for the computer system. |
| US08255360B1 |
Synchronization of database changes among multiple devices
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for synchronizing database changes among multiple devices. In one aspect, a method includes determining one or more primary differences between a primary database and a local synchronization database; receiving, from a secondary device, one or more secondary differences associated with a secondary database; merging the primary differences and the secondary differences to generate a set of merged differences; providing the set of merged differences to the secondary device; receiving, from the secondary device, an acknowledgment indicating receipt of the set of merged differences; and updating the primary database in accordance with the set of merged differences after receipt of the acknowledgment. Further, at least one conflict can be detected between the primary differences and the secondary differences, and can be resolved prior to generating the set of merged differences. |
| US08255359B2 |
System and methods for asynchronous synchronization
Aspects of the advancement provide for information to be synchronized in an asynchronous manner among two or more computing devices. |
| US08255356B2 |
Apparatus and method of generating document
An apparatus receives an instruction indicating a time when a query for the data acquisition is to be executed. The apparatus executes the query at the time indicated in the received instruction, and generates a document using data acquired from the execution of the query. |
| US08255353B2 |
Method for constructing an intelligent system processing uncertain causal relationship information
The present invention disclosed a method constructing an intelligent system processing uncertain causal relationship information. It can express, monitor and analyze the causal logic relationship among the different variables in complex systems directly, implicitly or in both way of them under the circumstance of unsure, dynamic, having a logic loop, lacking of statistical data, unclear evidence, mixture of discrete and continuous variables, incomplete knowledge, multi-resource of knowledge. It gave effective bases to solve the problems in the domain of production, monitoring, detection, diagnosis, prediction, et al. |
| US08255352B2 |
Method for implementing a rules-based engine
Embodiments of the invention provide an RBE that uses a logical abstraction for a set of application rules that allows the rules to be implemented, presented and modified efficiently. For one embodiment, rules logic for implementing a set of application rules is stored. The rules logic is specified by a processing sequence using one or more application factors, each of which has one or more application factor values. A plurality of entries corresponding to each application factor is separately stored. Each entry contains a data point set having one or more data points and a result corresponding to the data point set. Each of the one or more data points of a data point set corresponds to a distinct factor value. |
| US08255348B2 |
Apparatus and method for order generation and management to facilitate solutions of decision-making problems
A system includes a plurality of hierarchical layers configured to solve a decision-making problem. Each hierarchical layer is configured to generate solution data representing a possible solution to a sub-problem associated with the decision-making problem. Each hierarchical layer is also configured to receive orders and to use the orders during generation of the solution data. The orders include orders based on the solution data from a higher hierarchical layer, orders based on feedback from a lower hierarchical layer, and/or orders that are exogenously provided. Each hierarchical layer could be configured to use the orders to simplify a search for the possible solution to the sub-problem being solved by that hierarchical layer, such as by excluding solutions inconsistent with the orders. |
| US08255342B2 |
Method, apparatus, and program for generating prediction model based on multiple regression analysis
An objective variable prediction model based on multiple regression analysis and having high prediction accuracy is generated by a computer. The method includes the steps of: a) constructing an initial sample set from samples whose measured value of an objective variable is known; b) obtaining a calculated value of the objective variable using multiple regression analysis; c) extracting samples whose difference between the measured and the calculated value is not larger than a first value, and calculating a determination coefficient by applying multiple regression analysis to the extracted samples; d) repeating the step c) by changing the first value until the determination coefficient exceeds a second value; and e) performing two-class classification to classify the sub-sample set obtained at the end of the step d) as a first sub-sample set and remaining samples as a second sub-sample set, and calculating a discriminant function. |
| US08255326B2 |
Method and apparatus for mapping sources and uses of consumer funds
A bill-paying system includes a customer deposit account which receives periodic payroll deposits of an individual or a couple. A bill-paying service enrolls the individual or couple for a fee, and is authorized to transfer money from the deposit account to the accounts of various creditors. An originating depository financial institution, such as a bank, handles the transfers of money, and such transfers are preferably done electronically. The automated clearing house (ACH) network supports such electronic money transfers. The various bills and debts of the individual or couple come due at times that are asynchronous to their income structure. The bill-paying service is authorized to debit the deposit account for more than the basic minimums due the creditors each month. Such excess is used to accelerate the repayment of various loans and debts according to what particular application at that time will have the greatest long-term beneficial effect. |
| US08255322B2 |
Dual source bank float
Bank float is assigned using a dual source bank float system by first determining which of a plurality of checks will be processed via a paper route and which will be processed via an image route. For the checks that will be processed via the paper route, a set of rules will be determined. For the checks that will be processed via the image route, a different set of rules will be determined. A bank float is applied to the paper checks using the paper set of rules and bank float is assigned to the image checks using the image set of rules. |
| US08255319B1 |
Systems and methods for performing scoring optimization
The invention provides systems and methods relating to generating a unified determination based on subdetermination, and in particular, generating a unified score based on respective scores. For example, the invention provides a method for generating a unified determination based on subdeterminations, the method including generating a first subdetermination based on first criteria; generating a second subdetermination based on second criteria; and generating a unified determination based on the first subdetermination and the second subdetermination. The generation of the unified determination includes (a) assigning, using iterative processing, an assigned weighting respectively to the first determination and second determination; (b) determining if the assigned weighting satisfies at least one constraint; (c) comparing the assigned weighting to an optimized weighting, which was previously determined, to determine if the assigned weighting is improved over the optimized weighting; and (d) if the assigned weighting is improved, then assigning the assigned weighting to be the optimized weighting. |
| US08255313B2 |
System and method for risk management
A margin requirement is computed while trading. The margin requirement may be calculated while trading because the preferred system takes into account working orders to generate the margin requirement. The on the fly possibility allows the preferred system to provide pre-trade risk calculations, but can also be used to provide post-trade calculations. A generic spread number and the maximum number of outright positions are determined. Using the spread positions and the maximum number of outright positions, a spread margin and an outright margin are calculated, which when summed provide a total margin requirement. Limits based in part on the total margin requirement may be imposed on one or more traders. |
| US08255308B2 |
Method and system for evaluating target date funds
The invention generally concerns systems, methods, and apparatus wherein a computer may receive information concerning a group of target date funds from a database. Information about the target date funds may comprise information about the glide path and the target retirement date of that fund. A diversification level of each of the target date funds may be determined from the received information. An equity ratio may also be determined for each of the target date funds using the received information. In some instances, the equity ratio may be based upon the amount of equity projected to be owned by the target date fund upon the target retirement date. After determining an equity ratio and a diversification level, a summary of the group of funds is output for review by a user. The summary may include a summary or graph of the diversification levels and equity ratios of the target date funds. |
| US08255297B2 |
Creation, redemption, and accounting in a virtual currency system
A virtual currency system keeps track of virtual credits, which can be owned, transferred, purchased, and sold by participants in a virtual economy. Each virtual credit has an internal value and an external value, which define, respectively, the exchange rates for creating and redeeming the virtual credits. Upon creation of new virtual credits, the internal value for those credits is the rate for which real currency was paid per credit. The external value sets the rate at which the virtual credits can be redeemed for real currency. Each virtual credit may further have a face value, which is an apparent value of the virtual credit within the virtual economy, giving users a baseline impression for valuing the virtual currency. These features of the virtual currency enable a number of useful actions within the virtual economy, including currency seeding, couponing, and chargebacks. |
| US08255293B1 |
Product catalog dynamically tailored to user-selected media content
Systems and methods for media-oriented product catalog creation are disclosed herein. Media content displayed or otherwise selected by a content consumer can be identified. Accordingly, products or services depicted by the media content can be compiled into a dynamic product catalog. The catalog can include a description of the products or services as well as associated contextual references to the media content, such as a screen capture or video clip that depicts one or more portions of the media content in which the product or service was featured. |
| US08255290B2 |
System and method for managing contacts within an online stationery system
A system and method are described for managing a contacts database within an online stationery service. For example, a system implemented within an online stationery service according to one embodiment comprises: a stationery service contacts manager to manage a set of contacts data within a stationery service contacts database in response to user input; a stationery personalization engine providing an end user with a set of selectable stationery templates, the stationery personalization engine receiving an indication that an end user has selected a particular one of the stationery templates, and generating personalized stationery with the selected template based on user input; the stationery service contacts manager providing address information for each of a set of user-selected contacts to receive a the personalized stationery by non-electronic mail; and a print module to generate a print job to print the personalized stationery and envelopes containing the address information for the user-selected contacts, the print module transmitting a link to an external print service for uniquely identifying the print job, the external print service accessing the link from the online stationery service using the link; wherein the external print service mails the printed stationery in the printed envelopes on behalf of the end user. |
| US08255289B2 |
System and method for in-store sales of customized jewelry items
An article of jewelry having colored gemstones may be designed according to a consumer's input at a retail location. The article of jewelry may be imaged and priced at the retail location, and a commitment to purchase the article of jewelry may be obtained based on the image provided. A jewelry retailing system may include a retail location having a design center to design an article of jewelry having colored gemstones according to a consumer's input, and an imaging device such as a color printer. |
| US08255287B1 |
Target price sale apparatus and method
A method and apparatus are disclosed for offering and selling items based on a non-public target price. The target price is initially established in advance for a given item and is not known to potential buyers. Offers for the item are accepted and a transaction is completed if an offer exceeds or is equal to the target price. A target price sale may be conducted in conjunction with a traditional auction that includes a reserve price, during which bids are accepted in a traditional manner. The establishment of a target price allows the seller to define an acceptable price in a private sale independent of circumstances, and the non-public nature of the target price allows the seller to control the process. In the case that a traditional auction is also conducted, the existence of both target sale and auction phases can maximize the expected sale price of the item. |
| US08255284B1 |
User profile and geolocation for efficient transactions
Techniques for providing friction-free transactions using geolocation and user identifiers are described herein. These techniques may ascertain a user's location based on a location of a mobile device. A transaction between the user and a merchant may be completed with zero or minimal input from the user based on the geolocation of the mobile device and the user identifiers. In some implementations, a transaction initiated earlier is completed when the mobile device arrives at the merchant. Additionally, a parent-child or similar relationship may be established between multiple devices. Security on the mobile device based may be provided by biometric identification and calculation of variance from regular movement patterns. Advertisements may be sent to the mobile device based on bids from merchants near to the mobile device. Promotions may be sent to the mobile device when more than a threshold number of mobile devices are located at the same merchant. |
| US08255283B1 |
Method and system for crediting a retailer for an internet purchase
Systems and methods for crediting a retailer for an online purchase made by a consumer while the consumer is located within or in the proximity of a store location of the retailer are provided. After browsing a retail location for a product, a consumer can purchase the product from an Internet merchant different than that of the retailer using a mobile or networked client device. The client device can include a module for determining the location of the client device at the time of purchase and include the location information with information used to complete the purchase of the product. This location information can include an actual geographic location, a store identifier, or a retailer identifier. The online merchant can match the location information with retailer information to determine whether a credit for the purchase should be given to a retailer. |
| US08255282B2 |
Methods for selecting, ordering, and purchasing glass products
A system, apparatus and method for facilitating the selection, purchasing and ordering glass products, which is informative to guide a novice user in selecting a glass product, even where the glass is comprised of glass panels of more than one manufacturer, the present invention providing an apparatus with a processor which is controlled by software to facilitate a selection process which integrates the comparison of glass products and their properties, as well as, including particular properties of particular components of a glass product, the apparatus can work with a user input device, such as a keyboard or mouse, and is programmed to display graphics associated with selections and potential selections for glass products. The system and method providing selection menus for display on a display device and an animation graphic associated with a selection presented to the user. The system, apparatus, and method integrates the glass product selection information which the user chooses, and preferably the invention makes selections for the user, based on the user's previous choices and specified target performances to present to the user potential glass products. |
| US08255280B1 |
Automatic vetting of web applications to be listed in a marketplace for web applications
A computer-implemented method includes providing an online marketplace to developers of web applications that may be downloaded from the marketplace to a client computing device for execution by a browser executing on the client device and receiving a request from a party to the marketplace to list a proposed web application for sale in the marketplace. One or more processors of a computer system automatically determine the permissions requested by the proposed web application and automatically determine if the permissions match one or more predetermined permissions. If the permissions match one or more predetermined permissions, then the proposed application is flagged for a manual vetting process before listing the proposed application in the marketplace, and if they do not match, then the proposed application is listed in the marketplace without manual review of the application. |
| US08255276B1 |
System and method for generating multimedia accompaniments to broadcast data
A method and system is presented for coordinating the transmission of supplemental digital data to accompany broadcast data, and in particular, analog radio broadcasts, among a plurality of broadcasters. The supplemental digital data may provide information about the particular broadcast data being transmitted (i.e. cut data) or may be supplemental to such data (i.e. news, weather and traffic data). The supplemental digital data to be presented is sorted based on particular algorithms which may take into account broadcaster-specified criteria such as target audience, time of day, type of broadcast data presented, and the like. The supplemental digital data may be audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data for presentation with the broadcast data. The supplemental digital data may further be advertisement data. The advertisement data may be sold by the broadcasters or the party coordinating the IBOC transmission of the supplemental digital data. The supplemental digital data may play simultaneously with muted broadcast data or at a user-specified time. |
| US08255272B2 |
Test method for detecting deviations of geoobjects
Test method for optimizing the collection of tolls from vehicles on toll roads of a road network, which is carried out by a vehicle-mounted position-determining unit and a vehicle-external management unit which has a data connection to the latter, the toll roads of the road network having detection zones superimposed on them in an electronic image of the road network and the vehicle-mounted position-determining unit transmitting toll-related data to the management unit when vehicle positions are determined within the detection range. There is provision for monitoring zones to be additionally provided in the electronic image of the road network, which monitoring zones are assigned to detection zones and in their spatial extent extend in each case beyond the detection zone assigned to them, the position-determining unit transmitting the position data, located within the monitoring zone, of the vehicle to the management unit when vehicle positions are determined within the monitoring zone and outside the detection zone. |
| US08255271B2 |
Sustainability ratings for legal entities with data inspection
A computer implemented rating system for rating a company using at least one non-economic factor stored in a database populated with hierarchical data and metadata. The system displays at least a portion of the hierarchical data and a formula that generates a sustainability score, the sustainability score defining a rating of the company incorporating the at least one non-economic factor. The user can input at weightings into the system which associates each weighting with a respective non-economic factor. A processor computes the sustainability score using the formula by mathematically applying each associated user-input weighting to the respective non-economic factor. The system displays the sustainability score, and, in response to a user interaction, displays at least a portion of the hierarchical data including the metadata. The hierarchical data can include a second level of data which is used to compute the first level by applying weightings in a formula. |
| US08255260B2 |
System and method for filtering exceptions generated by forecasting and replenishment engine
A system and method for storing, filtering, selecting and manipulating business exceptions generated by forecasting and replenishment processes and systems. When an exception is generated, it will be associated with attributes corresponding to those business objects and business areas to which the exception relates. Exceptions may also be associated with administrative attributes such as status, priority and generation date, as well as information identifying the specific business process that generated the exception. Generated forecasting and replenishment exceptions may be directed to a transitory dialog message. Alternatively, forecasting and replenishment exceptions may be logged or stored in a database for future review and treatment. Within an exceptions monitor or workbench tool, a business replenishment specialist may browse, search, select, review, filter, rearrange, edit, forward and/or respond to generated exceptions. Exceptions may be filtered tacitly according to a user profile associated with the business replenishment specialist. Alternatively, exceptions may be filtered according to explicitly supplied selection criteria. |
| US08255255B2 |
System and methods of managing assignments
Disclosed are systems and methods of making assignments, particularly of sales leads. The assignments are considered either committed or uncommitted responsive to an effective date associated with one or more assignment rule used to make the assignments. Uncommitted assignments may be used to review the effects of changes in assignment rules. Examples are provided including the use of uncommitted assignments to review the effects of changes in a hierarchical territory structure. |
| US08255250B2 |
Determining a stop from a layover in a multi-stop itinerary
To determine if an intermediate stop in a multistop travel itinerary is a layover or an intermediate destination, a passenger utility value is calculated for the intermediate stop and the passenger utility value for the intermediate stop is compared to a passenger utility for a layover. The intermediate stop is determined to be a layover in response to the passenger utility value for the intermediate stop being greater than or equal to the passenger utility for a layover and the intermediate stop is determined to be an intermediate destination in response to the passenger utility value for the intermediate stop being less than the passenger utility for a layover. |
| US08255249B1 |
Project equipment allocation planning tool
A system for identifying a discrepancy between a quantity of equipment ordered for a project and a quantity of equipment used for the project is provided. The system includes a procurement module, an engineering planning module, and a comparison module, each stored on one or more computer readable media and executed on one or more processors. The procurement module promotes identifying equipment estimated to be needed for the project and creation of a first list of the identified equipment. The engineering planning module promotes creation of a detailed project design for the project and creation of a second list of equipment deployed for the project. The comparison module provides an integration of the procurement module with the engineering planning module and compares the first list with the second list, and creates a report that promotes identifying discrepancies between the first list and the second list. |
| US08255246B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating compound due-to reports
Methods and apparatuses for computing a variance between two business metrics is described. In one embodiment, the method computes a variance for each of a first set of activities based on the corresponding reference state of that activity, wherein the variance for an activity is the change in contribution for that activity between the first and second business metrics and with each of the first set of activities having a reference value. Furthermore, the method computes a variance for each of a second set of activities based on the corresponding start and end values of that activity with each of the second set of activities having a start and end value. |
| US08255239B2 |
Access controller and method for controlling access to medical data
In an access controller and method for controlling access to medical data, the medical data being provided as at least one first file and a second file independent of the first file with findings regarding patients that are generated by medical personnel being stored in the first file and measurement results of patients that were acquired by means of a medical-technical apparatus being stored in the second file, with at least one subset of the measurement results stored in the second file forming the basis of at least a subset of the findings stored in the first file, the access controller is configured to detect the measurement results forming the basis of a stored finding. Links to the measurement results forming the basis of a respective finding are stored at the findings in the first file and the access controller is configured to automatically detect measurement results stored in the second file and form the basis of a finding, the automatic detection ensuing using the link stored at the respective finding in the first file. |
| US08255238B2 |
System and method for real time viewing of critical patient data on mobile devices
A data-processing tool for displaying real-time patient data on remote and/or mobile devices. The tool renders graphical data on the screen of the remote device in a manner that makes it practical for the health care provider to review the data. Charting components provide landscape support, an ability to overlay patient data and patient images, zoom in/zoom out, custom variable speed scrolling, split screen support, and formatting control. The methodology operates as an asynchronous application, allowing patient data to be streamed in real-time to the handheld device while conserving enough CPU power to simultaneously allow the end user to interact at will with the responsive display application. Finally, the methodology implements an IT management console that allows system managers to monitor the exchange of data between hospital systems and the primary database, including all patient data packets, notifications and alerts, connected remote devices, etc. |
| US08255235B2 |
Item tracking and anticipated delivery confirmation system method
This disclosure describes systems and methods for electronically tracking information. The tracking information may includes arrival information regarding an arrival of the item and processing information regarding processing of the item. |
| US08255233B2 |
Enhancing perceptual performance of SBR and related HFR coding methods by adaptive noise-floor addition and noise substitution limiting
Methods and an apparatus for enhancement of source coding systems utilizing high frequency reconstruction (HFR) are introduced. The problem of insufficient noise contents is addressed in a reconstructed highband, by using Adaptive Noise-floor Addition. New methods are also introduced for enhanced performance by means of limiting unwanted noise, interpolation and smoothing of envelope adjustment amplification factors. The methods and apparatus used are applicable to both speech coding and natural audio coding systems. |
| US08255227B2 |
Scalable encoding and decoding of multichannel audio with up to five levels in subdivision hierarchy
In one embodiment, the method includes receiving an audio data frame having at least first and second channels. The first and second channels have been independently subdivided into blocks if the first and second channels are not correlated with each other, and the first and second channels have been synchronously subdivided into blocks if the first and second channels are correlated with each other and difference coding is used. The embodiment further includes obtaining subdivision information from the audio data frame. The subdivision information includes first information and second information. The first information indicates whether the first and second channels are independently subdivided or synchronously subdivided, and the second information indicates how the subdividing is performed. The first and second channels are decoded based on the obtained subdivision information. |
| US08255222B2 |
Speech separating apparatus, speech synthesizing apparatus, and voice quality conversion apparatus
A speech separating apparatus includes: a PARCOR calculating unit that extracts vocal tract information from an input speech signal; a filter smoothing unit that smoothes, in a first time constant, the vocal tract information extracted by the PARCOR calculating unit; an inverse filtering unit that calculates a filter coefficient of a filter having a frequency amplitude response characteristic inverse to the vocal tract information smoothed by the filter smoothing unit, so as to filter the input speech signal using the filter having the calculated filter coefficient; and a voicing source modeling unit that cuts out, from the input speech signal filtered by the inverse filtering unit, a waveform included in a second time constant shorter than the first time constant, so as to calculate, for each waveform that is taken, voicing source information from the each waveform. |
| US08255219B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining a corrective action for a speech recognition system based on the performance of the system
A method for assessing a performance of a speech recognition system may include determining a grade, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, wherein the grade indicates a level of the performance of the system and the grade is based on a recognition rate and at least one recognition factor. An apparatus for assessing a performance of a speech recognition system may include a processor that determines a grade, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, wherein the grade indicates a level of the performance of the system and wherein the grade is based on a recognition rate and at least one recognition factor. |
| US08255213B2 |
Speech decoding apparatus, speech encoding apparatus, and lost frame concealment method
A sound decoding device is capable of improving the lost frame compensation performance and improving quality of the decoded sound. A rise frame sound source compensation unit generates a compensation sound source signal when the current frame is a lost frame and a rise frame. An average sound source pattern update unit updates the average sound source pattern held in an average sound source pattern holding unit over a plurality of frames. When a frame is lost, an LPC synthesis unit performs LPC synthesis on a decoded sound source signal by using the compensation sound source signal inputted via a switching unit and a decoded LPC parameter from an LPC decoding unit and outputs the compensation decoded sound signal. |
| US08255212B2 |
Filter compressor and method for manufacturing compressed subband filter impulse responses
A filter compressor for generating compressed subband filter impulse responses from input subband filter impulse responses corresponding to subbands, which include filter impulse response values at filter taps, includes a processor for examining the filter impulse response values from at least two input subband filter input responses to find filter impulse response values having higher values and at least one filter impulse response value having a value being lower than the higher values, and a filter impulse response constructor for constructing the compressed subband filter impulse responses using the filter impulse response values having the higher values, wherein the compressed subband filter impulse responses do not include filter impulse response values corresponding to filter taps of the at least one filter impulse response value having the lower value or include zero-valued values corresponding to filter taps of the at least one filter impulse response value having the lower value. |
| US08255211B2 |
Temporal envelope shaping for spatial audio coding using frequency domain wiener filtering
Certain types of parametric spatial coding encoders use interchannel amplitude differences, interchannel time differences, and interchannel coherence or correlation to build a parametric model of a multichannel soundfield that is used by a decoder to construct an approximation of the original soundfield. However, such a parametric model does not reconstruct the original temporal envelope of the soundfield's channels, which has been found to be extremely important for some audio signals. The present invention provides for the reshaping the temporal envelope of one or more of the decoded channels in a spatial coding system to better match one or more original temporal envelopes. |
| US08255210B2 |
Audio/music decoding device and method utilizing a frame erasure concealment utilizing multiple encoded information of frames adjacent to the lost frame
An audio/music decoding device capable of improving quality of a decoded signal generated by conceal processing of a frame erase using a scalable encoding method. The audio/music decoding device includes a frame loss detector that determines whether encoded information is normally received and generates frame loss information indicating the result of the determination. According to the frame loss information, a first decoder performs decoding by using at least one of the following encoded information: the first encoded information on the frame immediately before, the first encoded information on the current frame, and the second encoded information on the current frame. According to the frame loss information, a second decoder performs decoding by using at least one of the following encoded information: the first encoded information on the frame immediately before, the first encoded information on the current frame, the second encoded information on the frame immediately before, and the second encoded information on the current frame. An adder adds the decoded signal outputted from the first decoder and the decoded signal outputted from the second decoder. |
| US08255207B2 |
Method and device for efficient frame erasure concealment in speech codecs
A method and device for concealing frame erasures caused by frames of an encoded sound signal erased during transmission from an encoder to a decoder and for recovery of the decoder after frame erasures comprise, in the encoder, determining concealment/recovery parameters including at least phase information related to frames of the encoded sound signal. The concealment/recovery parameters determined in the encoder are transmitted to the decoder and, in the decoder, frame erasure concealment is conducted in response to the received concealment/recovery parameters. The frame erasure concealment comprises resynchronizing, in response to the received phase information, the erasure-concealed frames with corresponding frames of the sound signal encoded at the encoder. When no concealment/recovery parameters are transmitted to the decoder, a phase information of each frame of the encoded sound signal that has been erased during transmission from the encoder to the decoder is estimated in the decoder. Also, frame erasure concealment is conducted in the decoder in response to the estimated phase information, wherein the frame erasure concealment comprises resynchronizing, in response to the estimated phase information, each erasure-concealed frame with a corresponding frame of the sound signal encoded at the encoder. |
| US08255206B2 |
Voice mixing method and multipoint conference server and program using the same method
The voice mixing method includes a first step for selecting voice information from a plurality of voice information, a second step for adding up all the selected voice information, a third step for obtaining a voice signal totaling the voice signals other than one voice signal, of the selected voice signals, a fourth step for encoding the voice information obtained in the second step, a fifth step for encoding the voice signal obtained in the third step, and a sixth step for copying the encoded information obtained in the fourth step into the encoded information in the fifth step. |
| US08255204B2 |
Character input apparatus, character input assist method, and character input assist program
Disclosed herein is a character input apparatus including: a display section having a screen capable of displaying at least characters; an operation section configured to allow a user to input at least the characters; a first character input processing section configured to perform a first character input process of causing a character string to be displayed on the screen in accordance with a predetermined notation rule; a second character input processing section configured to perform a second character input process of causing a character string to be displayed on the screen not in accordance with the predetermined notation rule; a scene determination section configured to determine a character input scene; and an input process switch control section configured to switch between the first character input process and the second character input process in accordance with the character input scene. |
| US08255203B2 |
Method of debugging an executable computer program having instructions for different computer architectures
A method of debugging an executable computer application comprising instructions of a first computer architecture instruction set and instructions of a second computer architecture instruction set. The method comprises determining whether an instruction being debugged is from the second architecture instruction set; and obtaining debug information from an emulator of the second architecture in a first architecture environment when the instruction being executed is from the second architecture instruction set. The debug information results from emulation of the instruction being debugged. |
| US08255202B2 |
Methods and devices for spoofing CEC messages
Emulating HDMI-CEC devices, sub networks, or messages, including selecting the properties of an HDMI-CEC device to be emulated from at least two devices representing different functionalities, and initiating spoofed CEC messages. One of the methods includes selecting an initiator CEC logical address to emulate, and initiating a CEC message comprising the selected CEC logical address that is not unregistered logical address and does not represent a functionality of the device that actually initiated the CEC message. |
| US08255201B2 |
Full-system ISA emulating system and process recognition method
Disclosed is a method of recognizing a process in a full-system Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) emulator, comprising the steps of: recognizing a process based on a base address of a page table thereof, recognizing the switch between the processes when said base address of the page table has changed, recognizing the termination of a recorded process when the base address of the page table of the process which tries to modify the page table is not equal to the base address of the page table of the recorded process in the page table. With the recognized process, the binary translation results indexed based on content can be saved into a corresponding process repository, thereby achieving the permanent saving of the translation results and the reuse of translation and optimization on the basis of a previously executed program. Consequently, the overall performance of the full-system Industry Standard Architecture emulator is enhanced. |
| US08255199B2 |
Characterizing performance of an electronic system
In one embodiment of the present invention, the performance of an electronic circuit having a clock path between a clock source cell and a clock leaf cell is characterized over a simulation duration, where the clock path has one or more intermediate cells. Variations in the effective power supply voltage level least one intermediate cell over the simulation duration are determined using a system-level power-grid simulation tool. Static timing analysis (STA) software is used to determine cell delays for at least one of the intermediate cells for different clock-signal transitions at different times during the simulation duration. The cell delays are then used to generate one or more metrics characterizing the performance of the electronic circuit, such as maximum and minimum pulse widths, maximum cycle-to-cycle jitter, and maximum periodic jitter. |
| US08255196B2 |
Constructing a replica-based clock tree
A system and method for constructing a clock tree based on replica stages is described. The system and method may comprise determining a size of an input buffer for driving a load capacitance of the output buffer based on a fanout, determining a wire width and a wire length based on the size of the output buffer, the fanout and a replica stage mathematical model, and connecting the output buffer and the corresponding input buffer to a conductor routed on one or more predetermined metal layers and having the wire length and the wire width. The conductor is placed within ground shields having a fixed width. |
| US08255193B2 |
Blood flow bypass catheters and methods for the delivery of medium to the vasculature and body ducts
A catheterization device that may be designed by use of an adaptive genetic algorithm computational fluid dynamics approach, as well as other Global Optimization methods that may include simulated annealing, multistart and interval methods, continuous branch and bound methods, evolutionary algorithms, and tabu search and scatter search methods, as well as other available Global Optimization methods that is able to maximize/optimize the dwell time of an infused agent in the vicinity of a vascular lesion. The device may have an internal by-pass channel that allows the blood upstream of the lesion to continue its pulsatile flow through the vessel in the part of it occluded by the lesion, while simultaneously allowing the disbursement and maximal dwell time of an antithrombolytic or other diagnostic or therapeutic agent needed to treat the lesion. Different embodiments of the catheterization device are disclosed and indications for the use of these devices in the treatment of vascular diseases are discussed. |
| US08255192B2 |
Analytical map models
Visual map items may each be constructed and placed in position using logic defined by a map view component corresponding to each visual item, where that logic may depend on one or more values populated into parameter(s) of the map view component. Some of those parameter values may correspond to known map model parameter values. Others, however, may have been solved for using a model that defines analytical relationships between the map model parameters. In one embodiment, which of the map model parameters are input variable, and which are output model variables, may not be predetermined. Accordingly, a solver might be prepared for multiple solve operation paths even using a single model. The map view composition process may be entirely data-driven, and may include a mechanism for canonicalizing input data, and binding canonicalized input data to the model parameters. |
| US08255191B1 |
Using real value models in simulation of analog and mixed-signal systems
A method is provided to coerce a wire type net in an integrated circuit design to become a wreal net in the design, comprising: running a wreal coercion process on a computer system including the acts of, identifying a wire type net that is connected to a wreal net in an integrated circuit design; and converting the identified wire type net to a wreal net. |
| US08255190B2 |
Automatically addressable configuration system for recognition of a motion tracking system and method of use
A system for automatically uploading a constellation module for a motion tracking system is provided comprising a programmable computer system having a first electronically readable storage medium. A motion tracking system is in communication with the programmable computer system, and includes a controller having a second electronically readable storage medium and a plurality of transponders. A configuration module resides on the first electronically readable medium. The configuration module is adapted to communicate with the motion tracking system and includes a first configuration parameter adapted to automatically instruct the second electronically readable storage medium to delete an existing constellation module, a second configuration parameter adapted to automatically acquire a desired replacement constellation module, and a third configuration parameter adapted to automatically transfer the replacement constellation module to the second electronically readable storage medium. A method for using the system is also provided. |
| US08255186B2 |
Presenting dynamic SCADA data
Techniques are disclosed for presenting users with dynamic views of process data related to the operations of an industrial system. Data obtained by a SCADA system may be stored in a real-time status database (which reflects the current process data of the industrial system) and a historian database (which archives the process data from the industrial system as it changes over time). A design canvas allows users to compose a dynamic view of the process data obtained by the SCADA system. For example, a user may compose a dynamic view of selected temperatures, pressures, and flow rates obtained by the SCADA system while monitoring the status of a pipeline. |
| US08255182B2 |
Diagnosability system: flood control
Techniques for controlling collection of diagnostic data in a monitored system. A set of flood control rules are configured for the monitored system for controlling the gathering of diagnostic data in the monitored system. The set of flood control rules may include one or more default flood control rules. The set of flood control rules are user-configurable enabling the user of the monitored system to set policies for dynamically controlling gathering of diagnostic data for the monitored system. In one embodiment, diagnostic data gathering is controlled based upon a number of previous occurrences of a condition in some predefined or user-configured time frame that triggers diagnostic data gathering and/or a number of previous executions of an action performed in some predefined or user-configured time frame responsive to the condition in the monitored system. |
| US08255180B2 |
Acoustography dynamic range extending device and method
The acoustographic dynamic range extending device and method determines thresholds to reach a preset brightness with a test part and without a test part and transforms these thresholds to image data, where the thresholds can be time thresholds obtained with a single driving voltage and can be voltage thresholds obtained with an increasing driving voltage. |
| US08255174B2 |
Method and device for determining critical buffeting loads on a structure of an aircraft
A method and device for determining critical buffeting loads on a structure of an aircraft is disclosed. The device (1) comprises means (2, UC) implementing a semi-empirical method for determining the critical loads generated by some buffeting on the structure of the airplane. |
| US08255173B2 |
Load measuring apparatus, method, and program
A load is based calibrate on data collected under wide observation conditions and promptly calibrate loads of a plurality of wind turbine blades. A load measuring apparatus is applied to a wind turbine in which a pitch angle of a wind turbine blade is variable. The apparatus includes a sensor for obtaining a distortion of the wind turbine blade; a load calculating unit having a function expressing a relation between the distortion of the wind turbine blade and a load on the wind turbine blade, for obtaining the load on the wind turbine blade by applying to the function the distortion based on measurement data of the sensor; and a calibration unit for calibrating the function based on the measurement data of the sensor obtained in a pitch angle range and a rotational speed range of the wind turbine blade in which a variation between maximum and minimum aerodynamic torques is equal to or less than a predetermined value. |
| US08255172B2 |
Wafer defect detection system and method
Random defects and repeaters accommodated on a wafer are detected using slice information obtained by scanning a plurality of wafer slices; analyzing defect information using a first set of filters selected to detect random defects, thereby generating a first set of defects per slice, analyzing the defect information using a second set of filters selected to detect repeaters, thereby providing a second set of defects per slice; analyzing a plurality of the second sets of defects per slice using a third set of filters selected to detect repeater families, thereby providing a set of repeaters per wafer; and optionally combining the set of repeaters per wafer with a plurality of the first sets of defects per slice, thereby generating one or more defect maps indicative of random defects and/or repeaters. |
| US08255168B2 |
Products and processes for analyzing octane content
Products and processes are provided herewith for analyzing octane content in a fuel sample that include the step or steps of receiving an octane measurement of a fuel sample from a octane analyzer, rounding the octane measurement to a nearest recognized octane rating, comparing the rounded octane measurement with a listed octane rating for the fuel sample, and communicating results of the comparison to a user of the octane analyzer. The octane analyzer may be incorporated into a fuel pump or a vehicle. The results of the comparison may also be used to adjust the vehicle operating parameters to account for the actual octane rating of the fuel dispensed into the vehicle. |
| US08255167B2 |
Non-hypergeometric overlap probability
Methods, software, and systems are provided for determining the probability of an overlap set of entities having an overlap size, where the overlap set is independently selected from two sets of non-identical entities. Applications of the invention to microarrays are provided. Probability distributions are provided for determining the probability that the size of an overlap gene set from two different microarrays occurs by chance. Microarray analysis for determining the size of a statistically significant overlap gene set given two different microarrays is described. Overlap set size probability determinations that account for the total number of genes in two different microarrays and not just the common genes are described. |
| US08255165B2 |
Method for predicting differences in subsurface conditions
A method for predicting differences in subsurface conditions useful in 4D applications. In an example embodiment of the method, at least one layer is defined in a data volume representing a first subsurface condition such as shale volume fraction (104). An exhaustive search methodology is then performed over a second subsurface condition such as pressure or saturation for some or all of the first subsurface condition data points (106) based on a data fit of synthetic geophysical data to measured geophysical data. The exemplary method may additionally comprise performing a statistical analysis to determine whether the error in data fit is significantly reduced (110) if one of the layers is divided into two or more layers (108). The layer is divided into multiple layers (114) if the error is significantly reduced (112). In this manner, the measured survey data are inverted to predict values of the second subsurface condition. |
| US08255164B2 |
Methods and systems for borehole seismic
Methods and systems for determining reservoir parameters of subterranean formations. A tool is configured or designed for deployment at at least one depth in a borehole traversing a subterranean formation. The tool comprises at least one sensor configured or designed for sensing rotational components of a seismic wavefield deployed in an array comprising at least one sensor configured or designed for sensing translational components of a seismic wavefield. A computer is in communication with the tool and a set of instructions executable by the computer that, when executed, process the seismic measurements and derive parameters relating to the formation based on the seismic measurements. |
| US08255162B2 |
Method and system for route searching, and navigation apparatus using the same
A route searching method is provided which allows drivers having mutually similar traveling purposes and preferences to find highly convenient routes by sharing their route searching know-how. A center apparatus (1) collects probe data received from an in-vehicle terminal apparatus (5). A preference parameter creating unit (14) calculates, based on the probe data, road usage frequencies according to preference items such as vehicle type, driver age and gender, and travel purpose which can be factors for route selection and stores the calculated road usage frequencies as preference parameters in a preference parameter database (15). A route searching unit (513) included in the in-vehicle terminal apparatus (5) requests the center apparatus (1) to transmit a preference parameter similar to user attribute information (519), adjusts link costs according to the preference parameter received from the center apparatus, and determines a minimum-cost route to a destination. |
| US08255158B2 |
Travel route adjustment
A data store includes at least one adjustment factor. A server that is configured to: receive a request for a travel route, the request including an origin, a destination, and an estimated time of departure; determine the travel route; calculate a normal travel time; use at least one adjustment factor to the normal travel time to calculate an adjusted travel time; and calculate an estimated time of arrival based on the estimated time of departure and the adjusted travel time. |
| US08255156B2 |
Spatial source collection and services system
A method is provided for obtaining data about spatial objects. The data is received from a set of adaptable and programmable sensor units associated with a set of spatial objects in real time to form received data, wherein the data is generated in response to a change in a measurement or time of a sensor unit in the set of sensor units. A collection of data for spatial objects is updated with the received data. |
| US08255154B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for social networking utilizing a vehicular assembly
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for social networking utilizing a vehicular assembly. In operation, a vehicular assembly is utilized to communicate with a mobile device. Information about social contacts is received, utilizing the mobile device. Further, the information about social contacts is displayed, utilizing the vehicular assembly. |
| US08255152B2 |
Environmentally friendly driving navigation
The disclosure relates to vehicle navigation systems. More specifically, the disclosure relates to vehicle navigation systems that utilize fuel use and emissions criteria as a parameter to determine directions between two locations. |
| US08255141B2 |
Method and vehicle electric system for a motor vehicle with a pre-emptive temporary torque restriction of the internal combustion engine
A method for reducing energy consumption of a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a vehicle electric system, to which at least a first electric consumer is connected. To achieve an efficient vehicle electric system with a reduced energy consumption, the internal combustion engine is operated in a first operating mode with a first injection quantity and a first ignition timing. In a second operating mode, the internal combustion engine is operated with a second injection quantity that is higher than the first injection quantity and with a second ignition timing. A driving situation detection device recognizes an imminent specific driving situation on the basis of the previous behavior of the driver in controlling the vehicle and/or the behavior of the vehicle in advance and initiates a switch in the operating modes of the internal combustion engine from the first operating mode to the second operating mode. |
| US08255132B2 |
Control device for vehicle drive apparatus
A control device is provided for a vehicle drive apparatus, which includes a differential mechanism and an electric motor provided in differential mechanism, which can be miniaturized in structure with improved fuel economy or enabling the suppression of occurrence in switching shocks. With a provision of a switching clutch C0 or a switching brake B0, a shifting mechanism 10 is placed in either a continuously variable shifting state or a step variable shifting state. This enables the vehicle drive apparatus to have combined advantages in a fuel economy improving effect with a transmission, enabled to electrically change a gear ratio, and a high transmitting efficiency with a gear type power transmitting device enabled to mechanically transmit drive power. During a shifting of an automatic shifting portion 20, engaging control variable control means 84 alters a method of learning an engaging pressure. This allows a rotation speed N18 of a transmitting member to achieve a given variation during the shifting, depending on a continuously variable shifting state and a non-continuously variable shifting state, for thereby providing a balance between an improvement in a feeling and a suppressing of shifting shocks. |
| US08255131B2 |
Method for monitoring a gear-change operation in a motor vehicle provided with a dual-clutch transmission
The method monitors a gear-change operation in a motor vehicle provided with an engine whose crankshaft is connected to a transmission having a gearbox) comprising first and second primary shafts connectable to the crankshaft of the engine by respective friction clutches controlled by corresponding actuators, and a secondary or output shaft connectable to the primary shafts by gears defining a plurality of velocity ratios or gears. The method comprises the operation of verifying and validating the detection of the disengagement of the previously engaged gear by detecting the angular velocity of the primary shaft corresponding to the gear to be disengaged, and comparing the detected value of said angular velocity with at least one reference angular velocity. |
| US08255130B2 |
Closed-loop torque phase control for shifting automatic transmission gear ratios based on friction element load sensing
A closed loop shift control apparatus and method based on friction element load controls a torque transfer phase when shifting from a low gear configuration to a high gear configuration for an automatic transmission system. When pressure actuated friction elements are selectively engaged and released to establish torque flow paths in the transmission, measurements or estimates of torsional load exerted on the off-going friction element are used to predict the optimal off-going friction element release timing for achieving a consistent shift feel. The ideal timing to release the off-going friction element is uniquely defined when torque load exerted onto the off-going friction element becomes substantially zero. An on-coming clutch engagement process is controlled by a closed loop control based on measurements or estimates of on-coming clutch torque capacity for a constant shift feel under dynamically changing conditions. |
| US08255126B2 |
Aerator having flexible frame
An aerator having a flexible frame for use on sloped or undulating ground surfaces of golf courses and other turf. The aerator includes a pair of frame sections linked together at a horizontal pivot axis, one of the frame section supporting a coring head. A ground sensor is pivotably attached to one of the frame sections so that the ground sensor may pivot in response to changes in ground slope and provide output relating to the magnitude of the change. Based on the output, a flex frame actuator pivots the pair of frame sections with respect to each other. |
| US08255124B2 |
Enhanced seat belt/accelerator behavioral system
A method of controlling the behavior of an occupant of a vehicle (20) includes sensing an auxiliary mode of the vehicle (20) and comparing a first vehicle operation mode to a predetermined threshold to determine a first incident. The method proceeds by actuating a resistive device in response to the first incident to apply a resistance to an operational input by an occupant of the vehicle. The method is characterized by monitoring a second vehicle operation mode of the vehicle subsequent to the first incident and adjusting the applied resistance in proportion to the second vehicle operation mode. The second vehicle operation mode can include monitoring the distance traveled by the vehicle, monitoring the speed or acceleration of the vehicle, monitoring the time of vehicle mobilization, or monitoring a first period of time since the first incident. |
| US08255122B2 |
Vehicle behavior control apparatus
In an electronic control unit including a master integrated ECU and a slave VSA ECU, the VSA ECU is provided with a request restriction unit which receives a request of the integrated ECU. The request restriction unit prohibits the use of the request and prioritizes the control of the VSA ECU when a direction of vehicle behavior controlled by the request of the integrated ECU and a direction of the vehicle behavior controlled by the VSA ECU itself are different. |
| US08255119B2 |
Vehicle body slip angle-estimating device and method and engine control unit
A vehicle body slip angle-estimating device which, in estimating a vehicle body slip angle with an algorithm using a nonlinear model, is capable of accurately estimating a vehicle body slip angle irrespective of whether the frequency of occurrence of a state during traveling of the vehicle. A basic value-calculating section calculates a basic value of a vehicle body slip angle with an algorithm using a neural network model. A turning state-determining section determines whether the vehicle is in a predetermined limit turning traveling state. A correction value-calculating section calculates a correction value with an algorithm using a predetermined linear model when the vehicle is in the predetermined state. In the other cases, the correction value is set to 0. A straight traveling-determining section sets the angle to the sum of the basic value and the correction value when the vehicle is in a turning traveling state. |
| US08255113B2 |
Detection of vehicle operation under adverse conditions
Details relating to the operation of a vehicle under adverse conditions are recorded and collected. This data is particularly useful to forestall catastrophic failures, and to provide valuable information for potential buyers of used vehicles. Among the operating conditions that are considered are high levels of air contaminants, operation in extreme hot or cold temperatures, hauling heavy loads, as well as hard braking, turning and acceleration. In addition to the detection and recording of data, prorated maintenance schedules are recalculated and adjusted to accommodate for the operation of the vehicle under these adverse or less than ideal conditions. Typically, the data is stored in the on-board computers present in most vehicles. Periodic off loading of the data to the dealer and service providers is also provided. |
| US08255110B2 |
Travel trace generation method and travel trace generation device
It is an object of the present invention to provide a travel locus generating method and a travel locus generating device for generating a travel locus in consideration of a fuel consumption characteristic. The present invention is a travel locus generating device that generates a future travel locus of a vehicle and is characterized by including a restriction condition calculating means for performing a convergence calculation of restriction conditions including at least a condition of a road boundary and an evaluation function calculating means for deriving a travel locus by a convergence calculation using an evaluation function, which includes at least evaluation of a variance of speed, in a state where the restriction conditions of the restriction condition calculating means are satisfied. |
| US08255109B2 |
Relay connection unit and vehicle-mounted communication system
A Relay connection unit connects networks connected to ECUs via multiple communication lines and relays signals transmitted/received between the ECUs belonging to the different networks. The relay connection unit comprises a recording part that records the relationship between ECUs that currently transmit/receive signals to/from each other; a buffer part that records transmission completion times at which the relay connection unit transmits signals received from ECUs to the networks to which other ECUs of relay destination belong; and a communication abnormality determining part that determine a time difference (T) between the transmission completion time corresponding to a network, for which the signal transmission has been completed the earliest, and each of the transmission completion times corresponding to the other networks for which signal transmissions have been completed and that determines that the signal transmission to a network for which the corresponding time difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined time is a communication delay. |
| US08255106B2 |
Method for controlling the regenerative braking of a vehicle including at least one electric motor
A method for controlling regenerative braking of a vehicle including at least one thermal engine and/or at least one electric motor, including calculating a GMP braking force setpoint at the wheel, including a regenerative braking force, that is independent from a relation between the brake pedal depression and the braking force applied to the wheels by the main brakes of the vehicle. |
| US08255104B2 |
Vehicle drive control system
A vehicle drive control apparatus is capable of setting characteristics of a target drive torque so as to provide a vehicle operation that is extremely smooth and comfortable for an operator. The control apparatus individually determines individual critical torque values of a plurality of drive sources and determines a total critical torque on the basis of the total of the individual critical torque values, whereby a combined critical torque capable of being output by the drive sources as a whole is determined. A ratio of the target drive torque to the combined critical torque is set by a target drive torque setting part, thereby setting the target drive torque as a whole for the vehicle corresponding to an action of the operator and behavior of the vehicle. |
| US08255103B2 |
Electronic brake system pedal release transition control apparatus and method
A vehicle is provided having a brake pedal with a detectable travel position and apply force, an electronic braking system component, and a controller having a stored threshold braking force and an algorithm. The algorithm determines a first braking torque request corresponding to the apply force, and a second braking torque request corresponding to the travel position. The first request applies when the apply force is greater than the threshold, and the second request applies when it is not. A calculated third request transitions linearly to the second request when apply pressure drops below the threshold upon pedal release. A method is also provided that includes recording the apply force, travel position, and force and travel-based tables, comparing the apply force to the threshold, applying the braking system component using the force-based table when the apply force exceeds the threshold, and otherwise using a calculated braking torque and travel-based table. |
| US08255096B2 |
Minimizing dynamic structural loads of an aircraft
Minimizing dynamic structural loads of an aircraft, introduced by an external excitation, which, includes generating a signal (x) indicative of the external excitation; deriving signals (y) of pre-controlling for actuating control elements of the aircraft from the excitation indicating signal (x) in accordance with a pre-controlling rule, so as to reduce the dynamic structural loads introduced to the aircraft; generating an error signal (e, e*) representing performance of said pre-controlling; optimizing the pre-controlling rule by the error signal (e, e*) and/or the excitation indicating signal (x) so as to minimize the dynamic structural loads. |
| US08255095B2 |
Modular avionics system of an aircraft
A modular avionics system includes several cabinets arranged at various locations in an aircraft and interconnected in a network. The cabinets are used for controlling or processing signals from and to sensors, actuators and other systems of the aircraft. The system includes parallel processors, for example transputers. The cabinets comprise at least two core processor modules (CPM1, CPM2) and at least two input/output modules (IOM1, IOM2). The input/output modules (IOM1, IOM2) serve as interfaces to the systems to be controlled, and serve for the control and intermediate storage of the data flowing into and out of the cabinet. Each core processor module (CPM1, CPM2) communicates independently with each IOM module and CPM module by way of links; and in each core processor a number of independent system programs works under the control of an operating system. |
| US08255092B2 |
Autonomous behaviors for a remote vehicle
A system for allowing an operator to switch between remote vehicle tele-operation and one or more remote vehicle autonomous behaviors. The system comprises: an operator control unit receiving input from the operator including instructions for the remote vehicle to execute an autonomous behavior; a control system on the remote vehicle for receiving the instruction to execute an autonomous behavior from the operator control unit; and a GPS receiver, an inertial measurement unit, and a navigation CPU on the remote vehicle. Upon receiving the instruction to execute an autonomous behavior, the remote vehicle executes that autonomous behavior using input from the GPS receiver, the inertial measurement unit (IMU), and the navigation CPU. |
| US08255085B2 |
Asymmetrical control system and method for energy savings in buildings
A method for controlling a controlled variable of a building zone to minimize an error between the controlled variable and a setpoint includes receiving an input at a first interface regarding the controlled variable from a sensor provided in the building. The method further includes using a processing circuit to determine a sign of the error based on the input and the setpoint. The method yet further includes using the processing circuit to cause a controller configured to affect the controlled variable to respond to the error at a first rate when a first sign of the error is present. The method further includes using the processing circuit to cause the controller to respond to the error at a second rate when a second sign of the error is present, the first rate being slower than the second rate. The first sign of the error can be associated with a high energy expenditure required to minimize the error relative to an energy expenditure required to minimize the error relative to the second sign. |
| US08255084B2 |
Method, medium, and apparatus for docking mobile robot
Provided are a method, medium, and apparatus for docking a mobile robot. The method includes: (a) receiving a docking signal, which is transmitted from a signal transmitting unit, by using a signal receiving unit loaded in the mobile robot while the mobile robot is moving; (b) estimating a range of poses of the signal transmitting unit based on the received docking signal; (c) updating estimated poses of the signal transmitting unit by reflecting the estimated range of poses in a pose estimation algorithm when the pose of the signal transmitting unit, which was estimated using the pose estimation algorithm, exists within the estimated range of poses and adding a new pose of the signal transmitting unit, which is to be estimated using the pose estimation algorithm by reflecting the estimated range of poses, when the pose of the signal transmitting unit, which was estimated using the pose estimation algorithm, does not exist within the estimated range of poses; and (d) attempting to return the mobile robot to a charging station by using a plurality of poses of the signal transmitting unit, which were estimated by repeating operations (a) through (c) and using the pose estimation algorithm, in order of accuracy, until the mobile robot is docked in the charging station. |
| US08255083B2 |
Industrial robot and method for controlling the movement of an industrial robot
The invention relates to an industrial robot (1) having a control apparatus (8), and to a method for controlling the movement of the industrial robot (1). For the purposes of the method, an instruction which is intended for controlling the industrial robot (1) is checked, an interpreted instruction is produced by interpretation of the checked instruction by means of an interpreter (13), and the interpreted instruction is stored in a temporary store (10). This process is repeated until a first keyword is detected. A data record (15) is then produced from the interpreted instructions stored in the temporary store (10), wherein the data record (15) has information relating to at least one path element of a path on which the industrial robot (1) is intended to be moved. The data record (15) is loaded into a buffer store (11), is checked by the buffer store (11) and is interpolated by means of an interpolator (14), in order to move the industrial robot (1) on the path element. |
| US08255080B2 |
Digital content distribution system
This invention provides an improved method to deliver large amounts of digital content to portable electronic devices at low cost, without requiring the users of such devices to download such content from the Internet. Neither do the users have to purchase or manipulate data storage media such as CDs, DVDs, or memory cards. Moreover, the digital content delivery system of this invention can facilitate digital rights management, a major concern of content publishers. |
| US08255078B2 |
Numerical controller for multi-axis machine tool
A numerical controller for controlling a multi-axis machine tool having three linear axes and three rotating axes obtains an interpolated tool direction vector by interpolating a tool direction command and computes multiple solutions for three rotating axes from the vector. The three rotating axis positions are computed by synthesizing these multiple solutions. The three linear axis positions on a machine coordinate system are computed by adding to the interpolated tool center point position the product of the interpolated tool direction vector, or a verified tool direction vector based on the three rotating axis positions determined by the rotating axis position computing means, and a tool length compensation amount. The three rotating axes are moved to the positions computed above and the three linear axes are moved to the positions computed above. |
| US08255077B2 |
Apparatus, method and program for creating tool reference plane
An apparatus for calculating a tool reference plane utilizes a machining plane model and an inversed tool model to create a collection of sphere regions having three dimensional grid points as their center, and identifies a nearest point on each of the model planes from the respective center point of the sphere regions. The positions within the tool reference plane can be accurately identified to the degree of the grid interval of the three dimensional grid points using the machining plane model and the inversed tool model consisting of the collection of sphere regions. By using the nearest point on each of the model planes, the position of the tool reference plane is identified using the accuracy created by the model planes. According to this apparatus, a tool reference plane can be created accurately irrespective of the shape of the machining plane model. |
| US08255068B2 |
Method of configuring a control algorithm being executable by a controller
The present invention relates to a method of configuring a control algorithm being executable by a controller, a controller for controlling a plant in real-time, and a control algorithm generator. An important aspect of the invention is that the control algorithm is subdivided into at least one task and task activation time periods are assigned to each task of the at least one task based on data about the control algorithm and data about the plant to be controlled, wherein the execution of the tasks of the control algorithm is scheduled in accordance with the assigned task activation time periods. |
| US08255064B2 |
Remote CNC machine control switch
A computer numerical control (CNC) machine includes a case, a communication plug, a first switch, a number of second switches, and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a first switch control unit to receive a first switch signal from the first switch, a second switch control unit to receive second switch signals from the second switches, a control unit, a command signal converting unit, a pulse signal generating unit, and an operation signal output unit. The control unit receives the first and second switch signals, determines the work mode of the CNC machine according to the first switch signal, and convert the second switch signals to command signals. The command signal converting unit converts the command signals into operation signals. The pulse signal generating unit generates pulse signals. The operation signal output unit outputs the operation signals and the pulse signals to the CNC machine via the communication plug. |
| US08255061B2 |
Compact multilevel electrical integration of microsystems
A microsystem comprising a substrate having an aperture formed therethrough. The aperture includes a first cross-section and a second cross-section—the first cross-section being smaller than the second cross-section to define a ledge therebetween. A probe member is disposed within the aperture of the substrate, such that a backend of the probe member defines a cross-section that is greater than the first cross-section of the aperture and smaller than the second cross-section such that the probe member engages the ledge. A plurality of probe shanks extend from the probe member. Each of the probe shanks includes a plurality of leads disposed there along. Each of the leads extending from the probe shanks to an opposing side of the probe member. |
| US08255058B2 |
Implant magnet system
A magnetic alignment system that can form part of a cochlear implant system. The magnetic alignment system prevents substantial movement of a magnet of an implanted component during an MRI procedure or allows for easy removal of the magnet to facilitate the MRI procedure. |
| US08255057B2 |
Systems and methods for producing asynchronous neural responses to treat pain and/or other patient conditions
Systems and methods for producing asynchronous neural responses to treat pain and/or other patient conditions are disclosed. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes selecting a target stimulation frequency that is above a threshold frequency, with the threshold frequency corresponding to a refractory period for neurons of a target sensory neural population. The method can further include producing a patient sensation of paresthesia by directing an electrical signal to multiple sensory neurons of the target sensory neural population at the stimulation frequency, with individual neurons of the sensory neural population completing corresponding individual refractory periods at different times, resulting in an asynchronous sensory neuron response to the electrical signal. |
| US08255055B2 |
MRI shielding in electrodes using AC pacing
A medical device includes a pulse generator, an electrode configured to contact tissue in a coronary vessel, a lead comprising a lead conductor, the lead conductor connecting the pulse generator with the electrode, and a filter circuit electrically connected in series between the lead conductor and the electrode. The filter circuit may include a band pass filter that attenuates signals having a frequency other than a natural resonance frequency (e.g. MRI device signals), and the pulse generator may transmit therapy signals to the electrode as a sinusoidal voltage wave at the natural resonance frequency. The filter circuit may include a diode that rectifies the sinusoidal voltage wave before the rectified sinusoidal voltage wave passes to the electrode. In some embodiments, therapy signals may be provided to the electrode through the band pass filter over a natural resonance frequency range. |
| US08255052B2 |
Temperature based systems and methods for tachycardia discrimination and therapy
Embodiments of the invention are related to an implantable medical system, amongst other things. In an embodiment, the invention includes a processor, an electrical sensor, and a temperature sensor. The processor is configured to monitor myocardial electrical activity with input from the electrical sensor; identify myocardial electrical activity indicative of an arrhythmia, measure temperature of blood in the coronary venous system with input from the temperature sensor; determine if the arrhythmia is hemodynamically stable or hemodynamically unstable based on the temperature of blood in the coronary venous system, and initiate high-voltage shock therapy if the arrhythmia is hemodynamically unstable. Other embodiments are also included herein. |
| US08255051B2 |
Skin response monitoring for neural and cardiac therapies
An exemplary method includes emitting radiation subcutaneously; sensing at least some of the emitted radiation as reflected cutaneously; detecting an abnormal physiologic condition; and, based at least in part on the sensing, adjusting a stimulation therapy to treat the detected abnormal condition. In such a method, the abnormal condition may be an abnormal cardiac condition, an abnormal neural condition or other condition. Various other methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US08255046B2 |
Detecting worsening heart failure based on impedance measurements
Techniques for processing impedance data to provide an early warning for heart failure decompensation are described. An example device may be configured to measure intrathoracic impedance values, and increment an index when a determined impedance is less than a reference impedance. The incrementing may be based on the difference between the reference impedances and the determined impedance. In some examples, the amount of incrementing is reduced based on a variability of the impedances, or increased over time so long as the index remains above a threshold, e.g., zero. In some examples, the manner is which the reference impedances are determined changes over time to, for example, address rapid changes in impedance after device or system implantation. In some examples, the index is compared to a threshold to determine whether to provide an alert. In some examples, two thresholds are used to provide hysteresis. |
| US08255042B2 |
Monitoring physiological condition and detecting abnormalities
A system and method for monitoring an individual's physiological condition and detecting abnormalities therein, comprising concurrently receiving an electrocardiograph signal and a ballistocardiograph signal. The electrocardiograph and ballistocardiograph signals are conditioned to minimize background extraneous noise after which, each signal is concurrently processed and analyzed to detect repeating cyclical patterns and further characterized to identify individual components of the repeating cycles. At least one individual component in one signal is selected as a reference marker or a selected component in the other signal. The two signals are then synchronized, outputs produced therefrom and stored in a database. |
| US08255037B2 |
Cardiac roadmapping
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a cardiac roadmapping technique is provided, in which a static roadmap is built onto which a view of the intervention device is projected at the correct location. This new viewing mode combines the advantages of both roadmapping, i.e. accurate localization, and the advantages of a motion-free view, i.e. maximum readability. |
| US08255035B2 |
Coated hypodermic needle
A needle for a medical procedure includes a shaft with an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal section, and a distal section. The distal section has a conductive tip configured to be a first electrode for voltage measurement. The needle further includes a first electrically insulative outer layer over a portion of the outer surface of the shaft. The conductive tip is adapted for insertion through tissue into, for example, a pericardial space of a patient. A system for determining the location of a needle during a medical procedure includes the needle and an anatomical mapping and localization system electrically coupled to the needle and adapted to measure voltage at the conductive tip. A system for determining tissue thickness during a medical procedure includes the needle, an anatomical mapping and localization system electrically coupled to the needle, and an electrocardiograph operatively coupled to the needle and adapted to monitor electrical activity at the conductive tip and at the second electrode. The needle may include a second electrode. |
| US08255034B2 |
Lyotropic liquid crystal coated analyte monitoring device and methods of use
The present invention is directed to membranes composed liquid crystals having continuous aqueous channels, such as a lyotropic liquid crystal, including a cubic phase lyotropic liquid crystal, and to electrochemical sensors equipped with such membranes. The membranes are useful in limiting the diffusion of an analyte to a working electrode in an electrochemical sensor so that the sensor does not saturate and/or remains linearly responsive over a large range of analyte concentrations. Electrochemical sensors equipped with membranes of the present invention demonstrate considerable sensitivity and stability, and a large signal-to-noise ratio, in a variety of conditions. |
| US08255033B2 |
Oxygen enhancing membrane systems for implantable devices
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for increasing oxygen availability to implantable devices. The preferred embodiments provide a membrane system configured to provide protection of the device from the biological environment and/or a catalyst for enabling an enzymatic reaction, wherein the membrane system includes a polymer formed from a high oxygen soluble material. The high oxygen soluble polymer material is disposed adjacent to an oxygen-utilizing source on the implantable device so as to dynamically retain high oxygen availability to the oxygen-utilizing source during oxygen deficits. Membrane systems of the preferred embodiments are useful for implantable devices with oxygen-utilizing sources and/or that function in low oxygen environments, such as enzyme-based electrochemical sensors and cell transplantation devices. |
| US08255032B2 |
Oxygen enhancing membrane systems for implantable devices
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for increasing oxygen availability to implantable devices. The preferred embodiments provide a membrane system configured to provide protection of the device from the biological environment and/or a catalyst for enabling an enzymatic reaction, wherein the membrane system includes a polymer formed from a high oxygen soluble material. The high oxygen soluble polymer material is disposed adjacent to an oxygen-utilizing source on the implantable device so as to dynamically retain high oxygen availability to the oxygen-utilizing source during oxygen deficits. Membrane systems of the preferred embodiments are useful for implantable devices with oxygen-utilizing sources and/or that function in low oxygen environments, such as enzyme-based electrochemical sensors and cell transplantation devices. |
| US08255016B2 |
Flip-type portable electronic device
A flip-type portable electronic device is provided. The flip-type electronic device includes a housing and a cushion member. The housing comprises an first body portion and a second body portion secured to the first body portion. The cushion member is attached to the second body portion. |
| US08255015B2 |
Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes a main body and a touch pen. The main body includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. One or more accessories, such as a display and/or camera can be positioned on the first surface. A touch pen includes a support pole and a pivot portion formed on an end of the support pole. The main body defines a sliding groove in the second surface. The pivot portion slidably engages in the sliding groove. When the pivot portion slides to an end of the sliding groove, the main body is capable of being support by the touch pen. |
| US08255014B2 |
Mobile terminal having a light source
A mobile terminal includes a base including a plurality of light transmission parts, with at least one light source inside the base. A plurality of light guides may be connected to the plurality of light transmission parts from the outside of the base. Each light guide includes a first surface for reflecting light emitted from the at least one light source, and a first light reflector in a first area which is at least a part of an outer circumference of the base. |
| US08255010B2 |
Methods and systems for state-driven power savings for WiMAX
Methods and apparatus for conserving battery power in a mobile device for wireless communication by dynamically adjusting the clock frequency and/or the voltage of the device's processor according to the Media Access Control (MAC) layer state are provided. By using a higher clock frequency and/or a higher voltage for a normal operation state with large amounts of data traffic and lower clock frequencies and/or lower voltages for other MAC layer states (e.g., acquisition, network entry, and sleep/idle states), battery power may be conserved, thereby extending the time in which the device may operate between battery charging cycles. |
| US08255008B1 |
Mobile terminal equipped with automatic power supply
According to the invention, the terminal (10) includes means (20) for automatically supplying power to a component (15) of said terminal, said automatic power supply being controlled by means (20) for detecting movement of said terminal (10). Application to mobile terminals equipped with a radio interface. |
| US08255005B2 |
Methods, systems, and products for customized alerts
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for presenting a custom alert to a recipient of an incoming data communication. A data message is received that specifies the custom alert associated with the data communication. The customer alert is then visually and/or audibly presented to provide notice of the data communication. |
| US08254996B2 |
Systems and methods for managing access channels
Systems and methods for maintaining base stations are provided. In this regard, a representative system, among others, includes a base station that is configured to receive transmitted signals from one or more mobile stations, calculate one or more data rates based on the transmitted signal associated with the one or more mobile stations, respectively, and generate data rate signals based on the calculated one or more data rates. The base station includes a dithering unit that is configured to apply dithering noise to the data rate signals, and memory that includes channel assignment logic configured to assign access channels to the one or more mobile stations based on the dithered signals, respectively. |
| US08254993B2 |
Remote messaging for mobile communication device and accessory
Message notifications to an accessory from a mobile communication device are provided according to some embodiments of the invention. When a message such as a text message, email, and/or voicemail is received at a mobile communication device, the mobile communication device can notify an attached accessory that a message has been received. In response, the accessory can request the full message, media associated with the message, an attachment to the message, and/or an audio/video stream of the message for presentation to a user. |
| US08254992B1 |
Wireless docking system and pairing protocol for multiple dock environments
A wireless docking system and method is provided for monitoring the use of one or more docking stations by multiple portable computers. The system and method provides for the intelligent management of docking stations and connected resources by implementing a protocol that takes into account the identity of the user insofar as one user my have priority to the use of a docking station, the length of time an inactive computer has been connected to a docking station, whether another user requests the use of the docking station, whether the strength of the communication signals between a wireless docking station and computer is adequate to support the use of the docking station, and whether a user wishes to terminate a connection with a docking station. |
| US08254991B1 |
External interface for a mobile device
A method is provided for interfacing with a mobile device. The method includes presenting the active content of the mobile device in association with an external computing device and receiving, on the mobile device, user input from one or more components associated with the external computing device. A system for interfacing with a mobile device is also provided. The system includes one or more proximity control components, one or more translator components, one or more rendering components, and one or more transferring components. A method for communicating active content of a mobile device to an external computing device is also provided. The method includes transferring data containing at least one of display definitions, navigational elements, and active content and presenting the transferred data in association with the external computing device. |
| US08254987B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting data between radio equipment and radio equipment controls
Radio equipment (RE) is shared so as to use a plurality of types of radio signals, and data (IQ data) of the plurality of types of radio signals and monitoring control data are variably arranged in a frame for transmitting and receiving data between the RE and radio equipment controls (RECs). A plurality of types of data are simultaneously transmitted and received by one communication link between the RE and the RECs. |
| US08254983B2 |
Communication device with millimeter wave intra-device communication and methods for use therewith
A communication device has a plurality of circuit modules including a processing module, a memory module and a wireless telephony transceiver for communicating with a network in accordance with a wireless telephony protocol. An RF data bus communicates first data between at least two of the plurality of circuit modules over a first millimeter wave communication path. |
| US08254980B2 |
Method of uplink power control in a wireless communication system
A method, a mobile station and a computer program for controlling uplink transmit power of a mobile station capable of operating with scheduled uplink data transmissions. Uplink transmit power level for the mobile station is updated (304) based on received (303) uplink power control commands. Upon detecting a change (301) in uplink scheduled status for the mobile station, the process of updating (304) the uplink transmit power level is adjusted to account for the detected change in uplink scheduled status. |
| US08254974B2 |
Method for facilitating transmission of data in a communication system
A method for facilitating transmission of data in a communication system is provided herein. In operation, a base radio of a plurality of base radios combines status information corresponding to a plurality of inbound frequencies and transmits the combined status information on a single outbound radio frequency. Further, each of the plurality of inbound radio frequencies corresponds to one of the plurality of base radios. Then, one or more radio terminals monitor the single outbound radio frequency to receive the combined status information, determine at least one available inbound radio frequency from the plurality of inbound radio frequencies based on the received combined status information, selects an inbound radio frequency of the at least one available inbound frequency, and transmitting the data using the selected inbound radio frequency to the corresponding base radio. |
| US08254969B1 |
Wireless communication network having a broadcast system for information distribution
A communication network (100) includes a two-way communication system (101) having a number of base stations (102-108) providing corresponding coverage areas (110-116) for one or more mobile terminals (148 and 150). In order to minimize congestion of the two-way communication system (101) a broadcast system (118) is included which allows for messages to be transmitted to the mobile terminals (148 and 150). Provision of such a broadcast system frees-up network resources that would otherwise be required to support the transmission of such messages. In one embodiment, the communication network (100) includes a number of information gathering devices such as traffic cameras (126-136) that collect information on traffic conditions within the communication network (100). By determining the location of the mobile terminals (148 and 150) and their intended journey routes, or based upon travel information previously provided to the network, the communication network (100) can transmit via the broadcast system (118) images of traffic conditions along one or more particular travel routes to the mobile terminals (148 and 150). The mobile terminals (148 and 150) include receiver sections for receiving both the messages transmitted by the two-way communication system (101) and the one-way broadcast system (118). |
| US08254968B2 |
System and method for low overhead paging in a wireless communications system
A system and method for low overhead paging in a wireless communications system is provided. A method for controller operation includes generating a compressed map, receiving an incoming call intended for a communications device, and broadcasting the compressed map to communications devices served by the controller. The compressed map includes indications of paging groups of the controller. |
| US08254965B2 |
Intelligent location-based services
A method for dynamically providing location-based services, including receiving at least one user input indicating a request for a suggested point of interest; and generating a query based on the user input and a time reference. In addition, the generated query can be processed to identify a plurality of points of interest. The points of interest can be presented to a user. |
| US08254963B2 |
Method of providing location-based service in a communication system
A location-based service method may include receiving a plurality of data through a first communication equipment, wherein each of the plurality of data is related to an indicator, the indicator being configured to indicate if the data is related to the location of a provider of the data, receiving a query through the first communication equipment or a second communication equipment located closely to the first communication equipment, and searching the plurality of data to find data related to the location of the provider and also related to the query to form a search result related to the query. |
| US08254961B2 |
Retail-related services for mobile devices
A system identifies a location of a user based on a location of a mobile device associated with the user, associates the location of the user to a location having a collection of attractions relating to shopping or entertainment, retrieves layout information associated with the location having the collection of attractions, and provides the layout information to the user on the mobile device. |
| US08254959B2 |
Timed fingerprint locating for idle-state user equipment in wireless networks
Systems and techniques for determining the location of user equipment (UE) in a wireless network are disclosed. These techniques leverage geometric calculations for an overlaid bin grid framework mapping the wireless network area to store differential values for each frame of the bin grid framework for each pair of relevant NodeBs. A timing offset can be determined, such that when a time value from a target UE is accessed, the location can be quickly determined with minimal real time computation. In an aspect, the time value from an idle-state target UE can be accessed. The target UE time value can be searched among pre-computed differential value data sets indexed by relevant NodeB site pairs to return sets of frames that can facilitate converging on a location for the target UE. Intersecting frames can represent the geographic location of the UE in the wireless network. Further, the data can be leveraged to correct timing in the network. |
| US08254957B2 |
Context-based limitation of mobile device operation
Context-based limitation of mobile device operation. An embodiment of a method includes receiving a request for a function of a mobile device. The method further includes obtaining data regarding a context of the mobile device, and determining a current context for the mobile device based on the obtained data. The method includes determining whether the function of the mobile device should be limited at least in part the current context of the mobile device; and responding to the request for the function based on the determination regarding the limitation of the function. |
| US08254951B2 |
Apparatus and method for locating mobile terminals
A beacon device is disclosed for transmitting a proximity indication signal. When a mobile terminal is in proximity to the beacon device the mobile device receives the proximity indication signal and transmits a signal indicative thereof to the network with which it is registered in order to receive discounted calls because it is deemed to be within a special zone (such as the house of the user of the mobile terminal. The device is able to detect movement of device and to inhibit generation of the proximity indication signal to the mobile terminal when movement is detected. In order to detect movement, the device includes means for recording the pattern of selected ambient radio signals to derive a typical value range, means for measuring the ambient radio signals to produce a measurement value, means for comparing the measurement value with the value range to determine whether the device has been moved, and means for selectively enabling transmission of a proximity indication signal to the mobile terminal in dependence upon the determination of the comparing means. |
| US08254948B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating communication resources to communicate data in a radio communication system
Apparatus and method for allocating communication resources in a data radio communication system, such as an MAIO (Mobile Allocation Index Offset) communication system, e.g., a communication system that provides for Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE) data services. A multi-carrier radio resource control logic element includes an analyzer that analyzes communication resource requirements to carry out a communication service. A resource allocator allocates communication resources to be used by which to communicate the data. The communication resources are allocated across a plurality of radio carriers such that resources are allocated, during a particular time period, upon a single radio carrier of the plurality of radio carriers. |
| US08254947B2 |
Method of dimensioning radio access networks, corresponding system and computer program product
Downlink and uplink communication resources to ensure network coverage and satisfy assigned traffic requirements in a communication network are allocated by setting a given balance of downlink and uplink communication resources while leaving a part of downlink and uplink communication resources remaining to be allocated. Downlink cell radius and uplink cell radius values are then determined which ensure network coverage with the resources as previously allocated. An effective cell radius is then selected as the smaller of the downlink and uplink cell radius and then a first check is made as to whether the effective cell radius selected satisfies the assigned traffic requirements. If not, the effective cell radius is updated. If so, a further check may be made as whether the resources remaining to be allocated for downlink and uplink have a difference in excess of a given amount. If yes, the procedure is repeated by setting an updated balance of downlink and uplink communication resources reducing that difference. If not, the communication resources are allocated on the basis of the current balance. |
| US08254944B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting in multiple antennas and controlling feedback information
A method for coordinating beam forming between two communicating entities includes obtaining cell loading information and adjusting a number of used beam-sets at a specific scheduling time according to the cell loading information. The method further includes transmitting a common pilot that is not beam-formed together with feed-forward information according to the cell loading. A wireless communication system employing conventional CL-MIMO protocols can be adapted to employ the methodology. |
| US08254942B2 |
System and method for resource allocation in a wireless communications system
A system and method for resource allocation in wireless communications systems includes a method for operating a base station. The method includes receiving a resource request for radio resources for a mobile station and transmitting an indication of unallocated radio resources to the mobile station. A resource assignment is determined for the resource request, and the resource assignment is transmitted to the mobile station. The resource assignment comprises unallocated radio resources and a number of radio resources. |
| US08254936B2 |
Method, computer program and base station for prediction based allocation of processing resources in a non-serving base station
The present invention relates to a base station and a method in a mobile telecommunication network for allocating and de-allocating uplink base station processing resources to a mobile terminal. The base station are adapted to communicate to a mobile terminal on an uplink channel supporting macro-diversity, and the base station is adapted to be a non-serving base-station without control of the resource allocation to the mobile-terminal. The base station comprises means for predicting a likelihood of successful decoding of a future transmission, and means for allocating or de-allocating processing resources based on said prediction. |
| US08254931B2 |
Method and system for communication between a plurality of femtocells to mitigate interference between the femtocells
Aspects of a method and system for communication between a plurality of femtocells to mitigate interference between the femtocells are provided. In this regard, a first of a plurality of femtocells in a network may receive interference information from one or more other femtocells, one or more base stations, and/or one or more communication devices in the network. The first femtocell may determine configuration information for the first femtocell and one or more other femtocells in the network based on the communicated interference information. The first femtocell and the other femtocells in the network may be configured based on the determined configuration information. The interference between the plurality of femtocells may be mitigated based on configuring the first femtocell and the other femtocells in the network based on the determined configuration information. |
| US08254928B2 |
Communication control apparatus and method
A communication control apparatus that is applied to a wireless communication system in which a mobile terminal can be connected to a fixed base station through a wireless connection to a relay station that is mounted on a moving body, wherein the communication control apparatus includes a detecting unit that detects a change, associated with movement of the moving body on which the relay station is mounted, of a communication environment between the mobile terminal and the relay station, a control unit that controls a handover of the mobile terminal according to the change, detected by the detecting unit, of communication environment between the mobile terminal and the relay station. |
| US08254924B2 |
Method and apparatus for adaptive registration and paging area determination
Accordingly, a method adaptive registration is disclosed, wherein the access terminal adjusts the registration area based on mode and its location. Accordingly, the network also adjusts its paging area. Generally, the access terminal will transition from small registration area to large registration area based on its mobility. |
| US08254923B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing cell selection in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for performing cell selection is provided. The apparatus includes a memory configured to store basic priorities of a plurality of frequencies, and a processor configured to measure the signal strength of at least one cell in at least one of the plurality of frequencies, and perform cell selection based on an overrided priority if a cell with a highest measured signal strength is a closed subscriber group (CSG) cell and the highest measured signal strength is greater than a CSG threshold. When the quality of a serving CSG cell deteriorates, another cell from a different frequency may be selected. |
| US08254921B2 |
Default configurations with differential encoding in a wireless communication system
Techniques for efficiently configuring and reconfiguring calls using a set of default configurations and differential encoding are described. At the network side, a configuration to use for communication with a wireless device is initially selected. A default configuration is identified from among a set of default configurations. The differences, if any, between the selected configuration and the default configuration are ascertained. An identity for the default configuration and the differences, if any, are sent to the wireless device to convey the selected configuration. At the wireless device, the message containing the identity for the default configuration is initially received. The default configuration is obtained from a memory based on the identity. A determination is made whether the message contains differences between the default configuration and the selected configuration. Values for the default configuration are replaced with the differences, if any, sent in the message. |
| US08254919B2 |
Selectively terminating CAMEL dialogues
Described are methods and apparatuses, for selectively terminated custom application in a telecommunications network. A Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) receives a request to initiate a call session to a subscriber device in a service area of a first Mobile Switching Center (MSC). The GMSC established a dialogue to implement the custom application on the subscriber device. The GMSC receives a message indicating that the subscriber device is moving from the first MSC to a second MSC. The GMSC analyzes a service key of the custom application to determine if the dialogue should be terminated and determines that the dialogue should be terminated so that the custom application is continued on the subscriber device. |
| US08254916B2 |
Method for blocking roaming-steering mechanisms
The invention relates to a method for blocking roaming steering mechanisms. According to said method, a foreign cellular device (3), e.g. a cellular telephone, is registered with nationally visited radio network (2) when the foreign (1) and the national cellular network operator have concluded a roaming agreement on mutually debiting cellular services. The invention is characterized in that an anti-roaming steering server (5) installed in the nationally visited cellular network (2) identifies manipulated error messages (14) and selectively manipulates the registration process (8) of foreign mobile users by adequately influencing signaling processes. |
| US08254914B2 |
System for creating an air-to-ground IP tunnel in an airborne wireless cellular network to differentiate individual passengers
The Aircraft Air-To-Ground IP Tunnel System provides wireless communication services to passengers located onboard an aircraft by storing data indicative of the individually identified passenger wireless devices located onboard the aircraft. The Aircraft Air-To-Ground IP Tunnel System assigns a single IP address to each Point-to-Point Protocol link connecting the aircraft network to the ground-based communication network and creates an IP subnet onboard the aircraft. The IP subnet utilizes a plurality of IP addresses for each Point-to-Point link, enabling each passenger wireless device to be uniquely identified with their own IP address. This is enabled since both Point-to-Point Protocol IPCP endpoints have pre-defined IP address pools and/or topology configured, so each Point-to-Point Protocol endpoint can utilize a greater number of IP addresses than one per link. Such an approach does not change IPCP or other EVDO protocols/messaging but allows this address to be directly visible to the ground-based communication network. |
| US08254894B2 |
Method for advertising on digital cellular telephones and reducing costs to the end user
The present invention relates to a method for displaying messages, such as advertisements, consumer promotions, and customer service announcements, on digital wireless communication devices, such as digital cellular telephones. One method includes downloading wirelessly a single database containing a plurality of graphical interactive advertising contents. The plurality of graphical interactive advertising contents are stored to a mobile wireless communications device. At least one graphical interactive advertising content is displayed a particular time period the display of the mobile wireless communication device. The mobile wireless communication device is connected to a mobile communications medium upon user activation of the at least one graphic interactive advertising content. |
| US08254893B2 |
System and method for automatically downloading and storing contact information to a personal communication device based on a geographical position of the personal communication device
The present invention relates to a method and system of saving contact information of local businesses into the contact list of a communication device. Contact information is downloaded from a web server into contact list of communication device. Upon input of a search query into communication device, user is able to search contact information of local businesses from within the contact information saved in the communication device without having to rely on communication link with the web server. According to another aspect user is provided means to define geographic restriction criteria relative to current location of communication device for display of contact list in response to search query. |
| US08254888B2 |
Data message management system
A system and method to manage data messages exchanged between normally un-connected message clients, the data message management system including a participating message handling server and one or more participating message originating clients, which, in use, are configured to transmit one or more data messages to addressee clients, the addressee clients being one of participants in the system and non-participants in the system. |
| US08254887B2 |
Communication terminal device and computer program product
A communication terminal device of the present invention having a storage unit with an address book where a name information for specifying a communication partner, an identification number, and characteristic information of voice, are associated with one another, so as to allow bi-directional communication using voice, and having a recording unit for recording a voice of the communication partner when outgoing call is transmitted or incoming call is received if the identification number of the communication partner at a outgoing destination or a outgoing source is not included in the address book, an analysis unit for extracting the characteristic information from the voice recorded by the recording unit, and a registration unit for updating the address book by associating the identification number of the communication partner with the characteristic information included in the address book if the characteristic information extracted by the analysis unit is included in the address book. |
| US08254886B2 |
Intelligent network access controller and method
An intelligent network access controller for use with a wireless network that provides communications services to subscribers having wireless communications devices includes a multi-protocol interface for receiving and sending digital messaging by the wireless communications devices; an identification module that determines an identity of a wireless communications device; an access module that receives the identity and determines an access level for the wireless communications device; and a locking module that locks selected wireless communications devices to the controller based on the determined access level. |
| US08254885B1 |
Positioning satellite selection
A first authorization system authorizes a mobile device to access over a first wireless network a plurality of services provided by a plurality of service systems. A second authorization system authorizes the mobile device to access the plurality of services over a second wireless network. The second authorization system also transfers location information corresponding to a location of the mobile device to the first authorization system. A first service system of the plurality of service systems provides a first service of the plurality of services. The first service system receives a request for the first service and transfers a request to the first authorization system for the location information. The first service system receives the location information, processes the location information, and selects a positioning satellite based on the location information. The first service system transfers a message indicating the positioning satellite to the mobile device. |
| US08254881B2 |
Network systems and methods utilizing mobile devices to enhance consumer experience
Network systems and methods for utilizing mobile devices to enhance customer experiences are disclosed herein. A first aspect of the present invention facilitates a customer to acquire a membership to a membership program and subsequently access benefits of the membership program via a mobile device. Another aspect of the present invention facilitates a customer to redeem coupons for sales transactions via a mobile device. Yet another aspect of the present invention facilitates a customer to acquire a map including the location of requested items. Another aspect of the present invention facilitates a customer to search for an item and in response receive the availability and in some instances a map location of the requested item. Yet another aspect of the present invention facilitates a customer to pay for item using a remote charging method. |
| US08254870B2 |
Bluetooth peripheral and portable electronic device using same
A Bluetooth peripheral includes a sleeve, a Bluetooth earphone received in the sleeve, and a stylus latched to the sleeve. The invention also discloses a portable electronic device using the Bluetooth peripheral. |
| US08254869B2 |
Smart antenna module
A communication system is provided and may include a receiver that receives an analog signal, a processor in communication with the receiver that converts the analog signal to a digital signal, a control unit that receives the digital signal and communicates an executable command to a vehicle system, and a communication medium in communication with the processor and the control unit and facilitates communication of the digital signal therebetween. The receiver and the processor may be integrated into an antenna module. |
| US08254868B2 |
Methods and apparatus for modeling, monitoring, estimating and controlling power consumption in battery-operated devices
A remote battery-operated device operates in accordance with a first set of operating parameters. During operation, power consumption information is generated and transmitted via a data network to a remote location for later use. In one embodiment, the remote location transmits one or more modified parameters back to the battery-operated device which control subsequent operation of the device. In this manner, power consumption within the device may be controlled to achieve a predetermined or desired operating lifetime. |
| US08254865B2 |
System and method for frequency offsetting of information communicated in MIMO-based wireless networks
A communications system includes a multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) architecture for high capacity switched mesh networks. The MIMO architecture has a plurality of radio frequency chains. One of the plurality of radio frequency chains is configured to apply a first frequency offset to a base frequency of an output signal to generate a first transmitting frequency; and another of the plurality of radio frequency chains being configured to apply a second frequency offset to the base frequency to generate a second transmitting frequency. The system uses the carrier frequency offset to lock the clock of the master subsystem to the clock of the slave subsystem, thereby enabling bandwidth expansion to be employed on the MIMO data streams. |
| US08254861B2 |
Controlling x-way receiver diversity
A method for controlling receiver diversity operation in a base station of a mobile telecommunications network. The base station includes a first receiver arrangement and a second receiver arrangement. The method includes activating the first receiver arrangement, thereby receiving signals at a first gain level. The method also includes activating the second receiver arrangement, thereby receiving signals at a second gain level, the second gain level being equal to or lower than the first gain level. The method further includes measuring baseband consumption at the base station at predetermined intervals. The method finally includes, when the baseband consumption exceeds a predetermined deactivation threshold THDE, deactivating the first receiver arrangement, thereby leaving only the second receiver arrangement active. |
| US08254858B2 |
Techniques to manage power based on motion detection
Techniques to manage power based on motion detection are described. For example, a mobile computing device may include a radio module having a communications failure event detector operative to detect a communications failure event, a motion detector operative to detect motion, and a processor coupled to the radio module and the motion detector. The processor operative to execute a scan control module to determine the mobile computing device is moving or stationary, and control scanning operations by the radio module in accordance with the determination. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08254855B2 |
Frequency spur detection and suppression
Techniques for identifying and suppressing frequency spurs in a signal are disclosed. In an embodiment, an incoming signal is rotated by a frequency related to a spur frequency, and an estimate of the content of the rotated signal is derived. The estimate may be subtracted from the rotated incoming signal, and the result de-rotated by the spur frequency. In an embodiment, the incoming signal may be rotated such that the spur is centered at DC. In an alternative embodiment, the estimate may be de-rotated before being subtracted from the original incoming signal. Techniques for addressing multiple spurs using serial and parallel architectures are disclosed. Further disclosed are techniques for searching for the presence of spurs in an incoming signal, and tracking spur frequencies over time. |
| US08254848B1 |
Monitoring system for distributed antenna systems
A distributed antenna system (DAS) provides a plurality of DAS coverage areas for a wireless network. A plurality of statically deployed monitoring devices, each of which includes at least one radio frequency (RF) transmitter/receiver, are configured to run application tests, for example, for voice, messaging, or locations-based services, to provide testing of the wireless network to thereby generate test information related to the wireless network. An evaluation component and a control component respectively analyze the test information and adjust one or more parameters of the wireless network based on the test information. |
| US08254841B2 |
Method and apparatus for data communication between a base station and a transponder
A method and system for data communication between a base station and at least one transponder via a high-frequency electromagnetic carrier signal onto which information packets are modulated. Each information packet has a header section, a middle section, and a trailer section. The header section can be provided in a forward link of a data communication between the base station and the transponders for controlling data communication. The header section is used in a return link of a data communication in order to transmit information from the transponder to the base station. |
| US08254829B1 |
Network media service with track delivery adapted to a user cadence
A wireless network service delivers audio tracks to a user via a mobile wireless terminal. A server maintains a plurality of audio tracks, wherein each audio track is stored in conjunction with a respective cadence tag. A cadence evaluator identifies a substantially instantaneous user status and selects a cadence tag corresponding to the user status. The server streams a selected audio track having a cadence tag matching the selected cadence tag, and the mobile wireless terminal plays it back to the user. The cadence can be selected to match a desired pace of an athletic workout, a desired heart rate, or the particular geographic surroundings, for example. |
| US08254828B2 |
Methods and systems for mixing media with communications
A communications device may transmit a media item chosen by a user over a communication path also being used to transmit an established communications operation. The user may select a media item of any known type, including for example a musical selection, a video, a voicemail, a podcast, an image, or any other suitable media item. The user may select any suitable contact method for the communications operation, including for example, telephone, voicemail, email, text message, chatting, fax, or any other suitable method. |
| US08254825B2 |
Controlling sheet registration in a digital printing system
A digital printing system employing tandem marking engines for duplex printing utilizing a variable dwell time in the output sheet inverter of the first marking engine to provide correct positioning of the leading edge of the inverted sheet for arrival at the entrance of the second marking to avoid the seam in the photoreceptor. |
| US08254817B2 |
Transfer device with electrically conducting elastic member
A transfer device includes: an electrically-conductive elastic member which carries a transfer material; a transfer material separating member which peels off the transfer material from the elastic member; a supporting member which has an elastic member supporting portion that supports the elastic member, and a separating member supporting portion that supports the transfer material separating member, and also, has electrically-conductive properties; and a transfer bias applying section which is electrically connected to the supporting member, thereby applying a transfer bias. |
| US08254809B2 |
Electrophotographic image forming apparatus
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, including: a plurality of electrophotographic photosensitive drums; a transfer unit for rotatably supporting a transfer member for transferring toner images formed on the drums onto the recording medium, the transfer unit being movable, with the transfer member being in contact with at least one of the drums, between a mounting position inside an apparatus main body for mounting the transfer unit to the main body and a removing position outside the main body for removing the transfer unit; and a rotative force generating unit for generating a rotative force for rotating the transfer member in association with the movement of the transfer unit when the transfer unit is moved from the mounting position to the removing position and when the transfer unit is moved from the removing position to the mounting position. |
| US08254808B2 |
Image forming apparatus and transfer device thereof
An image forming apparatus and a transfer device thereof the transfer device including an intermediate transfer belt, at least one intermediate transfer belt roller to maintain tension in the intermediate transfer belt, transfer rollers to press the intermediate transfer belt to image carriers and a state changing device. The state changing device includes: a rotating shaft; a first cam member coupled to the rotating shaft and configured to move the intermediate transfer belt roller to reduce the tension applied to the intermediate transfer belt; and a second cam member coupled to the rotating shaft and configured to move at least one of the transfer rollers away from the intermediate transfer belt. |
| US08254805B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material, and detachably mounts which process cartridges having photosensitive drums. The apparatus includes a main assembly, a rotatable openable member, a belt receiving an image or carrying the recording material, supporting members supporting the process cartridges at different levels and movable between drum-contacting and retracted positions, and a connecting member moving the supporting member when the openable member moves to position the supporting member at the drum-contacting position when the openable member is closed, and position the supporting member at the retracted position when the openable member is opened, and including a shaft whose axis crosses the openable member rotational axis, first connecting portions rotatably connected with respective supporting members, and a second connecting portion engaging the openable member and fixed to the shaft closer to the openable member than the first connecting portions are fixed to the shaft. |
| US08254798B2 |
Image forming apparatus, toner cartridge, and computer-readable medium
An image forming apparatus includes: a cartridge attachment portion; an image forming unit; a reading unit; and a control unit. A toner cartridge configured to accommodate toner is removably attached to the cartridge attachment portion. The toner cartridge includes a cartridge mechanism unit mechanically driven and a storage medium for storing torque information including information indicating torque used for a mechanical drive of the cartridge mechanism unit. The image forming unit is configured to print an image on a surface of a printing medium using toner accommodated in the toner cartridge. The reading unit is configured to read the torque information from the toner cartridge attached to the cartridge attachment portion. The control unit is configured to determine a number of printing media to be printed by the image forming unit per unit time, according to the torque information read by the reading unit. |
| US08254797B2 |
Image forming apparatus having developer cartridge including waste container
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a housing which comprises a housing side opening through which waste toner passes; a plurality of developing units; a plurality of toner cartridges which correspond to the plurality of developing units comprising a first containing unit for containing the toner to be supplied to the toner carrier; wherein at least one of the toner cartridges comprises a second containing unit for containing the waste toner, the second containing unit comprises a cartridge side opening for receiving the waste toner having passed through the housing side opening, and wherein the housing side opening and the cartridge side opening are disposed to be opposite to each other along the substantially horizontal direction. |
| US08254794B2 |
Image forming apparatus, sheet supply supporting method and control program
An image forming apparatus comprises a sheet tray to store sheets to form an image thereon; a detecting section to detect a capacity of empty space of each of the sheet tray; and a sheet managing section to compare the capacity of empty space of the sheet tray with a capacity of sheets of one or plural bundles of sheets as a unit of supply to be stored in the sheet tray, wherein in the case that the capacity of empty space of the sheet tray is equal to or larger than the capacity of sheets of one or plural bundles of sheets, the sheet managing section notifies that it is possible to supply sheets by the one or plural bundle of sheets as a unit of supply to the sheet tray. |
| US08254790B2 |
Communications system and communications lighting apparatus
An optical-information transmitting, lighting apparatus 2 is installed in a place where a lighting apparatus of the existing type for applying light generally used is provided. The lighting apparatus 2 comprises an illumination light source 4 for applying light and an information-transmitting unit 5 for transmitting optical information. A person who may receive information from the lighting apparatus 2 has a mobile terminal 3, which receives the optical information transmitted from the information-transmitting unit 5. Since the lighting apparatus of the existing type is widely used in our living space. Hence, the optical-information transmitting, lighting apparatus 2 can convert every place where an existing type lighting apparatus is used, into an optical communications space. |
| US08254789B2 |
Device and method for adjusting chromatic dispersion
A device and method for adjusting the chromatic dispersion in an optical transmission system includes an optical element having a temperature-dependent chromatic dispersion. The device and method further include a device for adjusting a temperature or a temperature distribution of at least one region of the optical element for providing a predefined chromatic dispersion of the optical element. Therefore, the chromatic dispersion of the optical element may be regulated along an optical transmission path. |
| US08254785B1 |
Optical image processing to wirelessly transfer a voice message
An image encodes a voice message and communication data for delivery of the voice message. A wireless communication device optically receives and processes the received image to generate image data. The image data represents the voice message and indicates the communication data. The wireless communication device processes the image data, and in response, wirelessly transmits the voice message for delivery based on the communication data. |
| US08254780B2 |
Passive optical network system and fault determination method
In a passive optical network system, a parent station includes a reception circuit that receives an optical signal from each of child stations using a threshold used to identify if the optical signal is 0 or 1; a bandwidth setting unit that determines a time at which each child station sends an optical signal; a storage unit that stores thresholds and intensities of optical signals received from the child stations; and a control unit that sets a threshold, stored corresponding to a sending time, in the reception circuit to control a reception of an optical signal. The control unit has a function that compares an intensity of a signal received from each child station at an optical signal reception time with information stored in the storage unit to detect and determine a fault in the child station or in the optical fiber connected to the child station. |
| US08254775B2 |
Autofocus control method
A ring-like region excluding a central region and a peripheral region from an image pickup area is preset as a focus area. An image signal is acquired through a lens and a CCD circuit. Based on the image signal thus acquired, a contrast value indicating the degree of in-focus of the preset focus area is calculated. A lens position corresponding to a maximum contrast value of the preset focus area is determined as an in-focus lens position. In autofocus processing, face detection is carried out first. Then, if the result of face detection is successful, a face region is set up as a focus area, and focus adjustment is performed based thereon. Alternatively, if the result of face detection is unsuccessful, focus adjustment is performed based on the preset focus area. |
| US08254774B2 |
Autofocus method
An autofocus method for obtaining clear images characterized by: adjusting the lens position with an initial dataset of focus values to obtain a estimated lens position; moving the lens to the estimated lens position and acquiring the corresponding focus value; determining whether the estimated lens position is sufficiently proximate to the prior estimated lens position, wherein, if it is, the autofocus process stops, and, if not, repeating the above-described steps until a lens position having an optimal focus value is obtained, thereby obtaining the clearest image with increased focusing speed and reduced time of lens movement and without the need of empirical parameters. |
| US08254772B2 |
Imaging apparatus and interchangeable lens
An imaging apparatus includes a plurality of lenses movable along an optical axis, a plurality of drivers configured to drive the plurality of lenses, respectively, and a synchronism loss detector configured to detect a loss of synchronism of one of the plurality of drivers. The one of the plurality of drivers is a driver that drives a lens which is heaviest in the plurality of lenses. |
| US08254771B2 |
Image taking apparatus for group photographing
According to an aspect of the present invention, once the mode setting device sets the person photographing mode, and the face zooming instruction device instructs zooming to the face of the person, the detection device detects the size of the face of the person captured by the image pickup device. The zooming device is then controlled so as to capture the face of the person in a certain size based on the detection result. Subsequently, the photographer instructs zooming in the telephoto direction or the wide direction using the zooming instruction device as necessary to thereby allow fine adjustment of the composition. This enables to easily and quickly photograph an image in a user's desired composition. |
| US08254768B2 |
System and method for illuminating and imaging the iris of a person
A system and method for capturing an image of one or both irises. To image an iris, a person stands or moves in a target zone. A flash element provides an incoherent flash of light through an aperture. The flash is filtered to produce filtered light. The filtered light has primary wavelengths in the far red and near infrared portions of the spectrum. The filtered light is not perceived well by the human eye due to short duration, NIR color and small size. The intensity of the filtered light at the target area surpasses the intensity of all ambient light. In this manner, a person's face in the target area will always be properly illuminated, even if that person were backlit by full sunlight. An image of the person's face is taken with a camera. The image of the face is analyzed to obtain any iris pattern information. |
| US08254764B2 |
Recording apparatus, image reproducing apparatus, and special reproduction method therefor
According to the present invention, there is provided an image reproducing apparatus for reproducing a digital broadcast based on the MPEG standard. When performing special reproduction by use of access-unit management information that is used to manage access units, the image reproducing apparatus reads ahead the access-unit management information and compares time stamps. As a result of the comparison, if it is judged that the absence of a piece of the access-unit management information exists, the special reproduction is then performed by use of simple information that is used to manage a stream.This makes it possible to continuously perform the special reproduction even if it becomes impossible to utilize the access-unit management information. |
| US08254761B2 |
Copying digital content by emulating playing of a recording medium by a player
Copying apparatus has a reader operable to access locations of a recording medium to read both content data and navigational command data that determines the order in which a player of the recording medium will access the content data. A navigator executes a navigation command in accordance with navigation data read by the reader. A controller controls the location of the recording medium accessed by the reader in accordance with the result of the execution of a navigation command executed by the navigator so as to cause the reader to follow a navigation path through the content data defined by the navigation data and to cause a presentation data storer to store data for enabling recording of the content data for the navigational path. |
| US08254760B2 |
Pixel analysis and frame alignment for background frames
Background frames can be completed from a collection of frames having foreground objects that are partially obscuring the pixels comprising the background. The special offset of a pixel represented across a collection of frames can be determined based on camera movement data. By determining the relative offset of a pixel represented in a first frame from the same pixel in other frames, pixel values representing a background object can be accumulated to derive a completed background frame. |
| US08254758B2 |
Input-output circuit, recording apparatus and reproduction apparatus for digital video signal
A video signal input-output circuit and a recording-reproduction apparatus in which a digitally compressed video signal input in packet form can be recorded and reproduced efficiently and in stable fashion. In this apparatus, a clock reference is detected from a packet signal containing the clock reference and a digitally compressed video signal, a time stamp for a packet is generated using a clock signal in phase with the clock reference and added to the particular packet, and the packet signals with the time stamp added thereto are recorded closely to each other in a data storage element such as a magnetic recording medium. At playback, the packet interval is output by being restored to the original length on the basis of the time stamp added to the packet in store. |
| US08254757B2 |
Information processing apparatus and data processing method and program
Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus including: a first data processing block configured by a virtual machine as a virtual hardware environment for executing a program read from a first recording media recording content and the program for executing data processing; and a second data processing block configured to execute data conversion of the content and copy processing of the converted content onto a second recording media. The first data processing block executes acquisition of copy permission information from a management server by execution of the program and shuts down the virtual machine after completion of the acquisition of the copy permission information. The second data processing block is configured to execute data conversion of content recorded to the first recording media and copy processing of the converted content onto a second recording media after the virtual machine is shut down. |
| US08254756B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing and restoring the effectiveness of a commercial skip system
A method and apparatus is disclosed which reduces or removes the effectiveness of commercial skip systems such as presently found in VCRs, PVRs, etc. which are designed to delete commercials from signal material upon playback of a previously recorded version of the signal material. In an embodiment, the effectiveness of the commercial skip system is reduced or removed by adding a flat field of selected signal level to active line portions of video lines of the signal material. Other embodiments modify the normal fade to black signal indicative of a commercial to provide a fade to non-black signal. In further embodiments, a fade to non-black signal is inserted in an overscan area of the signal picture. Still further embodiments modify audio signals or selected signals in the horizontal blanking interval which may be used in commercial skip systems to detect the presence of commercials. Still other embodiments provide techniques for overcoming the commercial skip system altering effects of the previously mentioned embodiments to at least partially restore the commercial skip system, or to enhance the reliability or effectiveness of an existing commercial skip system which has not been altered. |
| US08254755B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying 3D multi-viewpoint camera video over a network
A number of cameras capture a scene and send corresponding video sub-streams to an acquisition PC. Each sub-stream is made up of a plurality of sub-frames. The acquisition PC sends the sub-streams over a network to a playback PC. The playback PC stores each sub-frame in a queue corresponding to an associated sub-stream. For each sub-stream the playback PC calculates a sub-stream average period to produce a plurality of sub-stream average periods. It then calculates a composite average period by averaging the plurality of sub-stream average periods, and calculates a playback frame rate as a reciprocal of the composite average period. The playback PC then reads the sub-frames from their corresponding queue in synchronism with the calculated playback frame rate to display the plurality of sub-streams. |
| US08254749B2 |
Recording medium capable of interactive reproducing and reproduction system for the same
On an optical disk, video object sets (VTST_VOBS) to be reproduced and video title set information (VTSI) serving as management information on the video object sets have been stored. In each video object set (VTST_VOBS), many data cells, each containing video, audio, and sub-picture data, are arranged. Management information on programs chains, which are combinations of programs to be reproduced one after another, has been written in a video title set PGC table (VTS_PGCIT). By referring to the program chain table (VTS_PGCIT) according to the user's input, the playback order of program chains can be changed, enabling the program chains to be reproduced one after another in various modes. |
| US08254748B2 |
Recording medium capable of interactive reproducing and reproduction system for the same
On an optical disk, video object sets (VTST_VOBS) to be reproduced and video title set information (VTSI) serving as management information on the video object sets have been stored. In each video object set (VTST_VOBS), many data cells, each containing video, audio, and sub-picture data, are arranged. Management information on programs chains, which are combinations of programs to be reproduced one after another, has been written in a video title set PGC table (VTS_PGCIT). By referring to the program chain table (VTS_PGCIT) according to the user's input, the playback order of program chains can be changed, enabling the program chains to be reproduced one after another in various modes. |
| US08254746B2 |
Optical sight
An optical sight is provided and may include: a housing; at least one optic supported by the housing; an illumination device associated with the at least one optic and selectively supplying the at least one optic with light, the illumination device including a first fiber associated with a first light source; a coupler collecting light from the first fiber and supplying the at least one optic with light from the first light source; and an electroluminescent device associated with the at least one optic and selectively supplying the at least one optic with light separate from the coupler. |
| US08254744B2 |
Cable trough system and method
A telecommunications cable management system includes trough elements including a planar top surface and sides for cable routing and management. The trough elements are made from separate parts assembled together with a mating arrangement. The mating arrangement allows assembly of the system on site, such as by snapping the parts together. The trough elements are then assembled together to form the cable management system. |
| US08254743B2 |
Optical fiber cable holder, fusion splicer including the holder, and fusion splicing method using the holder
A holder capable of holding an optical fiber cable without breaking or damaging the cable includes a holder main body, a fiber holding portion, and a cable holding portion. The main body has a groove for receiving the optical fiber exposed from the cable sheath at an end part of the cable, and a portion for receiving the end part of the cable sheath. A positioning surface with which an end surface of the cable sheath can come in contact is provided at the boundary between the fiber receiving groove and the cable receiving part. A fiber holding portion for pressing and holding the optical fiber received by the fiber receiving groove, and a cable holding portion for pressing and holding the cable sheath received by the cable receiving part, are configured so that holding by the cable holding portion is released in conjunction with the release of holding by the fiber holding portion. |
| US08254734B2 |
Virtual electronic switch system
A virtual electronic switch system for a vehicle is provided. In one example, the system includes a switch assembly, a switch interface, and a computer. The switch assembly provides actuators that interface with non-contact sensors in the switch interface. The computer is coupled to the switch interface and assigns functions to each of the actuators. The non-contact sensors detect movement of the actuators and signal the computer, which manipulates an electrical system in the vehicle based on the assigned function. |
| US08254732B2 |
Phase modulator and optical modulation device
An optical modulator 100 includes an input unit 110, a splitter unit 120, a first waveguide 131, a second waveguide 132, a directional coupler unit 140, a first output unit 151, a second output unit 152, a first liquid-crystal cell 161, and a second liquid-crystal cell 162. The splitter unit 120, the first waveguide 131, the second waveguide 132, and the directional coupler unit 140 form an optical interferometer that branches an input light and causes the branched lights to interfere. The first liquid-crystal cell 161 and the second liquid-crystal cell 162 transmit the lights branched in the optical interferometer and delay the lights according to applied signals, respectively. The second liquid-crystal cell 162 is thinner than the first liquid-crystal cell 161. |
| US08254731B2 |
Spatial character recognition technique and chirographic text character reader
Disclosed herein is a configuration of a writing volume of a spatial chirographic reader facilitating an on-line method of recognition of handwriting characters. The writing volume may be partitioned by an ink depth into a positioning stereographic hemisphere and an inking stereographic hemisphere. Two projection spheres may be made to intersect on a projection typeface plane forming a disc encapsulating the writing volume. A center of the disc may be a universal reference point for converting handwriting movements of a stylus to inferred rotations. Characters may be mapped to reference rotations, wherein on-line reader data may be compared to effect identification of the characters. Labeling of cardinal positions and graduation of rotation paths may be configured such that inking strokes of a particular writing system may be observable in a minimal number of integer factors of rotation of π radians. An overriding convention of eliminating representations leading to ambiguity may also provide for apparent redundancy of representation by adjustment of the radius of the inferred sphere of rotation and partitioning of the typeface into segments having independent coordinates distinct from the principal axes. Enumeration of writing strokes may be constrained by recording radial torsion components to an inking axis and twist torsion components to a writing plane. |
| US08254730B2 |
Automatic media edit inspector
A system that provides automatic background analysis of a digital image or other media element makes a determination that the image or media element may benefit from correction, and prompts the user to use a correction feature of the system. In some implementations, the prompt itself can navigate the user to the controls for the correction feature. Accordingly, users are notified when they might benefit from correction, and they can be further led to discover a feature with which they may have previously been unfamiliar. |
| US08254729B1 |
Method and system for approving documents based on image similarity
A system and method for comparing graphical content (e.g., images) of documents for approval, rating, and other uses are provided. Information may be stored about one or more graphical documents. Graphical content of a first graphical document being evaluated for distribution may be compared to at least one second graphical document. An approval determination may be made for the first graphical document based on the stored information about the at least one second graphical document and the comparison. |
| US08254727B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing picture file
A method and an apparatus for providing a picture file are provided. The picture file providing apparatus includes a controller which searches for one or more picture files based on a location of a subject, and a screen display unit which forms a display screen to display the one or more picture files that were found, in order to provide a user with the direction information included in each picture file. Each picture file includes picture data, information on a location in which the picture data was created, and information on a direction of a captured image of a subject included in the picture data. |
| US08254726B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing apparatus that converts an input image having first resolution into an output image having second resolution higher than the first resolution includes a super-resolution processing unit that converts the input image into an SR image having the second resolution through motion compensation, a motion mask generating unit that generates a motion mask indicating an accuracy of estimation, an edge direction information generating unit that generates edge direction information indicating an edge direction of each area of the input image, a weight map generating unit that generates a weight map indicating likelihood of the edge direction of each of the areas, an interpolation processing unit that converts the input image into an interpolated image having the second resolution, a weight computing unit that computes a weight, and an image generating unit that generates the output image by constructing a weighted sum of the SR image and interpolated image. |
| US08254725B2 |
Apparatus, method and system for elongating pixel data
A device, methods and system for improving the contrast ratio of an image of an optical code captured by an image capture device. A command implemented by the image capture device of the form “shift and add” causes the image capture device to generate a modified row of pixel data having improved contrast from a plurality of pixel rows in the image capture device. |
| US08254721B2 |
Data input system, data input receiving device, data input receiving method and computer readable medium
A data input system includes: an image reader reading, on a form basis, an original image of each form filled with characters; extracting original image data pieces by dividing, on a character basis, the original image data, and setting identification information to each original image data piece for defining positions; for each original image data pieces, associated character-associated information; and making output with a correlation among the original image data pieces, the identification information set to each original image data piece, and the character-associated information for each original image data piece; and a data input receiver displaying any original image data piece selected according to a predetermined procedure; receiving input of text data to identify which character is represented by each original image data piece; and making storage by correlating the text data with the original image data pieces and the identification information set to each original image data piece. |
| US08254715B2 |
Method and apparatus of detecting image objects
An image object detection apparatus includes a noise filtering block for removing image noise an input image, an image scaling block for scaling the noise-removed input image to produce a scaled input image, an image conversion block for dividing the scaled input image into multiple regions and converting the divided image by a modified census transform (MCT) method, a data processing block for comparing MCT values of the image converted by the MCT method with a preset threshold, detecting at least one candidate region and identifying a human region from said at least one detected candidate region, and an image output block for marking the identified human region on the noise-removed input image. |
| US08254713B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program therefor, and recording medium in which the program is recorded
In an image processing apparatus that processes image data containing a distortion of an image pickup optical section, which is obtained by picking up an optical image from a subject through the image pickup optical section giving the distortion, a region selection mode setting section (13b) selectively sets a first region selection mode in which, from a field of view represented by the image data, a selected region is selected which indicates a partial region of the field of view by using an orthogonal coordinate system and a second region selection mode in which, from the field of view represented by the image data, the selected region is selected which indicates the partial region of the field of view by using a polar coordinate system. A distortion correction section (13a) corrects the distortion contained in the image data that corresponds to the selected region selected the first or second region selection mode selected in the region selection mode setting section (13b). A data output section (13d) outputs distortion-corrected data. |
| US08254709B2 |
Variable length encoding device of image compression system
A variable length encoding (VLE) device of an image compression system is suitable for encoding transformed and quantized block image signals. The VLE device includes a plurality of encoding modules, for performing VLE on the block image signals; and a selection module (VLE module start controller), for selecting a number of the encoding modules in turn to encode the block image signals. The encoding modules are configured for parallel processing, and an operating frequency of each of the encoding modules is a fractional frequency of a throughput rate of the image compression system. The VLE device is not affected by the time consumed by the VLE in the image compression process, and enables the entire image compression system to operate as desired and achieve the required throughput rate. |
| US08254708B2 |
Encoding device, encoding method, recording medium, and image processing apparatus
An encoding device includes: a color-difference signal encoding unit for encoding a color-difference signal for each processing block in multiple color-difference signal encoding modes to generate multiple color-difference signal bit streams; a color-difference mode selecting unit for selecting a color-difference signal encoding mode from the multiple color-difference signal encoding modes; a luminance signal encoding unit for calculating luminance target code amount by subtracting the code amount of the encoded color-difference signal bit stream from fixed code amount, and encoding a luminance signal to generate a luminance signal bit stream; a color-difference reselecting unit for selecting the color-difference signal encoding mode corresponding to the color-difference signal bit stream having the code amount not greater than the fixed code amount, and small deterioration as to the color-difference signal; and a multiplexing unit for multiplexing the luminance signal bit stream, and the encoded color-difference signal bit stream to generate a bit stream. |
| US08254707B2 |
Encoding device, encoding method, encoding program, decoding device, decoding method, and decoding program in interlace scanning
The present invention relates to an encoding apparatus, an encoding method, an encoding program, a decoding apparatus, a decoding method and a decoding program for encoding and decoding efficiently a video signal in interlace scanning. An adder 12 and a subtractor 13 respectively perform addition and subtraction operations on an odd field and an even field of moving image data in interlace scanning. An intra encoder 14 and an intra encoder 15 wavelet transform addition image data and subtraction image data, quantize transform coefficients W, and entropy encode quantization coefficients q. Encoded data output from the intra encoder 14 and the intra encoder 15 is multiplexed into a single encoded stream to be output. Since data with the addition and subtraction operations performed on the odd field and the even field thereof is encoded, dynamic range is doubled while compression efficiency is increased. |
| US08254706B2 |
E8-VSB reception system, apparatus for generating data attribute and method thereof, and apparatus for channel encoding and method thereof
An E8-VSB reception system, apparatus for generating data attribute and method thereof, and apparatus for channel encoding and method thereof are disclosed. In the present invention, E8-VSB data resulting from multiplexing a plurality of enhanced data encoded at different coding rates with main data is received. And, the main data and a plurality of the enhanced data are identified to be modulated from the received E8-VSB data. In particular, by generating M/E packet attribute information, enhanced packet attribute information, enhanced byte attribute information and E8-VSB symbol attribute information from the E8-VSB data attribute generating apparatus, the channel decoding apparatus can correctly identify to decode the main data, ½ enhanced data and ¼ enhanced data from one another. |
| US08254705B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding graphic data
A graphic data encoding method and apparatus generating a bitstream by encoding a header having at least one piece of first information determined in consideration of a predetermined graphic profile from among multiple pieces of encodable first information; and encoding a payload having at least one piece of second information determined in consideration of the predetermined graphic profile from among multiple pieces of encodable second information. A graphic data decoding method and apparatus decode the generated bitstream. Irrespective of the functions that can be performed by the graphic data encoding apparatus and the functions that can be performed by the graphic data decoding apparatus, the graphic data decoding apparatus, which is in accordance with a graphic profile, can completely restore a 3D mesh model described in the bitstream generated by the graphic data encoding apparatus that is satisfactory to the graphic profile. |
| US08254704B2 |
Remote computing platforms providing high-fidelity display and interactivity for clients
A “Remote Display Generator,” as described herein, provides various techniques for providing high-fidelity displays with highly responsive interactive application experiences to clients across a wide range of network bandwidths for remotely hosted applications. In general, the Remote Display Generator uses a compression-friendly remote display architecture as a core. With this compression architecture, actual screen data from a remote server is read out from the display buffer frame by frame, and then compressed with a unified screen codec. Other technologies, including timer-driven screen update models and adaptive transmission mechanisms, are then integrated with various embodiments of the Remote Display Generator to improve overall user experience by improving display quality and responsiveness to user interaction with remotely hosted applications. |
| US08254701B1 |
Data compression using a geometry shading unit
A system and method uses the capabilities of a geometry shader unit within the multi-threaded graphics processor to offload data compression computations from a central processing unit (CPU), reduce the memory needed to store image data, and reduce the bandwidth needed to transfer image data between graphics processors and between a graphics processor and a system memory. |
| US08254700B1 |
Optimized method and system for entropy coding
An optimized method and system for entropy coding is described. The system may include an input module to receive a digital image, a Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) module to obtain a plurality of DCT coefficients associated with the digital image, a statistics generator to generate statistics associated with the plurality of DCT coefficients, a placement module to store the generated statistics in the plurality of DCT coefficients and entropy coder to generate uniquely decodable (UD) codes for the plurality of DCT coefficients. The entropy coder may utilize the statistics stored in the plurality of DCT coefficients. |
| US08254696B2 |
Systems and methods for detection of an airborne contaminant
A method is provided for detection of an airborne contaminant in a atmospheric environment. The method comprises capturing an air sample from the atmospheric environment; separating candidate particles of interest from particles of non interest in the air sample; generating an image of the candidate particles; identifying a contaminant from among the candidate particles by comparing the image of candidate particles with a plurality of stored reference images, each of which reflects a respective identified contaminant; and notifying a remote third party in response to detecting a contaminant from among the candidate particles. |
| US08254695B1 |
Method for fast, robust, multi-dimensional pattern recognition
Disclosed is a method for determining the absence or presence of one or more instances of a predetermined pattern in an image, and for determining the location of each found instance within a multidimensional space. A model represents the pattern to be found, the model including a plurality of probes. Each probe represents a relative position at which a test is performed in an image at a given pose, each such test contributing evidence that the pattern exists at the pose. The method further includes a comparison of the model with a run-time image at each of a plurality of poses. A match score is computed at each pose to provide a match score surface. Then, the match score is compared with an accept threshold, and used to provide the location any instances of the pattern in the image. |
| US08254694B2 |
Thin line detection in scanned image data
Disclosed herein is a method for detecting thin lines in image data. The method is performed by a processor to process contone image data. The processing includes thresholding a window of pixels established in the contone domain to generate a binary window of image data, and then determining characteristics associated with on pixels or runs of the binary data. The characteristics (start and end locations, length of on runs) are then thresholded. The processing in the contone and binary domain are used to determine if a thin line exists in the window of image data. The disclosed method produces better quality output images and reduces the addition of false lines in an image. |
| US08254693B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and program
An image processing apparatus and method generate a vector expression by defining a direction and attribute of gradation of an image as a daub color of the vector expression for each divided contour line of a similar color region obtained from an input image, based on pixel values of plural sampling points inside each of the divided contour lines. |
| US08254691B2 |
Facial expression recognition apparatus and method, and image capturing apparatus
A facial expression recognition apparatus includes an image input unit configured to sequentially input images, a face detection unit configured to detect faces in images obtained by the image input unit, and a start determination unit configured to determine whether to start facial expression determination based on facial image information detected by the face detection unit. When the start determination unit determines that facial expression determination should be started, an acquisition unit acquires reference feature information based on the facial image information detected by the face detection unit and a facial expression determination unit extracts feature information from the facial image information detected by the face detection unit and determines facial expressions of the detected faces based on the extracted feature information and the reference feature information. |
| US08254690B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
An information processing apparatus that compares a query image and a model image and provides support information for discriminating a subject of the model image from a subject of the query image is disclosed. The information processing apparatus includes: a feature point extracting unit extracting one or more feature points from the model image; a feature describing unit describing features of the one or more feature points extracted by the feature point extracting unit; and a discrimination capability value calculating unit generating correlation images among the features described by the feature describing unit, the extracted model image, and one or more other model images for the one or more feature points extracted by the feature point extracting unit, and calculating a discrimination capability value indicating the degree of contribution to discriminating the subject of the model image on the basis of the correlation images. |
| US08254689B2 |
Character recognition processing method and apparatus
This method includes: extracting a feature vector for an input character from a reading result of the input character; calculating distances between the feature vector for the input character and vectors including average vectors stored in a system dictionary storing, for each character, the average vector and distribution information, and feature vectors stored in a user dictionary; extracting the top N character codes in an ascending order of the calculated distances; obtaining second distribution information for the character codes, which are included the user dictionary and in the top N character codes; calculating, for each of the top N character codes, a second distance with the feature vector for the input character, by using, for the character codes, which are included in the user dictionary and in the top N character codes, the second distribution information; and identifying a character code whose second distance is shortest. |
| US08254688B2 |
Imaging system and imaging method
The present invention relates to, for example, an image pickup system having a structure capable of imaging a subject at a low power consumption and a low cost even when the subject may be dark. The image pickup system comprises an image pickup device, a peak position detecting section, a partial image acquiring section, and a partial image operating section. The image pickup device outputs image data that represents the two-dimensional intensity distribution of light incident on a photodetecting section, and outputs light intensity profile data that represents the one-dimensional intensity distribution of the incident light in each of first and second directions in the photodetecting section. The peak position detecting section detects a light intensity peak position in the two-dimensional intensity distribution of the light incident on the photodetecting section in the image pickup device, based on the light intensity profile data outputted from the image pickup device. The partial image acquiring section acquires a partial image from an entire image that can be imaged by the image pickup device so that the light intensity peak position detected by the peak position detecting section is made a specific position for the partial image in the entire image. The partial image operating section integrates the acquired partial image. |
| US08254686B2 |
On-line identifying method of hand-written Arabic letter
The present invention discloses an on-line identifying method of hand-written Arabic letter. The advantage of the present invention is that the multilayer coarse classification algorithm based on the local characteristic of Arabic letter fully utilize the various local characteristics of Arabic letter, obtain the first candidate letter aggregation matching with the inputted hand-written Arabic letter according to the first level coarse classification formed by the stroke number of letter, and then obtain the second candidate letter aggregation matching with inputted hand-written Arabic letter according to the other local characteristics and the first candidate letter aggregation. The application of the algorithm enables that the inputted hand-written Arabic letter only need to match with the standard letter stored in the predetermined letter library and the corresponding standard letters of the second candidate letter aggregation. |
| US08254685B2 |
Detecting content change in a streaming image system
Systems, methods and media for transitioning detecting content change in a streaming image system are disclosed. One embodiment provides a method for detecting a content change between image frames in a streaming image system. Embodiments may include selecting a change detection algorithm from a plurality of change detection algorithms and comparing a first image frame of m image stream with a second image frame of the image stream using the selected change detection algorithm. Embodiments may also include, in the event of detecting a content change between the first image frame and the second image frame, generating an indication of the content change. Further embodiments may include selecting the change detection algorithm based on a user's selection or system capabilities. Other further embodiments may include transmitting the indication of the content change. |
| US08254676B2 |
Methods and systems for identifying a thin object
A method for identifying an object within a container is provided. The method includes acquiring image data representing an image, applying a morphological operator to the acquired image data to generate morphed image data, calculating a histogram based on the morphed image data, and classifying the image using the calculated histogram. A classification of the image may be displayed and/or stored in a computer-readable memory. |
| US08254674B2 |
Analyzing partial face regions for red-eye detection in acquired digital images
A method for red-eye detection in an acquired digital image includes acquiring a first image, and analyzing one or more partial face regions within the first image. One or more characteristics of the first image are determined. One or more corrective processes are identified including red eye correction that can be beneficially applied to the first image according to the one or more characteristics. The one or more corrective processes are applied to the first image. |
| US08254673B2 |
Apparatus and method of color converting a dominant color
An apparatus and method of reproducing a preferred color is provided. The apparatus includes a color distribution analysis module to analyze a distribution of colors in an input image, a dominant color extraction module to extract a dominant color from the input image according to a result of the analysis, a conversion domain determination module to determine a conversion domain to be processed in a color space based on a proportion of the dominant color, and a color conversion module to convert colors in the input image that belong to the conversion domain. |
| US08254658B2 |
Payee detection
Methods, apparatuses, systems, and tangible computer readable media for processing note payables for fraud by searching an image file of a note payable for information in multiple zones on the image file and comparing the obtained information to corresponding information in the issue file that is associated with the note payable. The note payable may be a check and searching of the image file may be done by optical character recognition. However, a user may wish to search an image file of a note payable in multiple zones for desired information. |
| US08254656B2 |
Methods and system for selective resolution improvement in computed tomography
A method and system for selective resolution improvement in computed tomography (CT) scanning. The method includes receiving scan data representative of a scanned object from a CT scanner and reconstructing the scan data using a first algorithm to create a first set of reconstructed data. A region of interest is identified within the first set of reconstructed data. A portion of the scan data corresponding to the region of interest is reconstructed using a second algorithm to create a second set of reconstructed data. The first set of reconstructed data and the second set of reconstructed data are combined to create combined reconstructed data. |
| US08254655B2 |
Method for temporally registering image series datasets
A method for temporally registering two image series datasets, each of which images a preferably periodically moving object and consists of time-resolved single images each composed of pixels or voxels, with a single image, recorded at a first instant, in the first image series dataset being in each case assigned to a single image, recorded at the same or another instant, in the second image series dataset, with the specific single image in the second image series dataset exhibiting maximum similarity to the single image in the first image series dataset being determined for registering a single image in the first image series dataset. |
| US08254654B2 |
Sidelobe suppression in ultrasound imaging using dual apodization with cross-correlation
Sidelobe and clutter suppression techniques in ultrasound imaging are described and referred to as Dual Apodization with Cross-correlation or “DAX”. DAX dramatically improves the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) allowing for easier visualization of anechoic cysts and blood vessels. These techniques use dual apodization or weighting strategies that are effective in removing or minimizing clutter and efficient in terms of computational load and hardware/software needs. This dual apodization allows for determination of the amount of mainlobe versus clutter contribution in a signal by cross-correlating RF data acquired from two apodization functions. |
| US08254653B2 |
Method for visualizing a three-dimensional image data record from an x-ray CT examination and workstation for carrying out the method
A method and a workstation are disclosed for visualizing a three-dimensional image data record having a multiplicity of voxels of a heart of a patient, recorded with the aid of an x-ray CT examination carried out with contrast agent present in the bloodstream. In at least one embodiment, the method includes saving the CT image data record including a multiplicity of voxels defined by absorption values, determining the voxels associated with the chamber of the heart by segmenting the chambers of the heart filled with blood containing the contrast agent, removing the image information from the voxels associated with the chambers of the heart, calculating a two-dimensional virtual projection from the remaining CT image data record, and displaying the virtual two-dimensional projection. |
| US08254651B2 |
Regions of interest processing
After prepared biological samples have been submitted to liquid-chromatography/mass spectrometry equipment, digital images are produced that show variations. Some of these variations may be of interest while others are not of interest. Variations in regions of interest can be correlated and correlation scores produced to classify biological features aid in scientific discovery. Shape properties of variations can also be calculated by geometric scores. A microalignment method aids the correlation calculation without resorting to macroalignment. |
| US08254650B2 |
System and method for contrast enhancement of time-resolved fluorescence images
A method of fluorescence imaging is provided. The method provides for simultaneously acquiring image data at a plurality of phases and a plurality of frequencies from a region of interest, identifying at least one desired signal and at least one background signal in the acquired image data associated with the region of interest, constructing a digital filter based upon the at least one desired signal and the at least one background signal, wherein the digital filter is configured to enhance image contrast and applying the digital filter to the acquired image data associated with the region of interest to enhance image contrast in the acquired image data. Systems and computer programs that afford functionality of the type defined by this method are also provided. |
| US08254636B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus holds a plurality of intermediate smoothed images smoothed at a plurality of preset level values, reduces the N-th frame image of a moving image received from the outside to generate a reduced image, performs a smoothing process on the generated reduced image at the plurality of preset level values to generate a plurality of intermediate smoothed images, stores the generated intermediate smoothed images in an intermediate smoothed image storing unit, acquires, when generating the smoothed images of the frames after the (N+1)-th frame, one or a plurality of intermediate smoothed images from the plurality of intermediate smoothed images of the N-th frame stored in the intermediate smoothed image storing unit, synthesizes the acquired intermediate smoothed images of the N-th frame and the frames after the (N+1)-th frame of the moving image received from the outside, and generates smoothed images. |
| US08254631B2 |
Automated security gate attendant
An automated security attendant for a mechanical gate includes an interface that queries a visitor as to the name and destination of the visitor, and then automatically proceeds with authentication of the visitor. The system includes cameras and recording equipment for capturing the visitor's face and license plates, and records this information along with a time and date stamp of the event. The visitor can be authenticated in accordance with a pre-stored list of names or license plates, or can be authenticated in real time through contact with authorized personnel. The system can further initiate two way conversation with between the visitor and the authorized personnel, and provide the authorized personnel with the image of the visitor's face and/or license plate. The system can also monitor the gate for damage and alert authorities where the security of the gate has been compromised. |
| US08254630B2 |
Subject extracting method and device by eliminating a background region using binary masks
A binary mask image for extracting subject is generated by binarizing an image after image-processing (processed image) with a predefined threshold value. Based on an image before image-processing (pre-processing image) and the binary mask image for extracting image, a subject image in which only a subject included in the pre-processing image is extracted is generated by eliminating a background region from the pre-processing image. |
| US08254628B2 |
Image processing device for detecting and suppressing shadows, method, and computer program
An image processing device for the detection and suppression of shadows in a camera image of a surveilled scene, the camera image optionally showing static objects with static shadow regions and moving objects with dynamic shadow regions, includes a long-term module, which is designed to generate a long-term reference image of the surveilled scene by evaluating a long-term observation of a particular scene, a mid-term module, which is designed to generate a mid-term reference image of the surveilled scene by evaluating a mid-term observation of the particular scene, and a shadow detection module, which is designed to process camera image—using information technology—with long-term reference image and mid-term reference image, in order to detect and suppress shadows. |
| US08254627B2 |
Method for automatically following hand movements in an image sequence
A method for following hand movements in an image flow, includes receiving an image flow in real time, locating in each image in the received image flow a hand contour delimiting an image zone of the hand, extracting the postural characteristics from the image zone of the hand located in each image, and determining the hand movements in the image flow from the postural characteristics extracted from each image. The extraction of the postural characteristics of the hand in each image includes locating in the image zone of the hand the center of the palm of the hand by searching for a pixel of the image zone of the hand the furthest from the hand contour. |
| US08254626B2 |
Output apparatus, output method and program for outputting a moving image including a synthesized image by superimposing images
An output apparatus includes a section that acquires a moving image, a section that extracts a moving object in the acquired moving image, a section that identifies an object area, which is an area occupied by the extracted object in each moving image component image in a plurality of moving image component images included in the acquired moving image, a section that selects a plurality of moving image component images in which the identified object areas are not in positions that overlap with one another from among the plurality of moving image component images included in the acquired moving image, a section that generates a single synthesized image by superimposing images that include a plurality of object areas included in each moving image component image in the plurality of moving image component images selected, and a section that outputs the generated synthesized image. |
| US08254625B2 |
Automated service measurement, monitoring and management
In a method and system of service management, a radiative sensor is positioned to observe an area of interest. At least one frame of data of the area of interest is electronically acquired from the radiative sensor. The acquired frame of data is electronically processing to determine the presence or absence of at least one object in the area of interest. Based on the presence or absence of the object in the area of interest, (1) an alert is electronically caused to be generated in response to also electronically detecting another object in another area of interest, and/or (2) a timer is electronically caused to initiate or terminate counting a period of time. |
| US08254624B2 |
Architecture for exporting digital images
A method and apparatus for allowing applications to access edited image data from an image editing application are disclosed herein. When the user desires to export edited images, the user causes the image editing application to display a plug-in user interface (UI). The plug-in UI may allow the user to enter exporting parameters, although this is not required. After the user selects an “export” button in the plug-in UI, the image editing application confirms with the plug-in on an image-by-image basis which of the images should be exported. The image editing application then generates an export version of the image. If necessary, the image editing application applies image adjustments to the master image to generate the export version. The image editing application then makes the export version available to the plug-in. |
| US08254621B2 |
Earpiece positioning and retaining
A positioning and retaining structure for an in-ear earpiece. An outer leg and an inner leg are attached to each other at an attachment end and attached to a body of the earpiece at the other end. The outer leg lies in a plane. The positioning and retaining structure have a stiffness that is greater when force is applied to the attachment end in a counterclockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg than when force is applied to the attachment end in a clockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg. The positioning and retaining structure position an earpiece associated with the earpiece in a users ear and retains the earpiece in its position. |
| US08254618B2 |
Microphone
A microphone which does not need a hanger plate structure is provided. A conductive hanger knob is provided at the back of the rear case of a microphone case. The hanger knob has three layers of a conductive shaft part, an insulator part and a conductive bolt part in the named order from its center. The shaft part is electrically insulated from the bolt part. A notch that locks the bolt part of the hanger knob at a hanger surface is formed at a conductive hanger hook on which the microphone is hooked via the hanger knob. A support spring portion disposed at the back of the hanger surface urges the shaft part of the hanger knob locked at the notch in a direction of pushing the shaft part back toward the hanger surface. This provides electric conduction between the shaft part and the bolt part via the hanger hook. |
| US08254617B2 |
Microphone array with rear venting
Microphone arrays (MAs) are described that position and vent microphones so that performance of a noise suppression system coupled to the microphone array is enhanced. The MA includes at least two physical microphones to receive acoustic signals. The physical microphones make use of a common rear vent (actual or virtual) that samples a common pressure source. The MA includes a physical directional microphone configuration and a virtual directional microphone configuration. By making the input to the rear vents of the microphones (actual or virtual) as similar as possible, the real-world filter to be modeled becomes much simpler to model using an adaptive filter. |
| US08254616B2 |
Microphone with a low frequency noise shunt
The present invention provides for a microphone. The microphone includes housing, a port disposed in the housing leading to an interior chamber, and a diaphragm with a first side and a second side. The first side of the diaphragm faces the port. The microphone includes a shunt channel from the port to the second side of the diaphragm. The shunt channel receives a wind noise signal to reduce the effects of the wind noise signal on the diaphragm. |
| US08254611B2 |
Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations
Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a tooth or teeth are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure. |
| US08254610B2 |
Hearing aid with a battery compartment, and battery compartment for a hearing aid, each having a locking mechanism for the battery compartment
A hearing aid has a housing, a battery compartment, and a locking mechanism for the battery compartment. A shaft which is arranged on the housing or the battery compartment, and a slide having a hole which forms a fit with the shaft, such that the slide can be moved on the shaft in order to lock and unlock the battery compartment in the housing. The hole has a circular cross section, and the shaft has a cross section which is not a circle, with rotational symmetry when rotated through 360°/n, where n is an integer greater than 1. A battery compartment for a hearing aid has a locking mechanism such as this. Because a cross section of said shaft is different from the cross section of the hole in the battery compartment, the shaft is connected to the hole in the battery compartment only at a number of points. This ensures that the slide is held adequately on the shaft even in the event of a production tolerance on the one hand, while, on the other hand, the slide can move on the shaft with little resistance. In a preferred embodiment the shaft is trilobular in cross-section. |
| US08254609B2 |
Microphones sharing a common acoustic part and volume
The present subject matter provides method and apparatus for improved microphones sharing an acoustic volume. Some embodiments are useful for hearing assistance devices. Examples of an improved microphone module offering omnidirectional and directional microphone capsules are provided. Different mounting and interconnection embodiments are provided. Different electrical connector embodiments are discussed. Improvements in space and performance, and other efficiencies, are provided by the teachings set forth herein. |
| US08254605B2 |
Binaural recording for smart pen computing systems
A pen based computing system concurrently captures handwriting gestures and records audio using binaural recording. A binaural headset communicatively coupled to the smart pen device uses at least two microphones. A left microphone is placed in or near the left ear and the right microphone is placed in or near the right ear, each facing outward. Speakers are integrated into a shared housing with the microphones facing inward towards the ear canal to play back the audio recordings. By recording audio with microphones placed close to the ears, the system provides realistic sounding playback and allows users to more easily differentiate between multiple sources of audio. |
| US08254604B2 |
Array speaker system and method of implementing the same
Provided are an array speaker system and a method of implementing the same. The array speaker system includes a group setting unit setting one or more combinations of a plurality of speakers included in an array speaker system into at least one group according to a predetermined adjustment factor, a signal assignment unit dividing an input signal into at least one sound source signal according to the adjustment factor and selectively assigning the divided sound source signal(s) to the set group(s), a sound adjustment unit adjusting a sound source signal to be output through speakers within the group according to sound source characteristics of the group, and a signal output unit outputting the adjusted sound source signal through the speakers within the group. Using the array speaker system, sound adjustment and sound output optimized for each frequency band can be obtained during output of a sound source signal having a broad range of frequencies, and a near-field effect that distorts an output sound source signal can be prevented. Moreover, stereo and multi-channel effects can be obtained and the directivity of the array speaker system can be improved. |
| US08254603B2 |
Speaker apparatus and method for driving speaker
A speaker apparatus includes an acoustic vibration plate, and an actuator mounted to the acoustic vibration plate such that one end and the other end thereof, in a driving axis direction, exist in a plate surface of the acoustic vibration plate. The actuator applies vibration to the acoustic vibration plate to play back sound. The speaker apparatus enables a sound image to uniformly spread over the entire plate surface of the acoustic vibration plate. In addition, the entire speaker apparatus can be made compact. |
| US08254599B2 |
Mixer apparatus and sound signal processing method
Once a mixer is set in a predetermined operation, an input-logical-channel selecting section supplies sound signals, input via a cascade input terminal, to an input signal processing section via an input patch section, so that the sound signals can be mixing-processed as sound signals of normal input channels. At the same time, a portion of sound signals input via an input terminal are supplied to mixing buses, so that these sound signals can be handled as cascade-related signals. In accordance with a model of another, or cascaded-to, mixer, arrangements are made such that normal-input/output-channel input terminals can be assigned to cascade input/output purposes. With a block diagram display section indicating what signals the individual input/output terminals are currently assigned to within the mixer, a user can grasp at a glance the current assignment state. |
| US08254593B2 |
Earphone
An earphone includes an audio input terminal, an audio output terminal, a spring, and a rheostat. The rheostat includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a slide terminal. The audio input terminal is electrically connected to the slide terminal of the rheostat. The audio output terminal is electrically connected to the first terminal of the rheostat. The slide terminal of the rheostat is fixed to the spring. The slide terminal of the rheostat is at or near the first terminal of the rheostat in response to the spring being at an original position. The slide terminal moves to the second terminal of the rheostat in response to the spring being pressed to deform. |
| US08254591B2 |
Method and device for audio recording
An earpiece (100) is provided. The earpiece can include an Ambient Sound Microphone (111) configured to capture ambient sound, an Ear Canal Microphone (123) configured to capture internal sound in the ear canal, a memory (208) configured to record at least a portion of the history of the ambient sound and the internal sound, and a processor (121) configured to save a recent portion of the history responsive to an event. |
| US08254590B2 |
System and method for intelligibility enhancement of audio information
A method for processing an input signal to create an enhanced output signal includes obtaining an envelope of the input signal, determining a logarithm signal of the envelope, determining a rate of change of the logarithm signal to obtain a slope value, and applying a value derived from the slope value to the input signal to thereby generate an enhanced output signal. |
| US08254587B2 |
Method and apparatus for objective assessment of in-ear device acoustical performance
A method and apparatus for objectively assessing acoustical performance of an in-ear device having a passageway extending there through use a dual microphone probe that removably engages the passageway. The acoustical performance of the in-ear device is performed with the in-ear device inserted into the ear canal of the user and a reference sound source. A clip holding the probe in an acoustic near field of the sound source permits real time calibration thereof. The method and apparatus allow on-site and in-situ measurement of a predicted personal attenuation rating of the device, a subject-fit re-insertion test, an acoustic seal test, a rating test, a stability and reliability test, as well as a protection test of the device with an assessment of a filtered predicted exposure level at the ear for a specific noise exposure level. The apparatus may be simply housed along with the sound source for in-field evaluation tests. |
| US08254585B2 |
Stereo coding and decoding method and apparatus thereof
A method of encoding input signals (l, r) to generate encoded data (100) is provided. The method involves processing the input signals (l, r) to determine first parameters (φ1, φ2) describing relative phase difference and temporal difference between the signals (l, r), and applying these first parameters (φ1, φ2) to process the input signals to generate intermediate signals. The method involves processing the intermediate signals to determine second parameters (α; IID, ρ) describing angular rotation of the first intermediate signals to generate a dominant signal (m) and a residual signal (s), the dominant signal (m) having a magnitude or energy greater than that of the residual signal (s). These second parameters are applicable to process the intermediate signals to generate the dominant (m) and residual (s) signals. The method also involves quantizing the first parameters, the second parameters, and dominant and residual signals (m, s) to generate corresponding quantized data for subsequent multiplexing to generate the encoded data (100). |
| US08254582B2 |
System and method for controlling message attachment handling functions on a mobile device
A system and method for controlling message attachment handling functions on a mobile device is described herein. An attachment handling control can be set to identify one of a number of selected attachment handling control modes. Depending on the attachment handling control mode identified, a request for the attachment structure that includes a decrypted session key for an encrypted message received at the mobile device may or may not be automatically sent to a remote server. This may provide the user with increased control over the content of an encrypted message that the remote server may access when determining the attachment structure for a message. |
| US08254581B2 |
Lightweight key distribution and management method for sensor networks
A lightweight security framework is disclosed that combines PKI with symmetric key cryptography to exploit the system asymmetry in hierarchical sensor networks. The framework provides protocols for public key exchange, session and group key generation, pair-wise key generation, and network resource protection in a low-cost security architecture. The security framework shifts much of the security-related computational load off of the resource-constrained sensor nodes and on to resource-rich base station nodes. The method is based on the generation and management of two kinds of symmetric keys from a set of bootstrapping asymmetric keys on each node. |
| US08254580B2 |
Key distribution in a hierarchy of nodes
Methods, a client node and a key server node are provided for distributing from the key server node, and acquiring at the client node, self-healing encryption keys. The client node and the key server node are part of a key distribution network that comprises a plurality of client nodes. An encryption key is obtained from a combination of a forward key with a backward key, wherein the backward key is distributed at a time separated from the time of the forward key by a self-healing period. The forward and backward keys are updated in a multicast rekey message, at a given time, encrypted by an encryption key defined for a previous time. Optionally, when a sibling of the client node joins or leaves the key distribution network, a unicast rekey message is used to renew the forward and backward keys at the client node. |
| US08254579B1 |
Cryptographic key distribution using a trusted computing platform
Cryptographic keys are distributed to computer systems to be remotely managed by a management node. First secure channels are established between the management node and trusted computing platforms associated with the computer systems. Cryptographic keys are sent to the trusted computing platforms via the first secure channels, wherein the cryptographic keys are stored in the trusted computing platforms and retrieved from the trusted computing platforms by the computer systems. Second secure channels are established with the computer systems using the retrieved cryptographic keys. Commands are remotely executed on one or more of the computer systems via the second secure channels. |
| US08254578B2 |
Process of manufacturing a handheld device, involving keys
An electronic circuit includes a more-secure processor having hardware based security for storing data. A less-secure processor eventually utilizes the data. By a data transfer request-response arrangement between the more-secure processor and the less-secure processor, the more-secure processor confers greater security of the data on the less-secure processor. A manufacturing process makes a handheld device having a storage space, a less-secure processor for executing modem software and a more-secure processor having a protected application and a secure storage. A manufacturing process involves generating a per-device private key and public key pair, storing the private key in a secure storage where it can be accessed by the protected application, combining the public key with the modem software to produce a combined software, signing the combined software; and storing the signed combined software into the storage space. Other processes of manufacture, processes of operation, circuits, devices, wireless and wireline communications products, wireless handsets and systems are disclosed and claimed. |
| US08254576B2 |
System and method for limiting access to data
A controlling device provides conditional access to secured content renderable by an appliance. The controlling device transmits a data frame to the appliance and encrypts at least a part of the data frame that includes data to be used by the appliance to provide access to the secured content. At the appliance a decryption key complimentary to the encryption key is used to decrypt the received the data frame. The appliance allows the secured content to be rendered only after the appliance determines that the data in the received, decrypted data frame includes the data the appliance requires to provide access to the secured content. |
| US08254575B2 |
Method for the allocation and management of subscriptions for the reception of broadcast products
The method to reduce the bandwidth necessary for the renewal of subscription message is achieved using group messages in which each member of the group is associated with a bit of a bitmap. In order to have the maximum members in a group, the size dedicated for the bitmap is determined first by calculating the size remaining after putting the command and other necessary data into the message, and using an iterative process to determine whether the bitmap, once compressed, will fit this remaining size. The iterative process adds a new member into the group, thus increasing the bitmap size, then compresses the resulting bitmap and checks if the compressed bitmap will fit into the remaining size. |
| US08254571B1 |
Cryptographic system with halting key derivation function capabilities
A halting key derivation function is provided. A setup process scrambles a user-supplied password and a random string in a loop. When the loop is halted by user input, the setup process may generate verification information and a cryptographic key. The key may be used to encrypt data. During a subsequent password verification and key recovery process, the verification information is retrieved, a user-supplied trial password obtained, and both are used together to recover the key using a loop computation. During the loop, the verification process repeatedly tests the results produced by the looping scrambling function against the verification information. In case of match, the trial password is correct and a cryptographic key matching the key produced by the setup process may be generated and used for data decryption. As long as there is no match, the loop may continue indefinitely until interrupted exogenously, such as by user input. |
| US08254570B2 |
Method and system for encryption of data
A method for transmitting a message securely between two entities, a sender and a receiver remotely located from each other and a system for carrying out the method is disclosed. The method includes using an array containing numbers based on the infinite sequence of value of ‘pi’; selecting a pattern and tracing and extracting the selected pattern along the numbers in the array sequentially to form a decimal number string. The decimal string is partitioned and converted to binary which is used as a cipher for coding the message by XORing. |
| US08254569B2 |
Provable data integrity verifying method, apparatuses and system
The present invention proposes a Provable Data Integrity (PDI) verifying method, in which data are firstly fingerprinted at a client, and the fingerprints are sent to an archive along with the data; when necessary, the client sends a “challenge” to the archive so as to determine the integrity of the data, and the archive proves the integrity of the data by using the received fingerprints; and finally, the client verifies the integrity of the data based on the output from the archive in response to the “challenge”. |
| US08254567B2 |
Telecommunications mounting case
Telecommunications mounting case includes an enclosure containing a mounting plate having a grid pattern of crisscrossing horizontal and vertical slots or grooves extending partway through the mounting plate. The crisscrossing slots or grooves have a substantially uniform spacing therebetween in increments of the spacing between screw mounts on respective vertical and horizontal telecommunications devices mountable within the case. Each of the slots or grooves has substantially uniformly spaced apart side walls with a spacing therebetween that is somewhat less than the thread diameters of a range of different sized mounting screws used to attach the telecommunications devices to the mounting plate to enable the mounting screws to bite into the side walls when started by hand. |
| US08254565B2 |
Hand-held device
A hand-held device that provides communication services and symbol processing is described. The device includes a case having a front side comprising a display and a lid having a transparent portion through which the display can be seen in a lid-closed state. In one version, the hand-held device comprises a QWERTY keyboard including an arrangement of digits as in a touch-tone area telephone keypad arrangement. In another version, the display includes a handwriting area for data entry using a stylus or other screen data entry device. In a closed position, the lid extends over the display and the keyboard, leaving another user input device physically accessible to touch for receiving input wherein the device performs processing responsive to receiving input from the physically accessible user input device in the lid closed state. |
| US08254564B2 |
Keypad having keys with angled engagement surfaces, and associated handheld electronic device
An improved keypad for a handheld electronic device has keys wherein the engagement surface thereof is oriented oblique to the actuation axis of the key. The oblique arrangement of the engagement surfaces visually and tactually distinguishes one key from another, which facilitates their incorporation into various handheld electronic devices with relatively small form factors. |
| US08254560B2 |
Oscillation-echo preventing circuit and microphone/speaker unit
An oscillation-echo preventing circuit has a microphone/speaker unit and a voltage-canceling circuit for canceling voltages of audio receive signals. The microphone/speaker unit has a main body, at least two microphones, and a speaker or an earphone. The microphone seals a first inside space from an outside space. The microphone seals the first inside space from a second inside space. The speaker or the earphone seals the first inside space from the outside space. The voltage-canceling circuit cancels out the voltages of audio receive signals coming from the microphones, respectively, generating an output of minimum magnitude. Thus, the circuit can sufficiently suppress oscillation and echoing. |
| US08254555B1 |
Systems and methods for managing inbound calls and outbound calls for a specific agent
Systems and methods for managing calls, both inbound and outbound, for available agents over a plurality of lines, where each call received or placed is pre-identified to be connected to one specific agent and upon the automatic detection of the call being received or answered, the call is either connected to the specific agent or placed in a queue for that specific agent. |
| US08254554B2 |
Telephone directory assisted dialing with automatic call connect by either an intermediate network node or the calling party's terminal
The application relates to a network assisted calling service comprising a service call to an assistance entity which translates an indication of a destinatin party into a destination identifier which is subsequently used for the establishment of a user call between the calling and the destination party. In the prior art the user call has either to be set up manually by the calling terminal or it is set up by the network node to which the assistance entity is connected which suffers from disadvantages with respect to routing, complex charging schemes, etcetera. In the method of the invention, this is resolved by said destination identifier being returned through a signalling channel associated with the operative connection. The destination identifier is either returned to the calling party's terminal (C) or is returned to a network node (N). Either the terminal (C) or the network node (N) subsequently set up the user call. |
| US08254553B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer program products for number translation with local directory number support
Methods, systems, and computer program products for number portability with local directory number support are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter herein includes a system for providing number translation with local directory number support. The system includes a communications node for receiving, from a message source, a first message that includes information identifying a subscriber. The system also includes a number translation module, operatively associated with the communications node, for determining a network address and a local directory number associated with the identified a subscriber, and for at least one of: including the network address and local directory number in the first message and forwarding the first message to a destination of the first message; and including the network address and local directory number in a second message and sending the second message to the source of the first message. |
| US08254552B2 |
System and method for providing a recovery mode in a session initiation protocol (SIP) environment
A method to be executed in a session initiation protocol (SIP) environment is provided that includes detecting, by a first agent, a potential lost connection associated with a signaling path. The signaling path couples a first endpoint and a second endpoint and is operable to exchange signaling data. The potential lost connection is associated with a call between the first and the second endpoint, the first agent being associated with the first endpoint. The method also includes communicating a reinvite to a second agent that is associated with the second endpoint in order to determine whether the call between the first endpoint and the second endpoint is active. |
| US08254550B1 |
Method and apparatus for the management of outgoing calls in a communication system
The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications. More particularly, to a method and an apparatus that would allow callers to time-share telephone, tele-communication or communication lines in order to truthfully vary the telephone line from which they are calling parties through a communication, telecommunication or Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN). The system would allow customers to utilize methods that would manage their calls in ways that would maximize the probability that a called party would answer. |
| US08254547B2 |
Method and system for providing directory assistance to erroneous telephone calls
A method and system for providing directory assistance to erroneous calls. The method and system includes an intercept system that intercepts erroneous calls and automatically routes them to a directory assistance service. The directory assistance service provides a least one advertisement and a variety of other internal and external information services to the callers using a business subscriber information service, a white page database service; a yellow pages database service; a business intelligence database service; and/or an Internet search service. |
| US08254544B2 |
N-ways conference system using only participants' telephony devices without external conference server
An n-ways conferencing system using only the participants' telephony devices and without an external conference server. A plurality of telephony devices dial in to and report their mixing capability to a connection topology manager. The connection topology manager also determines the location of each telephony device and neighboring telephony device pairs in the conference service, as each telephony device is used for mixing voice signals of its closest neighbors, and calculates a minimum conference traffic delay for each telephony device. The connection topology manager then builds a topology for the conference service based on the mixing capability, location, and minimum conference traffic delay, wherein the connection topology manager distributes a mixing computation in a substantially uniform manner across the plurality of telephony devices. When a change in the network condition is detected, the connection topology manager rebuilds the topology to bypass the change in the network condition. |
| US08254543B2 |
Sensor event controller
A sensor event controller dynamically switches a destination to which sensor event data are to be notified, according to a service application program (AP) that a user is using, and notifies sensor event data in compliance with an interface of the service AP as the notification destination. An information collection part stores information for identification of a service AP used on a browser and header information transmitted/received between the browser and the service AP in a collected data storage part. Upon receiving sensor event data, a data-notified application determination part decides that the service AP used on the browser is a service AP as the notification destination, by referring to the collected data storage part. A notified data conversion part converts the sensor event data so that the data are compliant with an input interface of the service AP as the notification destination, and transmits a processing request to the service AP as the notification destination, the processing request being generated by adding the header information to the converted sensor event data. |
| US08254540B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing end-to-end call completion status
The present invention enables a method for following the state of a call and generating defects as function of call completion success as opposed to discrete events that happen at individual network elements during the call. In one embodiment, the invention uses Call Detail Records (CDR) to analyze the end-to-end completion status to measure per call basis defects instead of using defect codes generated by network elements on a per equipment basis. CDR is data associated with a telephone call, including the calling and the called numbers, the date and timestamp, the duration, the call setup delay, and the final handling code of the telephone call. |
| US08254535B1 |
Performing actions for users based on spoken information
Techniques are described for performing actions for users based at least in part on spoken information, such as spoken voice-based information received from the users during telephone calls. The described techniques include categorizing spoken information obtained from a user in one or more ways, and performing actions on behalf of the user related to the categorized information. For example, in some situations, spoken information obtained from a user is analyzed to identify one or more spoken information items (e.g., words, phrases, sentences, etc.) supplied by the user, and to generate corresponding textual representations (e.g., via automated speech-to-text techniques). One or more actions may then be taken regarding the identified information items, including to categorize the items by adding textual representations of the spoken information items to one or more of multiple predefined lists or other collections of information that are specific to or otherwise available to the user. |
| US08254532B2 |
Network videoconference equipment and its method of proceeding network videoconference
A network videoconference equipment and its method of proceeding network videoconference are provided. The method implemented on a first terminal machine of a network videoconference system includes steps as follows. Directly connecting with a second terminal machine of the system when the second terminal machine requests to do so. Receiving and presenting a second location video and voice from the second terminal machine, sending a first predetermined message picture to the second terminal machine, and not sending a first location video and voice temporarily. Providing a human-machine interface on the first terminal machine for accepting an instruction of proceeding the network videoconference or not. |
| US08254531B2 |
Method and system for combining text and voice messages in a communications dialogue
This publication discloses a method for delivering messages in a telecommunications network (1, 2, 6, 11, 12). In the method, the first text-form message (40) of the session N is delivered (43) to the user of the service, in such a way that the sender address (e.g., the A number) is converted to correspond to the session number N and the session stage J, in stages 2-n (41) of the session N, a text-form message (40) is received, from the user of the message service, at the sender address defined in the message in the previous stage, and the session proceeds according to the contents of the message (40), in such a way that the sender address (e.g., the A number) is converted to correspond to the session number N and the new session stage J, and the next text-form message of session N is sent to the user of the message service. According to the invention, in some stage of the session N, a voice message is received (42), from the user of the message service, at the sender address of the message defined in the message (40) in the previous stage, or at an address contained in the message, and the session proceeds according to the content of the message (40), and if necessary, the next text-form message of the session N is sent to the user of the message service, in such a way that the sender address (e.g., the A number) is converted to correspond to the session number N and the new session stage J. |
| US08254527B2 |
Method and arrangement for loop qualification in a digital subscriber line (DSL) system
A method and loop qualification unit for determining loop parameters of a topology of a twisted pair loop for a digital subscriber line system. The parameters are represented by a vector that receives a measurement of a SELT parameter measured at one end of the loop and a measurement of a DELT loop transfer function measured at both ends of the loop. A first model generator generates a first model for the SELT parameter and a second model generator generates a second model for the DELT function based on the loop parameters represented by the vector. A processor then determines the parameters by minimizing the differences between the first model and the SELT parameter, and the second model and the DELT function. The determined parameters are represented by the vector that provides the minimization. |
| US08254526B2 |
Thermionic electron emitter and X-ray source including same
A thermionic electron emitter (1) is proposed comprising an inner part (2) including a heatable flat emission surface (3) and an outer part (4) including a surrounding surface (6) substantially enclosing the emission surface and a heating arrangement for heating the emission surface to a temperature for thermionic electron emission. The outer part is mechanically connected to the inner part in a connection region (10) apart from the emission surface. Furthermore, the surrounding surface is thermally isolated, e.g. by a gap (14), from the emission surface in an isolation region apart from the connection region. By providing a surrounding surface enclosing the emission surface which may be on a similar electrical potential as the emission surface but which can have a substantially lower temperature than the emission surface without influencing the temperature distribution within the emission surface, an improved electron emission distribution and homogeneity can be obtained. |
| US08254524B2 |
Diagnostic delivery service
Systems, methods, and other modalities are described for (a) obtaining an indication relating to an emission module (which may be dangerous, e.g.) or its user (who may be untrained, e.g.) and for (b) configuring the module or causing an irradiation (for imaging, e.g.) in response to the indication. |
| US08254520B2 |
Image processing method, image display method, image processing program, storage medium, image processing apparatus and X-ray imaging apparatus
An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing method, etc. capable of producing a panorama tomogram with a simple operation whenever required by the operator. The present invention relates to an image processing method for producing a panorama tomogram of the dental arch using the X-ray projection data on the dentomaxillofacial region obtained by the X-ray computer tomography. The image processing method according to the present invention includes the steps of retrieving the dental arch projection data corresponding to the dental arch from the X-ray projection data based on the preset position and shape information to specify the position and shape of the dental arch from the X-ray projection data (S3) and generating a panorama tomogram by executing a predetermined process using the dental arch projection data (S4). |
| US08254518B2 |
Acquisition of projection images for tomosynthesis
Some aspects include acquisition of a first plurality of projection images of a volume using a megavoltage x-ray source, each of the first plurality of projection images associated with a respective one of a first plurality of locations of the megavoltage x-ray source, acquisition of a second plurality of projection images of the volume using a kilovoltage x-ray source, each of the second plurality of projection images associated with a respective one of a second plurality of locations of the kilovoltage x-ray source, and performance of digital tomosynthesis reconstruction to generate a three-dimensional image of the volume based on the first plurality of projection images and the second plurality of projection images. The first axis may be perpendicular to the second axis. |
| US08254512B2 |
Method and apparatus for increasing coherent integration length while receiving a positioning signal
A receiving method and apparatus for increasing coherent integration length while receiving a positioning signal from transmitters such as GPS satellites. In order to compensate for frequency drifts that may occur in the positioning signal, a hypothesis is made as to the frequency drift, which is inserted into the receiving algorithm. Advantageously, the length of coherent integration can be increased at the expense of reducing the length of incoherent integration while keeping the total integration length the same, the net effect of which is an increase in signal detection sensitivity. The frequency drift hypothesis has any appropriate waveform; for example, approximately linear or exponential. The hypothesized frequency drift can be inserted into the receiver algorithm in any suitable place; for example, the data block may be adjusted for the hypothesized frequency drift, alternatively the reference signal may be adjusted, or the frequency samples of either the data block or the reference signal may be adjusted. |
| US08254509B2 |
Receiver
A receiver receives a reception signal subjected to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing modulation or orthogonal frequency division multiple access modulation. The receiver has: an array antenna for receiving the reception signal; adaptive equalizers provided in each of the plurality of antennas, and reducing advanced or delayed waves having a delay time to a main wave in the reception signal; a spatial diversity combining portion which multiplies output signals of the adaptive equalizers by a weighting coefficient and adds the multiplied signals; a weight control portion generating the weighting coefficient; and an equalizer setting unit which estimates an arrival angle and a delay time for each path of the reception signal, and based on the estimation, decides an interference wave to be eliminated by the adaptive equalizers among interference waves, and sets in the adaptive equalizers the delay time of the decided interference wave. |
| US08254507B2 |
Method and system for SFBC/STBC in a communication diversity system using angle feedback
Aspects of a system for STBC/SFBC in a communication system using angle feedback may include a receiver, which enables reception of signals via a plurality of receiving antennas. The receiver may enable computation of a rotation factor value based on the received signals and utilization of the computed rotation factor value to receive subsequent signals via the plurality of receiving antennas. The received signals may comprise preamble data. The receiver may enable computation of channel estimate values based on the received preamble data. A rotation angle value may be computed based on the computed channel estimate values. The rotation factor value may be computed based on the computed rotation angle value. The receiver may enable transmission of feedback information comprising the computed rotation factor and/or the computed rotation angle. |
| US08254505B2 |
Narrow-band interference detector, signal receiver employing narrow-band interference detector and controlling demodulator parameter setting according to narrow-band interference detection result, and related methods thereof
A signal receiver includes a demodulator, a narrow-band interference detector, and a control module, where the demodulator is for performing signal demodulation upon a received communication signal, the narrow-band interference detector is for performing narrow-band interference detection and accordingly generating a detection result, and the control module is for controlling an operation of the demodulator according to the detection result. In addition, a narrow-band interference detector includes an input port and a processing circuit, where the input port is coupled to an equalizer included in a signal receiver for receiving a signal generated from the equalizer, and the processing circuit is coupled to the input port for performing a narrow-band interference detection according to the signal generated from the equalizer, and accordingly generating a detection result. |
| US08254500B2 |
Channel equalization with SCDMA modulation
The present invention relates a system and method for mitigating impairment in a communication system. In one embodiment, the system comprises a transmitter adapted to transmit at least one signal and a receiver adapted to receive the at least one signal and mitigate inter code interference in the signal using at least one inter code interference coefficient. |
| US08254498B1 |
Random orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for receiving a first modulated signal on a first sub-channel, wherein a first transmitter randomly selects the first sub-channel from a plurality of sub-channels and for receiving, at the receiver, a second modulated signal on a second sub-channel, wherein the second sub-channel is orthogonal to the first sub-channel, wherein a second transmitter randomly selects the second sub-channel from the plurality of sub-channels. At least a portion of the first signal overlaps with a portion of the second signal. For each of the plurality of sub-channels, a plurality of symbols are stored in a buffer and a plurality of potential data frames are determined based upon the symbols in the buffer. A signal detection algorithm is applied to the potential data frames to detect the first modulated signal and the second modulated signal. |
| US08254497B2 |
Method for detecting cyclostationary signals
A method for detecting a cyclostationary signal in a signal to be analyzed, received from a transmitter by a receiver or read from a recording medium by a reader device. According to this method, the value of a discrimination function J is estimated, expressed as a quadratic form of the cyclic correlation coefficients of the signal to be analyzed for a set (I*M) of non-zero time shifts and a set (IK) of cyclic frequencies, and the value 1 - γ ( v , U σ 4 J ) is compared with a wrong detection rate η in order to determine whether said cyclostationary signal is present in the signal to be analyzed, wherein γ(ν,x) is the normalized lower incomplete gamma function, ν is the product of the cardinal (M) of said set of non-zero time shifts and of the cardinal (K) of said set of cyclic frequencies, U is the width of the autocorrelation window on which the cyclic correlation coefficients are calculated, and σ4 is the square of the noise variance. |
| US08254495B2 |
Codebook based precoding methods
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for applying successive multi-rank beamforming strategies (e.g., successive precoding strategies) for the design of precoders over a set of parallel channels. Successive beamforming is applied to a narrow band channel model and is also applied for finer quantization of a single beamforming vector (e.g., recursive beamforming). A first embodiment provides the optimal approach with high complexity. An alternative embodiment provides successive beamforming for near optimal precoding selection with medium complexity. A low complexity method for precoder selection is also provided wherein a channel representative matrix for the set of parallel channels is determined and successive beamforming on the calculated channel representative is applied. |
| US08254492B2 |
Transmit diversity in a wireless communication system
A method for transmitting data via multiple antennas by modulating data to be transmitted into a plurality of modulated symbols, encoding each pair of modulated symbols from among said plurality of symbols in accordance with a transmission diversity scheme to result in a plurality of N by N matrices, with each N by N matrix corresponding to each pair of modulated symbols, generating a M by M code matrix comprised of the plurality of N by N matrices, orthogonally spreading the M by M code matrix to generate an output matrix, generating a plurality of row-permuted matrices by exchanging at least one pair of rows in the output matrix, and transmitting the symbols in the plurality of row-permuted matrices via a plurality of antennas by using either a space time transmission diversity scheme, a space frequency transmission diversity scheme, or a combination of a space time transmission diversity scheme and a space frequency transmission diversity scheme. |
| US08254488B2 |
Feedback strategies for constrained codebooks used in MIMO precoding
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for applying successive multi-rank beamforming strategies (e.g., successive precoding strategies) for the design of precoders over a set of parallel channels. Successive beamforming is applied to a narrow band channel model and is also applied for finer quantization of a single beamforming vector (e.g., recursive beamforming). A first embodiment provides the optimal approach with high complexity. An alternative embodiment provides successive beamforming for near optimal precoding selection with medium complexity. A low complexity method for precoder selection is also provided wherein a channel representative matrix for the set of parallel channels is determined and successive beamforming on the calculated channel representative is applied. |
| US08254486B2 |
Unified closed loop SU/MU-MIMO signaling and codebook design
A multi-resolution codebook is used to provide quantization for channel related information in a wireless network that supports both single-user MIMO and multi-user MIMO. The multi-resolution codebook may include a higher resolution “fine” codebook for use with MU-MIMO subscriber stations and a lower resolution “coarse” codebook for use with SU-MIMO subscriber stations. A tracking codebook may also be used to provide quantization for updates to channel related information. In at least one embodiment, the tracking codebook includes a number of unit vectors (or orthogonal matrices) disposed upon a sphere cap. |
| US08254484B2 |
Method of dirty paper coding using nested lattice codes
A method of Dirty Paper Coding DPC using nested lattices is disclosed. The complexity of DPC can be reduced by scaling nested lattices and mapping interference to a lattice point of the scaled lattice. |
| US08254478B2 |
Method for limiting local bandwidth impairment using tone reservation
The present invention relates to a method of limiting local bandwidth impairment in a telecommunications system, wherein tone reservation is used to reduce peak power of a multi-carrier signal using successive processing stages. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for limiting local bandwidth impairment and to a base station including such an apparatus. The method according to the present invention comprises the steps: generating a first peak reduction signal using reserved frequencies or tones of a first subset of frequencies or tones; generating a second peak reduction signal using reserved frequencies or tones of a second subset of frequencies or tones; extracting the In-phase components, I-components, of the first peak reduction signal and extracting the Quadrature components, Q-components, of the second peak reduction signal; and generating a third peak reduction signal by combining or adding, in the frequency domain, the I-components of the first peak reduction signal and the Q-components of the second peak reduction signal. |
| US08254474B2 |
Method for estimating the characteristcs of OFDM signals
This invention relates to a method for determining at least one characteristic of an OFDM signal within a received signal, characterized in that: a plurality of cyclic correlation coefficients (ρk/(α+β)(α)) for the received signal is calculated (420, 520) for a correlation time difference (α) and a plurality of cyclic frequencies ( k α + β ) ; a discrimination function is calculated (430, 530) as a function of the amplitude of said cyclic correlation coefficients; said OFDM signal characteristic is deduced (440, 561, 562) as a function of at least one value of said discrimination function. |
| US08254473B2 |
Bit interleaver and method of bit interleaving using the same
A bit interleaver and a bit interleaving method are provided. The bit interleaver includes delay devices which are applied with symbol interleaving and tone interleaving, and delay a bit stream output from a memory, to generate a delayed bit stream; a first multiplexer (MUX) unit which selects any one of a bit of the bit stream output from the memory and a bit of the delayed bit stream, to generate a selection bit stream; and a second MUX unit which changes an order of the selection bit stream to generate an output bit stream. Accordingly, it is possible to easily and effectively perform bit interleaving including a cyclic shift. |
| US08254472B2 |
Communication device and communication system
A communication device includes a storage unit that stores a predetermined eye mask pattern indicating a receivable range, a receiving unit that receives data from the other communication device, a waveform comparing unit for comparing a waveform of the received data with the eye mask pattern to generate comparison result data and a transmission unit for transmitting the comparison result data to the other communication device. |
| US08254461B2 |
Method and apparatus for variable accuracy inter-picture timing specification for digital video encoding with reduced requirements for division operations
A method and apparatus for performing motion estimation in a digital video system is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention discloses a system that quickly calculates estimated motion vectors in a very efficient manner. In one embodiment, a first multiplicand is determined by multiplying a first display time difference between a first video picture and a second video picture by a power of two scale value. This step scales up a numerator for a ratio. Next, the system determines a scaled ratio by dividing that scaled numerator by a second first display time difference between said second video picture and a third video picture. The scaled ratio is then stored calculating motion vector estimations. By storing the scaled ratio, all the estimated motion vectors can be calculated quickly with good precision since the scaled ratio saves significant bits and reducing the scale is performed by simple shifts. |
| US08254457B2 |
Video signal processing method and apparatus thereof
A method of processing an interleaved video including a plurality of fields includes receiving a top field and a bottom field successively; selecting one of the top field and the bottom field as a selected field; and generating an interpolated field for replacing an unselected field of the top field and the bottom field, wherein a field motion between the selected field and the interpolated field is less than a field motion between the top field and the bottom field. |
| US08254456B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding video and method and apparatus for decoding video
A method of and apparatus for encoding and decoding an image are provided. According to the method and apparatus, a virtual motion vector is assigned to a block which is encoded in intra prediction mode, and when a motion vector of a block which is encoded in inter prediction mode after the intra block is decoded, the virtual motion vector assigned to the intra block is used. |
| US08254450B2 |
System and method for providing improved intra-prediction in video coding
A system and method for improving the efficiency of decoding intra-coded blocks in video decoding, even in the event that neighboring pixels of the block are unavailable. According to various embodiments, in addition to information that is used to describe how a prediction is formed using a specified process, other “side” information is also transmitted for use in the decoding process. For example, after the intra-prediction direction of a block is decoded, it is determined whether the intra-prediction requires pixels that are unavailable for the block. If such pixels are needed, than side information may be parsed from the bitstream in a predetermined manner. The prediction signal may then be reconstructed for the block using various pieces of information. |
| US08254447B2 |
Moving picture stream generation apparatus, moving picture coding apparatus, moving picture multiplexing apparatus and moving picture decoding apparatus
To provide a moving picture stream generation apparatus and the like that generates a moving picture stream that can be played back in trick-play such as variable-speed playback and reverse playback even in a coding format such as the MPEG-4 AVC in which flexible prediction structures are allowed.A moving picture stream generation apparatus includes: a trick-play information generation unit TricPlay for generating supplemental information on a random access unit basis, the supplemental information being referred to at the time of playback of each random access unit and each random access unit including one or more pictures; and a variable length coding unit VLC for generating a stream including the generated supplemental information and the one or more pictures by adding the supplemental information to each corresponding random access unit. At the top of each random access unit, an intra coded picture that can be decoded without depending on any picture is placed, and the supplemental information includes information for specifying pictures to be decoded at the time when pictures included in each random access unit are played back in trick-play. |
| US08254446B2 |
Moving picture stream generation apparatus, moving picture coding apparatus, moving picture multiplexing apparatus and moving picture decoding apparatus
To provide a moving picture stream generation apparatus and the like that generates a moving picture stream that can be played back in trick-play such as variable-speed playback and reverse playback even in a coding format such as the MPEG-4 AVC in which flexible prediction structures are allowed.A moving picture stream generation apparatus includes: a trick-play information generation unit TricPlay for generating supplemental information on a random access unit basis, the supplemental information being referred to at the time of playback of each random access unit and each random access unit including one or more pictures; and a variable length coding unit VLC for generating a stream including the generated supplemental information and the one or more pictures by adding the supplemental information to each corresponding random access unit. At the top of each random access unit, an intra coded picture that can be decoded without depending on any picture is placed, and the supplemental information includes information for specifying pictures to be decoded at the time when pictures included in each random access unit are played back in trick-play. |
| US08254441B2 |
Video streaming based upon wireless quality
What is disclosed is a method of operating a video system. The method includes, in a video server, monitoring a quality indicator for wireless communications between a wireless communication system and a wireless communication device, transferring reference frames of a video for delivery to the wireless communication device over the wireless communication system if the quality indicator indicates a particular quality level and stopping the transfer of the reference frames if the quality indicator does not indicate the particular quality level, and transferring update frames of the video for delivery to the wireless communication device over the wireless communication system without regard to whether the quality indicator indicates the particular quality level. The method also includes, in the wireless communication device, receiving the reference frames and the update frames of the video over the wireless communication system, and displaying the video. |
| US08254440B2 |
Real time scene change detection in video sequences
An apparatus configured to process a digital video signal comprising an input circuit, a processing circuit and an encoder circuit. The input circuit may be configured to present a digital video signal comprising a plurality of frames. The processing circuit may be configured to detect scene changes in the digital video signal by analyzing (i) a current one of the plurality of frames and (ii) two or more other frames. The encoder circuit may be configured to generate an encoded signal in response to the digital video signal and the scene changes. The two or more other frames may comprise (i) a first window of frames that are processed before the current frame and (ii) a second window of frames that are processed after the current frame. The processing circuit may also detect the scene changes by analyzing changes between the first window and the second window. |
| US08254439B2 |
Apparatus and methods for motion vector correction
A motion vector correction apparatus for correcting an estimated motion vector for a pixel located at a position of an interpolated frame between a first and a second frame is provided, including a three-frame motion estimation unit estimating a previous and a following motion vector fields; a motion vector selection unit determining a set of reference motion vectors associated with the first and second frame for the position of the pixel, wherein the reference motion vectors include a first motion vector set as the estimated motion vector and a pair of corresponding motion vectors from the previous and following motion vector fields; and a motion vector correction unit obtaining a measure of consistency between the corresponding motion vectors, adapting a plurality of weighted factors according to the measure of consistency and correcting the estimated motion vector according to the adapted weighted factors and the set of reference motion vectors. |
| US08254435B2 |
Modulation method and modulator using pulse edge shift
A variable delay circuit delays a carrier signal having a predetermined frequency, and outputs a modulated signal. A delay setting unit sets a delay period for the variable delay circuit according to a data signal to be modulated. The delay setting unit assigns each symbol in the data signal to any one of positive edges and negative edges in the carrier signal, and sets a delay period for the variable delay circuit at the timing at which a positive edge in the carrier signal passes through the variable delay circuit, according to the symbol value in the data signal assigned to the positive edge. Furthermore, the delay setting unit sets a delay period for the variable delay circuit at the timing at which a negative edge in the carrier signal passes through the variable delay circuit, according to the symbol value in the data signal assigned to the negative edge. |
| US08254433B2 |
Non-federated multi-function Ka-band exciter system and method
Provided is a non-federated multi-function exciter. The non-federated multi-function exciter includes a waveform generator subsystem operable to provide waveforms programmable in time, duration, slope and frequency. A transmission subsystem is coupled to the waveform generator, the transmission subsystem having a first upconverter and a second upconverter coupled to the first upconverter. A communication modulation subsystem is coupled to the second upconverter of the transmission subsystem. A reference clock subsystem coupled to the waveform generator subsystem, the transmit subsystem and the communication modulation subsystem. The non-federated multi-function exciter is operable to generate interleaved radar and communication signals. |
| US08254429B1 |
Communication systems and methods
In accordance with embodiments, a communication system includes a first device and a second device in communication with the first device. The second device has at least a first pair and a second pair of antennas. The second device spreads a communication bit by a predetermined spreading factor and forms a first set of spatial block codes in frequency domain based on the spread communication bit. The first set of spatial block codes being consecutively transmitted on one of the first and second pairs of antennas. |
| US08254427B2 |
Device for controlling an arc furnace installation
A device for controlling an arc furnace installation has an automatic controller (3) wherein a functional unit (6) for furnace control, a functional unit (7) for electrode control and a functional unit (8) for melting control are integrated in the controller (3). |
| US08254424B2 |
Semiconductor having enhanced carbon doping
Methods for fabricating semiconductors with enhanced strain. One embodiment includes fabrication of a semiconductor device with an epitaxial structure. The epitaxial structure is formed with one or more semiconductor layers. One or more of the layers includes a dopant including small quantities of Al and repeated delta doping during expitaxial growth to form periods where surfaces are group III rich. |
| US08254423B2 |
(Al,Ga,In)N diode laser fabricated at reduced temperature
A method of fabricating an (Al,Ga,In)N laser diode, comprising depositing one or more III-N layers upon a growth substrate at a first temperature, depositing an indium containing laser core at a second temperature upon layers deposited at a first temperature, and performing all subsequent fabrication steps under conditions that inhibit degradation of the laser core, wherein the conditions are a substantially lower temperature than the second temperature. |
| US08254422B2 |
Microheat exchanger for laser diode cooling
A microheat exchanging assembly is configured to cool one or more heat generating devices, such as integrated circuits or laser diodes. The microheat exchanging assembly includes a first ceramic assembly thermally coupled to a first surface, and in cases, a second ceramic assembly thermally coupled to a second surface. The ceramic assembly includes one or more electrically and thermally conductive pads to be thermally coupled to a heat generating device, each conductive pad is electrically isolated from each other. The ceramic assembly includes a ceramic layer to provide this electrical isolation. A top surface and a bottom surface of the ceramic layer are each bonded to a conductive layer, such as copper, using an intermediate joining material. A brazing process is performed to bond the ceramic layer to the conductive layer via a joining layer. The joining layer is a composite of the joining material, the ceramic layer, and the conductive layer. |
| US08254421B1 |
Wavelength conversion laser light source, and laser light source device and two-dimensional image display device adopting the same
A wavelength conversion laser light source includes a fundamental wave laser light source; a wavelength conversion element for converting a fundamental wave emitted from the fundamental wave laser light source into a harmonic wave; and an element temperature holding section for holding the wavelength conversion element at a temperature as set, wherein the element temperature holding section includes a magnetic metal formed on at least a part of the surface of the wavelength conversion element via an insulating material, and a magnetic flux application section for heating the magnetic metal with an application of a magnetic flux to the magnetic metal. |
| US08254418B2 |
Method for finding and tracking single-mode operation point of external cavity diode lasers
An apparatus comprising: a processor for determining if a laser is operating in a single-mode state and for determining the degree to which one of one or more tunable parameters for the laser must be adjusted so that laser operates in a single-mode state if not operating in a single-mode state, wherein the one or more tunable parameters include the following parameters: the laser current and the wavelength of the output light. The apparatus may include a laser and/or a holographic storage medium. Also provided is a method for determining if a laser is operating in a single-mode state and for determining the degree to which one of one or more tunable parameters for the laser must be adjusted so that laser operates in a single-mode state if not operating in a single-mode state. |
| US08254415B2 |
Short wavelength light source and optical device
A GaN-based semiconductor laser (1) emits first laser light of a single polarization and having a first wavelength. An optical resonator (30) includes a solid-state laser medium which is excited by incidence of the laser light and which oscillates second laser light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength. A polarization switch (6) switches over at least one of polarization directions of the first laser light and the second laser light to thereby change the wavelength of laser light to be emitted from the optical resonator (30) or the intensity ratio between a plurality of laser light to be emitted from the optical resonator (30). With the above arrangement, a plurality of laser light can be used effectively. |
| US08254412B2 |
Implementing priority based dynamic bandwidth adjustments
A method that includes receiving a reservation request from a first endpoint that comprises a bandwidth list identifying a plurality of bandwidth levels associated with the first endpoint. At least two of the bandwidth levels have a unique priority level associated therewith. The method also includes establishing a communication session between the first endpoint and at least one additional endpoint using a first bandwidth based on a first priority level. The first bandwidth and the first priority level are each associated with a first bandwidth level of the plurality of bandwidth levels. The method further includes detecting a bandwidth event that impacts a bandwidth used by the first endpoint for the communication session. The method additionally includes adjusting the bandwidth used by the first endpoint to a second bandwidth that is different than the first bandwidth based on a second priority level that is different than the first priority level. |
| US08254408B2 |
Modular implementation of a protocol in a network device
A system includes a gateway node that contains modular cards that separately implement control and data planes of a network protocol. The separate data and control cards provide for improved system reliability and improved flexibility in managing bandwidth. Control or data cards can be added to the gateway node as needed based on system load. |
| US08254407B2 |
Asymmetrical MIMO wireless communications
A method for asymmetrical MIMO wireless communication begins by determining a number of transmission antennas for the asymmetrical MIMO wireless communication. The method continues by determining a number of reception antennas for the asymmetrical MIMO wireless communication. The method continues by, when the number of transmission antennas exceeds the number of reception antennas, using spatial time block coding for the asymmetrical MIMO wireless communication. The method continues by, when the number of transmission antennas does not exceed the number of reception antennas, using spatial multiplexing for the asymmetrical MIMO wireless communication. |
| US08254406B1 |
Early termination in wireless communication overhead cycles
What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless access node which exchanges overhead information with user devices in a series of repeating overhead time cycles each comprising a multi-user message and single-user messages. The method includes transmitting the multi-user messages for receipt and use by all of the user devices and transmitting the single-user messages for receipt and use by individual ones of the user devices. The method includes, in response to the single-user messages, receiving acknowledge messages comprising RF condition indicators for the single-user messages. The method includes, if any of the RF condition indicators are below a performance threshold, then suspending further transmission of the multi-user messages in the series of repeating overhead time cycles, and if none of the RF condition indicators are below the performance threshold, then continuing further transmission of the multi-user messages in the series of repeating overhead time cycles. |
| US08254402B2 |
Programmable high-speed cable with printed circuit board and boost device
An HDMI cable carries high speed encoded data which are transmitted differentially over data channels, along with a clock. High-frequency loss and differential skew within a differential signal may be compensated by analog circuits embedded in the cable. These embedded circuits are tuned at production for best performance by observing the quality of the recovered analog signal. The embedded circuits are powered by a combination of power sources, both carried within the cable, and harvested from the high-speed signals themselves. Methods are provided for deskewing, equalizing, and boosting the differential signals in the embedded circuits that are mounted on a PCB. |
| US08254395B2 |
Computer-implemented method, system, and program product for tracking a location of a user of a wireless device in a private network environment
The present invention provides a computer-implemented method, system, and program product for tracking a location of a user of a wireless device in a private network environment. Specifically, under the present invention, a wireless device user will form a data connection with a private network through a public network such as the Internet. At such a time “location” information will be communicated from the wireless device to the provider of the private network, which will use the information to track the location of the wireless device user. In addition, the provider of the private network can query the wireless device when updates to the information are desired. At this or any other time, the wireless device can be queried for any such updates. |
| US08254391B2 |
Method and system for performing blocking of messages on errors in message stream
Described is an improved method, system, and computer program product for implementing an improved resequencer, along with related mechanisms and processes. An improved error handling method and system for messages is also described. |
| US08254389B2 |
Apparatus and method for inter-office compression
An exemplary apparatus includes a processor configured to compress an A11 message into a compressed message. The processor assigns a first value to a first portion of a first octet of the compressed message based on a message type field of the A11 message. The first portion may be three bits in length. The processor may also assign a second value to a second portion of the first octet of the compressed message based on a code field, a flags field and a status field of the A11 message. The second value may correspond to a set of values for the code, flags and status fields and may be five bits long. Third and fourth values are assigned to portions of a second octet of the compressed message based on an information element identifier and other field/s respectively of the A11 message so as to uniquely identify an information element. |
| US08254388B2 |
Management device to investigate path states of network and network system
A packet reception portion receives packets of user traffic transferred on the network. The received packets are transferred to an address extraction portion via a distribution portion, and the transmission source address and destination address are extracted. Based on these addresses, a packet generation portion generates probe packets the transfer destination of which is the address destination. A packet transmission portion transmits the probe packets to the network. The transmitted probe packets are received as probe response packets by the packet reception portion. The probe response packets received by the packet reception portion are transferred to a result storage portion via the distribution portion. The result storage portion stores transmission source addresses included in the probe packets in a result storage DB. |
| US08254386B2 |
Internet protocol multicast on passive optical networks
A method for implementing multicast via a passive optical network (PON) may include receiving Internet group multicast protocol (IGMP) messages from a customer device. Multicast information associated with the IGMP messages is identified, wherein the multicast information includes at least multicast group information and customer identification information. The multicast information is stored in a multicast state table. Downstream layer 2 traffic is received and multicast addressing information is extracted from the layer 2 traffic. It is then determined whether the multicast addressing information matches the multicast group information stored in the multicast state table. The layer 2 traffic is forwarded on at least one PON interface corresponding to the customer identification information that is associated with the stored multicast group information when the multicast addressing information matches the multicast group information stored in the multicast state table. |
| US08254384B2 |
Packet transmission system, packet transmission method, packet update method, host apparatus, and computer program product thereof for the packet transmission system
A packet transmission system, a packet transmission method, a packet update method, a host apparatus, and a computer program product thereof for the packet transmission system are provided. The packet transmission method comprises the following steps: transmitting a first positioning packet that has a first message serial number; receiving the first positioning packet; generating a temporary packet that has a second message serial number; determining that the first message serial number is smaller than the second message serial number; transmitting the temporary packet; receiving the temporary packet and updating the first message serial as the second message serial number; and transmitting a second positioning packet that has the second message serial number. Thereby, the system not only prevents repeat transmission, but also enhances positioning reliability by using two-way transmission. |
| US08254383B2 |
Method and system for routing using multi-stage route entry lookup
The invention relates to a method for routing packets. The method includes receiving a first packet to route, obtaining a first route entry using a first IP address associated with the first packet, where the first route entry includes a first prefix, a first route nexthop generation (RNG) and a first route nexthop pointer (RNP) to a second route entry. The method further includes comparing a route generation (RG) for the second route entry with the first RNG where the RG for the second route entry and the first RNG are equal, obtaining a first neighbor cache entry (NCE) from a first NCE pointer (NP) stored in the first route entry, and routing the first packet using the ARP information in the first NCE, where a route dependency list pointer (RDLP) in the second route entry points to the first route entry. |
| US08254380B2 |
Managing messages transmitted in an interconnect network
The system for managing messages transmitted in an interconnect network connecting blocks on a chip comprises agents linked by point-to-point links able to transmit, by static routing, messages comprising a priority information item quantified on N levels. The system comprises at least one agent initiating request messages to at least one recipient agent. A request message comprises a header and, where appropriate, content data. The system comprises means of generating a priority message, to a recipient agent, to which at least on request message has previously been transmitted with no response message received in return. |
| US08254379B1 |
Method and system for application based compression profile selection
In establishing a data connection with a wireless wide area network, a wireless device may evaluate one or more factors in order to select between IP header compression methods to be used for traffic in the data connection between the wireless device and an access point for the wireless wide area network. For example, the wireless device may select the IP header compression method based on a remaining battery level of the wireless device, a type of application on the wireless device initiating the data connection or another factor. In one embodiment, the selection of the IP header compression method may also be based on an amount of available bandwidth for the access point to allocate to wireless devices. |
| US08254378B2 |
Strict-sense minimal spanning switch non-blocking architecture
The present invention discloses an apparatus to implement a m=n Non-Blocking Minimal Spanning Switch, where n=the total number of data input signals and m=the total number of data output signals and m=the number of crossbar connections in each switch. Data is input to the switch as a plurality of frames, whereby each crossbar connection contains a framer which detects framing patterns in the data. Skewed data is re-aligned and buffered so that the data output by each crossbar connection is equal and identical, thus any crossbar connection may be used to ensure a connection, eliminating the possibility of data interrupts. |
| US08254373B2 |
Method of conducting secure transactions over a telecommunications system and session initiation protocol (SIP) based input echo display control for conducting secure transactions
A method of managing a communications network, managing secure transactions conducted by digital communications devices over a communications network and computer program product therefore. A Back to Back User Agent (B2BUA), for example, receives numerical input from a networked digital communications device, e.g., a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) device, and determines when and whether the SIP device displays digits entered at the devices. The B2BUA analyzes received digits for an identification (ID) code and selectively couples the SIP devices with a media server capable of providing prompting the SIP devices. In cooperation with the media server, the B2BUA directs replacing sensitive codes (e.g., passwords or Personal Identification Number (PIN)) with placekeepers or suppressing display altogether. After sensitive code input is complete, digit entry display resumes. |
| US08254371B2 |
Method and system for routing and security for telephone calls over a packet-switched network
A server, upon receiving a request to complete a call over a packet-switched network, looks up an address on the packet-switched network on a local table. If the local table does not contain a matching address, the server asks a routing server to identify a receiving server address. The routing server identifies a suitable address and sends a message to the originating server containing the address. The routing server may consider such factors as the volume of calls currently being handled by various potential receiving servers in selecting a receiving server. The receiving server then receives, via the packet-switched network, a message requesting a telephone connection to a second telephone device. Before completing the connection to the second telephone device, information in the message representing the address of the device on the packet-switched network that originated the message is identified. The address information is compared to selected predetermined addresses for permitted origins of the message. The permitted origins may be other servers or clients of the receiving server. If the address in the message corresponds to a predetermined permitted address, the server will proceed with completion of the call. If the address in the message does not correspond to a predetermined permitted address, the server will refuse to complete the call. |
| US08254370B2 |
Method for redirecting network communication ports and network communication system thereof
A method for redirecting network communication port and a network communication system thereof are disclosed. When a receiving end determines that a communication port needs to be redirected, the receiving end sends a redirected address to a transmitting end via a communication port. The redirected address includes redirected address information of a transport layer. According to the present invention, when the gatekeeper is not able to receive, via a well-known port, some of signaling sent from a node, the gatekeeper can inform the transmitting end to switch the port automatically, allowing thereby the node to continue the previous service. The present invention further allows the node to perform protocol switching automatically. |
| US08254365B2 |
Method for maintaining timing across discontinuous activity gaps for a non-real time data interface
A method for maintaining timing across discontinuous activity gaps for a non-real time data interface, in a radio frequency (RF) IC is disclosed. The method comprises starting a first receive mode in the RF IC to receive analog RF signals 210 in response to receiving a first command from a base band (BB) IC, converting the analog RF signals 215 into a first stream of digital data samples, and transmitting 225 the samples to the BB IC. Next, the RF IC stops the first receive mode 235 in response to receiving a second command from the BB IC and transmits 245 dummy data samples to the BB IC. Then the RF IC re-starts the first receive mode 275 in response to receiving a third command from the BB IC 270, converts analog RF signals received by the first receive mode into a second stream of digital data samples 285, and transmits the samples to the BB IC 298. |
| US08254362B2 |
Method and device of generating time-varying preamble sequence and pseudorandom noise (PN) binary sequence in direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) communications
Embodiments of the disclosure provide methods, apparatus, and articles allowing two nodes to communicate in a slot-based direct sequencing spreading communication system. Both a preamble sequence and a payload data spreading PN sequence are generated from the Time of Day and a given user code. Generated sequences are synchronized between two communicating nodes to allow slot-based DSSS communication to take place. Generated sequences also change dynamically from slot to slot to provide waveform security. |
| US08254360B2 |
OFDMA control channel interlacing
Apparatus and methods for interlacing communications in random access control channels of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) wireless communication system are described. A wireless communication device communicating over distinct OFDMA control channels to multiple serving sectors may operate under link limited conditions. The wireless communication device can interlace the communications between the multiple serving sectors. The wireless communication device can interlace the control channel communications in a number of interlaces equal to the number of distinct control channels over which communications are scheduled. In another embodiment, the wireless communication device divide the multiple scheduled control channel communications into two or more sets and can interlace the sets. In another embodiment, the wireless communication device can reserve a first interlace for control channel communications with the serving sector and can time multiplex the remaining control channel communications on a second interlace. |
| US08254356B2 |
Methods, systems and computer program products for suspending packet-switched sessions to a wireless terminal
Methods, systems and computer program products are provided through which a wireless terminal participating in a packet-switched communications session may temporarily suspend the session, for example, upon receipt of an incoming circuit-switched call. The wireless terminal may notify a server associated with the packet-switched session of receipt of the incoming circuit-switched call, and may also notify the server when the packet-switched session may be resumed. In embodiments of the present invention implemented in GSM networks, one or more of the notification messages may be transmitted to the server over the SMS data bearer. |
| US08254355B2 |
Method and apparatus for utilizing a second receiver to establish time and frequency
Apparatus and methods for synchronizing a network element (e.g. access points, femtocells, etc.) to a master network (such as a cellular network) to provide accurate frequency and/or time references for their internal systems. In one embodiment, the network element utilizes a dedicated receiver (or transceiver) to receive timing information from the master network. The implementation of the dedicated receiver is advantageous for cost and simplicity reasons. Furthermore, the timing or frequency information, as received from the master network, is used to correct the network element's internal timing. In addition, the network element's internal timing can operate in open-loop mode, if no master network can be found, thereby allowing for the device to continue providing service to network users. Additionally, a dedicated receiver can also receive information (e.g. location, SID, NID, SSID, etc.) local to the network element, such information may be useful or required for seamless operation within the master network. |
| US08254352B2 |
System and method for configuration of network-capable appliances
A controlling device is used to configure an appliance for wireless network communications through use of a setup wizard installed on a computing device. The setup wizard is used to obtain from a user information required to perform communications on a wireless network via a wireless network router and a digital representation of the information obtained from the user through use of the setup wizard is provided to the controlling device. The controlling device is then used to transfer the digital representation of the information to the appliance whereupon the appliance will use the digital representation of the information to configure itself for wireless network communications. |
| US08254350B2 |
Routing packets in an ad hoc wireless network
A system for routing packets in an ad hoc wireless network. In response to entering the ad hoc wireless network, location data is broadcast to other nodes within the ad hoc wireless network. Location data is received from the other nodes within the ad hoc wireless network. The received location data is recorded in a routing table. In response to determining that one or more packets need to be transmitted, a best route is calculated to transmit the one or more packets within the ad hoc wireless network using data in the routing table. Then, the one or more packets are transmitted to a node within the ad hoc wireless network based on the calculated best route. |
| US08254349B2 |
Routing data in a cluster
Various techniques for routing data through a cluster are disclosed. The cluster includes a number of nodes that support communications by an access terminal. A node may be configured to use an identifier assigned to an access terminal to route data associated with the access terminal to another node in the cluster. The identifier is assigned by any node in the cluster. |
| US08254344B2 |
Reference sequence construction for fast cell search
A method and apparatus for fast cell search based on a chirp reference signal transmission is disclosed herein. A primary synchronization channel (P-SCH) and two secondary synchronization channels (S-SCH1 and S-SCH2) will be utilized. S-SCH1 will comprise a reference sequence having a first index value and S-SCH2 will comprise a reference sequence having a second index value. S-SCH1 and S-SCH2 will be scrambled with a first and a second scrambling code, respectively. The second scrambling code will be based on the first index value. |
| US08254341B2 |
Control channel transmitting method, base station and terminal
A control channel transmitting method includes selecting one control channel format from among a plurality of control channel formats having different numbers of control points, according to whether to carry out multiple input multiple output transmission; and transmitting a control channel with the use of the selected control channel format. |
| US08254338B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing advertising and/or information services over mobile ad hoc cooperative networks using electronic billboards and related devices
A method of operating an electronic billboard includes detecting a mobile electronic device within a predetermined distance of the electronic billboard, establishing an ad hoc wireless connection with the mobile electronic device, and transmitting location-specific data to the mobile electronic device over the ad hoc wireless connection. The location-specific data is associated with a geographic location of the electronic billboard. For example, the location-specific data may include advertising content, traffic and/or construction conditions, emergency information, and/or tourism information associated with the geographic location of the electronic billboard. Related methods, devices, and computer program products are also discussed. |
| US08254332B2 |
Method and system for radio access technology monitoring in a wireless communications system
A method and apparatus are provided for radio access technology (RAT) monitoring, in a wireless system environment having wireless communications equipment and at least two different RATs that coexist for providing to the equipment access to one or more communications networks. The equipment has at least two subsystems, each adapted for establishing and maintaining an active communications connection with a certain one of the different RATs. The equipment selects at least a first RAT, among all the RATs available in a certain geographical area, for establishing the active communications connection, according to a monitored characteristic of the first RAT. The method includes scanning a characteristic of a second RAT available for communication in the geographical area while the equipment maintains an active communications connection with the first RAT, and performing the scanning step when the equipment does not transmit signals through the active communications connection maintained with the first RAT. |
| US08254330B1 |
Transitioning to previous coverage area to expedite call setup
Methods and systems are provided for expediting call setup in a wireless communication system. A mobile station operating in idle mode and under coverage of a first and second wireless coverage area receives overhead channel data for the first coverage area. The mobile station then detects a trigger to initiate connectivity with the wireless communication system. Responsive to detecting this trigger, the mobile station determines an amount of time until it will receive overhead channel data for the second coverage area and makes a determination of whether this determined amount of time is greater than a threshold. If the determined amount of time is greater than a threshold, the mobile station seeks connectivity via the first coverage area. However, if the determined amount of time is less than a threshold, the mobile station seeks connectivity via the second coverage area. |
| US08254326B2 |
Method for transmitting power headroom report and buffer status report in a wireless communication system and related communication device
A method for transmitting a power headroom report (PHR) and a buffer status report (BSR) for a user equipment in a wireless communication system includes triggering a BSR when a triggering event for the BSR occurs, for reporting a status of an uplink transmission buffer of the user equipment to a network of the wireless communication system, checking whether the BSR is triggered for reporting that the uplink transmission buffer is empty, when the BSR is triggered for reporting that the uplink transmission buffer is empty, checking whether a PHR is triggered and whether there is room for the PHR in an uplink resource according to a priority order, and generating the PHR and transmitting the PHR instead of the BSR to the network when the PHR is triggered and there is not enough room for the PHR in the uplink resource. |
| US08254321B2 |
Method and apparatus for serving high speed downlink shared channel cell change
A method and apparatus for serving high speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH) cell change are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) sends a measurement report to a radio network controller (RNC) when a signal strength of a target cell approaches a signal strength of a source cell. The RNC adds the target cell in an active set and sends pre-loaded HS-DSCH configuration information for the target cell to the WTRU. The WTRU sends another measurement report when a signal strength of the target cell exceeds that of the source cell. The WTRU monitors a high speed shared control channel (HS-SCCH) on the target cell based on the pre-loaded HS-DSCH configuration information and decodes an HS-SCCH transmission. The WTRU determines whether a MAC-hs/ehs reset is required and if so resets a MAC-hs/ehs entity prior to receiving an HS-DSCH transmission from the target cell. |
| US08254320B2 |
Mobility management using address pools in mobility label based MPLS networks
A routing system coupled to a label switching network receives a pool of network addresses allocated to a mobility region in the network, where the pool of network addresses includes a sequence of contiguous network addresses. The routing system stores the pool of network addresses, and allocates a range of mobility labels to the network address pool for use in communicating with mobile nodes in the mobility region. |
| US08254317B2 |
Method for processing dynamic service flows and network-side service flows and a communication apparatus
A method for processing dynamic service flows includes a SFM entity that sends a resource processing request to a H-PF server through an anchor SFA entity according to the received dynamic service flow processing request, with the request carrying the parameters related to the resource processing request. The H-PF server sends the result of the resource processing performed by each node in the network according to the resource requirements to the SFM through a resource processing response. The SFM returns a service flow processing response to the UE. After receiving the response, the UE saves the relevant parameters, and returns an acknowledgement to the SFM. |
| US08254316B2 |
QOS-based multi-protocol uplink access
A method and apparatus for multi-protocol uplink access defines two protocols and maps each to one of a user's access service class (ASC) and quality of service (QoS). A first uplink access protocol type is defined in which a random access channel (RACH) burst is sent and an acquisition indicator channel (AICH) burst is sent, and a channel assignment grant is sent on another downlink channel. A second uplink access protocol type is defined in which a RACH preamble is sent and an AICH burst is sent. |
| US08254309B2 |
Wireless communication equipment system for wireless local area network communication, and wireless communication sequence for the system
A wireless communication equipment system which performs wireless communication among one master station and more than one slave station is configured so that each of the slave stations requests the master station to reply acknowledgement frames so as to perform transmission acknowledgement to broadcast frames or multicast frames transmitted from the master station. The master station is configured to decide order of replies of the acknowledgement frames of the slave stations which have requested the replies of the acknowledgement frames and to notify the order of the replies of the acknowledgement frames. |
| US08254307B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving utilization efficiency of wireless links for web-based applications
An improved data communication network including a wireless link for accessing, from an end user machine, objects in a selected web page retrievable from an Internet server by means of suitable request messages is described. The wireless link includes a subscriber unit coupled to the end user machine and a base station coupled to the server. Web page data packets retrieved from the server with the use of the request messages are intercepted and locally stored in a gateway unit on the base station side of the wireless link. The gateway unit generates, from the retrieved web page data packets, additional request messages suitable for retrieving, from the server, object data packets corresponding to the objects on the selected web page. Such retrieved object data packets are also stored in the gateway unit. At least a portion of the stored object data packets, together with the stored web page data packets, are selectively released for transmission in bundled form over a single assigned channel on the wireless link. Such transmitted object data packets are locally stored in an additional gateway unit on the subscriber unit side of the wireless link, while the transmitted web page data packets are forwarded to the end user machine. The end user machine re-generates the object retrieval request messages, which in turn are used to directly retrieve the object data packets locally stored in the additional gateway without the necessity of again traversing the wireless link. |
| US08254302B2 |
Data communication control apparatus, data communication system, data communication method, and computer-readable storage medium recording data communication program
A user location monitoring unit of a data communication control apparatus monitors a message sent from a wireless device via a repeater. Upon detection of a change in the location of the wireless device, the user location monitoring unit updates the location information in the database and notifies via the Internet a management server of the location change. Upon receipt of the message via the Internet, a destination address confirming and correcting unit of the data communication control apparatus uses the user ID of a destination wireless device as a search keyword to search the database. In turn, the destination address confirming and correcting unit corrects the destination address of the message to the latest address of the pertinent user ID and outputs the corrected message to a received message forwarding unit. |
| US08254301B2 |
Group-header based method to organize local peer group of vehicles for inter-vehicle communication
A method for establishing and maintaining the network and a corresponding ad-hoc moving-device to moving-device network having a plurality of moving-devices grouped into a Local Peer Group (LPG) is disclosed. A group header node (GH) is selected from the plurality of moving wireless devices in the LPG. The GH controls and manages the LPG by broadcasting a plurality of control messages, including a heartbeat message at a fixed interval. The LPG also includes at least one group node (GN). The at least one GN can communicate with the GH via a network link created between the at least one GN and the GH. The GNs join the LPG via the GH. If there is more then one GH in an LPG, header resolution occurs to select only one GH. |
| US08254296B1 |
Peer-to-peer frequency band negotiation
The present specification describes techniques and apparatuses for peer-to-peer frequency band negotiation. In some embodiments, techniques are described using a bit vector that are fast and/or require low data throughput. |
| US08254294B2 |
System and method for providing local IP breakout services employing access point names
A method, apparatus and system are provided for acquiring an access point name for an application employing a local Internet protocol breakout service. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a user management subsystem (820) configured to initiate an Internet protocol application. The apparatus also includes a local breakout service monitoring subsystem (810) configured to monitor availability of a local Internet protocol local breakout service and to obtain an access point name from the local Internet protocol local breakout service when the local Internet protocol local breakout service is available. The apparatus also includes an access point name selection control subsystem (830) configured to bind the access point name to the Internet protocol application. |
| US08254283B2 |
Method and system for identifying degradation of a media service
A method and device for identifying degradation in service quality for a wireless media service. The wireless media service has a known expected packet generation rate, which may be determined by the device based upon the codec and payload size selected on initiating the media service. At a receiving device, the packets actually received by the device from the other termination point are counted over a time period, and this number is compared with the number of packets that were expected based upon the known packet generation rate. From this comparison a packet loss rate may be determined. If the packet loss rate exceeds a threshold level, then the device may issue a user alert, terminate the service, or take other action. The threshold level may be established based upon a packet loss rate corresponding to a significant degree of service quality degradation. |
| US08254282B2 |
System and method for hierarchical visualization of data
A system and method for monitoring IP flows in a network is disclosed. A plurality of monitor probes are coupled to links in the network, the monitor probes capture data packets from the links and determine protocols in OSI Layers 3, 4, and 5/7 of the packets. A user interface receives user inputs selecting the links and protocols for analysis. A display is coupled to the monitor probes and the user interface. The display and user interface receiving a user selection of links for analysis and display a first protocol analysis to the user, the first protocol analysis display comprising a pie chart representing all OSI Layer 3 protocols captured on the selected links, a pie chart representing all OSI Layer 4 protocols captured on the selected links, and a pie chart representing all OSI Layer 5/7 protocols captured on the selected links. |
| US08254279B2 |
Estimation of thermal noise and rise-over-thermal in a wireless communication system
Techniques for estimating thermal noise and rise-over-thermal (RoT) in a communication system are described. In an aspect, thermal noise in a sideband may be measured and used to estimate thermal noise in a signal band. In one design, received power in the sideband may be measured, e.g., by computing total power of FFT transform coefficients within the sideband. Thermal noise may be estimated based on (e.g., by filtering) the measured received power in the sideband. Received power in the signal band may also be measured. Total received power may be estimated based on (e.g., by filtering) the measured received power in the signal band. RoT may then be estimated based on the estimated thermal noise and the estimated total received power. The estimated RoT may be used to estimate an available load for a cell, which may be used to admit and/or schedule users in the cell. |
| US08254278B2 |
Efficient address caching for packet telephony services
A method for telephony includes receiving at a facility of a telephone service provider a first subscriber request to place a first call to a specified telephone number. A provider request is sent to a remote server (26), which maintains a database (28) of records associating telephone numbers with respective packet network addresses, for a record (72) indicating a packet network address to which calls to the specified telephone number should be placed. Upon receiving the record from the remote server, the record is stored in a local cache (42) at the facility of the telephone service provider. After storing the record, upon receiving at the facility of the telephone service provider a second subscriber request to place a second call to the specified telephone number, the record is read from the local cache and is used in placing the second call to the packet network address. |
| US08254269B2 |
Method and apparatus for inspection of compressed data packages
A method for inspection of compressed data packages, which are transported over a data network, is provided. The data packages comprise a data package header containing control data for securing the correct delivery and interpretation of the package and a payload part containing data to be transferred over the data network. The method comprises the steps of: a) extracting payload data from the payload part of the package, b) appending the extracted payload data to a stream of data, c) probing the data package header so as to determine the compression scheme that is applied to the payload data, d) applying the determined compression scheme to at least one search pattern, which has previously been stored in a search key register, and e) comparing the compressed search pattern to the stream of data. The method can be carried out by dedicated hardware. |
| US08254265B2 |
Methods and apparatus for routing IP media data based on cost
A session controller configured to receive a data packet from a packet-switched network having multiple communication links is disclosed. The disclosed session controller is further configured to define a call-routing policy based on layer-five information, layer-two information, layer-three information and layer-seven information from the data packet. The call-routing policy is configured to define a least-cost routing (LCR) call route for an ingress call over at least one of the plurality of communication links. The LCR call route is associated with an operational cost that is lower than an operational cost associated with at least one other call route over at least one communication link from the plurality of communication links. The session controller is also configured to associate the ingress call to an egress-call peer based on the call routing policy. |
| US08254262B1 |
Passive recording and load balancing
Included are embodiments of a method for routing communication data to a plurality of recorders. At least one embodiment of a method includes passively receiving communication data related to a communication and determining to which recorder the received communication data is to be routed in order to achieve a substantially balanced utilization of the plurality recorders. Other embodiments include routing the communication data to the determined recorder. |
| US08254257B2 |
System and method for location, time-of-day, and quality-of-service based prioritized access control
A priority server for a provider network includes a traffic volume detection module, a traffic analyzer module, and a rules module. The traffic volume detection module receives operational information from the provider network and determines that a host is experiencing a flash event based upon the operational information. The traffic analyzer module determines that the flash event is not a distributed denial of service attack on the host. When it is determined that the flash event is not a distributed denial of service attack, the rules module provides a priority rule to an access router that is coupled to the host. The priority rule is based upon a characteristic of packets routed in the provider network that are associated with the flash event, and the characteristic is determined not solely by information included in the packets. |
| US08254253B2 |
Conditional utilization of private short-range wireless networks for service provision and mobility
A system for managing the integration of a private short-range wireless network into a service/mobility domain. The private short-range wireless network may be converted into a semi-private short range wireless network by managing access to the network in accordance with rules defined by a home user. These rules allow a home user to define how visitors will be granted access to the semi-private short-range network when the user is at home or away. Restricted access may be enforced when the home user is present, and security measures may force the semi-private short-range wireless network to enter a safe mode when a condition is met. |
| US08254241B2 |
Adaptive communications methods for multiple user packet radio wireless networks
An exemplary wireless communication network that includes a base that communicates with remote units located in a cell of the network. A base concatenates information symbols with a preamble corresponding to a destination remote unit. One or more remote units communicating with a base each concatenates information symbols with a preamble corresponding to that remote unit. An adaptive receiver system for a base unit rapidly adapts optimal despreading weights for reproducing information symbols transmitted from multiple remote units. A transmitter system for a base unit concatenates information symbols with a preamble associated with a remote unit in the cell. An adaptive receiver system for a remote unit in a communication network rapidly adapts optimal weights for reproducing a signal transmitted to it by a specific base unit in the network. A transmitter system for a remote unit in a cell of a communication network which concatenates information symbols with preamble associated with the remote unit. A base initiates communication with a desired remote unit by transmitting an initiation codeword in a selected entry slot. One or more remote units each initiates communication with a base by transmitting an initiation codeword associated with the remote unit in a selected entry slot. A remote unit synchronizes in time and frequency to the base using a sequence of synchronization signals transmitted by the base in a number of entry slots. |
| US08254239B2 |
Complex objective lens including saw-tooth diffractive element for using on blue, red and infrared lights
In an optical head device which performs recording or reading of data in/from a high-density optical disc using an objective lens with a large NA, a saw-tooth shape diffraction element is used for also performing recording or reading of data in/from a conventional optical disc, such as DVD, CD, or the like. A step difference that produces an optical path length for blue light which is equal to or longer than the wavelength of the blue light and optical path lengths for red and infrared light which are shorter than the wavelengths of the red and infrared light is utilized so as to exert an inverse action on the blue light to those exerted on the red and infrared light. The effect of increasing the working distances for CD and DVD enables multiple compatibility. The above optical element is integrally combined with the objective lens to perform a tracking servo following operation. |
| US08254234B2 |
Information recording medium evaluation method, information recording medium, method for manufacturing information recording medium, signal processing method and access control apparatus
A method for rating an information recording medium according to the present invention includes the steps of: receiving a digital read signal, which has been generated based on an analog read signal representing information that has been read from the information recording medium, and shaping the waveform of the digital read signal; subjecting the shaped digital read signal to maximum likelihood decoding, thereby generating a binarized signal showing a result of the maximum likelihood decoding; and calculating the quality of the digital read signal based on the shaped digital read signal and the binarized signal. If the quality of the read signal is calculated by a PRML method in which a number of zero-cross portions are included in a merging path of a minimum difference metric, the quality is calculated by using only a state transition pattern in which only one zero-cross portion is included in a merging path of a non-minimum difference metric. |
| US08254232B2 |
Indication of optically writable optical disc surface incident to laser
A mass-storage device according to an embodiment of the invention is disclosed that includes a laser and an indication mechanism. The laser at least optically writes to an optically writable surface of an optical disc incident to the laser. The indication mechanism indicates whether the optically writable surface incident to the laser is an optically writable label surface or an optically writable data surface of the optical disc. |
| US08254228B2 |
Optical disc drive and hibernation recovery method for an optical disc drive
Provided is a technology in which a controller for controlling read/write performed to/from an optical disc includes a processor for controlling an interface, a temporary memory unit, a rotation control unit, and an optical control unit. The controller causes the processor to shift to a hibernate state when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and causes the processor to recover from the hibernate state into an active state when the interface receives a first command. The processor receives the first command from the interface, instructs the rotation control unit to drive the optical disc at a predetermined target rotational speed, instructs the optical control unit to perform a processing specified by the first command, transmits a completion notification of the first command to the interface with a delay, receives a second command after transmitting the completion notification of the first command, and executes the processing of the second command. |
| US08254227B2 |
Frequency-modulated coding and data recording and storage using plasmonic nanostructures
A frequency-modulated coding and data recording and storage device that uses plasmonic-dielectric nanostructures of concentric two-layer core-shell design to store data includes a flat transparent substrate having a top surface divided into cells with side dimension d on the order of tens of nanometers and a core-shell plasmonic-dielectric nanostructure disposed in each cell. Each plasmonic nanostructure of concentric core-shell has a predetermined ratio of radii and a predetermined aspect ratio such that when an infrared or visible wavelength signal is applied to each said core-shell plasmonic-dielectric nanostructure a peak scattering amplitude of the applied signal is at different plasmonic resonance frequencies for core-shell plasmonic-dielectric nanostructures with different ratio of radii and different aspect ratios. The sampled values of a signal to be recorded are assigned to each cell and the ratio of radii and/or aspect ratios of the core-shell plasmonic-dielectric nanostructures in the assigned cells are selected to provide a corresponding plasmonic resonant frequency. |
| US08254226B2 |
Disc-shaped recording medium, cutting apparatus for same, and disc drive
There is provided an optical disc having preformed thereon a spiral wobbled track as a grove and/or land along with data is to be recorded. The track is wobbled for a series of predetermined signal units each composed of an FSK information bit part based on a waveform resulted from FSK modulation of information bit and a singe-frequency part based on a waveform of a single frequency. The FSK modulation uses two different frequencies of which the one is the same as the single frequency and the other is different from the single frequency. These different frequencies are in such a relation that each of them has an even number of wobbles and an odd number of wobbles alternately in a predetermined cycle. |
| US08254223B2 |
Optical drive device and tilt detection method
An optical drive device for performing information recording or reproduction of recorded information by formation of a mark by focusing a first light at a necessary position in a recording layer of an optical recording medium by an objective lens includes a position control unit configured to focus a second light on a reflection film, in which a position guide element of the optical recording medium is formed, through the objective lens and to enable the spot position of the second light to follow the position guide element based on the reflected light of the second light focused on the reflection film so as to control the position of the objective lens. The optical drive device further includes a first focusing unit, a first light-sensing portion, and a surface reflection light deviation amount detection unit. |
| US08254221B2 |
Circuit for generating tracking error signal
A circuit for generating a tracking error signal is provided. The circuit includes a digitizing circuit, a short signal removing circuit and phase comparator. The digitizing circuit receives first and second pick-up signals outputted from a pick-up head, and respectively compares the first and the second pick-up signals with a reference signal to obtain a first digital signal and a second digital signal. The short signal removing circuit is used for removing pulses in the first and the second digital signals, wherein the pulse width of the removed pulses are shorter than a preset time, and the first and second digital without the removed pulses are respectively served as a first determining signal and a second determining signal. The phase comparator receives the first determining signal and the second determining signal for outputting the tracking error signal according to a phase difference between the first and the second determining signals. |
| US08254220B2 |
Objective lens actuator
In an objective lens actuator of an optical disk drive and the like, variations in the fixed end positions of wires serving as suspensions are reduced and tilt characteristics are improved. Terminal plates 20 fixed to a lens holder are tilted relative to wires 13 for supporting the lens holder with elasticity, and are soldered at the edges of the terminal plates 20, so that variations in the fixed end positions of the wires 13 are reduced. |
| US08254215B1 |
Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head
A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes a main pole, a waveguide, and a plasmon generator. The main pole has a front end face including first and second ends that are opposite in a track width direction. An arbitrary cross section of the main pole that passes through an arbitrary point on the front end face and is perpendicular to a medium facing surface and to the track width direction has a length in a direction perpendicular to the medium facing surface. When the arbitrary point on the front end face is located at a center of the front end face in the track width direction, the length of the arbitrary cross section is smaller than that when the arbitrary point is located at the first end and that when the arbitrary point is located at the second end. |
| US08254208B2 |
Multi-state beamforming array
A sonar system and method of operating a sonar system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the sonar system comprises an array of transducers and a multiplexer configurable into a plurality of states. In one embodiment, the multiplexer, when in a first state, electrically couples a plurality of connections with the plurality of transducers via a first mapping and, in a second state, electrically couples the plurality of connections with the plurality of transducers via a second mapping. |
| US08254207B2 |
System and method for seismic data acquisition
In various embodiments, seismic receivers may detect seismic energy and transmit digital signals representative of the seismic energy to an S-line interface module (SLIM) and/or a smart antenna module (SAM) for collection. A SLIM may be used to connect two or more seismic receivers together. A SAM may include a memory medium for storing digital signals from seismic receivers (e.g., received directly from the seismic receivers or received through a connection to a SLIM) and a wireless transmitter to transmit data stored on the memory medium. The SAM may further include a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for receiving and storing timestamps, clock data, and/or positional data relative to the seismic receivers. The timestamps, clock data, and/or positional data may be transmitted along with the digital signal data to an external source (e.g., a laptop) for analysis to detect characteristics of subterranean formations. |
| US08254203B2 |
Addressing circuit of semiconductor memory device and addressing method therefor
The addressing circuit of a semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of register units coupled to an input unit and a plurality of memory cell arrays, wherein the plurality of register units are configured to store inputted data in response to register control signals, and a control unit configured to generate the register control signals, using defect information of respective memory cell arrays, to control whether or not the register units store the inputted. |
| US08254202B2 |
Internal command generation circuit
The internal command generation circuit includes a burst pulse generation unit and a pulse shifting unit. The burst pulse generation unit is configured to receive a command for a read or write operation, and generate a first burst pulse. The pulse shifting unit is configured to shift the first burst pulse and generate an internal command. |
| US08254200B2 |
System and method to compensate for process and environmental variations in semiconductor devices
An integrated circuit (IC) including a controller integrally formed on a shared die with the IC and method of operating the same to compensate for process and environmental variations in the IC are provided. In one embodiment the IC is comprised of device and sub-circuits, and the method includes: receiving in the IC electrical power and information on at least one of one or more operational parameters of the IC; and adjusting one or more operating characteristics of at least one of the devices and sub-circuits in the IC based on the received information using a controller integrally formed on a shared die with the IC. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08254191B2 |
Switched interface stacked-die memory architecture
Systems and methods disclosed herein include those that may receive a memory request including a requested memory address and may send the memory request directly to an address decoder associated with a stacked-die memory vault without knowing whether a repair address is required. If a subsequent analysis of the memory request shows that a repair address is required, an in-process decode of the requested memory address can be halted and decoding of the repair address initiated. |
| US08254190B1 |
System and method for driving a memory circuit utilizing a pull-up resistance when strobing the memory circuit and driving the memory circuit devoid of the pull-up resistance when reading or writing data
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for driving a memory circuit. In one embodiment, the memory circuit is driven utilizing a first resistance value in a first mode of operation. Further, in a second mode of operation, the memory circuit is driven utilizing a second resistance value. In another embodiment, a device is provided for driving a memory circuit without active termination utilizing a resistor. |
| US08254189B2 |
Method for tuning control signal associated with at least one memory device
Disclosed is a method for tuning control signals associated with one or more memory devices. The method includes performing a number of memory access operations on at least one memory device and recording results of the memory access operations. Specifically, the memory access operations are performed with different time delays for a first edge of a control signal. The control signal used for capturing data is provided by the at least one memory device. The method further includes selecting a time delay from the time delays used in the memory access operations. Moreover, the method includes utilizing the selected time delay in performing subsequent memory access operations on the at least one memory device. Also disclosed is a system including at least one memory device and an integrated circuit operatively coupled to the at least one memory device. The system incorporates the method for tuning control signals. |
| US08254187B2 |
Data transfer apparatus, and method, and semiconductor circuit
Provided is a data transfer apparatus and method that enables fast data transfer, and has a simple circuit configuration and a small area; and a semiconductor circuit. The data transfer apparatus includes: a data pair generation circuit (301) that transfers a generated data pair during one cycle of a handshake signal communication; a multiplexer (302) that outputs one of the data pair in accordance with a handshake signal; a memory (305) that stores the data output from the multiplexer (302) in response to bi-directional transition of the memory control input signal; a memory control circuit (303) that performs a handshake signal communication and outputs the memory control signal; a request signal waiting circuit (306) that waits until one of the data pair is stored in the memory (305) and the other data is output from the multiplexer (302); and a data pair receiving circuit (307) that receives the data pair in response to a signal from the request signal waiting circuit (306) and outputs the data pair to the transfer destination. |
| US08254185B2 |
Semiconductor device for generating internal voltage and memory system including the semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a comparator, an internal voltage generator, a control signal generator, and a selector. The comparator may compare a reference voltage to an internal voltage and output a comparison signal. The internal voltage generator may generate and output the internal voltage in response to the comparison signal. The control signal generator may generate a control signal. The selector may receive first and second target voltages, and select and output one of the first and second target voltages as the reference voltage in response to the control signal. |
| US08254180B2 |
Methods of operating memories including characterizing memory cell signal lines
Methods of operating memories facilitate compensating for memory cell signal line propagation delays, such as to increase the overall threshold voltage range and non-volatile memory cell states available. Methods include selecting a memory cell signal line of a memory and characterizing the memory cell signal line by determining an RC time constant of the memory cell signal line. |
| US08254176B2 |
Eeprom device
A stable and reliable EEPROM device includes an EEPROM cell having first, second and third control voltage terminals for performing operations for programming, reading and erasing data, respectively, a first transistor configured to supply a programming operation voltage to the first control voltage terminal during the programming operation, a second transistor configured to supply a ground voltage to the first control voltage terminal, the data of which will not be programmed during the programming operation, and a third transistor connected to the second control voltage terminal and turned on by an address selected for reading the data of the EEPROM cell during the reading operation. |
| US08254172B1 |
Wear leveling non-volatile semiconductor memory based on erase times and program times
A non-volatile semiconductor memory is disclosed comprising a memory device including a plurality of memory segments. A program command is issued to the memory device to program a memory segment, and a program time required to execute the program command is saved. An erase command is issued to the memory device to erase the memory segment, and an erase time required to execute the erase command is saved. A wear leveling algorithm is executed for the memory segment in response to the program time and the erase time. |
| US08254167B2 |
Joint encoding of logical pages in multi-page memory architecture
Multiple logical pages are jointly encoded into a single code word and are stored in the same physical page of a solid state non-volatile memory (NVM) device having multi-level memory cells. A first logical page of the multiple logical pages is stored in the memory device as first bits of the multi-level memory cells while a second logical page of the multiple logical pages is temporarily cached. After the first logical page is stored as the first bits of the memory cell, the second logical page is stored as second bits of the memory cells. |
| US08254165B2 |
Organic electronic memory component, memory component arrangement and method for operating an organic electronic memory component
The invention relates to an organic electronic memory component having an electrode and a counterelectrode and an organic layer arrangement formed between said electrode and counterelectrode and in electrical contact herewith, wherein the organic layer arrangement comprises the following organic layers: an electrode-specific charge carrier transport layer and a counterelectrode-specific charge carrier-blocking layer and disposed between said electrode-specific charge carrier transport layer and counterelectrode-specific charge carrier-blocking layer a memory layer region having a charge carrier-storing layer and a further charge carrier-storing layer between which charge carrier-storing layer and a further charge carrier-storing layer is disposed a charge carrier barrier layer. Furthermore the invention relates to a method for the operating of an organic electronic memory component. |
| US08254162B2 |
Method and system for providing magnetic tunneling junctions usable in spin transfer torque magnetic memories
A method and system for providing a magnetic junction are described. The method and system include providing a free layer, a symmetry filter, and a pinned layer. The free layer has a first magnetic moment switchable between stable states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction. The symmetry filter transmits charge carriers having a first symmetry with higher probability than charge carriers having another symmetry. The pinned layer has a second magnetic moment pinned in a direction. The symmetry filter resides between the free layer and the pinned layer. At least one of the free layer and the pinned layer lies in a plane, has the charge carriers of the first symmetry in a spin channel at a Fermi level, lacks the charge carriers of the first symmetry at the Fermi level in another spin channel, and has a nonzero magnetic moment component perpendicular to the plane. |
| US08254157B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes: an oxide resistance change element, a constant current source circuit supplying a write current to the oxide resistance change element, and a voltage clamper clamping a voltage in a path in which a write current flows. The voltage clamper is arranged in parallel with the path between the constant current source circuit and the oxide resistance change element. |
| US08254154B2 |
NAND flash memory having bit line with smaller width than width of peripheral interconnect line
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of dummy line patterns arranged at a first pitch on an underlying region, forming first mask patterns having predetermined mask portions formed on long sides of the dummy line patterns, each of the first mask patterns having a closed-loop shape and surrounding each of the dummy line patterns, removing the dummy line patterns, forming a second mask pattern having a first pattern portion which covers end portions of the first mask patterns and inter-end portions each located between adjacent ones of the end portions, etching the underlying region using the first mask patterns and the second mask pattern as a mask to form trenches each located between adjacent ones of the predetermined mask portions, and filling the trenches with a predetermined material. |
| US08254151B2 |
Power supply
In a switched mode power supply, and in accordance with a method for operating a switched mode power supply, the magnitude of each occurrence of a current flowing during operation of a power output switch is sensed for negative feedback control. A sense voltage is generated proportional to the primary supply voltage. Whenever the sense voltage exceeds a threshold, output power of the power supply is limited by increasing the sensed magnitude of each occurrence of the flowing currents by adding to each sensed magnitude a voltage proportional to the sense voltage. Threshold voltages can be selected by using Zener diodes having different breakdown voltages. Respective ranges within the overall range of the primary supply voltage in which supplemental power limiting occurs and does not occur can thus be controlled. |
| US08254147B2 |
Box for an electronics module for controlling a machine
A box for an electronics module for controlling a machine, in particular an engine, wherein the box comprises: a portion co-operating with at least one harness for connecting the box mechanically and electrically to the machine; and a bottom, two lateral sides, and a transverse side defining a housing for receiving the electronics module, and connector means of the electronics module. |
| US08254146B2 |
Detachable capacitor device
A capacitor seat and two conductors are utilized to install a capacitor seat on a PCB by soldering the two conductors on electrical contacts of the PCB. The capacitor is installed on the capacitor seat in a fastening way such as by pressing downward, rotating the capacitor or in other feasible fastening ways to be electrically connected with the electrical contacts on the PCB. If the detachable capacitor device has errors or is damaged in use, or a user wants to replace it with a different type of the capacitors to test or adjust the characteristic of the circuit, it is easy to replace the capacitor. |
| US08254144B2 |
Circuit board laminated module and electronic equipment
A circuit board laminated module includes: a first circuit board having a multi-layer structure in which ground layers are provided in a plurality of layers; a second circuit board mounted on the first circuit board; and a semiconductor chip mounted on the second circuit board, wherein in the first circuit board, a noise guiding through via which guides an electromagnetic noise generated in the semiconductor chip to a lower layer side is provided on a side different from a circuit portion or a circuit element desired to be protected against influence of the electromagnetic noise in a surrounding direction of an occurrence place of the electromagnetic noise. |
| US08254143B2 |
Backplane and communication apparatus
The present invention discloses a communication apparatus. The communication apparatus includes one or more board and a backplane. The board includes a connector and a function processing unit circuit connected to the connector. The backplane includes at least one group of board connectors. Each group of the board connectors includes two board connectors that receive signals from different boards. The board connector includes connection terminals connected to the connector on boards. The two board connectors are distributed up and down, and the connection terminals of the two board connectors are distributed symmetrically around a center. The foregoing communication apparatus and backplane are cost-efficient. |
| US08254139B2 |
Communication device and motherboard thereof
A motherboard of a communication device includes a baseboard, an antenna, a wireless communication module, a first connecting component, a second connecting component, and a main microstrip line. The base board includes a circuit area provided with the wireless communication module and the first connecting component, an antenna area provided with the antenna, and a protecting area disposed between the circuit area and the antenna area to separate the circuit area and the antenna area from each other. The antenna includes a feed-in end for signal feed-in. The second connecting component is disposed at the wireless communication module, and is separably connected to the first connecting component. The main microstrip line is disposed on the base board, and electrically connects the first connecting component and the feed-in end. The main microstrip line is electrically connected to the wireless communication module through the first and second connecting components. |
| US08254138B2 |
Electronic device with protective cover
An electronic device having an external interface is disclosed including a housing having a positioning board, a protective cover having a cover portion, and a securing assembly secured to the positioning board. The cover portion is for covering or exposing the external interface. The securing assembly and the positioning board cooperatively prevent a portion of the protective cover from separating from the housing. |
| US08254135B2 |
Surface contact card holder for electronic device
A holder for a surface contact card includes a first housing, a second housing, and a tray. The first housing defines a receiving hole. The second housing includes a cover portion. A tray is configured for carrying a surface contact card therein. The cover portion covers one part of the tray. The tray slidably engages in the receiving hole allowing insertion and removal of the surface contact card from inside the first housing and the second housing. |
| US08254132B2 |
Flash drive and housing assembly thereof
A flash drive and a housing assembly thereof is provided. The housing assembly comprises a housing, a base and a rotating mechanism. The housing has a first opening, a second opening, and a space, the first opening is situated at a side surface of the housing, and the second opening is situated on a top surface of the housing. The base is used for accommodating a storage device which has a connecting member, the base is movably disposed in the space and has a slot facing the second opening. The rotating mechanism is disposed at the second opening and mounted to the housing, the rotating mechanism has a protrusion portion movably engaged in the slot. When the rotating mechanism rotates relative to the housing, the protrusion portion moves along the slot and drives the base to reciprocate between a first position and a second position. |
| US08254129B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes: a housing; a circuit board accommodated in the housing; a face mounting component mounted on the circuit board; a heating component mounted on the circuit board; a reinforcing member having a thermal conductivity and configured to reinforce a region on the circuit board on which the face mounting component is mounted; and a radiation unit extended from the reinforcing member and connected thermally to the heating component. |
| US08254121B2 |
Cooler and display device having the same
A cooler and a display device including the cooler. The cooler includes: a housing; an air blowing unit disposed inside the housing and sucking external air and blowing the external air in the housing, wherein the air blowing unit includes a plurality of groups each including two air blowers; a guide vane disposed above the air blowing unit and to guide air flowed out from the air blowing unit to flow in different directions; and a plurality of auxiliary guide vanes disposed between the air blowing unit and the guide vane, and each disposed in each of the groups each including two air blowers, so as to guide air flowing below the air blowing unit to flow toward the guide vane. |
| US08254118B2 |
Electronic device with latching assembly
An electronic device with a latching assembly includes a housing, a battery cover, a circuit board, and a latching assembly. The battery cover includes a pair of hook portions. The circuit board is mounted in the housing. The latching assembly includes a touch element, a magnetic element, and a pair of latching elements. The touch element and the magnetic element are electrically connected to the circuit board. The latching elements are connected with two opposite ends of the magnetic element, respectively. The latching elements cooperate with the hook portions to secure the battery cover to the housing. When the touch element is touched, a touch signal is generated and transmitted to the circuit board, the circuit board charges the magnetic element in response to the touch signal, and when the magnetic element is charged, the magnetic element contract to cause the latching elements to disengage from the hook portions. |
| US08254116B2 |
Tilting portable electronic device
A tilting portable electronic device includes a housing, a cover, at least one rod, and at least one elastic member. The rod and the elastic member respectively rotatably connect the housing and the cover. When the cover is opened relative to the housing, the elastic member expands and causes the rod to rotate until the elastic member and the rod intercross to support an end of the cover in a slanted position relative to the housing. |
| US08254113B2 |
Circuit board assembly
A circuit board assembly includes a motherboard defining a number of plug slots, and a fixing mechanism for securing a heat sink. The fixing mechanism is positioned between two adjacent plug slots, and includes a support member mounted on the motherboard, two fixing brackets mounted on opposite ends of the support member, two bars rotatably connected to the fixing brackets, and a connection member detachably connected to the support member by the bars. The opposite borders of the support member extend in the same direction substantially parallel to the plug slots, and the support member forms four connecting portions for securing the heat sink on opposite sides thereof, and the connecting portions are located between the opposite borders. |
| US08254109B2 |
Disk drive mounting device and disk drive assembly
A disk drive mounting device for use in an electronic apparatus includes a mounting frame, fasteners, and a cover member. The mounting frame includes a mounting plate, a flange formed at a side of the mounting plate, and a plurality of mounting ears extending outwardly from the mounting plate. Each of the mounting ears defines at least one receiving cutout therein. In use, one end of each of the fasteners is mounted on the disk drive and the other end is received in the receiving cutout of a corresponding mounting ear. The cover member is secured on the flange of the mounting frame and abuts the at least one disk drive to prevent the fasteners from disengaging from the receiving cutouts of the mounting ears. A disk drive assembly is also provided. |
| US08254107B2 |
Disk drive mounting apparatus
A disk drive mounting apparatus, for a computer case comprising a base plate and a side plate formed at one side of the base plate, includes a supporting bracket and a mounting frame. The side plate defines an L-shaped guiding slot therein. The supporting bracket defines a hooking hole therein. The mounting frame is configured for mounting a disk drive therein. The mounting frame is provided with a guiding post at one side thereof and an L-shaped hook at an opposite side thereof. The guiding post is slidable along and engagable in the guiding slot, and the hook is slidable along the hooking hole and engagable in the supporting bracket in the hooking hole. |
| US08254103B2 |
Hinge unit and portable computer having the same
Disclosed are a hinge unit which couples a first member and a second member, the hinge unit including: a conic shaft which is coupled to the first member, and comprises a hinge pivot, a conic unit of a truncated cone shape, the radius of which is extended in an end area of the hinge pivot, and a first rocking unit formed to an outer surface of the conic unit; and a conic sleeve which is coupled to the second member, and comprises a sleeve main body formed with a conic accommodating unit having a shape corresponding to the conic unit in an inner part of the conic accommodating unit, and a second rocking unit formed to an inner surface of the conic accommodating unit to be coupled with the first rocking unit. |
| US08254101B2 |
Desktop computer with monitor mount
A desktop computer includes a monitor defining a number of screw holes in the backside and a chassis defining a number of fixing holes. A number of screws extending through the fixing holes of the chassis and mounts into the corresponding screw holes of the monitor, to mount the monitor to the chassis. |
| US08254097B2 |
Mounting apparatus for peripheral component interconnect card
A mounting apparatus for a PCI card includes a mounting bracket, a securing piece adapted to attach the PCI card to the mounting bracket and a securing member. The mounting bracket has a base and a blocking plate perpendicular to the base. The securing member includes a pressing piece and a securing piece rotatably attached to the pressing piece. The mounting piece includes a mounting end. The securing piece includes a securing portion. The securing piece is capable of engaging with an inside surface of the mounting bracket by rotating the securing piece relative to the pressing piece, thereby sandwiching the mounting end of the securing piece between the blocking plate and the pressing piece. |
| US08254096B2 |
All-in-one computer
An all-in-one computer includes a hard disk drive (HDD), a main body, a cover, and a fasten member. The main body defines a receiving space to receive the HDD, and a fasten hole. The receiving space is bounded by a number of walls. A first raised edge protrudes from the number of walls in the receiving space. The cover includes a board, a first hook, and a mounting piece defining a through hole. The board includes opposite first and second ends. The first hook extends from the first end. The mounting piece extends from the second end. When the cover is mounted to the main body, the first hook snappingly hooks an inner side of the first raised edge, the board is stopped by the first raised edge, and the fasten member can extend through the through hole and engage in the fasten hole. |
| US08254095B2 |
Audio visual alarm housing
An audio visual alarm device that can adapt to a familial look is provided. The audio visual alarm device can include an alarm housing having a footprint of a first shape, and a cover housing having a footprint of a second shape. The alarm housing can include circuitry for operating the audio visual alarm device, and the second shape can be different from the first shape. The cover housing can be configured to accommodate the alarm housing and affix to the alarm housing to give the alarm housing an appearance corresponding to the second shape. At least one portion of the alarm housing can protrude through the cover housing. |
| US08254094B2 |
Protection mechanism and electronic device employing the same
A protection mechanism used for in an electronic device includes a main body and two pivoting members. The main body is capable of receiving and protecting the electronic device, and the pivoting members are rotatably positioned on the main body. The pivoting members are capable of locking and protecting the electronic device. An electronic device employing the protection mechanism is also described. The protection mechanism can simply secure and unlock the electronic device through the pivoting members, which is easy to operate. Moreover, the electronic device can not fall from the protection mechanism because of the cooperation between the pivoting members and the holding member. |
| US08254092B2 |
Mount and electronic display system
A mounting system for a flat panel display includes a wall interface assembly, a pair of arm assemblies, and a mounting assembly. The wall interface assembly can include a slide plate connected to arm assemblies which enable the arm assemblies and mount assembly to be horizontally shifted without the need to remove the mount from the wall and reattach it. The arm assemblies may be substantially hollow arms having removable covers for storing wires connected to display therein. The mounting assembly can also include a pair of brace arms each having two generally D-shaped members placed back-to-back and slidable relative to each other to enable the mount assembly to be expanded to mount various sized displays without extending beyond the width of the display. |
| US08254085B2 |
Stacked electric double layer capacitor
A stacked electric double layer capacitor includes a capacitor unit, an aluminum laminate film, and a current collector terminal. The capacitor unit includes a pressure plate, and a current collector plate arranged inside the pressure plate. The aluminum laminate film wraps the capacitor unit, and includes a periphery that defines and surrounds a hole at a side surface of the capacitor unit. The current collector terminal is L-shaped, and includes a contact portion in contact with the current collector plate, and a terminal portion arranged perpendicular to the contact portion, wherein at least a part of the terminal portion is exposed through the hole of the aluminum laminate film, and connected to an external circuit, and the terminal portion is heat-welded to the aluminum laminate film. |
| US08254077B2 |
Solenoid valve driving circuit, solenoid valve, and solenoid valve driving method
A solenoid valve driving circuit for a solenoid valve includes a current detector for detecting a current that flows in a solenoid coil, a rate of change over time calculating unit for calculating a rate of change over time of the detected current, and a maintaining state transition determining unit for determining a timing at which transition from a first period to a second period occurs based on the calculated rate of change over time. |
| US08254076B2 |
Providing modular power conversion
In one embodiment, a medium voltage drive system includes at least one transformer and multiple power cell chambers each coupled to a transformer. The power cell chambers each may include a rectifier, a DC-link, and an inverter. Each power cell chamber can be separated into fixed and moveable portions, where the moveable portion includes the rectifier and the inverter and the fixed portion includes the DC-link. A power service bus can couple the fixed and moveable portions of each power cell chamber and couple in series groups of the plurality of power cell chambers. |
| US08254067B2 |
Tunnel junction type magneto-resistive head
As recording density of sensors is increased, it is desired to lower the areal resistivity (RA) of TMR sensors. Decreasing RA to 1.0 Ωμm2 or below badly influences the read signal since the interlayer coupling magnetic field (Hint) between the pinned layer and the free layer increases sharply and impedes the free rotation of magnetization of the free layer. According to one embodiment, a tunnel junction type magneto-resistive head solves this problem by having a layered film comprising an underlying layer, a crystalline orientation control layer, an antiferromagnetic layer, a first ferromagnetic layer, an antiparallel coupling layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, an insulation barrier layer, and a third ferromagnetic layer between a lower magnetic shield layer and an upper magnetic shield layer, wherein a crystallographic plane of the antiferromagnetic layer is directed parallel to a film surface by growing the antiferromagnetic layer substantially conformably on the crystalline orientation control layer. |
| US08254066B2 |
Technique for measuring process induced magnetic anisotropy in a magnetoresistive sensor
A method for determining a magnetic anisotropy of a free layer of a magnetoresistive sensor. The method includes forming a functional magnetoresistive sensor and also a test sensor on a wafer. The test sensor has a sensor stack that is identical to that of the functional sensor, however the test head does not have a magnetic bias structure for biasing the free layer. A series of tests can be performed to construct a transfer curve for the test sensor. This can then be used to determine a magnetic anisotropy of the test head, which also corresponds to a magnetic anisotropy of the functional head. |
| US08254063B2 |
Slider for a head gimbal assembly with an inverted dimple
Apparatus and method for forming a head gimbal assembly (HGA). In accordance with various embodiments, a slider is formed with opposing first and second side surfaces, an air bearing feature on said first side surface and a dimple extending from said second side surface adapted to facilitate multi-axial rotation of the slider. |
| US08254060B1 |
Straight top main pole for PMR bevel writer
A magnetic recording head includes a write pole comprising a throat region. The throat region includes a lower portion having a substantially trapezoidal cross-section, and an upper portion having a substantially rectangular cross-section. In a beveled region of the write pole, the substantially rectangular cross-section of the upper portion decreases in height towards an air bearing surface of the magnetic recording head. |
| US08254058B2 |
Flat profile tape head
A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a first module having a tape bearing surface; a second module having a tape bearing surface; and a third module having a tape bearing surface, the third module being positioned on an opposite side of the second module than the first module, wherein the tape bearing surface of the first module is substantially parallel to a tape oriented at a desired wrap angle relative to the tape bearing surface of the second module at an edge of the tape bearing surface of the second module closest to the first module, wherein writing and reading functions are performed by different modules at a given time. |
| US08254056B2 |
Air breather with waterproof fiber material for magnetic disk drive
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a magnetic disk drive that reliably prevents entry of water or other form of liquid through a breathing hole for the enhanced performance, reliability, and the like. In one embodiment, a box body forming part of a hard disk drive (HDD) has a top cover. The top cover includes a breathing hole drilled therein. The breathing hole serves to eliminate any pressure difference between an inside and an outside of the HDD. A fiber waterproof body, which includes a waterproof fiber material or the like, is fitted in a large-diameter hole of the breathing hole. A pore waterproof body, formed by bundling up a large number of slender pores, is mounted in a small-diameter hole of the breathing hole. |
| US08254055B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for controlling out-gassing and humidity in a closed space-constrained environment
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for controlling out-gassing and humidity in a closed space-constrained environment. In particular, an environment control device is disclosed which is made using thermoforming techniques such that the walls of the device are much thinner than other conventional devices. This allows for the device to be used in space-constrained environment while still providing a sufficient amount of absorber material such as a desiccant. The apparatus includes a base made up of a thin flexible plastic film thermoformed to create a cavity having at least one wall, the cavity having an opening on one side. An absorber material, such as a desiccant, is placed inside the cavity, and a cover made up of a permeable layer sealed to the base opening to complete an enclosure for holding the absorber material. |
| US08254052B2 |
Method of making a multi-channel time based servo tape media
A thin film magnetic recording head is fabricated by forming a substrate from opposing ferrite blocks which have a ceramic member bonded between them. This structure is then diced to form a plurality of columns, wherein each column has a ferrite/ceramic combination. Each column represents a single channel in the completed head. A block of ceramic is then cut to match the columned structure and the two are bonded together. The bonded structure is then cut or ground until a head is formed, having ceramic disposed between each channel. A ferrite back-gap is then added to each channel, minimizing the reluctance of the flux path. The thin film is patterned on the head to optimize various channel configurations. |
| US08254050B2 |
System and method for determining vibration of at least one hard disk drive
A system for determining vibration of at least one hard disk drive includes one or more computers configured to command a plurality of reads from the at least one hard disk drive such that, for each of the plurality of reads, data stored on the at least one hard disk drive is retrieved directly from the at least one hard disk drive. The one or more computers are also configured to obtain read rate information related to the plurality of reads and to determine a vibration level experienced by the at least one hard disk drive based on the read rate information. |
| US08254047B2 |
Voice coil motor
A voice coil motor includes a stationary member and a moveable member. The stationary member defines a central axis. The stationary member includes a first receiving room, four sidewalls surrounding the first receiving room and four guide rails formed on the respective sidewalls and located in the receiving room. The moveable member is received in the stationary frame. The moveable member includes a moveable frame. The moveable frame includes four side surfaces. A plurality of restricting posts extend from each side surface and are aligned in a line parallel to the corresponding guide rail. The restricting posts slidably engage in the corresponding guide rails. |
| US08254046B2 |
Camera module with autofocus function
Provided is a camera module that includes a lens section comprising at least one lens, a coil section fixed to the lens section and comprising wiring terminals, a magnet section comprising a permanent magnet, an inner yoke, and an outer yoke, wherein the inner yoke and the outer yoke induce a magnetic force line to pass through the coil section, and a terminal extension section comprising a first terminal and a second terminal that electrically extend from the wiring terminals of the coil section to the outside of the camera module and surround the magnet section so that the first terminal and the second terminal are externally exposed. |
| US08254044B2 |
Driving apparatus, lens driving apparatus, and mechanical apparatus
The size of a driving apparatus to be mounted in a mobile terminal is desired to be reduced. In a driving apparatus according to the present invention, an arm member supports a member to be driven in a slidable manner. A first biasing member has a predetermined spring constant and biases the member to be driven via the arm member. A second biasing member has a spring constant that is smaller than the spring constant of the first biasing member and, by biasing the member to be driven in a direction that goes against the first biasing member, supports the member to be driven along with the arm member. A shape-memory alloy swings the arm member against the first biasing member by contracting when a drive current is supplied. The member to be driven is slid, when the arm member swings, by the second biasing member while keeping contact with the arm member. |
| US08254041B2 |
Lens system
A lens system, in order from the object, includes positive first lens, negative second lens, positive third lens, positive fourth lens, and an aperture stop positioned between the third and fourth lens. The second lens includes a first optical portion, a first support portion surrounding the first optical portion with a first surface and second surface. The third lens includes a second optical portion and a second support portion surrounding the second optical portion with a third surface and fourth surface. The fourth lens includes a light stop surface facing the object side of the lens system. The lens system satisfies the formulas: d23<1.1×d34, where the d23 is a distance along the optical axis of the lens system from the second surface to the third surface, and the d34 is a distance along the optical axis from the fourth surface to the light stop surface. |
| US08254033B2 |
Projection lens system with high resolution and compact size
A projection lens system includes, from the magnified side to the reduced side thereof, a first lens group having negative refractive power, a second lens group having positive refractive power, a third lens group having positive refractive power, and a field lens. The projection lens system satisfies the following conditions: 2.9 |
| US08254024B2 |
Inflatable display screen
An inflatable display screen has a front wall incorporating a rectangular display screen area, and a plurality of inflatable struts surrounding the screen area and extending rearwardly from the front wall to support the screen in an upright condition. A lower horizontal strut extends across the lower end of the front wall and projects forwards from the display screen area. Lower side struts extend rearwards to a lower horizontal strut extending across the rear end of the structure. A pair of rearwardly arched support struts extends from the upper corners of the front wall rearwards and downwards to the rear corners of the structure at corner junctions between the arched struts, lower side struts and the lower horizontal strut. |
| US08254019B2 |
Confocal microscope apparatus
The present application generates an image suitable for collectively observing a whole area or all wavelength components in a viewing field. A confocal microscope apparatus includes a detecting unit being disposed on a collecting location of the collecting optical system, separating incident light into a light from a vicinity of a collecting point on the sample and a light from a peripheral of the vicinity, and detecting each of the lights; and an image generating unit generating an image of the sample by a light signal from the vicinity and a light signal from the peripheral of the vicinity, and setting a ratio of the signal of the light from the vicinity of the collecting point to the signal of the light from the peripheral of the vicinity for each of areas on the image. |
| US08254017B2 |
Optical fiber amplifier and methods of making the same
A method is provided for forming an optical fiber amplifier. The method comprises providing a composite preform having a gain material core that includes one or more acoustic velocity varying dopants to provide a longitudinally varying acoustic velocity profile along the gain material core to suppress Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS) effects by raising the SBS threshold and drawing the composite preform to form the optical fiber amplifier. |
| US08254012B2 |
Display element
A display element in which reduced variation in color in the midtone has been achieved even when repeatedly driven is disclosed, comprising opposing electrodes and an electrolyte containing silver or a compound including silver in the chemical structure between the opposing electrodes, wherein the opposing electrodes are driven so that the silver is dissolved or deposited and the following requirement is satisfied: A1/A2>4 in which A1 (mA/cm2) is a maximum value of absolute values of an electric current applied between the opposed electrodes when driven in the direction of from a state of no silver being deposited on the side of the display electrode to that of the silver being deposited and A2 (mA/cm2) is a maximum of absolute values of an electric current applied between the opposing electrodes when driven in the direction of from a state of no silver being deposited on the side of the display electrode to that of the silver being dissolved. |
| US08254011B2 |
Driver attitude detection system
A driver attitude detection system for a vehicle includes a forward facing imaging sensor for capturing image data of a scene occurring forwardly of and in the direction of forward travel of an equipped vehicle. An image processor is operable to process image data captured by the forward facing imaging sensor. A control, responsive at least in part to image processing by the image processor of the captured image data, is operable to determine driver performance and generate a control output indicative of driver performance. The driver attitude detection system may include at least one monitoring device for monitoring a vehicle characteristic of the equipped vehicle, and the control may, responsive at least in part to the at least one monitoring device, be operable to determine driver performance and generate the control output. |
| US08254009B2 |
Optically powered electro-optical component
An optically powered optical modulator comprises an optical modulation component, such as an electro-optical modulator, acousto-optic modulator or magneto-optic modulator, in combination with one or two lens assemblies positioned at one or both apertures of the optical modulation component, so that the optical modulator formed by the combination of the lens assembly or assemblies and the optical modulation component has optical focus power. |
| US08254008B2 |
Blade drive device and optical device
A blade drive device includes: a board including an optical path opening; first and second blades cooperatively defining an amount of light passing through the optical path opening to a given amount of light. The first blade includes a first opening. The second blade includes: a first cutout portion defining the amount of light in cooperation with the first opening; and a second cutout portion defining the amount of light in cooperation with the first opening. The second cutout portion overlaps the first blade when the first cutout portion and the first opening cooperatively define the amount of light. |
| US08254004B2 |
Oscillator and optical deflector having oscillator
An oscillating device includes an oscillator, an elastic supporting member for movably supporting the oscillator, a first supporting frame for supporting the elastic supporting member, and a second supporting frame extending along the elastic supporting member with a spacing maintained therebetween, the second supporting member extending from the first supporting frame, wherein the second supporting frame is provided in a cantilever shape relative to the first supporting frame. |
| US08253996B2 |
System, color image producing device, color measurement device and color measurement method
A system is disclosed comprising a color image producing device for providing a test pattern on a medium, said test pattern comprising a plurality of color patches, said test pattern having a principal orientation axis under a non-perpendicular angle α with the propagation direction of the medium through said color image producing device; and a color measurement device coupled to receive the medium from the color image producing device and arranged to propagate the medium in said propagation direction, the color measurement device being further arranged to measure the colors of the respective patches of the medium during said propagation, the color measurement device comprising a color sensor mounted on the carriage oriented substantially perpendicularly to the propagation direction. The present application further discloses a color image producing device and a color measurement device that can be used in such a system, and a method for measuring colors with such a system. |
| US08253994B2 |
Optical scanner and image forming apparatus
An image forming optical equipment is disposed between a polygon mirror and the surface of a photoreceptor drum to form an image on the surface of the photoreceptor drum with scanning light, while at the same time, keeping its scanning speed nearly-constant, comprises a first scanning light lens, which has a positive power in the main scanning direction and a negative power in the sub-scanning direction, a second scanning light lens, which has a negative power in the main scanning direction and a positive power in the sub-scanning direction and is disposed in the side closer to the photoreceptor drum than the first scanning light lens, and a diffraction optical element, which is provided on the surface of the cylindrical lens in the beam light advancing path between a light source and a polygon mirror. |
| US08253993B2 |
Dual mirror illumination system for book copier
A scanner comprising a platen positioned along a first plane and configured to support an article to be scanned; one or more illuminators positioned below the platen along a second plane parallel to the first plane, and configured to emit light beams; one or more mirrors positioned between the platen and the one or more illuminators, each of the mirrors being configured to direct a light beam having a directional component parallel to the first and second planes emitted by the illuminators onto the article on the platen at the imaging point; one or more sensors configured to detect the light reflecting off the article at the imaging point along a sensor optical path; and a carriage mechanism constructed to affect relative movement parallel to the first and second planes between platen, and the one or more illuminators and the one or more mirrors in a scanning direction. |
| US08253988B2 |
Reading method, image forming method, computer program product
An image reading apparatus is configured to stop a scanning unit and a feeding unit when reading is interrupted, move a reading position of the scanning unit from a home position in a sub-scanning direction and stop it, read an original for a predetermined area including an acceleration distance while the reading position of the scanning unit is moved in a direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction, move the reading position of the scanning unit in the sub-scanning direction and return the scanning unit to the home position after the reading is finished, and activate the feeding unit to start reading the original when the reading is restarted. |
| US08253981B2 |
Formation of a color image by using a plurality of color component materials
A reference area around a pixel of interest is set in an image to be processed. It is determined whether a pixel not to be referred exists in the reference area. If the pixel not to be referred exists, the shape of the reference area is transformed based on the pixel. A trapping color for the pixel of interest is decided based on, a first peripheral pixel having a color component that is not included in the pixel of interest among peripheral pixels around the pixel of interest included in the reference area with the transformed shape. The density of the trapping color is calculated based on the peripheral pixels. The pixel value of the pixel of interest is corrected using the pixel of the trapping color having the calculated density in the image to be processed. The image forming unit forms an image having pixels corrected by said correction unit. |
| US08253980B2 |
Data processing device, ink jet printing system and data processing method
To enable the printing in which it is difficult for the dot to stand out and it is difficult for the gradation sequence properties to be degraded. Therefore, among plural dots each having a different size, the binary processing is carried out by using the same first dot arrangement pattern in regard to the large and medium-sized dots and the binary processing is carried out by using a dot arrangement pattern different from the first dot arrangement pattern in regard to the small-sized dots. |
| US08253978B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image forming apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes an image forming instructing section that notifies an image forming section, whether to perform a first printing processing with a plurality of colors including at least one chromatic color or a second printing processing with only black. A data obtaining section obtains pixel data from a plurality of pixels constituting an image; and an operating section inputs designated color data. A pixel data extracting section extracts pixel data of colors, except for a designated color indicated by the designated color data inputted through the operating section, from pixel data obtained by the data obtaining section. A printing type selecting section selects the first or second printing processing based on each pixel data extracted by the pixel data extracting section. The image forming instructing section notifies the printing type selected by the printing type selecting section as the type of printing processing to be performed. |
| US08253976B2 |
Apply conversion formula to functional filters executed in sequence for modifying print job
A print control device has a group of filters including at least two functional filters which execute a modifying process for modifying print job, a filter configuration storage that stores configuration information of the functional filter group, a filter execution unit which retrieves functional filters based on the filter configuration information and causes the retrieved functional filters to execute a modifying process of the print job data. The functional filter group includes a specific functional filter for modifying the print job data by adding additional information. The specific functional filter includes a conversion formula acquiring unit which acquires a conversion formula for converting the additional information corresponding to the modifying process executed by the other functional filters, and an additional information arranging unit for determining an arrangement of the additional information with respect to the print job modified by the other filters based on the conversion formula. |
| US08253974B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image processing apparatus, and control method therefor
In performing multi-pass printing by using a printhead having a plurality of nozzles, a print data setting unit sets a printing amount for each nozzle for each main scan of the printhead based on a print data setting LUT. This print data setting LUT reflects the information of the number of passes and the number of nozzles to be used which are arbitrarily set. A halftoning unit generates a dot pattern as a formation target by performing binarization processing for the print amounts set in this manner. |
| US08253971B2 |
Automated production control method
In a method for operating at least one machine with a computer, it is possible for at least one task for the production of a printed product to be stored in the computer, which task is processed on the machine. Parameters for setting the machine are stored as parameter sets in templates and relate to one or more production steps. For the purpose of job-specific adaptation, the settings in the templates must be modified. On account of settings which have not been tried and tested and not proven worthwhile, costs arise in terms of quality; in addition the settings can be made only by specialized personnel. To increase quality and to allow less qualified personnel to operate the machines, a parameter set based on rough entered data is compared with templates and that a most similar template be used to set the production step or steps. |
| US08253970B2 |
Method and apparatus for gaming promotional printer
A method and apparatus for a promotional printer for use within a cashless enabled gaming machine or vending machine are disclosed. A promotional printer includes a coupon database describing a stack of coupons that are specified using a template based couponing printer language. A coupon is selected for creation and issued to a user or player based on a matrix of event-based triggers involving factors or parameters known to the promotional printer directly or supplied by a master promotional controller. Triggers may include the time of day, the date or amount of a cash-out voucher to be issued to the user or player, the duration of play on a gaming machine, a player classification, the amount of money or credits added to a game, or a random frequency of coupon issuance having satisfied any or all of the aforementioned factors. The promotional printer may further include the ability to store all of the coupons, trigger conditions, and related information resident in the promotional printer in a non-volatile fashion thus enabling a host system to download a promotional environment into the promotional printer which will run promotional campaigns on behalf of the hosting system. |
| US08253968B2 |
Image forming apparatus, control method, and program for preventing image omission cause by registration error correction
This invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of preventing image omission caused by registration error correction, a control method therefor, and a program. Error amount information is acquired which is stored in a storage medium and represents the error amount of the scanning line of exposure light in the exposure scanning direction on an image carrier. The image data is modified on the basis of the acquired error amount information. A masked area for restricting the output position of an image visualized on the printing medium is modified on the basis of the modification amount of the modified image data. |
| US08253962B2 |
Image forming apparatus, computer readable storage medium and image formation processing method
An image forming apparatus that executes an image forming process based on print data including an execution command of transparency processes to be executed, comprises: a first storage unit to be used when the transparency process is executed; and a control unit for controlling the first number of transparency processes to be executed when a storage capacity of the first storage unit is insufficient to execute the transparency processes to be executed, and causing a display unit to display a preview image to which the second number of executable transparency processes different from the first number has been executed to determine an image being an object for print output based on an instruction by an operator relating to which transparency process is executed. |
| US08253959B2 |
Image forming apparatus with reduced start-up time
A disclosed image forming apparatus forming a visible image on a recording medium includes: a functional element required for an image forming operation; a first control unit controlling the functional element; an input unit inputting an external instruction; and a second control unit communicating with the first control unit about information on the image, performing a process in accordance with the instruction input via the input unit, and outputting a return signal for starting the functional element required for performing the process in accordance with the instruction. |
| US08253951B2 |
Systems and methods for determining when to download a resource to a printing device as part of a print job
Systems and methods for determining when to download a resource to a printing device as part of a print job are disclosed. An exemplary system includes a computing device. The computing device includes a processor and memory in electronic communication with the processor. Instructions are stored in the memory. The instructions are executable to implement a method that involves generating a print job for a printing device. The method also involves generating a resource index. The resource index includes a list of at least one resource referenced in the print job. The method also involves associating the resource index with the print job. The method also involves spooling the print job. |
| US08253947B2 |
Device and method for measuring lithography masks
A device for measuring lithography masks is provided, comprising a reticle carrier for the lithography mask to be measured, a measurement objective for reproducing on a detector a section of said lithography mask held by said reticle carrier, a measurement module for measuring the position of said reticle carrier relative to said measurement objective, and a correction module by means of which said reticle carrier can be moved in order to bring it into a predetermined position relative to said measurement objective, wherein said measurement objective and said measurement module are fastened directly to an instrument carrier in a locally fixed manner. |
| US08253946B2 |
Sensor apparatus and method using optical interferometry
A sensor includes a sensor head with at least two surfaces separated by a gap. One surface is mechanically fixed, a second surface is free to move and deflections of the second surface relative to the first surface are monitored by optical interferometry. An optical fiber could be used to direct light from a light source to the sensor and collect light reflected by the sensor. Interaction of molecules or other objects in the sample with the second surface is detected as a change in amplitude and/or phase of deflection the second surface in response to an applied driving signal. A layer of binding molecules may be immobilized on the second surface and this surface exposed to a sample. |
| US08253944B2 |
Alternate modulation scheme for an interferometric fiber optic gyroscope
An Interferometric Fiber Optic Gyro (IFOG) device for high accuracy sensing. An example IFOG includes an integrated optics chip (IOC) and a modulation component that modulates one or more light signals passing thru the IOC according to a bias-modulation waveform. A glitch pattern experienced at front-end components of the IFOG includes frequency content that has approximately zero amplitude at predefined sense harmonics. Frequency content of the bias-modulation waveform is below a predefined threshold value at the predefined sense harmonics. |
| US08253942B2 |
Optical gas detector
A gas detector is provided. The gas detector includes a measurement source of optical radiation, a reference source of optical radiation, a measurement detector configured to provide an output signal indicative of a gas of interest, a reference detector configured to provide an output signal at least partially independent of the gas of interest, a measurement optical path extending from the measurement source to the reference and measurement detectors, and a sample region for receiving a gaseous sample. The sample region is located along the measurement optical path. A window is positioned in the measurement optical path downstream from the measurement source and upstream from the reference and measurement detectors. The window is partially transparent to optical radiation and partially reflective to optical radiation. The window is positioned to either reflect a portion of the optical radiation emitted by the reference source into the measurement optical path or to allow a portion of the optical radiation emitted by the reference source to pass through the window into the measurement optical path. |
| US08253941B2 |
Apparatus for manufacturing display panel and method for manufacturing the same
An apparatus for manufacturing a display panel includes an arriving part in which an unfinished display panel is disposed. The apparatus has at least one light transmitting part, a mold which is positioned on the arriving part and which includes at least one alignment key and a pattern forming part, a mold driver which drives the mold, and an alignment sensor which is positioned under the arriving part and which determines whether the display panel and the mold are erroneously aligned through the light transmitting part. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently and accurately pattern a specific material onto the display panel through an imprint lithography process using a pressing mold. |
| US08253940B1 |
UV-IR range variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometer
An ellipsometer, polarimeter, reflectometer, spectrophotometer or scatterometer system for use in the UV and infrared range of wavelengths, characterized by the combination of a fiber optic capable of transmitting wavelengths from below 2.2 micron up to at least 3.5 microns, and a beam collimator formed from a combination of two off-axis concave astigmatism reducing spherical mirrors capable of operating between about 190 nm up to 5.5 microns. |
| US08253938B2 |
Method and apparatus for rapidly counting and identifying biological particles in a flow stream
A method for increasing the throughput, or the precision, or both the precision and the throughput, of a flow cytometer, or of a hematology analyzer employing a flow cytometer, by utilizing the technique of laser rastering. Laser rastering involves sweeping a laser beam across a flowing sample stream in a hematology analyzer. An apparatus suitable for carrying out the method of this invention comprises an optical module comprising a source of light, a scanning device, a lens or system of lenses, a flow cell, detectors, and filters; and an electronic module comprising preamplifiers, analog signal conditioning elements, analog-to-digital converters, field-programmable gate arrays, digital signal processing elements, and data storage elements. |
| US08253935B2 |
Disk surface inspection apparatus, inspection system thereof, and inspection method thereof
The invention has a function of preparing a data base for a relation between a defect shape and an arrangement for the optical system capable of detecting the shape at high sensitivity and automatically adjusting the arrangement for the optical system. As the method of preparing the data base, a method of using optical simulation or an experimental method of using a sample having an optical shape is applied. A pinhole position and a beam size are adjusted automatically so as to attain the optimal arrangement for the optical system to an inputted defect shape based on the data base. |
| US08253932B1 |
Laser and corner cube refractive-index structure parameter system
A near-IR laser laser-and-corner cube system for determining the refractive-index structure parameter by providing the return power of the retroreflected laser beam from the corner cube, which return power correlates to the refractive-index structure parameter. The system is economical, physically containing only (1) the laser which emits a near-IR wavelength output beam, (2) a 50/50 splitter, to receive back the retroreflected return beam from the corner cube along the same optical axis as the output beam, in a monostatic configuration; (3) the target corner cube; (4) a receiving focus lens; (5) a spectral filter and (6) a power meter to provide the monostatic measurement of the return power. Critically the ratio of the area of the corner cube to that of the receiving focus lens is at least 1:2, to obtain meaningful power measurements—to correlate to pre-calculated refractive-index structure parameters. |
| US08253931B2 |
Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An apparatus includes an optical system for illuminating an original, a measurement device which includes an image sensor arranged on a substrate stage, and is configured to measure a characteristic of the optical system based on a light intensity distribution that is formed on an image sensing plane of the image sensor via the optical system and a measurement pattern, a calibration pattern arranged to form a light intensity distribution having a known shape on the image sensing plane, and a controller configured to calibrate the measurement device based on the light intensity distribution by the calibration pattern, and a theoretical light intensity distribution that is expected to be formed on the image sensing plane by the calibration pattern, wherein the calibration pattern is arranged around a region where the measurement pattern is arranged. |
| US08253930B2 |
Absorption spectrometric apparatus for semiconductor production process
This absorption spectrometric apparatus for semiconductor production process includes a flow passageway switching mechanism connected to a discharging flow passageway of a processing chamber for a semiconductor production process and a multiple reflection type moisture concentration measuring absorption spectrometric analyzer that allows a laser beam from a laser light source to undergo multiple reflection within a cell, detects a light absorbancy change by a gas within the cell, and measures a moisture concentration within the gas. The flow passageway switching mechanism connects the discharging flow passageway by switching between a measuring flow passageway through which the gas is discharged by passing through the cell and a bypass flow passageway through which the gas is discharged without passing through the cell. |
| US08253929B2 |
Stage apparatus, fixation method, exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device-producing method
A stage apparatus including: a movement member movable with a plate member placed on a placement surface; and a fixing apparatus that fixes said plate member to said placement surface in parallel with said movement member passing through a prescribed first region. |
| US08253927B2 |
Optical element with multiple primary light sources
The disclosure relates to an illumination system, such as an illumination system for use in microlithography. The illumination system can include an optical element with multiple primary light sources. The illumination system can illuminate a field in a field plane having a field contour. The illumination system can be configured so that each primary light source illuminates an area in the field plane that is smaller than a size of an area encircled by the field contour. |
| US08253926B2 |
Exposure device
An exposure device for producing semiconductors and liquid crystals has an optical system capable of effectively using light generated without making a hole in a lamp discharge vessel when high energy laser light is supplied to it for emitting light, such as ultraviolet light. The exposure device has a light source for emitting ultraviolet light, a laser device for emitting laser light, an elliptical reflector for reflecting ultraviolet light emitted from the light source, and an optical system for directing light reflected by the elliptical reflector to an article to be treated via optical elements including a collimator lens and an integrator lens, and a beam splitter having a wavelength selecting ability provided in the optical path for light reflected by the elliptical reflector to allow laser light to be incident on the light source from and opening side of the elliptical reflector. |
| US08253924B2 |
Exposure method, exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus is provided with an optical system including a liquid, a sensor system for acquiring energy information of an energy beam which is incident on the liquid, and a controller which predicts variation of optical properties of the optical system including the liquid due to energy absorption of the liquid based on the energy information acquired using the sensor system and controls exposure operation with respect to an object based on the prediction results. According to the exposure apparatus, exposure operation without being influenced by the variation of the optical properties of the optical system including the liquid due to the energy absorption of the liquid becomes possible. |
| US08253922B2 |
Immersion lithography system using a sealed wafer bath
Immersion lithography system and method using a sealed wafer bottom are described. One embodiment is an immersion lithography apparatus comprising a lens assembly comprising an imaging lens and a wafer stage for retaining a wafer beneath the lens assembly, the wafer stage comprising a seal ring disposed on a seal ring frame along a top edge of the wafer retained on the wafer stage, the seal ring for sealing a gap between an edge of the wafer and the wafer stage. The embodiment further includes a fluid tank for retaining immersion fluid, the fluid tank situated with respect to the wafer stage for enabling full immersion of the wafer retained on the wafer stage in the immersion fluid and a cover disposed over at least a portion of the fluid tank for providing a temperature-controlled, fluid-rich environment within the fluid tank. |
| US08253909B2 |
Electro-optical device substrate, electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus
An electro-optical device substrate includes a substrate, a plurality of data lines and a plurality of scanning lines crossing each other on the substrate, and a plurality of pixels defined by the plurality of data lines and the plurality of scanning lines so as to correspond to intersections thereof. Each pixel includes a pixel electrode, a conducting layer formed in a non-opening region separating an opening region of the pixel from that of another pixel, the conducting layer having a protruding portion protruding into the opening region from a part of one of a plurality of region edges defining the opening region, and a first contact portion electrically connecting the pixel electrode and the protruding portion. |
| US08253908B2 |
Liquid crystal display
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display including a pixel electrode including a first subpixel electrode and a second subpixel electrode spaced apart with a gap therebetween, a common electrode facing the pixel electrode, and a liquid crystal layer formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode and including a plurality of liquid crystal molecules. The first and second subpixel electrodes include a plurality of branches, and each of the first and second subpixel electrodes includes a plurality of subregions. The branches extend in different directions in different subregions. |
| US08253898B2 |
Transfer material, and process for producing liquid crystal cell substrate and liquid crystal display device using the same
A novel transfer material is disclosed. The transfer material comprises, at least, a support, and, thereon, an optically uniaxial or biaxial anisotropic layer and a photosensitive polymer layer. A novel process for producing a liquid crystal cell substrate is also disclosed. The process comprises, at least, [1] laminating a transfer material as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 11 on a substrate; [2] removing the support from the transfer material laminated on the substrate; and [3] exposing the photosensitive polymer layer disposed on the substrate to light. |
| US08253896B2 |
Photonic sensor, method of manufacturing same, color filter substrate having same, and display device having the color filter substrate
A photonic sensor includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, a third electrode layer, a first photon absorption layer, a second photon absorption layer, a third photon absorption layer and a charge blocking layer. The first photon absorption layer includes a dispersion of first nanoparticles, and is configured to transduce a first colored light into corresponding electric charge. The second photon absorption layer includes a dispersion of second nanoparticles, and is configured to transduce a second colored light into corresponding electric charge according to light intensity. The third photon absorption layer includes a dispersion of third nanoparticles, and is configured to transduce a third colored light into corresponding electric charge according to light intensity. The charge blocking layer is formed between the first and second photon absorption layers to block flow of electric charge between the first and second photon absorption layers. |
| US08253887B2 |
Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device having the same
A backlight unit preventing the lift-off of an FPC is disclosed. The backlight unit includes a plurality of light emitting diodes configured to emit light, a flexible printed circuit board on which the plurality of light emitting diodes are mounted, a light guide plate configured to be parallel to the plurality of light emitting diodes, a support main formed of a mold having a rectangular frame shape and configured to accommodate the plurality of light emitting diodes and the light guide plate, and a fixing tape configured to fix the flexible printed circuit board, the support main, and the light guide plate, wherein one side of the fixing tape is attached to the flexible printed circuit board, the other side of the fixing tape is attached to the support main and the light guide plate, and a “T” shape structure is formed between the plurality of light emitting diodes. |
| US08253883B2 |
Display panel and display device
Each of a display panel and a display device includes a display region in which an image with uniform display quality is displayed and a curved line can be displayed in the contour. The display panel includes a shielding member and a plurality of pixels arrayed in a display region, wherein the shielding member includes a shielding curved portion having a curved planar shape, and the shielding curved portion shields the plurality of pixels to form a curved contour of the display region. |
| US08253882B2 |
Display device
A display device (1) having a curved display surface (2) sandwiches a display panel (5) by means of a pair of curved covers (10, 11). The display device (1) has a plurality of engaging sections (12), which are formed on each of the two side surfaces arranged to face each other with the display panel (5) therebetween and fix the pair of covers (10, 11) so that the covers are not removed. An intermediate position (C1) in the curving direction of the covers (10, 11) and an intermediate position (C2) in the curving direction of the display surface (2) are shifted from each other. The engaging sections (12) on each of the two side surfaces are substantially symmetrically arranged with the display panel (5) therebetween, and the positions where the engaging sections (12) are arranged include at least the both end sections (E1, E2) in the curving direction, and a display surface intermediate section (CB) which includes the intermediate position (C2) of the display surface (2) in the curving direction. |
| US08253878B2 |
Adjustable support apparatus for an LCD monitor
An adjustable support apparatus for an LCD monitor is provided. The support apparatus includes a receiving bracket, a cover secured to the receiving bracket, and a sliding member received between the receiving bracket and the cover. The sliding member is capable of sliding relative to the receiving bracket and the cover. A securing member is slidably attached to the cover. An elastic positioning member is secured to the cover. A plurality of positioning grooves is defined in the sliding member, and the securing member biases the positioning members to engage in one of the positioning grooves. |
| US08253870B2 |
Liquid crystal display screen
A liquid crystal display screen is provided. The liquid crystal display screen includes a capacitance type touch panel, an upper board, a liquid crystal layer, and a lower board. The capacitance type touch panel includes a substrate and a transparent conductive layer located on the substrate. The upper board includes an upper substrate, an upper electrode, and an upper alignment layer. The transparent conductive layer is configured to be an upper optical polarizer. The transparent conductive layer is a carbon nanotube layer having an anisotropic conductivity. The upper substrate is the substrate of the capacitance type touch panel. |
| US08253867B2 |
Remote control and method of using same for controlling entertainment equipment
A universal smart remote control includes intelligence software and algorithms that have been programmed into the remote control's microprocessor memory, and a large display which is used to prompt the user to take certain actions. The remote control provides guidance to the user in setting up and operating the various components of his or her entertainment system, and asks the user non-technical questions that are understandable to the user. |